Lanny Zelkovii

He'd been in the hospital enough by now, between injuries from himself and to other gang members in various scuffles, to know pretty well how to get around the place. Moving along at a quick clip, Lanny moved past the main corridor and to the elevator that took him to the third floor. Between there and room 318, he'd been warned twice by various staff not to run, and after hastily apologizing, he continued to sprint through the halls until he came to the designated room that Johann had informed him off. Pausing outside just long enough to gain his composure back, Lanny slowly eased the door open and peeked inside, instantly sweeping the room with his eyes to determine who was all there, and how Cassidy looked.

Cassidy*Others

Unfortunately, the first gaze the frantic young man was offered was not of the room or of Cassidy - but of a heavy-set older lady in a nurse's uniform. "Sorry dearie," she rumbled, and didn't sound the least bit regretful. "She's resting, and she's not to be disturbed. Her bulky frame blocked the whole door - she'd apparently been on her way out - and prevented him from seeing anything inside the room. But before the situation could get ugly, the small, spry figure of Johann appeared behind the enormous woman, and his familiar voice murmured, "It's alright nurse. I sent for him." She looked back over one meaty shoulder to glare at Johann, who despite the fact that he was dwarfed by her size never looked the least bit uneasy. Instead, he smoothly continued, "He's the father." Well, that at least got the reaction they wanted - sort of. She grunted harshly, as if not believing him but not about to call him out on the lie, and turned a glance to Lanny to get him to move so that she could pass through the door.

Lanny Zelkovii

In town, his status allowed him to slide past most minor things without trouble, but the hospital was a slightly different arena. Sprinting down the halls was frowned upon, but arguing with nurses most certainly was not one thing he could do. Unlike the police force, most of them were not swayed either way by the politics of the city. Lanny was in the process of trying to sweet talk the nurse, or considering waiting just out of sight until she left, but then Johann did something quiet surprising. Luckily for Lanny, his briefly widened eyes weren't seen by the nurse when she turned to look back at the man.

Lanny obligingly scooted aside to let the lady through, while digesting the little cover-up that Johann had given. Well, sure... he could be 'father', couldn't he? Of course, that would really put quite the twist on the rumors that were spreading around. Once the nurse had left, Lanny stepped inside the room, darting Johann a slightly raised-brow look, but not saying anything until he'd crossed the room to be by Cassidy's bed. "Are you feeing better, Cass?"

Cassidy*Others

If Johann saw the look Lanny darted his direction, he never made any sort of response to it. Instead, he moved back over and seated himself on the provided couch, where he was on the opposite side from Lanny but still near to the girl. She was lying on her side, her face toward the younger man, and true to the nurse's grumbled words, her eyes were closed, but they flicked open so quickly when he spoke to her that she couldn't have been asleep. And her face - a little bit pale, but otherwise looking altogether fine and like herself - smiled easily at him. "All this fuss for a teensy iron deficiency," she told him, waving a hand vaguely at the hospital room in an all-inclusive gesture, and the pixie-like tone in her voice was real-Cass; other than the small issue of her passing out, she was apparently perfectly fine enough to be a smart-aleck. Then she brandished an arm full of little bandaids for him to see, and murmured, "You wouldn't believe what they've poked me with because of it."

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny seated himself in a chair after scooting it a little closer towards her bed. Hearing that she sounded like her normal self, and aside from the paling, looked more or less alright, he felt more assured that it was not a serious ailment that had beset her. But that didn't stop him from teasing her in a friendly voice, "A 'teensy deficiency' that has you passing out and staying at the hospital? It doesn't sound so minor to me." His face crinkled up a little at the show of bandaids over her arm, "That looks like fun." He wasn't the anti-needle guy that Benjamin was, but he would gladly avoided them whenever possible. Turning down from the joking half of their greeting, Lanny's expression softened by some degree, "How long are they going to keep you in here?"

Cassidy*Others

"I just stood up too fast," was her response, flippant in her usual way, and she coupled it with a slightly annoyed expression - she didn't think it was necessary for everybody to be fussing over her just for a small problem. "I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for the baby - they'd have sent most people home by now with the warning to drink fluids and not get too much sun. But what with the baby and my weight, they won't let me go." She shrugged a little - it was hard to tell how she felt about that as she watched Johann get to his feet and slip from the room with the soft excuse of fetching a drink for himself. But then her gaze turned back to him and she curled her arm up beside her where she could pillow her head on it, and told him, "Two days on the inside, if the iron comes up and stays steady. Longer if it doesn't."

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny wanted to go on about cautioning her, and instilling the idea that she had to take this more seriously than she was, but he let it slide as Cassidy again shrugged it off as no big deal. His only response was to lightly prod the topic at a different angle before he switched topics, "They just want to be sure all's well. I guess you do have to be a little more careful when you've got somebody else to look after." The young man didn't really notice it until Johann left, but once the man had exited the room, he felt a subtle uneasiness lift from him. "I suppose you heard what he told the nurse?" He tried to grin as he said it, attempting to make light of the subject, even if he felt a little differently about it than that, "I suppose that would stop people from asking questions. I mean, about who his real father is."

Cassidy

She took his words as the caution they were meant to be - goodness knew that Johann had probably found opportunity by now to thoroughly explain to her just why she had to stay here and couldn't sneak out and go home. However there was a little bit of an awkward pause when he referenced the excuse Johann had given the nurse to give Lanny access to the room. Not because she was upset that Johann had told the woman that - but because she didn't know whether Lanny was or not. Finally, she pulled her wandering eyes back to him, and told him softly, "I wouldn't want you to feel obligated. After all... that's going to put a lot of question to your reputation." Her voice was calm and clear, but it held a little something more as she said that - it was hard to tell just what it was, only that it was something else.

Lanny Zelkovii

It was only after Lanny had spoke up on the comment that he realized he'd talked before giving any thought to the words. Some of the sureness in his expression diminished, revealing a faintly nervous appearance, which he did his best to cover up, "I doesn't matter either way, I s'pose." Again trying to play off the significance of it, the young man shrugged one shoulder as he let his eyes rove over the various machines in the room. After a telling pause, he looked back to Cassidy, "I mean, I guess it would help you, and stop people from asking who the father is." Despite the amount of silence he'd allowed for, he still hadn't thought ahead about the words that spilled out of his mouth, talking without realizing the implications of what he was suggestion.

Cassidy

She blushed a little, bringing a bit of color to the pale cheeks, suddenly feeling just as awkward about this as Lanny seemed to. There was another pause before she ventured, "Well... at least you'd be much more of a father to her than her own would have." She smiled there, because she was giving permission for the little charade, because she knew that he loved children... and because she'd just disclosed the baby's gender, all in one statement. Of course, it was a little early for ultrasounds to be definitive, so in explanation, she murmured, "Amniocentesis. A big needle goes in your belly and they tell you if the baby's at any risk for birth-defects - it's a noraml procedure with high-risk pregnancies. And it also happens to tell you the gender, while you're at it."

Lanny Zelkovii

Until just now, the baby had always been 'it' or just 'the baby', and now that the gender was revealed to him, it almost made the the little one seem more real, and personal. "A girl?" The goofy grin reappeared on his face as he spoke on this to pull himself out of the more awkward insinuations of being the child's father; and by extension, more than 'just a friend' to Cassidy in the eyes of others. He didn't fully acknowledge all of that on a conscious level, and was more than happy to forget about it at the moment. "Are you kidding... a big needle?" The mild grin was swamped by a grimace, "I'm glad I'll never have to deal with that kind of stuff."

Cassidy

"Longer than your hand," the young woman answered, grinning wickedly at Lanny's apparent uneasiness with the idea. "It's none too comfortable, I can promise you that," she continued, and one hand moved to rest protectively over her midsection, which was understandably sore. "And you just watch it - you mess with me, and I'll tell 'em they can let you have a sample." There, that was her joking voice again as she teased at him, and then murmured, "At least now we know what color clothes to buy - that's one thing about this trip that hasn't been a gross waste of time."

Lanny Zelkovii

The grin came back, even though it was still twisted a bit in a look of horror, "Uhhg, no thanks. I'll leave all that fun baby stuff to you." With the joking and easy talking reestablished, Lanny moved out of that bout of awkwardness so that he felt more like his usual self around Cassidy. Though, admittedly, the whole 'we' thing was a reminder that things were a little different now than what they use to be. "I don't know how the guys'll handle me shopping for cutesy pink dresses, but I guess that comes with the territory, doesn't it?"

Cassidy*Others

Cassidy giggled then, and adopted a mischievous look. "If they've got a problem with it, you can send 'em to me. I'll set them straight." That was a joke of course; she knew that nothing either of them could say would be liable to quiet the murmurings of this 'we' business.

"I seem to recall that I gave somebody directions to rest this afternoon." That was the low, pleasant voice of Dr. Marachek, who had moved tapped on the door frame and moved into the room. She didn't sound upset to find that Cass had a visitor however - it was more a comment to let them know she was there as she reached for Cassidy's chart and began reading it through. "You did say resting - not sleeping," Cassidy noted with a soft smile, coming down from the height of their discussion to address the physician. "Doctor, this is-"

"Laurence Zelkovii - yes, I know him." Her face even, she looked over the tops of both the chart and her reading glasses to examine Lanny closely, and then asked in an efficient, brisk sort of way, "You're the father, then?" Her tone was fast-paced, but not exactly rude - it sounded more as if she were working over the improvements in Cassidy's condition in her mind and had merely paused to have that fact accounted for before she'd move on.

Lanny Zelkovii

"If you can take a needle like that-" A swift look was cast to her stomach, his words held in mock awe, "-then I don't doubt you can handle them." Whatever more could be said about was ended when the doctor came in. Lanny immediately straighted up when she arrived, withdrawing from the conversation he'd been having with Cassidy and putting aside his joking demeanor. Lanny bobbed his head a little to acknowledge Dr. Marachek, and faltered only for a split second before responding to her question, "That's me." Well, he'd adapted to that pretty fast, even if it still felt entirely odd to be called a father. After that, he returned to silence, watching as the doctor looked over the charts, and resisting the inclination to ask if everything looked alright, and what might be done to prevent the problem from happening again.

Cassidy*Others

Just as soon as Lanny had provided her with an answer, the doctor's eyes descended to the chart again, scribbling a little note on it; Lanny had officially been entered in the 'father' slot, and was legally responsible for the child, just that quick. But she didn't put it that way, she merely spouted quickly, "I've written you in - that's a fancy phrase meaning you're now on the list of persons permitted to visit Miss Jones, so Charlotte won't be giving you any trouble anymore." More scratching sounded as she scribbled a few more things down, sending glances to the various machines keeping track of Cass' heartrate and other important things, before she hung the chart back on the foot of the bed. Then she said calmly, "Your iron's in normal ranges again, but we're going to have to keep you for observation to determine if that's going to fluctuate or not. Hello, Mr. Jones." Her voice didn't even alter as she greeted Johann, who came back into the room with a couple of Cokes and a Sprite in hand - Cassidy saw the tightness to his jaw that said he was startled that Marachek had known he was here without having to look around. But he offered her a quiet nod as he slipped past her and seated himself on the couch, asking, "Is is permissible for her to have a drink?" he hefted the Sprite, and finished, "Non-caffeinated, of course." She nodded, and he handed the second Coke to Lanny before proceeding to pop the Sprite top and hand it to Cassidy, who listened as the doctor went on, "When you're discharged, you'll be provided with an iron supplement, which you're to take once daily without fail. Is that clear?" She gave the young woman an imperious stare, and Cass nodded. "Good day, gentleman," Marachek pronounced, and turned on her heel, and was gone.

Lanny Zelkovii

From going to being a friend this morning, to now the official 'father' of Cassidy's daughter, Lanny was suddenly struck with the significance of it all when Dr. Marachek explained just what his answer had done. He played the part well enough, hiding the surprise that had snuck up on him, and looking more or less like a typical guy who was worrying over his girlfriend and their unborn little one. The silence from Lanny dragged on as Marachek continued to talk, and it was with some ongoing distraction that he took the coke from Johann and randomly thought over how well-informed the doctor was over names. His voice returned to him shortly after the doctor left, after he'd digested all that had been said, "She really knows her stuff." Murmuring this quietly, as if it might be possible for the woman to pick up on it outside of the room, Lanny snapped the tab on his can, though he didn't yet take a sip of it, "These pills she's talking about, they'll prevent this from happening again? You know, you should try eating liver - I've heard that's got a heap of iron in it."

Cassidy*Others

All of them were a little quiet in the wake of the physician's brisk, unassumed authority. When Lanny broke the silence, Johann answered quietly, "When she walks into a room, she suddenly rules it." His face was calm as he sipped his own drink. "I understand it's one of her more prominent qualities." The dryness of his voice made this a joke in Johann, and Cassidy laughed, turning over and sitting up so that she could take small sips of her Sprite. But she made a face at Lanny's suggestion. "Liver? Ugh, no thanks... I think I'd rather take the pills."

Lanny & Others

Lanny couldn't resist a laugh as well, along with a hearty nod to agree with what Johann had observed about the woman. He wasn't nearly so bothered by her quick memory of names as the older man was, but he wasn't use to giving up authority to strangers like that - and yet with Marachek, there was an aura of authority that he figured it best not to tangle with. His mirth died down soon enough, leaving him to poke a little fun at Cassidy, "You won't eat liver, but you'll dine on spinach?" The young man declined the urge to make a face this time, but he did take a decent sip of coke, as if to smother out the thought of gross taste in his mouth.

Cassidy*Others

Johann groaned aloud. "Don't mention spinach," he grumbled, and Cassidy laughed heartily at the two men, her face lighting up with the innocent enjoyment that neither of them got to see often in her. "Do you know what the function of a creature's liver is, Lanny? Because I can tell you, as much as I've been prodded the past couple of hours, I know what it does. I didn't like it before - but now?" Her eyes were wide with half-amused incredulity, her voice dripping with her teasing sarcasm. "If you knew what was in that, you'd never eat it again, I promise you."

Lanny Zelkovii

His teeth were shown more brilliantly as his mouth stretched into a broader grin; apparently, Johann wasn't all that enthusiastic about having to make midnight runs for odd food items, whether it be pudding, leafy greens, or any other oddity that Cassidy had a sudden urge for. The grin subsided when she threatened to gross him out, and it was with a mock groan that he responded, "No, I don't want to know. All I known is that it tastes perfectly delicious with onions and gravy. So you keep your spinach and I'll stick to my liver, thank you."

Cassidy*Others

"At least spinach is only a leaf, grown with water," Cass retorted, though after that she did cease any description, murmuring, "It's a pact. Just you keep it to yourself." And then she turned her smile to Johann as he reached over and planted a kiss on her forehead, revealing that he'd been very worried about her indeed, and was glad to see some of her typical temperament coming back to her. This signaled a shift in the conversation as Johann put his empty can aside, and Cass met his gaze briefly before she spoke softly to both of them. "So - what now?"

Lanny Zelkovii

Contrary to how he felt earlier, Lanny was more relaxed now than he had been. His mind was far from clear, yet he felt satisfied in how things had worked out - not that he was pleased to find Cassidy in the hospital, but it had worked to establish a new sort of bond between them, and made the startling leap from friend to fellow parent, and maybe something more. Rather than boggle his mind any more about that, Lanny preferred to keep things simple while it lasted, "There is a game on at four..." Of course, this was just a joking suggestion as he glanced at the tv mounted on the wall. "I could call James if you need; he likes to know where everyone's at."

Cassidy*Others

Yesterday I sold myself
To a fellow for five bucks
So I could buy some supper
For the beggar boy on the corner.
And I'm not sorry that I did it.
I don't miss what I have lost.
My virtue fed a hungry child today;
He'll sleep tonight with his stomach full.
I'm nobody's hero - I'm just trying to survive.

I'm not a good Samaritan.
I'm not a sweet spirit.
I'm not a kindly soul.
And I won't apologize
I won't give an excuse
I won't make a confession.

I'm nobody's hero.
I'm just trying to survive.

Cassidy reached over and swatted Lanny in a playful manner. "No more of that football! I have to stay in this place for two days, but I do not have to be bored to death while I do it." She grinned, settling back against the bed and unconsciously shifting her hand toward the bump in her middle, the smile on her face fond. She didn't seem to notice this sentiment in herself however, because she turned her attention directly to Lanny's suggestion. "That's probably a good plan - goodness knows I don't need anybody sent after me. And you might tell him Marachek's agreed to be my attending physician, while you're at it, and we didn't even have to show any muscle. That should please him."

Last night I killed an angry man
In a dark alley in the rain
And I know that when I die
I'll go to Hell for his murder.
Because I'm not sorry that he's dead.
I'm not sorry that I killed him.
His death spared a thousand babies -
They'll live and breathe and see the sun.
I'm nobody's hero - I'm just trying to survive.

I'm not a fallen angel.
I'm not a broken priest.
I'm not a jaded saint.
And I won't say that I'm sorry
I won't try to atone
I won't ask for forgiveness

I'm nobody's hero.
I'm just trying to survive.

Lanny Zelkovii

"So Johann and I have to suffering through girly programs?" An incredulous brow was lifted upward as he winced in over-dramatic reaction to her playful swat. "We'll endure it, somehow-" Before Lanny could finish, or go on to dial his brother's number, a knock came at the door. The young man glanced briefly between Johann and Cassidy before seeing to the visitor, and finding a neatly-dressed delivery boy waiting with a small vase of flowers and an eloquent note tide along the glass container.

"Delivery for Miss Jones." The young kid smiled pleasantly and handed off the gift to Lanny when he'd vaguely nodded to the fact that this was the correct room. Curiousity mingled with suspicion as he carried the vase over to Cass's bed, and handed it over to her, "The others don't know you're here, do they?" By 'others', Lanny referred to the fellow gang members, which he highly doubted knew about her being in the hospital. And he was correct on that - this was not a present from any of them, and in fact, and nothing to do with her being ill. If Cassidy opened the unsigned card, she'd find a small congratulatory note written inside, wishing her luck with her pregnancy.

Cassidy*Others

"Hey - you can leave if you want," Cassidy offered, but the glance she offered him said that the last thing she wanted was for him to leave. Her distraction was achieved, however, with the small delivery - being an old gang member and a full-time prostitute, she just wasn't much accustomed to getting attentive little presents like this. So she was quietly stunned as Lanny accepted the flowers for her. She reached out to take them from him, telling him, "No, I don't think so. I only asked Johann to call you, and I haven't made any calls myself." She sounded mystified as she reached for and unfolded the card. She hadn't been immediately suspicious at the delivery as Lanny had been - but her alarm was definitely aroused at the message inside. She paled a little more, and the beeping of the monitor betrayed her by indicating her heartrate had jumped significantly. But otherwise, she kept her cool and handed the card to Johann, her voice continuing on in an iron-clad tone. "But no one aside from the three of us and James know about the baby. And somehow, I doubt James ordered me flowers - Sheryl wouldn't like it." Johann read the card slowly a couple of times, his face unreadable, before he handed it across to Lanny. "It would probably be pointless to put it to a handwriting sample test - whoever sent it likely dictated a message to a floral attendant for them to write, possibly over the phone. I might find out something from scanning the records of the local florist shops and finding out who has placed orders recently."

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny's face was twisted into one of deep thought and slowly building anger. Either some extraordinarily perceptive gang member had noticed the little baby bump and decided to congratulate the soon-to-be mom, or the more likely - someone was toying with her. "I haven't told anyone..." Lanny stated a length, trying to trace about in his mind and figure out who knew, "James doesn't know you're here yet, and you're right about Sheryl." The frown deepened into alarm, "Unless Michael told somebody; but did he even know you were pregnant?" The young man was close to the right track, but he didn't even come close to picking out just who was behind the innocent-looking note. "Conan. It's got to be Conan - we took his brother, and he's trying to mock us now!"

Cassidy*Others

The moment that Lanny suggested Conan, Cassidy was shaking her head. "He's young and hotheaded, Lanny - but he's not a fool," she said, moving to set the heavy vase aside and closing her eyes as she put her mind to the problem. However, it was because her eyes were closed and her attention on trying to figure out who might be playing such a trick that she didn't see fire light in Johann's eyes - or remember at that moment that neither of them had yet told him exactly who the father of the child was. So she jumped a bit when his cold voice broke through the chaos of her thoughts. "What has the Carlyle clan to do with this?" Cassidy paled still further - and a moment later, bulky Charlotte was stalking in again, and fussing up a storm. "Alright, both of you out! She's supposed to be resting and the two of you are upsetting her!" Obviously, the heart monitor at the nurse's station had gone off due to the young woman's stress and elevated pulse, and Charlotte had come to break up the problem. Cassidy's voice was weak but hearable as she whispered, "No it's... it's alright. Please... let them stay, I... I promise we'll behave." She didn't open her eyes to say that, and Charlotte didn't look convinced, but finally she backed off and left the room with an ominous glare to remind them all to keep in line.

Lanny Zelkovii

For a few moments, Lanny was fully devoted to trying to figure this out, but he had very few suspects that jumped to mind. The only one that made sense to him was Conan, and though Cassidy was entirely right in the fact that the boy was smart enough not to outright anger the CrypticSilvers, Lanny was stuck on him. "I don't know Cass, he's a smart kid, but-" Johann's voice and words reminded Lanny of a rather large oversight on his part. Blue eyes sprung open wide, but it was too late to cover his tracks now. The young man set quietly enough when Charlotte came storming in, and would have remained sitting there whether or not she'd agreed to it - which thankfully worked out as Cass convinced the nurse to leave them be. He didn't look back to Johann yet, and spoke in a low voice to Cassidy, "We'll have this figured out. Whoever sent it is going to answer to the CS."

Cassidy*Others

For a long moment, there was a rushing noise in Cassidy's ears - she couldn't hear what any of them were saying, much less respond intelligently. She didn't hear Lanny's attempt at comfort - when she came back to herself, the first thing she heard was, "Sarah Cassidy Jones - I asked you a question." Obviously, as keenly as Johann understood every nuance of her behavior, he didn't realize that she'd very nearly passed out again, what with her already flat on her back and her eyes already closed. Cassidy flinched just a little at that tone in his voice - she didn't want to answer his question. She lifted her hand from her stomach, replacing it with the other so that she could grope blindly for Lanny, wanting to feel his support where she didn't think she dared open her eyes to find him for now. She swallowed hard... but didn't answer Johann.

Lanny Zelkovii

To keep Charlotte from storming back into the room, Lanny tried a trick that he had done a few times in the past, when either he or one of his friends had been in the hospital. He slipped the heart monitor from Cassidy's finger and clipped it onto one of his own, feeling confident that he could keep his heart within the 'safe' range and not set off the alarm. And judging by Johann's question, he figured Cassidy would have enough troubles to worry about past trying to keep Charlotte from storming back in. "We can talk about it later. She's tired." It was rare for Lanny to get so clipped with his words when talking to a senior gang member, whether or not he outranked them; but this time he did, and even dared to look over his shoulder and cast the man a heavy, unfrightened look before he turned back to Cassidy and took up her hand.

Cassidy*Others

She didn't even open her eyes when the pulse monitor moved off of her finger - she didn't look to see where it had gone, apparently not interested in it. But Johann's eyes made up for the lack of expression in the girl - his were lit with fire and brimstone, and that heat turned up a degree or two at the tone Lanny took with him. Fortunately, before he could snap something back and really cause a problem in the gang, his keen mind worked back over the words the younger man had spoken in that tone... and his eyes shifted to Cassidy. His gaze softened, his frown dissolved - and he sighed deeply. Finally he moved forward, and reached down a wizened hand to stroke oh-so-gently over her hair. She turned into the touch to encourage it, just as she had squeezed Lanny's hand when it took hers up - a subtle message of thanks that she would never speak aloud. The old man smiled softly then, and turned his eyes to Lanny more calmly. "Let her sleep then," he murmured quietly, and Cass smiled a little without opening her eyes to recognize the same gentle voice he'd used to soothe her to sleep when she was a child. "We needn't fuss over it for now." But as he passed by Lanny to pull the chain on the light to darken the room, he breathed into the younger man's ear, "Meanwhile, you and I can have our talk out in the hallway. This isn't a topic I'm prepared to drop, Laurence. And since she needs her rest, you get to explain to me just what the hell's goin' on here." His eyes watched Cassidy as he said this - but the lines of concern and upset were smoothing out of her face slowly as she relaxed again, and they did not return at his words - he'd been quiet enough that she hadn't heard him.

Lanny Zelkovii

As it turned out, Lanny's little switch proved futile as Cassidy slipped into dreams, and Johann switched tactics on him. With the stress-threat against her nullified, the young man suddenly felt his own heart begin to speed up when the man whispered to him just out of Cass's receding range. Closing his eyes and cursing softly under his breath, Lanny said nothing else as he switched the monitor back to the young woman's finger and slowly stood up.

He wanted to refuse the man's orders, but he had to own up to the tone he'd used with him, and the short words he'd dared against Johann. Trying to calm nerves that suddenly seemed to be on fire, Lanny moved stiffly out of the room and into the hallway as request, his facing talking on a stone-like quality. Nervous as he was, Lanny looked straight to Johann once they were both out, "She told me who the father was, and- and he's dead now."

Cassidy*Others

Johann was still fuming - but for Cassidy, the two of them had to continue to pretend that all was well, so that she would relax and sleep. So when Cassidy's hand seized Lanny's like a steel trap as he tried to draw away from her, apparently afraid he was going to leave, it was Johann who petted her shoulder and arm until her hand relaxed again and allowed the young man to escape her grip. She was already half-asleep - it didn't take more than a few soft words from him before she surrendered that last barrier and went lax against the bed.

But out in the hall, Johann was a completely different man - the heat came back to his eyes, and he cut a hand decisively to one side to cut off the explanation. "First thing's first, Lanny. What have the Carlyle's to do with my girl and her baby?"

Lanny Zelkovii

He'd learned, over the years, that Johann was a man that you didn't dare lie too, and as much as he wanted to do just that right now, it would only make things worse for him. He stiffened a little, jaws setting tight when the man cut him off in mid-explanation. A subtle show of red blossomed along his cheeks, but he managed to keep his voice in a more or less even hiss rather than let it escalate to the shout it wanted to be, "Michael was the father. He's dead now, so there's no use beating a dead horse. You'll just upset her further if you hash this out with her later, so save it." He was pushing his luck again, only because it was Cassidy who he was trying to save from a later interrogation, "I don't know who sent that letter, by my bet is on Conan, cause we took his little brother. Past that... your guess is as good as mine."

Johann

There was a long moment that passed between them where Johann looked like he wanted to strangle Lanny where he stood - only one thing held him back from this right now, and it was the idea of how it would upset the girl to wake up to a dead friend. But after a tense few seconds, the anger fizzled - and then melted away, and the man let out a low whistle. "Wow." At first, that was all he could say, and then he took off on a completely different topic without touching on Michael at all. "I'll give you something Lanny - you just surprised me, and that's a hard thing to do, these days. You love her enough to lay into me for it... and that's saying something. Didn't know you had it in you."

Lanny Zelkovii

The alarm would surely be going off right now if he still had the monitor on, for there was a great deal of apprehension and a slight touch of nervous regret swirling beneath his bold facade. Those were by far the most defiant words he'd ever thrown at Johann, for for a few terrifying seconds, he thought he might have pushed things too far. However, when the older man replied, it was Lanny's turn to be a little shocked, and only because the man hadn't laid into him in return. "Who said I lov..." His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles paled white. He was about to denounce Johann's observation, but in the midst of saying it, he realized that man had hit on something. There came that awkward feeling again, and it was with a little less sturdiness that he finished off, "Is there anything else you need to know?"

Johann

This situation could have been made infinitely more awkward if Johann had chosen to pursue the topic - which he could have, since Lanny had cut himself off in the middle of a sentence and hadn't denied his observation. But fortunately, he chose not to - instead, he shifted into a significantly less threatening stance and regarded the younger man calmly, not providing any expression on his face for Lanny to go by in figuring out what he was thinking about. "Alright - Michael's a hell-forsaken bastard for ever laying eyes on her, but he's dead and I can't do more than kill him. At the least, he'll never touch her again. What about Conan - he's guns like you and me, and a deadshot if rumor holds true. I know everything about him - but I've never met him personally, so I rely on you for this - is he a danger to her? Would he try to hurt her or the baby if he thought it might get him his brother back?"

Lanny Zelkovii

His composure held out, but the internal swirl of emotions were making their subtle way to the surface in the way of a cold sweat that broke out along his forehead. Lanny was thinking desperately of what he should say to Johann in regards to his feelings about Cassidy, which was hard enough when even he didn't fully understand it. When Johann picked up on an entirely different topic, it took Lanny by surprise, but at least let him relax just a smidgen. At a snail's pace, the tension slowly began to ride out of him, but he couldn't compete with the skills of the older man when it came to switching from one emotion to the next. "He's never been a problem until recently. I don't know much about the kid, and I think Sheryl and James are a bigger target than Cass." He spoke that in honesty, but because he was leaning towards the idea that Conan was behind the letter, he added onto his statement, "But Cass and I were the ones that went after him, so... I don't know. I think he's a threat to keep around."

Johann

Johann was carefully piecing together the issues in his head - he couldn't hold a candle to the intense and manipulative conversation that often occurred between Ben and Cass, but Johann was capable of his own method of reasoning, in that aspect. He hadn't lived so long in a gang without learning a few things. His face creased up in concentration as he worked through the issues - and then clear amazement showed on his face as something apparently occurred to him. "Hellfire and damnation, Lanny!" he whispered, snapping his fingers for emphasis. "What if it isn't Cass that's his target? What if it's you?" It was a random comment at first, but he was quick to explain. "If he's so upset about losing his brother again, he's likely defensive over him, and liable to be jealous over whomever among us holds the greatest part of the little guy's affections. And that ain't Sheryl, Lan. That'd be you."

Lanny Zelkovii

He was so worked up over Cassidy's safety that the thought of his life being in danger hadn't ever crossed his mind. It was something that he dealt with so often being in a gang that it just didn't bother him as much as it ought to, and even with the deaths of his cousins, he still felt as though he were invisible against it all. "As long as she's off the radar, I'll take the heat." The young man muttered, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt a twinge of anxiety. Conan may not have an army at his command, but he was as sly and resourceful as ever. And he'd given the redhead more than enough reason to warrant an assassination attempt for stealing his little brother away; twice now. "Let him just try and make a mark on me - it'll be the last thing he does."

Johann

Johann shook his head a bit. "That's what I'm saying, Lanny. If he sent that note earlier, he obviously knows you're here, and knows that Cass is here." He paused, and lowered his voice still further. "There's already rumors going around, Lanny - about you and Cass, and what's going on between you. A couple of innocent but perceptive people have noticed her bump, and they're slowly raising questions as to who the father is. And with the two of you being together as much as you've been lately, what answer do you think they're going to come up with? If he's as bright as you think he is, he'll use her - and the baby - to get to you."

Lanny Zelkovii

Rather than get uncomfortable all over again about the whole relationship issue, Lanny was focused entirely on the aspect of a danger against Cassidy, and who had only recently become his official daughter. "He's way over his head if he thinks he can toy with us and get away with it." Lanny hissed, revealing a mood that only set into him when someone in his extended gang family was threatened. Only, that mood was doubled in intensity now that it was Cass they were talking about, "We've got two days to get him, while she's here in the hospital. I'll figure something out."

Johann

The old man's face was hard - he liked no more than Lanny the idea that Conan was striking against the girl. What neither of them could understand, of course, because they didn't really know his personality well, was the fact that Conan might have struck against Cassidy, but if he'd known about the baby... he would have left her alone. One of the few palpable soft spots the teen had left was a need to look after and care for small children, and even though Cass' daughter would likely be a child he would never see, Conan would have never threatened either of them, particularly not with Cassidy pregnant and her health already delicate enough as it was. As it stood, neither man knew that, and so Johann said softly, "Tell me what you need me to do." This was unusual in him - for the most part, Johann was aloof from everyday gang activities. He was to old to be considered an active fighter, though he was good in a pinch - he mostly sat in front of his computer all day and gave updates to steer their attacks, and thus he was generally not exempt, but set apart from taking orders. That he offered his obedience now spoke subtly as to how concerned he was over Cass at the moment - he would follow whatever orders Lanny gave him.

Lanny Zelkovii

With the true culprit behind the message as far from Lanny's list of suspects as one could get, the young man was stuck in a narrow-minded rut, dead set on Conan being the one they were after. Not realizing the depth at which the redhead cared for the young, it never crossed Lanny's thoughts that he'd never threaten a pregnant woman or do anything to harm a child. "I need to know his habits. I'd be easiest to ambush him at the Wallock's, but they're causing enough trouble as it is with the ACPD. He's got to be alone."

Johann

Johann froze for a moment or two as his keen ears caught the rustling of sheets - Cass was shifting restlessly in her sleep, and he quieted himself instantly until the ceasing of the noise said that she'd settled again. The pale blue eyes shone with keenness as Johann worked over his infinite mental store of information, but found it lacking in reference to any habits the teen might have. "I need my computer..." he murmured half to himself, and then looked up to meet the younger man's gaze again. "You'll stay with her?" It was a question, but he thought perhaps he already knew the answer. "I can have the information you need in a couple hours' time... but I don't want her to wake up alone."

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny was darting a look towards the door when he too heard the shuffle of sheets. It didn't take him any thought to answer Johann's question, either, "I'll stay with her." He'd nodded to the man to show he heard and understood his following information, and was about to slip into the room when he was struck by a sudden notion. Pausing briefly, Lanny looked back at the other, "James isn't to catch wind of this. It's personal, and I don't want the others involved." His elder brother might not be happy when he found out he was making calls without his consent, but this was his battle, and he was going to fight it. Leaving Johann with that request, Lanny crossed the room and planted himself in the chair next to Cass's bed, reclaiming his hold on her hand.

Johann

He hadn't expected Lanny to refuse staying with Cassidy - now that he understood more thoroughly the relationship that had grown between the young people, and in particular the powerful defense that the young man was prepared to put up to spare the girl pain, he was quite content with the relationship as it stood. He didn't even offer a repeat of his threat if Lanny ever hurt her - he knew now that the last thing the young man wanted was to hurt her. So he nodded and then turned his attention to the last order that had been given. "What's personal?" he asked in a mock mystified way, his face deadpan as he asked it. That was as much confirmation as he'd get that Johann wasn't going to squeal. And then, he was gone.

Cassidy shifted in the semi-darkness of the room, scooting a little closer to the edge of the bed as Lanny took up her hand again. It was a couple of seconds before her eyes flicked open again, and thankfully looked far more sturdy and Cassidy-like than they had been before she'd gone to sleep, even though the whole scope of Lanny and Johann's discussion had lasted maybe five minutes. She stretched a little and smiled at the young man. "Hey, Lanny... had this... crazy dream..."

Lanny Zelkovii

Knowing either way he'd have to face James, but hoping it would be after he'd taken care of Conan, Lanny was relieved a little to have Johann's word. The last thing he needed to deal with was a battle of power with his old brother, because he knew he'd lose, and he'd get in even more trouble when he went ahead and disobeyed anyway.

Leaving that aspect aside, Lanny was content to wait with Cassidy until she stirred again and woke up. A small smile was there to greet her when her eyes opened, "Is that so?" The young man's smile transformed into his classic, dimple-edged grin, "What was it about?" The casual talk, and the return of a more normal attitude from Cassidy did well to temper the man's nerves after his talk with Johann and the hasty plan they'd hashed out. He could deal with the stress later - right now, he could afford to relax a little and see to Cassidy's needs.

Cassidy

She smiled a little more in response to his grin, shifting so that she could face him more squarely without having to turn her neck awkwardly to see him. Her face was still half-asleep - she hadn't altogether woken up yet. And it showed in the easy, dreamy roll of her voice as she murmured, "I dreamed I was... asleep in the middle of a street and... you and Johann were standing on either side of me, arguing about... something." Her face creased a little in confusion. "I... can't remember. But... there was a... truck... or a bus or something. Coming down the road. And - I couldn't wake up. It was like... I could see it coming, but... I couldn't make myself wake up and move. And the two of you kept arguing... and I couldn't talk to tell you." Her voice remained strangely peaceful all through this, as if she were unbothered by the disturbing set up by what she'd revealed so far. But her face creased a little more and shifted into a more half-awake tension when she went on, "And the bus... it... ran me over..." Her tone sounded a little stunned to realize what she was saying. "...and She stopped altogether for just a moment, and there was a little something that she had left out of her recital, and then she murmured, "And it drove away... and I lay there... but I wasn't sorry about the bus. Because... because you stopped arguing." Her eyes had closed again so he couldn't see what she was feeling. "And then I woke up."

Lanny Zelkovii

The grin that had settled in began to unwind its way off of his face, making room for a slightly more bothered expression. He let Cassidy run through her dream, not interrupting her as she slipped from a peaceful mood into something a bit less than that... and by the time she was finished telling of it, he found himself holding her hand a bit tighter. "That must have been some dream." He hadn't been sure what to make of it at first, but then it hit him as clear as day, and a lightened smile broke through his expression, "Hey, if you're worried about Johann and I, it's all taken care of. Don't worry about it any, Cass; we had a talk, and all's cool now." It wasn't the complete truth, but at least for the relationship between the three of them, things were better again. What could have been a very unpleasant standoff between Lanny and Johann had been averted, and the two had reached a sort of mutual understanding of one another.

Cassidy

By the time she'd finished telling her tale, the young woman was more awake, and thus more aware of how Lanny's grip remained steady, and indeed tightened, on her hand. She didn't call attention to it, because she didn't mind - secretly, she didn't want him to let go, and it had to with something more than the psychological feeling of safety. A small movement under the blanket said that she was again keeping her free hand defensively between her daughter and the outside, dangerous world, telling subtly that she was more upset by the dream than she was letting on. But her voice was calm enough as she murmured, "I just don't like the two of you to fight so. When either one of you gets an idea in his head, he'll argue til kingdom come to defend that position - which is not a bad quality. Just... personally, I don't like to see you at odds." Well - that hadn't really come out how she'd wanted it to - what she'd wanted to say was that she cared so much about them both that she didn't want to watch them fight and hurt each other's feelings... but her manipulative nature hadn't let her say that, so it had come out another way.

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny wasn't fully aware that he was gripping her hand more securely now, or he might have been liable to blush a bit and make up a quick excuse for it. What he did notice was the movements under the blanket, telling him that she was again putting a hand over her midsection in what he'd come to learn was a defensive gesture for the unborn life she was carrying. A little baby girl. His little baby girl too, as far as official papers went. "I know, I know; truthfully, I don't like it any more than you do." It was with an understanding tone that he said this, nodding to accommodate his words, "Our tempers just got the better of us that time, is all. And I think we got things squared away, to where there shouldn't be any more locking horns between us." Lanny tried for the start of a grin, wanting to put Cass at ease with this topic.

Cassidy

In the way that Lanny didn't notice how tightly he was holding her hand, Cass didn't notice the near-reflexive way that she kept moving to protect her baby from perceived threats. It was something completely instinctive that she had no control over - and she certainly wasn't aware that Lanny had noticed it. And because he was sensible enough not to mention it aloud, the issue went undiscussed between them, and she didn't withdraw her hand. Instead, she allowed his explanation to soothe her, and answered with a small smile, "That's one thing you've both got plenty of, is temper. But at least you've also both got common sense to straighten it out with. Because if I have to get involved, you'll both be sorry." She offered him her meanest mock-glare, which was so comical on her face; when Cassidy was really, truly mad, her face closed down and she betrayed nothing to anyone, so seeing this extreme expression on her face was a ludicrous thing. It was meant to reassure him that she wasn't going to worry about that anymore... for now, at least.

Lanny Zelkovii

The look of anger won an instant laugh out of Lanny, who found the expression beyond comical on the girl's face, and more appropriate for someone like his brother who did employ a wide range of expressions to back up his words and threats. "Don't worry, we wouldn't risk it." Now that he felt better about that topic being settled, Lanny felt the nagging urge to confess to another issue that he disliked just as much. As he touched upon it, he managed to keep a mostly relaxed facade, and played out his words in a casual, semi-serious fashion to hopefully prevent Cass from getting too worked up, "About that note- we're going to take care of it. And don't worry, Cass. As long as you're here in the hospital, Conan can't get to you; in fact, I'll have James call in a few of our guys to keep a patrol of the area."

Cassidy

After a moment of maintaining her scowl, just for effect, Cass joined in the quiet laughter, in her whisper-soft, quiet giggle; she knew perfectly well that he wouldn't take her seriously, but also knew that if she had been serious, he wouldn't have crossed her. So with that in mind, she dealt with the latter topic without any undue stress. But that still didn't mean that she was prepared to agree questionlessly with him. "I'm telling you, Lanny - it's unlikely that it's him. Keep an eye on him, alright - I'll agree that's a good idea. But don't direct your attention exclusively to him. I'm telling you - the boy's not an idiot; he's smart, and he's crafty, and blamed resourceful. Hate him or not, you have to realize that."

Lanny Zelkovii

The young man's eyes turned down for a quiet moment, merely in reflection of the thought he was giving to what she said. He knew, to some extent, that he was being too narrow minded about focusing on Conan like he was, but a larger part of him wanted to go after the kid because of what Johann had said of his liability to target Cassidy. "Who else could it be, though? He's clever alright, but maybe we pushed him enough with that last attack. This time, he could have slipped up." Lanny tried to think around the red-head, but no matter which direction he traveled, there was simply no one else he could come up with that could have sent the letter.

Cassidy

Well, she had to admit that he had good questions, none of which she had an answer to. That made her pause for a second or two and consider herself who else it could be; the real culprit didn't even come close to mind, for as far as she knew, Ben didn't know she was expecting, which let him out - and who else would so directly strike against her? Finally, she sighed, and her eyes closed briefly before she opened them again and fixed them upon the young man. "I don't know, Lanny... I don't know. I just..." She paused there, looking away and focusing on the sterile white surface of the blanket. But finally, she bucked up and whispered, "I want you to be careful. Don't let the old battle with the Carlyle's blind you to everything else. Okay?"

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny didn't necessarily like it, particularly because it was upsetting Cassidy. But nothing would stop him from protecting her now, and since he was almost sure it was Conan behind the letter and that Cass was in danger, he was bound determined to end the threat. "I'll be careful, don't worry yourself about that." Lanny smiled a little in a show of confidence, lessened a touch only by the worry he felt from Cassidy, "I've been doing this all my life. There's no way that kid can one-up me at my own game."

Cassidy

Somehow, the young woman still felt that her cautions hadn't made their way home to Lanny, so she almost timidly whispered, "Michael one-upped me, Lanny - and he wasn't half so bright as his son. And I've been doing this as long as you have." She referenced the matter carefully - she knew that even with the father dead, Lanny still held an intimate hatred for the man who'd taken advantage of her, and she didn't want it to sound like she was trying to appeal to that hatred. But nor did she want it to sound like she didn't trust Lanny's skills - the way she figured it, if the drunk and half-insane father had been able to force her to do as he bid against her will, then the sober and much more clever son could just as easily become very dangerous for Lanny. And whether the young man took offense to this or not, she'd rather have him alive to be furious with her than dead and beyond that.

Lanny Zelkovii

If he'd been his brother, Lanny might have gotten a bit defensive about her suggestion, or twisted it around the wrong way. Instead, he took her concerned warning for how it was meant, even if he didn't look all too happy to hear it. What got a little rise out of him was her mentioning of Michael, though at least the man was dead now, and not a second name on Lanny's hit list. "I'm not going into it blind, I have Johann helping me." He said this to try and repel some of her worry, then turned around and showed the same concern for her, "Just promise me you'll stay here, alright?"

Cassidy

She nodded slowly, her eyes looking up briefly to meet his gaze. "I know - that's why I'm not objecting to it as strongly as I might. If I thought you were going into it blind, I'd be calling James as soon as you left the room, secret or no secret, and having him stop you." She offered that out very simply and honestly, knowing it would have taken very little on her part to send the elder Zelkovii brother raging after him. Of course, she wouldn't be able to blame the liquor, this time; she hadn't known Lanny to stay sober for this long for many years. It wasn't that he was never sober - he was just as often sober as drunk - but he was a binger, and though he could hold off and be in complete control of his faculties for days at a time, as soon as he picked up the alcohol again, he was completely trashed. But that hadn't been happening recently; she'd gotten no late night calls from James to go fetch his brother. She hadn't quite connected it back to any feelings he might have for her or the fact that he had figured out that Johann's drinking disturbed her. But with his tenuous new-found sobriety in mind, she closed her eyes and leaned forward til her forehead was resting against the back of the hand that held hers, looking nearly childlike as she delivered a quiet, "Okay, Lanny - that's a promise."

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny wasn't upset by what she said, and he didn't doubt her words, either. He understood the reason lay in her concern over his wellbeing, and he wasn't going to try and contradict her or get huffy over something like that. He didn't like that he couldn't over rule his brother's will, but he'd rather have that and those that cared for him than to blow them all to the wind and do as he pleased. "Fair enough. And I don't know... I mean, I probably should talk to him about it. But it's a personal war now." Lanny leaned back into the chair, resolutely settling himself down to spend as much time with Cassidy as he could afford. His mind was about as far from drinks as it had been in some time, and having something positive to occupy his thoughts had made all the difference in the world.

Cassidy

The young woman still didn't feel entirely safe, even with Lanny's promise. As a matter of fact, she was near unto something like paranoia over him, and it was only partially due to the growing attachment she felt to him. For a long moment, she lay there quietly, and didn't say anything else. But she kept her eyes closed tightly, and as the moments went by, the arm that she'd been holding protectively over her middle began to shake ever so subtly, causing a small ripple in the blanket that she couldn't cease. Her hand gripped his more tightly during this period, becoming something that would likely be very uncomfortable and bordering on the edge of painful, and she let out a slow, shaky breath. Without ever responding to what Lanny had said, she murmured, "Heaven's name, this headache... I've had it almost since I woke up."

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny lapsed into a wordless silence as well, spending most of his time looking idly over the monitors, and then watching Cassidy and how she had rested her head against his hand. A soft smile formed as he realized that... apart from the fretting over the 'Conan' issue, and Cassidy's stay in the hospital, he was happier now than he had been in a long while. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt a certain contentment - and that was waved away when her hand began to tremble. When the other started to squeeze more urgently at his hand, Lanny picked leaned over to grab the controller that held the nurse's button. Pressing this, the young man replied, "You've had a headache all this time? I called for the nurse; but Cass, you really ought to say something sooner." The way he said it was more in concern than anything close to chastisment.

Cassidy*Others

Cass didn't answer Lanny at first, choosing to remain quiet for a moment and battle the headache. But when she heard the click of the nurse's button being pressed, her eyes flew open, and she whispered harshly, "Lanny, no!" But she didn't get to explain herself just yet, because the cross face of Charlotte peered into the room, her broad body filling the small doorway, and grumbling quietly, "Need something, dearies?" Cassidy didn't have time to be struck by the renewed sense of oddity at how Charlotte called everyone 'dearie' and yet behaved as though she'd gladly shove all of them into a lake. She was busy murmuring, "I'm sorry, nurse... Lanny hit the button by accident. We don't need anything." Charlotte darted the young man a glare, but after a moment said only, "Watch where you put your knees, young man," and ducked out again, as scowly as ever.

Lanny Zelkovii

Confusion ran supreme when Cassidy tried in vain to stop him from calling the nurse, and even moreso when she outright lied to Charlotte and refused to acknowledge that she needed anything; especially when it was so obvious to him that she was in pain. Despite that, he played along with her wishes, reluctantly, and nodded once to to the nurse when she warned him to watch himself. "Cass... she's bound to have something to help your headache. What's up?" He didn't try to hide the puzzlement or the worry as he asked this, wanting to get to the bottom of her peculiar request.

Cassidy

With the threat of the nurse now belayed, Cass relaxed some, but her grip on Lanny's hand remained solid and tight to combat the pain in the only way she could. It was a second or two before she told him, "I already know what's causing it, and what she's got won't fix it." Her voice sounded heavily certain there, but her eyes stayed firmly shut as she balled her free hand into a fist in a vain attempt to stop the trembling. It was a breathless second or two before her voice came back, and just a little harsher with the discomfort. "Look Lanny - it wasn't just the iron deficiency that made me pass out. It's... heroin withdrawal, okay? I quit... when I found out about the baby." Heroin was Cassidy's choice poison, rather as liquor was Lanny's, though significantly less publicized, considering. She didn't know whether he knew about it or not; she'd never said anything, but after all, he ought to know some of the signs after living with Sheryl. The only difference was that Cassidy was in far better control of the habit, and far more sneaky about it. She opened her eyes slightly then - perspiration was beginning to bead on her forehead, but she kept her tones and her face under complete control. "I didn't stop using during my first pregnancy. And Isaiah... he had a lot of problems because of it." She confessed that in a slightly tight voice, as though she didn't quite want to admit to it, and then murmured, "I've been clean a week now - and I've managed to keep these hospital goons from finding out about it. I don't intend to ruin that now."

Lanny Zelkovii

The uncomfortable tightness against his hand paled in comparison to what was settling in his gut. As much as he looked past his own drinking problem, and didn't speak on Sheryl's addiction, he also refused to see the subtle flags that pointed at Cassidy's choice of indulgence. How he, the co-lead of the town's most prominent gang, managed to stay out of the heavy drugs, was something of a miracle. The young man was quiet a little longer, trying to think of a response to this, and to work out the thoughts that were running through his mind. He couldn't begin to scold her about it, when so many others in his extended gang family shared similar habits; and as everyone knew, he had alcohol as his usual companion. "Does Johann know about it?" Of all the things he wanted to ask and to say, this was the first one that came out. He wasn't going to slip up a second time, and Cassidy didn't need to give the man any more reason to worry over her and incidentally cause more stress for all involved.

Cassidy

That wasn't quite the response she'd expected - despite the fact that this was Lanny she was talking to, and he was as much prone to seeking some kind of way to forget as she was, she'd almost expected a scolding or something to that effect. When he only asked a question however, she relaxed some, allowing the tense grip on his hand to relax a little bit. "I know that he knows I use it. But I have been relatively successful in keeping from him just how often I was using. And I know he doesn't know about the withdrawal - not yet." As she spoke, the tremble in her hands finally stopped, and her close-eyed face relaxed, indicated that this particular wave of symptoms had passed, and the headache was fading.

Lanny Zelkovii

His words were quiet an unaccusing, but his eyes were watching with great intensity as the trembles finally began to still, and the death-grip on his hand relaxed some. "As keen as he is, it'll be hard to keep this hidden from him." He didn't want to say anything, yet he saw this was almost a given considering just how watchful the elder man was, and how invested he was in Cassidy's wellbeing. And rather than get on her about the drug use in the first place, Lanny chose to somewhat ignore that part of the issue, just as he turned a blind eye to Sheryl's addiction - or his own drinking, which he refused to see as any sort of problem. "What about looking into a support group, or something like that? Going cold turkey has got to be rough."

Cassidy

The cold turkey comment got a harsh chuckle out of her. "You have no idea." That wasn't meant to come across as a slur against his own drinking problem, but in a certain light, it could be taken that way. And the slightly sharp tone of her voice didn't help - it had been a long week, and now it was getting longer because she hated hospitals, and had to stay in one now, and plus there was the issue of the mysterious note and Lanny going out after the perpetrator and he and Johann fighting and worrying about James finding out and... She squeezed his hand again, a little tighter, but let her grip relax just as quickly. Her mind was racing with thoughts that she couldn't control - but part of her was aware that she'd been strangling the life out of his hand for several minutes. Forcing herself to loosen her grip, she also pulled more control and calmness into her voice, and murmured, "Because the support groups in town are all linked back to the hospital for information, Lanny. And besides - you know as well as I do that support groups are just venting sessions with a cleaned-up name. And I don't vent - I get even."

Lanny Zelkovii

What might have been taken up as a mild prod at his own problem was passed over without much more than a slightly raised brow. He always denounced any problem with liquor on his part, and that's just what he did now by skipping over her comment and seeing it more of an exasperated retort to the symptoms she was experiencing. "I guess you're right on that." Lanny chuckled a little when she spoke about the support groups, though he'd certainly never went through one. "Well, just think of it this way - it'll be good for the baby." Without even thinking about it, his eyes went for her stomach, where her hand was still resting protectively over it beneath the covers.

Cassidy

Now the smile came back, ever so softly. She couldn't hear Lanny laugh and not be at least a little comforted and reassured. It was enough to earn a small giggle out of her, and a lightening of the conversation, now that the more intense symptoms of the withdrawal had receded, for now. The smile softened a little more when he mentioned the baby again, and she admitted quietly, "That's what's gotten me this far. The headaches are bad enough - but the crazy dreams and the DT's are killer." The edge of her mouth quirked up a little in a smirk - she wouldn't say what kind of withdrawal-induced hallucinations she'd had, but whatever they were, she'd apparently proven uncanny at disguising her response to them, if neither the hospital staff nor Johann knew about them yet.

Lanny Zelkovii

"As long as you don't go dreaming up techni-colored snakes with ruby-red eyes that are out to get you. My friend's uncle did that, with his hallucinations. Even years afterwards, that damned snake would follow him around and pop up out of the blue!" Lanny offered this as a downplay on the importance of her addiction, whether it was a good thing or not to do. Lanny was happy to shift back into a more content mood, or as content as he could get considering the circumstances that surrounded them. "So... thought of any names yet?"

Cassidy

She allowed herself another smile and a soft giggle in response to his reference. More than anything, she was particularly glad that he hadn't made a big deal out of her addiction. It had been a real trial by fire to drop the drug altogether and try to get by on a day to day basis. It tested even Cassidy's infinitely-tempered control to remain her usual self whiles he was fighting with the nausea, headaches, and bizarre hallucinations. But to his question, she shook her head. "I haven't begun to think. I... don't think I'm going to give her a name. Not yet."

Lanny Zelkovii

If he'd grown up in a different lifestyle, he might have had a different response to learning of her addiction. But with his own demons, even though he refused to acknowledge the drink as a problem he had, Lanny wasn't going to stand high on any soapbox to chastise the young woman. He may not like it, but as long as Cass was trying to get past the heroine, he would be supportive of it. "No names yet? You've got long enough to think about it, by all means."

Cassidy

She shrugged a bit, and finally drew back from where she'd leaned her forehead against his hand. "There - that's better. It's fading now," she told him, completely dodging around his topic of names, in a way that was curious for an expectant mother. In anyone else, it might have been a fear to discuss a name - in Cassidy, it surely had to be just a general distractedness, which could be blamed upon the withdrawal. Instead, she changed the topic to another that she knew Lanny could discuss infinitely. "So - how's Randy doing? Is he sleeping through the night yet?" Before when they'd had the toddler, she hadn't dared suggest she knew anything about raising children, when Lanny hadn't known about Isaiah. Now that she did, that was a safe topic, and she shifted to it from the more dangerous one of her daughter's name.

Lanny Zelkovii

He noticed the way she dodged around the issue of naming, though he couldn't outright figure why she would do this. Deciding it was safer to let the subject drop and not bring it up again unless she did so herself, Lanny easily switched to a discussion about Randy. "He's getting better." The young boy's distress over being separated from Conan was an equally troubling thing for Lanny, because he knew what was wrong - and he also knew that he couldn't remedy it. Especially not if he planned to kill the boy's older brother; but this he forced out of his thoughts just as sharply as he did the topic of his drinking, "Now that the weather's nicer, I was thinking it cheer him up to take some walks outside and whatnot."

Cassidy

She smiled more firmly now, trying to become the reassuring force that she knew he could use right now; the issue of separating Raimi from his brother was always a touchy one. Lanny infinitely preferred the toddler in CrypticSilver hands, where they could all enjoy his bright personality, but she also knew that it haunted him to think of how he was going to kill off the other person in the world the kid cared most about. She hadn't heard the boy in the bathroom when he'd firmly told Lanny, 'No hurt my Ras-Ras', and the man had promised not to. So she didn't know quite the depth of guilt he would be dealing with... but she could make a guess. But before she could even move to continue the conversation, the door opened, and Johann strode in - apparently, he'd found all he needed to know. "I've got it, Lanny," he murmured softly, seating himself on the couch again, but not elaborating just yet - his eyes were asking the younger man a question. Did they want to discuss this in front of Cass?

Lanny Zelkovii

Going back on his promise was one major hinge in Lanny's plans. Every time he thought about Conan, and his wish to kill the teen, Raimi always crept to the back of his mind like a guilty shadow. The tears, the blotchy face, and sobs... it was a struggle to put all of that aside and try to focus, and with the toddler brought fresh to his thoughts, he found it twice as difficult. Lanny didn't move to move away from Cassidy just yet, but he also didn't want to upset her any further - so with a nod to Johann and a brief squeeze of the hand to Cass, Lanny silently got up from the chair and slipped out to the hallway.

Johann*Others

Cass wasn't eager to let Lanny's hand go when he moved to get up - she'd found to her own surprise that she liked to let him hold her hand, and that she felt safer and happier when he did. But she didn't put up a fuss; she knew that he and Johann meant to talk business, and also meant to keep it out of her hearing. So she just squeezed back and then let him go, and closed her eyes as he and her uncle left the room.

Once they were again beyond her hearing, Johann spoke quietly to avoid being overheard. "This is an ideal time to strike against him - he's been ill in bed for over a week, and is just now getting better; Ms. Wallock has been trying to get him to come see a doctor, but he won't, so he's not altogether well yet, but he's better enough that he's started taking up his morning walks again. Shorter ones around the neighborhood instead of his all-day versions. He usually leaves right after dawn, and they won't expect him back til about lunchtime. That'll give you all the time you need - and he's getting over something, so he won't be as much of a physical threat as he would ordinarily be."

Lanny Zelkovii

Lanny had his back up against the wall, arms folded across his chest, and head tucked down a slight degree. His bright eyes were on Johann however, listening to the needed information and soaking it up like a sponge. "I've got till lunchtime?" The young man set himself a time limit, knowing he'd not only have to finish off the kid, but do away with the evidence as well. If Conan hadn't been with the Wallocks or Tarak, he wouldn't have been so concerned - he knew of no one else that would pursue a missing person's report, and could have otherwise offered a simple bribe to keep the ACPD from causing trouble if the body was discovered. But now that the kid had connects, weak as they were, he had to be more careful. "Is his walking route a regular thing? Any good locations I can ambush him from?"

Johann

Working carefully over the information he'd come up with, Johann replied, "His whole route is abandoned - it varies somewhat, but it inevitably passes through large stretches of woods and abandoned land; sometimes he even passes out of town altogether, and heads out into the wild land. There's no regular pattern, though - you'd have to follow him and wait for a chance." He offered that out, and then murmured, "Just keep in mind - Sohmers'll be there at sundown; has been every night since you took Randy back. The Wallocks won't worry too badly until then - but when dark comes and he isn't back, they'll tell him. You've absolutely got to be done by then."

Lanny Zelkovii

"It'll be done by then." Ryan... that was the other problem with the plan, and Lanny had to be extremely careful to avoid leaving behind any evidence that would implicate him. He knew he'd be a primary suspect if the boy went up missing, whether or not he was involved, so it was doubly important that he do things carefully now. "Tell Cass I'll be back before nightfall." Without so many words, it was a way of saying that he cared about the girl, even if he didn't yet understand just how deeply that care went. And just like that, Lanny pulled the hood over his head and walked down the hall towards the elevators.

Johann

"Screw custom and honor, Lanny. Come back alive, or I swear you'll pay for it." That was Johann's grim response to Lanny's words just before the young man stalked out. "I refuse to be the one to tell her you got hurt in this, so watch your back." Well, that was a gruff, Johann version of 'take care of yourself'... and then the young man was gone, leaving the older one to head back to Cass. He was spared the task of telling her that he had gone, however - still exhausted by both her withdrawal symptoms and the stresses of the day, she'd lost the battle with sleep only seconds after Lanny had left the room.