The Hilton

[Jonathan Crane]

"The choice is yours. I will help you whatever that choice is."

[Sylvia]

*Sylvia turned back to him, lips pursed and brow furrowed.*

"I only want to make this easier on you. If you don't want me around...I will understand. I realize that it is my burden to bear."

*She touched his hand gently.*

"I just want you to smile for me again. No matter how long that takes. I want you to look at me and see me. Not her. Not that."

*She gestured to the shackle on the bed.*

[Jonathan Crane]

"I do want you."

*He took her in his arms*

"I just don't know what to do about it."

[Sylvia]

*Sylvia looked hard up to him. She nodded gently and walked to the bed, picking up the shackle. She turned back and handed it to him. It was obviously old and heavy.*

"This isn't what it looks like."

*She shrugged slightly.*

"Well...it is, but it's more than that too. It might help."

[Sylvia]

***NEW DAY***

*Sylvia returned back to the room, exhausted. She felt like she hadn't slept in years.*

At least I was free of Dracula. I guess I should try to look on the bright side. And he wasn't able to...whatever he was planning to do.

[Jonathan Crane]

*Crane looked up at Sylvia*

"My god, what happened?"

[Sylvia]

*Sylvia pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and looked away.*

"It's nothing. I just didn't sleep well."

*She glanced back to him with a sweet, if somewhat forced smile.*

"I guess I've just grown accustomed to having you next to me. I missed you."

[Jonathan Crane]

*She was not very convincing, but Crane assumed she didn't want to talk about whatever had happened.*

"Well, you're with me now."

*He held out his hand to her*

[Sylvia]

*Sylvia's smile grew more genuine. She sighed gently and turned to face him fully, taking his hand and closing the distance between them. She embraced him tenderly, without her usual zeal, but with utter gratitude.*

"I can't tell you how thankful I am for that."

*She looked up to him, nestling her face against his chest.*

"Did you sleep all right?"

[Jonathan Crane]

*Crane thought back to his own not yet written dream*

"After a while."

*He laughed it off*

"Under stress, I tend to have discomforting dreams."

[Sylvia]

*Sylvia's brow furrowed and she pursed her lips.*

"I am sorry."

*She released him and turned back to her things.*

"The whole point of me going was that you would have less stress."

But I failed, even in that.

[Jonathan Crane]

"Don't worry about it."

*Crane kissed her gently*

"It's just my work."

[Sylvia]

Work?

*Sylvia turned back to him, confused expression on her face.*

"Your work? Has something happened?"

*She suddenly looked worried and cupped his face in her hands.*

[Jonathan Crane]

"No, nothing at all."

*He smiled, trying to reassure her.*

[Sylvia]

*Sylvia looked him over shrewdly, but then her expression soften and she sucked her lip.*

"I am glad to hear that. I'm afraid that I still worry for you. Especially when..."

I'm not around you. Which looks like it'll be much more often at this rate.

*Lowering her eyes, she turned back to her dresser and started pulling out some things.*

"I just figured that I should get some more things, if I am going to be staying..."

Indefinately.

"...longer."

*She felt as if her heart would break. She didn't want to do this. Couldn't she just stay here with him?*