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Nic caught the first pillow, but he didn't react to the second, letting it bounce off of him and onto the ground as he stood still. After a moment he swayed a little like she had hit him with something much harder than a pillow.

He wondered absentmindedly why he was still standing there as Laurel sobbed. His mind was flashing violently of memories long forgotten that going into the coma had resurfaced. Things he had once chosen to forget. They were dragging him back into that place Laurel hated him going as his eyes grew fuzzy.

But... he had to fight it off. It would hurt Laurel even more if he left again. He stumbled forward a little, each sob resounding in his head as images flashed past his eyes. He tripped on the pillow, half falling on the bed. He needed to touch her - he needed to come back to the present where he was stronger now. Where he wasn't helpless. He slowly reached out to put a hand on her arm.

When Nic touched her arm he could feel how badly she was shaking. After a moment she tried to shove his hand away.

Nic's hand fell away as he started to shake a little too. He started a little as he got lost in the memories, but then came back again. He tried to say something, but it didn't come out. So he kept trying until he managed to whisper something he hadn't said since he was a child, "... H... Help..."

Laurel reacted slowly, looking over at Nic through her tears. She had her own memories flashing before her. Of her parents fighting and yelling, of violence and abuse. Did she really trust Nic enough for this? Did she trust it would be different with him? That he wasn't like her father? She watched Nic, struggling to fight whatever was in his past and made her decision.

She reached down, wrapping her arms around his neck and cradling his head against her chest, "A-Always..." she whispered through her sobs as she rested her tear stained cheek on the top of his head.

It wasn't clear how much that actually helped. He kept fighting, but he was swallowed by the past once again. He had lasted a little longer this time, some sweat dripping down his forehead.

Laurel stayed where she was for a long time. Then she slowly pulled him all the way onto the bed and wrapped one of the blankets around him loosely. Slowly, she tried to stand. It was as hard as she had anticipated. She soon gave up walking and since no one would see her anyway, crawled to the bathroom.

The light was already on in the bathroom. There were two fresh towels laying by the side of the tub she could probably use to get into the tub. There was also a little table with a plate of some more fruit along with some bubble soap and a face washcloth.

Laurel would have smiled in different circumstances, she was only interested in getting into the tub. She carefully maneuvered her way in. She closed her eyes and stayed in the tub for a long time.

Nic was out for a little over an hour. Then he got up and went looking for Laurel.

Laurel was still in the tub, nothing around her was touched. Not the food or the towels. She had her eyes closed and was laying perfectly still.

Nic glanced in the bathroom before quickly looking away. He closed the door quietly, leaving it just a crack open before going to the kitchen to get something else to eat.

Laurel still didn't move. The water was probably getting cold by now.

--

"Missy!" Rosen exclaimed excitedly as he burst into her room without a shirt on.

Nic let it go a good while longer before going back to the bathroom and knocking gently on the door.

--

Missy sighed a little. She had got her weekly dose of Rosen all in that one trip. "Yeah?" she asked him as she did something on her pad.

Laurel still didn't move or say anything.

--

"Look what I got!" he grinned, holding up the newest, not even released yet video game from an insanely popular action franchisee. The players formed teams and fought against each other. "C'mon, let's play! We'll kick everyone else's butts!"

Nic waited before knocking again a little louder.

--

Missy blinked at the game in Rosen's hands before rolling her eyes. "... If the game isn't out yet - then there won't be anyone online to fight against," she informed him.

Still nothing.

--

"No, there will be people like us. Only hardcore gamers," he nodded still grinning.