Night Terrors

Two days later Hawk went to see Lifeline and Bree in the medical ward. "How is he?" He indicated Low Light in the next room.

"Physically or mentally?" Lifeline asked.

"Let me have it," Hawk sighed.

"Physically his body's recovered completely, but mentally…" Lifeline shook his head. "He still won't sleep. He barely talks. It's going to be a long time before he's fit for duty again."

"The psychological damage that was done to him nearly destroyed him," Bree said. "He needs time off."

"I can give him all the time he needs," Hawk said gently.

"General Hawk," Lifeline looked at him. "May I make a request?"

"Yeah kid. Shoot."

"I want to help him," Lifeline said. "I want to be a part of his rehabilitation. It's the least I can do."

"Lifeline what happened to Low Light was not your fault," Hawk said softly.

"It's not just that," Lifeline sighed.

"Lifeline's the only person Low Light responds to," Bree explained.

"He's really over the edge," Lifeline sighed. "He's so hurt and shell shocked. I don't dare leave him alone! Bree and I are the only people he trusts right now. He needs us."

"I think it's time the two of us had some personal leave as well," Bree said. "I know a place. Remember that cabin of my father's in the mountains?"

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Low Light watched the snow fall lightly on the ground. The cabin in the Rockies was covered completely in snow. "It really is peaceful here. It's so…quiet."

"That's why we brought you here," Bree told him. "You need to rest and recover. Psyche-Out thinks that you need a breather before you start your therapy."

"I'm gonna need all the strength I can get before going to one of that lunatic's sessions," Low Light grumbled.

"Be patient Low Light," Lifeline said gently. "Nobody expects you to get over this right away."

"Get over it," Low Light mocked. "Like it's a cold or a bad dream or something. I wish it was just a bad dream."

"I'm sorry," Bree sighed. "I shouldn't have phrased it like that."

"It's not your fault," Low Light sighed. "It's just…no one has any idea what I lived through…and I can't handle this. I think I'm going nuts!"

"Low Light," Bree put her hand on his shoulder. "You've been through a horrible ordeal. I'm amazed you're as together as you are."

"It's true that we have no idea what it was like for you," Lifeline told him. "But we want to help. We're your friends. We won't abandon you."

"Thanks," Low Light ran his hand through his hair. "But right now…I just want to call it an early night. Maybe I can get some sleep this time."

"If you need us for anything and I mean anything at all," Bree told him. "Lifeline and I will be in the next room."

"Yeah. Wait…you two are sharing a bed?" Low Light looked at Lifeline. He grinned at Bree. "You've gotten him to loosen up pretty fast haven't you?"

"It's amazing what a little crisis of faith can do for you," Lifeline sighed. He responded to Low Light's look. "I don't mean that kind of crisis it's just…Despite everything my father did to me I always believed that deep down he was a moral man. Now, I can't think of him like that anymore."

"Looks like I'm not the only one who needs to see Psyche-Out," Low Light said.

"Yeah," Lifeline sighed. "I guess so."

"Well it looks like it's up to me to keep you guys sane I guess," Bree said.

"Oh man we are in trouble," Low Light rolled his eyes.

"I'm afraid so," Lifeline grinned.

"Shut up!" Bree whacked the both of them with a pillow. Both Low Light and Lifeline grabbed pillows themselves and whacked her back. This resulted in a full-fledged pillow war. Soon they all collapsed on the floor laughing.

"Well that was mature," Lifeline snickered. Bree responded by sticking her tongue out at him.

"I think that's the first time in a long while…that I have laughed," Low Light breathed a sigh. "I needed that. Thanks."

"Anytime," Lifeline told him.

"I do feel a little better," Low Light sighed. "Maybe I am starting to get over this."

Later that night Lifeline and Bree were curled up together in the bedroom when they heard the scream. Lifeline ran into the guest bedroom and turned on the light. Low Light was curled up on the floor, sobbing. His body however had turned to a metal like substance. "Don't look at me!" Low Light howled in a voice that sounded metallic.

"Low Light what happened?" Lifeline knelt next to him.

"I can't control it when I'm asleep," Low Light whimpered. "I can't stop it! You gotta make it stop!"

"Are you hurt?" Lifeline put his hands on his head and shoulder, trying not to recoil at the metal touch. Even his pajamas had turned to metal.

"N-no," Low Light shuddered. "It doesn't hurt but…"

"Okay, okay take it easy," Lifeline said. "Now listen, just try and concentrate. Focus on your normal body."

"I CAN'T! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? I CAN'T!" Low Light howled. "I don't even know what my normal body is anymore!"

"Yes you can."

"No I can't!"

"Yes you can. Low Light look at me!" Lifeline took his head into his hands. "Just concentrate. I'm gonna try using my powers to help you with yours."

"Can you do that?"

"Only one way to find out," Lifeline sighed. "All right now, I want you to calm down now. Just relax." Lifeline's hands started to glow. "Now just breathe. Slowly…slowly. That's it…It's working."

Slowly Low Light returned to normal. He looked at his hands. "It's gone."

"For now anyway," Lifeline sighed.

"Can't you just make this go away?" Low Light sobbed. "Make it go away. Make it go away."

"I don't know how," Lifeline said. "Even with my abilities…Low Light I can't change DNA codes. I can only heal wounds. I'm sorry."

"There has to be a way to stop me from changing like this!"

"We'll find a way, I promise," Lifeline held him. "Come on, let's get you back into bed." Lifeline helped him back into the bed.

"I'm sorry," Low Light shuddered. "I'm sorry that I lost control like that…"

"It's okay," Lifeline said. "I understand. It doesn't matter. That's why I'm here."

"I gotta tell somebody," Low Light shuddered. "It's driving me crazy inside. I don't know how to handle it."

"Tell me what?"

"What they did to me," Low Light gulped. He started to tell Lifeline of the shots and the chemicals they put in his body. Then he told him of the experiments he saw and was forced to participate in.

"My god…" Lifeline cringed.

"There's more," Low Light admitted. "He did…other things to me. He tried to break me through humiliation. He stripped me and displayed me naked in front of his soldiers like I was some kind of prize trophy. Half the time he had me tied up so I couldn't cover myself or move. He wouldn't let me wear anything at all. I was like a toy with him. When he did feed me he…he forced me to drink from a bottle or eat out of his hand. Then he'd…touch me," A tear rolled out of a corner from his eye. "He even spanked me. Just took out a belt and whipped me until I started to bleed! And there was nothing I could do to stop him! Nothing!"

"Oh god…" Lifeline put his hand on his shoulder.

"He did dozens of little things in order to break me," Low Light choked. "And he enjoyed every single one of them. He shaved my legs and under my arms and most of my body hair and then keep saying how smooth I was. And he kept touching me and playing with the hair on my head and kept calling me stupid pet names and…Lifeline I am so glad I killed that bastard! If Storm Shadow hadn't freed me when he did God only knows what would have happened to me!"

"Wait…Storm Shadow helped you?" Lifeline asked.

"Yeah…I guess he took pity on me," Low Light said, ashamed. "I even asked him to kill me. Instead he cut me loose. He gave me something to wear and showed me the way to the control center. I barely had time to call you guys before they caught me again."

Low Light shuddered. "He started to whip me again…And then he was going to…I can still feel his hands on my body. I just…exploded inside. If my…if it hadn't happened when it did, he was going to…to…"

"You don't have to say anymore," Lifeline said, "I get the idea."

"Can I tell you something?" Low Light whispered. "You promise to keep it a secret?"

"Yeah I promise."

"I've never…been with anyone before," Low Light admitted. "Not because of any religious feeling but I just never felt…close to anyone enough to…to trust anyone to be near with."

"I understand," Lifeline nodded.

"That doesn't make me even more pathetic does it?" Low Light asked.

"No it doesn't," Lifeline said. "Of course this is coming from a guy who just lost his virginity only a few days ago and…" He stopped right there.

"What's this?" Low Light smirked. "You mean you finally allowed yourself to be seduced by the ever lovely Bree?"

Lifeline blushed. "Well…yeah…we did do it."

"Well that was going to happen anyway," Low Light said. "I'm amazed you were able to hold off for this long!"

"Well after you were captured it didn't take the other Joes long to figure out what Cobra wanted with me," Lifeline sighed. "I just needed someone to talk to and…oh god."

"Lifeline please don't feel guilty about having sex because of me," Low Light groaned. "I have enough problems to deal with!"

"Come with me," Lifeline got up and motioned for him to do the same. "I'm not leaving you alone."

"But…"

"Come on," Lifeline helped him up and took him into the next room. "Bree Low Light's gonna stay here tonight if that's okay?"

"Of course it is," Bree nodded as she got up. "Come on Low Light, let's get you into bed."

Low Light fidgeted. "No…can't sleep. Won't sleep…"

"You have to sleep," Bree told him.

"I can't…" Low Light shook his head. "Every time I do I'm back…there. I can't. It's not safe."

"It is safe," Bree said. "You're with us now. We won't let anything bad happen to you."

"What if it happens again?" Low Light whimpered. "What if I change again?"

"The transformations are a response to your unconscious mind," Lifeline said. "If I can quiet it using my abilities, it shouldn't happen again."

"How are you gonna do that?" Low Light asked.

"We're just gonna have to hold onto you," Lifeline shrugged.

"Come on now," Bree told him. "You go in the middle between us. We'll protect you."

Low Light meekly obeyed. "Thank you," He whispered softly. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Why can't I just…be the way I was before?" He looked like he was going to break down and cry. "Why am I so weak?"

"Low Light you've literally been through hell and back only a few days ago," Lifeline told him. "It took everything in you to survive. Don't push yourself."

"I can't help feeling like this," Low Light sighed. "I just want to be taken care of for now and…and have some positive human contact. Nothing serious, just to be held and forget…"

"It's not wrong to want to be held after everything you've been through," Lifeline told him. "You want both of us to hold you because you know that it's safe. We would never hurt you or take advantage of you."

Low Light rested his head on Bree's shoulder. "That's it Low Light," Bree gently stroked his hair. "Just rest now."

"It doesn't feel wrong or anything," Low Light sighed. "I feel like…I'm with my family when I'm with you guys. Like you're my brother and sister or something."

"We are your family now Low Light," Bree said softly. "And we won't let anyone hurt you again. I promise."

"Cooper," He said softly. "My name's Cooper."

"Okay," Bree smiled. "Just go to sleep now Cooper. We'll take care of you."

Lifeline gently massaged Low Light's back and neck while using his abilities. "Shhh….sleep now my friend. Just sleep."

Low Light closed his eyes and started to relax. He fell asleep quickly. "Will he…?" Bree asked softly.

"Dream any more tonight?" Lifeline finished. He shook his head. "I can block his nightmares temporarily. But I can't do it forever."

"What did those monsters do to him?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know."