A/N: I've been wanting to write this chapter for a LONG time now, but for some reason my muse wasn't having any of it.

Daddy! Daddy, what are you doing!

Finn couldn't look away from what he was doing for fear he'd push Noah's broken femur in the wrong direction, but he knew that Summer was standing behind him. Noah's screams had woken her. Get her upstairs, he ordered Tina, his knuckles white where he gripped Noah's leg, trying not to let him thrash. Get her upstairs now.

Tina gritted her teeth and tried to pull her hands out of Noah's grasp, but the second she moved he sat nearly upright, almost causing Finn to let go. Quickly, she pushed Noah back down. Summer, go back upstairs! Go! she cried.

What are you doing to Noah! Summer screamed.

Finn released Noah's leg, leaving the injured man panting on the floor, and pushed Summer out of the room and up the stairs from the kitchen. He picked her up and sat her on the bed where she'd been sleeping before, then grabbed her hands and made her cover her ears. Stay here, he said. Stay here and whatever you hear, don't come down. I promise, I'll explain later. I promise. He kissed her on the forehead and closed the door behind him and rushed back downstairs.

Noah was breathing hard, shuddering and still gripping Tina's hands hard enough to bruise. Finn knelt again to finish the job.

No, don't! Noah yelled as soon as Finn touched his leg.

We have to.

No, just - just leave it. Let me go. Just let me go.

I am not gonna let you die. So you can forget it.

Just let me go.

Tina, put the belt back. Come on, man, it'll be over soon.

Tina coaxed the belt between his teeth again and held on to him tighter. It's gonna be okay, she whispered over and over, a hand on his forehead.

Finn took a deep breath, resumed his grip on Noah's leg, and with one more push, he felt the bone connect with its other half. Noah jerked and screamed again, a fresh stream of tears leaving dirty smudges on his face.

It's almost over, Finn reassured him. He avoided looking at Noah's face as he got up and got a broom out of the closet in the kitchen and used his hatchet to cut the handle to the same length as Noah's leg. Almost done, he said again. He got a sheet from the upstairs linen cupboard and tore strips off. Noah's ribs were shuddering harder than before, and Tina's fingers had turned a deep purple where he was gripping them. Finn knelt beside Noah and used the strips of cloth and the shortened broom handle to splint Noah's leg. Every few seconds Noah grunted in pain and his grip on Tina's hands didn't loosen in the slightest, but he seemed to know through his pain-induced delirium that the worst was over and he tried not to move as Finn worked. Eventually, he fell completely silent, his eyes sliding shut and his hands falling limply to the floor.

Noah? Tina said, her brow creased with worry. She gently shook his shoulders. Noah.

Finn looked up from what he was doing and frowned. Is he okay?

I don't know. Noah. Noah.

Fuck. Is he breathing?

Yes.

Finn breathed a sigh of relief. Okay. I think he's just passed out. He leaned forward and pressed his fingers to the side of Noah's neck. Yeah, he's got a pulse. I think he'll be okay.

Tina nodded, her hands still on his shoulders. Okay.

Finn finished tying the splint in silence and stood up. Can you stay with him? She nodded again and Finn went upstairs.

He found Summer exactly where he'd left her, but her hands were no longer covering her ears, and she was quietly crying. Daddy, is Noah okay?

He nodded, sitting down next to her. Yeah. Yeah, Noah's okay. He's asleep right now.

But he'll wake up, right?

Finn brushed her hair back with one hand, smiling sadly. Yeah, he whispered. He'll wake up.

Later that night, Finn pulled out a can of peaches, left over from the last house they'd stayed in, and divvied up half of it between himself, Tina, and Summer, leaving the largest portion for Noah when he came around. Tina hadn't moved from where she'd sat holding Noah down, and his head was still resting on her knees. Finn could tell by the way she flexed her fingers every few minutes that they were badly bruised, but he didn't say anything about it, eating his few bites of dinner in silence before taking Summer back upstairs to bed.

Daddy? she asked when the light had completely faded from the window. Her head was tucked under his chin and she was warm, but she was still wide awake.

Finn was closer to sleep than to consciousness, but he responded anyway. Yeah?

How long are we gonna stay here?

Finn hummed, his voice rumbling in his chest. I dunno, Summer. As long as we can.

Why?

'Cause we have to let Noah's leg heal as much as it can before we leave.

But there's no food here.

We still have some left over.

How much?

He hummed again, his eyes still closed. I think maybe fifteen cans.

How long will that last?

I dunno. A while, I hope.

I want to leave.

We can't. Not yet.

But why?

We have to let Noah's leg heal a bit. He needs to be able to walk before we leave.

What if the food runs out before he gets better?

Go to sleep, Summer.

I'm not sleepy.

Just close your eyes and maybe you'll fall asleep anyways, Finn mumbled. He was exhausted after using most of his energy to set Noah's leg.

Daddy, what if the food runs out first? Summer pressed.

Go to sleep.

I don't want to. What if the food runs out first?

We'll figure it out.

Summer was quiet for a moment. Daddy? she asked.

What is it?

Is Noah gonna be like Mommy?

Finn's eyes snapped open. What do you mean?

I heard him. He wanted you to let him go. Is he gonna do the same thing Mommy did?

He sighed, tucking Summer's hair behind her ear. You know I love you, right?

Uh-huh.

Good. Now go to sleep.

But -

It's late, Summer. Go to sleep.

A/N: So, the reasons for the delay in updating: First, as I said before my muse was being annoying and not doing her job. Second, I became occupied/obsessed with a brand new series I've started for Glee titled Expect the Unexpected - PLEASE check it out if you haven't already. Third, I went on vacation to Crete, and I'm still there now. I kinda sorta vowed that I wouldn't update again until I got back to the States on the 10th, but hey, I'm not exactly a man of my word. So, yeah. Leave a review.