On the morning that Rabbit returned home from the hospital, there was a single message on the answering machine, flashing an insistent welcome. The cops had found his car. Although he'd apparently been living out of it for a little over a week, he was nonetheless comforted by the news. He might have been a little too excited about it, in fact.

"We could have just taken you out to get it in Jim's car once you were feeling better, you know." Liv's expression was a mix of suspicion and what looked a lot like hope, now that the persistent worry over his hospitalization had lessened.

"No, I..." He gestured at the sofa, and after a glance at Olivia, Jim led him over, helping Rabbit take a seat once they'd gotten there. "You think you could give us a little while? A couple of... hours... maybe...?" Their faces shuttered near-simultaneously, and Rabbit's stomach dropped, this first taste of dealing with the Aftermath of Min not a particularly pleasant one. "I'm sorry. I'll tell you everything later too, if you want? I just need to make sure Liv understands." He didn't look up, trying to read his sister as he spoke.

Jim clasped his shoulder, all mundane, nice guy charm, and nodded. "That's fine. Call me if you need me."

Rabbit sighed as soon as the door had closed. He was desperate for a cigarette now that his body wasn't temporarily placated by morphine, but he'd already been enough of a burden around here. He wasn't about to cloud up Liv's space when he could surely hold out a little while longer. Decision made, he opened his eyes, which had fallen closed at some point after the sigh. A lovely, long, pale Marlboro hovered in front of him, or rather, Olivia held it inches from his face, but it was no less beautiful for having not been delivered by magic.

"You want this?"

His brows drew together in relief. "Yes. But I don't need to, not in here."

"Just this once."

Rabbit moved more quickly than a fetch, plucking the cigarette out of her hand and propping it between his lips. He started to reach behind him to retrieve a lighter from the end table, but even after Autumn's healing, the pull of his stitches was uncomfortable. Liv helped with that too, rolling a little past him and passing over a cheap disposable. He lit up and took a drag that felt like it lasted at least a minute. "Thank you." When he looked up, her eyes were damp.

"You've been gone."

He swallowed. "For three months, yeah."

"You gave this up. Smoking. p***k wouldn't go near you. And..." A tear dribbled down her cheek. "You were living in your car, Rabbit. You told me you were moving out and you wouldn't bother me anymore. But you've never bothered me, you a*****e. Don't ever think that."

"I don't." He did, sometimes, but that wasn't a discussion for right now.

"I know. Three months?"

"I was sort of... taken?" He paused, inhaling through his mouth, exhaling through his nose. "I couldn't leave, but it was okay... kind of? To get out I had to... fight. That's where..."

"The stab wounds."

"The stab wounds." He smiled, small and distracted. "I think they're done with me now though. I'm sorry you had to deal with who they sent back in my place." Rabbit blinked, eyelids remaining shut for a little longer than they should have. "I'm tired, Liv."

"Then sleep." She was smiling now, just as small, her cheeks wet with tears.

His eyes closed for longer this time, cigarette drooping a bit before he perked up again. "Where's p***k?"

"I'll get him. Give me this." Liv reached toward him, taking the remains of his smoke. "And lie down properly." She rolled deeper into the apartment as he got comfortable. "He closes your door during the day when he wants me to stop pawing at him and trying to kiss him," she said. "But he's not good enough yet to open it again." Liv did it for him, a bundle of brown fur streaking past as soon as the cat could fit. p***k bounded down the hall and jumped up on the couch next to Rabbit, resting giant paws on the man's stomach.

"There you are, jerk." He slid his fingers into the cat's fur, his eyes closing once more. A minute later, his grip went slack, a faint smile on his face as he dropped into a deeper sleep.

Olivia returned to her brother's side, watching his chest rise and fall with steady breaths. She knew this was just the beginning, that he would have so much more to say, and this time she would be listening. No more brushing him off, no more Google searches for local psychiatrists, no more...

She rubbed her eyes, certain that the lingering smoke had gotten to them, but even when she was sure they were clear, what she had seen remained. Little white flowers—peonies, if she wasn't mistaken—were blooming from Rabbit's temples. She raised a tentative hand, prodding at one and finding it firmly attached.

"Huh."