Jesse woke with a start, falling off her bed and crashing on the floor.

She gasped, sweat beading on her forehead as she trembled, clutching her hurt arm as pain stung.

"Crap." She said, her voice shaky. "Just a stupid dream."

She shook her head as she remembered her friends, PAMA, blood, and Lukas.

"Just a dream, just a dream." She told herself, but it felt so real.

Suddenly, the door to her room opened, to reveal Axel, with bags under his eyes, but not as much as Jesse.

He was chosen to keep watch on the entrance of the hidden bunker, so they wouldn't be ambushed while they slept.

"Are you okay Jesse?" He asked, concerned. "I heard a crash and-"

"I'm fine Axel." She replied, not looking at him. "Couldn't sleep."

He raised in eyebrow in suspicion, but didn't question it. She sighed.

"You should get some rest Axel, I'll take watch, I can't sleep anyway."

She was so shaken that she didn't think she'd go back to sleep if she wanted to.

"Are you sure Jess? You didn't get much sleep, and you should rest-"

"I said it's fine." She said, a little bit harsh, but softened her gaze. "Just...get some rest Axel. You're going to need it."

You need it too, he thought. But he knew better than to start arguing with Jesse about this kind of stuff, especially with the pain she was going through. He knew his limits.

"Okay...thanks." Axel replied and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Jesse put a hand to her forehead, and then got up from the floor. She grabbed a bottle of water out of a chest and drank, the coolness soothing her. Then she headed near the entrance to keep watch.

It was a trapdoor, covered by some dirt. So simple that no one would dare look there.

Jesse stood, in the room where the entrance was, with only a single torch as light.

A few moments passed as she watched, with her breathing as the only sound in the silent room.

"Jesse?" A voice asked, making her jump and turn around sharply, her senses alert.

"Shit Aiden, you freaking scared me. It's the middle of the night." She snapped, and then sighed. "Sorry, excuse my language. But you did sneak up on me."

Aiden smiled apologetically.

"I didn't mean to. Sorry about that."

"It's...it's fine. What are you doing up anyway? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

He went to stand next to her.

"Couldn't sleep." He said simply. "And how about you? Thought the green guy was taking watch."

Green guy? Oh Lord.

"Axel?" She asked. "I offered to take watch for him. I...couldn't sleep also."

There was a small silence.

"Hey, Jesse?" Aiden asked, and she was surprised by how much sincerity was in his voice.

"Yeah?"

"Look. I just wanna say thank you, for everything. You forgave us, forgave me. And you risked your life to save Maya. You didn't have to, but you did. I owe you." He sighed, a slight smile playing on his face.

Jesse smiled weakly. Maybe he has changed...a bit.

"You don't owe me Aiden," she replied. "Just learn from your mistakes and you'll be fine."

"Well, I'll always try to find a way to repay you, even if you don't want it." He said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Buy me some donuts, then we're even."

They laughed, which seemed to be something Jesse hadn't done in a long time. Some laughter, some happiness. She craved for more, but knew she couldn't have it. Life was cruel that way.

"Are you okay Jesse?" Aiden asked.

Jesse's laughter died down, and she hadn't realized a tear falling down her cheek.

"Wha-? Yeah...yeah. I'm fine."

His hand went to her cheek, wiping the tear from your face.

For a moment they were still, looking at each other's eyes in silence.

Jesse blinked, and for a second, she saw Lukas. His blonde hair and blue eyes. She blinked again and saw Aiden, kindness glowing.

She slapped herself inside her head. Now she was hallucinating. Great. Stop thinking about him!

She shook her head slightly as Aiden lowered his hand from her face, cheeks a bit red.

"Sorry," he apologized.

Jesse felt dazed.

"No, it's fine..." she said, a bit distracted. "You should get some rest, you're...you're going to need it for tomorrow."

Aiden hesitated, and then nodded slightly.

"Yeah, yeah. I-I probably should. Goodnight Jesse."

"Goodnight Aiden." She whispered, but he had already gone.

**************************

Jesse sat down on the floor, clutching her knees, and let the tears flow.

She felt crushed, broken, depressed. But most of all, fear. Fear and pain.

Fear that took control, made her panic. Fear that made her worry.

Mainly, she feared she would fail. And then her dreams, her nightmares, would become a reality, and then there would be nothing. Nothing at all.