"Thank you for taking care of me,"

I glanced up at Hayden, noting the sincerity within her gaze. Her voice had been that of a mere whisper, far from the teasing tone I had been subjected to thus far.

Offering her a smile, I answered, "Of course."

The once pale skin of her ankle now throbbed with a fiery hue, a nasty purple bruise already blooming where the cleats had impacted her.

I longed to lean forward, to plant a kiss upon it in the hopes of taking away her lingering pain, yet had so far managed to hold myself in check.

If only barely.

I wound the gauze around her ankle gently, tight enough to compress but not enough to hinder the circulation as her skin slowly disappeared under the beige linen.

"How's that feel?" I asked as I glanced up at her once more, meeting her gaze.

With a nod, she offered me a shy smile as my fingers lingered just below her knee. I was loath to release my hold of her - the smoothness of her skin titillating under the pads of my fingertips.

It was off kilter seeing her so vulnerable - her usually gregarious self only appearing in glimpses of wit and teasing comments.

This side of Hayden was something I wasn't used to, yet I couldn't help but notice how easily it appealed to the more basic sides of my being. My protective side rearing up within me, wanting nothing more than to hold her close and soothe her pain.

"Where did Grayson Shaw learn first aid?"

Her lips held a small smile, pain medication slightly dulling her once vibrant eyes.

"Well the Canadian government was nice enough to spend all that money on training me how to kill - so they figured might as well teach me how to stay alive while they were at it."

Her features softened, eyes narrowing slightly. "I'm glad they did. I don't ever want to lose you."

I simply nodded, not trusting myself to speak in response to her confession. Her words sat heavy in my chest - that all too familiar ache resonating outwards once more. Reignited once more by her words.

"Do you have an ice pack?" I finally asked as I finished securing the gauze in place.

Her hair sashayed slightly, now hanging free to her shoulders, as she nodded. "There should be one in the freezer,"

I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder as I stood up, "I'll get it."

The smile I was rewarded with was nearly blinding, like that of looking into the sun.

Her kitchen was similar in appearance to my mom's, the only difference being the large marble counter top island that sat within the middle - leather backed bar stools tucked underneath the lip.

I had to hunt through the freezer to find an ice pack, shifting half opened containers of ice cream along with bags of french fries and the like before finally uncovering one at the bottom.

I returned to the living room, and to where I had left Hayden, not even a minute later - a victorious grin upon my face as I held the ice pack above my head in triumph.

"My hero," She sighed softly, eyes fluttering.

Sitting beside her on the couch, I pulled her leg gently into my lap before resting the ice pack along the outside of her ankle.

"How's that?"

"Cold,"

"Really? I figured the ice pack would be warm. I must have grabbed the wrong one by mistake,"

"You're such a dick."

My bark of laughter filled the room, her face not appearing at all impressed with my sarcasm.

Her glare didn't bother me. Not in the slightest. Instead I took far too much enjoyment in getting under her skin - getting her back in the way that she was so oft of doing to me.

I watched as she leaned back against the couch cushions, eyes slowly closing in relaxation. With the ice pack in hand pressed against her ankle, I was content to merely watch her as the silence spread on between us. I felt no need to speak, to shatter the silence, as it felt comforting - two people at ease with each other.

It was nearly twenty minutes later that Hayden eventually stirred, her eyes cracking open as she regarded me. I met her gaze unflinching, wondering what she was thinking as the silence continued to stretch on between us.

"It's starting to get really cold," Hayden finally said, eyes shifting away from mine towards where I still held the thawing pack against her.

"And just as it was about to turn into one of those warm ice packs you wanted." I muttered, removing the pack from her leg before setting it down on the coffee table.

"I will kick you," Hayden threatened, her attempt at a glower only making her appear cuter - like that of a petulant child.

"You'll just hurt your other foot," I warned, smirking.

---

"Dalton got it for me when I turned sixteen."

I nodded as I glanced down at the grande piano that dominated the middle of the room. I understood now why it had been nearly five-thousand dollars. It was a thing of beauty, the cherry oak color appearing sleek yet contemporary.

"I remember him telling us. He was so proud of you,"

Her eyes were glistening slightly as I turned back towards her, the ghost of a smile tugging the corners of her lips upwards.

"He was?" She asked, her voice a mere whisper. I had to strain just to hear the words. Had we been outside, a gentle breeze would have stolen them away - of that, I was sure.

"Of course. The asshole would never shut up about you half the time." I was quick to answer, my grin dispelling any heat within my words. "Your brother thought the world of you, Hayden."

The tears slowly began to fall, cascading down her cheeks as rain drops would before falling to the hardwood flooring below.

"Oh, no, no." I said softly, stepping towards her.

She was instantly moving into my embrace, arms winding their way around me as she pulled herself against me. Hard.

My hands nearly spanned the width of her back, reminding me just how slender and frail she was compared to me. With a softness that belied who I was; I stroked her back softly, feeling the ridges of her spine through the fabric of her sweater even as her heartbeat erratically.

It was like that of a bird within a cage, wings fluttering against the steel bars of her ribs.

She trembled within my arms, my sweater soaking up her tears as they continued to fall. The occasional hiccup reached me, yet she was quiet for the most part - silently weeping as she reminded me that she too had lost just as much as I had. If not more.

Her weeping eventually tapered off, face tilting up slightly as her eyes opened.

Pale green eyes held me rooted in place, emotions flitting through their depths as if they were playing upon a movie screen. Lingering tears made her irises appear glossy, shifting left and right as she studied me.

I wondered what she saw within my own blue eyes. Could she see the pain that lingered below the surface, the touch of madness that seemed to hang upon the fringe of my being? Could she see that at the core of who I was that I was little more than that of a killer?

As my own thoughts raged within me, I reached up to wipe away the last few lingering tears with the pad of my thumbs. I hated seeing their presence, the sight on her pain.

Once more I could only marvel at the softness of her skin, the smoothness akin to silk, as heat radiated off of her.

Her lips drew my gaze, slightly parted and appearing pouty. I could feel my heart quicken, a staccato within my chest just threatening to take flight.

I longed to lean forward, to claim her lips with my own. Thoughts of what she might taste like flitted through my mind, how passionate would she be as I dragged her against me - wanting nothing more than to leave her breathless and undoubtedly mine.

It was only Hayden's words that tempered my growing lust, a blush emerging, as she said "My ankle is starting to hurt..."

Without another thought I ushered her to the piano bench - smiling to myself as I realized I was fawning over her as if a mother would.

"I don't think I've played since before Dalton passed,"

I turned slightly to regard Hayden, noting the expression on her face. It was like that of sadness mixed with longing - like she was meeting an old friend, yet didn't know what to say.

I hated the thought that she had lost not only her brother, but also her desire to play. If Dalton was to be believed, all the comments over the years, music was as much to her in life as breathing was. Integral.

"Will you play something for me?" I asked, my shoulder resting against hers.

"I don't know..."

"Please," I asked softly as her eyes met mine, indecision and shyness so obvious within the depths of her jade eyes. "For me?"

Her slight nod, a bashful smile, made my heart sing.

Dainty fingers slowly raised the key lid before her hands slid across the width of the keys - hovering a hair's breadth away as her fingers curved backwards slightly.

Idly I wondered if it was some ritual she did, content to ask her about it later.

I stared transfixed as she studied the keys almost reverently, her fingers settling gently upon the first keys in an almost tender caress. The first notes began slowly, echoing through the room before more joined in to create a soulful harmony - her fingers moving to and fro before her voice soon joined in.

I'll wrap up my bones

And leave them

Out of this home

Out on the road

Two feet standing on a principle

Two hands longing for each other's warmth

Cold smoke seeping out of colder throats

Darkness falling, leaves nowhere to go

I was mesmerized, hypnotized, as Hayden sung softly, her voice reminding me of that of a loon's call - haunting and eerie. It tugged at the melancholy within me - stirring memories of loneliness that never existed.

It's spiraling down

Biting words like a wolf howling

Hate is spitting out each others mouths

But we're still sleeping like we're lovers

Still with feet touching

Still with eyes meeting

Still our hands match

Still with hearts beating

Still with feet touching

Still with eyes meeting

Still our hands match

Still with hearts beating

Still with feet touching

Still with eyes meeting

Still our hands match

Still with hearts beating

Goosebumps spread across my arms as I lost myself in Hayden's voice, enchanted by the pain that was wrung from every note. I longed for it to never end - fearing that I would be left hollow in the wake of her voice receding.

Two feet standing on a principle

Two hands digging in each others wounds

Cold smoke seeping out of colder throats

Darkness falling, leaves nowhere to move

It's spiraling down

Biting words like a wolf howling

Hate is spitting out each others mouths

But we're still sleeping like we're lovers

Still with feet touching

Still with eyes meeting

Still our hands match

Still with hearts beating

Still with feet touching

Still with eyes meeting

Still our hands match

Still with hearts beating

Still with feet touching

Still with eyes meeting

Still our hands match

Still with hearts beating

An irrational fear stormed into my being. A fear that I would never hear the softness of her voice again. Like a junkie I immediately looked forward to my next fix - longing for the music of her soul even as her notes continued to echo around me.

I was left bare, an exposed nerve.

Two feet standing on a principle

Two hands longing for each others warmth

Cold smoke seeping out of colder throats

Darkness falling, leaves nowhere to go...