But Abed was already moving, crawling with uncanny speed down the pillow tunnel. He took two lefts then a right, before exiting the fort through a small service access. It was only intended for emergency exits and maintenance issues but the moment felt like an emergency. He emerged in the south wing of the student union building and finally he could run. He calculated the distance as he got his feet moving. Between the enemy territory and the doors locked for the night, he should be able to reach Annie's makeshift infirmary in three minutes, seventeen seconds.

He did it in two minutes, forty-five seconds.

When Abed burst through the door, he found Annie sitting on a cot, highlighter in hand as she poured over a text book. She looked startled as the door flew open. He liked that about Annie. Her giant eyes exaggerated her expressions and made them easier to read.

She dropped the book and pen and came to her feet, "Abed! What's wrong?" She rushed to his side, "Is someone hurt?"

He shook his head, so breathless it was a struggle to reply. He leaned over, hands on knees as he worked to regulate his breathing.

Did she know? She couldn't. She wouldn't be so normal, so typically Annie if she knew. He'd never run this scenario in the dreamatorium. He'd never dared to face it even in theory. Stupid. So stupid. He wasn't prepared.

She put a gentle hand on his back and made a noise of concern, "You're shaking like a leaf," she murmured.

I am? He wondered and realized it was true. Annie's hand felt like the only steady thing in the world as the floor rolled under his feet. Had his ground war become a sea battle?

I'm becoming hysterical he thought, watching his trembling hands like they were a million miles away.

She guided him over to the couch, "Sit down. Just try to breathe. I'm going to get you a glass of water." She returned a minute later and sat down next to him, putting the glass on the table beside him. Her small hand returned to his back to rub comforting circles just below his shoulder blades.

Her touch- what was life like before she had learned to touch him so frequently?

Like living in a hazmat suit. Like the 1976 made for tv movie "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" starring John Travolta.

And still her hand was making gentle motions over his shirt. He wanted to bend completely in half, chest resting on knees so she could rub his back all over.

But he had to be sure.

Catching his breath finally, he asked, "Was there a message? Did someone bring you a package?"

"What?" Confusion wrinkled her brow, "No."

He studied her face, "Are you sure? You didn't fall asleep and wake up with a mysterious envelope lying beside you? There are no slightly sinister emails from an address you don't recognize? You haven't-"

"Abed," Annie interrupted, "No. What is going on? Is this about you and Troy's stupid fight? Aren't you ready to forgive each other already?"

He thought of how he had run across campus driven by fear and despair, wondering if Annie would ever look at him again.

"No." He told her flatly.

"Ugh!" She threw her hands in the air, "You're both being so stubborn! Drink that!" She demanded, pointing to the water forgotten by his elbow.

He picked it up and obediently sipped.

She took a deep breath and Abed forced himself to stare over her right shoulder instead of at the perfect rise and fall of her breasts, "Abed-"

"What are you doing here so late?" He asked suddenly, frowning as he surveyed the room. Her backpack was sitting in the corner. It bulged strangely like it held more than books, "Are you sleeping here? Why aren't you in the sleep study lab?"

She huffed an answer, "In case you haven't noticed, your little war has completely disrupted campus. The lab is closed. I had to make do."

He regarded the tiny room with disapproval, noting the narrow cots and the weak lock on the door, "You can't stay here. Can't you sleep over over at Britta or Shirley's?"

"There's no way I could sleep at Britta's. Have you seen the state of the grout in her shower?" She glanced down at her hands, "And I didn't want to impose on Shirley. She and Andre are going through a rough patch."

Abed nodded once, "Okay. I'll sleep here then."

"Abed, It's Greendale- what could possibly happen to me here?"

"Remember the Halloween dance our second year when we all got roofied and Shirley had sex with Chang?"

There was a long pause before Annie admitted, "That's a good point." She nodded, "Okay, you can stay."

"Cool."