Scott didn't stay asleep for long. Despite the stresses of the day before and the even more stressful night his body clock only let him sleep for an hour before it awoke fully. Used to getting up with the sun, going to bed with it hadn't adjusted that need much.

But instead of going for a run he was drawn to check on Kayo.

His heart was still somewhere in his boots, but he still loved her. Thanking his father for the quietness that the doors opened with, he stood on the threshold of her bedroom and smiled sadly. Seeing Kayo wrapped around his Grandma was not a big surprise and he loved his Grandma for being there for her when he could not be. He turned away and left them to it.

Right into John of all people, almost knocking him flying.

'John! What the hell? Is everything alright?'

'I could ask you the same thing, but I won't.'

John's answer drained Scott of any energy he had, and to both their surprise it was John who grabbed Scott's arm and pulled him down to the kitchen. He even made Scott sit as he made coffee for them both, joining him at the table. They drank in companionable silence for a bit.

'Ok, Scott. Spill.'

Scott gave a depreciating laugh. Virgil might be the sensitive one but John was the pragmatic one, and as Scott thought about that it seemed that it was just what he needed right now.

'I – I don't know, John.'

'What happened last night? One minute we're all telling Kayo how much we love her and how being related to the Hood didn't change that, the next EOS is telling me you're sitting on the ledge.'

Scott groaned and buried his face in his hands.

'I thought I was alright with it. I am alright with it!'

'Then what's the problem? What are you upset with?'

'She didn't tell me!'

'She didn't tell any of us.'

'I know! And I get it, I really do.'

'Do you?'

'Yes! No! Oh, god, I don't know any more.'

John reached across and gently pulled Scott's hands down. He felt for his brother, Scott was never the best at discussing his feelings, but until he said it out loud it would eat away at him, John knew from experience.

'What's really upset you about all this?'

'She doesn't trust me, John.'

'She doesn't?'

'No, not really. She honestly thought I'd react badly to finding out and kept it secret. What does that say about our relationship?'

'You did react badly. Kayo's worries were justified.'

It was as if John had slapped Scott's face. His brother jerked up and away from him, eyes wide, sending the stool tumbling to the ground. Scott's eyes darted around the room and before John could stand he'd bolted for the patio and outside.

John sighed. It had been horrific listening to Scott yell at Kayo last night. It wasn't that loud, and John wouldn't have heard it if he'd not got up for a glass of water, but he'd flinched as if the shout had been directed at him. And while John understood completely where Scott was coming from, he did need to make him aware of just what he was doing to Kayo. He wasn't surprised in the least that Scott had fled outside. He'd join him in a minute.

He also understood the real reason why Scott was upset. Not that she'd held back from telling them all, but that her holding back showed she was scared that what she had with them was subject to some imagined standard that she didn't meet because of the Hood being her uncle.

The thing was, Scott was right too. She hadn't trusted that they loved her enough to see past the blood ties that she had no control over, and John was also upset, hell they probably all were to some degree. But no one had a greater reason than Scott. That he hadn't known had surprised John a lot, but then Kayo always was one to play her emotions close to her chest, in many ways she was worse at talking about feelings then Scott was.

This was a mess that was going to take some time to sort out. Feelings always did.

He got up to join Scott outside.