Title: Fear
Author: Me, Emma (orpheous87)
Part: Standalone
Rating: U
Pairing: Poynter/Judd
Genre: Fluff...I think.
Summary: Harry makes Dougie feel safe.
A/N: Dedicated to xxpatsy as Fear was her prompt. If anyone else wants to prompt me, please go here to do so. I'd really appreciate it too, coz I want to write but have no real inspiration! >.<
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em and this has likely never happened. Sadly.



Dougie could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he ran. Looking back over his shoulder just made him run faster, his legs feeling like they were on fire. This was the second time in a week this had happened, but this time was so much worse.

"Harry!" he screamed. "Harry!"

He skidded round a corner, only to find a dead end in front of him. He whirled round, looking for another way out, one hand pressed against the cool, brick wall. He could hear whatever it was that was chasing him getting closer and closer.

"HARRY!" he let out another gut-wrenching scream.

All of a sudden, he was shaking. Or rather, he was being shaken.

"Dougie! Dougie!"

Gasping, Dougie's eyes flew open as he sat up and looked around himself wildly.

"Dougie, are you okay?" Harry asked from beside the bassist.

Dougie gasped again and threw himself into Harry's arms.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, the look on his face a mixture of fear and worry as he held the younger boy against his chest tightly. "You were screaming. It's a wonder Tom and Danny haven't woken up."

Dougie shook his head, pressing his face against the drummer's strong chest. He couldn't speak just yet. Not while his heart was still racing like it was.

Harry didn't press him. He simply sat and held him close, rubbing his back soothingly as he tried to calm the younger male down. He couldn't imagine what had got Dougie so scared and he wished he'd got there sooner.

"Sorry for waking you," Dougie mumbled, a short while later after his heart had slowed to a normal rhythm.

"It's okay," Harry replied immediately. "Why were you screaming?"

"I... I had another nightmare," Dougie confessed, feeling his cheeks turning pink.

"What about?" Harry asked, not laughing or sounding amused like Dougie thought he would.

"I was being chased," Dougie said softly, squeezing his eyes shut. "By this... this monster that was going to... well... I don't know what it was going to do, but it was scary."

"Why were you screaming my name?" Harry asked cautiously.

Dougie finally raised his head to look at Harry. "You're always there for me," he said. "You always make things better." He paused. "You make me feel safe." Another light flush covered his cheeks.

"Aww," Harry said softly, unable to think of something more intelligent to say. "Do I?"

Dougie nodded. "You always have."

"I... I suppose that's because I hate the thought of anything happening to you," Harry admitted, deciding it was now or never. "I want to protect you."

"Stay with me tonight," Dougie whispered, looking up at Harry.

"What?" Harry blinked, not sure what Dougie was asking him to do.

"Don't leave me," Dougie said softly. "If you're here, I won't be afraid to go back to sleep."

"Then I'll stay," Harry said, his arms still wrapped around Dougie. "Shift over and let me in."

Dougie pulled away from Harry slightly, shuffling over in the bed to let the drummer climb in beside him. As soon as Harry was under the duvet, Dougie snuggled into his side straight away. "Thank you," he murmured.

Harry pressed a kiss to the top of Dougie's head. "You won't have to be afraid again," he said softly, making a silent promise to never leave Dougie again.