Author's Note: I've been getting a lot of questions/comments about how in the name of gravy did Hawkeye and Belle ever get to sleep. My answer? Well, because I told them to! The logic behind this? After all they had been through, they were wore out. Also, it was supposed to show their bond, because they could fall asleep after all this because they were with each other. If you don't like it, well, there will be some sleep deprivation in this story, but don't get upset if one of them falls asleep.

* * *

I was woken by Hawkeye screaming.

"What's going on?" I screeched, fear making my heart beat in double time. It was darker than before so I assumed clouds had covered the moon's light. I could only make out the hunched figure of Hawkeye who had stopped screaming and was now panting. I swung my head around, trying to make out any other figures who might have harmed him. I felt rage rising in my stomach and was almost ready to fight.

"Belle… I'm sorry. I got us landed in this place. You wouldn't have come out of your tent if it wasn't for me. It's going to be my fault if you're hurt or… or… worse." My breath caught in my throat. It sounded as if Hawkeye was saying his death words.

"Hawkeye," I said, cautiously laying my hand on him. "What happened?"

"I had a nightmare and-"

"Wait, just a nightmare? You're not hurt?"

"Well, no…"

Relief washed over me. "Thank heaven. What were you saying?"

"Well, in the nightmare, you were killed and-" At this point, I realized his shoulders were shaking like he was sobbing.

"Are you crying, Hawkeye?"

"It's all my fault!" he wailed. "You were kidnapped because you were out of your tent because you were with me! We're both going to die here like that guy over there!" He indicated towards the bones. "And there's nothing I can do!"

By now, dawn light had begun to spill in through the cracks. I could see Hawkeye a bit more clearly. His head was buried in his hands. I wasn't sure exactly how to comfort him. Hawkeye never cried.

"Well… you're only here because you were with me. So… we're even."

He shook his head. "Don't try to comfort me. I don't deserve it. Do you know before you came along, there was only one girl who I was with that I loved? And she was smart. She left me. After that, I never thought I could love anyone like that again. And I didn't. Not until you."

"Hawkeye, that doesn't-"

"I'm terrible person for dragging an angel like you into this."

"You got yourself into this too. And it wasn't like it was on purpose."
"Haven't you ever heard what happens to POWs?"

"Hawkeye, that man wasn't a soldier."

"So what? Tell him that!" Once again, he indicated towards the bones. "It didn't change his fate, did it?"

"Then, why weren't we restrained? I don't think we're in as much danger as a normal prisoner."

"So we're being held by a crazy vigilante. Now I'm comforted. Thanks a lot, Belle."
"You don't have to get sarcastic."

He didn't answer. I saw a tear run down his cheek. I put my head on his shoulder and rubbed his back. We stayed like that for a while. Then, he straightened up. "I thought of a way I can make it up to you!"

"Huh?"

"I'll protect you, day and night."

"Well, of course. We'll protect each other."

Hawkeye seemed very pleased with himself. He wrapped his arm around me protectively.

The day stretched on. There was absolutely nothing to do. We weren't fed or given water and by the time the sun shone strongly like it was about noon, my mouth was dry and my stomach felt hollow, although I was able to ignore it for the most part.

"Do you think we might be able to break out?" I asked.

We got up and started pushing at the boards of the hut, trying to find a weak spot.

"This is really well-built," Hawkeye commented after awhile.

Eventually, we came up with a plan. Hawkeye and I both stood opposite to the door. We charged at it with all our might and crashed into the door with a thump. We landed in a dazed heap. Still inside the hut.

"Get up, Hawkeye. You're heavy."

He scrambled off me. "I certainly don't feel heavy. I'm starving. How bout you?"

"Yeah, though I try not to think about it," I answered, studying the door. I sighed. "I don't think we're getting out of here."

Eventually, night came. We hadn't been bothered by the man and I was beginning to believe that he really was just waiting for us to die. I wondered how the others at camp were reacting to our absence. Had anyone seen us leave? Surely they had noticed, it had been a whole day. With Hawkeye quiet, except for the occasional pacing around, and the threat of being tortured seeming to have passed, I soon found myself asleep