Title: Jack's Nightmare pt. 2

"Jack!"

Jack heard Kim's scream but he felt the pain first.

He had just congratulated Kai on his win, even though his cousin cheated. Then when Jack had walked away, something sharp hit him from behind and he crashed to the ground.

Jack was in pain but turned around just in time to dodge another attack from Kai.

He quickly stood up and all the sudden they were out on the Great Wall, where the ledge was short and the drop was deadly.

The fight was brutal, Jack couldn't pause for even a moment. He was exhausted but Kai seemed to grow stronger with each hit like he absorbed the power. In fact, he looked bigger too. Like he was taller and more muscular. How was this a fair fight?

And then suddenly Kai was over the edge and Jack caught his wrist before he could fall.

"Jack, please, don't let me fall."

When Jack looked down, suddenly it wasn't Kai he was holding, it was Jerry.

"Jerry, come on!" Jack urged. "Use your arms. I've got you!"

But Jack's grip was slipping and by some unknown force he could hold on any longer and Jerry dropped hundreds of feet to his death with a look of betrayal. Jerry landed with a loud crack like Jack could hear each bone break in his body. Even though he was hundreds of feet below, Jack could clearly see Jerry's mangled body.

Jack screamed at the loss of his friend. He turned around to see Milton and Eddie being pulled away by two of Kai's friends. They were held back with ropes around their throats, choking them. Jack tried to run after them but every time he lifted his foot, it refused to step forward. He was running in place, unable to catch up to them.

"Milton!" Jack screamed. "Eddie!"

"Jack, save us!" Milton cried painfully, pulling at the ropes.

Jack tried, grunting as he used his arms to pull himself along the wall. It didn't work, Milton and Eddie vanished as their screams echoed in the fog until they were suddenly cut off.

"No," Jack cried. "No!"

Jack turned and saw Rudy staring at him, standing on the ledge.

"Rudy?"

"Jack, I'm disappointed in you. I didn't raise a quitter. A loser. This is all your fault. Their deaths are your fault!"

"Rudy," Jack cried. "I know. I know. It's my fault. But please, I need help! Where's Kim?"

"Jack!"

Jack's heart dropped at Kim's voice. She whimpered, struggling against Kai as he tried to grab her.

"Don't touch her!" Jack screamed.

Kai turned around and smirked.

Kim tried to fight, but she was so small and Kai was so big. He lifted Kim off her feet as she screamed in fear and threw her to the ground.

Kim hit the ground with a thud, landing on her shoulder. She groaned as she held her shoulder and Jack tried to come to her aid, but he was frozen. He wanted to move. Told himself to move. But he couldn't move.

He was forced to watch as Kai descended on Kim. Kim stared up at him in fear, shaking.

"Can't even protect your friends, can you, Jack?" Kai smirked.

Then he reached down and grabbed Kim's elbow. She winced at his grip and then Kai grabbed a bo staff and slammed it on Kim's wrist.

Kim screamed, going limp and being held up solely by her injured arm.

"Now you're twins," Kai laughed, squeezing her wrist until her hand went purple.

"Let her go, you coward!" Jack screamed, feeling tears run down his face.

"Jack!" Kim wailed. "Help me! Please!" she begged, tears in her eyes.

Kai threw her to the ground again, grabbing her other arm and breaking that wrist too.

Nobody stopped Kai. Jack could only watch, although he fought with every fiber of strength in him to move.

It was like they were connected somehow and each time Kim was in pain, Jack's own wrist throbbed.

Kai continued, beating Kim with the bo staff. She screamed and cried, her loud screams of terror echoing all around and getting more horrifying each time.

"Jack! Please save me! Please! Jack! Come on! Jack! Jack!"

When Jack started panting louder, thrashing and groaning, Kim couldn't stop herself as she shook Jack away.

"Jack! Please, wake up! Jack! Come on! Jack, Jack!" Kim shouted, holding onto Jack's shoulders.

Jack woke up with a start, his hands immediately grabbing Kim's arms and shoving her away.

Jack winced when he realized his mistake and cradled his broken wrist.

Kim, who had been shoved to the floor in a pile, got back on her knees to look at Jack.

"Jack?" she asked carefully. "Are you okay? You- you were laying on your wrist. It must hurt, can I look?"

Jack turned to Kim, trying to reconcile that he just had a dream and that now he was awake and this was reality. His wrist hurt because he was laying on it, not because Kai had just broken Kim's wrists.

Jack gulped, turning away from Kim. He was ashamed of the dream and upset that it happened. He was just so tired. He just wanted sleep.

"Jack?" Kim asked, concerned. "I'm worried about you," she admitted, grabbing his hand and softly rubbing the back of his palm, soothing the aching.

"Kim, please. Just leave," Jack groaned, trying to pull away.

Kim shook her head. "No, Jack. I want to help. Please," she said, voice cracking with emotion. "What can I do? I'll do anything to help you!"

Jack was about to shove her hand away again when he paused. "Anything?" Jack asked.

"Anything," Kim confirmed with a nod.

Jack didn't say anything as he reached out with his good arm, grabbed Kim's bicep, and lifted her up, pulling her up and over him onto the bed all with one hand.

"Jack?!" Kim gasped, shocked by his strength and equally shocked by his action.

"Shh," Jack commanded, grabbing Kim and flipping her to her side, and pulling her back flush to his chest. "You said anything," he reminded her quietly, shutting his eyes.

Kim was left to ponder what just happened as she lay with Jack. She was the little spoon and even though she was above the covers and he was below, it was the most intimate thing she had ever done in her life.

But Jack's breathing evened out almost immediately and she knew he was sleeping peacefully. It was so worth it.

When Milton returned, he looked around and saw Kim, laying in bed with a peacefully sleeping Jack.

He carefully put the ice down, took a picture for proof, posterity, and potential blackmail, then quietly sat down to read a book.

Jack's slowing heartbeat was rhythmic and soon, Kim fell asleep too.

When Jerry, Rudy, and Eddie got back, Milton shushed them and pointed to the two sleeping kids.

Relieved that Jack was finally getting rest, everyone tiptoed around them until they all got settled with their own quiet activities.

It was hunger that finally woke Kim up first. Her empty stomach ached as she started squirming.

Jack tightened his grip around her and when she started struggling (still half asleep) he woke up from her movements. Soon, both of them were blinking, trying to wake up even though both wanted to just sleep forever.

Kim whined as she stretched her limbs, finally sitting up. She looked down at Jack, who was watching her with a smirk.

Kim gasped and shot away from Jack, sitting on the other side of the bed.

Everyone else in the room laughed at her and she realized they weren't alone. Everyone was there.

"Good morning sleepy heads," Rudy said, giving the pair a playful look.

"What time is it?" Jack asked, looking around for a clock.

"Almost 8."

"That late?" Jack questioned. "What about dinner?"

Jerry shrugged. "We wanted to let you sleep."

Jack rubbed his face, realizing he felt much better. "Thanks," he said, genuinely grateful.

"Feel better?" Kim asked softly from the side.

Jack turned to her concerned face and nodded. "I feel a lot better," he said to everyone. "And I'm sorry," he apologized. "I was kind of a jerk to you guys earlier."

"Pfft, yeah," Milton agreed. "You were."

Kim sent Milton a glare and he shrank back.

"I was," Jack told Kim pointedly.

"Don't worry about it," Rudy said. "We all get cranky when we're tired or hungry. We're just glad you got some sleep. And speaking of hungry, I'm going to go pick up some dinner and bring it back for us. I think we've had enough time out and about."

"I can come with you," Kim offered, sliding off the bed.

"No," Rudy said, holding out a hand. "That's okay. Why don't you stay with Jack and I'll take these three to help me."

Kim opened her mouth to protest but the boys agreed and there wasn't much room left for Kim's opinion.

"We'll be back in thirty minutes!" Rudy shouted before slamming the door.

Kim watched the door for a second longer before turning to look at Jack.

"Well," she said, sitting on the other bed awkwardly.

"I am still really sorry," Jack said again, frowning. "You were right, you all were. I've been having nightmares," Jack finally admitted. Now that he had slept peacefully, he was able to see what he had been denying for so long.

"That's not your fault," Kim said quietly. "Do you… um, wanna, like, talk about it?" Kim asked, feeling unsure what to say. She genuinely wanted to help, but her friendship with Jack was usually so light and joking that dealing with something difficult felt weird. But she would do it for Jack. She would always do it for Jack.

"It's about what happened. You know, like, replaying it in my mind but with different what-ifs. Different scenarios," Jack explained, chuckling humorlessly.

Kim just sat there and quietly listened.

"Sometimes it's Jerry falling off the side, instead of Kai. Milton and Eddie, um, fall too sometimes, or they're taken. Rudy just watches in disappointment. Kai, he hurts you. They always hurt you the worst," Jack says, his voice breaking. "And I can't do anything. I just stand there and watch but I can't move and Kai just smiles as he hurts everyone and I'm helpless."

"And I wake up terrified that it's somehow going to come true. That Kai is waiting just around the corner and if I'm not there, watching and ready to defend you all, then he's going to jump out and hurt you. I wake up terrified that if I don't always have my eyes on you, Kai will appear and I won't be able to do anything."

Jack turned away, unable to face Kim with the shame he was carrying.

Kim heard a sniffle and couldn't stop herself as she sat next to Jack on the bed and wrapped her arms around him.

"Jack."

Kim didn't say anything more, she didn't have to as Jack wrapped his arms around Kim's back and let her hold him. She rubbed his back and thread her fingers through his hair. She didn't say anything more, didn't ask him for details or tell him it was okay. She just held him.

"Thank you," Jack whispered, finally pulling back.

"You're my best friend, Jack," Kim said. "And you're so strong and brave but, Jack, every hero needs to rest. You're our friend, not our guardian. And if Kai does attack us, we'll be ready to face him together, okay?"

Jack shook his head and buried it in Kim's shoulder. If Kai attacked, it was Jack's fault and Jack's responsibility. It was his cousin and his family feud. The others had nothing to do with it.

"Jack," Kim said sternly, forcing Jack back to look her in the eyes. "We'll face him together. I don't care what you think, we're friends. If something like this happened to me, you know you would be there to help me in a heartbeat-"

Jack frowned, she was more right than she knew. He would gladly, willingly, eagerly, step in to help Kim or anyone of their friends.

"So let us be there for you too, okay?"

Jack looked up into Kim's eyes, her wild, strong eyes. She was tough and brave too. She never gave up and was one of the strongest people he knew. He could clearly see she meant every word she had said. If she seemed so sure, he could trust her, couldn't he?

"Okay," Jack gave in. "Okay."

He nodded and watched the light in Kim's eyes grow.

"Really?" she asked, unbelieving.

"Really, Kim," Jack said, giving her an unamused look. Was he really that aloof that she thought he would take this on all alone forever? Okay, maybe five minutes ago he would have, but that was before Kim had talked to him.

Kim wrapped her arms around Jack again, holding him tight.

Jack chuckled and let his head fall on her shoulder. Kim was a good friend. Jack wasn't sure what he did to deserve her, but he was sure now that he would never be able to part with her. He wouldn't be able to take it if anyone else became as important to Kim as she was to him.

"Kim," Jack whispered, a smile decorating his face.

"Hmm?" Kim hummed absentmindedly.

Jack sat up slightly to look Kim properly in the eyes.

"Will you go out with me?"

Kim's eyes lit up as she searched Jack's happy face. "Like dating? On dates?" she asked, disbelieving but hopeful.

"Exactly," Jack nodded.

Kim nodded immediately. "Yeah," she said, biting her lip and suddenly going shy.

Jack let out a laugh and laid back on Kim's shoulder, rubbing her leg just above the knee. "You're my best friend, Kim," Jack said. "And I don't know what I would do without you. You know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you, don't you?"

"Jack-"

"I mean it, Kim. I wouldn't be in China. I wouldn't be back doing karate. My life wouldn't be half as good without you," Jack said, feeling the truth of his words as he went on.

"Well I wouldn't be where I am without you either," Kim said. "I'd probably still be with the Black Dragons. I'd probably get sucked up into the snobby cheerleader clique and I'd be no better than Frank and the rest of them. My life wouldn't be half as good without you."

Jack let a bittersweet smile grace his face. "I guess it's a good thing we have each other, then, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Kim sighed. "Good thing."

After dinner, everyone settled into bed after a long and tiring day.

Kim said goodnight to the rest of the guys before going to her own room to get ready for bed. She spent a little time journaling, something she wished she could remember to do more often. Now that she had a moment alone, she figured she would take the time to actually write something.

When she had finished, she put on her pajamas and crawled into bed with a book.

Kim wasn't sure how long she had been reading, but some time later there was a quiet knock on her door. She glanced around the room, taking note of just how late it was. Suddenly every story of girls being abducted ever crossed her mind. She was alone in her room, the perfect target if a serial killer was looking for a victim.

So, Kim grabbed a chair and stood on it to see out of the peephole. She sighed in relief when she saw that it was just Jack, who had turned around in the hall and was pacing. He was walking away from her door as if he regretted coming.

Quickly, Kim moved the chair and unlocked the door.

"Jack!" She called quietly. "Are you okay? Why are you-"

Kim stopped when she saw Jack turn around. His eyes were wide and glossy and he was breathing with difficulty.

"Oh, Jack," she gasped, stepping out into the hall slightly to pull him into her room. "Come here," she beckoned, pulling Jack in and helping him sit down on the small sofa in her room.

"I'll get you some water, okay?" she said, trying to wake him up completely. She had guessed he tried to fall asleep and woke up with another nightmare. She needed him to wake up so he could see it wasn't real.

"Here you go," Kim said gently, handing Jack a cup of water.

Jack took the cup with shaking hands and gulped it down.

Kim took the cup and set it on the end table, sitting next to Jack.

"Th-Thanks," he coughed, still breathing fast.

"Hey," Kim cooed. "It's okay. It's alright. You're fine. We're all fine. Breathe with me, okay? In… hold… out… slowly… In… Hold… Out…"

Kim breathed with him, hoping to coach him through it. He was still having trouble and Kim leaned over gently, placing her hand over his heart.

It was beating rapidly, and Kim needed to get him to calm down.

"Keep going, you're doing good," Kim said. Jack nodded, putting his own hand over Kim's. "In… Hold… Out… Good. In… Hold… Out…"

Kim guided Jack's other hand to her heart, so he could feel her slower pulse. It worked, her heartbeat calmed him.

They sat like that, hands on each other's hearts, syncing pulses, for a long while. Jack was able to breathe easily and Kim wasn't so worried he was going to have a heart attack.

"You know," Kim whispered quietly. "When I had nightmares, my mom would always sing me this song."

Jack looked over at Kim expectantly.

Kim smiled at him, grabbing his arm and guiding him to lie with his head in her lap. She started to gently brush his hair away from his face and run her fingers through it softly.

"It was just a silly little song. To teach kids the alphabet I think," Kim explained in a soft, raspy voice. "It went like this…"

"A you're a-dorable

B you're so b-eautiful

C you're a cutie full of charms

D you're a darling and

E you're exciting…"

When Kim finished, Jack shifted ever so slightly in her lap. "Sing another one?" he whispered so quietly Kim almost didn't even hear.

"Of course," she said, thinking back to her favorite childhood lullabies.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

You make me happy, when skies are gray…"

When Kim finished the first verse and the second, she began with another.

"Five little ducks went out one day, over the hill and far away.

Mother duck said 'Quack, quack, quack, quack,' but only 4 little ducks came back…"

Then another.

"Down by the bay…

Where the watermelon grow…"

And another.

"Frére jacques, frére jacques, Dormez vous? Dormez vous?"

Kim continued as long as she could. Singing every lullaby she had ever heard, humming the tunes she could only remember by notes and not words.

She wasn't sure how long she lay there, softly singing Jack to sleep. But by the time she stopped, he was sound asleep and she was too tired to do anything but stay there and close her eyes.

When Kim woke up, Jack was still fast asleep in her lap.

She looked around, wondering what had woken her up, and saw the door open as Rudy walked into the room, holding the second key card.

"He's in here!" Rudy whisper-yelled behind him when he spotted Jack and Kim on the couch.

The door opened wider and Rudy, Milton, Jerry, and Eddie all walked into her room and laid their eyes on the pair.

"Dude-"

Kim cut Jerry off with the harshest glare she could manage.

"Be quiet!" she hissed menacingly. "He's sleeping, you idiots!"

"Kim," Rudy whispered carefully. "We have to go soon and breakfast is almost over."

Kim frowned, remembering today was the day they were going back to Seaford.

"Well, we don't have to leave yet. Just bring back a plate for Jack. He can eat when he wakes up," Kim instructed.

Rudy thought it over before sighing.

Kim laid back down while everyone else went to grab some food. She looked down at Jack, watching his chest rise and fall with each slow breath.

She cared about him, a lot, she realized. He was so special to her. She could just watch him for ages, knowing he was safe and sleeping soundly. She would do anything just to make sure he was okay. And the scary thing was, she knew he would too.

The second time everyone entered Kim's room, they were much quieter. And they had two plates of food with them.

"Kim," Rudy sighed.

Kim frowned and looked down. She really didn't want to wake him up.

"Hand me a pillow from my bed," Kim told Milton.

Milton grabbed the pillow and gave it to Kim. She stood up slowly carefully easing Jack's head onto the pillow instead of her lap.

"Eddie, Jerry, go get Jack's clothes for today and his toiletries. Bring them in here and then pack up the rest of his stuff in his suitcase," Kim directed.

"Why can't you?" Eddie frowned.

"Because I need to get ready. And why would I go into your smelly room when there are 4 guys here who are perfectly capable of doing it?" Kim said, as if obvious. "Now shoo!"

Everyone left the room to get things packed and ready to go while Kim got herself dressed and ready, the while Rudy was reminding her there wasn't much time and she really ought to wake Jack up. But Kim insisted they needed to let Jack sleep. When she finished all her things, she took a comb and sat back on the couch.

She combed Jack's hair until it was back to his neat, silky smooth locks.

"Kim," Rudy sighed. "Really, we have to go in five minutes."

Kim sighed as she set the comb down. "Okay."

She shook Jack slightly, whispering his name. "Jack, wake up. It's time to go, Jack."

Jack sat up, confused, and rubbed his eyes.

"Wha- huh?" he said, looking around.

The last thing he remembered was night and darkness and now it was bright and everyone was dressed and moving around.

"Did we fall asleep?" he asked.

Kim giggled a little at his question. "Yes, Jack. You fell asleep here last night."

"And most of this morning too," Rudy added. "We have to go catch our cab in a few minutes."

"A few minutes?" Jack asked. "But wha– I need… where's my… suitcase… and…"

"Don't worry," Kim said, putting a hand on Jack's shoulder. "Your clothes are on the bed with your toothbrush, your suitcases are packed, and your hair is brushed. Just go get dressed and you can eat your breakfast in the car."

Jack looked around, realizing Kim was right. She had taken care of almost everything. What did he do to deserve her?

"Kim, I-"

Kim cut him off with a pat on the arm. "Save it for the cab. Go get dressed," she said with a smirk.

Jack smiled back, wrapping an arm around Kim for a quick hug.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"I'll always be here for you, Jack," Kim whispered back. "To fight off Kai, to help you sleep, to brush your hair. Whatever you need, I'm here for you."

"Kim… I-" Jack didn't know what to say. How could he say anything?

"I know," Kim assured him. "Now go get dressed!" she laughed.

Aww yay I hope you guys liked this I really do want variety in my stories. Just as a reminder, i have a few different stories where Jack takes his anger out on the people that hurt kim.

Also with the lullabies, those were all songs my mom sang to me and there's this lady on tiktok, her account is mollywhuppiemusic and you should listen to her covers of lullabies because they sounds so peaceful and like a mom singing late at night and it's so nostalgic ugh.

also still watching criminal minds and oof creepyyyyyyy. just watched this guy torture women (basically every episode tbh) and then he died and his partner became him and did the same thing and ugh its so sad that stuff like that happens.