"Alex!" a desperate female voice called out to him. Alex looked around but couldn't find the source. He didn't recognize his surroundings either. He was in a two story house. It looked like he was in the living room. The floors were a rich hardwood and the walls were a pale mint green. There were two windows on the far wall with long drapes framing them. There was a piano on one wall. He was sitting on an L-shaped couch facing a TV that was turned off.

"Alex!" the voice wailed again. It had an almost ghostly quality. Alex stood. He didn't know why but he needed to find the owner of the voice. She was important to him somehow. She had to be upstairs. He knew she was upstairs. Each step was like molasses. The stairway seemed to stretch out endlessly before him. Yet somehow he made it to the top. There was a hallway with three rooms. One door was open and a light flickered inside. She was in there. But something was wrong.

"Help me please!" the voice screamed. "Alex please!" All hesitation was gone from his mind. He had to save her. He sprinted to the door and there she was. And now he knew who she was. Jack. And he knew what was about to happen. He took a single, desperate step forward as the room exploded, the red of Jack's hair blending with the orange of the fire before it engulfed her fully.

"NOOOO!" Alex screamed, startling awake and falling off the couch with a thud.

"Alex!" Ben exclaimed from the kitchen in alarm. Alex looked around wildly at his unfamiliar surroundings. "Alex! Hey, it was just a bad dream," Ben soothed. But Alex wasn't listening. He bolted down the hall, dimly remembering seeing a bathroom. He flung himself down next to the toilet and retched. The small meal of the sandwich was the only thing in his stomach and he was soon dry heaving, shaking with the effort. Finally, his body relented and he collapsed on the tile floor. He reveled in the cool of the porcelain, letting the tears and sweat dry on his body.

"Are you ok?" The soft voice behind him made him jump and he spun around to see Ben in the doorway. Ben. He knew Ben didn't he? From before? It was so long ago. It felt more like a dream. Alex groaned. It was all too much. Everything was too much. And what would his master think of all this? He didn't like it when Alex had nightmares. Mostly because he didn't like it when Alex screamed. Alex gasped as a hand touched him and reflexively backed away as far as he could, which happened to be into the shower. The hand didn't follow.

"I'm calling Snake," Ben announced, frowning. He disappeared and Alex stayed where he was. The shower curtain gave him partial cover and it made him feel slightly more secure. He closed his eyes, setting his head on his arms and waited for whatever punishment he was about to receive for his disobedience.

"Hey Cub," the Scotsman greeted gently from the doorway of the bathroom after what felt like a millenia. Alex lifted his head but, as usual, avoided direct eye contact. "Ben said ye weren't feeling well? Wanna tell me what happened?" Alex shook his head. "Well I'm gonna come in and take a look at ye. I won't hurt ye. I'm here to help remember?" Alex nodded, staring fixedly at the wall, his whole body tense.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" The medic asked. Alex shook his head again. The medic frowned and Alex felt a cold dread. Had he done something wrong? The medic shined a bright light in his eyes and Alex blinked, putting a hand up.

"It's ok," Snake soothed. He grabbed Alex's wrist gently. "Hold still," he warned. "Yer going to feel a pinch." Alex closed his eyes against the unwanted touch. "Just breathe, Cub." Alex felt something hard placed against his finger and then suddenly he felt as if it electrified him. The blonde's eyes flew open as he instinctively tried to pull away.

"I know, I know," the medic mumbled, holding him fast, which only served to panic Alex more. He was trapped. "Hold still!" Snake ordered. Alex obeyed. Ignoring a direct order would get him a beating for sure. Instead, screwed his eyes shut again, his breathing coming in short, fast bursts. Why couldn't he just be left alone? Suddenly, the iron grip on his wrist was released.

"All right lad. All right. Slow, deep breaths. We're done. Breathe in…. Breathe out." Alex's wheezy gasps soon turned into deliberate, measured breaths. "Good," Snake murmured. He stood from his kneeling position in front of the blond and Alex shrank into his corner. The older man looked at him sadly before walking out, pulling the waiting Ben with him into the living room.

"So?" Ben asked as soon as they stepped foot into the living room. Snake's face was carefully neutral.

"He's traumatized Ben. And hypoglycemic. He needs to eat. But ye can't feed him too much too fast. Try small snacks throughout the day to start with." Ben let the information sink in.

"So what do I do with him? I'm not trained for this!"

"Are any of us? Just go slow. He'll come around."

"That's the kicker isn't it. He doesn't remember me. Why?" Snake considered.

"He could have repressed memories."

"Isn't that for traumatic events? Why would he repress me?"

"Ben, he's been through a lot. Maybe they got beaten out of him. Or it became painful to think of a time when people cared. Who knows why these things happen. Give him time." Snake turned to leave but Ben grabbed his arm.

"Snake?" The medic looked back. "Thanks." The Scotsman nodded.