Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh GX or any of its characters. This is purely a work of fanfiction; no profit is being made from it.

Author's Note: This story was inspired by "Come Hell or High Water" by Anya Urameshi and a few things from that story are borrowed and used here with kind permission from the author. I would like to say a very big thank you to Anya Urameshi.

There was another fic that was also an inspiration and is where I first saw the idea of Tyranno working in the card shop. Unfortunately I can't remember either the author or the title. If the author of that story is reading this, then I apologise and I hope you don't mind me borrowing an idea from you.

This is set post Season 4.

Now without further ado, on with the story:-

Tyranno Hassleberry tossed and turned fitfully in his sleep. Beads of sweat formed on his brow and his teeth clenched while his eyes flickered wildly beneath closed lids. He was in the grip of a nightmare that had troubled his sleep for nearly a week now.

In his dreams an old memory came to the forefront and Tyranno found himself back at the fossil dig site where years ago his leg had been broken in a rockslide and a fossilised dinosaur bone had been used to replace the shattered bone in his leg.

He ignored the hot sun beating down on him as he carefully chipped away at the rock just as he had been taught, freeing the dinosaur skeleton bit by bit from the rock that held it. Some people might have complained about the hot sun and the arid wind but he didn't mind. He was just delighted to be here, working to bring the physical remains of the dinosaurs he loved back to the surface.

He stood up to ease his cramping legs and wiped the sweat from his forehead. As he did so he heard a loud rumbling. He turned to see a great mass of rocks hurtling down the hillside towards him, raising clouds of dust as it fell. Tyranno took a step backwards and toppled over. He looked up at the approaching boulders in shock.

But then something happened. There was a sudden flash of light, blinding even in the desert sun, and the landslide was replaced with the giant, greenish-brown, ghostly floating head of a creature he was very familiar with, a tyrannosaurus rex. He stared in disbelief as it looked down at him with deep yellow eyes filled with hunger.

Its mouth opened to reveal massive curved teeth, each one longer than his hand and wickedly sharp. The creature roared, blasting him with a wave of hot, foetid breath and then surged forwards with its jaws open wide, ready to snap closed and bite him in half…

Tyranno's eyes snapped open to reveal slit pupils and he awoke with a start. He sat up and looked around anxiously before realising where he was and that there was no danger. He lay back and tried to get his breathing under control. His heart was pounding, his system flooded with adrenaline. After a few minutes he felt his eyes return to normal as he calmed down.

Dang it soldier he thought. This is getting out of hand. It's the same dream every time. What the Sam Hill does it mean?

He lay back down and tried to go back to sleep.

The next day…

"Thank you, please come again" said Sadie as she accepted the Ra Yellow student's money and handed over a pack of Duel Monsters cards.

"Thanks, I will" he replied.

As he was leaving, he nearly bumped into Tyranno. "Sorry" muttered the dinosaur duellist before turning to Dorothy. "And I'm sorry for being late Ms Dorothy."

A few months ago he had started working at the Card Shack. It was usually very busy and he was glad to lend a helping hand which both Dorothy and Sadie greatly appreciated.

The Card Shack owner chuckled. "Oh don't worry" she said. "He was the first customer we've had all day. With most of the students' home for spring break business is quite slow at the moment."

He nodded and walked over to Sadie. She smiled as she saw him. "Hi Sarge" she said cheerily.

"Hi Say." He smiled back but right away she knew that something was wrong. He looked pale and listless, lacking his usual energy and strength. As he came closer she saw that there were dark circles under his eyes.

"Are you okay Sarge?" she asked

"I'm fine Say" he replied. "I just ain't been sleeping well lately."

"You want to talk about it?" she offered.

He hesitated. After a few moments of silence Sadie gently said "Sarge if you really don't want to talk then I won't push it, but you know I'm your friend and you don't need to put up a tough front around me. If anything's bothering you I'd like to know about it because I'd like to help, even if it's just by listening."

Tyranno sighed. "Thanks Say. Yeah, there is something I'd like to talk about." He turned to Dorothy. "Mind if we take a few minutes at ease?"

"Sure go ahead. I'll make you both some tea."

"Thanks. Hey, could we have some of your jelly cubes?"

"Coming right up" she answered brightly.

A few minutes later the two of them were sitting at a table with two steaming cups of tea and a plate of jelly cubes. Sadie took a sip of her tea and eyed Tyranno with an expectant but patient expression. After a moment he began to talk.

She listened intently as he described the nightmare he had been having. When he had finished she asked, "And it's the same dream every night?"

"Yeah it is" he answered. "And every time I remember it clear as day. I mean I can feel the Sun's heat burning down on me like a branding iron. I can smell the tyrannosaurus's breath and it's worse than week-old sardines. I just know it has

something to do with that dig site and the accident that gave me my Dino DNA. I feel like I gotta get back to that site but how the Sam Hill can I do that?"

Wow, no wonder he can't sleep she thought. Then an idea occurred to her. "Hey Sarge, wait here a minute okay?"

"Sure."

She walked away and returned after just a few moments with Dorothy.

"Sarge, would you mind telling Dorothy what you just told me?" Sadie asked.

"Okay."

He repeated his story to the Card Shack owner, telling her about his recurring nightmare and his sense that he needed to return to the site of the fossil dig, although he wasn't sure why.

Dorothy smiled. "Well why don't you go there? After all it is spring break."

He chuckled. "Ms Dorothy, I ain't got the cash for a flight to the USA."

"That's all right; I'll pay for the trip." Before he could protest she added, "Don't worry, I have the money for it"

Tyranno nodded gratefully. "Thanks Ms Dorothy. And thanks to you too Say."

"Don't mention it. You've been such a big help here I'm happy to do anything to help you find peace of mind" said Dorothy.

Later that day Tyranno was in his room packing for the trip. He had already notified the Chancellor and gotten permission to leave the campus. He had also called Don Sartyr to let him know where he was going and that he wouldn't be able to come over for Sartyr's curry.

"I quite understand my boy" Sartyr had told him. "I hope that you find whatever it is you seek."

"I sure hope this trip is worth it" Tyranno muttered to himself while he sorted out some spare socks. "I've got no idea what I'm gonna do when I actually get there."

He looked up as he heard a knock on the door. Curious, he walked over and opened it. "Say?"

"Hi Sarge" she said. "You mind if I come in?"

"No problem." He opened the door wider and stood back so she could enter. "Sorry about the mess" he said as he pulled a chair out for her.

"Its okay" she replied, giving him a grateful look as she sat down.

"So what can I do for ya?" he asked as he also took a seat.

Sadie hesitated for several moments before blurting out, "I want to come with you."

"Huh?"

"Look Sarge, I know it may sound stupid but I have this really bad feeling" she said shyly, her eyes downcast. "I don't know why but I'm sure that something bad will happen if you go to that dig site. I know you can take care of yourself and I don't know what help I could be anyway, but I still want to come if it's okay with you."

Tyranno smiled. He stood up, walked over and put both hands on her shoulders. "Say, I'd be more'n happy to have you in my platoon" he said warmly

She looked up and also smiled. "Thanks Sarge" she said as she also stood and hugged him. He was a little surprised but he quickly returned the hug.

"You sure it'll be okay with Dorothy?"

"I'm sure. I asked her about it and she said she can manage by herself for a little while since almost everyone's away from Duel Academy."

"All right!" he grinned. Whatever the dig site held, or his nightmares meant, he felt better about facing it now that his friend would be with him.

Sadie left soon after that to make her own preparations and he resumed his packing. Several hours later there was another knock at the door. He answered it to find another familiar face.

"Hi Ms Dorothy" he said.

"Hello Hassleberry" she replied. Tyranno's keen instincts at once picked up that something was off about her. She wore her usual caring, almost maternal expression, but there was a look in her eyes that he had never seen there before and her voice seemed to have a faint edge to it.

"Uh, anything I can do for ya?" he asked.

"I'd just like a quick word" she said, just a shade too casually.

"Sure, shoot."

"Hassleberry I've always considered you to be a nice young man and a dedicated worker."

Well thank you Ms…"

"However I'd like to make something very clear" she cut him off. Now he knew there was an edge to her voice and he recognised the look in her eyes as one of warning.

"You know that Sadie is like a daughter to me, don't you?" said Dorothy in a firm, no-nonsense tone.

"Uh, yes Ma'am."

"Good. So while both of you are on this trip, you will look after her and be kind to her, do I make myself clear?" Her tone and look were now outright dangerous.

"Yes Ma'am" he repeated nervously.

"Oh good" she said in her normal tone. The scary look in her eyes vanished and she beamed at him. "I'm glad we're clear on that."

"Ms Dorothy, you got nothing to worry about" said Tyranno firmly. "I'd never hurt Say."

She nodded understandingly. "I know" she said softly. "Anyway I'll be off now. Good day Hassleberry."

"Bye Ms Dorothy."