Hello everyone!

Hope you all enjoyed the last chapter - sorry if it was a little too weird! This one is going to follow the same sort of pattern, however I hope the end of this one will make things a little clearer. I've already started on the next chapter and I hope that will explain everything weird that's been happening.

This chapter is a bit shorter than the last one, but I think it's too the point and explains where I'm thinking of taking this story.

Enjoy!

xxx


Lucas:

When my eyes reopened the first thing I saw was my beautiful Bucket. Her head was rested on her folded arms that were next to my shoulder on the bed. She sat in a chair, hunched over against my bed. Her eyes were tightly closed and she was breathing rhythmically. I couldn't help but smile. Just the sight of her was enough to warm my heart.

My eyes scanned the room where I was in. I appeared to be in a hospital room. Frowning, I went to sit up. That was when I realised I was restrained. A set of handcuffs were attached from the metal frame of the bed to each of my wrists, holding me down. I tugged at them, testing their strength.

My movement caused Skye to stir. She turned her head slightly and moaned. I froze as I gazed at her, having not intended to disturb her. But her eyes began fluttering open anyway. At first her eyes still looked tired, and I hoped she'd drift back off. But when she saw I was awake, she perked instantly up.

"Lucas?"

She sat straight up. I scowled at her.

"What's this all about?" I questioned, lifting the wrist that was closest to her so she could see the metal cuffs.

Skye sighed.

"I asked them not to do that, but they are worried about your safety."

"My safety?"

Skye shrugged.

"They thought you might try to hurt yourself or one of the doctors." I grimaced. "I'm so sorry Lucas."

I pouted like a ten year old child that hadn't gotten their own way.

"You tricked me."

"You were scaring me! You weren't talking any sense!"

I glanced back at Skye.

"Of course it wouldn't make sense to you. You don't know what I know."

"And what's that? That I'm not real?" I frowned miserably. Skye sighed. "Look I'm sorry. I don't want to fight. I just want to help you, Lucas." Skye placed both her hands on my arm. "This is the real world."

"I know." I muttered.

Skye frowned.

"You do?"

I glanced at her.

"My mother was in the other world. Even I'm not insane enough to believe she's alive. So yes, I understand that this is the real world."

Skye grinned.

"Good. You were really frightening me."

"I'm sorry." I remarked, flicking my eyes back to her. "I didn't mean to."

Skye shook her head.

"I know you didn't. It's okay." She touched my face with her hand. "I just didn't want you to leave Terra Nova and get yourself killed. I couldn't bear it if I lost you."

"You'll never lose me, Bucket."

Skye leant forward slowly. I smiled at her and met her half way. The kiss was brief and sweet, yet it still highlighted the passion we were feeling for one another.

"I really would appreciate it if you'd talk to someone though. They might be able to help you."

I exhaled and leant my head back on the pillow.

"I'm beyond helping Skye. I'm fucked up, you know that."

Skye stroked her fingertips gently up and down my forearm.

"You're a tad unpredictable, but I would say you're permanently screwed."

I smirked at her.

"So what do they think is wrong with me?"

"I think they're thinking it's Post Traumatic Stress. You've been through a lot Lucas, and you've never really dealt with all that."

I sighed.

"Makes sense I guess." I mumbled.

Skye smiled supportively.

"It's okay though. I'll be right by your side, every step of the way."

I raised my brow questioningly.

"What do they plan to do?"

Skye bit her lip tentatively, as if she didn't want to tell me.

"Well urm...I think they want you to do some kind of counselling."

I glared.

"Well that's not happening."

Skye pulled a face.

"Please Lucas! It could help."

"Skye I don't talk about that stuff to even you. I'm not going to discuss it with someone I don't even know or trust."

"But perhaps that's the problem. You need to talk about it. You need to deal with it."

"If I wanted to talk about it then I'd talk to you."

Skye sighed. She started combing her fingers through my hair.

"And I'd always be here to listen to you. But I wouldn't know what to say, not the way a professional would."

I frowned.

"You always know what to say to me." I grumbled.

Skye smiled.

"How about you try it for a few weeks? If it doesn't help then you can stop. But at least give it a go." She reasoned.

I pulled a face.

"I'd rather not."

"It would make me happy." Skye retaliated.

I scowled at her. But already I felt my defences crumbling.

"Fine. I'll do it for you."

Skye grinned.

"Thank you." She kissed me again, more intensely that time. "I love you."

"Hmm. You have a funny way of showing it." I retorted, eyeing the cuffs.

Skye smirked.

"How about I wear the cuffs next time then?" She commented with a seductive wink.

My lips curved into a smile.

"That could work."

Skye beamed. Then she leant down and moulded her lips to mine. As the kiss grew, I went to wrap my arms around her, forgetting about the cuffs. I groaned when my hands refused to move. Skye back up and glanced at the metal rings around my wrists. She sniggered before fixing her gaze back on me.

"Let me go find Dr Shannon. I'll tell her you're cooperating; see if I can get her to remove the handcuffs."

"Don't be too long." I remarked.

Skye smirked at me. Then I watched as she disappeared out the door. Sighing contently to myself, I settled down against the bed. Despite being trapped in the handcuffs and threatened with having to see a shrink, I was quite happy where I was. Skye was there, alive and well. Terra Nova was still standing. It didn't appear that we had any enemies to worry about. I was more than content to remain where I was. Yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.

I shifted uncomfortably on the bed, feeling a small ache inside of my head. Frowning, I moved my head about on the pillow, trying to get comfy. But the pain began growing. It felt like someone was stabbing a dagger through each of my temples. Groaning, I tried bringing my hands to my head so I could press against the pain. But still my hands remained locked in place.

My stomach began churning as unbearable pain stormed through my head. It felt like an intense pressure was gathering on either side of my head. My eyes felt like they were being pushed out from their sockets. The light in the room was blinding and I had to squeeze my eyes tightly closed. It felt like I was spinning, making me feel even more sick. The smell of iron was thick in my nose and it caused me to gag.

Then, as if I could take it no longer, I felt my mind begin to close down. As I descended into unconsciousness, the pain began lifting. Soon I felt weightless, gliding across the black. Then there was nothing at all.

XXX

As I awoke my lungs heaved in oxygen. My eyes were wide and wild, shifting from one object to the next. I could feel beads of sweat gathering across my face. My body was tense, muscles locked almost painfully.

"Good morning Lucas." Caine greeted. I turned my head across to look at him. He was placing the metal probes he normally attached to my head on a silver tray. "Sleep well, I presume?"

I frowned confusedly.

"I was dreaming?"

Caine rolled his eyes at me, like the way an adult would at a naive child.

"Lucas, how many times must I explain this concept to you? When you are with Skye you are in a kind of dream world, a delusion."

I shook my head.

"But it seems so real." I could feel tears stinging in my eyes. I needed my Bucket. "She seems so real."

Caine nodded.

"I know." He approached me slowly, his black eyes trained on mine. "But she isn't. You'll have to accept that one day."

I shuddered.

"And if I don't?"

Caine narrowed his eyes as if debating the answer to that question. Then he sighed.

"Lucas," He sat down on a stool that was beside the bed I was tied to. "There is one thing I can do for you that might help." I frowned. "It's my fault we're in this situation. I messed around inside your head for too long. I realise I'm the one to blame for that. But I have a solution. I can make you forget all about your life in Terra Nova. I can make you forget about Skye."

It felt like I had just been punched in the gut. All the air had left my lungs and my entire body felt numb.

"Forget Skye?"

Caine nodded.

"It would be a simple procedure, one we perfected a few years back. I can make it so Skye Tate never existed in your mind. I can rid you of the pain you feel about losing her."

My eyes shifted away from his and I stared up at the ceiling. A life without my Bucket seemed so lonely, so pointless. I couldn't imagine how I'd be able to go on without her by my side. Yet the thought of forgetting her was incomprehensible. I loved Skye more than anything and I'd never want to erase her from my mind.

"No." I shook my head. "I can't lose her."

"You already have Lucas." I frowned. Confusion was clouding my mind; I couldn't even begin to think straight. "Lucas you're in the real world now. Here, there is no place for weakness. Skye is your weakness. Now what did I teach you about weaknesses?"

I shivered.

"They have to be destroyed otherwise they'll destroy you."

"Exactly. Your memories of Skye will destroy you Lucas. So we must destroy them first."


So what do you think? Any clearer on what's going on? Do you think I should be cruel and make Lucas forget all about Skye? Please leave me your thoughts :-)