Chapter Thirty-eight

Outside the night was still. Rafe slept soundly but Alison's sleep was fitful. Her head filled with what seemed like a series of dreams.

She inched closer to him, pulling his arms around her. It almost felt as if she was wide awake. It felt to her as if the pictures were right in front of her.

Abby, alone in what looked like the catacombs. Abby trying to sleep, facing Caleb refusing to give him what he sought. Abby lying lifeless.

"NO!" she screamed, though still asleep.

Rafe sat up and shook her awake. "Alison? Angel? It's OK. It's just a dream. Wake up. C'mon."

"No, no, no, no…" she repeated over and over.

It was only a dream, but he hated to see her scared. He hated that there was anything in the world that could upset her this much.

"Alison. Shhh. It's OK. Wake up." He held her tight and placed soft kisses on her temple, rubbing his hand up and down her back to try and soothe her.

Alison's eyes fluttered open. "Rafe?" She said softly, her voice confused.

He pushed her hair from her face. She was shivering, though it wasn't at all cold in the room. "Yeah. Shh. I'm right here. It's OK."

"Rafe." she said again, tears filling her eyes.

"Shh." He pulled her close and held her tighter, placing a kiss on her hair.

"Rafe. I saw her." Alison said, her voice quivering.

Her words barely registered. "I know. It's alright." He said, absentmindedly. He was busy, rubbing her arms, trying to warm her. He was trying all he could to make her stop shaking.

"Rafe. NO. Listen to me. I know where she is. I saw Abby."

"Alison." He knew she was desperate to find her sister, but Abby was the clairvoyant one. "That was a just a dream."

Alison's eyes pleaded with him. Her voice grew stronger. "No. I saw her. Rafe. She's in the catacombs. I don't know how to explain it. I know it's true. She's there."

Who was he to rule her out? Look at him. He was a former angel and a vampire slayer, with certain selective powers still intact. Alison's great-great-great grandmother was labeled a witch. Her sister was psychic. Was it all that crazy to think that she might not have some sort of powers to, especially now, as she carried his child.

He finally took her seriously. He turned her to face him, smoothing back her hair, his fingers lingering on her cheeks. "Angel? Tell me. Where did you see her?"

"It was in the catacombs. Where Caleb used to hide. Where he brought Livvie. She's there. She's not scared though Rafe. Why isn't she scared?" Alison's voice was full of concern for her sister.

"I don't know." He said as he kissed her softly, he figured he'd gotten a good enough idea of where to look now. "I don't know, but I'll go get her and bring her home." He slid from the bed and moved to put on his shoes.

Alison followed, slipping her shoes on and grabbing a jacket,. She stood by the door.

"What are you doing?" Rafe asked.

"I'm coming with you."

He stared at her, dumbfounded. "Oh no. You are not."

Her eyes glittered with anger. "Oh yes. I am."

"Alison. Be reasonable. I will not let you put yourself in that kind of danger."

"Rafe.." she started to protest.

"Stop. I won't." He moved to hold her by the shoulders. "Alison. I love that you want to fight him too. Really I do. But I can't let you come with me. You - if I lost you…especially now…" he trailed off.

She truly wanted to be a part of this. She wanted to save her sister as she saved her, but she also knew Rafe couldn't do what he needed to do and worry about her and the baby too. She sighed in frustration, knowing she was fighting a losing battle. "Rafe."

"I know. It sucks. I get to have all the fun." Rafe smiled in spite of it all.

"No. I can't let you go all alone." Alison's voice became frantic. "Don't you understand? I can't lose you either."

"It's OK." He tried to reassure her. "I'll be fine."

She started to get an unbelievably bad feeling about all of this. "You don't know that. You're just saying that to make me feel better. Rafe. Please. Call someone. Don't go alone. Don't. Please."

He pulled her into his arms and rocked her gently. "Alison. Don't you want me to go and get her?"

"Not alone. Rafe. Don't go alone." Alison insisted.

At a loss as to what to do, he just held her closer. He wanted to save her sister, but he couldn't leave her. Not while she was reacting like this. He took her seriously. This wasn't just her emotions out of whack. She sensed something. It had her terrified.

Just then, there was a loud knock on the door. Releasing Alison and motioning for her to keep herself hidden he went to the door.

He was not all that surprised to see who was standing on the other side.

"Are you going to get her?" Cameron asked.

"That was the plan." Rafe replied, with a bit of a smile.

"Good. Then we're on the same page." Cam nodded.

Seeing that it was Cameron, Alison moved out of the shadows and stood next to Rafe. He turned to her and kissed her soundly, holding her for a full minute before he broke away and moved towards the door.

"Call Lucy. Don't stay here alone." He called to her as he walked away. "I love you."

"I will. I won't. I love you too." She sighed as she watched them leave.

She spoke to her sister in her mind, hoping she could hear. "Well Abby, hang on. They're on their way."