Nightmares Become Truth

Hailey tossed and turned in her bed again. She was sick for about the third time that month, but this time was different. Almost every night that week she'd had dreams, nightmares of being taken from her parents after going to the hospital. She had to hide the truth from the. They couldn't find out she was sick.

She crawled out into the living room and smiled at Chris, trying her best not to whimper in pain.

"Morning daddy," Hailey smiled.

"Hi Haileybug" Chris smiled and went to pick his daughter up, frowning when she flinched "Sweetie...what's wrong? Don't lie to me now."

"I'm okay daddy, really," Hailey lied, faking a smile.

"Hailey..." Chris' eye narrowed "I can tell when you're trying to hide pain, now be honest, do you feel sick?"

Hailey shook her head. "No daddy," Hailey lied again. She knew Chris wouldn't do anything until he knew exactly how high her fever was, well she wasn't going to let him find out.

"Oh Haileybug..." Chris felt Hailey's forehead and sighed "You're pretty warm sweetheart, JEFF!!!" He shouted for his boyfriend as he stood "Get the car started" he called "We're taking Hailey in to see Jenna."

Hailey's eyes went wide.

"No, no daddy, no hospital, no doctor NO!" Hailey screamed, squirming trying to get out of Chris's grasp.

"Haileybug RELAX!" Chris couldn't understand why his daughter was so terrified "We're just going to see Aunt Jenna, you know she won't hurt you!"

"You can't take me daddy you can't!" Hailey cried.

"Hailey we HAVE to" Chris was slowly but surely making his way to the door where Jeff was waiting "If you're sick, we need to know how bad and Jenna can tell us, we'll be home before lunchtime!"

"Daddy please, please don't," Hailey pleaded.

"I'm sorry Haileybug" Chris kept his voice firm as he left the house, Jeff right behind him "I don't have a choice."

Hailey continued to cry, her dreams haunting her.

"Hailey it's okay" Chris murmured, holding his daughter tightly in his arms "What's got you so scared?"

"The...the nightmares daddy," Hailey whimpered.

"What nightmares?" Chris whispered "Come on sweetie, tell me."

"They take me away," Hailey whimpered. "I never see you again."

"Oh sweetie..." Chris held his daughter close and gave her a kiss "No one's going to take you away from us, we're going to be with you the entire time, okay?"

"Daddy, please, please don't let them take me, I don't wanna go away!" Hailey cried, clinging to Chris for dear life.

"Shhh, shhhhhh" Chris rocked his daughter slowly "Haileybug listen to me, you just had a bad dream. NO ONE is going to take you from us, you have my word on that."

"But daddy I've had it over, and over and over again!" Hailey cried.

"Shhh, calm down" Chris continued to rub Hailey's shaking back "Just because you have a dream more than once doesn't mean it's going to come true. I once dreamed I grew wings for two solid weeks, but I still can't fly."

"You promise nobody's gonna take me?" Hailey asked.

"Pinky swear" Chris grinned, holding out his finger for Hailey to take

Hailey smiled, wrapping her pinky around Chris'.