SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS
MysticGohan88 (Ch 1): Hey, long time no see. Yes, this saves characters I like. Read on and see. I don't know, maybe. I'll keep it in mind. Hope you like the update.
Darkness Takes Over: Thanks. Me too, and I'm the one who did it to him.
DISCLAIMER
Belongs to Wes Craven and New Line Cinema. I only own the new plot. Uses a line from NOES 1.
Minutes later, Joey was sitting in one of chairs in the police station, with a steaming cup of coffee.
"Sorry I can't give you anything stronger. I mean, if anyone ever needed a drink, it's you," Lt. Garcia stated apologetically.
"No. It's--it's fine. The coffee's perfectly fine," Joey assured him.
"Nancy and the rest of your friends should be here in a few minutes," Lt. Garcia told him.
"Good. That's good," Joey stated. He let out a shaky breath. "She--she knew, Lt.," he stated.
"What are you talking about?" Lt. Garcia wondered.
"She--she talked to me. Right--right before she died. She--she looked at me," Joey revealed.
"What did she say?" Lt. Garcia wondered.
"'You're okay. Thank God you're okay'," Joey quoted. Lt. Garcia stared at the boy. Shelly Crusel had known Krueger was hunting the kids? "She--she was--she was protecting me. She--she had been choked--" his breathing became even more labored.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, kiddo," Lt. Garcia soothed.
"Take it easy? He killed my parents! I'm all alone," Joey said. Before Lt. Garcia could respond, the door opened to reveal Nancy, Kincaid, Kristen, Rick, and Alice who came running up to him and they all knelt down so that they were face-to-face with each other.
"Hey, man. We just heard," Rick stated.
"Joey, I'm so sorry," Alice said at the same time.
"We won't let him get away with this, Joey. I promise you," Nancy declared.
"Yeah, man. He made a big mistake. He forgot that we're all a team," Kincaid added.
"Yeah, that's right," Kirsten, Rick, and Alice agreed.
"What am I gonna do? Where am I gonna live?" Joey wondered.
"Well--and Garcia, I understand that this proposal is highly irregular--maybe you could come live with me, just until we get things sorted out," Nancy suggested.
"As you say Nancy, it's highly irregular. However, these are unusual circumstances. He'd probably be safest with you," Garcia stated. "I'll arrange it. Make sure you don't hit any snags," he continued.
"Thank you," Nancy told him.
"Joey, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine what you're going through," Kristen commented.
"Thanks, Kris. I'm just glad you guys are here," Joey stated. He blew out a breath. Kristen stared at her friend. His eyes were haunted and his face was haggard-looking. The girl pulled Nancy aside.
"We have to put an end to this. I want Krueger dead…for good…you hear me?" Kristen hissed. Then, she walked back to the group. Back at Westin Hills, Dr. Simms and Dr. Carver were discussing Nancy's abrupt departure and the nature of it, unaware that Max was listening in.
"What do you make of it, Ken?" Dr. Simms questioned.
"Well, from her end, it had sounded like something had happened at Joey's," Dr. Carver replied.
"Hope he's all right. I mean, I heard Miss Thompson say something about Joey finding his parents…whatever that means," Dr. Simms stated.
"Is…Joey okay?" Max questioned. The two turned around.
"We don't know," Dr. Carver answered.
"Where is he now?" Max asked again.
"I--think I heard say she was going to the police station," Dr. Simms answered.
"You mind if I take my break to see how he is?" Max queried.
"Of course not, Max. Keep up posted, please," Dr. Simms requested.
"You got it," Max promised. He signed himself out and then took off.
"Oh, the poor boy. I hope he's all right," Dr. Simms said. Max got into his car, started the engine, and headed for the Springwood Police Department. When he got there, he parked, and then ran in.
"Joey? Is Joey Crusel here?" he asked the desk clerk. The man pointed, and the orderly took off. Hearing the footsteps, everyone turned around.
"I just heard. Is he all right?" Max questioned.
"I'm--I'm all right, Max. I wasn't asleep," Joey answered, as the man came up to him.
"What exactly happened, man?" Max questioned.
"I came home and found Dad murdered in his easy chair. Then I thought about Mom, so I ran upstairs and he was choking her. I--I couldn't save her," Joey stated, repeating the story from earlier.
"Damn," Max sighed. Kristen leaned into Nancy.
"Like I said, I want Krueger dead," she hissed again. Nancy nodded.
"It'll happen," she promised.
"What's our next step?" Max questioned.
"We take the fight to him. Show him that he can't just screw with our friends," Kincaid answered. The others spoke in agreement. Joey smiled softly. He couldn't believe he had such amazing friends.
"So, what do we do? Just go in?" Rick asked.
"Now, I'm pretty new to all this dream stuff, but that seems like the worst thing we could do. It's reckless, impulsive--" Max began to say.
"And that's exactly why we're doing it," Kristen interrupted.
"Kristen--" Nancy began.
"Someone's gotta make him pay. I won't stand for him hurting someone on my team," Kristen interrupted.
"Kris, calm down. He's trying to make you reckless," Kincaid cautioned. Kristen stopped, as if realizing how she was acting.
"You're right. You're absolutely right," she agreed. "Sorry," she apologized.
"Hey, we understand your frustration," the older woman told her.
"I need the bathroom. I'll be right back," Kristen said.
"Down the hall," Lt. Garcia stated. She walked out into the hall and continued until she found what she was looking for. She went into the bathroom and locked the door. Then, she stood so that she was facing the mirror.
"Okay, Krueger. We play in your court," she declared. Then, she backed up against the wall and slid down it until she was sitting on the floor. She closed her eyes, and slipped into a deep sleep. Joey jerked.
"Joey?" Nancy asked.
"She went in," Joey reported.
"What?" the others gasped.
"She went in there all alone," Joey reported.
