"Where have you been?"

"What?"

"Don't pull the 'I didn't hear you' thing with me. Just tell me where you've been."

"Out."

"You drag your ass back in here at three in the morning and all I get is you were out?"

"Yep."

"And you're drunk."

"No I'm not."

"All right, let me see you walk in a straight line."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"Because you know you can't do it."

"No, because it's stupid. And before you go and get all high and mighty I said walking in a straight line is stupid, I didn't call you stupid."

"I didn't say you did. Look, I don't want to argue. Just tell me where you've been."

"I don't have to tell you jack shit. I can come and go as I please. I'm an adult."

"Yeah, you're really acting like one."

"Kiss my ass. I'm going to bed."

"Oh no you're not. We're not through yet! Maureen? Maureen?!"

She bolted upright, her name ringing in her ears as her heart hammered a frantic beat against her ribs. It took her a second to realize she was in her bedroom, safe and sound in her own bed. She closed her eyes, telling herself to calm down. But adrenaline continued to course through her veins, letting her know there was no way in hell she was going back to sleep any time soon.

She threw back the covers, shivering slightly as the cooler air of the room made contact with her sweat soaked skin.

"Honeybear?"

She mentally kicked herself for waking her lover. "It's all right, Jo. Go back to sleep."

The lawyer rolled over to face her, her eyes little more than slits. "Where are you going?"

"The little girl's room. Now go back to sleep. You have to get up early, remember?"

"I always have to get up early." Joanne mumbled the words as she burrowed further into the bed. "Being a lawyer sucks."

Normally a comment like that would have at least made Maureen grin, but not tonight. She quickly climbed out of bed, not wanting to disturb Joanne more than she already had.

A glance at the alarm clock told her it was three in the morning. Maybe that's where the time reference came from in her dream. Or maybe that wasn't it at all. Maybe once upon a time she had strolled back into this very apartment in the wee small hours of the morning, stinking drunk and ready to fight with the woman she loved more than anything else in the world.

She growled as she made her way into the living room and threw herself down on the couch. That's all her life had been lately, a big long string of maybes.

It was those damn dreams. None of them made sense. They were nothing more than bits and pieces of different conversations and events, but they had her second guessing everything about herself. Were they just her subconscious blowing off nonsense steam or was she finally, after two months of wanting nothing more, getting her memories back?

And if those were her memories, what the hell kind of person had she been?

She dreamt about everyone. Joanne, Angel, Collins, Mimi, Roger, Mark. And none of them had been exempt from the other her. The one who didn't seem to give a damn about anyone but herself. She had ranted and raved and been snide. A downright bitch who did and said whatever it took to get her own way.

The though of hurting any of her friends bothered her, but the fact that Joanne seemed to be on the receiving end the most just about killed her. How could anyone treat another human being so coldly, especially the woman she claimed to love? That's why she constantly doubted the dreams were actual memories. She couldn't have hurt Joanne like that in the past, could she?

The easiest way to find out would be to ask, but she couldn't make herself do it. If her dreams really were memories, how could she live with herself for being so cruel to Joanne and the others? And if they weren't Joanne would probably want her to go see a shrink or something. Neither of those options seemed particularly appealing to her.

"Mo?"

She sat up when she heard Joanne coming down the hall. She thought about not answering, but what was the point? The lawyer wouldn't stop looking until she found her. "In here."

Joanne yawned as she came into the room. "What are you doing sitting out here in the dark?"

"I couldn't go back to sleep."

"Bad dreams?"

She swallowed hard. "What?"

"I took a shot. You hardly ever have trouble sleeping." Joanne sat down beside her. "Want to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to talk about." She shrugged. "I just woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. You, on the other hand, were sleeping like a rock. I'm sorry I woke you."

"Don't be. I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing you were up anyway. I get lonely when you're not beside me."

"Well you should try. You have that case to work on tomorrow."

"You're more important than any old case. So how about I keep you company instead?"

"All right. But don't blame me when you're tired and grumpy tomorrow."

"Can it and come here." Joanne pulled her into arms.

Everything just seemed to fade away as soon as she was in the safety of Joanne's arms. Nothing else mattered except being close to her.

"I love you."

She smiled. "I bet I love you more."

"Not possible." Joanne started running her fingers through her hair. "Mo?"

"Yeah?"

"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

Her heart clinched. Talk about a moment spoiler. She wanted to open up to Joanne, she really did, but how was she supposed to talk to her about something she didn't fully understand herself?

"Of course I do." She wasn't sure where the answer came from, but it sounded good to her.

"Just making sure." Joanne settled against the back of the couch, pulling her closer in the process.

Maureen tried to push her thoughts away as she melted against Joanne, but they wouldn't cooperate. One question just kept going around and around in her head… Was she starting to lose it?