Disclaimer: Same old, same old.

Every night I hope and pray

A dream lover will come my way

A girl to hold in my arms

And know the magic of her charms.

Rick stormed over to the bar, startling a few patrons and worrying the bartender. "Kemo, a scotch on the rocks. Make it a double." He spoke curtly, in a voice that booked no room for arguments.

Kemo silently made the drink and handed it to Rick. Rick stared at the glass before taking a deep swallow. He shuddered slightly from the burn.

"Girl problems, Rick?" Kemo ventured a guess.

"Is it that obvious?" Rick asked after draining the glass. "Another one." He slammed down the cup.

"And I'll have a martini, please?" Rick looked up to see a blonde smiling at him while sliding into the seat next to him. "I saw you sitting here alone, and I figure, why not?" she said with a seductive smile. She subtly leaned over, giving him a clear view down her décolletage.

"Why not what?" Rick asked dryly before downing another glass. His eyes never strayed below her neck.

The girl frowned. This wasn't how the game was played. Didn't he know that? Who did he think he was? She could name a list of men, the length of her arm, who would die to get this attention from her.

In his head, Rick knew that he was more likely to score with this woman than with Julie. But she didn't appeal to him at all. Her hair was blonde and short, her eyes an icy blue, her figure too thin…

"I thought you might want some company." She tried yet again to appear sexy and eager as she reached over and pawned his hand.

"Listen, Ma'am, I'm not interested. Thanks for the consideration, though," he said after signaling to Kemo for yet another glass. Kemo shook his head, but followed Rick's order.

Her mouth tightened, showing the lines on her face from stress, witching, and other discouraging behaviors. Rick could picture her stomping her foot and throwing a temper tantrum, like a spoiled child not allowed to play with someone else's toy.

That's not too far from the truth. He smiled mirthlessly at his humor.

'Cause I want … yeah … yeah, yeah

A girl … yeah … yeah, yeah

To call … yeah … yeah, yeah

My own … yeah … yeah

"Are you married or something?" the girl demanded.

"No, but I'm not interested. Will you please leave me alone?" Rick's voice edged.

"I'll have you know, buster, that I can get any guy I want!" she snapped.

"Obviously not, since I'm not inclined towards brats. Kemo, please escort the…" he paused, glancing over her with a disinterested air, "lady to the door and help her get a taxi, will ya?"

Kemo started to leave, but the girl let out a repressed scream. She picked up her martini and threw it all over him before storming back to her table.

Rick stared at his now-ruined shirt. Not again, he sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Kemo, I'm heading for bed," he said as he stood. "If anyone needs me, I'll be unavailable for the rest of the night."

"Yes, sir."

I want a dream lover

So I don't have to dream alone

In his room, he pulled out a cigarette and, after placing it in his mouth, snapped his lighter on. As he moved the flame towards the end of his butt, he stopped an inch away from his mouth.

Julie coughed and glared at the man next to their blanket, whose head was circled with smoke billows. "I guess the chimney look is in?" she asked, glaring at him.

"Hey, this is a public beach, lady! You got a problem with that?"

Rolling her eyes, Julie pinched her nose delicately. "I can't stand the smell," she admitted to TC. Rick pretended to be reviewing the papers he brought with him to review. "It makes me nauseated."

Rick took the cigarette out of his mouth and stared at it in his palm. Then he threw it in the trash can.

He headed towards his room, ripping off his jacket. The tension mounted in his body. He started to throw the coat onto the floor and stopped mid-motion.

After clearing his throat and adjusting his jacket, Rick pressed the doorbell to the guest house.

"What's wrong with you?" TC demanded, trying to push past. "It's Thomas's place, we can just crash in-"

"Hi!" Julie opened the door. "Tom's just getting the burger stuff together." To Rick's delight, her eyes widened in appreciation when she saw his sports jacket covering his casual everyday clothes.

"Rick, that's a great color on you!"

Rick stared at it, a small smile on his face. Then he groaned while he put the damn thing down.

Why am I doing this to myself? Rick fell back on his bed, closing his eyes as his mind whirled. Forty-eight hours ago, he had been his own man. Now he couldn't even take a smoke or deal with his dirty laundry the way he used to.

He wondered absently what Julie was doing.

As soon as he wondered that, he smacked himself on the head. "Dream on, Wright," he muttered to himself. "Why would a girl like her even look at a shmuck like you?"

Dream lover where are you?

With a love, oh, so true

The phone on his bedstand rang, startling him. He groaned and rolled over, answering it on the third chime. "H'lo?"

"Rick?" the voice scratched in his ear. "This is Julie… Julie Magnum?"

Rick immediately straightened. "Julie! How are you? Long time no see!" He winced at his stupid joke.

"Yeah, really," he could hear the amusement in her voice before she changed to brisk. "Listen, can I stop in at the club tomorrow morning? There's something I need to ask you." He could hear Magnum call her in the background.

"Sure. When would it work for you?" He pulled out a pen and paper.

"Ten ok?" He heard her cover the receiver and speak to Magnum for a moment, then ask the question.

And a hand that I can hold

To feel you near as I grow old.

"Ten would be great." Rick smiled. "I'm looking forward to seeing you. Maybe you can join me for breakfast?"

"Oh, Rick, I don't want to freeload-"

"It's not freeloading, I'm asking you to be my guest. Besides, you haven't tried our Macadamia Nut Pancakes."

"Sounds tempting. You're going to make me fat with all the wonderful food down here," she laughed. Rick could picture her leaning against the wall, twirling the phone cord around her finger.

"You'd still look incredible." Her chuckle caused him to echo her response.

Dream lover until then

I'll go to sleep and dream again

He hung up with his heart feeling lighter. She was going to come visit him of her own free will tomorrow at ten.

Setting his alarm, Rick smiled. Maybe…

That's the only thing to do

'Til all my lover's dreams come true.

In his dreams, Rick walked along the club's beach in the moonlight next to Julie. Their hands brushed together as they laughed and talked. The scene changed from night to day, with him chasing after her after she threw some sand at him. At sunset, she stood in front of him, with his arms around her waist and her hair flowing behind.

And at the end, she turned in his arms to receive his kiss.

Please don't make me dream alone …

I beg you don't make me dream alone …

No, I don't wanna dream alone …

Flashback

Tom walked into the house, calling, "Julie? I'm home!" It was her first day of kindergarten, and he was eager to hear all the details.

Well, not eager, but he wanted to make her think he was.

His smile turned to a frown when he heard a little voice sobbing. And it sounded like it was coming from Julie's room.

Heart in his throat, he ran up the stairs and entered the pink-covered room to find a miserable six year-old huddled on her bed. She clung to a teddy bear, which dripped with tears. Her little eyes looked up at him, wet and blinking.

"Julz, what happened?" he demanded, holding her close.

Sniffling, Julie wiped her nose off on her sleeve. "Jimmy at school said he would be my boyfriend, and then he took my crayons and pulled my hair and called me a stupid-head!"

Biting his cheek, Tom stroked her hair. It took a few minutes before he could speak without smiling. "Aren't you a little young for a boyfriend?"

"Katie and Lala and Kim have one!" she argued illogically.

"And if they jumped off a bridge, would you follow them?" he asked.

She thought about it. Then, with a sigh, "No."

"There's a guy out there for you, Julie. He'll never be good enough for you, but he's out there." Tom hugged her again. "And he'll treat you like a princess."

Flashback ends

Julie woke suddenly, sitting straight up. She looked around her before relaxing and rubbing her eyes. She was at Robin's Nest, where Thomas, Higgins, and the "lads" would protect her.

Every time she closed her eyes since two night ago, she saw that one man standing over her with a gun pointed at her forehead. She kept trying to tell herself that Tom would never let anyone hurt her. But in her gut, she knew he was not able to assure her like he used to.

In her heart, she knew she was not as dear to Thomas as she used to; after all, he had married that one Frenchwoman while in Vietnam. And he did not hold the same place in her heart. But he would always put her ahead of him.

That did not comfort her tonight, however. After weighing her options, she quietly slipped on a pair of jeans and shoes, snuck past Magnum, and drove the Ferrari off of the property. While driving, she remembered the few places she knew directions to. She headed for the club.

I know just how to whisper
And I know just how to cry
I know just where I find the answers
And I know just how to lie

Rick woke for some reason in the middle of a good dream. He tried to sleep, but he was too awake. Frustrated, he headed outside for a walk on the beach.

His rapidly beating heart calmed with the sound of the waves crashing. He watched their magnificent beauty as they crawled up and down the shore lazily, each time trying to reach his feet. A smile cracked onto his face and a feeling that he felt rarely since 'Nam crept through him.

Then he realized he was not alone. Someone was already out there.

Juliet Magnum stood at the edge of the waves, the water lapping gently at her feet. She held her arms close to her body, shivering slightly. But it did not show on her face; she looked to be in deep thought.

"Julie?" Julie turned at Rick's voice, looking surprised at his presence… and a little guilty.

"Julz, what in the world are you doing out here alone?" Rick demanded. "You know you're supposed to have someone watching you all the time!"

She shrugged, shifting from foot to foot. "I couldn't sleep."

Silence fell between them. Rick finally asked gently, "Was it the shooting?"

"No, no, I… I just don't sleep well," she admitted. "I don't like the dark."

I know just how to fake it
And I know just how to scheme
I know just when to face the truth
And then I know just when to dream

Rick noticed her nervous fidgeting. Then he realized she was shivering from the cold. Quickly, he slipped off the jacket he had slipped on before walking outside and put it around her slim shoulders. She looked surprised at the gesture.

He chuckled at the expression in her wide eyes. "What, I can't be a gentleman?" he teased.

Blushing slightly, she shook her head. "You're a vanishing breed," she explained. "I rarely see any true gentlemen anymore," she added while she started to walk alongside the water edge.

"According to what I've noticed about you, Miss Juliet, you're accustomed to being surrounded by gentlemen," Rick said. He started to walk alongside the shore with her.

And I know just where I touch you
And I know just what to prove

"They're not what I'd call gentlemen, Mr. Wright." She teased him and his formality. "They may look and speak like gentlemen, but each of them is the same: an overeager, over-sexed jock hoping to make it with the virgin Prom Queen before the others do." She smiled when she spoke, but her tone was brittle and tired.

"You deserve better, then," Rick concluded. "Don't put up with them, Julz. Life is too short."

"Yeah, but a girl can't take care of herself forever."

"You mean you're not for women's rights?" Rick surmised.

"No, I think women deserve equal treatment. I just don't buy into all the feminist garbage. There's a Mr. Right out there for me." Julie flashed him a grin. "Doesn't mean I can't have fun with the other boys while I'm waiting for him." Her words sounded vaguely familiar to Rick, but he shook his head at her.

"What if you are with the wrong guy when Mr. Right shows up?"

I know when to pull you closer
And I know when to let you loose

Julie shook her head. "Tom thinks so, too, but I've been looking for the one for almost a quarter of a century. When do you give up?"

"I'm still looking for mine," Rick argued. "I mean, she could be anyone I meet. And I'm your brother's age."

And I know the night is fading
And I know the time's gonna fly

"Have you found her yet?" Julie asked, stopping to face him. Rick felt hope spring into him, but then he saw her inquiry was only out of curiosity. But he'd try.

"I think I have. I'm just waiting for her to make up her mind."

Julie's breath caught when Rick looked straight in her eyes and spoke. Never had she seen such tenderness and gentleness in a man before, except for Thomas. And that wasn't brotherly devotion in Rick's eyes.

"I…" She stammered. "… I should head back."

Rick nodded and offered his arm. She accepted it, but walked in silence, deep in thought.

And I'm never gonna tell you everything I gotta tell you
But I know I've got to give it a try

Despite his dissimilarities with her previous boyfriends, Rick struck her as a diamond in the rough. His unpolished exterior hid a man true until death, a man who had faced horrors unimaginable but still saw beauty in life, a man who could turn her world upside-down and make it a rainbow of color. If she gave him the chance, she had a feeling she could lose her heart. And that scared her.

And the way he looked into her eyes told her he would never ever hurt her. He would walk away first.

And I know the roads to riches
And I know the ways to pain

Rick paused before they got to the car. "It's only a few hours until they'll be waking up," he hesitated. "You can sleep at my place, if you want. I'll call Thomas in a while and let him know where you are. That way, you'll get more sleep."

"Oh, I couldn't impose-" Julie protested.

"Besides, we have a date at ten, remember?"

His boyish grin melted away her objections. Julie studied him for a minute, then nodded.

In his room, Rick took a pillow and a sheet into his living room. Assuming she would take the couch, Julie looked down at it and grimaced slightly. The cushions had lost their padding over the years, or Hawaiians did not believe in stuffing their pillows. Either way, it looked painful.

I know all the rules and then I know how to break'em
And then I always know the name of the game

Before she lay down on said couch, Rick gestured towards his bedroom door. "You can camp in there. I cleaned the sheets earlier today." At her look of disbelief, he explained, "I don't want to wake you up when I go to work later."

"But, Rick, it's your room! I can take a nap when I get back to the house today."

"No buts, Julz. Either you sleep on the bed or you scout out your own floor space. Either way, I'm on the couch." She started to speak, but he interrupted. "I'm not moving on this, Julie."

Julie finally nodded. "Don't think I'm happy about this," she grumbled as she grabbed a pillow from him and walked into his room. She soon fell asleep.

But I don't know how to leave you
And I'll never let you fall

Rick stood at the doorway to his room, watching her face as she slept. She looked like a little girl, with her curls surrounding her head and the soft sounds of her breathing. One arm lay akimbo over her head, underneath the pillow. To his amusement, she mumbled something and turned over, kicking the covers over.

Sighing to himself, he turned and walked to the cold, hard sofa.

Laying down he knew morning would come too soon.

And I don't know how you do it
Making love out of nothing at all

Making love
Out of nothing at all

Author's Note: Dream Lover by Bobby Darin, Nothing at All by Air Supply. Review!