Sinbad woke with a start. Sweat poured down the sides of his face. He wiped at the droplets as he struggled to sit up in bed. Two weeks now… for two weeks his dreams had become progressively worse. He hadn't slept well in that entire time, and the stress was starting to show in his face. He got up and took a swig of water from his flask. He needed some fresh air he decided. He grabbed his pants from the chair they were hanging on and put them on. His hand went to the white shirt lying beside it, but he changed his mind. His chest and back were moist with sweat and the dry warmth of the Mesopotamian night air might feel nice he decided. Shaking the cobwebs from his head, he exited his cabin and made his way up on deck.

Doubar was manning the tiller tonight, and Sinbad went over to greet his big brother.

"Can't sleep Little Brother?" Doubar asked in concern. It was obvious to the entire crew that their Captain was not in the best of shape these days.

"Seems that way Doubar. I just can't seem to shake these visions." He replied. As this was not the first time Sinbad had lost sleep over his dreams, Doubar was already aware of the source of the problems.

"Still the same dream?" He asked out of curiosity. Sinbad had confided only in his brother that he was having a repeating dream that was causing him some anguish.

"It's always the same Doubar. And always incomplete." He sighed in frustration. "I think someone is trying to contact me. Asking for my help. This girl in my dreams… I need to help her." He looked to Doubar for his opinion.

"But Little Brother, it's just a dream. And you said yourself that you can't even see the child's face. How will you ever find her? And what makes you so sure she even exists?"

"I know Doubar, I know. I can't explain it. I just feel it. I know I'm supposed to do something, but I don't know what." He looked lost.

"Little Brother, I think you've been spending far too much time with the Lass. You're starting to sound like her, and it's giving me the willies!"

Sinbad chuckled at that. "Sorry Doubar, I'll try to limit my interactions with Maeve for the next little while." Both men began laughing, knowing all too well how impossible it was to avoid anyone on a ship the size of the Nomad.

"But in all honesty Sinbad, I think you are reading too far into this whole dream thing. I mean, you are so used to playing the hero that it has finally slipped into your dreams. Just try to relax a little, and get back to sleep."

"Maybe you're right Doubar," Sinbad said while shaking his head. "I'm just overreacting." He laughed again. "I MUST be talking to Maeve too much!"

Their laughter was cut short by the creak of the hatchway. Someone else was coming up on deck.

"By all that is holy, does no one sleep anymore?" Doubar demanded. "Because if that's the case, I'd love to switch shifts with whoever wants to stay awake."

"Doubar?" a soft voice questioned as Maeve's red mop peered around the corner at the two brothers. "And Sinbad?" She stated, a little more than surprised to see the Captain up at this hour. She climbed the small set of stairs and approached the men.

"Maeve, what are you doing up?" Sinbad asked, knowing he wouldn't get an honest response from her anyway.

"Just felt like some air" she responded. The brothers exchanged knowing glances. If Maeve was up on deck in the middle of night for some air, something must have gotten her senses tingling. Doubar found himself wishing that his little brother actually told Maeve about his dreams, so that maybe she could put his mind at ease. Doubar made a mental note to speak to Sinbad about it as Maeve gestured towards the tiller saying to Doubar, "Night shift?" with a sympathetic look.

"You got it girl," Doubar grunted as he repositioned his hold on the tiller.

"I guess being the Captain's brother doesn't get you special treatment around here huh?" she asked of no one in particular.

"Not on my ship," Sinbad cut in with a flash of his most charming smile.

Maeve turned to examine her Captain at that point. She couldn't help but notice his lack of appropriate attire. And the sight of his bare chest was giving her some rather inappropriate thoughts. In addition to that, she couldn't help but notice his disheveled appearance. And she knew it had nothing to do with the fact that he'd just left his bed. His hair was a mess and he looked like he'd had a rough night. As she continued her appraisal, Sinbad was acutely conscious of the heat of her gaze. Inwardly he cursed himself for not putting on his shirt. He felt the heat in his loins rise as her gaze drifted over his entire appearance, ending when blue eyes met brown. He gulped.

"Bad date?" she joked after her assessment of his appearance had ended.

"Very funny Maeve" he replied to the sound of Doubar's deep chuckle.

Doubar enjoyed being witness to private exchanges between his brother and the sorceress. They were always entertaining. And endlessly stubborn. He had seen the way Maeve had looked at Sinbad, and was aware of Sinbad's discomfort. He smiled. Maeve was good for Sinbad; kept him in line; kept him on his toes. She was exactly what Sinbad needed in a woman… intelligent, brave, strong, independent, useful, bold and of course… beautiful. They were equals. He knew they would eventually see it as well. The sound of bickering brought Doubar back to the present moment.

"Now you two, don't let the heat of the night get you all worked up," he commented. Earning himself twin glares from the couple in front of him.

"You must be joking," Sinbad stated.

"Or daft," Maeve offered.

"You two sure are defensive," Doubar laughed, knowing he had struck a nerve. He had long since recognized that Maeve and Sinbad's bickering was merely a cover for the emotions they both tried to hide so well. Both afraid to admit they cared, finding it easier to pretend they didn't care at all.

"I think I've had enough fresh air," she suddenly offered and turned abruptly to return below deck. "Goodnight Doubar," she called pleasantly over her shoulder. She made a point of not addressing Sinbad. The men exchanged looks, Doubar raised his eyebrows.

"Have a GOOD NIGHT MAEVE!" Sinbad raised his voice louder than necessary at her retreating back.

At the last moment before she disappeared around the corner she turned and flashed Sinbad a sultry smile, "Sweet dreams Sinbad" she teased him lightly. And with that she disappeared.

Sinbad's jaw hung a bit loose after that comment, and it took the rumblings of Doubar's chuckle to pull him back to the present.

"I think I've had enough air as well," Sinbad stated while thumping his brother on the shoulder for laughing so much.

"But will you be able to sleep any better?" he smiled at the younger man.

"Doubar…" Sinbad threatened in his 'Captain Voice' as he shook his head and began to leave. Doubar's laughter followed him.

"Little Brother," Doubar managed to pull himself together for a moment to speak, "I think you should talk to the lass about these dreams. It's been going on for two weeks now," He reminded his brother. "If there's an element of magic to it, she might be able to help."

"Thanks for the advice Doubar, but…" Sinbad began to say that he'd rather marry Rumina, but was cut off by his Big Brother's next statement.

"Well if you won't tell it to her privately for whatever childish reasons you have, maybe we should all talk about it tomorrow, you know, Firouz, Rongar and Maeve. Together we might all figure something out. It can't hurt to try. And maybe you'll finally get some rest."

Sinbad chose to ignore his brother's accurate insult about his reasons for not speaking to Maeve directly. The truth was, he had wanted to speak to her about the dreams for sometime now, but could not imagine how he would start that conversation. He liked Doubar's alternative and stated, "You're right Doubar, I'll tell them all tomorrow. Once again, I bow to your wisdom." Sinbad saluted his first mate and headed below to make use of the last few hours of night.