Knock knock.
Billy opened his eyes blearily, then groaned and rolled over to get back to sleep. Probably just a bird.
Knock knock knock.
Oh for...
Billy rolled over and looked at the window, and got the shock of his life.
Why on earth was Jackie at his window?
Billy thanked his lucky stars that he was at least in underwear, Jackie may be sixteen, but he wasn't going to be the one to reveal that kind of thing to her.
Billy jumped out of bed and threw open the window, letting the sticky summer air into his cool room. The teen was standing on a rail of ice outside his window, there were dark shadows under her eyes, and her breathing suggested that she had either come over as quickly as possible, or had had a serious scare.
These details were however lost to the tired Australian.
"What the hell kid? It's two in the morning!"
Jackie looked down and shuffled her feet.
"S-sorry, I wasn't thinking, um..."
Billy frowned, he knew the kid well enough to know that something was bothering her, at this late it could only be a nightmare. But why come to him? Why not her parents, or even Sally? Sally would be a better choice than him!
"Give me too seconds kiddo."
Jackie looked up as Billy retreated into his room and pulled on some clothes before gesturing for her to come in.
The pair went to the kitchen where Billy poured some milk and shoved it in Jackie's hand. Her hidden distress was made apparent when the glass began to frost over. Only now did Billy notice the other obvious signs of what was up, but decided to let Jackie say it.
"What's up?"
Jackie looked down at her milk and swilled it slightly out of nervousness.
"Hey, something must be up if you've come to me of all people."
A small smile appeared on Jackie's face.
"I, I had a nightmare."
"Yeah?" Billy leaned against the counter with his arms folded.
Jackie shook her head, not going into any more detail.
"I thought you were getting help, I know Nigel-."
"I know, but, sometimes..."
"Sometimes they happen anyway."
"Yeah."
Jackie wasn't looking up to see Billy's sympathetic face.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
Jackie shrugged. "I don't want to bother you."
"You've gotten me out of bed at two in the morning, any bothering has already been done." Billy immediately realised that was the wrong thing to say, as Jackie practically drew herself inwards.
Billy let out a sigh threw his nose. He knew Jackie's situation, he'd passed by her school on his way to work and he'd seen that she walked alone, and no one greeted her at the gates, unless an insult counted. The insults never seemed to bother Jackie, and she kept herself to herself. The problem was she didn't know how to ask for help.
And help was something she clearly needed.
"Why me?" Billy asked himself. "Claire and Sally are better at this sort of thing..."
"It was Penelope."
The admission seemed to come unbidden from Jackie's mouth, and she clearly regretted saying it.
"Her dying?"
Jackie's look told Billy he'd hit the nail on the head. It didn't surprise him, the anniversary of her death was coming up, and even he was getting the occasional bad dream.
"You did what you could, and you got the rest of us out of there." Billy's expression softened. "And, if it helps, the rest of us feel guilty too. We all wish we could have done something more, especially after how we treated her before..."
Jackie nodded and took a sip of her no doubt almost freezing milk. That was a start.
Silence descended on the room as Billy tried to work out what else to say. He still couldn't work out why Jackie would come to him, Claire and Sally were better people at talking it over with; he was always too impatient.
He could people forget about their problems, sure...
His eyes lit up, that was it! Jackie didn't want to talk about it, she wanted to forget it, and talking about it or going back to sleep doesn't help with that.
"Hey, I got a racing game the other day. Wanna try it?"
Jackie looked up again and a ghost of a smile appeared on her face. "Yeah, if it's not-."
"Ah, don't worry about it, I think work can live without me for one day."
Jackie's smile widened as Billy went to go set up the game. This was what she needed, a bit of fun to forget.
Morning found the pair in Billy's main room, the controllers by their feet. Billy had fallen asleep, his head tilted back and mouth open as he snored.
Jackie was curled up on the sofa, close but not too close to the Australian. She wasn't quite asleep, but it was calling to her. Her sleepy eyes landed on Billy, she may not have had an older sibling before, but she bet that this is what having a big brother felt like.