It took a lot of effort to convince Xiumin he didn’t need to drive her to university when Semi finally got up again around lunchtime, having had a sleep that was thankfully nightmare free.

“But you’re still tired and not all that well,” he pointed out in clear frustration as he loaded the dishwasher.  “It’s also very cold outside and you have a walk of at least fifteen minutes the other end once you’re out of the metro.”

“I’m also not an invalid,” Semi snapped at him, finally losing control.  “I’m nearly twenty and I’m more than capable of getting around by myself.”

Evidently taken by surprise at her tone, Xiumin straightened up and turned to look at her.

“Really?” he demanded.  “You’re getting angry purely because I suggested giving you a lift?  Fine by me if you’re that determined to freeze.”

It had the desired affect: feeling belittled, Semi clamped shut and stopped arguing.

“Well, if you’re going to insist on being an idiot, make sure you take a hat and gloves with you and that you text me when you arrive.  And you ought to leave within the next five minutes, or you’re going to be late for your supervision session.”  He shut the dishwasher with a little too much force, but there were no traces of irritation on his face as he passed her to leave the kitchen.  “I need to get back to work if you don’t want my help.  Have fun.”

Semi almost didn’t text him out of spite when she arrived at the university, but then remembered what had happened the last time she hadn’t informed him of where she was and decided not to tempt fate.  It still didn’t stop her from adding “out with friends tonight” and packing herself off to Sehun’s as soon as the day was over.

Her brother was absolutely shattered when he let her in, smiling at her around his yawns and mumbling something about Chanyeol being caught up with a patient.

“How are you, anyway?” he managed around another humungous yawn as Semi helped herself to coffee in the kitchen.

Semi glanced across at him and decided Sehun could do with some coffee too, so she quickly fixed him up a cup.

“Decent, I guess.”

Sehun took the coffee and slumped down into one of the kitchen chairs.  “And how’s your criminal husband?”

“Still charming.”  Semi sighed as she remembered Xiumin’s bright smile as he played with Taeyong and his inquisitive eyes when he’d spotted her at the piano.  “Though he got a bit pissy when I refused to let him drive me to university today.”

Sehun took a sip of scalding coffee and immediately balked, trying to fan his mouth with his hand.  “Ouch, God, that’s hot.  He kind of has a point, though, Semi.  It’s freezing outside and your cheeks are still blue.  Plus you look a bit ill.”

“He pretty much told me that to my face.”

“Not to mention it’s not like he’d try anything with you in the car.  It’s bugged and I’m pretty sure that Kyungsoo guy has some form of distance controls for it.”

“But Sehun, there’s ice.  I’m not going in a car in this weather.”

That seemed to wake Sehun up more than the boiling coffee.  “Have you been getting nightmares again?” he asked her.

After a long hesitation, Semi nodded.

Sehun sighed.  “Damn.  Look, I know I said this last year, but you probably ought to see somebody.”

“I did, though.  I had PTSD and therapy got me out of that.”

“But you’re still getting the nightmares.”

“It’s just been once, Sehun.”

“And that once is enough to make you look like this,” he said, gesturing to her.  “Talk to Chanyeol when he comes back.  I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you for free.”

“Sehun, I hate therapy!”

He slammed his fist down on the table.  “And I hate seeing you like this!”

“Sehun—”

The kitchen door opened and Semi cut off to see Chanyeol standing there in a thick woolly sweater and jeans, laptop bag over his shoulder and looking between the two of them.

“Am I interrupting something?” he asked.

Sehun ignored him.  “Quite apart from anything else, Semi, the memories make you very emotional, and the nightmares are going to tire you out, and that’s going to affect your judgement.  What if Xiumin takes advantage of it?  Lay said he’s an expert at reading people.”

“Can I in?” Chanyeol asked, slipping the bag strap off his shoulder and crossing to the fridge.  “Has this got something to do with what we were talking about last week, Sehun?”

“You’ve been talking about me?” Semi demanded.

Sehun folded his arms.  “She’s been getting the nightmares again.”

“Sleep therapy might help,” Chanyeol said as he inspected the contents of the fridge and eventually pulled out some cheese and tomatoes.  “You were treated for PTSD, right, Semi?”

Semi glared at her brother.  “Just how much personal stuff have you been telling Chanyeol?”

“This is breaking patient confidentiality completely, but your brother has anxiety and it’s almost always triggered by worrying about you,” said Chanyeol as he settled at the table in the seat next to Se