Hours after the nightmare Elsa had experienced she awoke once more. Her blue eyes flitted to the clock at her bedside, and she watched as the minute clicked over, revealing the time to be 2:00am. With a groan, she pulled the blankets from her and sat on the side of the bed. Her room was unnaturally bare, with one single dresser, and one single picture frame sitting atop of it. Next to that frame was a lamp, with a barely noticeable ring sitting next to it. Absentmindedly, Elsa rubbed her finger and stood, wrapping her arms around herself.

Over to the window she walked, pulling the blue curtain aside. She watched the seemingly empty road, watched the flickering of the street light to her left. It was from that flicker she noticed a figure limping down the street.

Jack felt like he was losing his mind. It seemed he had been wandering outside for hours. His phone buzzed constantly in his pocket, which he assumed was from his parents. As a grown man, he didn't feel he had to explain himself to them, but he didn't want them to worry any longer. He was heading in the direction in his home when he stopped, giving his leg a break. The excruciating pain shot straight from his thigh to his foot, and he clutched his wooden cane tighter.

As he stood there, he saw a flash of lightning, heard the clap of thunder and watched as the heavens opened to pour rain down on him. It was only now that he regretted his escape from home. He tried to walk faster, but his limping slowed him down.

"HEY!" He almost couldn't hear the loud scream coming from a house to his left. Narrowing his eyes, he was just able to distinguish the figure that he had met earlier in the day. She motioned for him to get inside, waving her arm in the air. Without a thought, he hobbled as quickly as he could to her porch and limped up the stairs to her door.

Jack made to look at her, but averted his eyes at her in her nightdress. The time he had looked however was enough time to see her beautiful figure in a silk night gown that ended at her thighs. "Um," He began uncomfortably, "Thank you...you normally stand outside your door at two in the morning?" His voice shook at the end, a chill running down his back as the air conditioning hit him.

Quick on her feet, she snatched a heavy wool blanket hanging from the back of her couch and hung it over his shoulders. He gave her a nod of thanks.

"Do you normally walk around in the streets at two in the morning?" She snapped back, arms crossing over her chest.

He let out a soft chuckle, looking down at his soaked boots. "Only every night." He whispered. He leaned against the closed door and shook off his shoes, pushing them with his toe to the side of the door. After a few steps, he began to take in her home. Her items were very neat, everything in place, the majority of the walls empty. He noticed for a moment a picture of a man in uniform, his arms around her. He also couldn't help but notice her enlarged belly beneath the dress she wore in the photo. However, due to the lack of baby-like objects in his sight, he didn't mention it. Another photo showed Elsa and a woman with reddish hair, both smiling. A sister maybe.

He let his eyes reach back to her, being careful not to let them trail down farther than her face. "Well, if you don't mind... I'll just hang out right here until it stops raining so hard." Jack said quietly.

Elsa gave him a small smile again and disappeared into what he assumed was the kitchen. He continued to stand in that spot and heard her yell from the new room, "There's no rush. I'll make tea!"

After a moment, he went to follow her, the blanket still slung over his shoulders. "So," He began "You live alone then?"

"Yes. We had bought the house just before his deployment. I never really finished furnishing, sorry." Elsa replied, putting up a pot of water.

"No it looks great, I mean... it's fine." As he spoke, Jack sat at the small four person table. He heard the sheets of rain beating on the windows and for moments the two of them stayed silent. The only thing that broke the silence was the sound of the whistling teapot on the stove.

Elsa jumped to fetch two mugs, and in a few moments, Jack had a steaming cup of hot tea placed before him. The warm tendrils of vapor that hit his face felt wonderful.

Sitting in the chair opposite him, Elsa crossed her legs and let her fingers drum on the table. She stared at him, narrowed her eyes and said quickly, "What happened to you?"

Jack stared at the cup as the ringing in his ears began. His hand raised, and he ran it through the blonde growing hair. He needed a cut. "I um.." He saw his friends lifeless eyes. "I got shot... in the stomach, and in the leg." Another imagine in his head, one of the other soldiers trying to stop his friends bleeding. He let his eyes shoot up to hers, and those images dissipated.

Why was she letting this man sit in her kitchen? Of course, she couldn't let him stand in the rain, but... there was something else.

The way he spoke reminded her of herself, though she would never admit it aloud. Had he not been a few graves down from her earlier in the day, she would have been on her knees crying, telling herself to try and conceal the fear and pain. Seeing him there though, she couldn't help but try to feel strong for him.

"I'm sorry Jack. That must have been horrible." She said, her voice calm.

He didn't answer, but she was sure there was more to his story.

"The rain doesn't look like it's letting up anytime soon, and to be honest... you look exhausted. Why don't you crash on the couch?"

He just nodded, and the corner of his mouth lifted giving her what she assumed was a smile.

"Okay, well I'll just go get things set up." She stood in a mindless way, lost in thought. She knew his clothes were soaked, and so for the first time in a year, she reached into that top drawer that held her husbands clothes.

Jack stood and made his way to the couch where he tugged off his t-shirt. His physique was not as maintained as he would have liked, and the blemish in his abdomen that was a bullet scar made him self conscious. His fingers dragged over the scar as they always did, triggering another flashback.

There he lay, bright lights shining in his eyes. Was this heaven? No. It smelt too much like cleaner. Someone was yelling his name. He felt drugged...numb.

Someone yelled, "Don't you DARE give up!"

"Jamie...where's Jamie...?" Even to him, his voice sounded slurred.

He tried to move his legs. Why couldn't he move his legs?!

"He's trying to move doctor!" Someone else yelled. Another voice said closer to him, "Soldier... lie still. You've been shot."

The quick pinch of a needle piercing his skin. Ouch.

He tried lifting his head, but it was getting heavier and heavier.

"He's losing too much blood!"

The sound of footsteps brought him back, and he turned quickly to see Elsa staring at him, a t-shirt and gym shorts in her hands.

It had been a long time since Elsa had had a man in her house, especially one who was half-naked. Since her husbands death, it hadn't felt right.

Now however, she couldn't help but stare at the former soldiers partially bare body as wounded as it was. She didn't speak, but simply approached him with the clothes. With her free hand, she placed her fingertips on his abdomen and felt him withdraw slightly. She let the tips of her fingers touch his scar where the bullet had entered him.

Bemused by his emotionless face, she let her blue eyes move around his face. She saw the other scar on his eyebrow, and reached up to touch that as well.

"Looks like you had a rough time Jack." She let her hand fall and turned away placing the garments on the couch. Had he felt it too? Had he felt the spark that went through her when she touched him? It went straight through her, igniting the flame that had died at her husbands funeral. Along with the lighting of that flame came a wave of guilt that doused it as she turned.

"Sleep tight Jack." And as she heard his soft, 'Goodnight' from behind her, she hurried into her room.