Word Count: 614
A/N: A bit longer than usual, to make up for slow updates.
The bulldozer sprouted great, giant green tentacles. Arthur shuddered in terror, unable to run even as the beast-machine started towards him.
Behind him were the remains of his house, his beautiful house, and for miles behind that was nothing but similar destruction. Homes, ruined. The Horse and Groom, ruined. Cottington, ruined. From the corner of his eye, Arthur could see two miniature bulldozers, pink, pulling a "make way for bypasses" banner.
The giant bulldozer crunched over rubble, a tentacle flinging out to send a tree, maybe the last tree, flying into the distance. Another swept out suddenly, grabbing Arthur by the feet, and he screamed in fright.
"Arthur. Arthur!"
Upside-down, screaming, dressing gown flapping awkwardly in his face, Arthur could barely make out the argyle-clad figure running to him.
"Ford!" Arthur gasped, and another tentacle wound around his chest, squeezing and crushing. "Help me!"
"Arthur!"
His bones were crunching; the pain numbing all his feeling, and Arthur couldn't even breathe. He wanted to reach out, because Ford was almost there, but gravity was pulling his limbs from him, ripping his very skin and—
"Arthur, wake up!"
Arthur did wake up, to a stinging pain in his face and the sounds of his own panicked breathing. His chest still burnt, felt like it was on fire, like maybe it was being crushed, and Arthur struggled to get up, arms scrambling to get out from under the blankets.
"Arthur! Arthur, calm down." Ford pulled the covers back, holding Arthur's shoulder with one hand. "Are you alright?"
"Ford." Arthur breathed, and he'd never been so relieved in his life. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and felt exhausted.
Ford, however, didn't look like he'd be sleeping anytime soon. He still gripped Arthur's should and his eyes were wide, unblinking, staring intently at Arthur. "You were screaming bloody murder."
"Did I wake you?" was a stupid question, but all the willpower in the universe couldn't have stopped Arthur from asking. He rubbed his chest tiredly," Sorry."
"Well what happened?"
"Just a nightmare, Ford." Arthur sighed. He laid back, grimacing at the feel of his matted hair on the sweat damp pillow.
Ford gave him a disgruntled look, his own hair stuck into the air at every which direction and the sheet from his own bunk stuck to his pants. "Just a nightmare?" he repeated, sounding a bit mocking. "You were screaming, for me, and I couldn't get you to wake up."
He blinked once, then twice, and Arthur reached out to pat his leg reassuringly. "I know, thank you. You were coming to save me."
Ford looked interested at that, so Arthur continued. "I…this thing was hurting me." It was all fuzzy to Arthur now, but he could remember the fear, and Ford. "It was killing me, but you were coming to save me." Arthur finished, just before a yawn overcame him.
Ford seemed to be contemplating this. "If I hadn't woken you up, would I-the dream me, that is, have saved you?"
Arthur blinked sleepily. "I don't know"
Ford looked a bit miffed. "What do you mean you don't know? Of course I would have saved you." He ignored Arthur's slightly confused look and made himself comfortable next to the earthman. "Just think about it, Arthur. I always save you, right?"
"Umm..Yes."
"Right. So from now on, get your dreams correct and remember that. I can't have your dreams giving me a bad reputation."
Arthur smiled and yawned again. "Sorry Ford. I won't let it happen again."
"Good!" Ford wiggled around, elbowing Arthur a few times before settling down. "Now shut your mouth and go to sleep, would you? I'm trying to get some shut eye."