Author's Note: Here we go, chapter 1! The prologue takes place in early Dharma while this picks up right after the events in Lucky which is much further into their Dharma stay. I hope you enjoy. Please let me know what you think. Chapter 2 is in the works.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Lost.

As always, please read and review.

Dreamcatcher

Chapter 1

The night after Sawyer's nightmare Juliet saw him pause at the threshold and look warily into his bedroom as they headed for bed. She knew the look in his eyes all too well. It was the one that said do I dare sleep? Will the nightmares come again tonight?

He scared her last night. She'd never seen him so out of it, so terrified. He was her best friend and she never wanted to see him like that again. He still hadn't said what had happened in his dream. She wasn't sure she wanted to know, but she knew she would not push. When or if he wanted to tell her he would.

Sawyer moved to take a step into his bedroom. Juliet grabbed his hand stopping him. He turned towards her surprised. "Come on." She said and nodded towards her room, pulling him in that direction. He looked at her confused, unsure. "Just like last night." She smiled shyly.

She knew this was weird. This was strange. This was unorthodox to say the least. Two adults sharing a bed because one had a bad dream. Did that even happen? But it was more than that really. They were best friends, but there were deeper feelings swimming below the surface on both ends. Simply laying with her had seemed to calm him so much the night before. She wanted to give him the same comfort. And if Juliet were honest with herself she'd know she needed him, too. After years on the island she'd gotten used to fending for herself, but now he'd broken through some of her walls. They depended on each other. She knew he had her back just like she had his and she never felt more safe and secure than when he was in close proximity. She had pulled him down into her bed last night because she didn't know what else to do or say to make him feel better, but tonight she pulled him back in not just for him. She'd had the best night's sleep the night before. He kept her nightmares away, too.

They made it into Juliet's bedroom and stood awkwardly by the bed until Juliet finally climbed in on one side. Sawyer followed. His heart was hammering. In all honesty he was terrified of seeing Juliet's dead eyes again tonight. He hadn't wanted to go to bed, but he was so tired after working all day. He was thankful for Juliet's invitation. He figured he could sleep easier hearing her breathe next to him. But now that he was actually here it was more than a little weird. Her bed was warm and inviting with crisp white sheets. The room was bathed in soft moonlight coming through the curtains on the window and his pillow smelled like her favorite shampoo.

Sawyer watched as she reached over to turn off the light. What do I do? He suddenly started freaking out. Do I stay over here on the edge of the bed? Do I touch her? Do I not touch her? Last night I held her… Last night was special circumstances, Buddy. He mentally chided himself.

Juliet settled down after turning off the light. "Goodnight James." She said.

"Night Jules." He replied and decided he would do the gentlemanly thing – if she stayed on her side he'd stay on his. His last thought before drifting off was how this was nice, but he wished he could go to sleep with her head on his chest.

Juliet wondered, too, one she'd gotten in bed what she'd gotten herself into and how this was going to work. She'd wanted to curl into him and let him wrap his arms around her, but that's not what 'just friends' do is it? She'd wondered what he would do, but he made no effort to get any nearer. So the decision was made – to each their own side of the bed. She fell asleep thinking about the way his arms enveloped her the night before.

Weeks later Sawyer hadn't slept in his bed once. They shared Juliet's every night. What had begun as a one-time fluke to deal with an especially horrific dream had turned into a coping mechanism for two broken individuals. Both slept much better with the other near. Sawyer still had yet to tell Juliet what that fateful nightmare had been about, but it didn't really matter anymore. It never came back like he was terrified it would and he was fairly certain as long as he fell asleep with her next to him he would have to worry about it.

Juliet had been plagued by a different kind of nightmare since landing in the 70's. Previously they generally had to do with Ben keeping her hostage, but he wasn't a problem anymore. Now, her nightmares were the kind where the dreams were so good real life – waking up – was the nightmare. She'd dream about finally getting home to Rachel and getting to meet Julian. Then she'd wake up and it would all be fake. Sometimes she'd rather dream about Ben torturing her. But she hadn't had any such dreams, Ben or Rachel related, lately. And she was pretty sure she owed it to Sawyer. She just felt so comfortable, so safe with him there.

Each night they went to sleep with an arm's length of empty space separating them. It was a way to reinforce the "we're just friends" mantra they told themselves. But inevitably somewhere throughout the night they would meet in the middle like magnets and wake up in the morning entwined together.

They never spoke about their shared morning moments and after a while the awkwardness faded. It grew to feel normal to wake up with her head on his chest or his cheek against her shoulder, arms enveloping each other and legs tangled.

Of course, they were still just friends, always just friends. Best friends, but friends nonetheless. More romantic desires were held buried deep within, so deep in fact that both Sawyer and Juliet ignored their existence.

And naturally, they told no one of their sleeping arrangements. They never spoke of it themselves nor did they quite understand it. All they knew was they felt better with the other by their side.