A/N: You don't know how much all these reviews mean to me! Please, tell your friends if you haven't already. I want more people to check this out. It's going to get really, really good soon.

I am chuffed to bits that you guys enjoyed the nightmare scenes thus far. Plenty more where those came from, obviously.

My schedule has gotten so jam-packed, it sadly had affected my usual credo to publish updates within 1-2 days. So much so that I had to make an update to my profile. But don't fret; any active stories will get finished. I am never too busy to leave all of you hanging. And when I get blocked it helps to read some of your fics for inspiration (looking at you Quitting Time and Lushcoltrane with your "After" series).

I really want this thing to pure enjoyment; scary, fun, emotional, the whole package. Best of all, you don't know where we're going next!

Enough babbling; on to the story.

;-)

Tracy woke up at Maggie's desk with the sound of someone clearing their throat. She rubbed her eyes and Doc stood before her, smirking at the woman that dozed off burning the midnight oil from the look of it. The desk was buried underneath post-its and notepads and various kinds of pens. There was even an atlas open to the far west coast United States.

"What's that sound?" Tracy asked, gripping her left temple. She was referring to the high-pitched hum in the room. Doc nodded and hung up the phone which killed the dial tone.

He observed the old landline phone, the atlas and the fact that Tracy was sitting in the office of a dead friend.

"Feeling nostalgic?" he asked.

"Hardly," she replied standing up. She noticed his furrowed brow and reconsidered her tone. "I didn't mean for it to come off as uncaring."

Doc puts his hands in his pockets. "I miss her too, you know."

Tracy nodded. "I know," she gave a small smile.

"What have you been up to?" he asked, indicating the sty that wasn't there yesterday.

"Been trying to find my sister."

He understood, given the circumstances. Not all the kids from Fred Krueger's first rampage decades ago died. Some grew up old enough to leave Springwood behind and start families of their own.

Tracy had a baby sister born while she was in the youth shelter. Apparently, her father was philandering about and had this child born out of wedlock. Once he was arrested for abuse and the mother when AWOL, the baby was put into the care of the state.

Tracy had high hopes that when she turned eighteen, which was weeks away, she could legally apply for guardianship. Hell, she was the closest thing to family she had. The blonde could never forget the day she first held her baby half-sister. She thought she was the most precious thing on earth and her eyes just saw right into your heart. The name hit her over the head that moment. Her defining feature was those eyes so Tracy settled upon Jade, something green and precious. It was perfect.

Maggie understood that Tracy had issues during her formative years with her abuse. But she could see that she would die to protect her sister. She felt confident that her instincts would kick in. So much so that she tried to use her influence in the system to keep Baby Jade from being adopted but it was no use.

A Mr. and Mrs. West came one day looking for a baby to adopt. They have had difficulty having one on their own, so they felt they could give someone less fortunate a good home. Tracy was flippant about the idea, despite their non-threatening vibe. She was not willing to give Jade up but there was nothing that Maggie could do at this point. They told Tracy that she could visit her anytime and that they would keep the name Jade.

For a little while, Tracy felt good about this arrangement. Every week, Tracy made time between school and work to see her baby sis. She could make her smile and giggle every time. Tracy imagined herself with kids of her own one day. Stranger things have happened.

But unfortunately, Mr. West's employment fell through and they had to relocate to where the offers were. They told Tracy that they were moving westward, possibly Arizona or California, places where the economy was exploding.

Tracy was depressed and if it weren't for Maggie and Doc's support, she would have turned to drugs again. It was then that the idea of school was suggested, to give Tracy a better life and to get her mind on other things.

"I have pinpointed her possible whereabouts to Los Angeles," Tracy pointed on the atlas. "A law firm there has an Alex West on the books. It's all I have to go on"

"And why," Doc leaned in. "are you trying to find your sister besides the obvious reason?"

Tracy licked her lips and looked at her hands. "I think the evil has escaped."

Tracy and Doc shared a stark silence. They were both on the same page.

"And if you're right, how sure are you that Jade is still in L.A.?" Doc asked.

"Chances are good. She ought to still be in high school."

Doc crossed his arms. "And what if she dropped out or something?"

Tracy was about to leave but hesitated for a second. "Maybe…maybe she has a reason to stay."

Jade came down the stairs, looking around, and found Tori in the kitchen. She was making some eggs on the stove.

"Hey," she called out.

Tori barely looked up to acknowledge Jade.

"What's up?" Tori whispered.

"Why didn't you get a shower after me?"

Tori shrugged. "I dunno."

Jade approached her girlfriend. "Hey, wait a minute" Jade grabbed Tori's hands. "What's the problem?"

"We both know I'm not the one with the problem."

Jade let go of Tori's hands and backed a step away. "Oh, I see."

"I need to know something, Jade. What was it about my dream that freaked you out?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Jade sighed, her eyes looking damn serious.

"Try me," Tori coldly demanded, slamming down the hot pan.

Jade had this look about her like she was going to cry. "I…can't. You'll think I'm crazy."

"Fine," Tori responded taking the eggs off the heat and putting them on the counter. "Let's talk about something else. Have you told your parents about us yet?"

Jade was getting utensils at the time out of the drawer but dropped them when bombarded by the question. "What?" she asked.

"You heard me," Tori stood her ground, hands on her hips. "Do they know?"

"Yeah," Jade scoffed.

"Why don't I believe you?" Tori's tone had venom.

Jade just stood there, caught in her lie.

"I mean," Tori continued. "That is why you're making sure I go back home before tonight because that's before they come back from vacation, correct?"

Tori was getting apprehensive as her girlfriend's face was looking less and less confident.

"Tell me I'm wrong," Tori pleaded, while moving the eggs off the pan onto a large white plate.

After a second's hesitation, Jade shook her head.

"You know what," Tori slammed the pan down so hard it made Jade jump. "I lost my appetite."

She brushed past Jade and grabbed her backpack by the door.

"Tori wait!" Jade ran after her. She got between her love and the front door. "Please don't go."

Tori's eyes were both hurt and unforgiving.

"Please," Jade whispered; her hands together as if in prayer.

"What are you scared of?" Tori asked.

"I'm…not scared…" Jade folded her arms.

"Then why is it when something gives you that look in your face, you turn tail and run."

"What face?" Jade asked.

"That one," Tori pointed. "You're heavy. I have known you long enough to tell from your face that your mind is preoccupied. It makes no sense because for as long as I've known you, you were never afraid to say or do what you felt. You should be able to tell me anything!"

Jade shrugged. "Because I don't want to talk about a stupid dream and tell my parents about us, you think I'm scared?"

"Then explain to me why those two things are different," Tori tilted her head, hand on one hip.

The raven-haired girl didn't want to admit to her girlfriend that both notions seriously did scare her to the core. They were both so fantastic that she was afraid people wouldn't understand. But she couldn't bring herself to admit that to even Tori.

"It's not as simple as you're making it out to be," Jade blurted out.

Tori sighed and gently moved Jade aside, surprised that she conceded.

"One day Jade," Tori's voice sounded broken, preparing for the floodgates to burst. "You'll need to face your fears."

And with that, the front door slammed shut and Jade let out a soft sob.

Dammit Jadelyn, she told herself. How could you let her go?