"Well, I'd be even more comfortable if you would join me on the couch, but considering that's probably not going to happen all I need is a blanket and some sleep," replied Erin as he got himself into a comfortable position.
"I'm sure you'd love nothing more than to get to sleep as well, considering its past midnight," he smiled putting his left hand behind his head as a makeshift pillow.
"Maybe we can leave the door unlocked for tonight," replied Erin, "Besides even if you decided to be stupid and run off, I'll search for you and I'll find you." he explained as he shut his eyes, "I will always find you." He said his words just above a whisper.
She's not Katherine. Don't get involved like this, it won't end well his conscious told him but he was never one to listen
"I'm so sorry sweety, is there any family that lives nearby?"
"No! No no no no! Bring them back! That's your job your a doctor bring them back!" A young Erin yelled his anger flaring out while his eyes went blurry.
"Shhh, I know honey, I know" Soothed the doctor bringing him into a hug her heart breaking at the sight of the young boy. "Bring them back! No! Bring them back!"
Erin shook around in his sleep, a thin layer of sweat forming in his forehead, he gasped as his body jerked upward and he was instantly hit with a wave of blinding pain, "Argh!" Hê exclaimed clutching his side.
Erin's instincts kicked in when he heard someone next to him. Grabbing th unknowns arm twisting it and then tossing her backwards onto the floor. "Get off!" He yelled. It wasn't until another wave of pain hit him that he remembered who she was.
"Oh sh*t, Courtney!" He said moving off of the couch and trying to get to her, "I'm sorry! I forgot you were here.. Argh!" Falling back onto the couch he decided to stay still. "I'm so sorry, are you okay!?" He questioned. His tone was filled with genuine worry.
He stayed silent as his breathing started to return to normal, "Thanks," he said softly, "I really am sorry. I didn't mean to do that." He added turning his head to meet her gaze.
"What are you doing down here anyways. You should've been in your bed." Spoke Erin. A strange fear crawling into his chest at the thought of Courtney trying to escape, only to be stopped by him having a nightmare.
"You.. You wanted to be there for me.. If I needed help?" Questioned Erin. The sentence feeling foreign as he spoke it. A strange sense of relief came over him and he smiled.
"You're incredible you know that?" He said softly as he raised his and placed a blonde strand of hair behind her ear like he had done the last time, except this time his hand lingered a bit at the side of her face
Once Erin realized what he was doing he moved his hand back down and cleared his throat, "Well I'm okay now, so how about we try and get back to sleep?" He suggested.
"This couch is pretty big, I'm sure that it can hold both of us. I don't want you to sleep in that chair so if you want to stay down here you have to sleep on the couch." He explained, "If you want to sleep upstairs that's cool too, but I promise I won't try anything if you want to stay down here."
He got himself comfortable and and smiled when he joined him, "You don't have to worry about hurting me," he said softly as he noticed her trying not to touch his injured side.
"It's actually the other way around," added Erin his lips forming a slight frown. "Is your arm okay?" He asked twisting a bit more on the side so that she could have more room.
"Well, I'm still sorry about it." Said Erin after a few seconds of silence. His eyes assessed her arm looking for any indication of damage or harm. But the lack of lighting prevented him from fully being able to examine it.
"You probably think it's funny huh? The big bad gang leader still has nightmares," he said softly, "I think it's pathetic." He yawned and his eyes closed, "Don't tell anyone, please." His tone was sleepy, his arm reached out and wrapped around her pulling her a bit closer, "To make sure you don't fall off," he explained, "Goodnight."
The next morning Erin woke up with a dull ache in his side, and a stiff neck. It wasnt until he had attempted to stretch out his arms when he realized his arm was wrapped around someone.
When all the memories of last night came flooding back into his mind, his lips subconsciously turned up into a slight smile. He sighed as he thought about the fact that she would eventually have to leave. Might as well enjoy it while she's here.
He laid still for a while just enjoying the feeling of a calm morning. There wasn't anyone he had to hunt down, no one was trying to kill him, and the greatest of all, there was a beautiful girl laying down right next him, I just wish she was mine..
It was at that moment that Erin realized if he didn't get his mind off of Courtney, things would get ugly. He wiggles slightly, trying to slowly get himself off of the couch and away from her current position, without waking the blonde up. But instead he managed to pull them both off of the couch. Erin landing on the floor with a thud and Courtney ontop
Erin groaned as she landed on him, becoming very aware of his stitched up side. And he was relieved when she quickly crawled off of him, lightening the pain of the wound.
"Sorry," he said moving so that he was sitting upward instead of laying flat on the floor. "You looked so peaceful sleeping that I didn't want to wake you. But when I tried to move away without making a sound I ended up pulling us both off,"
"You seem relieved," said Erin raising an eyebrow in suspicion, "I always keep my promises," he said smiling slightly.
"It's okay, other than the fact that it feels like someone just ripped out my ribs, it's fine," he chuckled moving slowly so that he could stand up. "I think you have to put a new bandage on though," he said as his hands gripped the hem of his shirt and pulled it overhead revealing the bandage.
Erin walked into the kitchen not to long after Courtney had, "Are there still some bandages left or do I have to go get some more out of the medical bag?" He questioned as he pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Oh, I should also tell you Alex and John are going to come over later today." Said Erin, not to thrilled at the idea of seeing Alex again.
"Being young doesn't have anything to do with it. He should have listened to me and he didn't. Which resulted in me getting shot." Explained Erin, "Therefore I don't really care how he feels, he needs to know he can't do stupid stuff like that."
Of course Erin understood what it was like to be young and wreckless, "But you're slightly right," he sighed, "I just don't know what I'm gonna do with that kid,"
"You sound like John," said Erin with a chuckle, "I met Alex in one of the foster homes I stayed in. He was a lot younger and he was the smallest of everyone so he used to get picked on. One day someone forced him into a closet and locked him there for hours, when I found him he was in a ball on the floor. I got so mad that I beat the kid that did it to him nearly to death."
He paused for a moment then continued, "I got in so much trouble and nearly landed my ass in Juvy, but I remember how happy Alex was that someone stood up for him. I kind of became a big brother after that. When I turned eighteen I got out of the system and got the documents to be his legal gaurdian. And I've been taking care of him ever since."
Very few people knew about the fact that Erin was in foster care, and even less know that he's Alex's legal gaurdian.
"Thank you," Smiled Erin, "Now how about I make you some breakfast, what would you like?" He asked as he stood up and pulled his shirt on again.
"I have eggs, toast and Maybe with the help of the Internet I can attempt to make some pancakes," he said listing off the choices, "But just a warning I haven't made pancakes in a long time so if I make them it might taste horrible,"
"Coming right up," replied Erin. He opened the fridge and got out the carton of eggs, making a mental note to go grocery shopping sometime considering almost everything was empty. As he sifted through the fridge he also found a half a packet of bacon.
He then started his coffee brewer and then moved to stand infront of the stove with eggs cooking on one pan and bacon cooking on another, filling the downstairs area with a nice breakfast smell.
"Well hello there," smiled Erin as he looked over his shoulder to greet Courtney, "You're just in time," he added as he scooped the eggs onto two plates, before adding the strips of bacon right next to the eggs.
"There is toast in the toaster and coffee in the coffee pot," he said placing the plates down on the kitchen table, "And if you want orange juice I can get you that too," said Erin as he opened a kitchen drawer and pulled out utensils.
"What's so funny? Never seen a man make breakfast?" he asked laughing along with her as he the utensils down onto the table. He then grabbed a jug of orange juice out of the fridge and poured it into a glass.
"Here you go," he smiled handing the glass to her before grabbing himself a mug and pouring in some coffee. "I think that's everything," he said as he sat down at the table, "Hopefully this isn't too bad, I don't really cook often,"
