"Why a coward?" Dr Loomis asked, sitting beside Colin now.
"Because I didn't say something when I could have! I had the perfect opportunity to tell Danielle how I felt, and I blew it! I should've known it was too good to be true! I guess I was hoping while in Smith's Grove she wouldn't meet someone else, I could wait until she got out. Then holy fuck! She only goes and meets Michael damn Myers himself! It's fucking unreal! A script writer himself couldn't have made this up!"
"You're right, Michael does care about her and has helped her out in a lot of ways. But trust me, they didn't fall in love overnight, it took months for them to get to the stage they're at, months. I don't think Michael realised he was in love with her at first, in fact I know he didn't. Michael Myers has never felt love before in his life."
"Yeah, considering he killed his own fucking sister," Colin scoffed. "What the fuck Michael? I'd kill them if anyone even touched Charlotte! That's why I'm so fucking pissed, I don't know who was driving that fucking car, and I didn't get a shot at Adam before he died either!"
"Is that another reason you're jealous of Michael? Because he got to do what you wanted to do yourself?"
"Jesus doc! How the fuck do you do that? Am I that easy to read? A fucking open book or something?"
Now the psychiatrist laid a gentle hand on his arm. "No Colin, it's because it's my job, and has been for over 20 years. I only read you this way because it's what I've been trained to do. Nothing more, nothing less. No one else would be able to, I assure you."
"Small fucking comfort," Colin looked away. "But yes, I wanted a shot at him damn it! But I shouldn't have mentioned the 1978 killing to Michael like I did. I'm not even sure why I did that."
"Do you think it was another dig at Michael if you will, an unconscious one? I'm not saying deliberate by any stretch of the imagination."
"Well, if it was it was unconscious," Colin confirmed. "I don't have a death wish."
Dr Loomis smiled at him. "I understand."
"But now I feel so damn childish, selfish and petty! I'm jealous of Michael Myers because he got the girl I wanted first! Oldest cliché in the book! He got the girl I've loved for years, the girl I was too much of a chicken to reveal my feelings to! I guess you could say this is my fault, karma and all that."
"How is it your fault Danielle fell in love with Michael?" Dr Loomis asked. It had nothing to do with you, you weren't even there."
"That's the fucking problem!" Colin stood up and tried not to shout. "I wasn't, even, there! If I had been…" He trailed off.
"Michael wouldn't have gotten close with Danielle?" the psychiatrist finished.
Colin turned back to him, almost glaring now. "Yeah! Damn fucking right! So now I have to be nice to Michael Myers, a fucking killer and pretend we're cool, my one-day brother-in-law I fucking expect. Pretend nothing's wrong and that I'm happy for them."
"If it helps you any, Danielle really is happy with Michael. I really don't think he'd hurt her given all the interaction they've had with each other. He even lets her touch his ears!"
At this, Colin gave a faint smile. "Seriously? Ha. Michael Myers letting someone touch his ears. Wow! She used to touch mine all the time, said I had 'nice ears.' God! If only I'd…" he again stopped speaking.
Both men turned in unison as they heard footsteps approaching them. "Shit!" Colin breathed. It was Rick, Jack, Joanne and Michael.
"Danielle's out like a light," Joanne said as she reached them. "Emma's sleeping in her room with her tonight, Dave and Tim are with Charlotte."
"You see Colin?" Dr Loomis murmured. "They're both safe, go and get some sleep."
"Fuck that, that's not going to happen."
"Sorry," Rick said. "Are we interrupting something private?"
Colin was purposely avoiding Michael's eyes. Inside he was shouting at himself to 'grow up' that there was nothing he could do now, but it was a hell of a lot easier said than done. Dr Loomis gently took his arm.
"Come on," he said, pulling him to his feet.
"Colin, are you ok?" It was Joanne, and the look of sympathy in her eyes was almost too much. He remembered how he'd comforted her earlier, now it looked like the tables were turned. He considered. Should he say something or not?
"No," he said truthfully. "I'm tired, I feel and probably look like shit and I'm a fucking mess!"
"Do you want to talk?"
"You're a sweetheart, thank you. But your boss here has already gone through that hell."
"Again, not the word I would've used," Dr Loomis said softly. "I'm here if you need me."
Colin wasn't even aware he'd moved to stand in between the male guards until Rick's hand fell on his shoulder. "You alright?" He whispered.
Colin's stomach was reeling. How he wanted to confront the killer right now. Tell him exactly how he was feeling. Warn him that this time he meant business. He'd been a stupid coward to act before she hooked up with Dawson, he wouldn't be a second time, even if it was Michael Myers.
"Colin," Dr Loomis murmured. "It's alright."
He took several deep breaths, unsure if he was going to throw up or start shouting. He would not meet the killer's gaze, he couldn't. Rick and Jack glanced at each other, then at him. Had they seen something in his face? Colin realised suddenly he no longer cared who knew the truth, it wasn't like he could do anything about it now.
"Mr. Myers," he spoke quietly, finally turning to face Michael. "I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it straight man. I love Danielle! And I don't mean as a fucking brother, ok? Yes, I mean really love her! I act in time to say something with Dawson, but God help me if you fuck with her in any way I will retaliate and fight you to the fucking death! You have no idea how much I care about Danielle, and you never will. Just put it this way, she's everything to me and I won't see her hurt again. Not even by you. Want the truth? It's fucking killing me that you got to her first! Think whatever you will of me, I don't care. My sister's laying there dying because of that fucker Dawson, we all know he was fucking involved. I didn't get a shot at the man who terrorised, raped and degraded the two women apart from mom I love most in the whole fucking world! You did that for me and while I meant what I said, it was fucking awesome you cut his head off, I wanted to be the one to get him damn it! I'm genuinely sorry I mentioned 1978, that was wrong of me. But Mr. Myers I… Jesus I… I love her! I'm thrilled we're adopting her, but my feelings for her go way beyond brotherly love and I have to put them to rest because she loves you. I would never do anything to jeopardise this for her, but I swear to any God out there, if you fuck with her Michael Myers, I'll take you down or die trying!"
Michael of course hadn't moved during Colin's rant. Colin took a deep breath and turned away. He felt sick. Dr Loomis took his arm again.
"She could've been my wife by now," Colin said, loudly enough so the others heard him. "If I'd just been braver. How do I know Danielle never felt the same for me? She might have but been too afraid to tell me because of that motherfucker!"
He turned back and that was when he saw it. Michael was looking at him, his stare was blank, cold, emotionless. Colin could see the challenge in his eyes. He knew he was no match for Michael Myers, but he had also meant what he said.
"Yeah?" He challenged back, his voice a dangerous whisper. "What? You'll kill me if I come any closer? Or are you just warning me you could? Newsflash for you Mr. Myers, I know that. We found that out back in 1978, didn't we? Not to mention fucking '63! How… how could you kill your sister? What the fuck man? If anyone even touched Charlotte, I'd fucking kill them, not kill Charlotte herself! That's some fucked up shit."
"Colin!" Dr Loomis' voice was sharp now. "Come on!"
But he refused to move. "What Mr. Myers? You're angry because Danielle's brother is putting you in your place? Surely if you loved Danielle like I'm told you do, you'd understand where I'm coming from."
If he was honest, Colin wanted to cower from that ice cold stare, knowing it was a clear warning. But he couldn't. Danielle meant too much for that, way too much. "I love her just as you apparently do, so what's the problem? Is it because I'm challenging you about your past? Or because I'm threatening you? Hey, if you really care about her, you've got nothing to worry about, have you? Yeah, ok I admit it, I'm jealous of you Myers! In fact, I fucking hate you. But you make Danielle happy, so I will not stand in her way! But I mean what I fucking said…"
"COLIN!"
This time it was the guards shouting in unison and now he felt their hands on him, pulling him back. Glancing at Joanne, she looked near tears as she stood beside Michael with a restraining hand on his arm, but Michael hadn't shrugged it off. Colin just hoped that was a good sign, not that Michael Myers was biding his time before moving in for the kill.
"That was unwise," Dr Loomis chided quietly, as he led Colin a short distance away, the guards watching them anxiously. "Please do not misunderstand me, I completely understand where you're coming from, but you're tired, not thinking straight, and your emotions are high. It's probably not the best time to tell Michael how you're feeling."
"If I hadn't done it now, I'd probably have fucking chickened out again," Colin snarled. "I'm not doing it a second time! I saw that look in his eyes, a clear warning. I know what that look means, 'I could kill you'. But he probably would've killed me no matter what I said."
"You have to remember Michael has never loved before," Dr Loomis said. "This is as new for him as it is for Danielle, true love that is. I know," he added as Colin opened his mouth. "If you'd told her, Michael would never have met Danielle. But we can't change the past, however much we might want to. Michael loves her and she loves him. On this, you need to trust me."
"BULLSHIT!" Colin turned back and before he could even think it through, he was shouting. "HEY, MR. MYERS, I CAN'T HELP THINKING THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT I WAS QUESTIONING YOU! WHY WOULD YOU GET ANGRY AND THREATEN ME WITH THAT GAZE WHEN YOU SUPPOSEDLY UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL? ANSWER ME! BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE THE FACT, I'M CHALLENGING YOU! YOU TARGET ME, AND YOU WILL LOSE DANIELLE! YOU KNOW THAT RIGHT?"
"Colin," he heard Joanne whisper. "Please, please, shut, up?"
"Come on Michael," he heard Jack say. "Let's get back inside. It's getting cold out here."
"I really want to believe I'm mistaken," Dr Loomis said. "But you wouldn't cause Michael to target you in order to get Danielle to leave him, would you?" He was speaking quietly so only Colin heard. Colin didn't answer.
"OR WHAT MR. MYERS? WHAT KIND OF SICK FUCK KILLS HIS OWN SISTER AT 6 YEARS OLD? JESUS MAN! THAT'S LOW! SERIOUSLY FUCKING LOW AND FUCKED UP TO BOOT. WHAT ABOUT 1978? THOSE BABYSITTERS, WHAT'D THEY DONE WRONG? LAURIE STRODE? WHY ARE YOU SO ADAMANT TO SEE HER DEAD AFTER ALL THESE YEARS? I HEARD WHAT HAPPENED HERE TODAY! SHE'S CERTAINLY ON YOUR HITLIST! WHAT WAS IT MYERS? YOU HAD FEELINGS FOR HER AND SHE TURNED YOU DOWN? WAS THAT IT? IS THAT WHY YOU WANT HER DEAD?"
Before Dr Loomis could do anything, Michael had silently walked right up to Colin, slamming him against the garden wall. Rick, Jack and Joanne all sprinted towards them.
Surprisingly, Colin showed no fear. The two men stared each other down, neither moving. Inside though, Colin was close to shitting himself. Why the fuck had he been so stupid? Admittedly, talking about Danielle was one thing, but '78 and '63? Judith? 'You fucking idiot' he shouted at himself. 'You stupid, stupid idiot!'
Even while he knew this though, his mouth kept talking of its own accord, as if his brain had taken over. "So, what now? Thinking of the best way to kill me? Ha, you're Michael Myers! You don't run out of ways to kill people!"
"COLIN!" Now Dr Loomis was shouting in earnest. "STOP, JUST STOP! I TOLD YOU THAT YOU SHOULD GET SOME SLEEP, THIS IS WHY! DON'T BE SO DAMN STUPID! MICHAEL, LET HIM GO. COLIN, GET TO YOUR HOTEL OR WHEREVER YOU'RE STAYING AND CALM DOWN! EMOTIONS ARE HIGH, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT I'M INCLUDING MICHAEL IN THAT. BUT THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER! OF COURSE, YOU'RE SCARED FOR CHARLOTTE, OF COURSE YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT DANIELLE, YOU LOVE THEM! THERE'S NO CRIME IN THAT! BUT THIS? ATTACKING MICHAEL ON A PERSONAL LEVEL? THAT'S NOT RIGHT OR APPROPRIATE! I UNDERSTAND IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DANIELLE, BUT MICHAEL'S PAST? NOT RIGHT OR FAIR!"
All Colin could hear was the killer's calm breathing but did notice Michael hadn't put on his terrifying mask. Nor did he make any move to. Colin wasn't going to beg for his life after all he'd just said. Now that he was trapped, the anger was slowly leaking out of him and all he felt was incredibly tired. Finally, he slumped to the ground, his legs giving out even while Michael still held him against the wall. He caught a glimpse of himself in one of the windows and saw he was as white as a sheet.
"Just get on with it," he said, his voice flat and totally defeated. "Just kill me."
"Which would make your parents happy I'm sure," Joanne pointed out. "Not to mention Danielle, Charlotte and us!"
Colin could hardly believe what happened next. Michael grabbed him by his coat's collar and pulled him to his feet. He fully expected to hit the wall headfirst, but it didn't happen because Michael turned him away from the wall then shoved him with such force, Colin staggered and would've fallen to the ground had Rick not caught him. "I'd take that as a warning," he whispered in Colin's ear.
Colin couldn't meet anyone's eyes. Without a word, he turned and started to walk away. He'd come close to death; he knew that much. Michael could've easily killed him, then and there. Had he been thinking about it, while he'd held him against that wall? Colin wasn't sure he wanted the answer to that.
"Well done, Michael," he heard Dr Loomis say and he understood why. Michael had indeed let him go; he was still alive.
It wasn't until he was at the other end of the garden that he slumped down on one of the benches, put his head between his knees and struggled with the dizziness which was threatening to cause him to pass out. Shit that'd been close! What the fuck had he been thinking of, winding up Michael Myers that way? Hadn't he just said to Dr Loomis not minutes before, 'I'll die if I piss off Danielle's boyfriend?' That was just what he'd done and by some miracle he wasn't dead.
He was still fighting against succumbing to the tears he'd been holding in for what felt like days. His sister was dying, his other was injured, and he loved her the wrong way to how a brother should. Not to mention he'd just told her boyfriend as much. He knew he would've been forgiven for talking about Danielle and how he felt towards her but bringing up Michael's past kills had been wrong and as Loomis had said, unfair. Was the psychiatrist, right? Had he deliberately tried to anger Michael so he would make an attempt on his life, thereby causing Danielle to leave him? There was no way he was that selfish.
Was there?
"Colin, are you ok?"
He started when he heard the soft voice beside him, then felt the gentle hand on his shoulder. Glancing up, he saw it was Joanne and Dr Loomis.
"I… I don't know," he replied truthfully. "Fuck! Maybe I do have a death wish after all. You're right though Dr Loomis, I shouldn't have mentioned Michael's past, which was really stupid, and like you said unfair. What kind of person am I? I even wondered if I was trying to deliberately anger Michael, so he'd do something to me, thereby causing Danielle to leave him! Please tell me I'm not that selfish?" He was almost pleading he realised.
"Were you?" Dr Loomis asked gently.
"Fuck I don't know!" Colin started to cry, and he felt Joanne put an arm around him. "I don't know anything anymore! I think I'm falling apart. My biological sister's in a coma and my adopted one is also injured! I feel so damn powerless!"
"But angering Michael won't help you," Joanne murmured, pulling him into a hug. Colin rested his head on her shoulder, unable to stop himself.
"I know," he tried to hold back tears, but Joanne's hug finally pushed him over the edge, and he started to cry in earnest. He didn't try to hide it, why should he? His sister could very well be dying after all.
"Come on," Joanne murmured after a while. "Let's get you back inside and to bed."
This time, Colin didn't try to fight it. He hated to admit it, but maybe they were right. Maybe sleep was what he really needed after all.
As they walked towards the doors, he saw Rick, Jack and Michael standing beside them. He felt his heart turn to ice and glanced nervously at Dr Loomis.
"It's ok," the psychiatrist assured him. "Michael let you go, didn't he? You're safe. Come on."
But as they reached the doors Colin stopped, looking Michael straight in the eyes, his own puffy, red and bloodshot. "What do you want me to say?" He croaked, his voice a weak whisper. It was only then he noticed the guards had stepped back out of earshot but were still watching just in case. "I'm sorry? Of course, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have mentioned your past like that! That was wrong of me. I even wondered if it was to piss you off to the point, you'd attack me, and Danielle would leave you as a result. Fuck! What kind of man am I? I didn't tell her how I felt and then, she fell in love with you! I know I should be happy for her, I'm just…" he ran his hands through his hair. "I'm just such a mess! I know I have to move on, know she's yours now, I just…" he blinked once, twice and took a deep breath.
"I just love her so much in every damn way possible! She and Charlotte both suffered because of that asshole, and I wasn't there to see him die."