Disclaimers, ratings, name, etc can be found in prologue.

Author's Notes: All Comments can be found at the end of the fic as I had a lot to say. Just so you know, Freddy's back! :-)

Also wanted to add, if you have not yet checked out Danielle's 'Nightmare Switch' make sure you do so as it's supposed to end soon and it is such a laugh riot - totally makes my day, always check for updates!

More warnings…

WARNING: BAD LANGUAGE

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE/GORE

WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGERY

------------------------------

Chapter 28

Doc called for a cab and rode back to his and Maggie's hotel. He could have waited for her to finish talking with the others but he just wanted to go back to his room and rest.

He didn't know why their conversation had got him so upset. He had met Michael, he was a great man and he made Maggie so happy. Why should he care that they chose to talk about him?

It would be easy to say that he thought it was distasteful considering the circumstances at hand but he knew that wasn't the truth. The truth was…

God, he couldn't even say it in his head. He paid the cabby and went upstairs to his room. He pulled out several texts he had brought with him and poured himself a strong cup of coffee. If the others were going to sit around and gab about their respective others the least he could do was get some work done.

They needed to find a way to stop Freddy and what's more, save the young girl he had trapped with him. He couldn't even begin to imagine the kind of horror she had been going through the past few days. And all the people this monster had killed tonight…

He flipped through several books as hours seemed to crawl by. Book after book, page after page. Newspaper articles, magazines, in-depth medical and psychological reports. At last he came across something of interest. His mind began buzzing as he started methodically circling and highlighting issues of interest.

"Of course, it all makes sense now," he whispered to himself, "This is it. This is IT!"

He grew jittery, excited as he began to organize and catalogue his find. He couldn't wait to tell the others, to tell Maggie. She'd be so thrilled, so proud. Then Michael would come.

This realization dropped Doc's elevated mood, turning everything sour. He sighed and finished putting together a folder of his findings. It was late. He imagined the group had all ready broken up and gone their separate ways. He had put a privacy sign on his door he was sure Maggie would see. She would probably not bother him until tomorrow.

He should have called, told her he had left, but he had been distracted with thoughts and feelings. Ones he shouldn't have. And then this study had consumed him.

Once the folder was done he set it aside and prepared himself for bed, as he crawled between the sheets he thought of all that had happened. All these conflicting emotions. They weren't good for his state of mind, they made him weary and that was the last thing he wanted. Could Freddy find access into his dreams now?

No, that was ridiculous. He wasn't scared of the striped psycho - even if he had caused so much terror and death. All Doc saw Freddy as was an abomination to the dreamscape - the man was controlled by the Dream Demons - he had to be stopped, put to right. There had to be a good to combat all this evil.

And more importantly he controlled his dreams. No one else. That was why Freddy had been unable to wipe his memories as easily as he had others. Freddy had only been able to enter his dreams once and that was only because Doc had been distracted. Now he could not enter them and Doc knew why - his study was proof.

Satisfied, Doc closed his eyes, feeling he was safe even as inside he continued to struggle over Maggie.

Doc's eyes opened and he found himself in an abandoned boiler room. He frowned, this made no sense. He normally dreamed of exciting adventures - scuba diving, snowboarding, things he had never done because of time constrictions. Tonight he had planned on dreaming about hot air ballooning so what was he doing here? How could a boiler room be an adventure?

Scrreeeechhhh!

Doc froze, looking around warily.

Scrreeeechhhh!

"That sound…" he spoke aloud.

Scrreeeechhhh!

"Scratching…metal on metal?" he turned in the direction of the sound. Up on the catwalk was the little girl. Her hair was still pulled back in the loopy red ribbons. She walked down a flight of metal steps so quickly it was like she was floating. She made a beeline straight for him, not stopping, speeding up in fact until she zoomed right in front of him.

Her skin was deathly pale and she looked up at him with bottomless black eyes, "Hello."

Doc bent down to her height, "Hello, what's your name?"

"You were looking for me," she said, each word slowly paced out, "Weren't you."

"Yes, I was," Doc replied, apprehensive. What was going on? Why was he here? He had found the girl, which had always been his goal but he had planned on telling Maggie about his find first, using that to go into the dreamscape and save her. He hadn't planned on doing it on his own. All alone.

The realization of how alone he was began to frighten him as the girl gave a grin, drawing out her next word, "Well…"

Her hand shot out, having turned into razor fingers to slash at his kneecaps, "You found me!"

Doc screamed in agony, falling back onto his behind, his knees destroyed. Blood gushed forth and he felt dizzy as he looked down. God, the cuts were so deep both his legs had almost been torn off! He gasped, hysterical as he used his hands to crawl backward.

The little girl quickly transformed into a gloating Freddy who stood above him, head cocked to one side as he clicked his tongue, "Eh, what's up, Doc?"

Doc continued wheezing in pain, mentally chastising himself. Stupid, STUPID! Mere moments ago he'd been bragging that his study proved why he was protected but he had forgot to factor in his current mental state before falling asleep – that had everything to do with it! The study he complied even said…

Suddenly from behind Freddy the real little girl emerged. Her hair was down, not in its ribbons and she had a deadly look on her little face. She looked up at Freddy thoughtfully and he stared down at her, the gloating sneer on his face growing as he offered his hand.

She took a firm hold of it, tiny white hand disappeared inside his big red one and they both stared down at Doc who was sweating profusely, eyes glazed with delirious suffering, "Y - You're - you…"

"We're together," Freddy chuckled, "You don't approve?"

Doc spit, struggling to not only sit up but continue to back away, "How - why…"

"I was lonely," Freddy said with mock sorrow, "But Samara here made it all better…"

"Samara," Doc looked at the girl and his eyes widened, "Sam…"

The girl grinned, showing rotten teeth, then transformed, turning into her teenager body, looking down at the man disapprovingly. Doc shook his head, "We - we trusted you…took you in..."

"Oh dear," Freddy cackled again, "I think he's lying. We have to teach him a lesson, don't we? Wash his mouth out!"

Freddy pointed at Doc and a bar of soap appeared out of no where, jammed between his teeth. Samara raised her hand and shot out over a gallon of dark dirty water, liberally splashing his face. The pouring tide didn't stop as Doc began to gurgle, close to either choking or drowning though it was hard to tell as water continue to gush in his direction.

Freddy pushed Samara's hand down, stopping the flow. She looked at him in wonder as he snapped his fingers and the soap disappeared, "Choked one chicken today."

Samara thought of Lori and once again had that irresistible urge to laugh, but instead added, "Two."

"Hmm?"

"Disher."

"Oh, yes, well that kid just lost himself to the music," Freddy muttered then knelt down to face Doc, pointing a razor finger in his direction, "Now what to do with you…"

Doc scowled, "You can do whatever you want, but even if I die, it doesn't matter. You won't get Maggie. You'll be stopped! I found the way!"

Freddy snorted, "You know how many stupid shits have told me that?! And I keep coming back for more. As long as there's fear, I'll always survive. I told you once that I am forever but I'm more than that. I. AM. ETERNITY."

Then his head cocked to the side, "You speak of my daughter," he seemed to gag on this word, "Like she's so very special. Why is that?"

Doc didn't answer but the look on his face was enough. Freddy's head tossed back as he let out a gale of cruel laughter, "You're in love with her, aren't you, you fat shit! Well, I hate to break it to you, but you're a bit old for her?"

Doc glared at him, pointing an accusing finger in Samara's direction, "And she isn't too young for you?"

"Oh her?" Freddy asked dryly, "She's just my child. My…new daughter."

"You all ready have a daughter. Maggie…"

"Yeah and what a fucking disappointment she turned out to be," Freddy seethed, "Thanks to fucks like you…"

With that he rose to his feet, "But I've been a rude host, we could use some lights, better to set the mood."

He raised his hands and the boiler room erupted with light as fires roared out from several furnaces, illuminating the area in a red orange glow. Doc's head cast from side to side, feeling the overpowering heat as flames licked all around him. Freddy tossed his head back and laughed while Samara continued to glare at Doc.

Her eyes had grown all black and her face was so blank that Doc couldn't help but shiver despite the rising temperature. He was in Hell. The girl walked closer to him, the bottom of her white dress and shoes filthy. The red streaks in her hair resembled rivers of blood as she looked down at him, her hair beginning to conceal her face.

"Sam…" Doc begged, trying to reach what good he thought was inside her.

The hair fell away and her dark black eyes had grown ghastly light in the center, skin covered in hideous, bulging veins. As their eyes locked Doc screamed, excruciating images overwhelming his mind. The things she was showing him…so horrible he couldn't bear it.

He felt like his eyeballs were exploding, his mouth couldn't open wide enough to let out all of his scream. As soon as it started it stopped but he was still alive. He felt his skin bubbling as if every vein had been pulled tight and he was practically blind from all he had seen in his mind's eye. He could vaguely hear Freddy's voice snarling at her, "Not yet!"

His vision slowly returned but was rimmed with edges of white. He could make out Samara shooting Freddy a withering look, furious that her death glare had been interrupted. Doc knew no one was going to save him. He knew he was going to die. But he couldn't help but continue to plead with her, "Sam…think of Will. What will he say?"

Samara froze, not moving, her face met his once more, then her hair fell into place, hiding her from view. Freddy looked at Samara, face actually showing a moment of doubt. A question formed on his lips but was never spoken; instead he hissed and turned away, shoulders hunched, fuming.

Doc looked between the two of them, suddenly curious himself. Then the tight moment exploded.

Swiftly Freddy turned and leapt on Doc, lashing out, his clawed hand striking at him viciously, slashing frantically over and over. Screams reverberated through the boiler room - bouncing off of pipes, echoing down abandoned halls.

Once Freddy had released his pent up anger, his visage sprayed with blood, he reached down and took a firm grasp of Doc's torn sweater. The man looked like tenderized, raw bloody beef but was still slightly conscious. Certainly alive enough to feel the overwhelming heat before him.

Freddy opened one of the furnace doors and chuckled, "In you go."

With that he roughly tossed the man inside, slamming the door shut behind him.

------------------------------

George - Good news, Freddy's back in this installment and hopefully you enjoyed it! I think I should probably explain myself - one, last update was in fact double not only because I didn't want to leave a torturous cliffhanger - but also because I was trying to push through the human stuff to reach Freddy.

To me Freddy is a treat you receive because honestly I feel I have yet to peg him as deftly as others have - writing him for me is a challenge. Also, I'm trying to inject some emotion (in myself) for the characters because honestly - save for Will and Angela who I basically had to write from scratch - I honestly did not like any of the previous survivors from the others films as I felt most of them were cheaply drawn.

But by writing them myself and giving them their own air time and quirks, I've come to actually care for some of them - making future death more interesting. I like Alice and Jacob now as well as Maggie, who before I despised because I never was much one for the 'relative out of nowhere' plot (Pmad should be happy to know this - as she's a Maggie fan - you made me one too, girl! :-)

Ayezur Draca - The glove - well, I can't speak for other NOES fans - but for me I focus on the glove simply because it is cool. I mean I know I wish I had one - it'd make my killings so much easier - LOL.

Seriously though, I think the reason writers focus in on the glove so much is because, as I tried to explain in the fic, everyone has a twisted little dark side just waiting for an excuse to get out and run rampant but people's morals and assumed weakness keep them at bay - but if you had power…hmm.

As they say, absolute power - blah, blah, you know the old adage. I think that in retrospect you could relate the glove back to the ring from Lord of the Rings - it is power, something you want, but to have it comes at a price - for Frodo it's the fact that the ring is pure evil - for people and Freddy's glove it's the fact that while the glove is cool, it chopped up a bunch of little kids.

But you are probably right that I waxed poetic about it too much and I will try not to do so again in future chapters.

Which, as Jerry Springier would say, leads me to my final thought: When I chose to write more of this I couldn't just - you know - write more of it. I like to think things out and make them as realistic (to me) as possible, with an interesting plot, which is why a story that started out as a one shot became 35 chapters!

I am my own worst critic and tend to overanalyze every single thing, trying to imagine it from a readers' point of view - this has it's highlights as well as it's drawbacks, in many ways I merely need a Beta but good ones are so hard to find!