*All characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 7

A Helping

Hand

"Did you find him?"

"Yeah." Player dropped down onto the couch.

Kia looked at him awkwardly, "Aren't you happy?"

"I--yes--I mean no--I mean--I don't know what I mean. I'm happy that he's out of there, but the guy who took him...I can't talk about it."

"Why not?"

"I promised I wouldn't. Don't talk about it anymore. Bruce is safe again...that's all that matters."

Kia sat down beside him. He sighed and moved so that she could have more room. She smiled as the animal part of him took over and he laid his head on her lap. There was an anguished look on his face that was somewhat comforted as she stroked him. His breathing slowed down a little. He closed his eyes and started sleeping soundly on her lap. She yawned, still tired even though she'd been getting more rest. Kia leaned against the back of the couch, falling asleep herself.

Pik poked his head from Kia's bedroom where Ralph's crib was. He watched her fall asleep, "I wonder what's bugging Player so badly...guy doesn't look like he's getting much rest." Indeed. Player squirmed around in his sleep, dreaming something that, by the look on his face, was getting worse and worse. Pik got worried when Player started thrashing, "James, wake up!" He shouted. Kia jerked awake, but not Player. She glanced down at him and gasped.

"Pik, help me wake him up! He's dreaming about his mother!" She picked his head up off her lap and got out from underneath him, shaking him once she was safely on the other side of the couch, "C'mon, Player, wake up...it's just a dream..."

"Stop...mommy don't...DON'T!!!!!!!" He spasmed in his sleep, still not waking up. He shouted once and fell from the couch, holding his head in his hands like he was protecting himself from something.

Kia's face grew grave, "Damn! Not that dream! Player, snap out of it!!!!" Pik came over with a glass of water. He was about to throw it on Player when Kia stopped him, "Not that! Are you crazy?! It'll make things worse!"

"Then what are we supposed to do?!!!"

Kia glanced around, "Get him as warm as possible. Try to talk to him soothingly. He's having one of his old nightmares...just go with the opposite of his childhood. He'll know he's dreaming if the voices in the dream start acting kind."

"You're sure?"

"I've had to deal with this before. It won't get pretty if he keeps dreaming what he's dreaming." She draped a blanket around him, "Player, it's Kia. No one's hurting you anymore, Player. Wake up..."

"Yeah Player, we're worried about you. Kia and I don't want you to get hurt."

"Woah...you mean that?"

"Of course I mean that, Josh. He's my friend."

"Man, you're going to get way too emotional for me. I can tell. I think I'll sit this one out."

Pik ignored Josh and kept trying to wake the huge common dragon. Finally, after nearly a half hour of trying to calm him, he woke.

"Wha?.." Player opened a sleepy eye.

Kia and Pik both sighed when they saw him awake and leaned back.

Player rubbed his eyes and sat up, "What happened?"

Kia groaned, "You had the dream again."

"But I thought that it was gone..."

"Well, you had it. It's over now, but you still had it."

Player stared at the ground, "Thanks..." He moaned and stood up, "I gotta go think about some stuff...I'll see you guys later..."

"Okay. You want either of us to come?" Pik offered.

"No." Player resolutely walked out the door to their apartment and went outside.

"What wrong, nest?"

"Don't talk right now, Nino. I'm not in the mood."

"Come out?"

"Fine, you can come out." Player opened his mouth to let the fairy dragon out. nino crawled up his throat and flitted about around Player's head, chirping happily as he flew to a flower. Player sighed, "I wish my life could've been worry free. I wish I didn't have to worry about anything...I wish. Damn wishing. Why can't one of my wishes ever come true, anyway?!! No one else has had to deal with nightmares like mine! Is it too much to ask that I don't dream those dreams anymore?! To hell with everything. I wish my past was simpler than it really was. If I could have had more friends...others to hang out with...I would've given anything for more friends back then..."

"You sure you are alright?" Nino asked.

"I'll be fine Nino." Player sat down by the fairy dragon, hoping, wishing that such terrible things didn't always have to happen, "Bruce's parents are involved way too much with that guy...What did they do, anyway? They seemed like honest folks..."

"James?"

Player glanced over at the voice. Nicolas and Gina were walking, and Bruce was with them. Nick had called his name, "What are you guys doing here?"

Gina answered, "Bruce hasn't said a word since he got back to school today...no one can get him to say anything beyond that he wanted to see you again...what happened to him anyway?"

Player glanced over at Bruce, who shook his head, "He doesn't want me to say. Hey, I think there's a playground somewhere around here...let's go there." Nicolas and Gina smiled and ran ahead of Player and Bruce. When he was sure they were out of earshot, Player picked up Bruce and whispered, "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"N--no..."

"Then why did you want to see me again?"

"My--my--" Bruce was shaking horribly, "My dad...just...just...died."

"What?!!" Player thought angrily of William, "How?!"

"I--I...don't know." Bruce's eye twitched involuntarily, "I--I...saw...him...under a blanket. The...people...at...the hospital...took...him. Mom was crying...a lot...and...she...got...on the...phone. She...still...doesn't...know I heard her...say...that...dad had...died. She...was talking...to...someone...over...the...phone."

"Oh Bruce, I'm so sorry." He hugged Bruce. Bruce wiled once and dug his head in Player's shoulder.

He sniffed and wiped his eyes, "My...mom...says...that I...can...stay...with my...friends...for...a...few days...while...she...pays...billls. She's...trying...to...earn...money...to...bury...dad."

Player cringed, knowing full well how she planned to get the money, "Bruce, you go and try to play with Nic and Gina. I have to run home for a second. I'll be back okay?"

"Okay...will...Nino stay?"

"I'll ask him. Hey Nino!"

"Yes?"

"Could you keep Bruce and my friends company?"

"Er..."

"Please? It'll only be for a while. Bruce won't hurt you."

"But how do you know? They are just young ones..."

"Remember Jim? The kid who's helping him heal is here too. They'll be nice to you."

"Come back soon?"

"As soon as I can."

"Okay nest. I'll stay."

Player ignored the name and flew back to his apartment. He opened the door and searched for some money, "Kia!!!"

Kia looked from around a corner, "What is it, James?"

"I need to find some money. NOW."

"What for? You've got over a thousand pounts in your pocket as it is."

"Not since I went to find Bruce. Look. His dad just died and they don't have any money for a burial. I wanna help them before his mom has to--look, I just wanna help, okay?"

"Before his mom has to do, what, James?"

James cringed, "His mom might have to sell herself if she wants to earn enough money. I don't want her to have to do that."

Kia gasped and instantly handed him some money, "Hurry and find her then!" Kia grabbed Player's hand and pulled him out the door, "For god's sake hurry before she actually sells herself!"