[OPEN] it hurts to remember.

[harper reese lebeau]

Harper nearly shrieked at Connor, the boy looking like death walking covered in blood the way he was. She was honestly confused, but walked over to Connor, following Trez back to his room. "It's okay. She's going back to sleep, okay?" She said quietly, pulling the blanket up over them. Harper left to go get her cup, coming back and handing it to Connor. Bandit shrank away from her, clinging to Connor with all her might.

"My daddy.." She cried, her hands shaking as she reached for her cup.

"You can have him, baby." She said, walking over to wrap her arms around Trez. "What did he do to her? She's shaking so bad.." She mumbled, watching Bandit fumble with her cup.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor rubbed at his aching arm, watching them. He handed Bandit her cup and kept her as close as he could, reaching out to try and steady her hands. But he was to weak, his own shaking for to much. He settled for stroking her hair gently, cheek, and glanced up at Trez murmured that he didn't know.
Rubbing at his face, he wrapped his arms back around Bandit again. "I-I love you baby..." He whispered. "Y-y-you're okay..."

[harper reese lebeau]

"Me yub you too, daddy.." She said quietly, trying to grab her straw with a shaking hand. She laid her head down on his shoulder, curling close. She refused to sleep, but didn't say a thing about it. She just watched Connor, rubbing his chest with her hand. Harper bit her lip, laying her head on Trez's shoulder. She closed her eyes, keeping close to him. She didn't look up until she heard Bandit scream, looking over to see a confused Deacon in the doorway.

"It's okay, baby.. Don't cry.." He said, but the closer he got, the louder she screamed, clinging to Connor. He finally backed away, looking over at Connor. "What's wrong with her? Is she sick again?"

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor was starting to drift, clinging tightly to Bandit. He jumped when she screamed and looked up, biting his lip. He worked his jaw some as Trez watched them warily, moving over to a chair and pulling Harper into his lap.

Connor just looked back up again, clearly exhausted, and kept his arms tight around Bandit. "I-I-..." He knew it wasn't Deacon's fault though.
"Death took c-control and held her by the f-foot..." He huffed, playing protectively with her hair. "Then made y-you drop her on Trez before leaving.."

[deacon reid rudman]

Deacon bit his lip, obviously hurt that his daughter was afraid of him. He nodded, looking down at his feet. "Get some sleep, okay?" He said quietly, then left to go back out into the waiting room. He stopped at the bathroom to wash off his hands and arms, then walked into the waiting room, sitting down in his corner chair. He closed his arms, folding his hands over his chest.

"Lets go.." Harper said quietly, even if she didn't want to leave Trez's lap. She got up, taking his hand. "Get better, okay?" She told Connor quietly.

[connor crayze sykes]

Connor chewed on his lip guiltily, nodding at Deacon. 'Why you have to fuck us up like that?' He thought bitterly. He smiled tiredly at Harper. "I-I will, thanks..." He breathed, waving bye to Trez as they left. He hugged Bandit close, closing his eyes, and soon began to drift again.

[deacon reid rudman]

Harper tugged Trez out of the room, keeping her hand tightly in his. She eyed Deacon warily, sitting down slowly in her chair.

"I'm not a monster. I don't bite." He said quietly, looking down into his lap.

"No, but you're every little kid's nightmare. That makes you a monster in a way.." She mumbled, curling up in her chair.

"I'm Everyone's nightmare, babe. But there's a difference between me and Death. And that's what none of you get. Deacon isn't a monster. I take care of a dying fiancé and a little girl.. Death kills people. Not me. But because I'm cursed with him, everyone thinks it's me." He pulled at a string in a hole on his jeans.

"You didn't hurt her?" Harper asked warily.

"I'd never hurt Bandit. Or Connor."

[connor crayze sykes]

"He got out of bed, you know," Trez breathed. "Ripped the IVs out of his arms and came out here crying, just to get her back."

Connor drew in a breath, cuddling Bandit close. "Deacon loves y-you baby..." He whispered. But she wouldn't understand. He nestled tbem both further into the blankets, and was soon asleep.

[deacon reid rudman]

"It doesn't surprise me.." He said quietly, chewing on one of his snakebites for a moment. "It's really not fair to any of us that I am what I am. They get the brunt of it, and I get to watch my entire world grow up and die right in front of me. It's like planting for spring only to know frost is gonna come and kill it all. And winter is bound to come eventually." He picked up a magazine, flipping indifferently through it.

[connor crayze sykes]

Trez only nodded.

Connor stirred at some point, not sure if it was day or night anymire. He rubbed at his face with a soft breath, felt nauseous. But he always did. Shifting his weight some, he ran a hand through Bandit's hair.