For all the days to not have a lot of animal patients, it just had to be that one. Heather was almost drowning in the silence. Almost. Part of her was not sure if she was drowning at all, but that just made her more upset.

"Why did I say I'd come back?" she asked, looking down to pet Windshear.

The dog nuzzled her head lovingly against her hand. As the young woman usually felt, she wished she could speak with the animal. Since she could not, Heather settled for a monologue in place of a dialogue.

"He killed my parents," she said, "but maybe they weren't who I thought they were. If they abducted me–and who knows how many other children…"

Heather sighed heavily and put a hand to her head. Windshear just looked at her with that calm, patient gaze the woman was certain was a permanent part of her face now. Something came to mind and she sent Farid a text. She was not sure if he was at work or not, but she hoped that he would be able to respond eventually. It was not a long message, but it was one to which she desperately needed the answer.

"Did Dagur kill Oswald?"

Farid could not reply yet to her because he was about to be speaking with the client in question. Dagur was brought to the session room and there was a frown on his face.

"What's happened?" the doctor asked once Gobber was gone.

"Ryker is forcing inmates to buy and take drugs now like Ansson used to. I saw him yesterday when he was getting paid." Dagur sighed. "I'm sick of drug dealers. He was walking through the yard and at lunch like he owned the place."

"Do you think he noticed that you saw him?"

The inmate shrugged. "No clue. He already doesn't like me, but that was before I knew anything. I guess I'm just that charming."

"What makes you think he dislikes you?"

Dagur began listing off the reasons on his fingers. "He glares a lot, doesn't want me to talk to him, and tried to force me to move out of his way even though I wasn't in it. After we went back to the cell, he was glaring and all quiet again. It's probably what you said with him having heard about me."

Farid paused for a moment. "I don't want to concern you over nothing, but being prepared can mean the difference between life and death sometimes. If Ryker wanted to fight you, what would you do?"

The redhead tapped the table, thinking hard. "I'm…not sure. I guess that's why you're asking, huh?" He frowned and started laughing. "I really don't know. Wouldn't help my case if I killed him, but I also don't want to get killed. I finally have a chance to resume my relationship with Heather. Can't throw that away, but I don't know how to keep both of us alive if he starts fighting."

"How are you with defensive fighting?"

"I'm really good at that. I like hitting people more than dodging, though."

"I don't doubt it, but the defensive route might be what can help you in this hypothetical scenario."

"What if I start to lose it?" Dagur asked, a worried look in his eyes. "Even when I wasn't trying to kill the officers, I still wanted to hurt them. I don't know if I have enough control not to do that."

"You also didn't believe you'd be able to speak with Heather without upsetting her. I think you have a lower opinion of yourself than you even realize."

Tilting his head, the inmate looked uncertain. "Funny. I've always been told I was pretty cocky."

"Maybe about some things like fighting, but when you look past that, it doesn't seem like there's much confidence there. By no means am I suggesting arrogance, but a healthy level of self-confidence is helpful. If you believe you can do it, you can. Have you gotten a chance to take those deep breaths to prevent yourself from getting angry?"

"I have!" Dagur said excitedly. "They worked really well. I was this close to biting off his ear, but I didn't. Of course, that was just after Ryker bumped me. If we were fighting, I don't know if taking a breath would help."

"Have you ever tried meditation?"

"Meditation? Like omms and all that?"

"In a way, yes, but it's more about the mindset than the sound itself. That is another way which can help people deal with anxiety and stress. It doesn't have to be aloud at all since the sound might provoke Ryker. You can just focus on breathing."

"That sounds boring," Dagur complained, mouth curving downwards.

"You could think of places you enjoy, but they should be peaceful. What are some things you like…" He saw a deranged twinkle in the young man's eyes and added, "–that don't include violence."

"Oh, well I like the sea. I've always wanted to go sailing."

"Then, thinking of the sea could be your way of dealing with anger. Ryker might say something to provoke you into fighting, but that doesn't mean you have to get baited."

"Just have to stay calm and think things through," he said, more to himself.

"Exactly and I know you can do it, but what really matters is that you do too."

Dagur nodded, trying to be more certain of this than he necessarily felt. The conversation had to end there for the day because the time had passed and Gobber returned. Matters with the other patients went well and at the end of the day, Farid went to leave. He got his phone and saw the text from Heather.

"I don't believe that he did," he responded back.

When Heather saw the message, she asked if he was available for a call and he confirmed that he was. She quickly called him, not sure exactly how she was feeling.

"You really don't?" she asked.

"I don't."

"But he's killed before. It's not like he doesn't have it in him."

"I agree, but the context was different, though that's not to justify it. I can't tell you what he's told me in the sessions, but he's genuinely seemed like someone who cares about his family. He worried about Oswald through different situations and did not seem to have wanted to ever even fight him. I don't think he would have gone so far as to kill him."

"Then," Heather said slowly, "if Dagur didn't kill him and no body was recovered, he might still be alive?"

"He very well might."

"If that's the case, I want to find him."

"That could be an extremely difficult thing to do. He's been missing for three years now and if he left without letting anyone know, there's a good chance that he didn't want to be found."

"Why wouldn't he have wanted to be found?"

"I couldn't really tell you since I've never met him, but I've seen parents struggle with losing a child. It takes a toll and is sometimes enough to break them if they can't find healthy ways to cope. In addition to that, some parents struggle with having children with mental disorders."

Heather paused. "I've never thought of Dagur as a kid before. I guess it would be…difficult to be his parent. I still want to find Oswald if I can. Would you help me with that?"

"I can try, but I can't assure you that I'll be able to do much." He considered something. "I can speak with Dagur about this. He might know about different places Oswald mentioned or liked to visit. If so, I'll be able to tell you possible hiding places."

"Thanks. I'd really appreciate that."

With a quick farewell, the two ended their call. Farid was not sure if he would be able to succeed in that request, but he hoped that he would be incorrect in his thinking. There were not many people he knew of who were aware of Oswald's secrets. If anyone could help, it would have to be Dagur. Unfortunately, the inmate was dealing with his own problems. After returning to the cell earlier that day, things had gone mostly like they did the previous day at lunch. The difference came in the yard.

Ryker began walking toward Dagur, a group of other inmates watching closely. The redhead was observing people again and eyed him suspiciously when he saw him coming his way. Ryker stopped a little in front of him, arms crossed. Dagur lifted an eyebrow at him but said nothing.

"You used to be the guy everyone feared," the older man stated, eyes narrowed. "Do you know what that means?"

Dagur just shrugged. "Wouldn't know. I was in solitary."

"It means some people are wondering who they should fear more, you or me."

"They can fear you instead. Looks like they already do."

Ryker smiled and his stance relaxed. "Good, then there doesn't need to be any tension in the cell."

"Nope. You do your stuff and I'll do mine."

Something changed behind the smile. "Of course, some ground rules have to exist."

"Like?"

"You're going to see some drugs enter the cell. It's inevitable. The last time it happened, my cellmate wasn't good at keeping his mouth shut around some of the more bright-eyed officers. That's why you're his replacement."

"Aha. Well, it wouldn't be shocking to see drugs in this prison. I doubt it would make for much of a small talk starter."

"You're taking this better than I thought you would."

Dagur shrugged. "I don't want unnecessary trouble if it can be avoided."

"That's the only reason?"

"What else would it be?"

"The same reason everyone else does what I tell them, because they fear me."

"Well, I didn't say I'd do whatever you told me," the other inmate said, frowning. "I'm just not telling the entire world what you're up to. There's a difference. If I stay quiet, you can make sure your flunkies don't try to fight m–"

Ryker cut him off by bringing a hand to his throat. "I don't make deals with people like you."

Rage flashed in Dagur's eyes and he hit the taller man's wrist, releasing his grip. He was about to lunge at Ryker, but he stopped himself just in time. The other inmate took a threatening step forward and Dagur laughed.

"Funny, I was just talking about something like this happening. You don't want to fight. How's that helping anything?"

"It'll help a lot."

A punch was thrown at Dagur's head which he dodged. The second one was maneuvered around just as easily. Desperately, the redhead wanted to throw one of his own, but he thought of what Farid had said and focused on breathing deeply and using defensive fighting only.

"I won't fight you."

"Then stop moving."

"I'm not doing that either."

Angrily, Ryker sent another series of punches Dagur's way, though they were just as successful as the last. The power could be heard behind the blows. If they made contact, they would do some damage–not as much as Alvin's, but they would definitely leave some marks which he did not feel like being left. As something flashed in the sunlight, the shorter inmate saw a knife.

"Aw, really, Rykie? You're a cheater?"

The man did not answer and just kept slashing. Soon, some of his people began getting closer. Dagur noticed them and glared.

"An even bigger cheater than I thought." He glanced around and saw some guards conveniently not looking. "Classic," he thought. "I don't feel like dodging hits from all sides, so…sorry, Doc. Going to have to improvise a little bit with what you said."

The next punch Ryker threw, Dagur waited until the last moment to move in closer and then go behind the attacker. He put him in a choke hold. Seeing this, the cronies quickly moved to join in on the fight.

"Uh-uh," Dagur said, shaking his head. "Call them off, Rykerman. I'm not hurting anyone today and I'm not getting beaten up either."

Ryker fought against the grip, but with his head controlled and breathing restricted, he struggled. He tried to step back and onto Dagur's foot, but the redhead anticipated that and moved. As someone got too close for comfort, he tightened his grip.

"Tell them to back down," he ordered. "I'm not saying it again."

Another moment passed with Ryker trying to get free, but he was starting to see black dots. Reluctantly, he gestured with his hand for the group to go away. Once he did, Dagur let go and returned to his secluded spot to watch everyone. Ryker stayed where he was for a moment, turning red from anger and embarrassment. While Dagur was watching the other inmates, he could not ignore the tense feeling in his core. He was receiving more looks. Dagur sighed and glanced up at the sky.

"And I'm top dog again," he thought. "Let's see how much trouble I get into now."