It has been three weeks since Sans left the comfort of his own house. He let the phone ring till the battery was out, no longer bothering to charge it, he didn't want to hear the phone calls. He ignored the near constant visitors of concerned neighbors at his door. The only reason why people knew Sans was in fact still alive was the assurances of Papyrus and Grillby. The flame monster had moved in with the two skeleton brothers, as he could not afford to pay rent for two homes.

Papyrus was getting more and more confused about his brother. A week ago he was trying, but now he just stopped. It was scary. He wanted his brother back more than anything. Knock Knock. The small skeleton looked towards the door. Maybe it was the royal gaurd and some another get well soon basket. He opened it only to find a small yellow lizard woman. She looked a little older than Sans.

"Hello, is your brother home?" she asked the boy.

Papyrus frowned a little. "Who are you miss I don't know who you are?"

"Oh I am Sans' friend Alphys" She smiled sweetly to the child, "May I come in?"

Papyrus looks at her unsure. Sans hasn't wanted to talk to people, but this was one of his friends right? He nods at her. She couldn't be that bad. She could make Sans happy. "He is in his bedroom"

Alphys walked upstairs to the teens room, and knocked three times. "Sans can I come in?" She asked tentatively. There was no response from his room, just the normal silence. Papyrus frowned and walked up to the girl. Sans probably just needed some encouragement.

"Brother?" Papyrus asked softly through the door.

"Paps…" Sans rasped through the door. "If you want you can let her in"

Papyrus obeyed with a grin. That worked better than he thought. Sans is getting better. "Okay Brother" He ran down the stairs as Alphys walked in.

(***)

"Sans" a small female voice asked as the door closed.

The room was dark, Sans was laying on the bed his signature jacket pulled as closely to his body as he could, visibly uncomfortable. He could easily make out his ex- coworker's form despite the lack of light. What was she doing here? She can't know. Grillby knows and he is one person too many. "Alphys, what are you doing here?"

"You haven't been answering my calls, Sans what happened?" She asked noticing the skeleton's discomfort.

"Alphys I am not going back there, and nothing you could possibly say could change my mind." Sans said his tone dead. It was virtually unrecognizable for anyone who hadn't been exposed to him for the past three weeks. "I know nothing would stop your pestering except for you to look me straight in the eyes and hear me say it."

"There must be a reas-" Alphys starts but is cut off by a weak laugh.

"Of course there is Al, I just can't tell you. Have fun with your boss." Sans replied dryly before turning over, making it clear that Alphys wasn't going to get more from him. This had been a bad idea. He shouldn't have let her in.. "Don't come back here Al, stop calling" his tone became cold. He was warning her. He wished Grillby were here right now. He could feel the flashbacks starting again. He would not let her see him like this. He just needed to stay calm until she left. He heard her saying something to him but he ignored it. She didn't seem to be leaving. He had to focus on staying calm. Thankfully as if on cue the front door swung open.

"Sans! Papyrus! I am home" Grillby called from downstairs. A saving grace. Without thinking Sans teleported next to the flame.

"H-hey Grillz" he greeted with shaky voice. Grillby frowned. He knew the signs of the memories dominating the skeleton's thoughts. If he could help in any way at all he was going to try.

"Sans we are in our house in Snowdin, if anyone tries to harm you I will block their way." Grillby said reassuringly. He spread his arms out in case the skeleton wanted a hug. Usually the teen wouldn't like to be touched, but surprisingly he latched on. "Sans, you are safe, I will keep you safe" he comforted as he rubbed the skeleton's back.

Sans barely noticed the reptilian woman made her way downstairs as he cried in the flame's arms. His body was trembling and flinched a little when Alphys came into view. He held onto his best friend tighter. She'll tell him where I live. HE will hurt me. No, he can't. This can't happen.

"I believe you should leave ma'am" Grillby said in a way that demanded authority and snapped Sans back into reality.

"B-but I need to talk to Sans. If something happened at the labs he should report it" she tried to argue.

"N-no" Sans quietly replied with a stutter, however it was said more to himself than anyone in the room.

"Sans this is important" Alphys tried again.

"You have said enough to him" Grillby countered. The flame knew that this was becoming too much for his young companion.

He came to my defense. I am so pathetic, I can't even stand up for myself anymore. Sans shook and tightened his grip around the flame monster.

"Sans I am worried about you! Dr. Gaster is worried about you too!" Alphys tried one more time.

Sans' eye flared deep cyan. His anger and panic consuming him. Light blue tears rolled down his face from his blazing eye. He dropped his grip on flame monster. "No, nononono." He cried out completely unresponsive to stimuli. No, not him. NO. He can't come here. He will hurt me n' Pap. Stay AWAY. I feel him on me. Is he here? My soul is on fire. He's touching me. MAKE IT STOP. GET OFF OF ME. HE IS IN FRONT OF ME. Without Sans realizing it, the teen's gravity magic grabbed Alphys and slammed her into the nearest wall. He did his normal 1 HP of damage.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" He sobbed. "I won't let it happen again!" He held her against the wall as he cried out.

"Sans, it's me Grillby. You are in Snowdin, he isn't here. Look at me Sans" Grillby tried to calm the teen who was not aware of his surroundings.

"Grill, dontcha see him?" Sans asked, his delusion partially fading. Gaster is right there? Why can't he see him?

"Big Brother you are scaring me" Papyrus cried stiffened at his brother's voice. Papyrus? What is he doing here?

"P-Papyrus?" He stuttered, dropping Alphys. "Are are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?"

"Sans what is wrong? No one is hurting you, but you are hurting Ms Alphys" The nine year old sobbed.

Sans took a moment to regard his surroundings. The lower interior of the house was utterly destroyed. Alphys was crumpled by a wall, nearly unconscious. The teen shook violently "N-no, I… no"

Grillby picked up the female and placed her on the couch. "Sans, I need you to calm down. Papyrus could you get something for Alphys to eat."

Papyrus quickly ran to the kitchen and grabbed some leftovers from the kitchen. When he returned Sans was on the floor. "No! I-I… help" Sans cried. Papyrus quickly gave the food to the flame then ran to his big brother.

"Sans, I love you big brother" The slightly smaller skeleton whispered as he gave his brother a hug. "Are you okay? You don't need to be scared, I will protect you, brother. I will be the best guardsmen to protect my family" He grinned, "You, n' me, n' Grillby"

Sans slightly calmed down at this. He held tightly onto his brother. "Paps, I'm so sorry. I just got so scared. She reminded me… of the day" He clung to the boy as Alphys was being healed by his friend.

"Sans what happened to you?" Alphys asked, fear showing in her voice.

Sans shook his head "I can't tell you, I am sorry."