A/N: Ah ha! I've update twice in the same day! I'm sneaking up on you like the Spanish inquisition…NO ONE EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION!!! Monty Python moment, sorry.

Ch. 5 Places You Have Come To Fear Most

Her footsteps padded against the floor, the only noise to be heard as she paced the length of the cell. She could see why Sonny's panic attacks would set in, the place didn't have much space. But as far as she knew, she wasn't claustrophobic so she'd be ok. That was a lie, she wasn't ok. And now everything was so much worse. She sat on the edge of the small mattress and put her head in her hands, and closed her eyes.

FlashBack

She slowly entered the building, and rode the elevator up. Unsteadily putting one foot in front of the other until she was at his door. Making a fist she began to pound on it. Harder each time until he finally opened it. The smug expression on his face made her stomach turn.

"Well, what do I owe the pleasure?"

End

Courtney shook away the foggy memory, hearing someone walking in the corridor. Her eyes traveled to the bars to see her lawyer. She walked over and stood across from him.

"There's good and bad news." he started. "The good is the judge overlooking the hearing has a reputation for being lenient. The bad is it's not until tomorrow. So you'll have to stay the night here." he said and was relieved that his client actually spoke to him. Even if it was one word, it was a definite improvement.

"Thanks." she said quietly.

"Alright, don't worry. There shouldn't be a problem getting bail. Try and sleep, it's been a long day. I'll be back in the morning go over everything for the hearing."

She nodded and turned away, waiting to hear his retreating steps. When she did, she leaned her back against the bars and let out a shaky sigh. It was obvious she wouldn't be getting any sleep, but she tried anyway. The remaining hours of the night ticked slowly away.

The morning had finally come and Jason sprung up and across the hall. He let himself in, assuming that someone would be awake. His assumptions were correct as he saw Sonny standing near the window in the living room.

"You get any sleep?" he asked his mentor.

"Nope, you?"

"Same. Carly upstairs?"

"Yeah. She's mad at me. For what I said yesterday." he answered looking down at the drink in his hand. Jason was glad to see it was just coffee. Drinking this early would not be wise, especially with the hearing that afternoon. But he understood Carly's feelings. He himself had been thrown by the response Sonny had given.

"Do you really think Courtney shot Ric?" Jason asked, a little worried about the answer.

"I don't want to."

The door opened and she entered the loft and flopped down on the couch. Glad it was the sofa Courtney was on and not another thin, springy, mattress. Not like Baldwin hadn't tried, though. She wondered if he even saved anything for the actual trial. Trial. The thought made her groan, all she wanted to do was be back in a time when she could relax. Relaxing sounded great, she hadn't got anything sleep the night before. She laid back on the soft cushions of the couch and shut her eyes.

Flashback

Blood. It was everywhere. She'd never seen so much blood before. A wave of sickness came over her. She began to back away, unable to take her eyes off what lay before her. Bile rose in her throat and the room began to spin. The ground was slick under her shoes, and she lost balance. Falling forward, she put her hands out to brace the fall. On her knees, she immediately pulled her hands out of the puddle.

Her mind seemed incapable of forming a thought. A scream caught in her chest and she frantically wiped her hands on the fabric of her jeans.

"Get off. Get off. Get off." her voice cracking in hysterics.

A loud bang echoed from the door.

"Police!"

End

Courtney's eyes shot open and she ran her hand over her face. Shaking her head, she went to the kitchen in hopes a glass of water would calm her down. The clear liquid filled the cup. Before she could get a sip, a quick knock sounded on her door. She really didn't want company. None the less, she approached the door, glass in hand. She pulled back the thick wood door to see her visitor.

A gasp came past her lips. Courtney stared in horror at the sight. His messed up hair sat atop his ghost pale face, leading down to his formerly white shirt, now stained a deep red. His sunken eyes held hers and a sickening grin spread across his face.

"Hello Courtney." his ghoulish voice sent shivers throughout her body.

The glass crashed to the floor, shattering and sending the shards and the untouched liquid all over the hardwood.

"Ric."