This chapter is a lot shorter than the other two. I re-wrote it literally five times. Sorry if it seems kinda rushed and suck-ish. D: The main point gets across though, I think.

A quick shout out to ZabuzasGirl for reviewing!

Ahh.. I need some sleep now.

~Here's Chapter 36!~

Chapter 36: All Apologies

I awoke from my nap sometime later to my cell phone ringing. Still half-asleep, I flipped it open.

"Hullo..?"

'I'm almost there. Are you ready?'

"Hello to you too." I joked, rubbing my eyes. "Yeah, I just have to throw my shoes on. How close are you?"

'About ten minutes. Be ready, please, I'd like to leave as soon as possible.'

"McCoy, are you okay?"

'I'm fine. Tired. Be ready, please.'

Click!

I frowned, looking down at the phone.

"Uh.. Bye?" I shook my head, sitting up, before standing and calling out. "Serena, do you still want to ride a horse?"

"Is this okay?" Serena asked, wiggling her arms around my waist. I nodded.

"Yeah. It's keeping me warm."

"Me too."

I bit my lip, looking down the road. We'd been waiting for a solid fifteen minutes now, and Freckles was getting antsy. I slowly stroked her mane.

"Easy, girl.. Won't be long now.."

"Are those headlights?" Serena asked. I peered through the darkness, ignoring the wet snowflakes that fell onto my skin, nipping at the exposed flesh.

"Yep. I hope that's him. I'm freezing my ass off."

"Same here." Serena's teeth chattered.

As the car neared, I saw the blinker turn on. The black SUV slowed, then turned into the driveway. The driver's window rolled down, and a familiar blue face stuck out. McCoy's eyes had small bags beneath them. He looked neither happy nor sad - Just tired.

"I'm assuming this is the right place?"

"Your assumption is correct. Come on, follow us in." I steered Freckles away from the SUV and punched in the gate's code. They slowly swung open.

"Hold on, Serena." I ordered. She did as I asked. Nudging Freckles, she started trotting, then galloping. I heard McCoy behind us, leaving a good amount of distance between us so that Freckles wouldn't get spooked. I gnawed on my lower lip, guilt and regret and worry clawing at my innards. God, please, don't make this too painfully awkward.

I dismounted Freckles after Serena, waiting for McCoy to park. Once he did, he sat there for a moment. I saw him rub his hand over his face, before slowly exiting his car. Jeez, he was really exhausted.

As he neared, I felt his emotions flicker between doubt, guilt, slight anger, and aggravation. Great, he was in a good mood, too. Not.

"Hi." I greeted.

"Hello, Sinclair." He faked a smile. "Are you ready to go?"

"Just about. I need to go unsaddle Freckles and say good-bye to everyone."

"Okay." He yawned. I bit my lip.

"There's coffee inside. You look really beat. You're welcome to have some."

His eyes lit up at the mention of coffee.

"That would be wonderful, thank you."

I turned to Serena.

"Would you mind..?"

"Not at all." She smiled, then walked over to him. "Hi, I'm Serena. I'll show you where the coffee is while Jillian sends Freckles off to bed."

"Good evening, Serena. I'm Henry. Thank you, coffee sounds absolutely divine."

He walked away without so much as a parting glance to me. I clenched the reins in my hand, fighting back the rising anger in my chest.

"He's tired, Jillian. Leave it." I said softly to myself, before clicking my tongue and escorting Freckles back to the barn.

Ten minutes later, I entered the house, hearing laughter emanate from the kitchen. One stood out from the crowd - it was deep and velvety, and made tingles spread across my chest. I bit down hard on my lower lip. McCoy was here. In my parent's house. Drinking their coffee. Conversing with my family.

Yeah, this was gonna get awkward really, really fast.

I inhaled deeply, kicking off my riding boots and entering the kitchen. McCoy stopped laughing immediately, his eyes locking on mine. I nodded, then made my way over the crowd. We had such nice talks on the phone, save for that last one.. Why was he acting like this all of a sudden?

"Jilly-bean, Ah can't believe ya haven't ever let us meet this guy! He's hilarious!" Sam guffawed.

"Mm." I hummed, slipping past him. "I'm going to go get my things."

"Oh, but, baby, what about dinner?"

"I'm afraid we don't really have time for dinner. Thank you for the offer, though, Mrs. Sinclair." McCoy declined.

I could see the wheels in mom's head turning.

"Ya are so polite. Yer momma did a good job with you, Henry."

I felt his pride increase ten fold.

"Why, thank you, Mrs. Sinclair. I'll let my mother know that."

Striding up the stairs, I entered my room, fighting back the conflicting emotions that were rising in my chest. I sighed, rubbing the back of my head, before bending over.

"Need a hand?" Came a voice from the doorway. I jumped and whirled around. I knew who it was, but it still surprised me.

"McCoy?" I asked.

"Are any of your family members 6'4" and blue?"

"Well.. Andrew's like 6'4" and has blue eyes, does that count?" I inquired, trying to lighten the mood. I saw his lips twitch a little. That was something, right?

"I apologize for earlier, I knew you could tell that I was in a foul mood.. I'd been driving all day.."

"I can imagine.. I was a bit surprised. I thought that maybe you were still mad at me."

He shook his head.

"No. I'm just tired is all. I'm really not looking forward to driving another fifteen hours."

I studied him for a moment, before crossing my arms.

"Why don't we stay the night here, then?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You look thrashed, McCoy. Seriously. I was actually kind of worried when you first got out of the car. You need sleep. Either that, or I can drive."

"You would be willing to drive?"

"Why wouldn't I be? You drove here to pick me up, for Christ's sake. We can trade off when you wake up and feel ready to drive or something."

He watched me for a moment, before walking towards me.

"I've been thinking.." He began. I held up my hand.

"If this is about what happened-"

"-It is, but let me finish." He sat down on the bed, crossing his arms. ".. I had no right to do what I did to you. The things I said about myself, the things I said about you.. Then blowing up and letting Beast show a little bit of himself.. You looked so horrified, and I.." He trailed off. ".. I never wanted to do that to you.." His voice was soft, barely a whisper. "I just can't.." He looked up, before looking away. "It's hard to control him."

"Who? Beast?"

He visibly stiffened.

".. Should I not say him name..?"

"That would be for the best.." His voice was strained. "He's.. Never acted like this before.. Around anyone. Especially around women.. You're just so-" He stopped himself. I raised an eyebrow.

"..I'm so..? What?"

"..Different." He finished. I knew that wasn't what he had originally wanted to say, but I went with it. "He fights for control every damn time I see you. Right now, even."

"He is now?"

"Yes."

"McCoy?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you telling me this?"

His eyes were instantly on mine. They were dark, like before, but, this time, they were not filled with rage and malice. Instead, they were concerned.

"You are about to be in a car with me. For close to twenty hours. Alone." He said slowly. "I do not want you to be scared of me, after what happened.. I also, however, want you to know exactly what I am dealing with. I don't want my behaviour coming off as brash or rude."

I frowned slightly.

"I'm not scared of you." I told him. He raised an eyebrow.

"..Really?"

"Well, okay, when it happened, I was scared shitless, I'm not going to lie." I crossed my arms. "After being so friendly with you, and then having that happen.. It was a shock. But I guess I kind of deserved it. I was being a real bitch."

"You were making me face reality." He said in a barely audible voice. "No one, save for Charles, has forced that upon me." He peered up into my eyes. "I actually.. Wanted to thank you.."

I stared at him.

"..What? Thank me? For what?"

"For defending me against myself." He shrugged, standing. I pursed my lips, unable to say anything. Had that actually just happened? He had thanked me for being a complete bitch to him? What?

"You're.. Welcome..?"

He chuckled in his smooth baritone. The tingles happened again.

"Now, do you need any help with your bags?"

"Um.. Yes, actually.. That would be awesome. Thank you."

"It's no problem at all."

After a teary goodbye with my family, McCoy -er, sorry.. Henry- and I hit the road. As I promised, I drove, allowing him to get some sleep. Much to my surprise, he was out like a light almost instantly, curled against the passenger door as his soft snores filled the cabin. I sighed, rubbing my forehead with the hand that was not currently on the wheel. They'd cleared the highways, so the roads were neither slick nor snowy, which was nice.

While I drove, I thought. Mainly about how weird it was that he followed my up into my room, looking a little bit like a lost puppy when I first looked at him, and apologized for his actions. Still, his apologies left me baffled. I'd never heard him apologize to anyone other than myself and Jack.

I glanced at him, then returned my eyes to the highway.

"Henry McCoy, you are one tough nut to crack.."

Short Chapter Is Short.

That's okay, though. The first few times I wrote it, it sounded weird. I know it sounds kinda odd now, but, trust me, the first few drafts were weirder.

Anyway, m'yes. Review, review, review! Even if you hated this chapter! I love hearing from you guys!

Okay.. Bedtime. Night!

~OmegaPhaedra