Disclaimer: do not own!
The Nightmare!
Vince woke with a start. It was just a dream, he told himself over and over. The dream he'd had was a recurring one. But each time it was getting worse and worse. Vince was afraid of sleeping, so he lay in his bed and tried not to think about what he would do if the dream came true. He flinched at the slightest sound and tiniest movement. He finally decided that a drink of water was what he needed to calm him down.
"Vince?"
"Arrghh!!" Vince screamed and dropped his glass. Shards scattered across the floor. "Howard! Don't sneak up on me like that" he snapped. Howard was now officially worried, Vince never snapped.
"Okay sorry" he said and went back to his room. Vince was scared. Howard had always been there for him, will tonight be any different? He padded along the corridor bare foot and stopped at Howard's door. He opened it cautiously.
"Howard?" Vince said quietly.
"Mm" came Howard's muffled reply
"Can I stay with you tonight?" Vince asked nervously. Howard looked up suddenly awake. Vince was asking to spend the night with him?
"Why? Isn't your bed comfy enough?" his tone slightly more annoyed than meant. Vince looked away embarrassed.
"I'm scared," he said finally after a long pause. " I'm scared to close my eyes. I keep having this dream and each time it gets worse." Howard eyes grew wide as he realised how genuinely frightened Vince really was.
"sure hop in" Howard said kindly, pulling back the covers. Vince climbed in unsure of what to do or say, soon they were both asleep.
Howard woke to the sound of a scream. He looked beside him to find Vince sitting upright breathing heavily. Howard pulled Vince back down beside him. It was only then that Howard noticed the tears flowing down the other mans cheeks.
"Shhh . . Vince. It's okay. It's okay. Nothing can hurt you. I'm here." He pulled his friend into a warm embrace. The two stayed like that until the sun rose and the some. Vince was the first to speak.
"do you want to know what my dream was about?"
" I don't mind. You can tell me if you want." Howard said brushing stray hairs from his friends face.
" I want to tell you." Vince smiled " it started off with a normal day, but then you were in hospital fighting for your life. The reason I didn't want to sleep was the same reason I wake up" Vince had Howard's full attention. " It was because you died" Vince finished. He looked up and went to say something else but stopped himself before he could.
"if there's something else you can tell me." Vince placed a chaste kiss upon his friend and said;
" I love you Howard, and I'm scared to lose you"
Howard's face softened.
"Well why didn't you just say?" he said pulling his companion back into a deeper kiss.