Uma reads over the report several times with suspicion.

She didn't trust it.

Why hadn't Faustina delivered the news herself?

"Who gave this to you?" She asks as she glances up from the page.

Dizzy blinks, "T."

She takes a deep breath. Beside her, Harry and Gil groan.

"I see." She passes the report to Harry before she pushes herself to her feet, "thank you, Diz. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Dizzy steps slightly to her side, her face scrunched with worry as she stares at Deez, "Can I-" she bites her lip, "I'm sorry- But Celia, Freddie and I are all," she shifts in discomfort, "is she going to be okay?"

"Yeah," Gil volunteers with a tone that none of them dared to question.

Her lips twitch, "aye." she nods, "she just still needs some time to heal."

"But she got hurt." Dizzy says as she wrings her hands together.

Gil nods, "but it ain't nothin' we can't handle," he pauses, "but, I'll make sure you guys find out when she's better." His eyes narrow before he grins and turns to her, "is it okay if they borrow Deez's book 'til she wakes up?"

She smiles as she turns back to Dizzy, "I don't see why not, though I'll have ta talk to the three of ya 'bout not tellin' the others everything you read. But it would also be helpful for ya'll to have it so you can report on things you're making."

Dizzy's eyes light up as she lunges at her and traps her in an excited embrace, "thank you, thank you, thank you. It's been so hard. First with Evie, then with Deez being busy, and now this. I miss her so much."

She hugs the girl tightly, "it has been hard, hasn't it. You've been so busy lately, I haven't gotten a chance to check in on you." She frowns, "sorry about that."

Dizzy pulls back and looks up with her with glassy eyes, "it's okay Captain," she offers with a small smile. "You guys have been working so hard to rescue people and keep us safe. I'm okay, really. I just-" Her lip quivers, "I know it's been hard for everyone."

"Here ya be, Tiny Princess, one book o' talkin' ta all o' us." Harry playfully whaps the notebook down on Dizzy's head, "ya know, ya can feel free ta be talkin', just be careful like o' when we be out on missions." He chucks her under the chin, "that'ah girl then."

The dazzling smile that lights up Dizzy's face makes her smile.

"Thank you," she pulls the book to her chest and securely hugs it to her. "Really. It's very wicked of you."

She runs a hand over her frizzy hair, "we try. Now, tell the others and let them know the rules, 'kay?"

Dizzy giggles as she nods her head, "thank you!" She chirps before she squeezes her tightly and steps back, "promise I'll let them know." She swears with both hands covering the book where her heart was. "And we'll take good care of it, too." She assures with a surprising amount of seriousness.

She nods with a smile, "I know ya will, Tiny Princess."

Harry walks up beside her as Dizzy hurries away, the moment she vanishes from sight the smile falls from her lips.

"We should be ah checkin' the map."

"That's just what I was thinking." She sighs as Harry leaves to collect the map.

Though she didn't have to see it to know T wasn't at the cove anymore.

Gil frowns as he turns towards Daniel curled on the other side of Deez before he turns back to them, "I'm sure he has a good reason."

She sighs, "he has a whole list full of good reasons."

Wasn't that why Faustina wrote the report? To explain her brother's absence.

Gil groans as he runs a hand down his face and takes a deep breath, "I mean he's been so good lately, it has to be a really, really, really, good reason."

Her eyes drop to Deez.

Time.

T's reason was time.

She huffs as she settles next to Deez, resting her back against Gil's chest.

They had shit to do, but she was also constantly thinking about her Baby Girl.

That was the reason.

Had to be.

Harry slips next to them and wraps his arm around Gil's shoulder, "ya be wantin' the news ya already be knowin, or the good news?"

"T left," she nods at the confirmation, "what's the good news?"

"Beam be with 'im."

"I know I be cuttin' yer hair already, this just be ah washin'."

Daniel shakes his head as he crosses his arms over his chest.

Harry purses his lips.

Really?

Could this kid be any more like T?

He flinches at the reminder.

It was stupid. This time, they knew what T was doing.

Where he was.

Hell, he'd even made sure to take someone with him.

They both even checked in regularly.

He sighs, finally getting a better understanding of the fate Uma desperately wanted to avoid.

Waiting.

Watching paper for news.

This was the third day since they'd left, and he wasn't the only one making up things to do to keep his sanity.

Worry about T and Beam as they searched for the answers to Faustina's, and truly everyone's, questions.

Fear for Deez, who still hadn't woken up, even though they stopped giving her the sleep drink days ago.

Dread over the food situation. They'd managed to stretch their rations out with their last food raid, but with so many mouths to feed, it wasn't going to last long.

It was a problem that they never really managed to solve, only delay.

"Ya really should listen to Harry. After Uma, he's in charge ya know." Gil reminds Daniel with a shake of his head. "He's jus' tryin' ta make ya nice for when Faustina an' T get back."

Daniel pouts as his head tilts thoughtfully before he sighs and nods.

He chuckles as he ruffles Daniel's hair, "good Lil' Demon." He winks at Gil over the boy's head.

Daniel narrows his eyes before he nips at his hand.

"That be bein' fair, I did be ah hearin' that be how ya be gettin' yer name."

Daniel huffs as he nods his head with a snap of his teeth.

Gil quickly covers a snort. "That ain't nice."

"He jus' be ah playin', aye Demon."

Daniel turns to blink up at him innocently.

He snorts as he walks over to claim his grooming kit, "I'm ah take that for ah yes."

Daniel shrugs.

He sighs, once again seeing T in the 'if it makes you sleep better at night' look.

Gil furrows his brow as he studies Daniel curiously, "Angel's gonna be upset if ya hurt Harry's feelings."

Daniel rolls his eyes before he lets out a huge, exasperated sigh.

"There," Gil chuckles, "best you're probably gettin'."

"Aye," he snorts, "ya be the little brother we all never be ah knowin' we be wantin'."

Daniel grins.

He ruffles Daniel's hair again, "come on then, Uma should be gettin' back with the Ol' Man soon, she'll be wantin' ya ta work on yer swimmin' again."

The small boy nods before he starts walking to the door with another sigh.

This was what life had become.

Check the book. Find a distraction. Check on Deez. Find a distraction. Check on Uma. Find a distraction. Check the book. Repeat.

But no distraction was enough to take the edge off wondering what the next hour would bring.

What the darkness hid.

What the enemy was planning.

Still, they had to try. They had a hundred plus kids that looked to them for answers.

For everything.

He takes a deep breath before he follows Daniel down the damp cavern steps.

Bathing Daniel.

That was his current goal.

Just that.

Then he could worry about the next step.

He could do that.

This.

And right now it was the best he was going to get.

"Yo," He whispers softly as he enters the room, "anyone up?" He pauses as he looks around the room at the mound that made up their family. "No?"

He slowly backs out of the room, "okay, jus' checkin'."

There. Happy?

Hardly. What the hell was that?

You said to check in, I checked in.

Sneaking into a room to whisper at one decibel below audible is far from checking in, you ass.

Fine, you do it then.

Fearless as always.

Fuck off hag.

He yelps when something suddenly slams into his side.

His eyes narrow at the laughter.

Bitch.

Worth it.

"Shit," he breathes out before his eyes settle on two little emeralds staring up at him.

"Lil' Demon," he grins as he scoops the kid up, "missed ya too, ya lil' shit." He bumps his head against Daniel's.

"Ya weren't seriously trying to sneak off, right?"

Daniel shrinks before he taps the side of his hand to his forehead.

He straightens as he turns, "heya Umes." He grins sheepishly. "Wasn't try'na wake ya up."

"Even though I told you, specifically, to get me the moment you got back?"

"And I did." He gestures between them, "hence me, you know, here."

Uma rolls her eyes, but he could see she just didn't have any fight in her.

She was pale.

Ashen.

The bags under her eyes were worse than he'd ever seen before.

Fuck.

T, fix-

He frowns as he walks over to Uma and places a hand on her shoulder, "c'mon." He whispers as he guides her back to the pile, "sit."

"You sit." Uma demands, though the fact she plops down automatically was not lost on him.

Well, that was terrifying.

"Umes," he sighs as he secures Daniel to his hip before he settles next to her. "When the fuck is the last time ya slept?"

"Two minutes ago."

He sighs, great.

He frowns as he looks between Uma and Daniel before he grins, "here-" He pulls Daniel forward, "hold'im."

Daniel glares at him in betrayal, but allows himself to be passed.

"Ya need it too," he rolls his eyes.

"An' what, you don't?" Uma glares.

"I mean, I can probably go another day-"

"Shut the fuck up. I know you didn't sleep on the damn Isle. Beam was writing me too, ya know."

He sighs, "I'm used to it though Umes-"

"I swear to fucking every gods damn god that has ever-"

"Ssshh-" He leans forward to press a finger to her lips, "you're gonna wake everyone up." He teases before he guides them down into the furs. "I won't hear shit ya say with you lookin' like this anyway."

"Then shut yer damn eyes," Uma snaps, "it ain't gettin' better until we have a fuckin' direction to go. So fucking out with it."

He lifts his brow, studying her as he slides his hand into his bag.

"Look," he sighs as he wraps his arms around her and Daniel, "I ain't lettin ya be the big spoon, so live with it."

"You live with it." Uma grumbles.

He sighs as he kisses her temple, "I'm home okay? We'll figure the rest out in the morning, I promise. On my-" his eyes narrow before he sighs, "look, I promise, I'll be here when you wake up."

Uma sighs as she threads their fingers together, "ya better be. An' T?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks, for knowing ta take Beam. An'-"

He frowns at the hesitation.

"An' for, knowing we couldn't handle what needed to be done."

Her tone makes his chest tighten.

"Umes," he pulls her and Daniel closer, "it doesn't matter who did it, jus' matters it got done."

"Mate," Harry sighs softly as he lifts his head to look over Gil's shoulder, "she be back ta sleepin'. But, ya should be takin' what she be offerin'. Probably be the closest thing ta 'I be agreein' with what ya did' ya ever be gettin'."

Huh.

He looks down at Uma before he turns back to Harry, "I don't need her to agree with me. I need her to put up with me despite that. Distinct difference."

He frowns at Faustina's exasperated sigh.

What?

You're missing the point.

What's the point?

How to explain in a way you can understand?

Have you tried not sounding like a condescending cunt? That might help.

Uma isn't mad this time, she appreciates it.

But-

"What makes this time different?"

Harry snorts as he lays back down, "the fact ya be right."

He closes his mouth.

He'd been right?

"Yeah, well, can't fuck up all the time." He shrugs, "guys might not want me around."

"Can'nah be gettin' rid o' us that easy."

"Beam is convinced I have a horse shoe shoved up my ass."

"Aye, ah theory we all be startin' ta agree with."

He snorts, "some of it is skill."

"Right ya be-" Harry yawns, "but also, yer horseshoe ass ain't somethin' we be wantin' ta test."

Better his ass than theirs.

He frowns, "go ta sleep Hook."

"Just shakin' ah scary dream, thanks fer talkin'."

He frowns, "sorry. Hope ya have better luck this round."

"Yer here, we can all be sleepin' ah bit better now."

His eyes drop to Uma.

Was he the reason she looked so run down?

"Sorry."

"Ain'nah somethin' ta be sorryin'," Harry lifts his head above Gil's shoulder again, "just ah fact. It be feelin' better when we all be here."

"I get that," he breathes out, "but I'm back now, so try ta sleep. Please. I wasn't expectin' to find her looking like shit. An' I bet you ain't much better."

"Mate, ain'nah nobody lookin' good with all that we ain'nah knowin' right now, but aye," Harry vanishes as he lays back down, "peaceful-like sleep be soundin' real nice."

"Night." He offers as he pulls Uma and Daniel towards him securely, wanting nothing more than to protect them from their nightmares.

"Night, ta both o' ya."

OM-Fucking-G! That last scene was too cute.

Actually, most of the scenes in this one were fucking adorable. You're welcome.

I know it's been pretty rough lately so it was nice to throw in some fluff.

What do you think about Gil thinking to give Diz a book?

And seriously, how much longer is Deez going to sleep? T was gone for three days, and so has the book.

At least T is fucking learning and took Beam-

Which hopefully you are taking a liking too-

Speaking of Daniel. Thoughts?

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted