[OPEN] it hurts to remember.

[deacon reid rudman]

"It kay, daddy." Bandit mumbled, reaching up to clumsily wipe away his tears. She kissed his cheek, looking up at him. She laid her head down on his shoulder, watching him intently. Deacon leaned over, kissing his forehead gently before he rested his hand on his leg. He propped his arm up on his elbow, leaning against the nightstand by the bed.

"The doctor said you have to be watched for an entire week. That means you're only allowed to get up to pee. I'm serious. I- everyone wants you here as long as possible. So if you gotta be stubborn for a week, be stubborn for a week. But you're not going anywhere." Deacon said seriously. He would figure out some way to keep a watch on him.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor smiled at her. "I know i-it is." He rubbed her back, looking up at Deacon. "Okay..." He didn't want to fight, didn't want to risk losing anymore time with them. Not to mention that he was far too exhausted to argue. He pulled the blankets back to fix them, realizing exactly how scarred the front of his body was now as well. But for once, he didn't care.

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon laid his head on his arm, reaching over to play with his hair gently. He watched him, taking in everything about him. He was glad he was still there, that he could still touch him and talk to him. But that dread was also back, that horrible thought that death could be lurking right around the corner. Death didn't like to be cheated, and he made that clear to anyone who survived near death experiences. Deacon just prayed he didn't try and get revenge on Connor.

"You're my world.. I would have never thought anyone could mean so much to me.. That I'd be able to touch someone.. And I couldn't ask for anyone better." He smiled, slowly running his fingers through his hair.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor only smiled. It seemed it was all he could do. The drug addict teen who was sick and just wanting to die, greatful to still even be alive. It was ironic, but he really could care less. He reached up covering Deacon's hand with his own cool, faintly shaking one, still scarily week. He wasn't stable yet, but he knew in time the shakes would go away.

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon turned his hand over, gently lacing their fingers together. He leaned over, kissing his forehead softly. It scared him how bad he was shaking, and he hoped it would go away instead of get worse. He didn't want to have to deal with Connor shaking constantly. It always scared him when he shook.

He gently ran his thumb over his hand, looking down to see Bandit was sound asleep on him, clinging to him for all she was worth. He smiled, realizing for the first time in a long time that they really were a little family. A little family he wanted to make official, a house with one last name. "That little girl loves you." He said quietly, looking over at him.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor held Deacon's hand close, and as tight as he was currently able to. "I know sh-she does.." He chewed on his lip some before letting out a wavering breath, heard a knock and looked up. Zoey had Christy, the little girl obviously getting over recent tears. She smiled, waving at Deacon and Connor, clinging to Zoey's hand. "Trez told me to have her come say hi, we were going to the park while Britt was working." Connor smiled slightly, but he honestly just wanted sleep, held Bandit close.

[deacon reid rudman]

"Hey, princess." He told Christy, waving to her with his free hand. He smiled politely at Zoey, although he didn't know how to feel about having one of Connor's exes around.

'Don't worry, Deacon ole buddy. There's always gonna be somebody better than you. Come to think of it, he would still be with her, wouldn't he? Maybe if he hadn't been so sick, so broken. You think he's gonna want her back? She's gonna take him back? You might have some competition there, D.' Death taunted, and it took all Deacon had not to grit his teeth. He just got up, walking around to the other side of the room. He sat down in a chair in the corner, folding his hands over his stomach as he closed his eyes.

'Oh, look at the time. It looks like you gotta go get a little weregirl. Better hope the ambulance gets there before you, huh?' Death asked, and Deacon groaned, getting to his feet.

"I'll be back. Get some rest, okay?" Deacon said, his eyes black as he reached over, picking up Bandit. He held her at arm's length as if he didn't know what to do with her before he held her close, Death trying to appear as normal as possible.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor watched him start to act weird, eyebrows furrowing. He bent to kiss Christy's forehead gently, and Zoey squeazed his hand. "We're going to the park now," She murmured. "I'll have Dallas bring her around when you get out tomorrow."

He waved as they left, the door closing softly, and looked up into what he knew was Death's eyes, gaze steady, and not afraid as it once might have been. Connor had faced Death far too many times now, had met Hades when he got damned. He had no reason to be afraid anymore, right? But maybe that lack of fear was a worse thing than being afraid...

[deacon reid rudman]

Death smiled down at him, holding Bandit out by her foot over his head. She screamed, reaching for Connor. "I don't see why they didn't stay, lover boy. Deacon doesn't mind."

"Daddy.. Daddy.." Bandit cried, trying to wiggle away.

"If you'll excuse us, I'm going to go see if we can't kill a little wolf girl. Deacon won't mind that either, now will he? Get better, lover boy. I need your fool's body." He smirked, swinging Bandit up into his arm. She started to cry all over again, burying her face in Deacon's neck as he left the room.

"Here. Watch this." Death said, dropping Bandit into Trez's lap.

"My God, Deacon.." Harper breathed, appalled at the rough handling of the baby.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor growled, huffing when Death hung her by her foot. He reached up swiftly, gagging as the action ripped the IVs from his arm and Bandit was still pulled away. "F-fucking bastard!" He snarled, holding a hand over his bleeding arm.

Trez grunted as the crying girl was dropped into his arms. He hugged her tight. "It's okay baby...- Connor?"
The boy looked ready to pass out, tears falling down his cheeks. Trez got up and led him gently back to bed. "You don't need to be up, Con..." He called a nurse to clean up the blood and gently put the IVs back in, handed Bandit to him.

Connor swallowed, feeling sick from getting up, but hugged Bandit tightly no matter the pain it brought, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head, arms wrapped protectively around her.