[CLOSED] the ghost of what we used to be.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae was up bright and early the next morning, running before the sun was even up. He ran five miles before he walked back into the house. He took a shower, pulling on a pair of jeans and a t shirt. He walked into Paislee's room, getting her up and dressed before they walked into the kitchen.

"I wanna chocolate pancakes, daddy." She told him, messing with her bow.

"Are you gonna help me make them? They never taste any good when I make them all by myself." He said, picking her up and sitting her on the counter.

"Cause you a man." She said, and he started gathering the ingredients.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan stirred in the morning, rolling over with a groan. His head was killing him. He got up, rubbing at an eyes as he padded out of the room, holding his head. "Fuck.." he lookedbup, realizing the little girl was there, trying to remember exactly what had happened last night. "Never repeat that word, got it..?" He smiled at her gently, looked over at Clae. His car was still at the school. "Thanks..for last night... I uh, yeah.." He rubbed at his face, words unspoken. He probably wouldn't be alive right now, not that.he was thankful for that. "You got painkillers?"

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

She smiled over at him from where she was stirring the batter. "Okay. You wanna chocolate pancakes?" She asked, watching Clae walk off. She stirred the little bowl of batter some more before she started to put the chocolate chips in them.

"Daddy say that.. I help good." She said, smiling up at him. Clae came back with a bottle of pain killers, handing them to Ryan.

"Clae did what now?" He asked her.

"You daddy, silly!" She said, handing him the little bowl. "A done."

[ryan leonardo matson]

"Sure." Ryan.leaned back, watching her with a faint smile. "Did he?" He looked up when Clae cane back, took them with a thanks and swallowed two dry, clearly used to pills. Setting the bottle out of reach of the girl he leaned back to watch her again willing his headache to go away.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae started the skillet, letting it warm before he dropped the pancakes in in small batches. He walked back, handing her the next bowl. She stirred it with all her might until she got it stirred. He reached over, fixing her bow.

"I go to daycare today daddy?" She asked him and he shook his head.

"I think today's the weekend. I have drills. You wanna go play with the color guard?" He asked her and she shook her head.

"I wanna stay here. Dem boys mean. they take my bows." She complained sassily. He walked back to the stove, flipping the pancakes.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan had been texting a worried Devan, telling her he was still alive for now. He was listening to their conversation though laughed softly at her reply though he didn't look up from his phone.

He stretched, relaxing some as the painkillers began to kick in.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"I'm sorry. We'll bring your dolls, okay? And then they won't bother you." He said, and she sighed.

"I don't wanna, daddy. They're big boys and they're mean." She complained, dropping some chips into the batter.

"But you're gonna be three soon. You're a big girl! Besides, they know I'll kick their butts."

"No you won't. You're a sissy. You're too nice." She said. "A done!" She sang, and he took the bowl from her.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan hesitated. "I could take you to the park to play, if it's okay with your daddy." He looked towards him, raising an eyebrow. He knew he probably didn't trust him, considering finding him drunk. But at the same time he hoped he did, working at a school and being a cop and all. Even if he didn't do his job well.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae flipped the pancakes off the pan and onto a plate before he poured the others into it. "I-" He started but Paislee shrieked in excitement.

"I WANNA GO!" She screamed, bouncing on the counter.

"Fine. But you gotta go find your book bag." He said, picking her up and setting her on the floor. She toddled off in excitement.

"You don't have to take her.. I know what my brother did, okay?" He mumbled, flipping the pancakes over. "And sorry isn't going to help it, but I lost my family too. And I know it's hard. You really don't have to take her if you don't want to."

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan smiled, watching her run off. He swallowed at Clae spoke. "I-..." He rubbed at his face. "No it's okay, I like little kids..." He managed a faint, broken smile, shrugged a bit. "As for you brother. I don't-....I don't like to talk about it.."