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Daren got up and got Ti his water, still chuckling to himself as he brought it back. "that's what tickle attacks are all about. surprise." he gave Tim the glass and lay back down. bed time now, ok? sleep well."

Daren moved closer to Tim and soon, was asleep.

Daren woke in the morning, something heavy on his chest. he opened his eyes and saw that Tim had once again turned him into his own personal teddy bear. With a small shake of his head, Daren rolled so that Tim fell to the bed and then sat up. at least he saved them from the embarrassment of waking up on top of him.

"Jesus H Christ in a handbasket!" Daren half whispered, his hand clutching at his shirt above his heart. "how the hell did you get in here?" it only occurred to him how he sounded after the words had left his mouth and his eyes widened slightly, "i-uh, mean-" he sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "my radar must be broken if you two are able to get this close to me so often." with a shake of his head, he slipped out of bed and moved to the door, "lets go to the living room so we don't wake him. he needs to sleep"

Daren grimaced slightly at the mention of the bruises, "I-" but Rachel continued on. he thanked god that Amanda was taking those classes, because she was going to need all of them soon. The question made him blush, "What? No! I mean, we aren't-Tim and I don't..." he shook his head and sat down heavily on the couch, his head falling back. "look, Tim and I aren't in a sexual relationship. I couldn't, he's hurt and he needs to recover from everything that's happened..." he lifted his head and leaned forward, his arms on his thighs, "speaking of which-Givens caught up to us last night. Tim was angry with me and left, i followed at a distance, but even then, it wasn't enough. Givens drug Tim into an alley and by the time I caught up, he'd already hurt Tim quite a bit. He's back in jail now, complete isolation and high security. he's not going to be escaping any time soon, but-well, the damage is done. Tim didn't want to sleep alone and i'm giving him an open invitation to share my bed if he needs to. I'm not trying to make excuses. I screwed up big time and i know that. you can do what you want with me, i deserve it." he didn't look up at Rachel, just stared at the ground at his feet the entire time he spoke.

The slap hurt, but that was good. Daren deserved to be hurt. He deserved so much worse than this. He didn't try to excuse himself or his actions. they were right. it was his job to protect people and he failed. he'd failed so miserably. Daren braced himself for more blows, for more angry words, but they never came.

"I-I was going to rape him"

Daren's head snapped up, his eyes focusing on Tim in the hallway. "No, that wasn't your fault. I should have known better, Tim. And i provoked you, it was my fault you left-" but Tim wasn't letting him speak. Rachel and Amanda suddenly became softer, kinder after what Tim had said, but Daren couldn't accept that. "No, he isn't to blame."

"You should still protect him, but, thank you, Aomine."

At least Rachel still blamed him, and Amanda did too, though they wouldn't so it in front of Tim. Rachel sat next to him, and Daren looked at her, confused.

"come here"

Daren froze as arms wrapped around him and he was pulled into a hug. he was pressed against something soft and it took a moment for him to realize it was a woman's body. No. It was worse than that, so much worse. It was the hug of a mother. For a long moment he couldn't do anything, just remained limp in her embrace, but then his memories kicked in. He was a child once more, warm arms around him, holding him. he was safe. Daren smiled and closed his eyes, but something wet dripped onto his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw red. So much red. on the ground was a woman, her face beaten beyond recognition, her clothing ripped and exposing bruised flesh. "No-" he whispered. It was his mother. she was dead, her lifeless eyes staring at him, and yet those warm arm were still wrapped around him, holding him close. "No!" Daren stood up, breaking the hug and the illusion at the same moment. He was pale and breathing heavily as he threw himself across the room and pressed against the far wall, staring at Rachel with horrified eyes. it took a moment, but he came back to the present bit by bit. "Oh gods, i'm sorry-" he whispered, shaking his head, a hand to his mouth. "I-I'm sorry." his hand moved up to cover his eyes as tears began to form, falling down his cheeks as he slid down the wall, his knees to his chest. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice broken by sobs.

"I killed her," he whispered, shaking so hard he almost couldn't be understood. "i didn't save her, she died. i killed her!" he let his hand be pulled away and looked into Tim's eyes, his own rimmed red from the tears that continued to fall. "My own mother. she died because of me. i can't-" he shook his head and took a breath. it was long and slow, like Akane had taught him. He took another breath, calming down and closing his eyes. "sorry." he whispered, sounding more like himself. the tears stopped and he pulled his hand away from Tim's, wiping them. with reluctance, he looked up at Rachel. "i'm sorry. i shouldn't have-i," he looked back down, "I have a hard time with mothers. my father-he beat my mother and i. she'd try to protect me, and i her, but-" he shook his head, "he killed her. i-i was watching the entire time. i let him kill her."

Daren gave them a tight smile, "Logically I know that. It wasn't my fault and there was no way i could save her. I was badly hurt myself. he'd broken my leg-the bone was showing, i nearly bled to death before we were found, but still. I can't get ride of this guilt." he shook his head and stood, "Forgive me, but i think i'm done humiliating myself for one day. I'm going to take a shower." he inclined his head towards Rachel, "i'm sorry. i shouldn't have let my past effect the now." he nodded to Amanda before going to his room to hide. it was only after he'd shut his door that he remember the hole in the wall of his bathroom. "damn." he decided to just sit on the bed and wait, which turned into laying on the bed, half curled up with Apple happily snuggled against his warmth. "you really screwed it up this time, Daren." he muttered, closing his eyes and hating how weak he was. "damn it."