darker_london | Clock strikes three in the morning and I lie sleepless

Val had no outlet for her current stress. Usually she would just run a little more than usual, but she wasn't going to leave Danny's side even for small sections of time, let alone to take off around the block. And so the world had become just her and Danny, and for now Val was okay with that. She knew that she would give her life to protect Danny from having to come into contact with her half-brother again.

When Danny slept, Val watched him, not reaching out to stroke his forehead, not wanting to wake him. But she wanted to hold him all the time, keeping her arms strong around him like an unbreakable wall. It couldn't ever work like that though.

Very late into Saturday night, unable to sleep, Val crept out of the living room where they had dragged their mattresses to sleep. Val couldn't even stand the idea of him sleeping somewhere where she wasn't that close by. She picked up the phone in the kitchen and looked back to Danny again. He slept, and Val was glad.

Outside the air was still and warm and Val dialed as she pulled the door closed behind her, resting against it. Cars on streets that weren't hers were one of the only sounds Val could hear as she listened to the dialtone of her older brother's phone.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Max wasn't a deep sleeper at the best of times. He had four dogs, and he was used to waking up at the slightest sound just to make sure they were all okay. It wasn't the dogs this time, however, and he blinked into the darkness as he reached for this phone.

It was late and Max worried. When he read who was calling, he worried even more.

"Val," he said, trying not to sound as frantic as he felt. "Val, what's wrong?" His hand stumbled about trying to turn on the lamp so he could find his shoes if necessary.

At the sound of his comforting voice, val found herse crying. Which suddenly meant she was saying 'i'm okay' to reaasure him but doing it through tears. She wiped at her face and said "sorry. Its been a long couple of days here. I just really need to talk yo someone. "

When he heard his sister crying, his first instinct was to rush out of the house and find her so he could comfort her. He had no idea where she lived, however, so that wasn't going to be possible.

"I'm sorry, Val," he sand gently. "You know you can talk to me. What's wrong?"

It took her a while to gather herself and she was glad that Max was patient with her. Eventually she took a few deep breaths

"We think that Greg is in London," she told him, peeking back through the window to make sure Danny was still asleep. "Danny thinks he's seen him twice and maybe its just him imagining things - I hope it is that - but it's been a long time since he used to think he saw him. We've talked to the police. A lot. But..I'm just so scared. "

Hearing their little brother's name made Max grind his teeth together in anger. "I hope it's just him seeing things too, but in case it's not, are you staying safe?"

"Yeah, I haven't left his side and we're both sleeping in the living room. I don't think he's going to come looking for him, but I'd rather be overprotective than let anything happen. Again." VAL's guilt over everything that had happened was stronger than anything else and right now it felt crippling.

"I don't blame you at all, I'd be doing the same thing. And you know you didn't let anything happen, Val. That was all our shithead brother. Do you need me to talk to the police as well?"

Val didn't have it in her to have the same old yes it was/no it wasn't argument about fault tonight. She lacked the energy to pretend Max was right.

"You could try, but I don't think it would change anything. The police are looking out for him. They're taking it seriously. "

"I'm glad to hear that," Max said honestly. "I'll keep my eyes peeled as well, though if I see him I'll have a hard time not kneecapping him. How's Danny doing?"

"About as well as you'd imagine, but at least he's managing to get some sleep." Even if she suspected he would wake up from nightmares, no sleep was worse. "I have no idea what to do. I don't want to let Danny out of my sight, bit Greg could be wandering around London for years without bring picked up."

"I'm glad he's sleeping," Max said, and he meant it. He knew Danny suffered nightmares, but sleep was necessary and without it, he'd feel worse.

"While that's true, if it was Greg, Danny might never see him again. He's never run into me randomly. London's a big city. Though I can't imagine he'll want to be alone for a long time yet either. Maybe if you can't be there, make sure he's with friends? It might feel a bit like getting him a babysitter, but safe is better, isn't it?"

Clock strikes three in the morning and I lie sleepless - Val, Max

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject