JASON

I'm in the kitchen with Dar and Pina when Zedd comes in. None of them look like they've gotten any real rest, but at least Dar and Pina seem - content, I guess. Zedd, however, not so much. Foregoing the usual greeting, I ask instead, "What's wrong?"

The other two are quick to turn to him as well both now holding concerned looks of their own. He answers unhappily. "Didn't sleep much. Thomas had a nightmare last night - a bad one. Well, two actually - one inside the other."

"Huh?" Okay I know I sound stupid, but I don't get what he's saying.

Sliding into a seat at the counter and rubbing his eyes, he continues unhappily. "He had one nightmare, thought he woke up and then had the second one."

I wince. "Ouch. Did he tell you what it was about? Either one?"

He stares into the cup of coffee that Dar has just given him. "Yes." I wait to see if he'll say any more. Just as I'm about to give up and ask, he speaks again. "The first nightmare involved the human he refers to as Big John coming after him again - hurting him again."

"Who?"

"The perpetrator from the rehabilitation facility."

"Oh."

"I assured him there would be no way for the human to get to him, but he made some comment about past humans he's had problems with finding ways through evil recruitment. Something about someone named Zeltrax, I don't know." Shaking his head and taking a drink of his coffee, I decide to let my own information on Zeltrax be for now as it really won't help anything to send Zedd off after someone else that he perceives as having hurt his mate.

"What about the second one?"

The pain that crosses his face makes my heart ache, for him and Tommy. "He dreamed that-" He stops and gathers himself before he goes on. "He dreamed that he told me about the nightmare and that it - inspired - me to take him forcibly."

Pina and Dar audibly gasp at this. I can feel my mouth fall open. Even in the short while I've been here, I've seen how he treats Tommy and I can't imagine for a minute that he'd actually do such a thing. Plus, with what the others have explained to me about the bond, I would think that he'd hurt just as much as Tommy if he ever tried. I shake my head. "Man, that is one messed up dream."

"I can't begin to think what would make him - even subconsciously - think that such a thing would ever occur," Zedd says sadly. "I know he can't help what he dreams, but the idea had to come from somewhere. I've done my best to do nothing that would have him believe I'd ever even try."

Pina speaks hesitantly. "That might be my fault, Zedd." He looks at her questioningly as Dar puts his arm around her. "It might have been, at least partly, a result of what he and I discussed yesterday."

Zedd nods slowly. "I was wondering. Perhaps you and I can discuss it later."

Not looking happy, she agrees. "In the meantime, I assume that you left him sleeping?" Zedd nods again. "I have to make sure that he gets his treatment today. Hopefully, he won't need too many more shots. At the rate of recovery the scans were showing me, he should only need a half a dozen more shots. After that, he can take it orally so that the bone can continue to repair itself."

I speak up. "Well, we probably should get him up soon then so that he can have his treatment and I can see him for a little while before I leave."

"I don't think me waking him is the best idea right now. He was still fidgety in his sleep after I convinced him to go back to sleep last night. Usually he's content when he lays against me, but he spent most of the predawn hours tossing and turning." Knowing Zedd's reluctance to wake him isn't due to Tommy's lack of sleep, but rather the reaction he might get when he does wake, I decide to spare him the stress of it considering the night he's apparently had.

I drain my cup and stand. "I'll get him." I head for the door, pausing before I leave. "Oh, and by the way, Zedd-" I wait for him to look at me. "If I actually thought you'd do that, I'd never leave him here with you. You know that. That being said, if you hurt him deliberately, I will kill you."

I head out, absurdly pleased by the stunned look on his face as well as the rather amused laugh I hear from Goldar. Once I reach the bedroom, I tap on the door lightly. I smile at the sleepy, "Come in." God, that brings back memories.

I go in. Tommy's burrowed under the covers and pillow, in a way I've seen hundreds of times. "Come on, bro. Rise and shine."

"No." Really now?

"Andros is getting Deca ready to leave and you need your treatment. So come on, get up so that we can hang out for a little while before I go." No answer. "Tommy, don't make me flip the mattress."

He pokes his head out of his covers. "So stay another day." I was afraid that was coming. Damn it all, if he needed me I would gladly stay, my obligations on Earth be damned, but…

"I have to get back soon, Tommy. For Hayley and the kids and my job. Bro, you don't need me here…Do you?"

He sighs, looking unhappy, but finally shaking his head. "No. Where's Zedd?"

"In the kitchen."

"Would you go tell Pina that I'll meet her in the infirmary?"

He's trying to avoid seeing Zedd. Knowing about his nightmare, I can guess why, but I think I'll play dumb for a little while. "Why don't you go tell her? You can get a cup of coffee while you're at it."

"Don't want to." Just before he pulls the covers back over his head, I see the blush stain his cheeks.

"Why not? You've needed your morning coffee since college when Hayley got you hooked on it. Besides Goldar and Scorpina seem to have made up, breakfast is ready, what's the problem?"

I barely hear the mumble from under the covers. "Zedd's in there."

"So? I mean, he's your boyfriend now, right? Shouldn't you, I don't know, go kiss him good morning or something?" I have no idea if that's how a same sex relationship works, but I've done it with my past girlfriends, so why not?

I'm not expecting the blunt answer. "Because last night I accused him of being a rapist."

"You did what now?"

From under the blankets, I get the story of his nightmare in a nightmare as well as how he'd filled Zedd in on the details afterwards. Well I can definitely see why Zedd looked like someone just ran over his dog. "I'm ashamed of myself, Jase. When I'm awake and alert, I know that he won't do that… I really hurt him."

"Tommy, stop it. You can't always control what you dream. As for hurting him, he's a former lord of evil, he's tough, he'll get over it. Besides I'm sure he knows you couldn't help it."

"Just because I can't help it when I'm asleep doesn't mean I can't help it when I'm awake." Do what now? At my lost look he continues with a sigh. "I think I keep stressing him out. He always wants to know what's wrong and when I tell him he tries to help, but it doesn't help, and if I don't tell him because I know he can't help, he gets frustrated because he thinks he can if I'd just give him a chance to." Okay.

Taking a long moment to sort through what he's said, I think for another minute after I've gotten the gist of it for a helpful response. "What is it that you're afraid of?"

The humorless laugh doesn't really surprise me. "Everything. You know I've never had a relationship that's worked out. I have zero experience with this kind of relationship. Intellectually, I understand the mechanics of sex with a guy, but-"

Face reddening, I steel myself. "You don't exactly have zero experience. I mean, unless I greatly misunderstood how Zedd managed to break the spell on you, I'd say you have some experience to go on now. I mean when you were evil, how did you-?"

"I took him."

"Okay, so…"

"It's the reverse that terrifies me." Oh.

"Um, well, this may be way off base and all, but I would think that, well wouldn't that be the simpler position out of the two? Like, less work?" Knowing how lame that sounds even as I say it, I'm not surprised as he looks at me as if I'm a complete moron before reburying his head under the covers.

"Again, it's not lack of understanding the mechanics of it that are making me have a panic attack."

"Well then what is?"

"If I knew that I wouldn't be hiding out up here too embarrassed to face Zedd right now, would I." Touché.

"Well then I think the obvious solution is for you to figure out why. Maybe it has something to do with what happened in rehab. If you can figure it out, maybe you can get past it or figure out a way to get past it." At his snort, I roll my eyes and continue seriously. "Other than that, are you happy with Zedd?"

"Well, yeah, mostly."

"Mostly?"

"New relationship landmines. You know, still finding out things about each other - likes, dislikes and all that. Do you know he spends more time fixing his hair in the morning than Kim did?" I did not, however I feel that is information I should save for future blackmail.

I nod my head in understanding, even though he can't see it. "Okay, but except for trying to find your way in a new relationship, and him hogging the bathroom mirror in the morning, you're happy with him?"

"Yes. He- he told me once that he loves me, but I haven't said it back yet. Every time I think I'm ready, I do something stupid and-"

"If you love him, bro, tell him. If you aren't sure yet, then don't say it. It'll hurt him more if you say it and don't mean it."

"I thought I loved the others, but-"

"You probably did, Tommy, at least at the time. Sometimes people just aren't compatible, it just takes time to figure it out is all."

"Zedd said something like that too."

"Yeah, well, I'd be lying if I didn't say he was one of the more intelligent enemies we faced." Thankfully he didn't seem to use that intelligence very often though, as if he had we might be slaves to the evil alliance right now rather than sitting here having this conversation. Shaking that thought aside, I refocus on Tommy's current issues. "Tommy, don't let your past girlfriends decide your future with Zedd. It's not the same thing as you yourself pointed out. "

"I'll try not to." A movement from the doorway catches my eye. I look up to find Zedd a few feet from the door, looking thoughtful. He nods at me shortly and leaves making me wonder just how long he'd been standing there and just how much he heard.

"Let it go for a little while. You can brood about it after I leave."

He throws the covers off and stretches. "Fine, give me ten minutes."

I stand and leave the room. "I'll tell Goldar to have your cup ready."

"Thanks."

I reach the kitchen and deliver the message to Dar, noting that Zedd didn't return here. As soon as Tommy enters the kitchen, Pina heads for the infirmary telling Tommy that she is going to get some work done while she waits for him, but he still needs to hurry.

It's not long after that Tommy heads out, telling me he'll be back as soon as he can and leaving Dar and me alone. Finally, I speak. "If he needs me-"

"I'll let you know," he nods. "He's still not my favorite person, but-"

I can't help the smile. "He kind of grows on you, doesn't he?"

In his usual gruff manner, he says, "Like mold."

"Sure," I agree easily. I think that Zedd's right. If Goldar could let go of whatever issues he has with Tommy, they could easily be very good friends.