The tall blonde woman was silent as she seated herself primly on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped together on her lap.  She met Shane's brown eyes silently for a moment before letting out a soft sigh and glancing down at her hands.

He came over to sit beside her on the bed, wanting to put his arm around her for how sad she looked - and just because he generally wanted to.  Instead, he peered into her face.

"What are you thinking about?"

Torrie bit her lip as she lifted her blue eyes to his face for a few seconds.  "I...I'm just thinking about how much I..."  Her speech trailed off, and she bowed her head, shyly avoiding his gaze.

Shane reached a hand out and gently placed it on her chin, turning her face upward so that her eyes met his.  The young woman looked serious as she stared into his eyes, blinking furiously.

"How much you what, Torrie?" he asked softly.

"How much I...don't want you to leave," she said quietly, surprising herself in that she didn't avert her gaze from his.

"Are you afraid he might come after you again?"  The young man's voice was gentle as he posed the question.

The platinum blonde bit her lip again, shifting her eyes ever so slightly, but for just a beat.  Then, gazing directly into his dark orbs, she said, "A little...but I..."  She paused, then spoke again.  "I just feel bad that you're going to be away from me just when we seem to be getting so close..."

Shane's heart was actually hurting a little as he continued to gaze intently into the young woman's eyes.  As he rubbed at her chin with the pad of his thumb, Torrie's eyes closed.  Then, swallowing hard and breathing deeply, the dark-haired man moved his face closer until his lips were upon hers.

The blonde was slightly taken by surprise by the kiss, as she was only half expecting it.  She sighed into his mouth at the gentleness of his lips and tongue, kissing him back eagerly.

Torrie nearly lost her breath as the kiss came to an end, and she raised her hand, which she had pressed to Shane's shoulder up to her mouth.  A small smile came to her lips, and the man smiled as well, enjoying seeing her happy.

"You have lipstick..."  The blonde paused as she reached up to wipe some color that had rubbed off of her lips onto his.  She laughed softly as she did so.  She tried not to concentrate on Shane and Stephanie leaving in a few short hours, instead opting to concentrate on the here and now.

*

She was suddenly shifting restlessly in her sleep, frowning despite her closed eyes.  The chill she felt within was horrible.

Amy began to turn over onto her right side, wanting desperately to be closer to him.  She was unable to feel his warmth, his nearness, and it tore her up. Where was he?

She let out a tiny moan as her lips parted ever so slightly.  Oh, God... She felt so small and helpless.  She needed Adam, needed him by her side, holding her tightly.  She needed his strength and the security he gave her.

She turned back over onto her back, desperately wishing for peace in her sleep, but it would not come.  She moaned slightly louder, and Adam's face was in her mind, hovering just over her as though he were a specter, a ghost.  She reached out with one hand to touch him, but when she did, his visage disappeared like smoke.

The redhead continued to move around in the hospital bed in her sleep, disturbed by the fact that the man she loved was suddenly out of her reach.  She saw him again and reached out for him, desperate to reach him, when suddenly, he changed - and transformed.

The face of Paul Levesque was suddenly before her, and her eyes widened in fright as he scowled at her.  She turned around in what she soon realized to be a futile attempt to escape the maniac.  As she dared a quick glance over her shoulder, he was right on her heels, and he reached out and grabbed a handful of her hair...

Amy thrashed around in the bed, screaming, harsh cries of pain joining those of fright when the injured left side of her upper chest came into contact with the side of the bed.  Oh, God... She couldn't get to Adam and couldn't escape Levesque - she knew she was dead...