Authors Note: Sorry it has been so long since I posted on this story. I hit the point where my one story had started out as two and have had trouble filling in the gap. I have most of the story mapped out and hope to start posting more often again. Life got in the way as I moved and started a new job so have not had a lot of time for writing.
Chapter 7: Nightmares
While things continued to go well for Dawn as she started to get more and more used to her new life. About three weeks after Amanda's last visit, Dawn woke up screaming from a nightmare. In the dream she was back at the scene of the accident that was staged so she could get away but this time she was in the car as it was burning and she could not get out. Unable to get back to sleep Dawn decided she didn't want to be alone in her quarters. After quickly getting dressed she took some research and headed down to Ten Forward. Maybe after some work and a cup of tea she would be able to go back to sleep. Plus, Guinan might be around and she was always good at listening when you needed to figure things out.
After grabbing her work bag Dawn headed the ship's lounge. It was the middle of the night so very few people she knew were out and about. Entering Ten Forward she headed towards a table near the back of the room by the viewports. Guinan as usual seemed to know just what she needed and put down a cup of her favorite blend of tea and walked away.
Dawn proceeded to put her hair up into a messy bun held in place by a pair of hair sticks she kept in her bag then went strait to work. After working awhile she noticed that the stylus she was using to take notes was working strangely. Around the same time Guinan stopped by with another cup of tea. Being an observant person she noticed the solution to the problem Dawn was having with the stylus. Guinan proceeded to pull the sticks from her hair and show them to her. One was the hair stick and the other was a stylus for a PADD. Dawn then looked down at the item in her hand and realized she had been trying to take notes with one of her hair sticks. Both started laughing as Dawn put her hair back up this time with the hair sticks while Guinan sat down across from her. Then she gave Dawn the look…the one that makes you wonder if she can read her mind.
"Now that we have solved your little technical problem care to tell me why you here working when you are supposed to be asleep." Guinan stated.
Dawn looked hesitantly at Guinan then took a deep breath. "I had a nightmare and couldn't get back to sleep and didn't want to be alone in my quarters, so I decided to come and get some work done"
"How long have you been having these nightmares"
"Off and on for the past week, ever since Amanda's last visit when she told me she wouldn't be around for a while as she has to go on a special assignment."
"Have you ever thought there might be a reason you have been having these dreams beyond the obvious connection to your past."
"I suppose that could be the case."
"Have you talked to anyone else about them?"
"Well most of the time I work by myself unless Data is helping me but I can't really talk to him about this kind of thing."
"I thought you had gotten pretty close with Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi"
"Yeah but they are so busy and I don't want to be a bother." Dawn responded.
Guinan gave her another one of her infamous looks…this one said do you actually hear yourself when you say things like that.
Dawn, Sighed, "I am having lunch with them tomorrow, I could bring it up then."
Guinan smiled and walked away as Dawn began to pack up her things and head back to her quarters to try and get some sleep. As she left she thought to herself that it did help to talk to someone about her nightmares, she would definitely have to bring it up at lunch tomorrow.
