A/N: Yay! Chapter two is finally here! Sorry it took me so long, I got a touch of writers block a few weeks ago and then I got sick... -.- but it's up now, and I sincerely apologize for making you wait so long. The next one will come faster, I promise! ^_~ oh and also, thanks for your generous reviews so far, you guys are great! Thanks for reading my story :3
So, without further adieu, I give you chapter two! Enjoy!

Chapter 2: Waking Up From A Nightmare

"Janet? Janet? Oh Jaaaaaanet?" Terri's voice suddenly began to sound through her head, and she felt the slight feeling of being shook. It made her stir a little but she didn't open her eyes.

"Janet, wake up! Jack, I don't know what's going on with her..." Somewhere inside the swirling darkness presently inhabiting Janet's mind, Terri's voice finally became very clear and it brought her back through into reality. She slowly opened her eyes and found herself in her bed, clutching her pillow tightly to herself. Her sheets kicked around and her blankets and other pillow lying randomly about her; it was easy to tell that she had had a rough night. When she looked up, she saw that Terri and Jack were standing over her; concern in their eyes.

"Oh Jack, she's awake!" Terri excitedly tapped Jack's arm as she and Jack watched Janet look around confusedly. Both roommates were soon kneeling beside Janet's bed, now eye-level with her.

"Janet-?" Jack looked closely at her. "Are you okay?"

Janet, who was still partially in a daze, only grew more confused. "Huh? Wh- what do you mean?" she asked as she threw a puzzled look over in Jack and Terri's direction. As she began to move her head, she noticed that she had a slight headache and she didn't know why. She ran a hand through her hair and looked at Jack. He and Terri were now kneeling by Janet's bed, facing Janet who was lying in a rather disheveled looking form.

"You're crying, Janet." Jack said and reached over to wipe a tear falling from Janet's eye. It was then that she noticed that her face was wet with tears and that her pillow was splotched and soaked. Janet just sniffled and looked at Jack as he wiped the tear from her face, and something began tugging at her thoughts, though she didn't know quite what it was.

"Yeah, you look like you had a pretty rough night." Terri added, looking into Janet's eyes with her own pair of cool blue sympathetic ones.

"Really?" Janet asked in a hushed tone. She suddenly felt the strength to sit up, and she did so and foggily rubbed her eyes.

Terri nodded. Gosh, Janet thought. All this worry over little old me. All because of a little dream... That last thought suddenly caught her attention. Dream... She thought again, trying to remember what had made her fret so. ...

Janet looked at Jack kneeling there in front of her alongside Terri, with his concerned deep blue eyes looking all sweet and gentle and the memories of last night's dream flooded back to her. Her lip began to quiver and tears filled her eyes.

"Janet?" Jack began, and in some sort of unspoken agreement he and Terri both got up to sit on either side of Janet, each putting an arm around her shoulder.

"Janet, what's wrong?" Terri questioned, patting Janet's thigh comfortingly. Jack began calmingly patting her arm and stroking it here and there. Both roommates were hoping to comfort their friend and calm her down enough to get some sort of answer out of her so that they could help.

At first Janet just sniffled, and when she was able to find words she simply said, "I- it's n- nothing. It w- was just a-" she trailed off to sniffle again.

Jack tried to get her to look at him as he lifted her chin so that her teary brown eyes were staring right back at his gentle blue ones. "Are you sure? Janet, you can tell us-"

"N- no." She swallowed hard and tried to stop crying. "I'm fine. It's okay; it was just a bad dream. I'm alright now, I promise." She didn't want to tell him how she had dreamed- no, more like had a nightmare- about him... dying. She couldn't even think about it anymore and tried to push the dream as far away from her thoughts as possible. After all, that's all it had been- a dream. A nightmare. A figment of the darkest corners of her imagination. Her subconscious playing dirty tricks on her. That was all; nothing more. So, everything would be fine now. Jack was here and obviously just fine. There was nothing to worry about.

"Oh, Janet, we were so worried about you. It must have been some dream. You were tossing and turning and making terrible noises." Terri looked at Janet with her sympathetic eyes as she placed her hand on Janet's.

"I was?" Janet looked at her, still sniffling and wiping tears from her eyes.

"Oh, yeah. You kept mumbling, 'No!'" Terri made a face and gesture somewhat dramatically mimicking
someone shouting, "No!"
"And I'm pretty sure I heard a name in there somewhere. I couldn't make it out, though. You were crying too much for me to be able to make out a lot of what you were saying-er, mumbling, that is... It worried me quite a bit."

"Me too," Jack added. "I mean, I know you tend to mumble in your sleep- well, you know what I mean." He quickly added when he realized that that sounded a bit ehh, suggestive. Janet nodded her head to show she knew what he meant.
"But, this was different. I've never seen you like that. Not even when you're awake."

Janet was surprised at how much she had actually been reacting to the nightmare in real life. Normally she didn't have anything this bad happen. Even as a little girl her younger siblings had never mentioned her having a nightmare this bad, nor had her parents. Sure, like Jack had said, she would mumble and make a bit of noise in her sleep quite a bit (as pointed out by Chrissy numerous times). But this was way more than just a bit of mumbling.

"I'm sorry, guys- for worrying you. ...And, making all that fuss." Janet looked up at Terri and then over at Jack, her emotions a mix of overwhelming surprise and embarrassment.

"No, Janet, don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault, hon." Terri said, placing a hand on Janet's shoulder.

"That's right." Jack added. "You're alright now and that's all that matters."

Janet looked at him and nodded. "Thanks. I love you both." The three of them tangled themselves up into a cozy little group hug, this being the first time Janet had smiled since she went to bed last night; for not even in her so called 'sweet dreams' had she anything to smile about that night.

When they broke, they each looked around at the other and soon the trio broke out into happy giggling. "Ohhh," Janet happily sighed, growing serious again. "I'm so glad I have such a considerate roommate." Janet looked over at Terri.

"Why's that?" Terri questioned.

"Well, if it had been my sister, she would have kicked me out for sure!" The three of them began laughing again as the mood changed from a dismal grey to an uplifting, cheery shade of blue.

Feeling as though all was well again in the little world they shared; the balance restored, the three of them slowly got to their feet.

"Well, I'm gonna get dressed," Terri said making her way to she and Janet's' closet.

"Yeah, me too." Janet followed.

"Well, I'm gonna go start cooking breakfast." Jack started out the door of the girls' bedroom, but paused. Deviously, he turned around and a mischievous smile crept onto his face. "...Unless you want me to stay and help..." His eyebrow now sneakily raised.

"Jack!" Both girls laughed and began throwing pillows at Jack, who proceeded to puff out his cheeks like a maniac and exit the room, shutting the door behind him so that the last pillow they threw at him hit the door stiffly.

Janet laughed and shook her head as she made her way to her closet. She smiled to herself and thought,

I would've missed that...

_

Janet walked out the door to head to the flower shop and said goodbye to Terri, for she was the only roommate left in the apartment. It was also her day off. There were a lot of nurses already working today's shift, so Terri's boss, Dr. Kenderson, had said she could take the day off if she wished.

Janet stepped outside and started down the stairs. The air was alive with spring's warmth, and the sun's rays played on Janet's glossy dark hair as she walked along the sidewalk, headed for the bus stop. Most of her attention and thoughts had now been turned away from last night's nightmare mischance and towards today: getting down to the flower shop, meeting Jack for lunch, wondering what Jack would be making for dinner...

He sure is in your life a lot, isn't he?
...and now those thoughts were back to swirl around her head some more. She wasn't too afraid of playing with them a little bit, as long as they didn't get too out of hand. As she walked toward the bus stop, she began pondering what her life would be like without Jack.

My life without Jack... It would be so... different. I can't imagine not hearing him calling Terri and I in for dinner, or smelling his cooking... Checking up on him in the kitchen every once in a while.. She thought with a slight chuckle. ...no meeting him for lunch, going out to dinner together, hanging out at the Regal Beagle, going out to parties, or down to the pier...

Janet stepped onto the bus and took her seat next to a young, dark haired man near the front. She really hadn't even taken notice, though, for she had been so lost in her thoughts that her movements were on auto-pilot; her thoughts encompassing her at the moment.

Gosh, I can't imagine what I'd have to do to feel right again... That dream was so real. I really thought I'd lost him for good. I didn't know what I was going to do next, I had no idea how I was going to-

The bus came to a stop and Janet noticed that it was hers. Breaking thought for a moment, she grabbed her purse and stepped off the bus, making her way up to the flower shop.

-to.. move on. She finished, realizing that there was really no way that she could, in the event that something dare happen to Jack. ...oh, I can't imagine it...

"Hello, Janet!" Beamed a cheery voice. Janet looked up to see her greeter.

"Oh, hi Stephanie!" Janet smiled and Stephanie met her halfway to the counter.

"How's it going?" Stephanie had two pots of Hydrangeas tucked under her arms and a huge smile on her face. She was always such a bright, happy person. And one of Janet's best arrangers as well. She was someone you could always count on, who was always loyal by nature. Janet was lucky to have found such great help after one of her best employees had had to quit due to family business. She definitely had good old Steph to thank.

"Good, how are you?" Janet cheerfully replied, almost (not quite) matching Stephanie's own liveliness.

"Wonderful!" Stephanie walked over to the area of flowers near the door to set the flowers down. "How are your roommates doing?" She asked, walking back over towards Janet and dusting off her hands.

"Oh, they're doing good." Janet proceeded to tell Stephanie how Jack had cooked this great dish last night, and how Terri had helped save this man with a peanut allergy down at the hospital yesterday afternoon. Stephanie looked intrigued at Janet's stories, for she herself had said that she didn't really intimately associate much with people outside of work and home, for she was more of an extrovert with only a few close friends who lived a while away from Santa Monica, and a bunch of associates here and there, whom she only ever made light conversation with. She was always so interested in Janet's wild and fun life in apartment 201 and was thrilled when Janet confided in her. Even though she was such an outgoing person, Stephanie rarely got to keep secrets, for she never really got close enough to someone to hear their secrets, and Janet sometimes needed somewhere to drain her troubles or worries throughout the day and Stephanie was perfect for that.

"Oh, wow. Your roommates have such lives! It must be thrilling working in a hospital. People being rushed in and out, doctors racing around screaming, "Stat!" this, and "Stat!" that... Ahh." She sighed in thought, probably, Janet imagined, thinking about what it would be like if she were a nurse.

In a way, Stephanie sometimes reminded her of Chrissy; so full of enthusiasm and life. But, at the same time they were quite different. And although Janet and Stephanie weren't exactly "tight", she still made a nice bouncy blond substitute in between she and Chrissy's visits.

Janet giggled, "I can imagine. Hey, could you do me a favor and get these flowers arranged for the Meyers' party?" She asked, walking behind the counter and getting out a sheet of paper with little instructions scribbled on it and an armful of three different kinds of flowers. She handed the items to Stephanie.

"Sure! I'll get right on it." Stephanie took the flowers and Mr. Meyer's instructions and headed for the back room, leaving Janet to tend to the front counter- her usual place. She enjoyed working up here, talking with customers and making phone calls. It was relaxing, almost therapeutic in a way, although she didn't know how. It certainly helped to get her mind off of the dream, though, which was a plus.

...

"Hey, Janet!" Jack pushed open the door to the flower shop, a smile on his face.

"Hi, Jack!" Janet reached down to get her purse and began getting ready to leave.

"Ready for lunch?" Jack waltzed up to the counter, waiting for Janet.

"Yep." Janet flung her purse over her shoulder and stepped out from behind the counter. "Let me go check with Stephanie real quick, I'll only be a minute." She started for the back room where Stephanie was working, but there was no need. Stephanie came out right at that moment to get some flowers for a bouquet arrangement, all smiles when she saw Jack.

"Hey there, Jack!" Stephanie beamed.

"Hi!" Jack returned her smile. He didn't know her all too well, but she seemed to always say hello when he came in.

"Stephanie, Jack and I are leaving for lunch. I'll be back later." Janet started for the door, arm in arm with Jack.

"Oh, alright! You two have fun!" Stephanie waved them out, and was that a small wink she sent Jack's way? Janet wondered first if her eyes had deceived her, and second why she cared if Stephanie had winked at Jack. It wasn't as if she liked Jack, anyway- Janet knew Stephanie, and she knew that she never attempted to get into any serious relationships. Although, that didn't prohibit her from flirting...

Flirting or not, Janet simply waved back and smiled as she walked arm and arm with Jack out of the flower shop and down the street for lunch.

"Where to?" She asked.

"I thought we'd try this new Italian place down the street. Bel Cibo."

"Sounds good!" Janet was glad it was lunchtime, for she had worked up quite an appetite this afternoon in the flower shop. She couldn't wait to get her hands, well, mouth, that is, on some food. And spending it with Jack, why, that was twice the fun!

As they walked towards the restaurant, hand in hand, Janet noticed how familiar and welcoming his grasp was. She imagined the all-too-familiar sensation fading away and becoming nonexistent, and the very thought startled her so much that she quickly stopped it and relaxed and let herself enjoy the warm feeling she had become accustomed to. Having someone this close to you meant that they could easily become just as far away from you. So how do you know? How does one know when they are in danger of losing someone or something so close, so routine to them? Can you, really?

Sighing, Janet looked up into the tranquil blue sky and just breathed, contented in the moment.

How would you react if the sun suddenly disappeared?

...

A/N: hehe, well there you have it! It was kinda long huh? I thought that'd make up for having to wait so long haha ;D and sorry if I kinda cut it off weird or anything, I have a bit of a headache and I'm feeling kind of awful right now and I just finished off the last part. But I promised myself (and others) I'd get it up today so here it is! I hope you liked :) (you thought I killed off Jack, huh? Shame on you! I couldn't! :P) haha. Well he's back and I hope you're as glad to see him as I am! Oh, and I hope you like Stephanie. I wanted to give Janet a nice little friend to talk to, so boom- my first OC (original character) of the story. Who knows, maybe I'll bring her back later? :3 okay, I'm on to chapter three! Hopefully no more illnesses/complications to slow me down! Life shall not get in my way… muahaha ^-^