Tom opened the door to find Matt struggling with the other door that led to the outside. Maia was helping him and Tom saw that there was a blood-stained hand trying to get in. He frowned in disgust and ran over to help. He ran against the door and shoved it as hard as he could with his left shoulder, crying out in pain once he hit the door. The door shut with a slam, and the hand was cut off and on the ground. Tom fell to the ground and put a hand over the cut that was still on his arm.
"Oh my God, Tom! Are you okay?" Maia asked, falling down on the ground next to him. She held out the first-aid kit and gave a weak smile. "Well, I found it."
"Let's get out of here, please and thank you," Mata said, already heading for the door. Then he turned to the two who were still sitting on the floor, "Unless, of course, you'd like to stay."
"Okay, okay," Maia said, standing up. She gave a helping hand to Tom who took it. "We're coming, we're coming."
"What were you doing?" Katie whispered to Tom once he appeared in the room again. "Why were you gone for so long?"
Tom looked around confusedly and whispered back, "Why are we whispering?"
"Hailey's sleeping," Katie replied, smiling. She pointed at Hailey, who was still sound asleep. Maia smiled at the sight. Then when Katie looked at Tom's arm again and remembered, she asked, "Did you get the first-aid?"
"Yeah," Maia said, nodding. She held it up for Katie to see. Katie smiled when she saw it. Katie ran over to Tom and gave him a big bear hug. Tom gave a tiny, weak smile and hugged her back.
"I thought you were gone," Katie mumbled into Tom's side, near tears. "I thought you were already gone."
"Aw, c'mon, Katie," Tom said, kneeling in front of her. He placed his hands right below her shoulders. "I'm still here, aren't I? Now go get some sleep with Hailey. It's what? 2 'o clock in the morning?" He gestured for her to sit on the booth again, so Katie went to the booth and laid down on it and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. Tom got a chair and dragged it over to the table where Hailey and Katie were sitting at. He sat down on it and stared at the two of them, sighing. He had a lop-sided smile.
"What's with the filthygrin?" Maia asked, getting a chair and placing it next to Tom's. She sat down on it and waited for Tom to answer.
"Nah," Tom said, sighing. His smile disappeared and he looked down. "It's just that with my parents gone it's like Hailey and Katie are treating me as if I were their parents. I no nothing about being a parent."
"Hmm," Maia said, thinking. "I think I can help. I mean, I used to baby-sit my cousins once a week. I miss them lots. They were little still, at least four or five. So, yeah, I can help you with that one thing."
"It's nice to see you two bonding through this disaster," Matt said, rolling his eyes.
"Is he an ass?" Tom asked Maia quietly.
Maia shook her head and replied, "When he's cranky, he's cranky. You'll get used to it. Promise. I did, after knowing him for at least two years now." She smiled and told him, "Just forget him, I guess."
But Tom was already sleeping in his chair, with his head on his arms, which were resting on the table. Maia smiled again said quietly, "'Night, Tom." And swore that she could see a grin tugging on the side of his lips. She stood up from the chair and sat down on a table, the gun now in her hands.
"So... we just wait now?" Matt asked Maia, careful not to wake anyone.
"Afraid so," Maia said, sighing. She felt truly sorry for Tom and his family, and especially Hailey who had no idea where her family was. But Maia also felt sorry for herself and her family, for she had to leave her little cousins behind in her Aunt's house because it was too late. Tears came to her eyes thinking of those thoughts and gave the gun to Matt and asked him, "Can you stay guard tonight, Matt? Please?"
"Sure," Matt said, getting the gun. "Goodnight, Maia."
"Goodnight, Matt," Maia said. "I'll stay guard tomorrow night."
"If there's a tomorrow night," Matt said, looking out the curtain-covered windows. He looked back down and sighed. Maia sat in the booth next to Hailey and fell asleep.
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"Maia!" a voice cried silently, shaking Maia's arm. "Maia! You have to wake up now! Hey!" Someone shook her harder and cried, "MAIA!"
"What?" Maia mumbled, opening her eyes.
"We have to go to the kitchen!" Tom cried. "Matt, Hailey, and Katie are already there. C'mon, we can't stay here! They're breaking in!" Maia sat upright, now alert. She looked around the room and noticed most of the windows were smashed. She got up hurriedly and ran for the kitchen.
Inside, Hailey and Katie were crying again. Tom closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. Maia got his arm and pulled him to the middle of the room where everyone else was at.
"What do we do now?" Katie asked, between sobs.
"We wait," Tom said.
"Wait until what?" Hailey asked, in the innocent tone she used. When Tom didn't answer, Maia bowed her head sadly.