Only a short chapter really, but let me know what you think!

Sleepless in Trenton

Chapter One

"Sleep, perchance to dream" Shakespeare knew his shit, but I have to disagree with that one. Every time I sleep, I pray that I won't dream. But I still dream, so avoiding sleep has become my new hobby. I've discovered in the past few days that nothing, nothing is as bad as sleep, or the nightmares that comes with it. So at three AM I'm wearing my jogging pants, sneakers, and a tank top. It's still late summer, so the night air is cool but not cold.

I ran what I was beginning to think of as my 'usual route'. The first time I'd done it, I'd been puffing and heaving, and drenched attractively in sweat when I finally got home. Nearly two weeks down the line and I don't puff half as much.

I dragged my fatigued body up the stairs, and cold showered. Anything to delay sleep.

I've taken to avoiding my parent's house; even my best concealer can't hide the dark circles under my eyes. Lula noticed, but she just asked if I was ok, I firmly told her I was fine, she nodded and accepted it, but I noted that after that she kept a closer eye on me.

For the past two weeks, Lula's been by my side – during the day at any rate. I take her bounty huntering with me because not only do I like her company, but also her Dolby keeps me from falling asleep on the job.

And as the days go by, falling asleep on the job is becoming more of a possibility, which, as a bounty hunter, could quite literally kill me. I only needed one violent skip to spot me when I accidentally slipped into exhausted sleep…and I was a goner.

So I kept Lula by my side. If Lula noticed that she'd been riding shotgun everyday since the Slayer thing she didn't mention it, but she also waited for me in the car when I went to deliver the FTAs to the cop shop, rather than driving off, so maybe she did notice after all.

I dried off my hair, and with great reluctance I climbed into my bed. I no longer enjoyed the feeling of crisp new sheets against my skin, because I knew that the only reason they were clean was because I'd had to wash them yet again after I woke up in sweat soaked sheets. I'd spent a lot of money at the launderomat these past two weeks; I was becoming a regular at Kan Klean.

With the lights blazing around me, I surrendered from my constant fight with my eyelids and let them win; instantly they closed, and seconds later I was asleep.

©The black Hummer came out of nowhere, swerved around me and pulled in front. I leant on my horn and reached for my gun. I did all the things I knew I was supposed to do, but it didn't matter. In seconds I was yanked out of my car and dragged to the back of the Buick, the trunk was open and I was shoved in. The world went black.

The gun had fallen out of my pocket in the scramble, and I couldn't get out of the trunk of the car. I was twisted in the fetal position, I kicked at the trunk and started yelling; maybe someone would hear me at the intersections.

The car stopped and the trunk opened, I was yanked out and dragged to the centre of the playground, there was a circle drawn on the ground and inside the circle was a big guy, his face lost in the shadow of his hooded sweatshirt. Junkman.

'This is the circle where we try the enemy,' he said. 'If you're not a member, you're the enemy. We already disposed of three of the enemy. This is your night. Are you the enemy?'

I didn't say anything. God, I didn't want this to be my night, I wanted to be at Val's shower, eating sheet cake.

Junkman's fist swung out and caught me on the side of my face; I staggered back. A roar went up from the group, and hands grabbed me.

Here's where the nightmare deviates from what actually happened, the bit I hated most. I didn't get rescued by Sally in this version.

I tried to get off my jacket so I could crawl to the relative safety of the circle, but my arm got stuck and I couldn't get out of it. The slayers had me, their hands pawing at me. I was shoved to the floor of the playground, my back hitting the concrete painfully. Eugene Brown hovered over me, grinning.

My stomach lurched in fear and I continued to struggle. His hands tore at my pants, pulling them off me as two of the others held me down. He was going to rape me. But apparently he was going to beat me some more first. His fist slammed repeatedly into my body and I screamed.

I sat bolt upright, trying unsuccessfully to choke off the scream.

'Babe!'

Ranger? Huh?

Ranger wrapped his arms around me, 'it's ok Babe - it's over. It's finished; you're safe. It's ok.'

I was shaking and trembling, and not in a good I-just-orgasmed way. I was fighting back tears, trying to be strong. But I'm so goddamn tired. I just want to sleep. Just half an hour of dreamless sleep, is that so much to ask for?

I was covered in a fine sheen of sweat and my sheets were damp again. Regardless, Ranger held me close to him, rocking me back and forth whilst I tried to regain some semblance of control.

After a few minutes I decided my voice wouldn't be shaky anymore, 'So.' I said, 'how was your trip?' I was aiming for normal conversation, maybe Ranger would catch on that I didn't want to talk about the nightmares yet.

Apparently his Esp was in full working order because he just answered the question, not probing me with his own. 'It was good. I was in Boston, buying up some real estate. I'm going to develop it and sell it.'

'Sounds fun.' I said. I knew he was trying to distract me, make me feel better – Ranger never volunteers that much information normally.

'Yeah.' Ranger agreed, his hands still stroking my hair reassuringly.

We stayed like that, not saying anything. I knew he was waiting for me to talk, whenever I was ready.

'I've been having nightmares.' I stated the obvious.

Ranger nodded, staying silent, waiting patiently for me to say more.

I tried to work out what to say, how best to phrase it, but I came up blank. We sat there for fifteen minutes while I struggled with what to say.

'About the Slayers.'

Ranger nodded again.

'I close my eyes and I live it all again. I get shoved into the car; I get taken to the playground and beaten. But it ends differently each time. Junkman shoots me, or I get beaten to death, or I get raped, or…'

Ranger's arms tightened around me, and he kissed me lightly on the forehead.

'I'm scared all the time. Scared that I'll fall asleep and have to live it again. Every time is worse, but I'm so tired Ranger, I'm so tired.'

'Then sleep Babe. I'm here, you're safe. Just sleep, it'll be ok.'

I wanted so badly to believe him, and when has he ever lied to me?

So I closed my aching eyes and with Ranger's arms holding me, I slept. I slept and I did not dream.

© Some of the nightmare sequence is directly from TBO, other parts are paraphrased, and other bits are completely fabricated!