N is for Nightmares (SPOILERS)
Jensen nearly fell out of bed as he was roused by an earth-shattering scream. It was only a week after Afghanistan. Cougar was sitting bolt upright beside him, breathing heavily, clutching the sheets so hard his knuckles were white as snow.
"Cougar!" Jensen gasped, turning Cougar's head so he was looking in his eyes. "Cougar, calm down. It was just a nightmare. That's all."
Cougar blinked past the tendrils of his dark hair that had fallen in his eyes. "I could smell them," he whispered, "Burning. I could smell them, Jensen, I could hear them... madre de Dios..."
Jensen's heart broke anew as he saw the wounded look in Cougar's eyes, the shattered expression on his face. He tugged Cougar into his arms, holding him tightly as he wept.
"I know, Cougs. I know." he whispered.