In the Dark of the Night

Disclaimer: I haven't been doing these for a while. I think I should stop doing them all together. But then, what if Mr. Burton's lawyers appear right in front of my door, demanding thousands and thousands of dollars that I just don't have, and then they have to take me away, but then I break free and move to Australia, where I'll stick out like a soar thumb due to my Newyorican accent and naturally tanned skin and then…. So, basically, what I am trying to say is that I don't own the damn characters. But if I did, my name would be Tim Burton… but we've assessed this already, so now I am repeating myself. End scene.

Author's Notes: Ok. I've got 16 reviews and I'm writing the 4th installment of this story. All I have to say is: HOT DAMN! You guys seriously are so friggin great. Seriously. Ok. Now, this is completely unrelated, but does anyone know where I could get midis for NBC? If so, let me know. Thanks. The funny thing about this chapter is that instead of doing it, I'm SUPPOSED to be writing a 5 page report due tomorrow for my psychology class. Meh.

Chapter Two: Part Two

"Anywhere"

Sally decided to join Jack to the Doctor's house. Shock grew silent somewhere during the walk and Jack and Sally became worried. Jack continuously shook Shock to keep her from falling asleep. Within ten minutes they arrived. A light coming from the window of the Doctor's lab was proof that he was still awake. Jack began banging on the door, both to get Dr. Finklestein's attention, and to rouse Shock from unconsciousness.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" was heard from the other side of the door. "Jack Skellington? To what might I ask brings you that this late hour?"

"Doctor, I need you to help Shock here. She had… ah… an accident with one of the axes in the manor."

The doctor led the group to his lab where he had Jack lay Shock on the table where he used to sew Sally together whenever she would fall/pull herself apart. After backing away from table, Jack stood next to Sally, who shuddered from the memories and moved closer to him. He noticed her shuddering and placed an arm around her.

The Doctor began to gather things from various cupboards and drawers, placing them on a little desk before going to get a few more things. Shock, who was starting to lose the battle between conscious and unconscious, was awoken every once in a while by either Sally or Jack. After a few minutes, everything necessary to help the young girl was gathered and the doctor began on tending to her wound. There was a long period of silence as he worked. It was almost as if they were afraid that any noise made would cause him to make a mistake that would could be fatal to the girl.

No more than twenty minutes later, Dr. Finkelstein was finished working on Shock, and she was finally allowed to sleep. But there was still a matter to be taken care of.

"Well, all seems to be taken care of with her. She'll be on her feet in a few days. Unfortunately for Halloween," the Doctor muttered under his breath. Regrettably, Jack heard the comment, and gave the other man and displeased look. "So, are you taking her back to her fellow heathens?"

Jack shook his head. "She's afraid of them or something similar to it, by the reaction we got from her earlier."

Dr. Finkelstein nodded. "How did she get injured in the first place?" It was Sally who answered, speaking for the first time since returning to her old home.

"I-I was t-trying to dress her…her wounds," she stated nervously, "and she became frantic and pushed me away. I-I tried to calm her down, but, she reacted the same way. And then she turned right into the ax on the wall." Dr. Finkelstein nodded and reached out to take her hand in his own.

"You did your best, I'm sure, my dear," he said, squeezing her hand reassuringly. Little by little, her wariness for the old man began to dwindle. The three adults all turned their attention to the now sleeping Shock as she moved in her sleep.

"I guess we'll just have to take her back home with us until she is better," Jack said. "Besides," he added, "I promised Lock and Barrel I would see to her anyway." Carefully, the straps were undone and Jack was carrying the young girl towards the door.

"She'll need to rest for a few days before she can do anything if she doesn't want to upset her injuries any more than they already are."

"Oh, I don't think she'll be doing much of anything until all her wounds are healed," stated the Pumpkin King matter-of-factly.

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The rest of the night passed by without incident. Shock was placed in the spare bedroom. Jack had it built a year after Sally moved in with him, just in case the house was to be overridden with little Jacks and Sallys.

He and Sally went to sleep after a LONG talk. Even after finally settling in, the thoughts of what had happened over the night plagued Jack's mind and his dreams.

(Dream)

He finally reached the girl at the edge of the cliff.

"I KNEW IT!" he stated when she revealed herself to be Shock. She turned around to look at him. But she couldn't look at him because, just like himself, instead of eyes, there were eye sockets. "Oh my goodness, Shock! What happened?"

But she wasn't looking at him. Her eye sockets widened in fear as she looked past Jack. Curious, he turned around to see Oogie Boogie once more, this time, however, he was without the burlap body bag. Bugs, holding themselves together, squirmed with each movement made by the boogie man. A cold, heartless laugh sent chills up and down Jack's spine.

With each move Oogie made, Jack made a step back, as if trying to protect Shock from him.  He reached out to grab Shock before she fell over. Oogie's bug arm began inching closer to them before Jack realized they were dangerously close to the edge of the cliff. Without hesitation, he picked Shock up in his arms and ran right past Oogie into the Forest of Holidays. He ran straight for the pumpkin shaped door when he heard a loud, angry roar from behind him. He tried with all his might to open the door, but the handle wouldn't budge.

Fear raced up his spine as the roar became louder. Looking around, he headed for the door which led to Christmas Town.  If he wasn't safe in Halloween, then maybe Sandy Claws could help him out. The roar slowly diminished and turned into a whoop of happiness. Jack grabbed the ornament shaped handle and turned it. Before he had the chance to open the door, however, the tree burst into flame, knocking Jack and Shock back.

I had the most terrible vision. It was about your Christmas. There was smoke and fire…

Right before their eyes, the Christmas Tree (A/N: No pun intended.) was engulfed in flames...

Jack jumped up from his nightmare, waking Sally. "Jack? What's wrong?" Without answering, he got up and ran to the room in which Shock was. She was there, sitting on her bed, wide awake. Jack walked into the room, and Shock looked at him.

"I can't go back there. I'm not safe anywhere…"