First off I want to apologise for taking so long to update - I'm at Uni now and my main focus is my course, so I haven't really had much of a chance to write any side projects. Secondly, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I was struggling a little with how to move it along but I think this works. Reviews are, as always, welcomed and encouraged - let me know what you think!

Chapter 5: Night Terrors

Despite her exhaustion Teresa found herself unable to sleep. After her conversation with Kimball the images of Tommy had refused to leave her head and she feared reliving those moments should she close her eyes. It was hard enough coping with Sam's untimely death; if these memories kept visiting her too she wasn't sure how she would cope, or, indeed, if she would cope. No matter how much she denied it, to others and to herself, she knew that she was verging on a complete breakdown. It wouldn't be the first time either. She sighed and, quickly checking to see that Virgil and the others were asleep, got up before creeping into the canteen.

She sat alone on the table in the corner closest to the canteen doors. This was where Sam had sat when he had become too ill to move far but remained stubborn enough to refuse to go to the hospice she and Virgil had found for him. It broke her heart to watch him struggling, to know how frustrated he was that he couldn't do a lot for himself despite the brave face he put on for them all. Teresa clenched her teeth, trying not to cry. She knew she should be at home mourning his loss, but she felt closer to him here. All her memories of him were here, good and bad, and she wanted to be where she could see them clearly.

"Teresa." The voice was quiet, but the volunteer started at it all the same. She turned her head to see Kimball standing in the doorway, shaking slightly, "Sorry... I... can't sleep." She gave him a tired smile,

"Nightmares?" The boy nodded hesitantly, "Me too, come in and sit down." Teresa patted the chair next to her. Kimball accepted the offer, sitting awkwardly on the seat, hands in his lap, eyes towards the ground, "You wanna talk about it?" He remained quiet, shifting in his seat, clearly he wasn't sure, "It's okay if you don't. I won't force you to talk about anything you don't want to."

"The gang." Of course.

"That's what your nightmares were about?" Kimball nodded slowly,

"They were coming to beat me up and I couldn't run away or fight back." He stopped and looked up at her, as if to check that she was listening, so she gave him a nod to encourage him to continue, "They told David that he had to do it. So he did."

"David?" She asked,

"My friend... I live with him." Her heart sank as realisation dawned on her, "We were in the gang together... I joined after him... I wanted to protect him..." The boy squeezed his eyes shut,

"Oh, Kimball," Teresa murmured as tears began to escape from the corner of Kimball's eyes, "I'm sorry... "

"I'm scared. I don't want them to find me." Before he knew what was happening, the volunteer had pulled him into a hug,

"I know, Kimball. I know."

For a while the two remained where they were, craving the comfort that the hug brought. But for Teresa the comfort brought a new kind of fear - the fear of having to cope with another loss should the unspeakable happen – and she pulled away with tears in her eyes. I can't do it again. I can't bury another child. Kimball stared up at her, confused by the way she was acting. It was clear, though, that the hug, and the talk, had calmed his nerves significantly. Stop being so selfish, Teresa. Kimball needs help and he trusts you. You can do this.

"Are you okay?" The boy asked eventually, taking Teresa by surprise. She let out a laugh,

"I'm supposed to be the one asking you." She said, wiping the tears from her eyes and resting her hands on the table, "I'm..." She tried to think of the words to explain what was wrong, "I'm just remembering some bad times..."

"Your nightmares." The volunteer smiled sadly,

"Yes, my nightmares." She said, feeling like a child again in her inability to make eye contact with Kimball, "We're all scared of something, Kimball, but sometimes talking about what we're scared of makes us feel a bit better about it."

"What are you scared of?" He asked,

"A lot of things." Teresa said matter-of-factly. "But mostly I'm scared of losing the people I love. What about you, Kimball, what are you scared of?"

"The gang finding me. My friends dying." She took his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together,

"I can't guarantee your friends' safety, but I can promise that you're safe here. We won't let the gang find you." Kimball nodded in understanding and gave the volunteer an unexpected hug,

"Thank you."

The unlikely pair spent the rest of the night talking in the canteen, neither daring to go to sleep for fear of their nightmares returning. Teresa told Kimball about how she and the eldest of her brothers, along with help from Virgil, had managed to get Tommy out of the gang he had been a member of. The boy listened carefully before telling her why he lived with David and how he came to be a member of the Avon Park Playboys. The topics of conversation were sombre, but by the end of the night Teresa felt lighter, and happier than she had since before Sam's death.

In the next chapter we'll be moving away from Kimball's issues a little to allow new characters to enter. Who do you think will be the next team member to make an appearance? Hopefully the next chapter will be here quicker than this one xD;

Again, reviews and crits are always welcomed. I love to know how I can improve and what you liked about the fic. Also, Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays guys - I hope you all have an awesome holiday season and a Happy New Year :)

Affy x