"Luka...can you come and help me?" At his wife's call, Luka pulled his attention away from the textbook he was reading.
"Danijela, I'm studying...I have a test tomorrow, you know that." Even though he tried to keep his words free of any real irritation at the interruption, he knew he didn't quite succeed.
"And I'm trying to give your son a bath, entertain your daughter, and trying to cook dinner, a little help would be nice. Jasna, stop playing in that." Danijela's own frustration was growing, the difficulty of the situation they were living under seeming to worsen with each passing day.
"Luka, please?" As his wife's plea's grew more strained, he finally slid his sheet of notes between the pages of his textbook and pushed his chair away from the small desk.
"All right. Jasna, come to tata." He issued the call for his eldest child even before he was out of the chair and was rewarded with a squeal of delight before she appeared from around the corner and launched herself at him.
"You're getting to be too big for that." He issued an exaggerated groan as he caught her and lifted her into the air, an act which only served to fuel the giggles that overflowed from her.
"Luka, it's just a dream." Abby touched her husband's shoulder lightly as she came awake only to realize that he was still asleep.
"It's just a dream" She repeated the words as she brushed her fingers through his hair, easing him closer to consciousness. When he finally did wake, it was to the wetness of his own tears on his pillow, the memory of those long gone still fresh in his mind and it took him a moment longer be able to do more then lay there with his eyes open.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Abby opened the door slowly, unsure which of the nightmares had made their reappearance to him.
"I don't think so, not now anyway." His voice was quiet, and even without him saying so she knew that he was still back in whatever place his dream had led him.
"You know I'm here if you need me." She ran her hand over his shoulder before finally withdrawing, accepting his nod as the only response he seemed ready to give.
"You can go back to sleep, I'll be fine." He offered her the reassurance before turning away from her and once more closing his eyes. If only he believed it himself.
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