I couldn't tell what time it was when I woke up. The curtains were drawn and my bedside lamp was on but I figured it couldn't be late enough to be dark.

I sat up cautiously, expecting the pain to shoot through my core again, but there was nothing. A little stiffness in the muscles but no more pain. I moved again, wiggling my hips. Nothing. How could so much pain just disappear?

I shook my head letting out a deep breath. I was starving. As far as I knew I hadn't eaten anything all day.

When had Mom changed my sheets? The purple bloodies ones were gone, replaced with clean cream ones. Damn it. My mom would ask about the blood later. I had no idea what in hell I would tell her. I had a feeling "I wild, rough sex with my questionably dead boyfriend" wouldn't go over so well. Although I questioned whether the shock value of a statement like that would be worth it.

Dr. Harmon leaned forward, taking the tape recorder from the coffee table and flicking it off.

"What are you talking about Tate?"

He was The Father now, protecting his little girl. I didn't want to piss him off. I needed him to know that I wanted what he wanted for her: to be safe.

"You know she talks to me. You said that Dr. Harmon. I just… I don't know what I'd do if she didn't. Honestly, I think she has as much to do with me getting better as the meds do," I wasn't sure how he'd react, but I kept my head down. It was strange, but I feared Dr. Harmon at that moment. He was the one thing that could take her away from me.

"What exactly is going on between you and my daughter, Tate?" I looked up just barely through the shaggy blond curls that had fallen into my vision. He sat the same way I did, elbows on knees, leaning forward. His eyes were intent on my slouched form.

"We've been seeing each other."

"Dating."

"Yes," I knew this was the answer he was afraid of. I scared him. But I felt that after our last session he might realize that he needed me, that Violet needed me.

"How long?" something had changed in his voice. It was softer, almost like he'd realized he had to accept something that had been in front of him the whole time.

I didn't quite know how to pinpoint it. Vi and I had never flat out said 'We're dating now'. Its had just happened. I bobbled my head from side to side, trying to approximate it, "Halloween," it sounded like I was asking a question.

Dr. Harmon didn't say anything right away. I picked my head up to look at him. He had is face in his hands and he was dragging them down its length with an exasperated sigh, "Tate-"

I didn't let him get out a word, "Dr. Harmon, I swear, I'm taking good care of your daughter. She means the world to me. I'm always checking in to make sure she's okay. And I got her to stop cutting," I offered up, extending a hand to him, "I promise Dr. Harmon, I would never let anybody or anything hurt her."

He had a resigned look on his face, but I was still holding my breath.

"Tate, I will make you a deal. You can keep seeing Violet, but I can not treat you anymore," I bowed my head, clenching my jaw. I felt tears coming into my eyes. I needed these sessions. I needed him so that in the times when I lost myself in Violet, times like last night, I wouldn't give over to the voices. "Tate, listen to me," I forced myself to look at him, "I can't see you anymore, as a patient. Which means I won't be able to prescribe you anymore medications. You can stay on what your taking now, but if you need anything else, you are going to have to get it from a different doctor. " I nodded, trying to swallow back the tears and force myself to listen. "I will still be here as a parent if you need help. I want you to be able to talk to me Tate, as… your girlfriend's father. If you need help, or if Violet," he choked up for a second, "I'm still here if you need help. Our session is over for today, I'll call your mother to tell her she doesn't need to send another check."

I nodded, a different kind of tears leaking into my eyes, "Thank you Dr. Harmon. May I… go see her. Take her a cup of tea or something. She wasn't doing well when I left this morning."

"What were you doing here this morning?"

I gave him an embarrassed look, "I… like to watch her sleep, to make sure she's okay. I promise I'm not doing any weird shit. She always knows when I'm there."

Dr. Harmon hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Alright. The kitchen is down the hall to the left. Vivian or Moira can show you where everything is."

My face went blank, "I haven't met Violet's mother."

Dr. Harmon laughed, "You look terrified Tate. Trust me; she's going to be grateful to meet you. You saved her life."

I smiled, "Thank you Dr. Harmon, for everything." I pulled open the door to leave when he stopped me again.

"Tate," I stopped to look at him, "You can call me Ben," he winked, and I smiled in return as I left the office.

I glanced up from the book in my hands as I heard the door to my room open. My mom had gone down a while ago to make me some food. It had taken her fucking long enough.

But when the door was finally ajar, it was Tate behind it, not my mother. I didn't say anything and he didn't speak. I still didn't know what to make of what had happened tomorrow. As far as I was concerned Tate's disappearing act was bullshit, and he needed to explain himself.

Tate pushed the door open coming through, a cup of something in his hand and a plate with a sandwich and a bunch of vegetables on it in the other. He came over to the bed, sitting on the end and passing me the cup, placing the plate in front of me. I took the cup and looked into it still not speaking.

"Talk to me, Vi," Tate spoke softly. I didn't know what to say. I was pissed at him and I couldn't exactly blow up on him with both my parents downstairs. How the hell had he gotten this food anyway?

"Where'd you get the food?"

"From you kitchen," he had a faint smile, but it wasn't entitled like so many of his were, it was just soft.

"Bullshit, Tate. Where'd you get it?" There was no fucking way he'd gotten past my mom, ghost or not.

"No, Vi. I'm serious. I just met your mom," He didn't say it as if it were part of his having gotten the food but more so as if he was trying to change the subject.

"You what?" I demanded. Since when was he planning on doing that. Sure he knew my dad but we didn't go around telling him we were dating.

"Yeah. Your dad knows we're dating, and he's not mad Vi. I asked him If I could bring you some tea and that's when I met your mom."

"What the hell Tate!" I yelled at him. Why was he suddenly outing us to my parents.

"What's wrong?" he asked, taken aback by my anger.

I couldn't believe him, "Come on! You were already getting all buddy buddy with my dad, and now suddenly my parents know all about us. Since when did you need his approval to see me. What the fuck were you thinking?"

"Why is this a big deal, Vi? I was thinking that we wouldn't have to hide in here all the time, or the basement, or the attic. Is it so wrong that I told my therapist about the girl I love. I was lost this morning Violet! He helped me!"

"But he'd not just your therapist, he's my dad! Do you know how screwed I'm gonna be? My mom saw the sheets with the blood. She may be a whiny moron sometimes but she'll be able to put two and two together!"

"Come on, Vi," Tate lifted his hand towards my cheek, but I flinched away.

The liquid in the cup slashed out, searing on my skin, "Fuck!"

Violet cried out as the hot tea hit her skin. It was already turning red. Damn it. I looked around and reached for a towel hanging off the end of her bed. I wrapped it around her arm, using the slack to try to pat the sheets dry.

I leaned my hand on the mattress to support me as I tried to lean further onto the bed. I felt a sticky liquid sponge up onto my hand as it sank into the sheets. At first I thought it was just the tea, but when I looked at my hand, my palm was red.

Blood. The voices in my head told me. I looked down at where my hands had been. There was a bright red smear there. I looked at Violet who was still nursing her arm. I pressed two fingers to the red streak and felt the liquid smear the tips.

"Vi, there's fresh blood on your sheets."

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