Sleepless Nights
Logan sat up sharply, a scream lodged in his throat. He looked around the darkened room with wide, terrified , wild eyes and tried to keep the sob from escaping. Hesh was sleeping several feet away, with Riley curled on the foot of the bed. Neither of them stirred and Logan swung his legs off the bed. He needed air suddenly. He crept out and made his way outside.
He was both relieved and sad that Hesh didn't wake up. Since his release from the hospital, he had not gotten a single full nights sleep. It would be fine, if he wasn't dragging his brother down with him. Hesh was just as tired as him, or maybe even more tired. Hesh was the one that stayed up until Logan was asleep again. Logan reached the outside and leaned against the wall, sliding down until he was sitting on the ground.
He hated feeling this way. He was killing his brother and that thought caused him to begin sobbing in earnest. Hesh sacrificed so much to ensure that Logan was free, and that he wasn't under lockdown and all he was doing was killing his brother slowly. Hesh had dark circles under his eyes and looked worse with cares each day. The worst part of all of this was the fact that Logan didn't know what or why he was having these recurring, terrible, vivid and violent nightmares. He didn't know if they were repressed memories, his imagination or if he'd lost what little remained of his mind. It wasn't only Hesh that was affected by Logan screaming himself hoarse nightly, it was everyone else that shared the hallway with them.
He didn't know how long he sat there.
"Logan? What happened?" Hesh asked. "More nightmares?"
"I can't sleep."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
Hesh sat beside him.
"I'm killing you, Hesh. My nightmares are going to get you killed."
"I'm your brother, Logan. It's my job to protect and take care of you."
"But-"
"No buts. Let's get you back to bed, so that you can get some sleep."
"Will you stay with me?"
Hesh smiled, Logan hadn't made such a request since he was eight and their mother died.
"Yeah kiddo, I'll stay." He said, helping Logan to his feet. Hesh would be talking to Logan's doctors, but that could wait until Logan got some sleep.