SHOUT OUTS/ANSWERS

Chocolatebrownies: Thanks. Here's an update.

CraneAndFalconForeven: Wait and see. Sorry it took so long.

InsaneGiggles: Thanks. I will.

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Princetongirl: Thanks, sorry this isn't soon enough.

Windyfontaine (Chs 9-10): Thanks. It's okay, I understand. Yep, enjoy. Yep. I'm glad---well, I'm in school right now, so it'll be hit and miss. Thanks, you too.

DISCLAIMER

Belongs to Wes Craven, New Line Cinema, and Canadian Television. Again, using the story from the original Nightmare, and I'm changing Casey's family history somewhat.

"I see," Nora finally said. "We'll, uh---we'll talk about this later, Casey," she continued, heading for the kitchen.

"Nora?" George asked in confusion, following her. The woman went into the kitchen, where she ended up leaning against the counter for support.

"Nora, what's wrong?" George questioned, coming up to her.

"She's still cleaning up my mess, Georgie," Nora said.

"What are you talking about?" George queried.

"Fred Krueger. He was a child murderer in our old neighborhood who killed twenty kids---kids we all knew. It was bad enough when we didn't know who was doing it, but when we found out it was Fred, it just got a lot worse," Nora said softly.

"He killed kids, how could it get any worse?" George wondered. He felt sick. If anything ever happened to their kids, he didn't know what he'd do.

"Because somebody forgot to sign the search warrant in the right place and Fred was freed just like that," Nora told him.

"What?" George asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I know. Like I said---it was a lot worse," Nora nodded.

"I can only imagine how upset you were---" George began.

"Yeah, we were upset," Nora interrupted. "So we all did the only thing we thought we could do at the time," she continued.

"Which was what?" George prodded.

"We followed him to the boiler room where he used to take his kids, poured gasoline all around it, made a trail right up to the door, lit it up, and watched it burn," Nora answered. George stared in shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Nora had willingly killed someone? Granted, he could understand wanting to with what she had just told him, but actually doing it?

"You mean, you---" he began to ask.

"Yes," Nora nodded. "Dennis and I tried to stay together after that, but things just fell apart, and we finally got divorced. But it still wasn't over," she continued.

"What do you mean?" George wondered.

"Two years ago, before you and I met, our kids started dying again---only this time it was in their sleep. We didn't know what was happening until Casey and the others forced Marge to talk, and then I knew, though I don't know if anyone else realized it," Nora said.

"What---what was happening?" George asked.

"Fred Krueger had come back in our kids' dreams to kill them---to take his revenge," Nora told.

"Whoa. Wait. That's crazy," George interjected loudly. Nora shushed him and led him away from the door that led to the family room.

"Casey doesn't know this, but one night when this was all happening the first time, I stayed and watched her as she slept. At first it was peaceful, but then she started having a nightmare. I saw her get cut right here," she whispered, gesturing to a spot on the back of the neck. George's mouth dropped in shock. "It's why she prefers long hair---it hides the scars," she continued in the same tone, her voice catching.

"Oh, Nora," George said sympathetically.

"I already lost one child, Georgie. He already took my Robby. I can't lose Casey too," Nora told her husband, beginning to cry. George took Nora into his arms and the woman cried.