--So I strive to bring you people awesomeness, laughs and heart felt replies forever and ever--

-Unlikely Hero

-Chapter Fourteen: Nightmare and Midnight Visit

WHOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Got it up!!! YEAH!!!!! Enjoy!!! ;)

After Saja had left, Emma began to pace about her room. There was no way that she was the first female assassin! It just wasn't probable. She wasn't from this time AND this was just a game. She stopped as a new thought formed in her head: What if this wasn't a game? She remembered her dream then. The one she'd had in the hallway with Altaïr. It was a little unclear as to what it was about exactly, but she knew it was important.

Voices, she remembered voices, but she couldn't remember exactly what they had said. She knew they were talking about her and that one was her friend and the other was her enemy. However, if the voices were also enemies of each other, why were they just talking and not trying to kill each other? She rubbed her temples as a headache began to form. This was all so confusing and made absolutely no sense. Sighing, she approached the bed and sat down.

"What am I going to do?" She asked aloud. Unfortunately there was no answer. Sighing again she laid back and closed her eyes. Sleep came relatively fast…mercifully fast.

Pain…

Darkness…

Everywhere…

They were both inescapable.

Wait!

A voice.

No!

Two voices…talking…about her.

They were both beautiful…

They were both her friends…

"You know this is sick."

"Please, don't. I can't talk about this with you."

"Why? Because that…psycho is listening? Bullshit!"

The voice sighed, "Look, there are some things here that we just can't talk about. Okay?"

"No! It's not okay! Abducting me is one thing, but a teenager!! I just can't believe…"

"Believe it. This is war and she's part of it now."

"Yeah…well…she shouldn't be."

"That's something we agree on. Now please, let me work."

There was a brief silence before the voices spoke again, "What did he mean by her family being 'taken care of'?"

"I can't say."

"Oh, c'mon, L…"

"How are things coming?" It was HIM!!!!

"Every thing's Denver. Actually, I've just about located the prob…"

NO!

Not again!

She needed to learn more, but she couldn't concentrate…

The darkness…it was suffocating her…!

Pushing her away from them!

The pain pulsed, getting stronger and stronger till…

Emma shot up in bed, sweating and breathing heavily. She looked around herself, almost expecting to see the shimmering, swirling, mist from her dreams, hear the voices arguing about something…she didn't understand. What was happening? What were her dreams about? All this not knowing was driving her crazy!

She shoved off the heavy comforter and went to look out one of the windows. It was dark out now, with a full moon that hung low in the sky. Billions of stars twinkled back at her merrily.

For a moment she hated them for being so happy, while she was still trembling over her disturbing dream. However, she quickly shook off the feeling, and it was, instead, replaced by a sudden, aching loneliness.

She turned from the window and started for the door, with the intent of going to find Altaïr and talk to him. She was almost to the door when she realized that she didn't know which room was his.

Dispirited she walked back over to the bed and sat down with a loud sigh.

It was then that the door opened and Saja entered. "Is everything all right, Emma?" She asked quietly.

Emma stared at her for a few seconds in shock with her mouth hanging open. "Uh…" She was speechless, she hadn't made that loud of a noise…had she?

"Emma?" Saja stared at her in confusion.

She snapped out of it then, "No, I wanted to talk with Altaïr, but then I realized that I didn't know which room was his."

"I could show you. That is if you really want me to."

She shot up off the bed ready to go. "Yes, please!"

Saja smiled slightly, "Follow me. It is not far. Just down the hall. "She said while leading her out of her room, and down the slightly curving hallway of, seemingly endless doors and lit torches.

Emma made sure to count the doors as they walked by them. They passed a total of fourteen doors, and then at the fifteenth, Saja stopped.

"Here we are, Altaïr's personal bedchambers."

"Thank you, Saja."

"You are most welcome, Emma. I trust you can find your own way back?"

She nodded, "Yes, I can. Go get some sleep."

Saja bowed her head slightly. "Good night, Emma."

"G' night, Saja." But before Saja turned away, Emma noticed an amused gleam in her dark brown eyes.

When Emma could no longer hear the retreating footsteps of her ladies' maid, she turned to Altaïr's door. It was exactly the same as her door, solid oak that was oiled to a gleam.

She raised her hand to knock, but stopped just a hair's breath away from it, when she realized what Saja had said. Altaïr's personal bedchambers! Then she knew what that amused gleam was about, Saja thought…!

That wasn't why she'd come. She wished only to talk to him, to share her thoughts and concerns about her nightmares…to ask him what he thought about them.

But…why did it have to be right now? Couldn't it wait till morning?...

Yes, she decided and just as she was about to head back to her room, Altaïr opened his door.

"Emma? What are your doing out here? Is everything all right? What happened?"

At first she didn't say anything. She was too stunned by his sudden appearance that she couldn't say anything. What was it with people just popping in and out of doors so suddenly?

"Emma?" He reached out and grabbed her by her shoulders to make her look into his eyes. "Is everything all right?" He asked slowly.

For a few more moments she remained frozen, just so she could keep staring into his honey-colored eyes. Then finally she nodded. "Yes."

"Then what brought you to my door so late at night? Obviously something is troubling you." He stated while letting go of her shoulders, crossing his arms across his chest, and leaning against the door jam.

She noticed then how he was dressed: white loose-fitted pants, which qualified as pajama bottoms, and no shirt! His chest was bare, and for a brief moment she let her eyes wander over him. (Think Hugh Jackman as Wolverine) His actual chest was free of hair, but there was a bit that circled his belly-button and tapered to a thin line that continued downward.

Swallowing, she looked up at his face, "No, nothing."

"Come, Emma. You already woke me, so you might as well tell me. What is troubling you?"

Thinking about it now she felt childish. "Nightmares." She answered blushing slightly.

He straightened from the door jam. "Nightmares?" He asked taken aback.

She nodded, "Yes, but it doesn't matter. I'll let you go back to sleep. Sorry for waking you. She started back down the hall to her lonely room, but Altaïr grabbed her wrist, effectively stopping her. His grip was firm but not painfully so.

"That is not the only reason you came here was it?" He said it more as a statement then a question.

She stayed silent. He was right. She'd come to his room because she was lonely and it was hard to sleep without him. After several days of him always being there, she'd grown accustomed to his body beside hers when she slept.

He was a silent, profound presence in her life now. Then she realized that when the time came for her to go back, she wasn't sure if she would, or if she actually could for that matter. This new revelation scared her, and at the same time put her mind at ease.

She shook her head, "No, I didn't like being alone."

For several moments he didn't say anything, obviously he was contemplating her words and what he should do next.

She was sure he'd never actually had to say much though out his life…him being an assassin and all.

She was correct; he wasn't sure what to say in this kind of situation, let alone what to do. It was obvious that she was lonely and wanted to stay with him, but if anyone found out, they'd get the wrong idea. Then consequently, he would be effectively removed from guard duty. He was at an impasse.

However, after looking into her soulful blue eyes, his mind was made up for him. Sighing he opened his door wider and, after letting go of her wrist, motioned for her to come in.

Letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding, she walked into his room. Everything was basically the same as her own, except for the various weapons lying around the room.

'Gives it a nice homey touch, don't it." She thought to herself, smiling slightly.

Throwing knives, two swords, the short sword that she had used, and something about the size of a pocket knife laid on the still made bed! She looked back at him, frowning slightly, as he closed the door. Altaïr had lied. He hadn't slept at all! Could it be that he missed her too?

No way! He was the strong, silent type who didn't need anybody.

"Do you want to talk about your nightmare?" He asked while walking up to her.

If her dream hadn't been so disconcerting she might've laughed; an assassin wanting to talk with her……about nightmares, of all things.

"Um, kind of, but I still don't fully understand it myself."

"What was it about?" He asked as he grabbed the knife off the bed and put it on the bedside table. He motioned for her to sit, but she shook her head. She was too fired up to sit still.

He shrugged and sat on the edge of his bed. Once he was situated he motioned for her to start.

"Well I always start out in this strange swirling mist," She started while pacing back and forth in front of him. "And then I'll be able to hear voices…"

"Voices," He asked suddenly, cutting her off, "What are they saying?"

She shook her head impatiently, "That's the part I don't understand! They are talking and I know the subject is important, but I just can't comprehend what it is! It's just…argh! It's so frustrating!" She sat down in a huff beside him and crossed her arms, much like a pouting two year old.

A small smile played across his lips. "Well, that most certainly is a problematic situation." He said with amusement.

She looked at him and frowned. "You're laughing at me!?" She exclaimed, feigning offense. "You're actually laughing at me!? Altaïr…!"

"I did not laugh." He said cutting her off again.

"You'd better not have." She said in a teasing, threatening tone. Her blue eyes reflected the light of the candle on his bedside table, making her appear even more mischievous.

He fought down the urge to reach out and touch the soft skin of her cheek. She'd made her position on the subject very clear. He didn't want to do anything that might jeopardize their friendship. He'd decided that having her be close to him as a friend was better then not having her at all. So he'd resigned himself to the title of 'the friend'. He didn't like it, but it was his only option.

He sighed suddenly dejected, "What did these voices say?"

She noted the mood change in him, but chose to not comment, "There are two that I some how know are my friends, and one that just... I'm not sure, but I don't like it."

"How many dreams have you had?"

"Only two but they creep me out!" She wrapped her arms around herself as if fighting off a chill. "I don't like being in that mist. It feels as if I'm being suffocated and I..." She trailed off and sighed, closing her eyes.

He looked at her for a few moments then he reached over and put a hand on her shoulder.

She looked over at him startled. She could see him struggling to form the right words.

"I....I mean, would you.......hum-mm......" Taking his hand off her shoulder, he looked away, uncertainty and discomfort shining in his eyes.

Taking pity on him, she asked, "Can I stay with you tonight?"

He looked back at her with relief, "Of course."

She smiled then turned and jumped on his bed. Much like the same two year old as before she began jumping on it.

He turned to watch her and found himself smiling once again. He couldn't help it and quite frankly... he wasn't sure he wanted to.

Okay people there it is. finally jeez. lol. I had this done for weeks, but my older brother decided to be an A** and not let me use the internet. He's a terd. But I found a loop hole!! Took me a bit, but I got it. Obviously. Lol. I'm working on the next chapter and the much awaited leap of faith scene will be up with it. Hopefully I get it up before I have to return my laptop. It's my friends, but it originally belongs to the school. EEP!!! Not too much time left!!!!! Gotta hurry, gotta hurry!!!

Potzy375 ;)