Thump…Thump…Thump…

What was that dreadful sound? Why was it so consistent? Where was he?

Questions buzzed around in his brain as he tried to remember anything…something that happened before he went to bed that night.

A meaningless effort. It felt as if all of his memories were sucked from his brain. He couldn't think of anything or anyone that he knew…he didn't know what was going on or how he could have gotten here…

"Oh, so he's awake now."

Thump…thump…thump…

Goddamn it stop the sound!

Thump..thump..thump..thump

STOP IT!

Thump…thump……

And all was black.

"Vincent…hey! Vincent! WAKE UP!" Cid growled, concern evident in his eyes as he gently placed a hand to his friend's shoulder.

There was no waking the man up when he was having a nightmare. All Cid could do was sit and painfully watch as Vincent thrashed against the sheets of the bed, whimpering and breathing as if he'd just run three miles without stopping.

Cid felt helpless when his friend had the nightmares. Yet he knew Vincent was the one who was truly helpless. He wanted nothing more than to help the man…but that would…

"C-Cid."

The blonde tore himself from his thoughts as he felt eyes staring holes into his head.

"Glad yer awake." He stated as calmly as possible, almost afraid to meet gaze with those crimson orbs.

"What are you doing in here?" Vincent asked, lifting himself from the bed, scowling at the damp sheets.

"I-I uhm, I felt bad fer ya, Vince. I was only sleepin' right next door and I could hear ya screaming…"

Crimson eyes narrowed slightly as the word "screaming" left the pilot's mouth.

"Sorry if it creeps you out 'er somethin' I don't mean fer it to. You were jus' so…scared. Yeh scared me, Vince."

Slowly, Vincent grasped the sheets from his bed and rolled them into a ball, tucking it under his arm.

"Well thank you for your concern. I'm used to this by now. I'm sorry to have woken you with my screams, I feel terrible."

Cid shook his head, raising to help Vincent with the sheets.

"Don't. If yer havin' nightmares evr'y night, ya need some help, don't apologize for somethin' you can't control."

Vincent sighed, his gaze falling down to the carpet while he opened his bedroom door and headed towards the laundry room.

"Don't worry about me any longer, Cid. I'll take care of everything. If I wake you anymore, please feel free to come in here and smack me until I shut up."

Cid cracked a smile, but it soon faded as he realized his friend was as serious as death.

"Vince…"

"Please, Cid. Thank you for caring, but I can manage from here."

The blonde man nodded, but sighed on the inside as he turned to walk towards the kitchen.

He wished there was something he could do to help. He wished there was something that could actually be done to help.

Vincent didn't deserve this.

The tall gunman bit his bottom lip as he gently placed his sheets into the washing machine, before reaching for the detergent.

Something was different about this nightmare…something terribly strange…

"NO! Please! Stop this…VINCENT! Don't let him do this! Please!"

He pushed against the restraints, reaching out for the other man to grab his hand, but they were too far apart.

"Vincent…Please…"

Crimson met blue as both men continued to stretch their arms as far as possible.

One thing the man noticed most was the blood surrounding both of their bodies.

"Vincent…"

The cry sounded more like a plead then a demand. Why couldn't he reach the blonde, damn it!

Tears ran freely down the man's face as he watched a pair of feet walk over to where the blonde was being held against the wall.

"You're too late."

That voice…

But before another thought could enter the man's mind, a loud gunshot echoed through the room and the blonde fell to the floor, eyes still open in terror as blood pooled from the wound in his chest.

"NO!"

Vincent shuddered, grunting as the detergent slipped from his hands.

Cold filled his veins as he bent over to grab the bottle.

Before he knew what was happening, his body was in the kitchen and he pushed Cid's form out of the way with a painful yell,

"CID WATCH OUT!"

And lo and behold, a single bullet had been fired where Cid was once standing, and it barely missed Vincent's shaking form.