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Time did not move slower than when you were hungry. And Maebe was starving.

She couldn't even text Dawson with expletive insults concerning how long he took, or raunchy attempts to try and make him get there faster. Neither would work, but they would have made her feel better, damnit.

When the knock finally came, she practically melted off of the bed she'd been lying on, until she crumpled to the floor. The continuous groaning that was coming from her sounded dirty through the door, but when she opened it for him there was nothing sexy about her grabby hands and pouty face.

"Zombie.. need.. food.. now.."

Too soon, Maebe. Too soon.

She did not relent, so that he had to take the bags and a grabby little woman all the way over to her desk to set all the food down. She only stopped grabbing at his shirt when she heard the coke drop. Her hands reached out to where it was, smacking it by mistake before catching it between her hands.

"Mmmm." She hummed through the straw as she took a long, satisfying sip. When she was done, her thirst was quenched and she let out an exaggerated ahhhh, before putting the soda down again.

"Yes. You deliver. Deliver the food into my mouth." She opened her mouth, leaned into him, and waited for something to be put inside of it.

Her mouth slammed shut when he started asking questions. Maebe pinched her face, trying to recall the quickest, easiest thing she could tell him in order to get food put in her mouth, and realized there was one thing of importance her mind would allow her to think about.

"Otto visited." She remained in exactly the same position, leaning in, waiting for food like a baby bird. "I tried to hide it, but.. he knows I'm blind now. He didn't get too upset about it. I'm actually surprised. And relieved."

And that was exactly as far as she was going to go concerning talking about what had happened since he was gone. Her mouth opened up again, letting out tiny noises of need.

"He was just checking in, because I wasn't in the Infirmary anymore, and I hadn't really contacted anyone. And then he told me not to lie to him anymore."

She chomped down happily on her 'treat', and pursed her lips when it was all gone. "I mean, I can only promise so much. Right?" Her lips opened again, beckoning for another onion ring.

"How was your day?"

"Right. Because that's why I keep crawling all over you. Because you're usually so exciting." She stopped leaning on him, because as much as she loved being fed, the burger was way too messy for him to attempt. So her hands started to wander over the table, looking for the burger.

"I'm not going to lie to him unless it's for his own good. That's just, I don't know, common sense, maybe." She found the wrapped up burger and let out a soft squeal of victory, before she began to unwrap it. "Otto's really sensitive. Gets hurt before you can even blink. I don't want to hurt him anymore - God knows we've done enough of that to each other for a lifetime."

She accidentally stuck her finger in the side of the burger, and it came out full of ketchup. "Yeugh. Where'd you say the napkins were again?"

She mumbled out a quick thank you when he handed her a napkin, and wiped her finger on it before bringing the burger up to her lips. It never made it there - she stopped just before biting in, and turned her sightless eyes up at him.

"You know I'm always going to feel guilty about it. I'm not going to let it stop me from anything, but." Her clean hand reached out and pressed against his chest. "Guilt doesn't just go away simply because it's not your fault something happens. I hurt you." And Otto, but clearly she hadn't made the connection that he was telling her not to feel guilty over Otto. "That happened. Maybe I can try to make it up to you one day, but I'm never going to just ignore it."

For a single moment, she grinned. She did feel better being reminded that he football tackled her to the ground. Even when she had her sanity, she probably would have bitten him for something like that. She felt half-inclined to bite his arm right now just for mentioning it. And that made her feel incredibly light.

But then the conversation continued, and her grin faded. She nodded at his question, though. "I don't think they realized it. But I woke up once or twice. Only for a few seconds, but. I'm aware of what happened. Where I was. Who I was with."

She put the burger down and wrapped both of her arms around one of his. "I should have admitted that sooner, but I thought it was better if I didn't wake up. So I didn't." Her eyes blinked, rapid and forced, as she tried to will her eyesight to return to her. "You can't stop me from trying to make up for everything you've done for me. I'd like to see you try."

Maebe's nails dug into the arm that she'd held on to. Inside of her mind, her weapon spoke for the first time in hours, begging her for a different reason. Begging her not to take it out on Dawson. He'd fallen silent for a while, and he'd been so relieved when she'd welcomed Dawson in without a word, but now -

Now, Dawson had said the forbidden name, and Maebe couldn't push back the thought of what Thaw had told him anymore. She couldn't forget. She couldn't ignore. She couldn't repress.

Dawson knew about her childhood.

Maebe's hands slid away from his arm.

Dawson knew about her childhood.

She backed away, slowly, until she bumped into a chair and it squealed painfully loud against the floor.

Dawson knew about her childhood.

It changes nothing. He doesn't even ask you to speak of it. Child, please, do not do this to the only person you are holding on to.

Dawson know about her childhood.

She heard nothing, felt nothing, sensed nothing, but that.

"Go away." She whispered, in a voice too young, too fragile, too tender to have ever come from her.