A tense silence fell over the room as I became locked in stare down with my Guide, Nikki. Her nostrils flared like a bull's, her anger rising. I had disobeyed my Guide, a punishable offense within the Brotherhood. You are never to disobey them.

I could care less at this point, to be honest.

I have much bigger things to worry about than breaking a small rule.

"It would be in your best interest, Alexi, to apologize to me." She said. She glared at me.

"And it would be in yours, to tell me who is tracking me."

"Alexi, I couldn't even tell you if you are in fact being tracked, or by whom, for that matter. We need time."

"We don't have time."

My head began to pound. I stared at the floor, massaging my temples, ignoring everyone in the room.

"Alexi."

I didn't answer. I continued staring at the floor.

"Alexi."

No answer.

Nikki sighed in annoyance. The began speaking, the four of them, realizing that I was no longer involved in this conversation.

Much like when Deb had been here, I shut down. Cut everyone out. I needed to think, on my own, without everyone distracting me with their trivial input.

I sunk into the couch, and folded my arms over my stomach. I followed Abel with my eyes. He walked over and plopped on the couch beside me, and pulled me toward him. I leaned over and rest my head on his thigh. Their talking ceased for a moment when I did this, and I was tempted to ask why they became quiet, but I refrained. I stayed quiet. More and more, their talking reduced to an incessant buzzing in the back of my mind, their words no longer audible. I began thinking about the case, all that had happened over the past few days. It was quite eventful to say the least.

The murders…

The head….

The Morgan siblings…

The Morgan's.

Dexter had yet to contact us. With the counselor's head and the principal's body, he must have a lot to work on. He promised he would contact us. And so far, Deb has done a better job than her brother. I suppose the threat on her life had something to do with that…or she wants our help as well. Abel's muscles stopped tensing; he's not talking anymore. I peeked up at him.

"Abe?"

"Yeah, kiddo?"

"What time is it?"

He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. "Uh, it's one-thirty. Why?"

"Just wondering. I feel like I've been up for days."

"It's only been a couple hours since you woke up."

"I know…just feels like a long time."

"I hear you. You wanna go back in the bedroom?"

"I'd love to. But, am I still needed here?"

He glanced around the room. "Nah. I'd say they've got everything under control. Come on."

. . .

I opened the door to Abel's bedroom and walked in. He followed behind me, and shut and locked the door. Upon hearing the lock click, I turned around and eyed him suspiciously. He shrugged.

"I feel like taking a nap, too."

"And the reason for the door being locked?" I raised an eyebrow.

"No disturbances." He grinned.

"I highly doubt anyone's gonna wake us up. Then again…"

"Anytime either of us has fallen asleep, something's happened."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know."

He yawned and stretched his arms, leaning from side to side to crack the bones in his back. "Well, I say we hope for the best and take a nap. Maybe we can get out later, get something to eat."

"Sounds wonderful." I smiled.

Abel dropped his arms to his side and stared at me. "What?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Are you sleeping like that?"

I looked down. "What, in my jeans?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck no." I laughed. I undid the button and zipper, and pulled the denim off. I kicked the jeans to the side and hopped in the bed. I patted the spot next to me. "Lay down."

"I will." He pulled his socks off. "I hate sleeping with these on."

I laughed. "I thought you were gonna take your shorts off."

"Why? You want me to? Huh?" He poked at my side playfully.

"In your dreams, Hyde. You're not taking anything off around me."

"And yet, here you are, laying next to me in only your underwear."

I pouted. "Hey. Jeans are uncomfortable to sleep in."

"So true. Well, let's try to get a nap in before another body part pops up."

I stifled a laugh.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just find it funny you say that after I start taking clothes off."

He grinned. "Shut up and sleep, Lex."

. . .

I woke sometime later, Abel already awake and sitting on the edge of the bed. I hadn't even felt him move. I laid back down on the bed, burying my head into the pillow. My eyes closed once more, lids still heavy. As I settled back down, Abel leaned over, shaking my leg slightly, whispering that I needed to wake up. I groaned, and he snickered at that. Reluctantly, I sat up, bleary eyed and dazed from my nap.

"Sleep well?" He seemed happy.

"For the most part." I yawned. "You're awfully cheery."

"No, not really. I'm just…wired, I suppose."

"It's good that you are. Hey-drop me home. Let me shower and change,"

"We're still going out, right?"

"Yes, yes we are. Why?"

He shrugged. "Just making sure. Why do you need to change, anyway?"

"I've been wearing the same clothes for two days…I feel gross." I scowled.

Abel nodded. "Well, how about I go pick you up some clothes? You can shower here."

"Are you sure? Because I kinda wanted to shower now."

He pursed his lips. "You can shower now, just grab a shirt of mine in the meantime until you have everything you need. Towels are in the closet in the bathroom." He stood up and sauntered over to the large dresser on the wall opposite his bed and retrieved a t-shirt from the drawer. He tossed the grey cloth onto the bed. "Here's a shirt. Go shower, and I'll get your stuff."

Abel left then, leaving me home alone with Cole. I slowly got out of the bed and grabbed the shirt, exiting the room quietly. It is still light out, and I assume Cole went to sleep as well. I don't want to wake him.

"Hey."

I jumped slightly, gasping at the sudden greeting. I turned around. Cole's head peeked out of the door, his shoulder length brown hair a damp mess atop his head. The skin under his eyes is dark, swollen, I would assume from lack of sleep. He slumped against the door frame, smiling lazily at me, his tired eyes crinkling.

I smiled warmly at him. "What is it with you and scaring me today, huh?"

"Sorry." He grinned. "Seem to keep catching you off guard."

"Yeah, you do." I walked over to him and leaned up against the other side of the door. "I'm guessing you passed out too?" I asked, glancing up and his disheveled hair.

"How could you tell?" He chuckled.

"Maybe the fact that your hair is completely messed up, or that you seem out of it." I shrugged, smiling. "Just a guess."

"Well, you're a good guesser, Lex." He opened his arms. I raised an eyebrow at him. "C'mere."

I took a step forward and wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him tightly, his body still warm from being underneath the covers. I found myself becoming more and more relaxed. More tempted to climb back into bed. I buried my head into the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply, taking in the clean scent of his skin, the smell of his soap still strong on his body.

Cole and I have always been close, more than Abel and I have ever been. Over the years we have drifted apart, distracted by the many assignments we were given. There was no time for maintaining any sort of relationship. The most we could ever muster was a halfhearted email every so often. But those emails could never suffice. I longed to be with my friend.

I sighed.

Much like his brother, Cole had always been there to support me, to comfort me when I needed it. He was caring, always had been. A quality like that was rare to find in a killer, but I admired him for it. Though not completely devoid of emotion, I find it hard to care for anything aside from my work.

I'm sure that if I could care, though, I would care for Cole.

He squeezed me, pulling me closer to him. Under the thin fabric of his shirt, I can feel the muscles of his back…as well as the many scars he had attained.

"We haven't talked in so long." He murmured. "I missed you."

We stood there hugging for another moment until I pulled away from him. I looked up at his strangely complacent face and smiled, happy that I could finally be with him. Despite the circumstances.

"What?" He asked, returning the smile.

"Just missed you, I guess." I felt my face flush as the words escaped from my lips. He pulled me toward him once more, holding me even closer now. I snaked my arms around his thin waist.

"I know," he whispered, "I missed you, too." He rest his chin on the top of my head. Unexpectedly, he leaned down, and kissed my forehead affectionately. "I'm gonna do all I can to help you, alright?"

His voice was soft, calm.

I hadn't felt this relaxed in days.

This is a moment I have longed for.

"Good, because I'm going to need all the help I can get."

"And you'll get it. Now, weren't you supposed to shower?"

"Shit, yeah." I sighed. "I'd better go do that."

. . .

I exited the hot bathroom, steam billowing out of the now opened door. I balled up my clothes and the towel I had used and crossed the hall into Abel's bedroom. I dropped my things onto the bed and followed suit, collapsing onto the mattress. Quickly, I closed my legs.

I had no underwear.

I sighed, annoyed that I had not brought anything with me. I wasn't going home, no way in hell.

Propping the pillow up behind me, I laid down, dropping my head heavily down onto the lumpy mass. I ran my fingers through my hair, messing with the wet locks, splaying them out on the pillow beneath me. I pulled the sheet up to my waist, covering my unclothed lower half.

A knock on the door.

"Yeah?"

Cole stepped in. "Feeling better?"

"A lot better."

"Good, I'm glad. Abel called; he's going to be out for a while. He said not to worry, he'll be back soon. Just sit tight in the shirt he gave you 'til he gets back." He paused, then smirked. "You wouldn't mind spending some time with me, would you?"

My heart raced.

Goddamn, that smile.

"No, no I wouldn't mind." I smiled sheepishly. "Just…kinda don't want to get out of bed."

"Why?"

"I'm so tired." I whined. "I don't wanna move."

He laughed. "Well, walk over to my room and get in my bed. We'll sit and watch TV. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful. But you're missing something."

"And that something is?"

"I don't wanna move."

Cole rolled his eyes and walked over to the side of the bed. He tore the sheet off of me and scooped my body up.

"Problem solved." He grinned.

He carried me out of his older brother's bedroom and kicked the door open to his own room. Cole dropped me onto the mattress, and my body bounced, the oversized shirt Abel gave me rising. I quickly pulled it down. I looked up.

Cole stared at me.

"What?"

"Are you…?" He trailed off, looking puzzled.

"Am I what?"

"Not wearing underwear…?"

I blushed. "As a matter of fact, I'm not."

His gaze diverted to my legs, tightly crossed to prevent anything from being seen. "Well, okay then." He said, and climbed into bed beside me. "Why aren't you? Dare I ask."

"Abel's getting my clothes. I didn't have any with me." I shrugged.

"Couldn't you have put the same one's back on?"

"Eww!" I said. "That defeats the purpose of showering."

"I suppose it does." Cole appeared distracted.

Why am I always missing clothes? Oh, well. It's hot as fuck here, anyway. Who can blame me?

I shook my head. "Something wrong?"

"Why do you ask?" Same distant tone.

"Just curious. You seem…distracted."

"Not at all, Lex. I'm exhausted."

"Liar."

He grinned. "Well, you are pretty much naked, laying next to me."

"And you aren't getting anywhere with me, I hope you know that." I smirked.

"Yeah, yeah. Hand me the remote; we've got some TV to watch."