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

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan followed his gaze down to his pants then back up. "I don't care.." He murmured softly, realizing he had almost forgot this was just another temporary fix. He worked his jaw thoughtfully, leaning against the metal post of the monkey bars. He winced faintly, licked his lips. "I can stay if you want, to watch her again or whatever. Nit like I have anything else to do, I'm off duty, I just have to turn in my badge.."

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"You don't have to watch her.. She just wants you to stay because you're fun. You like to play with her. I don't have the patience to sit around and play games with kids.. I've always dealt with adults. But you're a teacher." He looked down as she tugged on his pants leg.

"I get my bag, daddy. Ryan is staying with us, daddy?" She asked, and he nodded. She smiled, and he picked her up. She wiggled back out of his arms, taking Ryan's hand. "I wanna walk like a big girl." She said, and Clae laughed.

"I can bring you to the police department if you need to.." He offered.

[ryan leonardo matson]

"And?" He murmured. "That's not a problem." He gazed down at her, smiling as she squirmed free, and he took her hand gently.

He shrugged. "My badge and.uniform are at the school. If you're up for stopping, sure I guess. If nit it can wait."

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

"No, it's not a bother. I don't mind." He said with a smile. He put his hands back into the pockets of his sweats. "I have the flags in the back seat that I need to bring back." He rubbed absently at his nose. He could have put them back earlier, but he had wanted to get back to the park.

Paislee skipped along beside Ryan and Clae smiled at him. He couldn't help thinking she was like the one thing that was binding them together. "You're making him look like a girl, Paislee." He said with a laugh.

"So? He likes me." She said with a smile, her black curls bouncing.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan looked down at her, chuckling as he tried to keep his limp as discreet as possible he helped her into the car, buckling her in gently and kissing the top of her head before rounding the car to get in on the passengers side, smiling at Clae as he passed him.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae smiled back at him, then ran his finger along his bottom lip, feeling the scar there. It was visible, very visible. Even from afar. But most just assumed it was a mole, as dark as it was.

"You mouth hurt, daddy?" Paislee asked him, and he looked up at her from the mirror.

"Huh?" He lowered his hand, shaking his head. "No, baby." He smiled, putting his keys in the ignition.

[ryan leonardo matson]

Ryan buckled in, glancing over at him curiously as Paislee spoke. He studied him from the corner of his eyes, then glanced at the blood spotting his pants leg again before looking quietly out the window. He didn't like car rides, and rarely spoke during them, often getting too caught up in thought. He had been pummeled driving convicts on several occasions because of his lack of attention.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Clae looked over at him before he pulled out of the spot he was parked in. He couldn't deny he was glad there was someone there to help with Paislee. He was grateful. She could be a handful, especially with a guardian who was constantly doing military things that she didn't understand. She just wanted to be a little girl.

"I wanna go swimming." Paislee complained from the back seat.

"Okay, you can go swimming when we get home." He said.

"I show Ryan my fin?" She asked, and he shrugged.

"If Ryan wants to see your fin."

[ryan leonardo matson]

A smile teased his lips as he listened. "I'd love to.." He kept quiet until they pulled up, then rounded the car and opened her door, leaning in close to whisper in her ear. "Your daddy is wrong about me not being a dog." He patted her head, unbuckling her and picking her up, holding her on his hip as he searched for the right key on his key ring.

[thomas 'clae' claeton booker]

Paislee smiled up at him. "Does that mean I can keep you?" She asked. Clae killed the engine, then got in the back, grabbing the flags. He carried them carefully so they didn't touch the ground. Paislee reached out to grab one and he growled.

"Paislee Emmeline Booker, if you touch any of these flags I swear I will beat your ass." He said, and she drew her hand back. She reached up, twirling one of her curls around her finger.

"Where we going, Ryan?" She asked, looking around curiously.