Robyn woke up screaming and thrashing in her bed. Robbie tried to calm her but she was in such a panicked state that his words didn't break through. Doctor Cole burst into the room quickly followed by Sportacus and Kit. Seeing what was going on Doctor Cole yelled for some orderlies. A nurse who had heard the scream and was standing close by ran to dial the number of the orderly's office.

Instantly taking charge Doctor Cole told Sportacus and Kit hold Robyn down as best they could until the orderlies arrived. Summoning another nurse he told her to fetch some sedatives. The nurse did this and ran to the drugs cupboard. Within a minute of the call the orderlies came running into the room followed by the nurse.

Taking the sedatives from the nurse Doctor Cole instructed her to remove Kit, Robbie and Sportacus from the room. Robbie wouldn't leave nor would the others but the doctor insisted. The three men still wouldn't leave and Robyn's clamour was getting progressively worse if it wasn't stopped she'd either go into a dramatic seizure or die. Cursing, the doctor told the orderlies to assist with Sportacus and Kit's attempt to hold Robyn down.

Deftly Doctor Cole filled a syringe with a sedative and told the nurse to hold Robyn's head a steady as she could. This done the doctor quickly administered the drug into Robyn's neck where it would have the fastest affect. Within seconds Robyn's screams stopped and she lay still.

Kit let go of Robyn and went over to Robbie who was extremely upset at what he'd seen. Seeing Robyn like this burned a hole into him, it had been he who made her go to sleep.

Putting an arm around Robbie's shoulders Kit led him from the room and out into a quiet part of the corridor. The orderlies returned to where they'd come from and the doctor stayed in the room with Sportacus.

"She should be fine when she wakes up. Obviously the stranger left more of an impression on her than we thought. To make sure he doesn't return I'll get security to leave a man outside. The extra assurance of protection should do Robyn some good." Doctor Cole explained after looking over Robyn.

Sportacus nodded, "what was that drug you gave her?"

"Pardon the name but it's called an 'anti-psychotic'. It's the strongest sedative we have next to anaesthetic. It should keep her asleep for the next five hours. Her discharge will have to be delayed until it's out of her system."

"Can I stay with her for a little while?"

Doctor Cole nodded, "there's no reason why not. I should think that young Kit or should I say Sergei may want to see her too."

"Sergei?" Sportacus asked puzzled.

"I'll explain later."

Doctor Cole left the room and Sportacus moved the chair back to where it had been before. Robyn's peaceful sleep was very different from her struggles of before. The placidity of Robyn's apparent rest was deceptive.

Her mind would not rest. It threw itself constantly at an invisible barrier that prevented it from reaching consciousness. The barrier would not weaken and her mind's struggles to break it increased. It was no use. The barrier was too strong. Exhausted, her mind receded back into darkness.

Kit sat with Robbie in the relative's room. Neither man spoke; there were no words to say. Both were lost in thought. Both tried to get their heads around Robyn's nightmare and her being sedated. She'd been awake but not wholly. There was still a degree of sleep there which kept her bound in the nightmare. Too weak to break free Robyn had struggled against unseen forces and had lost.

"She'll be alright won't she?" Robbie asked everyone and no one. He needed that assurance.

Doctor Cole entered the room just as Robbie asked the question, "we'll know that when she wakes up. The sedative will wear off in about five hours. When she's fully awake we can see about possible discharge."

"When Sportacus comes out can I go see her?" Kit asked Doctor Cole and then looked at Robbie, "that's if it's alright with you. I can wait if you want to go back."

Robbie nodded, "you don't have to ask you know. She is your fiancée after all."

"I know that but you're her dad. Kind of outranks me." There was a hint of humour in Kit's voice.

Doctor Cole stepped in seeing that this could go on forever, "if you don't tell anyone I'm sure I can bend the rules a little. You can go in together and if it suits you, you can go in now."

Kit smiled mischievously. Hospital policy stated that only one visitor at a time was allowed in any room with any patient. Doctor Cole was putting his neck on the line by letting three people in at once. Robbie liked this idea as well and assuring himself that he wouldn't get in trouble went with Kit.

Sportacus looked a little surprised when Robbie and Kit joined him but he was soon told what was going on. Standing up he offered Kit his chair. The younger man was looking a little worse for wear after his sojourn down the stairs. Unusually Kit took up the offer of a chair; he was feeling a little washed out. His head was righting itself but his arm still hurt. He decided that pulling the scalpel out himself hadn't been such a good idea after all.

Doctor Cole brought in two more chairs for Robbie and Sportacus so they could both sit down. He told them that the security guard would be outside in a little while and they weren't to worry.

The three men sat in silence for a short time. All of them watched over Robyn and hoped her dreams were sweet. She hadn't had a seizure since the previous morning and all appeared well.

Remembering what Doctor Cole had said about Sergei Sportacus looked at both Robbie and Kit.

"Who's Sergei?" He asked.

Kit raised a hand. "Sergei was the name my parents gave me. Kit's a nickname but I use it all the time."

Sportacus nodded finally getting it. He was a little disappointed that he hadn't been told before now but with Kit there was always a reason. In some ways he was like Robbie. A painful past shrouded in mystery which no eyes could penetrate. A soul damaged by years of hardship but a strong spirit giving the body the strength to carry on. Life for the two men had been a tough journey but they were still alive. Kit had once said that by rights he should never have reached the age of twenty one. Unlike many others he was lucky. He'd survived fifteen years as a drifter whereas many died within the first five.

Robyn had given him a reason to settle down somewhere and had been his salvation. He owed her his life, his heart and his very soul. If she died he would die too. There was no life nor future he could see without Robyn.