Lee found himself walking through the rain to get to the bar a little bit after noon. He knew it wouldn't be open, but it was Friday, and usually they got shipments in on Fridays. He saw the delivery truck parked around the back and wondered if he was just being creepy and not helpful. He shrugged it off, though. He figured it was better than moping around Tool's place while he built himself back up.

He saw Everly standing and counting some boxes around the corner of the building. She bent down and lifted one of the bottles in her hand, glancing between it and the binder she was holding. Lee thought for a second that maybe she was beautiful, in a passing-by kind of way. Like somebody he might see and fall distantly in love with for just a second and then never find again. He cleared his throat, and the sound startled Everly. She leapt and the bottle slipped from her hands as she yanked herself around a full one-eighty degrees.

Lee blinked. She looked, somehow, worse than last night. The bags under her eyes were darkened by old makeup and her hair was frizzy and shoved up into a tangled bun. When she processed that it was just him, the blank fright that plagued her features sank into regret and dread. She sighed heavily.

"Oh, Lee, I'm sorry," she said, leaning down quickly to try and clean up the glass.

"Wait-" he said too late, reaching out to grab her wrist before she sliced open her palm. She winced back and he pressed his fingers to her arm, steadying her as she fumbled dizzily backwards. She seemed exhausted and confused and overwhelmed.

"Oh, god," she said, tugging herself free from his grip. "I- I'm sorry. Christ, I'm sorry. We ain't open yet, but- did ya- did ya need anything?"

Lee furrowed his brows. She was spewing out words like she couldn't physically hold them back. He glanced down at the shattered bottle and then at her bleeding palm.

"Here, let me help with that," he said, motioning towards the back door into the bar. She stared up at him for a second, conflicted, but then decided it was alright and nodded.

"You really don't have to," she said, holding her hand up and trying to stop the blood from dripping onto her clothes or the floor. "It's not-"

"It's not a big deal," Lee said under his breath. She guided him behind the bar and tapped a box with the toe of her sneaker. A bit of dust flew up and he waved it away.

"It's all we got," she said as he pulled out the first-aid kit. There wasn't much, but probably enough to hold her over. He hardly met her eyes as he got to work on the wound. He wiped it clean and then disinfected it, holding her thin wrist still as she jerked away from the stinging pain. It was a pretty nasty gash. He figured she'd have to get it checked out by a professional. Too bad Barney hadn't assigned Doc to ghost-hunting.

Everly watched him carefully as he worked. The pads of his fingers glided along her skin as he began to wrap up her hand, and she found that she was much less jumpy and afraid. He was a familiar face. The bottle she had found in the shipment, unlike Lee, had not been familiar. It wasn't on the order forms. Hell, she was sure their suppliers didn't even carry the stuff. It looked expensive. It didn't matter anymore because she had gone and broke it, but it didn't sit very well with her anyway.

"Alright," Lee said, pressing a few gentle fingers over the wound, "it's good for now, but you should see a doctor about it. Looks like a few stitches may be in order."

She had been too lost in her own world to pay much notice to him, though. She had no idea who was following her, but her gut told her that it wasn't Lee. That Lee was safe. He was good.

"Everly?" He asked, frowning as he studied the empty, vacant stare that washed out her usually lively expressions. She blinked a few times and then finally looked up at him.

"Sorry, huh? What's that?"

"You alright there?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah, I'm- I'm just fine now, thanks."

"I'm serious about the doctor. You don't want an infection," he said.

"Right," she said absently, closing her fingers over the gauze. "Right, that wouldn't be good."

Lee crossed his arms, but not in a way she might have misconstrued as aggressive. His mind was telling him to make himself smaller, more gentle. So he did. He folded over on himself and considered her. Something was wrong. That didn't mean it was as extreme as Barney had been thinking, but there was something there.

"Get any sleep last night?" He asked, testing the waters.

"Sorry, I don't mean to be rude- can I get you anything?" She asked, springing slightly back to life. She hadn't heard his question. Well, she'd heard his voice, but just not his words.

"Uh- no, thanks," he said. "Maybe you should get your uncle or cousin to step in. That hand's gotta be looked at, seriously."

"Just a cut," she said a bit too fast, turning away from him. "It'll be alright. Thank you, Lee."

He shook his head, but she was already facing away from him and didn't see it.

"Gonna serve people all night with a bloody hand?" He asked, awkwardly shoving his hands into his pocket and watching as she fiddled with some binders and paperwork.

"I'll put on a glove," she said, not looking up at him. With the way the lights were bouncing off of her eyes, he could see that they were a bit puffy and lined with red. She'd been crying.

"Look, uh," he said, taking a few small steps in her direction, but he stopped as he noticed her tense. "I know it's none of my business, but… Are you alright?"

Everly looked down at the paperwork in front of her but couldn't see it. The truth of the matter was that no, she was not, in fact, alright. She was terrified. The bottle she had dropped and slit her palm open on had definitely been from the man watching her. She felt it in her bones, in the shudders of fear that would torment her throughout the day. She felt her bottom lip begin to tremble and she wasn't sure she could contain it all anymore. She was trying so hard to make it out to be nothing, but it wasn't. It really wasn't. Lee was watching her patiently, curiously, and she had the urge to lie again. What if this was somehow her own fault? What if involving Lee would just get him hurt?

She swallowed stiffly and blinked, but it did nothing to soothe the oncoming rush of tears.

"I'm-" she tried, but she realized her voice was wrecked. She cleared her throat and drew in a shaking breath.

"Hey," he said, concerned, "is it your old man?"

Everly blinked again. Her eyes twitched towards the front door reflexively, but it was locked and the glowing sign that said "open" was switched off. It was only her and Lee and whoever was unloading the van outside.

"No," she said, flipping through the binder to try and busy her unsteady hands. "No, he's alright. Just been busy, is all."

Lee cocked his head. He had seen her look to the door, and he followed her eyes. It was something she did a lot, he realized. He wondered if she was looking for someone.

"Well, whatever it is…" he started, still looking between her and the front door, "if you want to talk about it…"

"Oh, it's nothin'," she said, and her head snapped up to his. A tear slipped down her cheek and she shook her head. She pressed her fingernails down into the gauze around her palm and could feel the stinging warmth of the blood seeping through. "It's nothin', Lee, it's nothin'."

"It's not nothing, is it?" He asked, but he didn't expect an answer. He already knew it was so much more than nothing. He saw the blood seeping through the wrapping and reached out a tentative hand to grab her wrist. She twitched away from him, but he held her gaze and strengthened his resolve. He wanted her to see that he was safe. He could be trusted.

"I don't-" she tried, but more tears were beginning to escape. She gave in and let him take her wrist in his hand. She was wiry, nearly unwell. The anxiety had upset her stomach. If she tried to eat or drink anything, she would just get nauseous and sweaty. He could feel her pulse racing in her wrist and he pulled her back to the first aid kit.

"Is it a person?" He asked, unwrapping the soiled gauze and pushing a soft press into the wound for her to hold.

She looked down to her feet. She couldn't force herself to meet his eyes. She was afraid.

"You know, me and the boys, we we're all military," Lee said, still holding her wrist in his hand loosely. "If you're in trouble, we can help you out."

"No, no," she said, but her tears were beginning to soak her lips. They sprayed out with her words and he sighed.

"What's it, a boyfriend? An ex?"

"No," Everly said, and it was the only answer Lee felt comfortable enough to assume was the truth. It only made him more confused.

"Here," he said, unfolding her fingers and grabbing fresh gauze. He began wrapping it around the press. "It's not my business, but you can tell me."

"I-" she tried, but she couldn't think of a good enough lie or cover. She didn't even understand why she was so afraid to tell him. There was so much pressure on her chest and she felt like she couldn't breathe, like the world was collapsing. Her shoulders bobbed and shook with every strangled breath she managed to heave into her chest and she watched her tears bounce off of the floor at her feet.

Lee pressed a finger under her chin and coaxed her head up towards him. His jaw was set and hard, sturdy, but his eyes softened as they met hers. He was difficult to read, but he was studying her. Calculating his next move.

Then he dropped his hand and pulled out his cellphone. He held it up.

"I'll give you my number," he said, waving it between his fingers. "If you need anything, call or text."

"I couldn't-"

"I didn't ask," he interrupted, tightening his gaze.

She nodded and handed over her own phone. He added in his contact info and messaged himself. He placed the phone down on the counter and shoved his own into his back pocket, watching her and her timid glances over her shoulder.

"Is anybody helping out tonight?" He asked.

"No, 's just me," she whispered, trying to collect herself.

"Can you call someone? Henry?" He asked. She seemed so much smaller in front of him suddenly. She was hugging herself, closing herself off.

"I don't wanna be a bother. I told 'em both I'd take care of the place."

"Where are they?" He asked.

"Busy."

He frowned. He wasn't sure what to say or do.

"I'm sorry about all this," she said, looking up at him, shaking her head like it was all just a big inconvenience. "Why'd you come around? Need somethin'?"

"I was in the neighborhood," he said. "Don't apologize. It's alright."

She nodded and used her good hand to wipe at her cheeks. She flushed, embarrassed. "Well, thank you for stopping by."

"Of course," he said. "Got any time before you open?"

She nodded. She had plenty of time, but she didn't plan on going anywhere. She was gonna hide out in the bar with the doors all locked and wait until customers started coming. She didn't feel safe being at her apartment for longer than she needed to be.

"Wanna grab a bite?" He asked.

"Oh, I don't know," she said, pulling her phone from the counter. "I shouldn't."

Lee nodded, and he'd have to admit that he was a little disappointed. But he didn't wanna push. "Alright. Want any company around here?"

She blinked. There wouldn't be any harm in him sticking around, would there? And maybe she could let her guard down just a little bit. The relief outweighed the anxiety.

"Sure," she said, motioning to the empty stools. "Just running inventory. Want anything to drink?"

"A beer'd be nice," he said.

"On the house," she said, grabbing a bottle and handing it to him with a smile.

He nodded. If staying around was the least he could do, then he'd do it. He had nowhere else to be, and it was better to be there than hanging around Barney and all of them. He still felt sour from that stupid strip club excursion.

"So, I never asked," she said, flipping through the binder, "where are you from?"

"London," Lee said, swallowing his beer. "But I've been around here for a while."

"Hm. It's nice there?"

"I think so," he said.

"I've never been, but I'd like to," she said. She wondered if she'd ever feel brave enough, or if she'd ever have the chance.

"It's a good place," he said. He watched as she worried her lip absently, her eyes turned down to the pages in front of her. He ran his eyes over the gauze on her hand and sighed. "But New Orleans is home."

She smiled. "It's one of 'em."

—-

After an hour Lee decided he'd take a trip to gather the guys. He left through the back and drew in a breath, wondering what was wrong and why he felt so strange about it all. He couldn't put his finger on it. He wasn't fully convinced that even Everly really understood, either.

He looked down and saw the crushed glass and ran the toe of his boots over it. It had broken in shards from what he could remember, but most of it was ground into finer pieces by that point. He looked down at his watch and then up at the foggy sky. He felt like he was biting into more than he could chew, or at least more than he had the stomach for.

—-

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" Tool asked, barely looking up from his sketch pad as Lee walked in. Barney walked out from another room holding a cigar between two fingers.

"Thought maybe you'd both like to join me," Lee said, rolling his eyes. "And I needed a breath."

Barney walked up to him and noticed a bit of blood on his shirt. He frowned and pointed to it.

"What'd you do? Beat someone up?"

Lee looked down and shrugged. He brushed at it, but it was already dried. He hadn't noticed it before.

"She dropped a bottle when I got there. Think I scared her."

"Scared her so bad she shattered some good liquor?" Tool asked, focusing down on his work and quirking a brow. "A bartender?"

"It happens," Lee said.

"What else you notice?" Barney asked.

"She just seems paranoid," Lee said honestly. "Always looking over her shoulder. Kept the place locked up tight. Didn't wanna leave when I asked, but was fine with me hanging around. Looks bloody exhausted."

"Yeah, so do you," Barney said.

Lee waved him off. This wasn't about him.

"Just stick around, see if it goes away," Tool said. "It's none of our business, but the least we could do is keep an eye out."

"Should walk her home tonight, Lee," Barney said.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Don't wanna?"

"All I'm saying is I don't wanna make her feel worse, whatever it is," Lee said, finally sitting.

Tool quirked a brow and glanced between Barney and Lee.

"Well, you could offer," Barney said.

Lee nodded. He'd offer, and if she said yes, then yeah, he'd walk her home. His hideout from the guys seemed to be becoming more of a job than a relief. Maybe it was selfish, but he was a little bitter about it.

—-

When the chime went off the first time, Everly jumped and turned around. Just one of her regulars stopping in. He waved and offered her a kind smile and she grabbed a beer to hand over. He took is wordlessly, and she found herself pressing her nails into her palms again.

She was over exhausted. She would see shadows move in the corners of her eyes and freeze, terrified. She would dig her nails into her skin until she bled because she just didn't realize what she had been doing. She wondered when Lee was coming back because she felt a bit more at ease with him sitting like a watchdog at the bar.

She looked up and out the window like she was in the habit of doing. The hours she had left of her shift weight heavily on her, but more than that, the dread of going home to another sleepless night made her skin crawl. She felt unsafe everywhere, like she was being watched during every second with no way to escape the scrutiny. A bus passed by on the street, and when it moved on, she saw a man standing in a black hoodie facing the bar.

Her breath hitched in her throat and she fumbled back, catching attention of the man at the bar. He frowned, confused, and opened his mouth to speak as she felt her tears begin to sting in her eyes again.

Her hands started to shake. Her ears were ringing and all she wanted to do was cry. And sleep. And go back to how life had been before whatever all of this was. She felt like she was being punished for something she couldn't understand. For something she had no part in. It was like a shadow was dropping over her vision and everything except for escape was blurred. She turned away from the door and hurried into the back, biting back her panicked sobs and searching her pockets for her phone.

She was angry, too. She was angry that this was happening and that somebody, for whatever reason, was tormenting her like this. She pulled her phone from her pocket and it slipped from her grasp and clattered onto the floor. She clapped her hands to the side of her head and sunk down onto the tile against the wall.

She felt hands grabbing at her and she shuddered, crying, panicking, begging it to stop. Then she screamed.

—-

Lee, Barney, and Tool wandered in and were confused to see that Everly was not at her usual perch behind the bar. Some guy that Lee recognized from his couple nights at the bar was standing up, looking at the backroom with a confused look on his face.

"What-" Barney started, pulling his thumbs loose from the loops of his jeans, when they heard the scream.

Lee rushed back and swung the door open hard, looking around for a second before he found Everly shaking and hysterical against Gunner's chest. He had his arms wrapped tightly around her and was looking up at the other three, just as surprised as they were. She was sobbing and shuddering into his shirt and he kept his arms around her, trying to steady her.

"Gunner?" Lee asked, confused.

"I just got here," he said, glancing down at the small woman in his arms. "I saw her run back here and I thought something was wrong."

Tool and Barney shared a look. Lee frowned.

"Everly?" Lee asked, squatting beside the both of them and lowering his voice. "I'm back."

She shuddered once more and drew in a few heavy breaths before she dared to open her eyes. She blinked a few times, and Lee noticed that her palm was bleeding again, all over Gunner's shirt.

"Hi," she said, out of breath.

"What happened?" He asked.

She closed her eyes again and shook her head. Gunner looked up at Barney and Tool desperately. He wasn't used to being in this situation.

"Let's call Henry," Lee said, finding her phone on the floor. "I'll take you home."

She tensed at this, tightening herself against Gunner's chest.

"I don't think she wants to go home," Gunner offered.

Lee pursed his lips and rested his elbows on his knees as he scrolled to her emergency contacts and found Henry listed first. He pressed his number, and it rang a few times before a man answered, voice groggy and thick.

"Hey, Eve," he said.

"Actually, it's Lee," he said, glancing back down at Everly, who had pressed her face flat into Gunner's shirt.

"Oh-" Henry said, surprised, "Lee from the bar?"

"Yeah," Lee said.

"Is everything alright? Eve- Everly-"

"Is okay," he said quickly, trying to quell his worry. "Just a bit stressed out, I think. Listen, would you be able to cover her shift tonight?"

Henry was quiet for a second and then sighed. Lee was confused.

"Listen, don't tell her, alright?" He started. Lee waited. "I'm over in Florida with my aunt… her mom, righ'? She's in a bit of a bad way and my pop thought it'd be better for me to check it out before we made Eve come over here an' deal with it."

Lee grunted.

"I should be back before the week is up, Sunday night the latest, but…" He shifted around and Lee could hear him moving, scratching at his skin. "Just close the place up, okay?"

"Yeah, sure thing," Lee said.

"Is she alright?"

"Er, yeah, yeah," Lee said, pulling himself up to his feet. "She seems kinda worked up. I've been here the last few nights, I don't know if she's been sleeping… I don't her well enough to say."

"Alright, well…" Henry said, clearly stressed. "Let me know, alright? I'll try and be back soon. Thanks, Lee."

"Yeah."

Gunner was standing up with Everly clinging to his arms. She was sniffing, exhausted and afraid.

"We can bring her back to the shop," Tool said with a shrug. Barney raised a brow but didn't comment.

"Everly, hun, what's happening?" Barney asked.

She opened her mouth to catch her breath again but didn't answer. She glanced sidelong at Lee and he felt himself sink into himself a little bit. Gunner was supporting most of her weight.

"Let's wait her out," Lee said, flicking his head over his shoulder. "He said to lock up."

"No-" Everly said suddenly, stiffening. "No, I can't-"

"Relax, hun," Tool said. "There's plenty of places these drunks can medicate at. It'll be alright."

Everly looked up at Lee, eyes wide and alarmed. The bags beneath them were heavy and prominent. He sighed.

"I got her, Gun," Lee said, clapping his shoulder. He raised his eyebrows but didn't protest as Lee wrapped an arm around her back and tugged her towards himself. He took her wrist in his hand before she could get blood all over him. "How many times are you gonna make me clean this up?"

Everly let her eyes fall to the ground and she yawned. She let him guide her back to where they left the first aid kit and sat quietly as he cleaned her back up again. The chime on the door went off again and she looked up to see Barney double checking the lock.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, more to herself than anything.

"Don't worry," Lee said.

She swallowed. He took her hand and guided her out from behind the bar, and she pulled out her backpack, which he snagged and slung over his shoulder. As they got ready to head out, she hesitated again, frozen in place as her fear glued her feet to the ground. She felt cold, stiff. She shook her head.

"I don't think-" she started, but her words were broken up by another yawn and a few tears skipping down her cheeks.

"What is it?" Gunner asked, confused.

"I don't- I don't think-"

The guys shared a look, unsure of their next move.

"Go on, girl," Tool said. "Spit it out. It's alright."

She looked down at the floor in front of her. She was so tired. Afraid. She shook her head and felt her lips twist into an involuntary frown.

"I don't think he should see me leave with you…"

Lee looked back at Barney, who raised his brows and nodded. Bingo.

"Who?" Gunner asked.

She shook her head, and Lee pulled her in tighter to his side.

"Don't worry," Lee said, suddenly ticked off. "We can handle ourselves. Everything'll be fine."

She didn't have the energy to fight or beg. She just let Lee lead her out the back and waited against him, numb, while Barney locked the door and slid the keys into her backpack over Lee's shoulder.

Gunner was not so covertly looking around, trying to spot someone out of place. He didn't see anything.

Everly looked down at her rewrapped hand and wondered if the stress was worth it. For the first time in a long time, she really didn't think so, and that scared her a little bit.