Her feet slowed to stop in front of it. Close to the leaping flames, closer to what she knew was happening all over again. "No," she whispered. The word more one of astonishment than realization. It was if she were asking someone a question.

Completely alone in the dark of night, the burning reflection of light flickered shadows across her face. She was too late. No, she couldn't be.

"No," she said again, sinking. Was the ground sinking? Was she sinking? She couldn't be sure. "No...no..." she whispered again. Her eyes slowly beginning to move from the top to the bottom of the inferno before her. Over and over again. Faster and faster.

A lone screamed pierced the night as she surrendered to it. Giving into the panic. Surrendering to the knowledge that she was re-living the nightmare. Or was the night-mare re-living her? Was this a dream? Would she wake up any moment and realize this whole sick game had been a dream. No time machine, no second chances. Nothing? No, no one could be that cruel.

"Nooooooo!" She screamed, falling to her knees. "Nooo!" She sat there rocking back and forth on her knees as the sobs overtook her body. Threatening her sanity.

She looked up into the fire. Into the building that she knew held her love. Her precious, precious love. No, she thought. I have to help him...have to get Lucky out...have to get up... She pushed herself up, her hands bleeding from the glass and gravel beneath her. She crawled slowly. Her body quivering as she got closer to the flames. She could feel the heat now. Feal what he had to be feeling. No his was worse. Far worse. "Noooo..." she sobbed, choking. Half from the emotion, half from the smoke that billowed out of the torn building. "No....please help me," she moaned, her words garbled. "Please help me...Oh God....this can't...this can't be...."

Her feet moved slowly, methodically as she tried to stand. Was it her own voice she had just heard call for help? She couldn't remember moving her mouth. Moving anything.

"Help me!" She screamed. Her throat burning as she forced the sound out from deep in her gut. "Help me!!!!!!!!!!!" There was no one. No in the cold of night. "Somebody help me!!!...Damnit!!! This isn't the way it was supposed to go!...It wasn't supposed to happen this w...." Her voice trailed off as she crumbled. Her speech no longer intelligable as she melted slowly to the ground once again.

She picked her head up slowly, looking around for anyone. Someone. Just then she got her wish. Only it wasn't who she expected. The images before her, mirage-like. Was she actually seeing this? Or was her hysteria causing her to hallucinate?

Three men. Four if you counted the one being carried. One at his legs, one at his arms, and one...one to control him from his shoulders. His head. He struggled against their restraints violently. What the Hell was happening? Where were they going?...."Lucky?" she whispered, afraid to believe.

She got closer, walking slowly. In a daze. It was Lucky. As sure as her name was Elizabeth Webber....it was Lucky. She yelled, her feet moving quicker of their own volition. "Stop!" Her mouth was dry. The world seemed to move in slow motion. "Stop!"

She was right next to them. Screaming. Right next to him. Screaming. Yet they acted as if they couldn't hear her. Wouldn't hear her. "I said stop! Leave him alone!....Lucky!!!!!!!!!....Where are you taking him?!....Leave him alone!!!....Somebody help me!!!!!!!!"

She was hysterical. Nearly out of her mind when she whirled around and around. Searching for someone, anyone. She cursed aloud. She turned back around only to see him being hoisted into a van. A blue van. A man with long, gray hair climbing into the back with him. Why weren't they hearing her? Seeing her? What the Hell was going on?

She looked towards the heavens, screaming as her tears dryed. Her voice fierce and unforgiving. "Help me!!!!!!!!!!........PLEASE!!"

Just as her gaze traveled downwards, he stood before her. The person who had caused all of this. The person responsible for all this misery. Her gaurdian angel, fairy godfather, time travel guide...her worthless piece of.......... "What is going on!?" She yelled in his face as she neared him. His crystal blue eyes radiating pity.

She lunged for him when he didn't answer. Her small fists pounding against his chest in frustration. He didn't feel a thing. He gently grasped her wrists, stilling them. "Calm down," he whispered.

Elizabeth shook her head violently. Unbelievingly. Angry, hot tears cascaded down her cheeks. "You promised me! You promised me!...What the Hell is this!? Why are you making me live through this again!" She yelled, struggling against him. "I can't do this! Why are you making me lose him all over again?....Why?" She asked again, pleading for an answer as she leaned against him. She no longer had the strength to fight. "Why?"

She didn't understand what was happening. What she was seeing. Was this some sort of alternate universe. Or was it all a hoax of some kind? The tall man wrapped his arms around her, smoothing a hand over her head. "Elizabeth...it's not over. This is not the end."

She looked up squinting. "What do you mean?...I don't understand...I don't understand what's going on...why..." She was so tired, so angry. So utterly confused.

Her words trailed off as she heard them. The wale of sirens pulling up behind her. She broke from his embrace instantly, running towards Taggert as he stepped from his vehicle. Nearly stumbling in her haste. He would help her. He would understand.

"Lieutenant Taggert! Taggert...Please...you gotta help me! It's Lucky!..It's Lucky...you gotta help him..."

She stopped as he stood there, staring bleakly into the fire. Anguish filling his eyes. He had never even looked her way. He didn't hear her. It was like she wasn't even there.

She whirled back around, looking at him. Silently cursing him for doing this to her.

"It's no use," he said quickly. "He can't hear you...no one can."

He continued as her mouth dropped open, her bottom lip trembling. She still did not understand. "Look at your watch Elizabeth," he said, gesturing towards her wrist.

She looked down slowly. "12:05," she whispered more to herself than to him. It took a moment to hit her. However when it did finally hit, it hit big. She screamed then as the reality of what he was implying set in. "12:05!!!!!!!!!!!!..................You mean to tell me all of this is because of a few lousy minutes!!!!!!!!! FIVE MINUTES!!!!!!"

"You had 24 hours," he said calmly watching her as she came undone. She shook her head continuously. She did not believe it. She would not accept it. He walked over to her slowly. Cautiously, even when he had nothing to fear of her. She couldn't hurt him. "Elizabeth, you have to go back now - "

"What?!" She screamed, tears unstoppable in their torrent down her face. "No!...NO!..I can't!..I can't go back without him! I won't do it!!!!!!!!!!!.........Please!!! Please don't make me leave without him....I can't."

He took her by the shoulders as she quaked beneath his large hands. "Elizabeth...Elizabeth listen to me. All is not lost....You learned something here tonight...Use it."

Her mouth shut instantaneously as a flash of white light blinded her. The simple result of a snap of his fingers.

~*~

Have Your Self A Merry Little Christmas
Let you face be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight.......

The cold December air prickled her skin as she sat on that bench. Her only warmth the tears that warmed her cheek. She looked around. Complete bewilderement lacing her features. Where was she? What was happening? Carolers?

Same carolers. Same bench. Same shopping bag. Same snow at her feet. He....who ever he had been - gone.

Here we are as in olden day
Happy Golden day of yours
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more....

She panted in confusion as she realized it was still Christmas. Still December 20th by her watch. "What the Hell?" She said aloud. Only five minutes had past. "That's all it's been?" She asked.

Elizabeth looked up, startled by the elderly woman that sat next to her on the bench. "Are you ok, dear?" The woman asked kindly.

"I don't know," Liz said softly. Her hand touching her own cheek. "Can you see me?"

The woman chuckled lightly. "Why of course dear...the eyes aren't that bad yet........I saw you miss your bus too....it honked for you....the mean ol' bus driver yelled at ya...and still ya just sat here...."

Elizabeth zoned out as her words deminished. His words playing over again in her ears: Elizabeth...all is not lost. You learned something here tonight...use it.

"Honey are you lost?" The old woman inquired, waking Liz from her reverie.

"No," she said slowly. A grin spreading equally as slow across her face. "I'm found...I'm found."

Through the Years
We all will be together
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star
Upon the highest bough
And have yourself
A Merry Little Christmas now....