Shooting up, Cassie gasped, her face dripping with sweat. Her clothes were soaked through, and she shivered uncontrollably. Another nightmare had just awoken her from sleep. She stared about the dark of Steve's living room and lifted a shaky hand to wipe her eyes, where tears had gathered. Reaching over the side of the couch, she groped for her phone and picked it up, suddenly blinded by the bright screen. There were no messages from Strange. Somehow, she had hoped he might return her call.

     As she stepped off her makeshift bed and stumbled through the dark, she made her way into the hall. Turning on the light from the bathroom, Cassie stared at her own reflection. Her eyes were wide, face pale, and she couldn't stop shaking.

     "Cassie?"

     Steve stood in the doorway, blond hair sticking up on one side and blue eyes half-closed from exhaustion.

     "S-Steve..."

     He eyed her curiously and ran a hand through his hair, yawning. "Are you okay?"

     Weakly, she nodded, unwilling to meet his cautious gaze.

     "Cassie?" He reached out and placed his hand on her upper arm. "What's the matter?"

     "I'm fine..."

     "Why don't you come sit down? You don't look well."

     He slid his hand down and grasped her hand, leading her back into the living room. He flicked on a light, and she sat on the couch, his hand still in her own. She couldn't meet his gaze, so she stared, wide-eyed, at the floor instead. He watched her with a mixture of curiosity and pity.

     "Are you sick?"

     "Yeah," she lied, pulling her hand from his.

     He didn't say anything, but stood, leaving the room. A sigh left her lips, and she buried her head in her hands, trying hard not to cry. She couldn't seem to get the scene from her head. It penetrated her dreams and nightmares. The blood that coated her shirt, people lying and screeching in pain on the concrete. And she was the cause.

     Tears began to slide down her cheeks, and Cassie bit her lip hard, trying to stop them.

     "Cassie?"

     She sniffed, pressing the base of her palm against her eyes and refusing to look at him.

     He knelt beside her and brushed a strand of hair off her face. "I brought you some water...and crackers. And a thermometer... Just tell me if you need anything else."

     She didn't say anything for a moment; she couldn't stop crying. Steve reached over and laid a comforting hand on her knee.

     Finally, she pulled her hands away and choked back a sob. Cassie found him still sitting there with a kind smile.

     "S-Steve? Could...could we...go for a ride?"

     His eyes widened, and he tilted his head, forehead creased. "Well, sure. I'll be right back. It'll just take a second."

     She nodded and stood, staring down at her t-shirt and shorts. Her converse sat next to the couch, but Cassie didn't want to put them on. She waited in the dark for Steve, a light flickering outside the window. It was so early in the morning...only 3:37, and yet, here Steve came, his jacket on and tennis shoes peeking out from under his pajama pants.

     "Come here and put on an extra jacket I have," he smiled at her.

     When she stood in front of him, he handed it to her, smiling down at her tear-streaked face.

     "Lets go." He reached down and grasped her hand, and, without waiting for a response, pulled her through the front door.

     There was a definite chill in the air, and as Steve started the bike, she slid into his jacket. It was much much too big for her. The sleeves fell far past her wrist, and the jacket fell past her shorts.

     "Come on," he grinned, motioning her over.

     She climbed on behind him, sniffing again, and wrapped her arms about his waist, pressing her head against his back. The engine roared, and they took off down the road. She didn't care where they went--she just wanted to feel a sharp wind in her face, helping her forget her pain. Soon, she was almost lulled by the sound of the bike engine, the wind rushing past them. She closed her eyes, breathing in his scent. There was something secure she felt in sitting behind him, wrapped in the jacket much too big for her.

     Eventually, he pulled to a stop and helped her off. Uncertainly, she glanced around, unaware of their surroundings. Steve cleared his throat, and she glanced up at him.

     "Did you wanna take a walk?" he murmured, indicating the park across the street.

     Everything about them was silent--it seemed even New York had reached that quiet time of night.

     "Sure..." Cassie thought her voice sounded small and weak in comparison to Steve's commanding voice.

     He stuffed his hands in his pockets and led the way across the street. Cassie saw a man lying on a park bench to her right, fast asleep in a zipped up sleeping bag. Besides the man, there seemed to be no one else around.

     They walked for a long time, her bare feet on the grass, not saying a word, until finally, his voice cut the silence.

     "What's the matter?"

     "I dunno..." she lied quietly.

     "Okay," he murmured, respecting her privacy.

     "It's just..." Her voice trailed off as she stopped, burying her feet in the grass.

     Steve stopped, turning back to gaze at her. Her eyes were downcast, and she rubbed her foot nervously against her leg.

     "It's just..."

     He stepped closer and raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue.

     "It's just...I miss Strange."

     Cassie wondered how obvious it was that there was more to the story... It was just that she couldn't bear to tell it.

     "Stephen Strange?" Steve asked.

     "Yeah..."

     "You were close then?"

     "I thought so..." Her throat constricted, and she glanced away uncertainly.

     "He'll come around, Cassie... I'm sure he's missing you."

     Steve's reassuring tone brought her eyes up to his. He was so confident, his kind blue eyes fixed on hers.

     "Come on," he murmured, grasping her hand and pulling her along. "Lets go home and get some sleep... You have to teach."

     Cassie followed him obediently as he led her to the bike. "Thanks Steve," she murmured as she climbed up behind him.

     He turned his head behind him and murmured something to her, but she hardly heard him now that he'd started the bike.