This collection has been written for the "A Year In The Life Of" Challenge.
This chapter has also been entered in the If You Dare Challenge (977. Chasing Shadows At Midnight)
MARCH: SHADE
It's been forever since Dean had a nightmare. Seamus' presence in his life – and his bed – means that he gets a good night's sleep every night, what with Seamus constantly curled up around him. Seamus shades him from the nightmares, and the nights when he used to wake up in cold sweat, screaming his lungs out, are almost forgotten.
The advent of March, however, sparks something in Dean. The nightmares return, worse than they ever were before.
It worries Seamus, Dean can tell, watching him wake up night after night, screaming and sobbing. He knows Seamus is waiting for him to talk about it, but Dean would rather keep it to himself. Seamus has already seen much of his worst – he doesn't want him to think Dean's weak and scared.
Seamus keeps quiet, waiting for Dean to bring it up himself. If seven years of friendship have taught him anything about Dean, it's that he hates being rushed. Dean appreciates that more than he can say.
Dean would rather have taken his secret with him to the grave, but when he wakes up with his wand to Seamus' throat, he knows that he cannot keep silent for any longer. He won't put Shay in danger just because of his stupid pride.
That night, through many tears, Dean tells Seamus about the night he was captured. About how he saw Ted Tonks – the man who had looked after him like Dean was his own son – tortured and killed in front of him, trying to protect Dean, who had stupidly angered the Snatchers who had caught up to them.
He tells Seamus everything.
And Shay quietly wraps Dean in his arms, wipes away his tears, and tells him that it wasn't his fault. That everything would be alright. That he doesn't think Dean's weak.
He falls asleep with Shay whispering words of love and affection in his ear.
After that night, the nightmares don't reappear.