The ghost of her soft fingers still lingered on his hand. He treasured the sensation. It reminded him that he hadn't lost everything when he'd sacrificed his chance to feel. The loss was still painfully apparent as he played with rose petals that should've felt just as soft as Audrey. Each petal Nathan pulled from the rose was a sensation that was gone again: The wind on his face, sliding in between crisp cotton sheets, a soothing hot shower, knowing the actual temperature of his coffee, or the comfort of an embrace. With each of these, however, came the joyful, wondering, face of Jackie as she thanked him for saving her. Nathan knew that, if he could do it again, he would make the same choice. What he'd seen before she'd been cured was enough to prove to him that her trouble was a thousand times worse than his. Even though there was no way for him to feel a chill, he shuddered as that awful vision triggered others that were just as terrible.

…The cupboard was small, even for his tiny frame. Maybe, if Nathan was very lucky, he wouldn't be found. The sound of breaking glass and his mother's screams assault his tiny ears. He covers them and shuts his eyes tight, trying very hard not to cry. Tears only made HIM madder. Hiding did too, but, Nathan was too scared to do anything else…

A glass was set down in front of him. Nathan's heightened sense of smell told him the dark liquid in front of him was a Jack and Coke. Looking up, he saw that the person delivering his drink was someone who'd known him long enough to know it was his preferred drink on a bad day.

"Um, I didn't order this."

"It's on the house." Duke explained, taking the chair Audrey had vacated only minutes before.

"Thanks," Nathan replied, taking a sip.

Generosity on Duke's part normally made him suspicious. However, after the day they'd had, and everything on his mind, he really could use a drink. Duke nodded and took a sip out of his own glass. It was filled with his own bad day preference: Whiskey straight. An easy, companionable silence fell between the two men. It surprised Nathan. He half expected Duke to ask him if he regretted not taking up his offer to introduce him to women who would love to help him "process." Or, to make some other, equally snarky, remark. As if he could hear his thoughts, Duke smiled reassuringly. The smile told the other man that all he was interested in was a quiet drink. Nathan surprised himself by appreciating the company. Even though nothing was being said, Duke's presence was a welcome distraction. It was helping him to keep the memories at bay. Memories that he had always considered too horrible to be real until recent days.

Who knew the words "Daddy's home" could fill a child with such dread?

"Hell of a day." Duke ventured after a few minutes, breaking into his thoughts.

"That's one way to put it." He agreed, looking up from the petals strewn across his side of the table.

"It's not everyday your see your worst fear walking around in broad daylight." Duke continued, "Say, what did you see?"

Nathan was suddenly very grateful for the alcohol in his drink as he took a final swallow to suppress another shudder. A vision of ice cold eyes and a snarling smile came unbidden to his mind. For a moment, the smell of blood erased the scent of the nearby roses.

"Just an old nightmare." Nathan finally answered, hoping they could leave it at that. Duke nodded as if he understood.

"I guess that's what we all saw." He agreed, knocking back the rest of his drink. Almost as if he sensed the topic was getting too heavy for Nathan, he smirked as he added, "Audrey told me that Audrey 2 saw a clown. Now, that is something I didn't expect. Or, for our Audrey to admit that she would've been just as frightened. The woman who stared down the ten plagues of Egypt is terrified by a rubber nose and a fluffy wig."

"This was a specific clown from a haunted house." Nathan pointed out. "It was supposed to be frightening; especially to a kid."

"That would explain why she smacked me for laughing when she told me." He mused.

"I'm sorry I missed that." Nathan teased dryly.

"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll come up with a reason to do it again soon." Duke assured him as he stretched and rose. "You know, I have a whole bottle of your buddy Jack there if you need something to keep the nightmares at bay."

"Thanks, but, I think I'm all set." Nathan replied.

"Let me know if you change your mind. I understand the need for a liquid teddy bear." Duke requested, gesturing to his empty glass. He have the table a light rap with his knuckles before walking away. "G'night, Nate."

"Night." Nathan said, grateful for the offer, and, the sentiment behind it. Duke was offering him what comfort he could give under the circumstances. However, there wasn't enough alcohol in the whole bar to wash away the images lurking in the back of his mind. He plucked up the un-shredded rose as he got up to leave. Maybe the scent would be enough of a distraction to chase away his dreams.