Chapter 4 - Nightmares

Once they arrived at the Burner garage; everything seemed quiet. Mike knew that this meant either the Burners were still going over what Julie had told them; or they all went to bed. When Mike and Julie entered the Burners HQ Mike's first assumption was correct. The Burners hadn't moved from their spots and sat frozen quietly whispering; probably about Julie.

"We're back." Mike said waving getting their attention. The boys faced the door and once they laid eyes on Julie, all stood.

"Wow, Miss. Deluxe actually chose to come back down to Motorcity." Texas said sounding harsh. Julie winced at her rude nickname but chose to not show that it bothered her.

"Guys, we really need to talk." Mike said holding out his hands for them to stop saying rude things.

"Yeah, we really do." Dutch said looking at Julie.

"We need some answers Mike. About lots of things." Chuck said glanced between the two. Julie sighed and stepped forwards in front of Mike, shocking him a little. To think not even 5 minutes ago she was worried about seeing them and now she was coming face to face.

"Guys look. I know that it's hard to believe but listen! I don't agree with what my Dad's doing either! That's why I'm down here; to try and stop him!" Julie argued.

"Why didn't you try, I dunno talking to him?" Texas asked sounding irritated.

"I've tried and he won't listen. That's why I came down to Motorcity; I thought it was the only way I could show him that what he's doing is wrong! But then he began to hate the Burners and..." Julie stopped in mid-sentence in fear of continuing. "I don't want him to hate me. He's all I have for family right now."

The Burners began to feel sympathy for their female teammate. Julie never told the gang about her parents; now for obvious reasons, but even so; there is a Mr. Kane, but where is Mrs. Kane? Chuck, Dutch and Texas were speechless. Julie could tell that they needed time to let it sink in so she began to leave.

"I'm sorry." she said as she began to limp away. Mike just stared after her once she left. Once Mike heard a door close her turned to his teammates and gave them a serious look.

"You guys aren't mad or anything, are you?" he asked. The guys had never seen him like this but nodded.

"At first, it was just kinda hard to hear Mike. Knowing one of our teammates is working with the enemy." Chuck said rubbing the back of his head.

"But I guess now that she's explained it all makes sense." Dutch said not making eye contact.

"No wonder she was so good at fighting, she can throw down like BAM! Probably because of all the high tech training stuff they have inside Kane Co.!" Texas said kicking and punching the air. Mike smirked at his friends.

"So, no more giving Julie a hard time alright? You should have seen her on the way here guys, she was crazy worried you wouldn't accept her into the Burners anymore." Mike said placing his hands on his hips. "Anyways, Julie's going to be staying here for a while."

"Won't that be worse if her Dad is keeping tabs on her?" Chuck asked.

"No, because we aren't going to let him find out!" Mike said clenching his fist. "As she said before she doesn't want her father to find out and hate her, so running away for a while may be a good way for him to calm down a bit. Anyways, Claire is covering for her." The Burners nodded and went their separate ways for the night. Mike hoped that Kane would never see that Julie was hiding out here; he didn't want Julie to get taken or hurt more than she was. All he wanted was for her to be happy.

1:05am and Julie jolted awake with a slight shriek. She grabbed her head and glanced at her clock and sighed once she saw the time.

"Another nightmare." she said to herself attempting to calm her heart rate. Every since she told the guys about her Dad she's been having fears about her Dad finding out she's a Burner. The guys accept her but her father wouldn't. She sighed and flopped back down on her pillow. Her dream was extremely gory, it was Realizing she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again she stood and went on a walk attempting to calm her nerves.

Meanwhile, Mike was also awake. He just couldn't get Julie out of his mind. She looked at him with such a fear today, he'd never seen that side of her before. He never knew something as simple as loosing her friends trust could scar her so badly. I guess that was how they were alike; very overprotective of their friends and wanted nothing more than to see them healthy and happy. But sadly Julie wasn't fully healthy. Mike sighed replaying the day of the accident in his mind. He hated the way she wimped in the pain; but seeing her then was less painful then seeing her today. The look in her eyes then was pain, today it was fear, and recalling the incident with Chuck and the no-fear bracelet; fear can make or break a person.

A clanking noise in the garage made Mike sit up. He grabbed his jacket and slid it over his shoulder and made sure his skull was in his pocket in case it was a Kanebot. He tip toed through the hallway leading to the garage. Finally be burst through the doors entering the garage where the cars were and saw Julie with her heard in between her hands laying on top of 9 Lives with her injured leg extended out. He saw how scared and worried she looked and slowly walked towards her.

"Jules?" he asked. Julie jolted up. Once she saw who it was she scooted farther away from him. "Jules, what's wrong?" he asked sliding his skull back into his pocket. Julie's breathing got heavier as she recalled the memories of her dream; seeing Mike brought all the memories back. "Jules, are you ok?" Julie continued her heavy breathing. Mike slid onto top of the car next to Julie. "What happened?"

"It's nothing!" she replied quickly burying her head into her hands.

"Jules." Julie broke down. The sound of his voice, how concerned he was; she couldn't take it.

"It's my Dad." she said attempting to not let tears roll down her cheeks.

"What about him?" Mike asked; worried about his female friend.

"I...I know I need to tell him but I'm...I'm scared." she took a short pause. "I don't know what he'll do to me or to you guys. I can't loose you guys too."

"What do you mean 'us too'?" Julie gulped.

"I don't want to talk about it right now." she said; her nerves calming slightly. Being around Mike was enough to calm her down, she never knew why. She also felt so safe.

"Well...why are you up so late?" Mike asked. Julie shivered slightly and rubbed her hands over her arms, finally taking her hands away from her face.

"Nasty nightmare." she said and then realized how childish that sounded. "My Dad always talks about 'getting rid of the Burners' and 'finishing them off' so my dream was about-"

"You don't have to say anything." Mike said stopping her. "I'm protective of you guys and you're protective of me. It's how the Burners work." Julie smiled. He slid off the rood of 9 Lives and helped Julie down. "Let's go on a walk, that'll take your mind off of things." Julie nodded.

They had only been walking for a few minutes before Julie sneezed and sniffled. Mike knew that she was cold so he took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.

"So, are you going to tell your Dad?" Mike asked adjusting his jacket on Julie's shoulders. She nodded nuzzling into his warm jacket.

"I think I have to. He needs to know but-" Julie stopped pulling Mike's jacket closer around her. "I'm worried about what he will say...or do." Mike placed his arm around Julie's shoulders pulling her closer to him.

"Julie, we're here for you. In the worst case scenario you'll be living down here with us." Julie sadly nodded. They came across a bench as they both sat down. Mike slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him knowing that she was cold. "Julie you know I won't let anything bad every happen to you...right?" Mike asked. Julie never heard him sound this... embarrassed before. She yawned and nodded placing her head on his shoulder.

"I know." she mumbled. Before Mike could speak again he saw that Julie fell asleep next to him. For a while he just sat their, letting her sleep. He eventually picked her up bridal style and carried her back to the garage her head was lightly leaning against his chest and she was covered in his jacket. 'She looks...cute.' he thought. He placed her down on her bed and quietly closed the door.

"I'll get my jacket tomorrow." he whispered with a smirk.