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It's midnight when Sam hears the soft sobs and hiccups coming from Tara's bedroom across the hall of their NYC apartment.
"No - please don't," and other variations of the soft plea falls from Tara's lips, muffled through the wall as she tosses and turns. Sam's up from her bed in a heartbeat, her heart pounding as she automatically assumes the worst. That Ghostface is back. It's only when she slams open the door to her little sister's bedroom that she realises Tara is in the depths of another nightmare.
Tears stream down Tara's face as she sobs - letting out incoherent murmurs and pleas for help as her mind takes her back into the darkest period of her life.
"Plea-ase - Sammy-" Tara wails, burying her face back into her pillow as she loses herself in the dream.
Sam gasps softly, immediately launching forward towards the bed in shock and horror. She sinks on to the mattress, immediately placing her cold hands on Tara's shaking body - "Tara - baby, wake up, you're having a nightmare," Sam gasps out, her heart throbbing in horror at the sight of watching her little sister go through this again.
Tara just lets out another distressed sound in response - her eyes still shut, tears still dropping on to the pillow.
"Sweetie, you need to wake up, please darling," Sam says a little louder, her breath coming out in short gasps as she watches Tara, shaking her slightly with her hands. "Come on, sweetheart," She pleads - right as Tara lets out a short gasp, her eyes flying open as she sits up, panting in terror and shock from the nightmare.
"Tara - you just had a nightmare," Sam says, already moving forward to comfort her. "You're safe, I promise," Sam whispers, as Tara crumples forward into her arms, letting Sam tug her small frame on to her lap, Sam's fingers dragging through Tara's hair in an attempt to comfort the shaking girl.
"I - I was so scared," Tara sobs, her face pressing against Sam's pyjama shirt as her tears dampen the fabric.
"I know you were, sweetie, it's okay now, I promise," Sam whispers, pressing soft kisses to Tara's hair and forehead as she drags her in closer, wrapping her arms around Tara's trembling body.
Slowly, Tara's sobs subside into soft hiccups - whilst she still clings to Sam tightly, desperate for comfort.
"Oh baby," Sam whispers, pressing another kiss on to Tara's head, her hand rubbing small circles across the soft pink fabric of Tara's nightgown. "You're safe. It's just me. Let's get you back to bed."
Sam slowly moves herself into a lying down position, Tara still tucked against her chest tightly. Tara lets out a shaky sigh, trying to relax slowly.
"That's it," Sam murmurs in comfort. "Sleep now, okay darling? I'll be right here, always," She whispers, running her hand through Tara's hair as she drags the blanket up over both of them.
And Sam watches in silence as her little sister finally drifts off again in the safety of her arms.