How long had he been asleep? Minutes? Hours? He couldn't even remember the time he'd laid down beside his love, trying to seek comfort from the oncoming nightmare he was to face.

"I...I really don't know, I just...don't know anymore."

The cry of an angel sounded softly through the darkness, bringing forth a light to dance in the opening eyes of a man alone in his mind. Touching his ears, the sounds gently drifted on as he became more aware of his surroundings, staring up through the darkness to the ceiling up above. His eyes, once lively and full of energy and determination, now fearful as his face tried not to betray any emotion whatsoever-- an attempt to mask the fear. His corpse-like expression left unknown to the angel, unable to be seen in the darkness... a darkness that to him, symbolized the undeniable fear he felt inside.

"I've watched him slowly slipping away, we all have... and I know that too. I've gotten calls from co-workers in the NLCW, even Chris has called to check on how he was doing. Everyone's worried, he just isn't looking that good right now..."

Dominic kept his sigh to himself, knowing that all of Suki's words to whomever it was on the other end of the phone were the truth. She knew him so damn well by now it'd be amazing if he could honestly deny all of what she was saying.

That dream of his, though... if it wasn't for that dream he may not have realized just how true her words were.

Strange as it was, he really did get something out of that dream-- something he was going to strongly benefit from in the coming days.

"He's... hardly gotten any sleep, he's been training non-stop, and he just keeps going to the window to look out of it when he comes back from training. He's so focused on this match Sunday that, welll... it just seems like he's trying to hide his own fear from himself, to prepare for something he's just so sure will be the end of his career. That isn't the Dominic I know and love, the Dominic I know and love would look that fear into the eyes and not back down at all. I'm scared, you know... I just don't know what to do, it almost feels like he's going back to the way things used to be..."

A chill ran down Dominic's spine, had it really gotten that bad? He felt completely and utterly horrible about this, a few tears even welling in his eyes as he turned his head in shame. He'd never wanted to go back to those ending days of the HWF, where he really did turn his back on the fans and completely consume himself in such trivial ma...

... tters...

The realization smacked Dominic like Shane Perry's stong pimp-hand, knocking the sense back into him as he finally realized just what he was doing wrong, and why it was only bringing him backwards.

He was so obsessed over trivial things interfering with the final parts of his dream, that he allowed himself to feel a stronger fear towards a match that he'd competed in once before and barely walked out of with his career.

He had a reason to fear the match, yes, but he had no reason not to be determined-- something that would help him fight through the fear that had plagued him ever since JLR announced what was going on.

"Please, Angelo... you're Dominic's father, you've been helping him all his life. Please... if there's anyone I could possibly go to for help it would be you, please... I need you to talk to him."

"No." whispered Dominic up to her, bringing a startled jump from the one he loved as he offered her perhaps one of the warmest smiles he'd given her in God knows how long now. It felt like forever since JLR announced the match for Sunday... Dominic had just been letting things drag him down.

'Thank Jesus for coming to me when I needed it most...' Dominic thought to himself with a smirk, recalling the rather odd discussions they'd had throughout. Who knew the son of God had such corny jokes?

"Honey?" Suki asked, startled as she looked down at him, "You're awake?"

"Yeah... and just in time to say I'm sorry, it looks like." he whispered softly to her again, "Sorry for letting so many things catch up to me when I should have known better then to ever let them effect me the way they did. I guess in a way I knew what I was doing was holding me back... I just needed the words from someone else to help me actually realize that."

"Oh Dominic..." Suki smiled down at him, tears of happiness forming in her eyes, "I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that... I missed you so damn much."

Muffled sounds coming from the phone, obviously the confused voice of Dominic's father Angelo Pericolo. Dominic motioned to the phone with a smile, Suki handing it over to him as he brought it to his ear.

"Dad? It's me, Dominic... listen, what Suki was saying is the truth. I've just been letting things happen lately that I know I shouldn't be... but that's ending today. I know better now... and I honestly believe that I can make it through these coming days alright."

"Well," came Angelo's voice on the other line, "I'm glad to hear that, son. I was about ready to put on my boots and fly out there to stomp your ass for falling back into those moods after all that's happened, but if you're really making a turnaround then I guess I'll just watch you on the TV."

The two shared a laugh, exchanging goodbyes shortly thereafter as Dominic then hung up Suki's cell phone and set it on the nightstand beside their bed, looking up into her smiling face as she simply stared down at him, all the happiness in the world showing through her features at that moment in time. She reached over to the nearby lamp, grabbing hold of the chain dangling out from under the lampshade as Dominic gave her a confused look.

"What are you doing, honey?" he asked, his eyebrow arching slightly as she gave him a simple grin for a reply at first, clicking the light off and bringing the rest of the room into utter darkness.

In a moment, he'd hear her whispering in his ear, her body drawn closer to him as he faintly heard a giggle escape her lips as she spoke.

"Welcoming my Domi back..."

It was going to be a long, happy night tonight.