A/N: This is set anywhere from chapter thirteen onwards. It's a very short one, this time, but I think the length works for the subject matter.


~ Nightmare ~

A writhing, rocking and bucking body – followed by screams that ripped from the throat.

"JAK! Jak, wake up!" a woman's voice broke through the fog. He felt a weight pressing lightly on his chest and fingers running through his sweat-damp hair. Eyes snapped open, the reverie broken, and he recognised Taryn sat upright at his side, fearfully watching his countenance. An anguished cry emerged and he gripped her lower arms for dear life. She grasped his shoulder and rolled him into her, hugging his head to her chest.

"I'm here," she cooed into his ear, continuing to stroke through his rumpled, green-blonde tresses. It was only until he stopped panting for air and relaxed against her that she loosened her hold and tilted his head up to face hers. His optics were wide and alarmed, still gripped by whatever horrors had woken him.

She bent down and pressed a soothing, delicate kiss to his lips, followed by a verbal promise. "I won't go anywhere."

"Thank you…" he murmured, vocal chords cracking, and he released her arms, to loosely wrap his own around her midriff, laying his head upon her lap.

"I won't let go."

"Okay."

Taryn pondered in the silence, struggling to conjure way of helping him drift back to sleep – hopefully with a nice dream, for once. Several ideas rolled around her mind, although she was unsure any were appropriate. "What would help you get back to sleep quicker?"

He shrugged, voice low and uncharacteristically frail. "I don't think I need anything but this."

Oh. Her eyes pricked, and she bit her lip to hold back the tears. Although flattering, those words hurt. With some resolve, she replied, "Then that's all I'll do."

He returned a comforted smile and focused on regulating his breathing, whilst she tenderly curled long strands around her fingers.

But what were you dreaming of? What could scare a man like that to the point of screaming? She had a feeling those questions would never be answered, but supposed it wasn't that important – not compared to being there when he awoke, reassuring him that everything would be alright.