Yay, I'm updating again! Isn't it amazing? Thanks a bunch to my reviewers! You guys are the best.

Root returned to Holly's apartment Monday evening after his first day back at work. By the complete silence, he guessed that he had beat Holly back. He felt exhausted and hungry, he had spent nearly the entire day being visited by employees and other random people welcoming him back and wanting him to tell them exactly how he had survived. Surprisingly, he only lost his temper a few times, but he had still spent the entire day just barely keeping it under control. His thoughts returned to what Foaly had said earlier about Holly's nightmares.

-flashback-flashback-flashback-flashback-

"Hey Julius, it's good to see that you and Holly haven't killed each other yet." The centaur said while entering Root's office.

"Don't call me Julius, donkey. And how can you be sure that I haven't killed her?" Root stifled a sigh of exasperation

Foaly snorted, "If you had even tried to kill her, I seriously doubt that you would still be in one piece... So, did anything... uh... unusual happen over the weekend?"

"What? Oh, you're talking about her nightmares."

"So did she tell you about them then, or did she have another one?"

"She told me that she's been having them, but not what they're about."

"You should really talk to her about them, it seems like they've really been bothering her. She's refused to talk to Mulch and/or I about them, and she nearly killed me when I suggested that she talk to a councilor. Since you two are such 'good friends' now, you have a better chance at getting her to talk to you."

"So I take it you watched the press conference too."

"How could you tell?" Foaly grinned, "But seriously..."

"Fine, donkey. If I don't come back to work tomorrow, you'll know why."

"Oh come on, she would never kill or injure a 'good friend' of hers."

"Oh shut up you donkey, before I cut your budgets in half."

-endflashback-endflashback-endflashback-endflashback-

How under the Earth am I going to get her to talk about them, though? His thoughts were interrupted by his stomach growling. Maybe I could somehow trick her into it... Oh please, how am I going to do that? I guess I could try to bully her into it. He snorted at that thought as he walked into his room. She'd probably end up kicking him out of her house if he tried to intimidate her. Besides, I've just gotten on her good side; I don't want her to regard me as an enemy again. Well, then how am I going to trick... wait, maybe I could bribe her into it. If I take her to dinner... oh my, what would she think of me doing something like that?

Root was startled out of his thoughts at the sound of the front door opening and shutting. He looked into the living room and watched as Holly threw her backpack onto the couch and stomped into the kitchen.

"Something wrong?" He asked, trying not to sound nervous.

"Why do you think something's wrong?" She asked, turning around to face him

"I could hear you throwing something and stomping into the kitchen from my room."

"Just something Mulch said..." she muttered, turning away again

-flashback-flashback-flashback-flashback-

It was near the end of the day when Mulch wandered into Holly's office.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked

"You've asked me that five times today, the answer is still fine." Holly replied through gritted teeth, "If there's something specific you're referring to, just say it already."

"Fine," Mulch took a deep breath, "are you having trouble coping with Root's death?"

"Did you watch the news this weekend?"

"No. This weekend I was... uh... not watching the news." Holly raised an eyebrow at his answer. Mulch quickly changed the subject. "What was so important about the news? Was there a story about you or something?"

"If you hadn't been 'not watching the news' this weekend, you would know that Root isn't dead."

"That's a pitiful way to try to get me off your case, Holly."

Holly grabbed the paper off her desk and threw it at him. The front page had the headline "Commander Julius Root back from the dead". Mulch peered at the headline, looked at her, then looked back at the paper he was holding with bewilderment written on his face.

"It's amazing how much faith you have in what your partner's words." Holly said sarcastically

"Hey! I guess he is alive... He isn't going to try to arrest me is he?"

"Why would I know something like that?"

"Well anyway, this is great! Now you have someone to talk to about your nightmares!"

"Mulch, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Did you bump your head during the weekend or something? I'll have to call Julius up and tell him that you need help remembering those nightmares you were having about his death. I'm sure he'll help you."

"Calling him will probably remind him that he wants to arrest you."

"I'll leave an anonymous letter for him at the LEP."

"Mulch-"

"Holly, you probably should go see him. Maybe talking to him will help you feel better."

"I feel fine!" she shouted at him

"And this fineness is why you're yelling at me?"

Mulch ran out of the room as Holly took a step towards him with her fists clenched.

-endflashback-endflashback-endflashback-endflashback-

"You know... I don't really feel like drinking a nettle smoothie tonight." Root was saying, "So, uh, there's this little cafe kind of near where my old place was... Do you want to go there with me?"

Whoa, he just asked me to dinner... "Uh, is it any good?" Holly avoided looking him in the eye, for some reason, she was afraid to. What's wrong with me?

"I like it."

"Well, ok." Is this like a date? Oh stop it! You're starting to sound like a stupid teenager! Why did I even think that anyway? He was my commander. I should never have thought anything like that.

"So, uh, there's this little cafe kind of near where my old place was... Do you want to go there with me?" That sounded so stupid! What happened to my ability to speak? Root mentally berated himself.

Holly had a suprised look on her face. Root looked away, he was frightened of what else he might see on her face.

"Uh, is it any good?" Holly sounded a little apprehensive. Great, look what you've done now, you idiot.

"I like it." Gah! could you have made it any worse? You sound like an unintelligent creep!

"Well, ok." Risking a look at Holly, Root noticed that it looked like she was blushing. I wonder what that means, is she embarrassed, or is it something else?

"Ok, then let's go."

Holly sat across from Root at a little table at the cafe. She was looking at the menu, trying to find something that sounded good.

"Hi, my name is Alice." a waitress said with a large smile on her face, "What can I get for you two this evening?"

"I'll have the spicy tofu." Root answered.

"I'll have the lasagna."

"Allright, I'll have that right out for you." Alice smiled hugely at both of them before walking towards another table.

"Is it just me, or does our waitress smile too much?" Holly mimicked her, stretching her mouth out as far as it would go.

"Yeah, it seems kind of forced. Strange..."

Holly and Root lapsed into silence for a few minutes. She put her hand on the table and began drumming her fingers in time to the song that the cafe was playing.

"Uh, Holly? Foaly wanted me to talk to you about something." Root finally said, looking everywhere but at her.

"About what?" Oh great, here it comes

"About your nightmares."

Holly made a sound of exasperation, "Why does he have to be so nosy?! He won't leave me alone!"

"He's just concerned. And I am too. If they're enough to get Foaly to bother you about them, without teasing, they must be really bad." Root finally looked back at her, concern showing in his eyes. Seeing that made her pause. Does he actually care? Or is he just trying to get Foaly off his case? I hope it's the former.

"Julius, you don't need to be worried. The nightmares have stopped." Holly held his gaze, hoping that he'd be convinced and drop the subject.

"Please Holly, tell me what they're about. Maybe I can help you." His voice was gentle, and his eyes were sincere and pleading. Holly gulped. I want to talk to him about it, but he'd just laugh at how stupid they are.

"It doesn't matter, they stopped. They were stupid anyways." She replied quietly

"Just let me help you." He reached out and tentatively put his hand over hers. Holly felt as light as a feather at his touch. I hope he never moves his hand. What is wrong with me? I'm thinking like a lovesick teenager... Oh gods... I'm not in love with him, am I? Oh no, oh no no no, he was my commander! Stop that this instant Holly! But it was too late; she couldn't stop thinking about how nice and warm his big rough hand felt over hers. She desperately hoped that what she was thinking didn't show on her face.

"It doesn't matter, they stopped. They were stupid anyways." Holly was looking down at the table, Root could see in her eyes that she was troubled by whatever those nightmares were about.

"Just let me help you." Before he realized what he was doing, Root had placed his hand over hers. She jumped slightly, but didn't move her hand away. Oh gods, what did I just do!? Please don't freak out!

Root looked at her face. She was staring at their hands in surprise, cheeks bright red. I bet that's the exact same color my face is at the moment. He desperately wanted to take his hand back and go hide in the corner. What is she thinking right now? Oh please don't freak out! Please don't freak out! They sat there like that for what seemed like an eternity.

"I..." she took a deep breath and started again, "I-I'll be right back." She sat there for another few seconds before getting up, looking at him quickly, and then hurrying towards the bathroom.

Root groaned and buried his burning hot face into his hands as soon as she was out of sight. You idiot! Why did I do that? There wasn't a stupider thing I could have done. Now she definitely thinks that I'm a creep. Gah! Why, oh, why did I do that!? She'll probably kick me out of the house and never speak to me again. You selfish idiot, you just had to touch her! Root seriously considered running away and hiding back at Holly's apartment. I do have a key, but that would be so rude just leaving her here like that. What is wrong with me? It's almost like... Oh gods, I think I'm in love with her. Gah! You are a creep! You were her boss, you shouldn't be thinking like this! Why couldn't have realized what I was feeling sooner? Maybe I could have stopped myself before it was too late.

Holly stepped shakily into the bathroom. Oh gods, I've made such a stupid mistake, falling for my own commander. Why did this have to happen!? And why did I have to realize this now, of all times!? What would he think of me if he found out? What am I going to do? Calm down Holly. Maybe if you act normal, he won't notice anything. Just take a deep breath, splash a little water on your face, and go back out there. She walked to the sink and splashed some cool water onto her cheeks. It didn't help. Oh, I can't do it! D'Arvit! What is wrong with you? You've faced a bunch of dangerous situations, and you can't go out and pretend like nothing's wrong!? No, I can't. Suddenly, Holly had the perfect idea on how she could get away.
Root was still lost in his thoughts when a waiter came up to his table, "Um, excuse me sir. A lady just asked me to come tell you that she wasn't feeling well, so she went home." he smiled sympathetically at Root, "Having a rough date?"

"It wasn't a date, she's just a friend." Root replied, just barely remembering not to shout at the sprite

"Ah. Well, sorry about that sir." The waiter walked away with a knowing look on his face. Root was tempted to call him back and ask him what that look was about. He's not your employee; you can't order him around... Holly left? She wasn't feeling well... Oh gods, I completely freaked her out. Maybe I should stop being so pessimistic. She might actually be sick. I don't know which situation I like better. I hope she's ok.

The smiley waitress came up at that moment carrying two plates of food.

"Uh, Alice, could I get two boxes for those? And the check please?"

"Sure. Bob told me that your girlfriend left. Do you need any advice?"

"She-"

"Did you say something to upset her? You know what you should do? You should go get her flowers and apologize to her immediately. That's what my boyfriend should have done. You know what he did? Just last night, we were at the movies, and after he said that he loved the actress's eyes. I asked him if he liked her eyes better than mine, and he got all quiet. So I yelled, 'You do like her eyes more than mine! How could you!' And then I ran home crying, and I waited all night and some of the morning for him to come and tell me that he was sorry, and that he does like my eyes better than that stupid-"

"Alice, please, could I get the check and a couple of boxes?"

"Are you going to go and apologize to her as soon as you leave?"

"Uh, of course."

"You see, that's what a good boyfriend should do! I wish my boyfriend was like you."

"Uh..."

"I'll be right back."

It took ten more minutes after that to get away from her, Alice kept going on and on about her boyfriend. By the time he finally left, Root was almost more afraid of her than what had happened with Holly. But as he walked towards Holly's apartment, he felt his fear returning.

Holly got home and plunked down onto her bed. How under the Earth am I going to face him? It's not like I can avoid him, he's living in my house! I hope I didn't offend him or anything by suddenly leaving. He probably doesn't even care at all. He's just thinking 'what's the deal with that stupid female?'. Oh stop it, he did say that you were a good friend... Even though that was to the reporters. Grr, I'm just going to end up depressing myself if I keep thinking about it. Holly heard the front door open and close. He's back already!? Well, I did tell the waiter to tell him that I felt sick; maybe he's just worried.. She could hear him walking towards her room, so she quickly ducked under the covers of her bed and pretended to be asleep.

The door slowly opened. Holly tried to breathe evenly and slowly as she listened to his footsteps get closer and closer. Suddenly, he put his hand on her forehead, as if checking to see if she had a fever. Wow, that's the second time today he's touched me in a way that suggests that he cares about me. Holly had to fight to keep from smiling.

"Get better." he whispered, brushing back her short bangs. His hand left her forehead, and she heard him walk out of her room and close the door. Holly fell asleep smiling.

Wow, I wrote a lot! I'm happy now. :D So, now that you've read my chapter, could you please review? Pretty please, with sugar on top? -points helpfully down at the review button-