I'm going to up the rating because of some mature themes that will come into play. I am still going to try to keep this the "clean" version as much as I can though.

Chapter 36

Words buzzed at the edge of Creek's consciousness. Though Creek couldn't understand the words, the familiar voice was enough to catapult Creek back into the waking world, his entire body clenching and bolting upright to get away. If his mouth hadn't clenched shut as well, he probably would have screamed but it stayed burning in his throat.

In the rush of movement, Pudgy had been launched from his makeshift nest in Creek's hair and landed with a roll towards the end of the bed. The firefly beat boxed angrily but trailed off when he looked at the Troll and trilled softly.

Not noticing, Creek just tried to breath. Just breath and calm the burning clawing at his throat and his strained muscles as his hands clutched at the covers. The pain throbbing from his ribs, barely registered in the fog of his mind.

Flying closer, Pudgy cooed and rubbed against Creek's cheek.

Jumping, Creek pulled back from the soft touch until his eyes finally processed where he was and who had just touched him. Air, shakily escaped him as he managed to relax his jaw but the rest of him continued to burn.

The covers were tossed aside and Creek threw his legs over the side of the bed to stand, nearly doubling over as his body struggled to support his own weight. He forced himself forward though, thinking of going to the washroom to splash his face but his body had other ideas.

Soon enough Creek was outside in the chill of the night air. He kept moving, afraid that if he stopped he's fall over, but unable to think clearly enough to turn back. All around him were darkened windows and he had no clue of where he was going but he just needed to get away.

When Creek could no longer move, he was near a stream. He fell back onto the grass near it and now everything just throbbed in pain along with the burning. As he panted, the could hear the voice whispering in his ear, still muddled but it wouldn't be much longer at this rate.

Wanting to drown the voice out, Creek did the only thing he could think to do, sing; "All you sinners stand up, sing Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
Show praise with your body
Stand up, sing Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
And if you can't stop shaking, lean back
Let it move right through ya (Hallelujah)
Say your prayers
Say your prayers
Say your prayers (Hallelujah)."

Even as he sang Creek panted and he could tell the pain was echoing in his voice but the voice was lesser in response so he continued to sing, "I've thought of angels
Choking on their halos
Get them drunk on rose water
See how dirty I can get them
Pulling out their fragile teeth
And clip their tiny wings

Cut me off, I lost my track
It's not my fault, I'm a maniac
It's not funny anymore, no it's not

Just don't give up
I'm workin' it out
Please don't give in
Please won't let me down
It messed me up, need a second to breathe

Then the time for being sad is over
And you miss 'em like you miss no other
And being blue is better than being over it (over it)

If heaven's grief brings hell's rain
Then I'd trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday

It's me, I'm a freak

Scream it from the top of your lungs, lungs, lungs

Then I'd trade all my tomorrows for just one yesterday…"

"Creek?"

Not sure when he closed them, Creek opened his eyes to look up, "Brainy? What are you doing out here?"

"I heard you singing," said Brainy, frowning, "The better question is; what are you doing out here?'

"Would you believe sleep walking?" asked Creek.

Frown deepening, Brainy crossed his arms.

Something but the look just made Creek feel incredibly guilty for not being truthful. He didn't really owe the Smurf the truth but it came out anyway, "I had a night terror."

The frown faded into concern, Brainy unfolded his arms to kneel down next to Creek, "A night terror?"

Careful not to move too much, Creek nodded, "I used to have them quite frequently; I couldn't sleep at night at all. Things only started to get better when Poppy all but cuddled me into submission and it kept me grounded enough to sleep. I was then able to use meditation and yoga to, well, balance myself out so I could sleep on my own again. It comes back when I can't concentrate enough to meditate or do yoga." He sighed, finally connecting the dots, "That's probably why Poppy was so concerned; I shouldn't have sent her away…"

Thinking it over, Brainy was silent for a bit, "Do you know what caused them?"

"Not exactly," said Creek, wincing a little when Brainy frowned again. "I don't, really, I've suppressed it."

"You," Brainy tried to wrap his mind around it, "You suppressed it?"

Again, Creek nodded, "That's part of what the meditation and yoga help me do. When I can't, the memory starts bubbling back up and gives me the night terrors…"

"Creek, that can't be a healthy coping mechanism for whatever it is that you suppressed," commented Brainy.

"I don't know what a coping mechanism is but I think I prefer it to," Creek paused to suggest around himself, "Reacting like this when I wake up."

"I think you should talk to Therapist Smurf," said Brainy.

"Ah, no," Creek shook his head. "I don't understand what that Smurf does and Poppy seems to think he's a happiness vampire."

"Therapist Smurf has studied very hard to understand and help with everyone's problems," Brainy tried to reason. "He can properly help you deal with whatever it is that you've suppressed and, with time, hopefully put an end to the night terrors entirely."

"That seems to indicate that I would need to know what it is I've suppressed and I would like to avoid that with every fiber of my being," stated Creek. "The answer is no."

Again, Brainy was silent, now looking Creek over, "Can you move?"

Creek frowned but didn't answer verbally.

"I didn't think so," said Brainy. "Agree to see Therapist Smurf and I'll help you back to the Recovery Mushroom."

Silence was Brainy's immediate answer but Creek managed to cross his arms and shake his head, "The answer is still no."

"You want to spend the night out here?" asked Brainy.

"It wouldn't be my first time sleeping outdoors," said Creek, "And I don't think you would leave me out here anyway." He smiled, "You're too nice."

Though still frowning, blushed flushed across Brainy's face. He straightened to stand, "Good night then."

As Brainy walked away, Pudgy flew over, landing on Creek's chest and trilling in what Creek could only assume was a worried manner.

With a slight smile, Creek carefully lifted his hand and petted what would be the top of Pudgy's head.

The sound of Brainy's footsteps were a little louder than Pudgy's cooing. Still frowning, he kneeled down and helped Creek sit up before putting Creek's arm around his shoulders to take some of the weight as he helped Creek stand, "Don't think this means the matter is closed."

Watching Pudgy fly around them now, Creek absently nodded, "Of course, Nice Smurf."

Rolling his eyes, Brainy stayed silent for a bit as they walked towards the Recovery Mushroom, "That was an interesting song you were singing."

Wracking his brain, Creek took longer than he would like to admit to remember what it was that he actually sang, "That wasn't an actual song. More like four songs badly mashed together in delirium and panic."

"They, um, weren't very happy," said Brainy slowly, "I thought all Troll songs would be happy, all thing considering."

"I understand why you would think that but we have songs for just about everything," said Creek. "Sometimes an angry song makes someone just as happy as a peppy one. Same with sad songs or any song you can imagine. They usually don't get into the big numbers that involve the whole village though."

"Do you like angry songs?" asked Brainy.

"Sometimes," admitted Creek. "Though I also like songs that are about making a change in your life. Or sound angry or sad on the surface but are actually upbeat or hopeful."

Brainy hummed, "That sounds like a perplexing combination."

"Would you like an example?" asked Creek.

"Yes, but I doubt you have the sheet music with you," commented Brainy.

Creek chuckled softly, not feeling it much with how his ribs already ached. He could see the question on Brainy's face but instead of answering, he leaned a little more against Brainy and began to sing softly, "Now it seems to me," He smiled at Brainy's surprised face,

"That you know just what to say
But words are only words
Can you show me something else?"

Blush renewed itself on Brainy's face, not sure what to make of the Troll singing to him like this. Especially so close, so softly, almost into his ear.

Unaware of Brainy's thoughts, Creek smiled a little more to himself. It felt good to sing again in a non-desperate manner. He really hadn't had the opportunity since the challenge against Branch back at the Troll Tree. Taking another breath, he continued, "Can you swear to me that you'll always be this way
Show me how you feel
More than ever baby."

More watching Creek then where they were going, Brainy could tell that Creek wanted to dance. There was more of a rhythm to his step now, almost as if walking to music in his head. As he could feel the yearning energy of desire to dance to that music radiate off of Creek, Brainy desperately wished that he could hear it.

"I don't wanna be lonely no more
I don't wanna have to pay for this
I don't want to know the lover at my door
Is just another heartache on my list," Creek walked a little faster now, keeping up to his inner music, pulling Brainy with him, even as the Smurf supported his stance,

"I don't wanna be angry no more
You know I could never stand for this
So when you tell me that you love me know for sure
I don't want to be lonely anymore."

What followed next was some musical, wordless vocalizations that hummed pleasantly in Brainy's ears. He didn't even mind Pudgy accompanying Creek's voice, creating a more easily heard rhythm, as the firefly buzzed around them.

Then Creek stopped singing.

"That was a short song," Brainy lamented.

"Oh, there's more," said Creek but pointed upward, "But we're here."

Brainy looked up, having not realized that they had stopped in front of the Recovery Mushroom's door, "Oh."

As Brainy helped him inside and to the bed, Creek smirked a little, "Taking me to bed already? How scandalous."

Again, Brainy blushed, "Should have left you outside."

"You're too nice for that," Creek reminded him, hissing a little as he managed to get back into the bed. "You might want to stop hanging around me though; some of my "jerkiness" may rub off on you."

"I guess I'll risk it," said Brainy, pulling the covers back over Creek. Still, he hesitated to leave. "Your night terrors, do they ever come more than once in a night?"

"They can," admitted Creek. "It's a bit late to get Poppy though."

"You described her as "cuddling you into submission", I don't think that would be good for your ribs anyway," said Brainy.

"That was my original thought," admitted Creek.

Brainy looked around and went to grab another blanket, "I have an idea."

"Please don't tell me that you're going to try and swaddle me," Creek pleaded, "I may not be as old as a Smurf but I'm an adult by Troll standards."

Though he gave Creek an annoyed look, Brainy blushed again, "No, though you are as stubborn as a child." He sat down on the bed, on top of Creek's blanket, and put the new blanket he grabbed on top of himself before laying down. Reaching down, he held onto Creek's hand, "Do you think this would help?"

"Not sure," Creek spoke slowly, his lips twitched a little, "You really are, much too nice, to be hanging around me."

Blush deepening, Brainy took off his glasses and put them on the nightstand on top of Creek's hug time bracelet, "Just go to sleep before I change my mind."

"Alright," Creek finished settling down, "Good night sweetheart."

"Good night jerk," said Brainy, making Creek laugh again.