"Attention all sophomores, juniors, and seniors." The loudspeaker said. "You have an assembly sixth period. All classes should go to the gym where there will be a presentation. That is all."

Steve groaned. Why have an assembly? It was all ready sixth period. He glanced at Lily. Lily now seemed a little happier, now that she trusted him with the truth. It was only a couple of weeks, but they had become close. Sharing their, wishes, their fears, and dreams. They did not care that everyone in the school called them names. They had each other. Lily reassuringly smiled at Steve, her friend. Lily's smile heightened Steve's mood. I wonder what this assembly is about? He thought this as all the sophomores, juniors, and seniors were squished together in the gym.

His question was answered immediately. On the video screen, there was a car driving on the road. As the camera zoomed in, Steve could plainly see the driver was drunk. There was another car coming the other way. Steve's stomach dropped as he realized the driver of the car was a woman. A woman that looked vaguely like his mother. Swallowing his horror, Steve watched as the drunk driver swerved into the woman's lane. The woman's car flipped over, while the drunk driver sped on. The camera zoomed in at the woman's face. It was clear that she was dead. Nausea overcame Steve as he recalled his own nightmares. His mother's scarred body from the flames that had killed her burned a horrid picture in his mind. He put his head in between his feet as he fought to forget the image.

It took Steve a couple of minutes to realize that someone was whimpering. That someone was him. Steve felt Lily's hand rub his back comfortingly, stroking. Blurred images of his mother soothing his nightmares as a child came rushing back. He fought the urge to scream. Sobs racked Steve's body as he trembled. No! His mind screamed. No! It was like having the nightmares again. Only this nightmare was worse. Much, much worse. He was vaguely aware of being lifted to his feet, and of strong arms leading him away. He was only aware of Lily's eyes burning into his back.

Steve blinked his eyes. They were puffy. He was aware that someone gave him a tissue. Steve wiped his eyes clean. A couple moments later, he was able to regain his composure. Steve looked around. He was surprised at who was sitting next to him.

It was Mr. MacLean. His usual stern expression was not there. Instead, it was replaced by regret. Before Steve could say anything, Mr. MacLean said, "I'm sorry you had to see that, Steve."

Steve didn't know what to say. He was speechless.

"It was your mother that…?"

Steve nodded and closed his eyes.

Mr. MacLean sighed. "I'm sorry, Steve." he said again. "I'll call Joseph Long to pick you up."

Ten minutes later when Mr. MacLean returned to tell Steve that his guardian had arrived to pick him up, Steve was still clutching the tissue in his hand and had his eyes closed.

They rode the car in silence. Steve was staring vaguely out the window, barely aware of his surroundings again. The Commander was driving the car slowly.

"You know, Little McGarrett," the Commander began, "if you lose yourself in your emotions, you won't be able to save anyone."

Steve stared at him. The Commander stared back at him. Steve was surprised that the Commander looked tired. Defeated.

The way his father looked the day his mother died.

Suddenly Steve realized something.

The Commander knew.

The nightmare again. Steve watched his mother as she drove calmly down the road, humming to herself. Then Steve saw the drunk driver, swaying into his mother's lane. The driver had no idea what he was doing. His eyes were dilated. Steve could smell the alcohol on his breath. Silently screaming, Steve watched as the driver hit his mother. The driver sped off, going faster than before. Haunted, Steve watched as his mother gasped as his mother gasped for breath. The officer was wrong. Steve's mother had not died instantly. Gasping in horror, Steve was forced to watch as his mother was drowned in flames. She was coughing, screaming, for anyone who could hear her. "John! Mary! Steve!" Then his mother saw him, half of her face all ready burnt with flames. "Steve, save me!"

But he couldn't move. His mother was dying in front of him but he couldn't do anything. She couldn't stop screaming. She screamed and screamed until Steve thought that he was dying as well. Then she stopped. As the flames continued to engulf her, Steve realized that his mother was dead. Then he stopped. It wasn't his mother who was being consumed by the flames.

It was Lily.

Steve's eyes snapped open. He was lying in a bed that wasn't his own. He sat up, and suddenly felt exhausted. When had he fallen asleep? As he was aware of the surroundings, Steve noticed medals and pictures of Navy Commanders around the surrounding walls. He was in the Commander's room. The Commander had let him sleep in his own bed.

Steve shakily stood up. He felt terrible. Why did he felt like he had been drugged? At the thought, he actually grinned. Knowing the Commander, anything could happen. It was dark outside. Something made Steve shiver. Something was very wrong.

On instinct, he ran outside.

Where had he last seen Lily? At the school, of course. He had to find her. Steve remembered the dream. Instead of his mother dying, it was Lily. It's trying to tell me something. Steve pushed harder, this time going towards the school.

Steve saw nothing as he neared the school. He started to walk. He still saw nothing. Then he remembered his mother's voice. "Steve, save me!" Every step he took, he heard those words. He walked faster. Then he realized it wasn't his mother's voice that was calling him. It was Lily that was calling him. Soon he was running again.

Steve saw her as soon as he was at the entrance. She was on the roof. Using his climbing skills that he acquired in Hawaii, he hurriedly climbed a tree and jumped on the roof.

He ran towards her sobbing form.

"Lily!"