nyc prep continued

"Uhm," she looked around then back at him. "I'll finish cleaning up in the kitchen."

"You don't have to do that," he said softly. That seemed mean, she had made dinner too.

"I don't mind, really." She smiled. "It'll give me something to do."

"Paige, I..." He wanted to apologize for the way he'd acted after she'd told him about her brother. But he didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry about... About Friday night."

Carl nodded, "ok" he would be glad to have her here.

The nurse sighed. This one wasn't going to give up, "ill have someone come and take you down to the morgue."

Paige frowned, trying to remember what happened on Friday. Her brother. "Its ok...don't worry about it."

"Thank you," Jaimie said. She'd sent her mother home and Sasha had gone too, but Jaimie had to see him. She had to... She had to say goodbye.

Brooklynn pressed another kiss to his hand before slipping out of the chair and going to talk to her parents.

"I acted... Like a jerk. I'm sorry. I didn't... I guess I didn't know how to respond. I'm sorry."

"Jarid, its fine. Really." She insisted. "You weren't a jerk."

He shrugged. "If you say so," but he disagreed. He held back a yawn. He did need to lay down. "You think you're gonna see your mom?"

The nurse came and escorted her down to the morgue. Braden was still layed out the white sheet covering him from his shoulders down. His eyes were closed and the blood had been cleaned up.

Paige shrugged, "I don't know, maybe." She forced a smile. "You should rest."

Jaimie pressed a hand to her mouth, but he forced herself to go to his side. His skin was cold but at least... At least he'd been cleaned up. She.... She felt like a coward. She'd never told him. She hadnt had the guts to tell him that she loved him and she didn't have the guts to say yes. She should have said yes, she should have kissed him, said yes, and put the ring on. But she'd been scared. He was never scared. He had been... He had been so brave. And she didn't deserve him. But she loved him. She did. And now... Now it was pointless. She put a hand on the side of his face and, holding back the sobs, pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I'm so sorry Bray. I love you... And I'm so sorry." She said it too soft for the nurse to hear. She couldn't stand this. Wiping away the tears with the back of her hand, she turned back to the nurse. "Okay. Thank you."

Jarid nodded. "Yeah probably. But... You don't have to go... I mean, if you don't want to see her, you can just stay here," he offered.

Ooc: oh man...sad

the nurse nodded, tears forming in her eye. any fool could see the feelings this girl had for the boy. She took Jaime back up to her room ,"is there anything I can get you ?"

"Thanks, I might." Paige was quietly for a minute. "She probably wouldn't have even come if she knew I hadn't been at school."

"No," Jaimie shook her head. "I'd just like to go home."

Brooklynn finally managed to convince her parents to go home and she returned to Carl's room.

"I'm sorry," Jarid said. "That's really... Sucky. I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter," Paige said, trying to push it out of her mind. "I should get you to bed."

the nurse gave a little node before replying, "I'll see if the doctor will discharge you." she said before leaving the room.

Carl's parents were sitting by his bed his father on his cell phone that is mother flipping through the channels on the TV. Carl seemed disinterested but his eyes were fixed I'm never changing channels. small smile crossed his face seeing Brooklyn come back in.

"Thank you," Jaimie said, sitting on the bed. She couldn't stand being here anymore. It was oppressive, and she couldn't stand it.

Brooklynn gave him a smile back and came into the room. She didn't want to disturb his parents, so she stayed quiet.

father ended the phone call and how to smile Brooklyn's direction, "we were thinking about going getting something to eat and bring it back for Carl are you hungry?" he asked

"A little," Brooklynn admitted. "But you don't have to get anything for me," she amended.

The nurse cane back into Jaime's room, "tge doctor advises you stay but he will release you if you are set on going."

"don't be silly," he said with s chuckle, "what would you like?"

Jeff and Sam sat on the couch his head on her lap as he staired up at the cieling his face blank. he had cried himself out and had said nothing since. what was he supposed to say?

Sam leaned down and pressed her lips to his forehead. The longer he started at the ceiling the more worried she became. She had seen that blank look before, on David's face.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath at the touch of her lips," what are you thinking?" He asked softly

She looked down at him, "that I've seen the blank look before." She answered. "And it scares me," she said quietly.

"how do you expect me to look Sam?" He and not opening his eyes

"I don't know," she admitted. "But you can't just turn off all your emotions."

"Sam...I just saw three kids get shot in the head." What did she expect of him?

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she said softly. She didn't know, but she knew if he didn't deal with how he was feeling it would only get worse.

He opened his eyes, "I'm not sure what you expect of me?"

Sam opened her eyes. "Don't shut me out," she said. She felt her phone vibrating in her pocket.

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