Disclaimer: Don't own nothing. Don't sue.

Author's note: Chapters 8 and 9 are meant to be read as one chapter. Maturity warning: this chapter is a little more graphic than others in this story. In my opinion, it is still well within the bounds of a T or PG-13 rating, but if you are a little unsure, then just skip to the next chapter. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed my story. I really appreciate it.

Chapter 8: Dreams

That night Doug had the first dream. When he awoke, he had no memory of the dream, only the feeling of panic that still lingered. Eventually his heart rate slowed, and he was able to fall back asleep.

The next night, the dream was more tangible. In it, he was wandering through his apartment, searching for someone or something. As he moved through his home, the rooms transformed into the rooms of the Witter household of his childhood, and then later the rooms of the dormitory he had stayed in during his time at the academy. Always, somewhere in the distance he could hear water running, and his anxiety grew as he continued to search for what was missing. He started to run, but the house turned into a maze where he never knew what was beyond each door. Again he awoke with his heart pounding, and he lay in the darkness, thinking about the places from his past.

The third night's dream was even more vivid. He was in the shower, and it was as if every nerve ending in his body was supercharged with electricity, so that he was hyper-aware of every drop of water passing over his skin. Somehow he knew that he was not alone in the shower; he could sense a presence behind him, even though there was no contact between their bodies. As he stood under the warm spray of water, he was unable to move, even to turn his head to ascertain the identity of the person behind him. The air around him seemed to shimmer as the other occupant moved closer. Doug awoke, his heart racing, excruciatingly aware of every place where the tangled sheet brushed against his bare flesh, and of his almost painful arousal. What the hell was wrong with him? It was as if he no longer had any control over his mind or body. Already the nights of near sleeplessness were beginning to affect his waking hours. Would he ever be able to sleep through the night again? He sighed and reached down to take care of his body's pressing need, but even with the physical release, sleep did not come immediately.