Title: The Nightmare
Chapter: Ch 1 - A Storm Is Coming
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Noah is tormented by nightmares involving his dead father and Luke. But are they only nightmares or are they a prelude to something more horrific?
Characters: Noah, Luke, Jack, Margo, Winston Mayer, unknown woman
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Warnings:
Disclaimer: This site is no way associated with "As the World Turns", CBS, P&G, or Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann. This is not for profit. No copyright infringement is intended. Authors submit and write their own work.

“NO!” screamed Noah as he awoke from the nightmare. For the fourth night in a row, he found himself sitting upright in bed, sobbing, a cold sweat covering him.

“The dream again?” Luke asked as he rolled over and propped himself up on one arm. Noah simply nodded as he continued to sob.

“Aw, sweetheart. Come on, lie back down.” Noah lay back into the comforting arms of Luke. Luke kissed his head and gently stroked his hair until the sobbing stopped and Noah drifted off to sleep again. The dreams were tormenting Noah and Luke knew they involved his father. He knew little else because Noah hadn't been able to talk about it. He hated seeing the man he deeply loved in so much pain. A feeling of helplessness was creeping over Luke and that simply wasn’t acceptable; not where Noah was concerned.

Noah and Luke's lives changed dramatically one day about a month ago. Oakdale was enjoying the last of a beautiful Indian summer when the weather abruptly changed for the worse. For two weeks, dark gray clouds hung over the city and a depressing, damp chill filled the air. That was when Luke first noticed a change in Noah. For no apparent reason, Noah’s personality had changed as abruptly as the weather. He had become quiet, moody and edgy. Even more than that, Noah’s protective instinct over Luke intensified to the point of extreme anxiousness. Noah was in a constant state of agitation regarding Luke's safety. They talked about what was happening but Noah was just as confused as Luke. Noah was completely aware that he was acting differently but couldn’t explain why. All he knew for sure was that things did not feel right and he was scared that something terrible was going to happen to Luke.

Noah struggled to overcome whatever it was that was affecting him and relief finally came when the dreadful weather began to break. The only thing he could not shake was the fear he felt for Luke’s safety.
Luke was relieved that the old Noah was back. He had been so worried about him and was sure that everything would return to normal now; or so he thought. One afternoon when leaving the foundation, Luke had the distinct feeling that someone was following him. He felt as if someone was watching him as he walked through the parking garage to his car. On the drive home, he was almost sure a car was following him. I must be imagining things he thought to himself.

Over the course of the next week, he became convinced that he was not imagining. Someone was definitely following him. Luke decided not tell Noah just yet, instead he would talk to his cousin Jack. It was a Saturday morning, Luke and Noah were walking around Old Town and the feeling of being followed happened again. This time, however, it was Noah who said something. Noah confessed that he too had thought he was being followed but had attributed it to stress. As they turned to look behind them, they caught a glimpse of a person in dark clothing dashing away.

In the ensuing days, they noticed the person in dark clothing again, but something was different. They were sure the person they saw in Old Town had been a man, but this person was definitely a woman. On several occasions, they tried to confront her but she would disappear too quickly. The whole situation was becoming to disturbing for them. Luke informed his cousin Jack of what had been happening and gave him what little description they had of the woman. Jack told them to try and not worry. He and Margo would find out who this woman was and get some answers. Luke and Noah saw the woman two more times and then, nothing. She seemed to have disappeared for good.

All was quiet until the day Noah received a package at home via special courier. The package was sent by the FBI and contained miscellaneous personal items and papers belonging to Noah’s father, Winston Mayer. The FBI had found the contents during a raid on the offices of a New York lawyer who had worked for Noah’s father years ago. Not knowing why, he looked through the package containing his father's effects even though they held no meaning to Noah. It had been years since he had last thought of his dad and he didn't like this sudden reminder of him. He got up to throw the package away when he noticed, stuck to the back of one of the papers, a partial note, heavily stained and nearly illegible. It was in his father’s handwriting.

…neither one will live…a fact that my child
is going to die. You must do exactly as I
instruct…no one can know of my involvement...

The note was dated four months ago and was signed by Winston Mayer. Noah fell onto the couch barely able to breathe. He read the short message a second time and a wave of fear washed over him. Oh god no, this can’t be happening! It’s not true! His father had been dead for nearly five years.

That was four days ago. Noah contacted both the FBI and the Oakdale police telling them of the note and of being followed. The FBI was not aware of the note and apologized profusely for not reviewing the contents more closely before sending the package. The case against Winston Mayer was immediately reopened with the FBI assuring Noah they would dedicate as many resources as necessary to finding his father. Margo Hughes assigned an unmarked patrol car to monitor Luke and Noah’s house 24 hours a day and offered plain clothes protection for them when they were in public, but this did little to calm Noah. Luke could see the anger and fear building inside of Noah. Luke was angry and scared as well, angry that this was happening and scared, not for himself, but for Noah.

*********
Luke awoke the next morning to the sound of rain and faint thunder. Going to be a stormy day, he thought to himself. Noah was sleeping soundly so he quietly got out of bed and made his way downstairs. He stopped and looked out the front window to make sure the unmarked police car was still there. His Uncle Jack was in charge of the extra protection and would probably be stopping by later that day to check on them. In the meantime, there was a coffee pot calling his name.

The last few days had been tiring for Luke and he could only imagine how exhausted Noah must be right now. Minutes later, the coffee maker signaled that it was done brewing. Luke filled his mug and sat at the kitchen table trying to understand why this was happening. How could Noah’s dad still be alive and where had he been for the last five years? Who was the woman who had been following them and then so abruptly disappeared? Did Noah’s father have something to do with her or were the two events completely unrelated? Good god Luke, you’re going to drive yourself nuts, he thought to himself. The FBI was working full force on the case and the police were providing protection for them. He had to admit that there wasn't anything for him to do. This was in the hands of the professionals.

Luke sat at the kitchen table staring out the window, watching the rain. The weather had changed so quickly again and Luke couldn’t help but wonder if it would affect Noah a second time. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t hear Noah come into the kitchen.

Noah came up behind Luke’s chair, put his arm around him and whispered in his ear, “morning sweetheart.” He kissed Luke on the neck and sank into the chair next to him.

“Hey, good morning. I didn’t hear you come down. Want some coffee?”

“Not right now.”

Luke looked at Noah sitting there in his boxers, hair all rumpled smiling back at him. God he was so adorable in the morning. These brief, wordless moments are what they cherished the most. The outside world didn’t exist; it was just the two of them.

“You didn’t get much sleep last night. I thought you would want to sleep in,” Luke said breaking the silence.

“You’re right,” Noah answered, “I didn’t sleep much. I just didn’t feel like laying there without you.” He was quiet for a moment. A serious look came over his face as he took Luke’s hands in his. “I want to tell you how sorry I am for this mess; for the way I’ve been acting; for my father being out there making threats against us again.”

“Noah, you have no reason to make apologies. None of this is your fault. You know I’m right here beside you, no matter what. I just hate seeing you like this and feeling like there is nothing I can do for you.”

“No,” Noah said emphatically, “don’t ever feel that way.” Noah reached up and caressed the side of Luke's face. “You do more for me than you could ever know and I love you so much for that.”

Noah was quiet again but Luke could tell there was more he wanted to say. He sat quietly not wanting to push, he would let Noah take the lead. They sat in silence for a few more minutes listening to the rain and the occasional clap of thunder in the distance. A storm was definitely coming.

Noah sighed and said, “I want to tell you about it.”

“The nightmare? Are you sure?” asked Luke.

“I think it will help if talk I about it. God, I just hate the thought of reliving it all again.”

He took a deep breath and began to share the details with Luke. “It’s so dark. I hear you struggling and crying out for me. I’m running toward your voice but I can’t see very well, it’s so damn dark. I run faster and faster as your cries become more desperate. ‘Luke, hold on’ I yell out but I don't know if you hear me. Then everything goes blank. When I’m aware of things again, I realize that I can’t move. It’s as if something is holding me. There is a small bit light and I can see you now. You’re standing in front of me. Luke.” Noah's voice caught in his throat. He was silent for a moment as he tried to calm his emotions. He got up from the table and walked to the window visibly shaking.

Luke went to Noah, put his hands on his shoulder and said, “Sweetheart, its OK. It’s just a dream; it can’t hurt you or me.”

“I know, I know. It’s just hard to think about it. Stupid, huh?”

“No, it’s not stupid.”

Noah took another deep breath and sighed. “Your standing in front of me, hands tied behind your back. My dad is there. He has his arm wrapped around your neck and a gun in his other hand. I'm yelling at him to let you go. But he just stands there laughing and says that he has come to fix things, once and for all. He tells me he is going to kill us both and that you are first. He stops laughing and his eyes fill with a look of pure evil. It happens so fast, too fast for me to realize. He raises the gun to your head and as he pulls the trigger I scream NO!
“Night after night I have had to watch what he does to you and I can’t make him stop. I know it’s all because of the note I found but I can’t make it stop. Oh, god Luke it’s so real, all of it, the sights, the sounds, the horror when….” Tears began to fill Noah’s eyes and Luke pulled him into a tight, protective embrace.

“Shh, shh, shh,” Luke said soothingly. “It’s just a dream no matter how real it may seem. Nothing is going to happen to me. Noah you’re so strong, don’t let him do this to you.”

Noah pulled back slightly and leaned his forehead on Luke’s. “I know, I know. But he’s out there and it terrifies me to think of what he is capable of. What he might do to you.”

Luke reached up and held Noah’s face in his hands. “Honey, we have police protection outside right now and everywhere we go. The FBI is doing everything they can to find him. He's not going to hurt either of us again.”
Noah nodded in agreement and then smiled at Luke. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being so strong and positive. For being you. I love you Luke.”

“I love you too.”

Noah leaned in and met Luke’s lips with his. What started as a tender, loving kiss quickly became heated and passionate. Noah pulled Luke in closer and held him tightly in his strong arms. There was a hunger in the kiss as their tongues danced wildly together. It felt as if the floodgates had opened and there was no holding back the torrent of emotion. Noah ran his fingers through Luke’s hair as Luke broke the kiss and found the sensitive spot on Noah’s neck just below his left ear. Noah moaned as Luke pressed his mouth down firmly and ran his tongue in circles around it. Luke slid his hands down Noah’s back, around his waist and into the front of his boxers.

“I want you Noah.” Luke said firmly and full of desire into Noah’s ear.

Breathlessly Noah responded, “Let’s go upstairs.”

The last few days had been rough. They needed the release that being together would bring; but more importantly, they needed each other.

The rain was falling harder and the thunder was growing more intense. A nightmare would be preferred to what was in store for Luke and Noah. The storm was closing in on them.

Ch. 2 - Fury of the Storm