Okay, so this story's up a lot quicker than I thought it would be. What can I say? I've had no life recently with all of my assessment and needed something enjoyable to fall back on.

I'm a bit hesitant about writing a sequel, so whether or not I continue on with this is entirely dependent on your reviews. Therefore: if you like it, review it and if you hate/dislike it…um, don't review, I guess.

Kirsten closed her book and rest her hand against it, laying the book on her stomach. Jane Eyre-a favorite of hers for the past twenty five years. Kirsten found great comfort in reading her favorite books: despite what may be changing around her, books remained the same. They were reliable, and their words and plots never altered. The same couldn't be said for life. Life was constantly changing-something Kirsten had always disliked and found difficult to accept.

Her vision was blurred from tiredness-she could just make out the reading of 12:30AM on the clock-yet she fought off sleep as she'd done every night since she'd found herself in hospital. Whenever she closed her eyes, Kirsten's mind would swim with images from the past week: Richard abducting her and taking her to Jimmy's-the man Kirsten thought was one of her closest and oldest friends, loosing the twins and then being left to die from starvation and dehydration. The feelings and traces of horror, shock, anger, guilt and sadness these memories evoked overwhelmed Kirsten.

Jimmy filled her mind in sleep and while she was awake-and not in a good way. The fact that he was dead and couldn't hurt her should have brought relief-which it did-but it also introduced disbelief and further fear to Kirsten's smorgasbord of emotions. Childish though it was, she couldn't help but fear that he would haunt her. It was ridiculous and impossible, Kirsten knew, but she couldn't help but fear that she'd turn around and Jimmy would be there, right behind her.

Although Jimmy filled her mind asleep or awake, the truth was it was far less frightening while she was awake. Awake, Kirsten had only mental images to haunt her which could be fought off with a book or with the TV. In sleep, the images of Jimmy existed, vivid and arousing powerful emotions to the point where the separation of reality and dreams became blurred and nonexistent. Apart from her first night in hospital, when she was drugged up, Kirsten had not failed to wake up abruptly from any sleep due to a nightmare involving Jimmy. So Kirsten tried her hardest to dodge sleep at all costs and procrastinate against that horror.

The fact that she was going home tomorrow offered Kirsten with some comfort. She would have Sandy next to her in bed; she could sleep in his arms and perhaps loose some of the intensity of her developed fear of sleep. And, if she was to have a nightmare, she would have Sandy beside her to protect her. To just be there.

It felt like a lifetime since Kirsten had been home, sleeping in her bed-it was hard to believe that had only been a week ago. A week ago, her babies were still alive, Kirsten thought with regret and sadness, her thoughts yet again returning to the twins. It was either the babies or Jimmy Kirsten constantly thought about, and she didn't know which was worse. She had lost count of the number of times Sandy had assured her none of this was her fault, yet Kirsten still carried great guilt towards the death of her babies. Truthfully, she'd only had three days to deal with it since she'd found out the babies were dead, but the pain and guilt did not seem to be easing. Nor did her fear of Jimmy.

Thought of Jimmy and the babies revolved around in Kirsten's head until finally, she could fight sleep no longer. She weakened to the inexorable closing of her eyes and fell into her newfound enemy's arms.

"It's your fault-all of it," Jimmy chastised her. Kirsten looked around desperately trying to find him, but the only thing she could see was darkness.

"Where are you?" Kirsten asked in a shaking voice.

"You told me you loved me," Jimmy whispered in anger. "And then you broke up with me. You lied to me. You never, ever gave a second thought to how that made me feel. If you hadn't of broken up with me, I wouldn't have had to get revenge."

"That's not true," Kirsten whispered.

"Who told you that-Sandy?" Jimmy sneered. "Don't tell me you believe him. Not after what he did to you with Rebecca. If you'd've married me, I wouldn't have had to hurt you like that. But you went and married Sandy, and screwed up all your family with your alcoholism."

"Stop it," Kirsten mutterd, trying to cover her eyes but panicking as she found herself unable to find them.

"You have ruined my life!" Jimmy yelled. "And your father's, Ryan's, Seth's and your 'beloved' husband's! You deserved all of this. You should be where I am!"

"Please-stop it!" Kirsten cried out.

"I will never let you forget everything you've done to me!" Jimmy promised. "Never!"

Kirsten tried to turn, to escape from the dark, confining space she was in, but she found that she couldn't move. Heavy arms closed around her, Kirsten too weak to fight them off.

"Let me go!" she yelled in desperation.

"No!" Jimmy yelled. "I will never let you go!"

Kirsten let out a sob, frantic to escape. Jimmy's silhouette began to reveal itself, as Kirsten did everything in her power to avoid having to confront him. It was of no use: Jimmy was everywhere-he couldn't be escaped, and his body slowly became clearer and more definite.

Finally, Kirsten found herself looking into the face she was desperate to forget, arousing her fear, anger, sadness and guilt. Overwhelmed, Kirsten let out a scream.

It was the scream that woke her up, ending yet another nightmare. For an instant, Kirsten was filled with fear as she was able to make out only darkness surrounding her, but the sight of the clock reading 4:07AM assured Kirsten her nightmare had ended. The darkness had been broken.

Kirsten groped around, anxiously turning on a light before resting against the pillows. She'd scraped together around three hours sleep, which seemed to be her current average, much to the dismay of Sandy.

"Are you feeling okay, honey?" Sandy had asked concernedly the previous morning, when he had yet again found dark circles sketched under her eyes.

After some coaxing, Kirsten had finally revealed to Sandy the nightmares and the horrors of closing her eyes.

"Oh, baby, it will be okay," Sandy promised, holding her and giving her a kiss. "Would you like me to spend the night here with you?"

"No, you can't," Kirsten complained. "I feel enough like a child already. But thanks."

"Well, don't hesitate to call me," Sandy told her. "I don't care what time it is. If you need to talk or if you need anything, you just call."

Kirsten currently contemplated this offer, her hand resting on the phone. She was still shaken up and upset from the nightmare. It would be reassuring to hear Sandy's voice.

On the other hand; it was so early. Sandy would definitely still be asleep, and Kirsten would feel so cruel waking him up. She-and Sandy-knew how much she hated being woken up, and although Sandy was more of a morning person than her, the thought of him sleeping peacefully was one she didn't want to disturb.

Kirsten debated the idea for several minutes, until Jimmy's face floated into her mind. Kirsten shuddered, immediately reaching for the phone. She needed to talk to Sandy; these nightmares were something she was fighting to live with alone.

"Hello?" Sandy answered.

"I'm sorry I called so early," Kirsten apologized, feeling guilt at the sound of Sandy's sleepy voice.

"Are you okay?" Sandy asked instantly, sounding far more awake.

"Yeah, I suppose so," Kirsten answered uncertainly. "I just had another nightmare and I needed to hear your voice."

"I'm guessing you didn't get much sleep again," Sandy predicted.

"No," Kirsten admitted.

"Well, we'll have to try to fix that up when you get home," Sandy suggested.

"I'm sure having you next to me will make it easier," Kirsten assured him. "I just can't wait to get home."

"Honey," Sandy begun carefully, "do you think you should see a therapist-that one the hospital referred you to?"

"What?" Kirsten exclaimed. "Sandy-I haven't even had a week to deal with this! Give me time."

"No, it's not so much the way you're dealing with things but rather the nature of it all," Sandy reminded her. "Well, that's what you were told, right? Just think about it. Please."

"Okay," Kirsten promised. "Anyway, I should let you get back to sleep."

"And you should try to get some more sleep," Sandy advised. "I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you, too," Kirsten told him before hanging up.

Kirsten flopped back helplessly against the pillows. She only revealed herself to Sandy-and even that was difficult at times. There was no way she was going to therapy.

"Okay," Seth dictated, standing in front of Hailey and Ryan. "So the plan is, Mom gets back, we have a big family lunch, play a few video games and then watch a movie. By then it'll be time for dinner, so we can order in some pizza and spend the rest of the night having a mini party, just the…five of us."

"I never heard that plan before," Hailey muttered.

"Yeah, me neither," Ryan agreed. "Will Kirsten even be up to it? I thought the doctor said she had to rest."

"He did," Hailey said pointedly in Seth's direction. "Your plan's been squashed."

"But this'll be our last chance to do something as a family," Seth whined. "You leave tomorrow. Unless you extended your trip."

"I can't," Hailey said firmly. "I was lucky to get this time off work as it is."

Three heads turned in the direction of the front door, which Kirsten had just walked through. She was greeted by hugs from each of them, holding on tightly.

"It's good to have you back," Ryan told her.

"Lunch?" Seth offered. "Video games? Movie?"

Hailey took Kirsten's hand and guided her in the direction of her bedroom.

"Happy to be home?" Hailey asked.

"Like you wouldn't believe," Kirsten answered.

"So, how are you coping?" Hailey asked, showing concern. "Really. I mean, you didn't talk much about it at the hospital."

Kirsten shrugged and made a very weak attempt of a smile.

"It could have been worse," she declared. "So I guess I'm lucky in a way but…it's still hard."

They stopped at the door to Kirsten and Sandy's bedroom as Hailey turned to give Kirsten another hug.

"I'm sorry I have to leave tomorrow," Hailey apologized. "Work's just so busy at the moment, and-"

"It's okay," Kirsten interrupted. "Really. I'm just glad that you came."

"Me too," Hailey agreed.

Footsteps approached them, and they turned to see Sandy making his way with the bag he had packed Kirsten for the hospital.

"I'll go fix you lunch," Hailey told Kirsten. "Anything in particular?"

"Just something plain," Kirsten declared, opening her bedroom door as Hailey headed off.

It looked just the way she remembered it, Kirsten thought, stepping in the room. She couldn't help but stop briefly to close her eyes and breathe in. It smelt like home. It didn't have that chemical smell of the hospital, or the moldy smell of Jimmy's place.

Sandy set the bag down next to him and walked over to Kirsten, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Are you okay?" Sandy asked.

"The best I've been all week," Kirsten nodded, offering Sandy a smile.

Sandy returned the smile before bending down and placing a kiss on Kirsten's lips.

"It'll only get better now," Sandy assured her.

"Good," Kirsten whispered.

"Come on, you look exhausted," Sandy told her, leading her to the bed. "Why don't you have a nap?" Lunch can wait."

Kirsten slid under the blankets, then took Sandy's hand, looking at him with big eyes.

"Will you stay with me?" Kirsten asked. "Just until I'm asleep."

Sandy lay next to her, taking Kirsten in his arms. For the first time, she didn't try to resist sleep. She didn't feel compelled to keep herself awake, instead feeling blissfully secure in Sandy's arms. This was what she had been waiting and longing for. Sleep came instantly.

Sandy waited until the inevitable snores came before gently getting off the bed. Making his way to the door, Sandy stole a glance behind him: she was still there, snoring peacefully. Back where she belonged.

So there's the first chapter. Crap-o-rama or something worth continuing? Let me know if you think the chapters are getting too long-I don't want to bore you!

Obviously, it'll take awhile for these problems to get 'fixed', but as it progresses (if it progresses) the story should get lighter.

Please review and let me know what you thought.