Where Your Dreams End

Chapter Four Therapy

Sarah wasn't asleep more than two or three hours when the nightmares returned. At first, they were the crazy dreams about owls and books, but then they soon graduated to ones that are more serious. Sarah found herself standing in the middle of what she assumed was the Quidditch Stadium at Dragon's Wood. Zoe was there and Dillon, and over in the corner she was sure that Professor Killainka was standing next to her and Zoe's fathers. She looked down at her clothes; she wasn't wearing ordinary clothes or even her school uniform. In fact, she seemed to be wrapped up tight in some kind of cloth. She tried to move her arms but couldn't. Then she tried to walk and almost fell over. Struggling to stay up right, Sarah looked around for help. Zoe and Dillon seemed to be deep in discussion, as though they didn't see her or her dilemma and then suddenly the grandstand was full of people who seemed to laughing at her. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but they were definitely pointing and shouting things at her.

"Help me," she shouted toward Zoe and Dillon, but they didn't hear, "please," she shouted. Again, they seemed not to hear her. "What now?" she thought, "this has to be a dream. That's it, I have to wake up," and then, "wake up!" she yelled out loud, "you have to wake up!" Sarah stood still, trying to keep her balance, trying to figure out what to do next. The sunlight that was shining down on her began to fade. The Stadium was growing dark and the wind was beginning to pick up. Sarah was now more afraid than she had ever been. She was trapped and seemingly alone. Worst yet no one would help her and it seemed a storm was brewing. She looked around again, "please wake up!" she yelled again.

"It won't matter if you wake," came a deep and frightening voice out of the storm. "You cannot escape the inevitable." There was a cold pause and then the voice returned, "some day I will be able to reach you when you are awake. I have almost succeeded twice. You might as well yield to me now."

Sarah started to shake she had to wake up. "Zoe, please god Zoe, help me wake up. Please I know that you are there, please wake me up!" she called.

"Sarah, Sarah, " repeated Zoe. She had been shaking Sarah and screaming at her for five minutes trying to wake her up. There was a loud screech, and then Socrates flew in the window. Zoe was afraid to stop shaking Zoe, afraid of what would happen if she moved. "Socrates, go get Mr. Nettleton, get my dad!" she shouted. The large owl moved quickly through the room and out the door. Zoe turned back to Sarah and begged, "Please Sarah wake up."

"Please Zoe, help me!" Sarah couldn't understand why no one would help. The people in the stands seemed to be cheering the black cloud on. Sarah shivered as the wind grew wilder and wilder, she was sure that it was going to be knocked over. Again, she looked around for help. "Maybe Professor Killainka can help? Why isn't my dad?" she thought. She looked in their direction. It was too noisy for her to yell; perhaps she could catch their eyes. Then for a moment, she thought that she had, for a moment she thought that Professor Killainka looked straight at her. However, he only laughed and then he wasn't there at all. It was someone else, he was tall, he was dark, and he walked closer and closer until -"

"Sarah!" exclaimed John Nettleton, holding Sarah tightly.

"Dad, dad is that you?" Sarah shook uncontrollably and then opened her eyes, "was this still part of the dream?" she thought and then she said out loud again, "dad is that you?"

"Yes pumpkin, I'm here. It's me, I promise. See," he pointed around him, "we're in your room Zoe and her Dad are here too. And there's Socrates in his cage."

Her father was right. Everyone was there and she was in her room, but she was still shaking as Zoe placed the blanket up around her. Bill saw Matthew standing in the doorway. "Matthew, why don't you and Zoe go fetch some hot chocolate, I'm sure we could all use some," he said, sensing the need for his daughter to leave the room.

"Yes sir," agreed Matthew, " come on Miss Zoe?"

However, Zoe didn't want to leave her friend. "Dad," she said pleadingly.

"It's all right," he assured her, "we'll be here, go get the hot chocolate." Zoe still hesitated. Bill now insisted, "go on honey." He nudged her toward the door and after a moment, she reluctantly left with Matthew. John was holding Sarah as tightly as he could and reassuring her that she was safe. Sarah was calming down, however she continued to shiver.

"As soon as you feel comfortable enough, you need to tell us as much as you can remember while it is still fresh in your mind," John told her as quietly and calmly as he could. Sarah nodded and pulled the covers and her father closer. She was trying to decide how she was going to explain what she remembered without sounding ridiculous.

"I'm really okay," she said finally, "it was just a bad dream."

"That's not exactly true Sarah," he told her gently "and this is not the first time, is it?"

Sarah shook her head reluctantly, "how did you know?"

"Matthew, he was there the last time. He didn't tell you, but he did tell me."

Sarah was embarrassed, "it's so stupid dad. I'm too old to be scared by nightmares."

"You're never too old to be scared Sarah, I am scared every day of my life. I'm afraid that I won't do my job right and someone will get hurt. Someone like you or your mother or Bill and his family."

Sarah looked up into her dad's eyes, "I didn't think you ever got scared."

John smiled, "it's nice that you think about me like that, however I'm only human."

"Oh, and here all this time I thought you were a god," joked Bill who was trying to lighten the mood. Sarah smiled a little.

"That's better," said her dad, "now are you ready to tell us anything?"

Sarah nodded and then began, "it starts out kind of funny. There are hundreds of owls dumping letters and books on Zoe and I, while Eric is trying to fit all our luggage in the back of his car." She paused, looked at their faces, and then continued, "then it's been different every time. This last time I think I was at the school, in the Quidditch Stadium. Everyone was there, Zoe, Dillon, you and Mr. Turner and the Professor, except that you all seemed to not know I was there. I was wrapped up in some kind of cloth and I couldn't move. There were people in the stands and they were laughing and shouting things at me, but I couldn't hear them." Sarah stopped and looked around she really didn't want to continue.

"It's okay, I promise," he reassured her.

Sarah nodded again and drew even closer to her dad. "That's when the storm came up and the wind started to blow. But I don't think it was a storm because a voice came out of the wind." She stopped and began to shiver again. "I kept yelling for Zoe to wake me up. I knew she was there why didn't she wake me up?" asked Sarah sounding hurt.

"She tried sweetheart, she tried for a long time, and when she couldn't she sent Socrates to get me. It still took awhile after I arrived, but I assure you we were here."

"I was so scared," admitted Sarah.

"Sarah what did the voice say?" asked John holding her tight.

"He said that it didn't matter if I awoke or not because he was going to get me. He said it was inevitable and he told me to yield to him. And then he said that he had almost gotten me twice when I wasn't asleep." Sarah looked at her dad, "what did he mean? Who is he? What does he want?"

John held his daughter tighter. "That's enough for right now, " he turned to see Zoe and Matthew had returned. " See hot chocolate had arrived. We'll have some and then we'll talk later."

Sarah nodded. Zoe ran over and handed her hot chocolate. "I was so scared, are you alright?" she asked sitting down next to her.

"She's fine Zoe, let her have a moment to compose," insisted Mr. Turner.

"All right, but I'm not letting her out of my sight," promised Zoe, putting her arm around her best friend and pulling her in tighter.

"That's all right with me," confirmed Sarah.

John and Bill walked over toward the door where Matthew stood waiting for them. He reached out his hand and produced a parchment envelope, "when I got to Socrates, he had this."

John took the envelope and opened it. He looked up at Matthew, "thanks. Would you check to make sure the house is locked up and that Socrates is fed?"

"Yes sir," he said and then he left.

Bill turned to John, "can she see her?"

John nodded, "now I just have to explain to her why." They turned and looked at the pair, they were huddled together under the covers, and Zoe had managed to make Sarah laugh.

"I know that I am not going to be able get you girls to go to sleep tonight," said John nearly sending Sarah into hysterics.

"No daddy, I couldn't. Please don't make me," she moaned.

John walked over to his daughter and put a hand on her shoulder. "Its all right Sarah I won't leave your side however, you two should try to rest. We'll just turn out the lights and we'll stay here with you. It will be fine, I promise."

Sarah wasn't so sure. However, with the two dads and Zoe she was surely safe now. John turned the lights off and Sarah leaned back against into her bed.

It was a long night for all of them. The next morning they all drug themselves down the stairs to breakfast. Matthew provided plenty of coffee for the adults and juice for the children. There wasn't a lot of conversation; no one seemed to know what to say. "We need to get going soon Zoe, your mother will be worried," said Bill to Zoe as they finished.

"But dad, I'm worried about Sarah. Couldn't we stay a little longer?"

"Sarah will be just fine with her father. They have some things to discuss and we need to let them do that." Both girls looked at their dads but didn't say anything. Zoe nodded and after a short while, they left.

John took Sarah out in to his back garden after the Turners had left. Sarah always liked it here. She was the one that suggested that house was not a home without a garden. She was the first person to ever plant flowers and trim bushes. John would sometimes come out here when she wasn't around and he was missing her. Today it was a calm and peaceful place to discuss life. Sarah's eyes were puffy and swollen from lack of sleep. In the sunlight, she looked extremely pale and sunken. "Sarah darling, I am concerned about what's going on with you. In two days you go home to your mother, I won't be there with you so I need to know what's happening now." Sarah just stared as her father continued, "I have a friend I would like for you to talk to. She knows how to deal with nightmares and can make it so you can sleep again. Would that be all right?" he asked.

"I suppose so, is she a witch?" asked Sarah, John nodded. "Okay, when do we go?"

"I'd like to go now, if that's okay?"

"That's fine. We're not going by port key are we?" she asked hopefully.

"No, I hoped that we could go by Floo Powder."

"How does that work?" asked Sarah looking both bewildered and scared.

"First we light a fire in the fireplace and then you throw some powder in the flames. As soon as it flares up you state the name of your destination and then step in. It then feels a little like the port key, a flying sensation. You can sometimes hear others traveling, but as long as hold still and keep your wits you will arrive a the fireplace at the other end." Sarah listened carefully to the instructions with a look of total disbelief on her face, and then John repeated them again just to make sure. After Sarah acknowledged that she understood, they made their way to the living room fireplace. Matthew was standing there waiting on them.

"I sent Socrates with word that you would be arriving soon," he looked down and into Sarah's eyes, "are you feeling better today Miss?"

"Not really Matthew," confessed Sarah.

"It will be all right soon Miss Sarah. Your dad and Grace will make things right. You'll see," expressed Matthew and then he reached up and grabbed a red jar off the mantle on the fireplace.

"I always wondered why you had that ugly jar."

"Ugly? I'll have you know that this jar is worth hundreds of galleons," said John, pretending to be a bit hurt.

"Galleons?" puzzled Sarah.

"We'll talk about it later. Now take a hand full, throw it in the fireplace and very plainly and very clearly say Madam Delphi." Sarah nodded and repeated the name. "I'll be right behind you," he said giving her a reassuring look.

Sarah took some powder, threw it in the fireplace, and called out loudly, "Madam Delphi!" The next thing she knew she was being pulled through the air she could hear voices as her father had said and she saw what looked like entrances to other fireplaces and colored swirling lights. Then in one final thump she arrived outside a large pink marble fireplace. As the dust settled, she rose and took two steps forward just in time to miss being crushed by her dad as he too thumped out onto the floor.

Sarah let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room they had arrived in. There was incense burning somewhere. It was sweet and sickening like gardenias in the spring and the smell made her head hurt. There were several large plush purple chairs scattered about the room, some of them had small silk draped tables beside them. Sarah supposed that this must be the waiting room, like at a doctor's office, however this didn't look like any doctor's office that she had every been in. John placed his hand on her shoulder, "you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, but that smell is sickening," admitted Sarah.

"Never have been able to stand it myself," John said smiling.

Before they could say anything else, Sarah heard bells ringing in a distance and then a small frizzy headed woman emerged through a beaded curtain. She paused for a moment as though she was letting her eyes adjust, and then she came at them all most at a full run. "John Nettleton it is so wonderful to see you again," she exclaimed greeting Sarah's dad with a long tight hug.

"Grace, you're looking brilliant. How have you been?" asked John standing back to look at her.

"I'm fine, but we're not here to find out how I'm doing," she said looking at Sarah. "We're here to find out how Sarah is doing. Moreover, what a lovely young lady you have grown to be Sarah. The last time I saw you, your biggest concerns were picking up bugs and chasing dogs."

"We've met?" asked Sarah.

"You were very young Sarah. Grace came to one of the after birthday parties that I threw for you at my house. You probably don't remember her," her father explained.

Sarah shook her head. "I don't think so. It's nice to meet you now, though." Sarah sneezed loudly and shook her head, "sorry."

"Oh, I'm sorry about the smell," said the small woman as she stood back and reflected on the room. "I don't think too much about it anymore. I call this the sham room."

"The what?" asked Sarah.

"The sham room it's how I fit into the muggle world. I'm a fortuneteller you see, this is what the muggles expect so, I give it to them. But today I'm only here for you." Grace walked over to the door and locked it. After turning the OPEN sign to CLOSED, she turned to face the Nettleton's again. "Now let's go somewhere comfortable." Grace led them through the beaded curtain and into the next room. It was not blindingly lit, but it was not dark. There was a soft light coming from several small lamps placed around the room. There was a long soft couch on wall and next to it, two overstuffed chairs.

"This," thought Sarah "looks like a doctor's office." The room was very friendly and inviting. The harsh smell out front was replaced by the scent of strawberry pie. There was a small table next to the couch. On it were two candlesticks and an empty pitcher with two glasses.

"Is this better?" asked Grace.

"Yes, much," replied Sarah.

"Good, I would like you to find a comfortable spot on the couch and have a seat," she instructed now.

"You don't want me to lie down?" asked Sarah.

"Not unless that would make you comfortable," answered Grace smiling.

"Okay, I understand." Sarah walked over and sat down at one end. Grace then sat in the chair closest to her and invited John to sit in the other.

"Are you okay?" she asked and when Sarah nodded she continued, "I'm now going to put out the lights, okay?" Sarah nodded again. Grace raised her hands toward the lamps and they slowly went out. Then in the same swoop of her hand she lit the candles on the table. "Are you still feeling comfortable? I don't want you to get scared."

"I'm all right so far," said Sarah truthfully, but then she added, "Just don't ask me to go to sleep."

"I won't ask you to do anything you don't wish to do, I promise. But I do want you to relax." Sarah nodded, then she waved her hand over the table again, and the pitcher was now filled with a sapphire colored liquid, which was now pouring fluid into one of the glasses. She reached over and handed the glass to her, "drink this, it will help you relax."

Sarah looked at John and his eyes urged her to drink. "It's okay pumpkin," he said softly.

Sarah took the glass and a sip. "Humm," she said, "it's good." She turned the glass up and finished it, then she placed the glass on the table and leaned back.

"How are you feeling?" asked Grace.

"Warm," answered Sarah, "warm and tingly."

"That's good. Just relax and think about something or someone that makes you happy."

Sarah sat still for a moment and then smiled widely, "Max purring in my lap, that makes me happy. And Zoe, she tells the worst jokes." Sarah was in a daze.

"That's good. Now think of how tired you are and how nice it would be if you could sleep without dreams," directed Grace.

"That would be the best thing in the world," admitted Sarah. "I'm so tired of the nightmares," she concluded.

"Tell me something about the nightmares that you haven't told anyone else, not even your dad," asked Grace after Sarah had sat quietly for a while.

Sarah sat silent remembering what she had said before and what she hadn't. "I can't think of anything," she admitted finally.

"Take your time, you can remember everything without fear. No one or nothing can harm you in this room," insisted Grace.

"There is something, but I can't remember," said Sarah now.

"Take your time, concentrate on the shadow in your dreams. Can you see anything?" Sarah nodded. "What do you see?"

"Who, not what," answered Sarah.

"Then, who do you see?" asked Grace patiently. John was now on the edge of his seat. He wanted to grab his daughter and pull her close, but he resisted the urge. Sarah leaned forward almost falling, but catching herself in time. Her eyes were closing slowly, she was drifting away Grace prompted her again, "who do you see, Sarah?"

"Chinkana," said Sarah softly, almost to soft to hear. Grace asked her to repeat what she said. "Chinkana," she said again, and then she drifted off to sleep.

John's eyes grew wide, he turned to Grace. "It can't be," he whispered, "it's impossible. He was killed five years ago, Bill and I were there."

Grace turned to him. "John, you wouldn't have contacted me if you weren't afraid it were so."

"But it's mad. Why him, why now and why Sarah?" asked John.

"Only you and your daughter can answer that question," said Grace with conviction. "In the mean time I suggest that the safest place for her is Dragons Wood. Can you convince Elizabeth of that?" asked Grace.

"I'll have to, won't I?" John said collapsing back into the chair. He looked at Sarah again. "Will she be all right for now?"

"The potion I gave her will give her dreamless sleep, that should prevent him from bothering her. I will give you some more to take home. Nevertheless, John, if she's having flashes while she's awake, the potion won't help forever. You have to investigate what prompted the daytime episodes and figure out why they're happening." John nodded "Let's leave her to sleep. I'll make us some tea," said Grace. John helped Sarah into a more comfortable position on the couch and covered her with a nearby throw. Then he followed Grace into the back of the building. They settled on the kitchen as their final destination, a cozy room that smelled of fresh baked cookies and lemonade. John sat at the table while Grace made tea. He remarked that it was odd that she should make it the muggle way. "I've done it this way so often, it's gotten to be habit," explained Grace. "Besides, I think it tastes better this way."

John laughed, "I've forgotten how much fun you are to be with."

"You've forgotten all about fun, John Nettleton. Admit it, the only reason your finding so much time for your daughter right now is because of school. It's a power issue, you need to win over Elizabeth, and you know it."

"Now Grace, I spend time with Sarah, and I always have," said John defensively.

"Not as much as you should have. Set aside the Wizarding issue, Sarah knows nothing about you. I bet she doesn't know what your favorite food is. And you, do you know if she has a crush on a boy, and if she does, who it is?"

"Okay, okay Grace you're right to a certain extent, but I can't spend as much time as I would like with her. I mean I'm not the milk man you know," offered John.

"Don't use your job as an excuse for neglecting your daughter, " scolded Grace.

"You sound just like my wife," John said rising and crossing to the other side of the room.

"Well don't get angry with me, do something about it."

John stopped pacing and looked at Grace, she was smiling at him. "I'm sorry," he said shyly.

"I'm fine," assured Grace, " worry about Sarah." John nodded and then returned to the table to finish his tea.

"When was the last time you saw him?" Grace asked after awhile.

"Like I said, about five years ago," answered John, "that's when Bill and I had it out with him. It was the year Eric first started school. He began having disturbing dreams like Sarah's, but he could always wake up. But then again, he was a Dragon's Wood. We tracked him down outside the school. We wanted to capture him, take him to Alcatraz, but he became too dangerous. We were afraid for the children. I'm not sure we would have beat him if it hadn't been for Killainka." John seemed overwhelmed by what he said and sat quietly for a moment.

"John listen to yourself, you are making the connections," said Grace suddenly. "Eric had just started school and Killainka was there. In your letter you mentioned that she had an episode in Killainka's' office."

"Right, it was when she touched his hand. But why, I still don't understand. Even if he didn't die that day, why wait five years?"

"I don't have all the answers John, just suggestion." Grace looked into his concerned eyes and then said, "I want you to promise to get some sleep."

"Grace, I couldn't possibly sleep--"

But Grace cut him off, "how could you not sleep. You are never going to solve this mystery when you are as tired as your daughter."

"I suppose," admitted John.

"Promise me John, and I will know if you don't."

"I promise." John smiled at her and chuckled, "I'd also forgotten how manipulative you could be."

"You'd remember if you would visit me more often," she suggested.

John leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "you'll always be my favorite fortune teller, you know?"

Grace laughed, "Remember your promise."

"What promise?" came a voice from the doorway.

"Sarah," John said jumping up from his seat at the sight of his daughter, "you're awake?"

"Yeah, and I feel great," then she looked at Grace. "Sorry I fell asleep before you could find out anything. But I did sleep wonderfully, I don't think I would have woke if it hadn't been for the owl."

"What owl?" asked Grace.

"The one that is sitting in the other room. I gave him one of Socrates treats from my pocket so he's waiting patiently," explained Sarah.

Grace and John rose and followed Sarah into the next room. "Mercedes," said John as soon as he saw the owl.

"Mercedes?" repeated Sarah.

"It's the Turners owl," replied Grace. John was too busy retrieving the letter to respond. She walked over to stroke the owl's head while John read the letter.

John,

Best that you come now. Have found out some interesting information. Make sure Sarah is safe before you leave.

Bill

"What's it say, dad? Is Zoe okay?" asked Sarah concerned.

"Everything's okay he just needs to see me right away," lied John. "Grace, do you have Sarah's medicine ready?"

Grace looked at him concerned. "I'll get it, just a minute," she said darting into the other room. She came back out with an extremely large bottle and handed it to John. "I've attached the instructions for Matthew," then she looked at him, "remember your promise."

"I remember," said John, and then he gave her some last minute instructions, "do me a favor and contact Matthew. Tell him that Sarah's on her way home and what to do. Tell him I'll be there as soon as I can." Grace nodded and then he turned to Sarah, "I'm taking you home, but I'm not stopping, okay?"

"I guess," answered Sarah, "but how?"

John led her to the fireplace, Grace handed him a jar that he took some powder from and then he grabbed Sarah's hand, "hold on tight." Sarah nodded and gripped her dad with all her might.

Grace leaned forward and kissed John on the cheek. "Remember what I said and let me know if I can help." Then she turned to Sarah and said, " and Sarah don't forget how to get here. This place is a safe harbor for all lost souls."

Sarah looked at her strangely and agreed. John then looked at Sarah, gripped her hand, and called out loudly, "home." Sarah held tight to her father's hand as the lights and colors and voices went by.

"Sarah," John called out to her, "in a moment we will reach home. I am going to leave you as soon as we are there. Hold on tight to the jar and give it to Matthew right away." Sarah looked at her dad, everything was going by so fast, but she managed to get across that she understood, "and Sarah, I love you."

"I love you too, daddy," Sarah shouted then John let go of her hand and she found herself on the living room floor.

Sarah looked up to see Matthew holding his hand out. "Are you okay Miss?" he asked as he helped her up.

"Yes Matthew, I'm all right. Here, I'm supposed to give you this right away," she said handing him the jar.

"Thank you Miss, now I'm supposed to take you upstairs to bed."

Sarah pulled back, "but Matthew, I would really rather not go to sleep, especially if dad's not here."

"It's okay Miss Sarah, your father explained that you are to take the potion in this jar and it will give you a dreamless sleep," explained Matthew.

"Really?" asked Sarah

"I wouldn't lie to you Miss Sarah, not ever," Matthew reassured her.

"Okay in that case then, I will. I'm so tired I could sleep for days," answered Sarah rubbing her swollen eyes.

Sarah took the potion after she had changed into pajamas and was lying in bed. "I'm going to stay right here Miss Sarah," Matthew said pointing to a nearby chair, "and I won't leave until your father returns or you wake."

"Thank you Matthew," Sarah said in between yawns, "why don't you talk to me awhile, I'm sure I won't be able--" Sarah fell asleep without finishing her sentence. Matthew pulled the covers up around her neck and then settled into the chair to wait.

Bill was waiting outside the house when John arrived. "How are you doing?" he asked holding out his hand.

"A little better," said John taking it. "What did you find out?"

Bill looked around. "I figured it would be best to talk out here. I wouldn't want anyone inside to have undo concerns."

"Let's walk then," said John and they turned to start down the street.

"When I got home there was an owl waiting for me. I was lucky, Zoe was so busy telling her stories that no one noticed. It was from Killainka."

John stopped and looked at Bill. "From Killainka? he repeated.

"Yes," Bill started, as they began to walk again, "it seems that some strange things were going on last night at the school."

"What kinds of things?" asked John.

"One of the teachers was on the grounds walking when she noticed a light coming from the stadium, so she decided to investigate. As she got closer the weather suddenly changed, she said it was as though a storm had settled over it. The wind became stronger as she drew closer, then suddenly stopped and the light that was there was gone."

John stopped again and looked at Bill. "I suppose this all happened the same time Sarah was having her dream?" he asked next.

Bill nodded. "Best as we can determine."

John shook his head. "I'm not sure what's going on but, I bet he's behind it."

"I have to agree. I mean it doesn't make any sense, but who else could it be?" asked Bill, looking frustrated.

"Grace had an interesting thought. She took me back to the last time." He paused and then went on, "have you talked to Eric?"

"I thought about that too, so I asked him how things had been going. I'm sure that if anything was bothering him I would know it. His main interest these days is chasing skirts, not keeping things from his father."

John smiled, "just like his dad."

Bill turned slightly pink. "Well, maybe in the old days. But remember I'm happily married now."

They chuckled a little and then turned to walk again. After another long pause, Bill started again, "I've been going over and over it in my head, John and he's dead. I know in my heart that he is dead, but--"

"But somehow he isn't," finished John, "so we're going to have figure out what to do next." John sighed. "Unfortunately my next step is telling Elizabeth and I'm going to have to do that as soon as possible."

"I'll come if you like," offered Bill.

"No, I have to do this alone," confirmed John. "But do you think that Glenda and Zoe could come and visit her tomorrow? Sarah still needs potion ingredients and a few other things. If she could take Sarah shopping, distract her for awhile?"

"I'm sure she won't mind, but I'll have to tell Glenda everything," started Bill, "not just Zoe's hysterical version. I'll tell her tonight, after the kids go to bed."

"All right then, I'll walk you back to the house and then I need to go check on Sarah."

"Don't worry John, we'll find out what's going on," he put his hand on John's shoulder to reassure him. After they returned to the house John said one last goodbye, and then headed home.

Matthew was sleeping uncomfortably in the chair next to Sarah's bed when he arrived. John woke him quietly, so as not to disturb Sarah. They then went into the next room to talk. "How did she do?" he asked right away.

"She's been asleep practically since she's been home, no disturbances."

"That's good. Thank you for staying with her," John said placing a strong hand on Matthew's shoulder.

"Please sir, don't thank me. You're my family, don't you know." John smiled. "It can't be him sir, can it?" asked Matthew after a long pause.

"I don't see how. But I also can't see how it can be anyone else." John sat down in a chair, he was exhausted.

"Sir, if I may say something?" said Matthew.

"Anything Matthew," answered John, smiling a tired smile.

"Miss Grace gave me strict instructions, you were go right to sleep when you returned."

"Oh she did, did she?" John chuckled. " Well I suppose I did promise. Could you arrange for a bed in Sarah's room? I just have one thing left to do," said John.

"Yes sir, right away," said Matthew before John exited the room.

John thanked him and then went to desk in his den and began to rummage around among the stacks of papers until he found a telephone. "There you are," he said to the inanimate object. Then he held up the phone and said, "Elizabeth."

The phone rang on the other end and Abigail answered it, "good evening."

"Good evening Abigail, is Mrs. Nettleton around?"

"Mr. John why are you calling?" she whispered. "Is everything okay?"

"No Abigail it's not, that's why I need to talk to Mrs. Nettleton," he explained.

"Yes sir I'll get her right away," replied Abigail.

A few moments passed before Elizabeth came on the line. "This better be vital John. I was working on something important."

"Lovely to talk to you again also, Elizabeth." John took a deep breath, "this was not about petty bickering, it's about Sarah", he thought. Then into the phone he said, "Elizabeth, there is no time for this. We need to talk about Sarah."

" What's wrong, is she okay?" his ex-wife's tone suddenly turned to concern.

"She's fine, but we need to talk. I would like for you to meet me tomorrow."

"John I don't have time for nonsense, tell me now," she insisted.

"Elizabeth pretend that your daughter is the most important thing in your life for a moment," said John sarcastically.

"That's not funny. Why can't we discuss this now, over the phone? Which by the way, I thought you'd forgotten how to use." It was Elizabeth's turn to be sarcastic.

"Elizabeth you're not listening. Something has happened and we need to talk about it, in person."

"All right, all right. If it's that important I'll meet you tomorrow," he agreed. "Where?"

"Down town at the square. Sarah is going to be with Zoe and Glenda. Make enough time to hear me out."

"What time?" was all she would say.

"Ten."

"Fine but, this better be important," Elizabeth ended and then the phone went dead.

John shook his head. It was all he could do to stay awake. Matthew came in to save the day. "Come along sir, it's time for you to get some sleep." He helped him out of the chair and followed him to Sarah's room, where there was now a cot in the corner. John sat down on it, took his shoes off and then Matthew handed him a blanket.

"Matthew, make sure the house is locked up tight," said John half asleep.

"Yes sir, don't worry, I'll take care of everything. And I'll have you both up by eight."

"Thank you, Matthew." John lay down on the cot and looked at Sarah, it was only a matter of moments before he was asleep.