“So he was making jambalaya?” Brian asks as he sips his coffee, Molly nods, “It’s in the fridge. We ended up having some for dinner last night. It was good,” she comments. Brian frowns, “Has he ever slept walked before?” Now it’s Molly’s turn to frown, “Um… I think my Dad once said he used to sleep walk when he was really little… he would crawl out of his crib and just walk into the family room where our parents would be sitting. And then one day he just stopped doing it… I think he was like three or four when he stopped.” “Did he do it often?” She shakes her head, “No, the way my dad described it, it was more like a once in a while sort of thing.” Picking up a bagel, she shrugs, “I never slept walked. Mom says I was always the perfect sleeper.” Brian sighs, leaning back against the chair. He knew Justin was holding back from in during their phone conversations, but he never thought it was about this. “What about the nightmares?” Taking a sip of juice, Molly leans forward, “They started when we began seeing Daan. Daan says it’s normal. I’ve been getting some bad dreams too: the only difference is that I don’t wake up screaming like a banshee. Mine are a little more subtle, you know?” “Not really.” She smiles softly, “In my dreams, my parents are alive, and then suddenly they’re not. I wake up sad, but I don’t have any problems going back to sleep. The dreams aren’t violent, no one is suffering… I wouldn’t even put them down under nightmare because they’re true and I know it’s just my brain learning to accept the circumstances.” Brian nods his head, wondering how this thirteen-year old ever became so wise. “Justin however, has terrible nightmares… people are chasing us, I’m being murdered …you’re being murdered…Gus is being murdered…everyone is being murdered…it’s pretty graphic too. He doesn’t tell me about them, but I’m not deaf. I can hear what he’s screaming about in his sleep. It’s like some horror movie he can’t get out of.” Taking another sip of juice, she continues, “Daan says its normal. I guess I can see what he means. Justin feels like he has to everything in his power to protect me and keep me safe… but how can he do that when he himself doesn’t feel like we’re going to be safe if we return to Pittsburgh? All his nightmares take place in Pittsburgh.” “Shit,” Brian says softly, not sure how else to respond to all of this. “Don’t get me wrong, Brian. Justin wants to go back… but you didn’t hear my Mom’s voice on the phone when she told Justin that our dad was dead… that everyone was dead… and how he had to go get me before we would both be dead too. That’s a lot of pressure, you know. And now he has to think about you and your safety.” “I’m fine.” Brian answers, gesturing to himself as further proof. She chuckles, “Yeah, I see that, Brian. When you first left, Justin had a dream that people were waiting for you at the loft and they murdered you as soon as you walked in the door.” Brian sets his coffee down. It was too early in the morning to deal with this. “So once he realized you weren’t going to be murdered, he seemed okay… and then WHAM! We started talking more and more about returning to Pittsburgh and then the nightmares got ten times worse.” “I’m fine,” Justin’s voice suddenly resonates around the room. Looking up, Brian sees his husband leaning against the bedroom door. Brian had let him sleep in, knowing that he needed it, and only got out of bed once he heard Molly moving around in the kitchen. “Hey, Jus,” Molly greets. Slowing walking into the kitchen, he pours himself a cup of coffee, “Morning,” he mumbles. “So, Daan thinks this is all okay?” Brian asks, wondering if returning to Pittsburgh was such a good idea. Justin nods, “It’s just my subconscious dealing with stupid shit, Brian. It’s not that big of a deal.” Brian says nothing. Molly shrugs, “Justin’s fine. I mean, once he’s awake and has his coffee, he’s fine. Don’t worry about him, Brian.” Brian again says nothing, knowing full well that Justin was a very good actor and could make himself appear calmer than the Dali Lama for his sister’s benefit. Molly smiles, “We’ve given ourselves a deadline.” “A deadline?” Brian asks, not sure if he likes what he’s hearing. She nods, “We’re going to be back in Pittsburgh by Christmas. That’s six months away.” Brian frowns, “Your doctor suggested this?” “No. But we want to be back for Christmas.” Molly explains. “We just have to work hard and get over our fears… plus Detective Hovarth should know by then if it’s safe for us to come back, right?” Brian turns over to Justin, who is staring at him without any expression in his face. Getting up, Molly sets her dishes in the sink. “Okay, I’m going to get ready to go swimming,” she announces as she returns to her room. Once she’s out of hearing range, Brian asks, “Six months?” He nods, “A timeline is good to have.” “You don’t think that’s putting more pressure on you?” Brian asks. He shrugs, “Christmas is the perfect time. Molly needs to be around her friends… and Debbie really likes her, so I want her to be around during the season…it’ll be good for my sister. She always loved Christmas time.” “So do you.” Justin nods, “But this isn’t about me, Brian. It’s about Molly, and what’s best for her. I know my fears are irrational.” “They aren’t irrational.” “Some of them are. And the ones that aren’t… well, I just need to get over. I can’t sit around and let those assholes that killed my family win.” He states harshly. Standing up, Brian walks over to Justin and lightly kisses his lips. “What was that for?” He shrugs. Smiling softly, Justin wraps his arms around his husband’s waist, “I know I’m pushing myself. But I have to do this. I need to get over this and move on.” Brian tightens his grip on him, wanting to say so much, but knowing it was a losing battle. “Everything is going to be okay, Brian. I promise.”