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Quinn
Things hadn't gone the way he'd planned in...awhile. Ever since Fayth's egg had come into their lives things had been anything but calm and normal, but Quinn was rising to the occassion, he'd had no issues with the diapers, the feedings, or anything else. Where as the times he'd left Dream home alone with Fayth to run errands there had been a frantic call or text about him coming home. Errands began happening with their daughter in tow. He knew his fiance was overwhelmed and he couldn't blame him really, it was all so new. Still, he did wish the Ninetails was adjusting a little better to fatherhood than he was.

Quinn was honestly tired at this point. He'd not slept through the night since Fayth had hatched from her egg, waking up with her, and letting Dream sleep. He was hoping Dream would be able to find a new modeling gig, and so he knew the other looking his best was important. He'd already talked to Urban and Wendy about helping out as a babysitter once Dream got back to work, and he along with him as his bodyguard.

But Quinn's temper was starting to run a little thin, he wanted nothing more than a half an hour nap to get rid of the slight headache he had. He'd been up since two with a fussy child, and really, a little nap was all he wanted. So, he'd left Fayth with Dream, and kissed his fiance...and went to hide in their room for a short time. An hour if he were truly lucky.


Dream
Fayth hadn’t stopped fussing since Dream had taken her from Quinn. Every little thing he did for her was wrong, and he had no idea how to make her calm down. The adjustment to fatherhood was anything, but smooth. Where as he had settled on the idea when the egg had arrived, he had been hoping that once he saw his child that it would magically kick in. The parenting drive never showed up; he loved her, would do anything for her, but some days he sat furniture on fire just to get a release.

What sleep Quinn might have thought Dream was getting was non existent. Every time Fayth started to cry he would shoot up and no matter how far he buried his head under the blankets he could still hear it. He wanted to go to her, but what was he supposed to do?! Even now Dream was doing little more than pacing the floor in a desperate attempt to get his daughter to take the nap he knew she needed.

He tried to do it on his own when he had her, but Quinn had a way with Fayth that made Dream envious. Oh, she would nod off completely if he picked her up. When she finally started to quiet he took a chance; Dream walked over to set Fayth down in her crib and the moment he let go of her she squalled. He snatched her back up as quickly as he could, and hung his head back to stare at the ceiling as he patted the girls back.


Quinn
Of course every little squall and whimper had Quinn's fingers clutching the blankets. He was exhausted and yet he couldn't sleep because their daughter was carrying on. Why couldn't Dream get her to settle down? It wasn't that hard, honestly. Pick her up, cradle her and walk around...she dropped off so quicky. What was he doing out there, filing his nails?

His temper didn't come out to play often, but it was right on the edge today. He suspected he might have been coming down with a cold, he knew there was some bugs going around and so little sleep wore a guy down after awhile. That or he was so damned tired, he couldn't find the patience he usually had, it was non existent at this point, and hearing Fayth carrying on, wasn't helping him any at all.

Finally, at the half hour mark he threw the blankets back and rolled out of bed with a tired sigh. Running a hand through his hair he ignored the look of his blood shot eyes and almost stormed out to the living room and over to where Dream and Fayth were. "Oh give her here already." his words were harsher than normal as he carefully picked their daughter up and held her close. "Shhh, time for little princesses to go to sleep now Fayth." what irritattion he'd had when speaking to Dream, vanished when speaking to Fayth. He couldn't be mad at her, she was a baby after all. But his fiance....well he was irked with him currently. Thirty minutes. That's all he'd asked for!


Dream
Dream almost didn’t give Fayth over at first. As soon as Quinn came back into the picture his ears folded back against his head, and the mans snappy attitude didn’t help. “I had it.” What, was he so incapable of taking care of his kid that Quinn couldn’t even sleep for fear that something would happen to her?!

Of course Fayth fought for a little while longer, but she went out like a light within minutes. The sight caused Dream to roll his eyes and throw up his hands in exasperation. Did she just hate him, or something?

He ran his hands down his face, allowing his nails to grind on his skin. Was this what fatherhood was supposed to be like? Non stop hell? How could something so sweet be such a pain?


Quinn
Once Fayth had finally settled down, Quinn carefully tucked her into her crib, a hand brushing over her hair. "Sleep now little one." he stepped from her room quietly, door pulled shut behind him, and he went back to where Dream was, trying to keep the irritation from his voice...and not managing. "A half hour...that's all I've asked for since Fayth came into our lives. A simple half hour to get a nap...and you can't even get her to calm down and sleep...really?" he was so frustrated it wasn't even funny.

He was pacing slightly, picking up toys and what not as he went, and tossing them back to the containers he had sat around for them all. "Honestly Dream, I've not had a moment to myself since Fayth came to be a part of our lives. I've not asked for it, thinking you'd step up, and start pulling your weight with her." that had come out faster than he meant it, but it was there. It was out. He didn't feel like Dream was pulling his weight with their daughter.


Dream
“I was trying to get her to sleep, but she wasn’t having it. It’s not as easy as you make it look.” The edgier Quinn got, the more defensive and bitter Dream became. It really rubbed him raw that Quinn thought he wasn’t even trying.

Dream leaned up against a wall, arms crossed over his chest as he watched Quinn. “Pulling my weight? What the ******** do you think I’ve been trying to do? Every time I so much as touch her she starts screaming and I can’t stand it!” He snarled and reached up to pull at his ears. The Ninetales was shaking. “Ever since Fayth hatched she hasn’t stopped.”

Taking a deep breath, he let go of his ears. Quinn wasn’t the only one showing signs of wear. Ever since the egg had shown up Dream had been losing weight; morning sickness? Talk about everyday sickness. His nerves had kept him ill for a while, and now that it had finally stopped so had his appetite.


Quinn
"It's not as hard as you make it look either! I mean honestly Dream, I have to do all my errands with her, because if I don't within an hour...and that's being generous....I get a call or text from you begging me to come home. You can even handle an hour with her on your own!" Quinn rubbed an exhausted hand over his face as he spoke.

"The house is a mess unless I clean it, Fayth doesn't sleep unless I get her to sleep. and forget a shower. When she does finally fall asleep I dash in long enough to wash my hair and body forget warming the water up and I rush to get redressed before she wakes up, because Arceus forbid you have to deal with her for longer than ten seconds! I can't keep doing this Dream, I feel like I've got two kids to raise now. I'm exhausted."

Dream wasn't the only one to have lost weight, Quinn had lost more than he'd ever managed in the time they were apart due to work, because he hadn't finished a full meal since Fayth hatched. He was too tired to think about food on top of it. A few bites in and he was falling asleep over his meal, or doing a dozen other things while trying to get food in himself. His bags, had bags, and he swore he had a bald spot forming where hair had started to fall out from the stress. "Something's gotta change Dream. This can't keep happening."


Dream
There wasn’t much Dream had to say to that. It was all true, it wasn’t as if he could rebuff it, but hearing it all out loud burned far worse than any fire he could make. “Two kids, huh?” He shook his head and kicked off from the wall. “Sorry that I’m just not coping with this like you think I should!” His voice was raising, as were his tails. The temperature around him was slowly rising as well. “I’m a shitty dad, is that what you want me to say? Do you want me to ******** say how absolutely shitty I am?!”

He had hit his breaking point. Dream wrenched the ring from his hand and threw it at Quinn. “******** this s**t. I’ve had enough!” By now he was fully aflame and raging. “I can’t just jump into this, Quinn, I CAN’T.” Dream gripped his hands into fishes so tight that it brought blood. From her room Fayth had begun to stir. She quieted quickly, but it was enough of an incentive for Dream too quiet.

Dream dropped to his knees and put his head into his hands, still fully a flame. The fire alarms had to be triggered before sleep to actually come on, so there was no risk for the sprinklers to kick on. “Don’t you think I want this to change, too? I don’t like feeling this way and I don’t like seeing you look at me like that.” He had never wanted to be a dad; there, he acknowledged it. Fayth was the first baby he had even been around for more than twenty minutes and it was driving him insane. “I don’t know how to make this better.”


Quinn
"Yeah two kids. Fayth, and you." it sure felt that way! He had to rush into Dream's rescue time and again when it came to their daughter, every. single. ********. time. He couldn't keep doing it, it was going to end up killing him in exhaustion he was sure!

He could see Dream getting pissed, but he hadn't expected the ring he'd picked out for Dream to suddenly be chucked at him, and it fell to the floor with a soft thump, the larger teen caught off guard by the simple violent action. He was looking down at the ring and he bent to pick it up after a moment, holding it close in his hand as he looked up at Dream, the fire in him having been put out as quickly as it had flamed up. No, he'd been doused in ice water at this point.

"I'm sorry I lost my temper Dream. I'm just tired. Maybe we should ask Wendy to watch Fayth for a day, so we can decompress or something." a babysitter wasn't such a bad thing was it? He took a few steps towards Dream, and held his hand out to help the other to his feet. "I think we'll both do better with a little sleep in us yeah? Look, you go lay down and rest for awhile, I'll catch a cat nap on the couch, then Fayth and I we can head out to the store, we need a few things anyhow, I noticed earlier you're about out of conditioner. I'll pick up some more." his tone was back to it's usual calm, gentle tone when speaking with the love of his life, and though he was beyond exhausted, he gave him a soft smile. The hand he held out, was the one he was holding the ring with, it still on his palm. A silent offering.


Dream
The fire burned for a long time before slowly ebbing away. Dream took a deep breath and looked up at Quinn. “Don’t be. You were just telling the truth.” He hesitated before taking the offered hand, but grasped it all the same. When he stood he had the ring in his own palm, staring up at him, and he didn’t immediately put it back on.

“Take your nap first. I’ll call Wendy while you’re asleep and get something set up.” The sudden shift back to Quinn’s usual self bothered Dream. He wasn’t addressing the issue anymore; it was being covered up and Dream felt more unease now than he had in the beginning. He reached up to cup Quinn’s face in the hand that didn’t hold the ring, and he wiped at the bags under Quinn’s eyes with the pad of his thumb. “Get some rest; you deserve it. If Fayth wakes up then we’ll work something out.” He smiled, but it was hollow, as if something had snapped that couldn’t be fixed. “And when you two leave, I’ll clean up and catch a nap.”


Quinn
He was relieved when his hand was grasped finally, his own curling tightly around the others wrist, and holding tight, a soft smile given to the other. "Maybe, but I didn't have to be an a** about it either. I suspect I'm more tired than I realized and that's why my patience finally gave out." it had taken awhile for him to lose control of his temper really.

The fingers on his face made him smile and his hand came up to cup Dream's hand in his own, a squeeze given as he held that hand to his face longer. "Alright. I'll go try getting a nap in before she wakes up. Don't worry if she starts crying, she likes walks, so that'll put her back into a good mood once we step out." he dipped down and pressed a soft kiss to Dream's lips. "Love you Dream." that hadn't changed despite everything else that had recently. He still loved the Ninetails deeply. "Could always come and lay down with me for a little bit till Fayth gets up?" he did attempt to entice the other to join him, it would do them both some good to have a moment alone together he was sure. He was finally letting go of Dream's hand however, so he could head into their room, to get some sleep with or without the additional company.


Dream
Dream squeezed Quinn’s hand in return and leaned into the kiss like it was his last. “Love you too, Quinn.” He meant it, truly. With all of his heart he loved the man and that wasn’t likely to change, no matter what may come. “Walks. Got it. I think she takes after you more than me. She used to like my heat when she was in her egg, but I think I burn her up.” He chuckled weakly. “She does pretty well when I put a damp cloth on her back, though, so we’re working on it.” Like everything with Fayth, it was a work in progress.

He hesitated, and it showed. Dream looked down at the ring still laying in his palm as the other walked back into the bedroom. As tempting as the offer was he couldn’t make his legs move. “As nice as that sounds,” he called out softly, “I’ve got some phone calls to make.” And by the looks of the house, some chores to work on. How had he really been checked out for so long? The place was a wreck.

When he was certain that Quinn was asleep he called Wendy to set up some babysitting days. Of course he’d had to explain the situation and she hadn’t been happy with him, which wasn’t a surprise. Then he had talked to Ysolde, all the while cleaning. Dream could be surprisingly domestic when he wanted to; by the time he was done the kitchen and living room even sparkled!

And every few moments or so he would peek his head in to check up on Fayth. He padded back into the kitchen to fix a few sandwiches for Quinn when he woke and grabbed a few raisins for himself before going into Fayth’s nursery. Dream sat in the rocking chair given to them by Wendy for the longest time, just watching her before he too nodded off.


Quinn
Quinn sank onto the bed, a yawn almost unhinging his jaw as he curled up, not even bothering to cover up or anything. No, he was out as quick as could be he was so exhausted and he slept like a rock, though as little as he'd been sleeping at one time, it wasn't long before he was getting back up, surprised to see he'd managed a little over an hour. At least his head wasn't throbbing nearly as badly as it'd been before his nap.

Stepping from their room he looked around the living room and saw how clean it was and he couldn't help but smile. Dream had busted his tails off while he'd taken a nap by the look of things. Listening hard he heard silence from Fayth's room, and so he went into the kitchen to find a quick snack a surprised note at the sandwiches sitting there and he took the time to eat them both, and happily. Quickly he washed up the plate, not wanting to mess up the kitchen that Dream had also obviously cleaned, before he was headed to Fayth's room.

Looking in he saw Dream in the rocking chair and gave a soft smile seeing him passed out there, and lifted the quilt off the bottom of the crib, before he was carefully covering the other up, brushing a hand over Dream's hair. Working quickly he set up a diaper bag and set it under the stroller he had sitting open and waiting for the walks he took with their daughter, before he was leaning over the crib to pick their little sleeper up. He'd step out before Dream woke, let him get a good nap in while they were at the store.

Pausing in the doorway he gave the other a long look, a tender smile on his face. "Get some rest love." his words soft before he was stopping in their room long enough to grab his wallet and boots, and then he took off on his errands, feeling more chipper than he had such a short time before. "I think some flowers...I was a real d**k....and I'll get that one cut of meat he really likes and make it for dinner... maybe I'll call Urban while we're out...and see if he'll meet me at the store, take Fayth for the evening...have a nice dinner with Dream tonight. Yeah I'll do that...."


Dream
It was a good hour before Dream woke up. He yawned and rubbed at his eyes, feeling the crick in his back from sleeping in the rocking chair almost immediately. Grumbling, he made to stand up and felt the quilt slid off his legs. When he stooped to pick it up he had a goofy little smile on his face that was gone almost as soon as it had come. Could he really do this…? Dream folded the quilt and put it back into place.

He moved out to find his phone and texted the all clear to Ysolde. Dream checked the clock, noting that Quinn couldn’t have been gone for very long at all. The whole thing made him feel numb. He didn’t want to leave, but he knew that if he didn’t they would just continue to fight until the point where it started to mess with Fayth. He’d already screwed up enough with her as it was.

It didn’t take long for his assistant to show up with a moving company. Under his direction they went through the apartment, taking only the things that were solely Dreams; his massive collection of cleansing products, brushes, clothing, etc. All in all it took less time than he thought it would, and for a minute he wanted to tell them to bring it all back. Just do it. He’ll hate you for it, but he’ll be better off. Someday Quinn would move on with someone who could stand beside him to support him like he needed.

Dream slid into his loafers and grabbed up the keys to his car. As he shut off the lights he left folded note on the intable and atop it was the ring Quinn had given him. The note read as such;


Quinn;

You deserve so much more than I can give you. It’s like you said; it shouldn’t fall to you to take care of two children. There should be someone to have your back, and it’s pretty clear that it isn’t me. I’m sorry for leaving while you’re gone, but I wouldn’t be able to do it with you here. Things would only get worse, you have to know that. I’m too much of a vain jackass to give in, right?

I’ll help you with Fayth as much as I can. Ysolde will get in contact with you over custody. Don’t worry; I’m not taking her from you, I just want to see my baby girl. Maybe after some space I can be the dad she needs. I’ve also asked Ysolde to hire a nanny for you to help out. You should be getting reference calls within the next few days. Wendy is still coming over tomorrow evening; I couldn’t talk her out of it, but maybe you’ll want her there. If not, just ask her to leave.

I’m changing my number so don’t bother calling. It would only complicate things. I love you, but I don’t like what we’ve become. It’s killing you. I’M killing you. So I’m breaking it off.

Find someone to be what I can’t.

Dream

((Find the exciting conclusion to this rp in Quinn's journal! (More or less Quinn getting some much needed consolation from Wendy, Sol, and Urban)

Dream
Ysolde tapped her foot against the tiled floor, and punched in a familiar number into the desk phone. A few of the nurses were trying to calm a doctor in training just steps away from her, and it was almost comical how the Leafeon shook.
Almost, but not really.
When the first call hit voicemail Ysolde hung up, only to call back immediately after that. The scent of antiseptic was strong enough to choke her, even at four in the morning. Tiredly she ran a hand across her face, cursed when voicemail kicked on again, and dialed Quinn like it was the only program still working in her brain.


Quinn
Quinn’s phone had been ringing, but he hadn’t heard it as low as he had the ringer for the night, and for how late he’d been awake before once more falling into an exhausted sleep. Finally the ringing worked into his brain and he shifted with a tired yawn and reached for his cellphone, and flipped it open though he didn’t recognize the number. A tired “Hello?” coming from him around another large yawn as he took a glance at the timefour am!? someone had better be dead or dying was his only thought as he waited for noise on the other end. He hadn’t noticed he had voice mails sitting there for him.


Dream
“Finally.” Came Ysolde’s exhausted reply. She turned so that her back was against the nurses desk. By this point the doctor in training was calm enough, and bandaged, to come to her side. She held up a finger to stall him for the moment before starting in with the man on the phone. “Quinn, this is Ysolde. Get to the hospital as soon as you can. Room 5203. It’s about Dream-“

Aatami took the phone from Ysolde and hissed into the phone, “Don’t you DARE come here, Quinn, do you hear me! He’ll eat you alive! I said one thing about you and he got out of his bed to chase me-“
There was a scuffle on over the phone line, and when Ysolde took the phone back there was audible crying in the background. “Dream was in a car accident yesterday evening, and it’s critical. I can’t control him anymore; I thought he was picking himself up, but goddammit, it was a DUI, Quinn. He misses you and I thought….” She sighed and ran a hand over her face. “…I thought he was on the right track. We all did.” She laughed a little to stifle a tired sob. “Guess we were wrong. Look…just get down here, okay?”


Quinn
“Finally?…it’s four am, I just barely fell asleep a couple hours ago.” Words mumbled some, though he heard the exhaustion in Ysolde’s voice, and wondered what was going on to have her calling him. Though the moment she said the word hospital, and Dream he was suddenly as awake as if someone had thrown ice water on him. “Dream!?”

The name was choked out, about the same time he recognized Aatami’s voice on the phone. “Aatami!? Are you okay? Wha-“ his words cut off as he heard the scuffling on the other end of the line, and he stared at his phone in frustration even as he was getting out of bed to get dressed. Obviously he needed to get to the hospital, so that required more than sweats.

“Yesterday afternoon and I’m just finding out!? What the hell Ysolde!?” pissed? Why yes, yes he was! But he quieted hearing it was critical. How critical could it be if he could chase Aatami around? “I’ll get someone here to watch Fayth. Urban I think…I’ll be there as soon as he gets here. Is Aatami okay?” there was genuine concern for the Leafeon in his voice, especially since he was sure it was him crying in the back ground!

He was dressed finally though, and once he heard about Aatami’s well being he’d be disconnecting and calling Urban, a simple “It’s an emergency. Dream is in the hospital. Can you come watch Fayth for me?” being met with a ‘Give me 10’. It would be another twenty or so before Quinn would be in his truck having tucked Fayth in snuggly, and he was making his way through the streets as quickly as possible. He barely bothered to let his truck come to a full stop before he was wrenching the key out of the ignition, and he beeped the lock and slammed the door, running for the doors.


Dream
“Don’t act like I knew the entire time, Quinn!” Ysolde hissed back at him. “I only found out a couple of hours ago when the hospital staff dug around in his wallet and found my card.” There was muffling, like someone covered the phone with a hand, and Ysolde returned, “He’s fine, just shoken up. I guess when Dream was lucid enough for the kid to check in on him something happen to make Dream chase him down with an IV stand. They had to tranq him.” Groaning, she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Aatami is fine, just a few bruises. Honestly I’m not even sure how Dream got out of bed, let alone moved down the hall as fast as he did…”

Miracles of irrationally drugged anger, she guessed. Right now the energy was gone from the Ninetales and Ysolde…well, she would have rather had him beating HER down with the IV stand if it meant he was well. Once she was off the phone with Quinn, Aatami was taken away by nurses sent to help calm him down while Ysolde herself sat in the waiting room by the elevator, waiting the inevitable.

Down the hall in 5203 was a pathetic sight. What was left of Dream was strapped to a hospital bed, gown askew and speckled in blood that was a mixture of his own and Aatami’s. His left arm was visibly missing, taken from above the elbow and even in his drug induced sleep he jerked from the pain.
The Ninetales was a far cry from the fashionista who had taken the modeling world by storm. He was battered, with bandages around his head, braces on a broken hip and tubes running into his nose just to keep him breathing. The scratches on his face did nothing to hide the dark bruises around his eyes that very well could have been there long before the crash itself.


Quinn
“Sorry Ysolde. Sorry.” He was sorry for the assumption that he was just barely finding out after it being known for awhile. “I’m glad Aatami is okay. Thank you for checking for me.” It was good to know his friend was alright, honestly.

Quinn came running in, got directed to the elevator when he explained who he was, and why he was there. Getting off the elevator, he rounded the corner…and ran into Ysolde sitting there. Quinn looked like hell himself. Still dark circled, and now tousled hair, and he had lost more weight since Dream had left. Oh sure he was eating now though not in the quantities a man his size ought to be.

“Ysolde!” Quinn came to a stop by her, and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Tell me everything you know about what’s going on with Dream? And hell where’s Aatami, I want to find out why Dream went after him.” He needed to know what he was walking into, going in to see his ex. “He’s going to be pissed you called me Ysolde. You should have called Wendy. He left. He doesn’t see Fayth….” His words were soft, broken almost. “He won’t want me here.” No. Dream didn’t want him. Didn’t want them. It was obvious, he sent money out of duty, and that’s as far as it went.


Dream
Ysolde was about half-asleep when Quinn put his hand on her shoulder, and it showed by the way she jumped. After a few moments of careful breathing realization came to her, causing her to exhale with relief. “I don’t know all the details, but Dream was in a bad car wreck. No one else was involved, he…he hit the inside of a roadway tunnel coming back from a party. “ She hung her head, and shook it. The more she told the story the harder it became to tell. Honestly, the woman was at the end of her very long rope. “…it took emergency responders a few hours to get him out. Dream almost bled out on the scene, but they got him here in time. It’s still touch and go, but he’s woken up a few times.” It was obvious she was holding out on some things. A lot of things.

Grabbing his hand, Ysolde looked up and straight into Quinn’s eyes. “The reason I called YOU and not Wendy was because of the attack on that Leafeon boy. Quinn, that kid went in to check on him and Dream was barely conscious. He happened to mention he was spending time with you, hoping to elicit some kind of response just to make sure he was still in his right state of mind and when he said the word “date”…it was like he’d been possessed. They had to move him to a different floor because the floor he was on sustained so much fire damage.” She left that knowledge hang in the air. “I don’t know what’s going on in his head, I really don’t, but he’s killing himself, Quinn. I don’t give a s**t what he says, he still loves you, and he’s never not wanted that little girl in his life.” By this point she was shaking so bad it was hard for the tears to even fall. “I-I can’t help him anymore…I’ve tried doing it his way, but he…he almost DIED doing that.”


Quinn
“Sorry Ysolde. I didn’t mean to startle you.” She looked as exhausted as he felt. He took a seat next to her, listening to the tale she was spinning, and he felt the blood drain from his face. Hours to get out? Almost bled to death on the scene?

Though, there was a faint quirk of a smile to his lips. “Yeah….two dates with Aatami…which led us to realizing it wasn’t more than friendship. I saved his life once when he was still just a kid..and an Eevee.” Words murmured some. “He of course knows all about Dream. So makes sense why he was saying things to get a response.” Though he blanched hearing about fire damage. Well s**t.

He squeezed her hand gently, and laid his hand on to of hers. “I’ve never stopped loving him Ysolde, even though I tried.” It was the sad, sorry truth. He couldn’t get over Dream despite efforts to do just that. He shifted then, and he wrapped the poor woman up in his arms and gave her a tight hug. “Thank you Ysolde. For doing all you have to this day. I think without you, he’d have self-destructed a long time ago.” Which was a frightening thing. “You need to call a cab, not try driving yourself home. You’re exhausted, and not fit to drive.” He reached into his wallet and pulled out some money, close to fifty dollars and shoved it into her hands. Money from Dream. “Go get some rest. I have your number. If anything changes I’ll call you. I’ll go find Aatami…find out exactly what he said…and find out if I can go in and see the sorry excuse for a Ninetails.” Words ground out slowly. DUI. That pissed him off to no end. He could have killed some poor innocent!


Dream
It broke her heart even now to hear it. “You have the same look in your eyes that he’s had since the day he left. “ She reached up to pat his cheek. Of course the difference being that Quinn was able to stand up in the face of heart ache for the betterment of his daughter, while Dream fell from grace. Ysolde hugged him back, hanging on for a moment longer than necessary before letting go.

Normally she wouldn’t have taken the money, but Ysolde knew he was right. “Go ask one of the nurses, they should be able to point you in the right direction. I let them know you would be coming.” She stood to leave, and smoothed out the wrinkles in her suit skirt before looking down at Quinn. “I haven’t told Wendy yet. I think that call should come from him, but if he’s not able to do it I think it should be you.” Like it or not, to Wendy this was her baby boy, NInetales or not, so the call would be painful. Ysolde just wasn’t close enough to make it any less bearable. Working out a knot in her head, she walked off to get on the elevator.


Quinn
“I lost the love of my life the day he walked out on us Ysolde. I tried…for Fayth…to move past his leaving. To date again. Solange and Urban said it would be a good idea, especially with Fayth so young. That maybe I’d settle down and she’d have two parents at home. Out of the dates I had…Aatami was the closest to being a good fit…but he’s no stubborn Ninetails.” Words sighed some.

“I’ll make the call if he can’t…or won’t. Go get some sleep okay?” he moved away from her and headed for the nurses station and asked…not to see Dream though she’d said he was critical. But Aatami. He was being a coward he knew, but he wasn’t ready to face the man who took his heart with him when he’d left, and left him more than a little broken. So instead he would check on his friend first. Find out what the hell happened…and work up his courage to go see Dream.

It brought a bitter smile to his face. Big bad bounty hunter, afraid of facing his ex-fiance, how ******** pathetic was he at this moment? He ran a hand through his hair tiredly and explained to the nurse who he was looking for, and followed her to the room Aatami was in. “Knock knock, doc.”


Aatami
Turning around from his seat, Aatami stood up to face Quinn, before running over to his friend and clutching his shirt front in tight fists. It was obvious the little Leafeon had been crying and rightfully so. His tanned skin was bruised, parts of his hair singed, and his once pristine white coat was covered in a myriad of things, least of all the burnt holes.
“Y-you shouldn’t be here, I TOLD you not to come here! How could…how could someone as sweet as you ever…and Fayth is so, to be half of…” The younger male was shivering when he stepped back, wrapping his arms around himself to pace the room.


Quinn
He was stunned to see the state his friend was in, the burnt patches and all, the agitation, and he followed after him as he stepped away, and very simply wrapped his arms around his friend from behind. “I had to come Aatami, you know as well as I did I couldn’t stay away. If nothing else, so Fayth has answers when she’s older.” Words soft.

“I can handle myself, wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had to use a water move on him honestly. If he somehow gets out of hand I can do it again. Now…what in the hell happened to you? You said he chased you?” confusion and concern were all over his face as he let go of the smaller teen, waiting for answers. Dream had obviously done something to seriously upset him!


Aatami
Aatami didn’t move out of Quinn’s hold; he simply hung there, too shocked by everything to move. He had never seen a patient that agitated before in such a precarious condition…it had been utterly terrifying. The Leafeon couldn’t count the number of panic attacks he’d fought through this night alone. “Fayth…” He murmured. That poor girl. No matter what happened tonight her life would be forever marred.

“Don’t! No, you can’t, you can’t do anything that’s going to strain him, even if he attacks. The least little bit of activity and he could…” It hung on the edge of Aatami’s tongue, but he knew. Right now Dream was out of the woods, but barely. Pushing himself too much could end it. Aatami stepped away from him, and turned to face Quinn. “I tried to bring him around by any means necessary. I mentioned you, and it got him to open his eyes, but he was still dazed. Then I kept talking, and when I mentioned the date…at best I thought he would say something snarky, but he…lunged at me! Then he fell out of the bed and when I tried to help him up he saw the blankets on fire, so I…I..I ran.” Aatami covered his face in shame. “I-I-I-wanted to get security, but he followed me! At first I thought he was using the IV stand to walk with, but he threw it at me like a javelin when I tried to get in the elevator. He was on top of me by the time they tranqed him. Dream kept screaming that I was taking you away from him, that it was my fault he couldn’t think straight, and he…he was crying. A LOT. So they moved him to the psych ward and he’s under 24 hours monitoring now.”


Quinn
“Yeah Fayth. You should see her…she’s grown up a bit recently…walking and talking and eating me out of house and home.” There was a fierce note of pride in his voice as he spoke of her. Something that would forever be present when he spoke of her.

It was that reaction though, that stunned him. “And he could what Aatami? Die? Ysolde said he was critical…” he swallowed hard as he listened to what had happened. To what Dream had done to poor Aatami and he felt anger take root. Anger and fear once he heard the words psych ward. “s**t.” He staggered back, and leaned against a wall as if he’d been physically struck. It was almost too much to process. “I need to see him Aatami. Can I?” he stood again though, and he brushed a hand gently over the others singed hair. “I’m glad you’re not hurt worse than you are. I’m so sorry he attacked you. He has no right no be jealous. He walked out on me, not the other way around.” He sighed deeply. Was Dream really jealous? Or just reacting out of spite and not wanting him happy? He really couldn’t say at this point.

“I need to see him. Please.” The words not much more than a whispered plea to his friend. Despite all the pain and heart ache he’d gone through in the last few months because of the Ninetails…he couldn’t walk away now. He couldn’t go home and wait for a call. “If nothing else, I need to get an update on how he is….and call Wendy….” Words soft. It was a feeble excuse for going to see Dream and they both knew it. Dream. The big reason it couldn’t work between him and Aatami. If he could have gotten over the fiery male, it could have been a sweet pairing with the Leafeon. But….where his heart should have been, was a cold fireplace, waiting for the blaze of a certain firetype….he knew there could be no other for him.


Aatami
The way he spoke of his daughter told Aatami volumes. “I’d like to see her again. I’m sure she’s turning into such a pretty young lady.” And a sweet one, since she lived with her one sane father. After taking a moment to compose himself, Aatami put his doctor’s façade up on the front line and placed a hand on Quinn’s shoulder, even as the other touched his hair. It was almost comical, given the size differences between them. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about, and…nothing for him either, really. Given the trauma he was under and the medications we should have expected as much. I’m not going to lie to you, Quinn; it’s bad. I don’t want you to get your hopes up, but you can see him if you want. I’m sure that woman gave you his room number, but I’ll walk you there anyway.”
Taking Quinn’s hand in his own, the Leafeon led him back down a few hallways into a secluded area of the hospital and stood outside of the door. It was obvious he wouldn’t be going in himself. “There’s a red button near the headboard on the wall. Press it if there’s cause for alarm.”


Quinn
“She is Aatami, she’s really turning into something special.” He was smiling, the first genuine smile since he’d arrived there. Speaking of Fayth brought out a softer side of him. One that could turn hard as a Steelix if anyone ever thought of harming her, and deadly should the need arise. He would protect her at all costs, even if it meant his own life…and his own happiness. This was another reason he had to see Dream. He had to see if there was a father in there for his daughter to welcome into her life…or nothing more than a memory that would only be kept alive thanks to Quinn’s stories, and the man himself kept at a safe distance. A wrenching decision he could make to keep her safe he knew.

He could see his friend sliding into doctor mode, becoming more professional, and he gave a light smile. He was turning into one hell of a doctor. The smile slid from his face as he listened to the grim prognosis for the other, and he sobered up immediately. He wondered if he’d been foolish in waiting to go to Dream, but no. He knew that he’d done the right thing. He had to go into this dressed for battle, mentally and emotionally.

There was a nod at the mention of the red button and he squeezed his friends hand, before he was stepping in, and around the curtain, listening to the beeping of machines and he stood there transfixed for a few moments, staring at the bloody, battered body of the man he loved, even after all the hell he’d been put through, he couldn’t deny that love was still present. But this…looked nothing like Dream, and it was painful to look at him. His hand came up to cover his mouth, stifling a soft noise of distress as he took a half step towards the bed.

He could see the missing arm. The brace along the hip and leg, all the blood still, and he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and sat down in the chair next to the unconscious teen, and he reached out and very simply took the hand that was laying there into his own, squeezing gently. “Oh Dream….” The words were soft, pained. His thumb brushed lightly over the others hand, across his palm. “Don’t you die Dream…I swear to the Gods I won’t forgive you if you leave again….”


Dream
For the longest time there was only a void. It wasn’t dark, nor was it light, but it was frigidly cold. No matter how much fire Dream seemed to pull out of himself he couldn’t bring an ember to life, and the pain as chilled numbed his body seemed to eat him alive.
Words like murmurs broke through, and when he finally heard them Dream fought to open his eyes. They weren’t open wide enough for a clear view, just muted colors, but the scent accompanying them was one he’d never thought to be near again. Surely this must be death, but at least…at least he was with him. Dream squeezed Quinn’s hand, folding his aching fingers around Quinn’s thumb as best he could before tiredly letting it fall back against the mattress. “I think…” His voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m already dead if you’re here.”


Quinn
There was a shudder from him as he felt fingers curling around his thumb, as he heard words, it was a small bit of relief to hear Dream speaking to him. He’d been afraid he wouldn’t ever wake up as bad as he looked. “You’re not dead, but it’s a miracle you’re not.” His voice was soft, and choked with emotion. He cleared his throat softly as he blinked back tears.

“Ysolde called me….to tell me what happened.” His words were soft, and despite Dream’s hand dropping to the bed, he didn’t let go. He didn’t know how much time he’d have with Dream, and he wasn’t letting go any sooner than he had to just now. “Poor woman deserves a raise.” His words were an attempt to lighten the situation, even as his fingers curled a little tighter.

Finally though, he had to ask “Do you want me to go?” for all he knew, Dream didn’t want him here. If that was the case….well he’d leave. He heaved a deep sigh as he waited for the answer, afraid of what he’d be told, really.


Dream
“Too bad…I can’t pay her more…” Dream tried to chuckle but it came out a forced, pained cough. He squeezed Quinn’s hand hard as he tried to rise up in bed a little in an unconscious response to the pain. Even without the straps, which had been taken off just hours ago, he still couldn’t move much. When he settled back Dream sighed, and lolled his head back against the pillow.

At least, until Quinn’s question. He turned as best he could and fought to get his eyes to focus. It was harder than it looked, and he visibly struggled with it. “I…don’t know. I don’t, but I do. She shouldn’t have called you…you shouldn’t be here…” The only ones who should see him this beaten were the women in his life because frankly, they had no choice. Quinn DID. Dream had given that to him, but now he was here and the teenager was utterly confused on what he wanted.


Quinn
He gave a feeble smile to that response to Ysolde being paid more…or not as the case seemed to be. He worried about the reaction to the coughing, wondering when the last time he’d had any pain medication was.

But it was that response though that made Quinn’s breathing catch, and he felt the tiny spark that had kindled where his heart had been snuff out again. There was a soft “Oh…” a pained sort of sound, and he pulled his hand loose from the others grip. Swallowing hard, Quinn pushed back the chair he was sitting in, barely flinching at the legs scraped along the floor. He forced his voice to come out steady…and even. “I’m sorry that she called me then, and asked me to come down here. I’ll leave now so you don’t have to be bothered with my presence any longer.” The pain he was trying to conceal was leaking into the words, and tears were filling his eyes as he took another look at the other and rose to his feet, turning away before tears could fall.

Fine. He would go. “I’ll call Wendy….she can come and be with you. So you’re not here alone.” His words were hollow. He wasn’t wanted. Not to mention Fayth. He couldn’t even bring her up just now. No, Wendy could talk to him. Show him the picture taken of Fayth just days before he knew she had in her wallet. “Goodbye….Dream…” he hoped it was just a goodbye for now..and not case of getting a call from Wendy a few hours from then that Dream had died. The thought made him tremble, but he forced himself to keep walking….one foot after the other. He wouldn’t beg…couldn’t….wouldn’t force himself on Dream as much as he wanted to beg him to take him back. To take them back.

This was the hardest thing he’d ever done.


Dream
Wait. Dream felt his idle brain working around the panic settling inside of him. It took a while for the injured teen to identify it, but this wasn’t the way it was supposed to work out. Wait. Bothered with his presence? Dream was happy he’d even showed up! He could barely see Quinn, though he didn’t have to to be able to identify the sounds of distress. Wait!
Dream’s breathing was coming out more ragged than before. As the tempest built within him he pulled himself up, stifling a cry of pain before hopping from the bed. He didn’t have to take out the iv; the stand was on wheels and traveled behind him, but the probes that had been attached came off, which send the machines into a frenzy of panicked beeps.
“Wait!” Dream’s voice broke halfway through his shout and he stumbled, reaching for the wall to hold himself up. Even with pain killers standing was brutal. His tails hung behind him, acting as a broom of sorts to make sure his legs didn’t become jumbled up on his mad dash to stop his ex from leaving him for a change.
He didn’t stop until he had caught up to Quinn, and he all but collapsed against the other teen. “Not…not what I meant…please, please don’t leave me. I don’t care if you’re going back to him but just stay for a while…”


Quinn
He hadn’t gotten very far at all. Barely beyond the door. It was hard for him to walk away from Dream. Every part of him was screaming at him to stay there, but if he wasn’t wanted…he couldn’t force Dream to accept and want him. His heart was ground into fine dust with every step he took closer to that door. He’d paused a few steps away from the door, a hand on the wall to collect his composure, when all he wanted to do was fall to his knees and sob. He was being sent away.

He could hear the cry of pain in the room, and vowed to have a nurse check on him…and medicate him so he wasn’t in pain. It was the frenzy of beeps that had him whirling around in a panic, preparing to charge back into that room, wanted by Dream be damned! He couldn’t walk away knowing he’d just stopped breathing, or his heart beating or something!

In fact he turned just in time to catch the other teen as he was fallen against, his arms automatically curling around him and holding him close. Those words though….they brought a sudden, broken laugh from him. “Stupid ******** no one else but you for me. The doctor, Aatami…he’s that Eevee I rescued when he was a kid. We tried a few dates, it didn’t work. He’s just a friend. The day you walked out on me you took my heart with you. The only place I’d be going would be home to Fayth. There’s no one else…never has been, never will be.” He was crying openly now, he couldn’t help it. Dream was here. In his arms…and the stupid s**t was hurt as hell.

He could hear the mad dash of carts and feet running his way. The calls of Code Blue along with the room number over the speakers, and he held Dream closer. “You need to get into bed!” he was frightened for the other at this point. Moving carefully he tried to carry Dream back to that bed. To get him settled. “I’ll stay…if they let me.” He knew the room was about to get very crowded…very fast.