I draw the covers over Elizabeth and Victor in Sully's spare bedroom. They fell asleep after watching a movie and I felt bad about making them wait to get home to sleep, so Sully suggested a sleepover.

I quietly pull the door closed behind me and meander over to Sully's room. I find him laying on his bed, eyes closed, dozing. He hears my footsteps and opens his eyes. "Kids in bed?" he grunts.

"Yeah, and so are you apparently." I climb over the covers and sit next to him, leaning my back against the headboard.

"I'm just tired."

"No, you're more than tired. Something's up."

"Nate..."

"You promised! Now tell me!"

"It's just a head cold."

"Oh, please. That's the lamest excuse in the book."

"Fine! I don't know what's wrong with me, okay? I've been feeling run down, so I've been going to bed early, taking naps, eating well, and what not. Nothing's working."

I stay silent for a second, gathering my thoughts. "Elena and I had a chat on the phone... well, an argument really... and she thinks we should get you screened for diseases."

"Like chlamydia?"

"Ew, no! Like cancer, numb skull!"

"Who you calling numb-" He coughs, sounding like he could literally cough up a lung.

"At first I was resistant, but you're... not looking so hot, Sully."

"No shit," he gasps, rubbing his chest.

"Do you want to get checked?"

"I mean, if it'll keep you from barging in on me, sure."

"Sully, I'm serious."

"Alright, alright. I'll go, but under protest."

"Don't you want to know?"

"Honestly, no. But if it makes you feel better, I'll get a check up. Now, I'm going to catch up on the sleep I was deprived of earlier." He makes the motion to get out of the bed, but I stop him by putting an arm across his chest.

"Where are you going?"

"The couch."

"Why would you take the couch?"

"So you can have the bed." He says it like he's explaining something to a toddler.

"It's your apartment! I'll take the couch."

"No, I'm not gonna make you sleep on the couch."

"Why not?"

"Don't argue with me. Just take the bed, kid."

"But Sully-"

"No buts." I duck my head. He used the same tone of voice he used when I was younger and I had done something wrong. It still makes me turn red with shame. "You're taking the bed. Goodnight."

"Night."

30 years ago...

I fling myself into a sitting position, sweating and breathing heavily. It had felt so real... It really felt like Dad's rings were cutting into my cheeks. I pinch myself to double check I had finally woken from that nightmare. Once I'm breathing at a normal pace, I lay back down and glance over at my clock. 2:15. I groan and shift my arms and legs into a comfortable position, trying to fall back asleep. I toss and turn for what feels like hours with no luck. I crane my neck to look at the clock. 2:20. Really, world? Really?

Realizing sleep is going to be impossible, I sit up again, inner voices of reason chatting away.

What now?

We could just sit here 'til the sun comes up.

Are you kidding? Boooooring! We can't sit here for that long.

Well, have you got any better ideas?

Let's go talk to Sully. He usually knows what to do.

Talk to him about what? We can't exactly tell him what happened. He'll think we're weak and ditch us.

He won't think that. He's stuck with us these past two years. He's not gonna ditch us now.

Dad ditched us after five years.

...Shut up.

No, you shut up!

No, you shut up!

I clamp my hands over my ears. I shake my head like an Etch-a-Sketch, erasing the conversation in an attempt to restart the train of thought.

Let's go talk to Sully.

Great idea, Nate.

Thanks, Nate.

No problem, Nate.

I tip toe down the hallway to Sully's room. Usually I'd slide the length of the hardwood floor in my socks, but I'm not really in the mood. I poke my head through the crack between the door and the doorframe. I stand there watching Sully snore, mustache trembling with his breath, for ten whole minutes, too afraid to say anything. Some time later, I find myself sitting and watching. Next, I find my pillow behind my back against the wall, still watching. Soon after that, I find my blanket covering me, head on my pillow, curled against the corner where the wall and Sully's dresser meet, listening to Sully. Strangely enough, I don't find his snoring annoying. In fact, it has the opposite effect. It seems to calm me, making me forget the terrible dreams.

I'm so warm and relaxed and *yawn* cozy. I could *yawn* fall asleep right here...

"Nate. Na-ate."

"Mm..."

"Nate, come on, wake up."

I slowly drag my eyelids open to a familiar face. "Morning Sully."

He chuckles. "Not quite. It's only 3 am."

"Then let me sleep."

"On the floor? I don't think so. You're not a dog."

"Nothing gets past you," I yawn.

Sully rolls his eyes and holds out his hand. "Come on, kid. Let's get you back to bed."

"I can't sleep in my bed."

"Why not?" he sighs.

"I had a bad dream."

"So you curled up in my room?"

"Yeah. I like to listen to you snore."

Sully cocks an eyebrow, but doesn't comment any further on the subject. "Well, I can't have you sleeping on the floor. How about... How about we watch a movie together? I always fall asleep first, so you can listen to me snore from the comfort of the couch. Deal?"

I think for a moment then shrug. "Okay."

"Alright then, let's go before you start to bruise those boney ribs of yours on the floor."

Sully helps me carry my blanket and pillow to the TV room. He puts on one of the older Bond movies and we make ourselves comfortable. A little too comfortable on my part. My eyelids are drooping before I know it and I feel the warm arm of sleep around my shoulders. The arm massages my neck and shoulders before I finally pass out, head landing on sleep's chest, which smells suspiciously like cigars.