It had been hours since Lee had gotten the phone call from Shin, hours since she had arrived at the mansion and found Tarin laying, non-responsive, in a hospital bed. Hours since DocProf had told her that he really wasn't sure what was wrong, or really what could be done.

How many hours, though, Lee had no idea. She was doing her very best to keep her eyes away from the clock at all costs. This was going to be worse than when she was up all night and had ten hours to kill before Tarin would wake up. This was going to be worse than the wait had been after the breakout from the camps. No one really knew when, or honestly if, Tarin was going to wake up, so to sit there watching the clock would only make things worse, would only make it seem like that much longer.

Because she didn't know how long she had been there, Lee didn't know when it was that DocProf first suggested she go home to get some sleep. Instantly, Lee shot that idea down, and the doctor had left her alone for a while. Only to return a while later and suggest that she go see about if there was a bed available in the mansion if she wasn't going to go home.

Not that Lee was really all that interested in going to find a bed. It's not like she'd really be sleeping all that well, anyway, so what was the point in actually having a bed to sleep in?

Finally, DocProf seemed to have had enough, and actually kicked her out of the infirmary, telling her that she wasn't allowed to come back until after 8 o'clock the next morning. And as part of his 'kicking her out', DocProf gave Lee directions to Sam's office, telling her that Sam would be able to find her somewhere to sleep.

It took Lee a while, her mind wasn't fully focused, so she ended up making a few wrong turns and ending up completely lost. But finally, with asking a couple tired looking students she saw in the halls for directions, she found herself outside a door that had Sam's name beside it.

Raising her hand, Lee knocked on the door.

It had been a busy day one filled with training paperwork and Leila, Sam’s most recent Molotov cocktail. After he was done with the date with Leila Sam would tell her he would catch up with her later that night for he had to do some paperwork. This night however he suggested to Leila that she sleep in her own room seeing as he didn’t plan on finishing any of his paperwork early.

Paperwork and his cocktail didn’t mix to well cause Sam was fast asleep his feet up on his desk barefoot as he leaned back in his big comfy leather chair. Not to mention the comfort of his comfy cotton pajama pants and his favorite loose night T he got back after Leila stole it a few times. She really needed to start going back with her own clothes he was running out of his own. That's when he heard the thud of a knock sounded in the room.

Out of reaction Sam jumped which forced him to jump and in turn sent himself rolling backwards into his chair, which landed, in a loud thud on the ground. Hitting his head and looking at the clock which read two Sam called, “It’s open!” as he rolled slightly trying to get his head from ringing after the fall. “Who’s up at this late hour?” Sam called out as he stood up and picking up his chair, ‘should have went to bed’ thought Sam as he was wondering how his pack was doing.

Looking at his desk and the large amount of paper work that was stacked on his desk and now some sprawled out on his floor Sam bent down and started picking some of them up. “Way to much work” mumbled Sam as he let out a large yawn.

Letting her hand drop back down to her side, Lee heard a lot of loud noises coming from the other side of the door a moment later. A thudding, a small crash, followed by an 'It's open'.

Raising her hand once more, Lee grabbed the door knob and turned it, pushing the door open to reveal a rather large looking office. And heard Sam asking who it could possibly be at that time of night, though at first she didn't see anyone. Then she saw him bent over behind one of the desks picking up papers.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Lee said, her voice quiet, almost detached, as she slowly stepped into the room. She might not have wanted to leave Tarin's side, but that didn't mean that she wasn't tired and worn out.

Coming to a halt behind one of the chairs facing the desk Sam was behind, letting her hands rest on the back. "DocProf kicked me out," she explained slowly, her eyes lowered. She'd spent at least some of the time while she'd been down with Tarin crying, but wasn't sure how her make up and eyes were looking now. "He told me I should come see you to see if there's a spare bed around here somewhere that I could use."

Throwing folders together and papers together the way only a pro that had tons of experience of dropping and mixing all the paper work up. “Lee?” Sam asked dropping all of his folders in his hands, only to use the now free hands to rub his eyes wiping the sleep from his eyes. “Hey, just catching up on some sleep is all,” grinning he went back to the paper collecting the paper work.

She seemed slow moving towards him and he could tell she had been crying for a while, and she had every right to. Sam knew full well that Tarin had come here to get some medical attention, comma or something but seeing as it was DocProf treating Sam didn’t really see a reason to worry, he was the best of the best.

Sighing and using small ice minions to help him gather and sort rather quickly Sam was up facing Lee in moments. “Place to stay huh?” Sam asked as he grabbed a key and placed his paper work down on his desk. Walking over towards Lee he smiled and said, “Unfortunately all the bedrooms are on the second floors however I got you one that is closest to the elevator that is right next to the infirmary so you’ll be just an elevators ride fro Tarin.”

Walking over to the door Sam opened it and said, “Got to stop by my room on the way though I have to show you something!” he was of course talking about Cammie and his pack of dogs. They always cheer him up and anyone up! Walking to the flight of stairs which Sam quickly ascended and turned the corner, “So is Tarin doing any better?” he said in a soft tone seeing as he was passing Leila’s room as well as a few others and last thing he wanted to do was wake any of them. As he passed Leila’s room his eyes lingered a little more than they normally would, he was missing her already.

Upon getting to his room Sam used his ice powers to unlock the door and then opened the door. “This is my room, make your self comfortable, I just need to check a few things before I take you to your room.” Grinning Sam saw Cammie his tabby at the center of a dog cuddle slumber party purring away. The second Cammie saw Sam in the darkness of the room she let out a loud meow and jumped threw the dogs that surrounded her, which in turn woke all dogs which sent them running for Sam. So much for not waking any of them.

Lee blinked as Sam came around the desk with a key in his hand. "You've already got a room figured out for me?" Lee asked, surprised, as her eyes came up to look at Sam. She'd just gotten there to ask, had woken him up, apparently, and yet he already had a room for her.

That wasn't the end of it, though. While all the bedrooms were on the second floor, Sam had managed to get her one right next to the elevator, an elevator which would take her right down to the infirmary. Even with everything else she was feeling, that thoughtfulness made Lee smile. "Thank you, Sam. Thank you so much."

But Sam needed to show her something in his room first, he said. With everything else he'd said and done, all the ways he was helping her out to be as close to Tarin as possible, Lee didn't even think about it. She simply nodded, then followed Sam out of the office.

The trip up the stairs was silent, Lee really wasn't in the mood for idle chit chat, but once they were upstairs and around the corner, Sam turned to look at her. And asked if Tarin was doing any better.

Her eyes dropping to the floor, Lee shook her head. "No, no change," she whispered.

By this point, they had reached what had to be Sam's room, since he opened the door and told her to make herself comfortable. Stepping in, Lee saw a chair, but noticed that it was on the far side of the room. Instead, she settled for just sitting on the edge of Sam's bed, near the foot, and crossed her legs as she took another look around the room. It was extremely clean and tidy. Other than the pile of fur over toward one corner which turned out to be a bunch of dogs, and one cat, all of whom appeared to wake up just then and rush Sam.

"It's really strange," Lee whispered after a couple moments, her eyes dropping to the floor again. "We don't even know what caused it, why he's like this. And it's almost as if he's not fully there. Well, he's there, but I'm not feeling him as strongly as I am you, or DocProf, or Shin when he was there..."

Closing her eyes for a second, Lee took another breath then shook her head. "Never mind. I kept feeling someone else too, and there was no one there. I think my powers are just on the fritz with all this..."

Sam watched as she lee took the foot of his bed as a seat. He just sat on the floor after he bumped the door shut, which quietly closed. There was no need for anyone else the hear Lee letting it out which he could see it was coming. Sure enough the silence Sam had purposely gave her took its toll and she started to speak.

“Well,” Sam said petting his pack as Cammie got on his shoulders and laid down around the base of his neck hanging both ends his neck. “He is in a comma, that’s the only reason why you can’t feel him like you can feel us.” Petting the his dogs Sam smiled to her, “He’s is alive and all his vitals are normal right? Right now that's all we can ask for.” Standing up with the kitty around his neck which acted as a scarf Sam walked over to his window which lead to the balcony where he had been potty training his pups, “Potty time!” said Sam as he opened it as the four pups ran outside to do their business.

Shutting the door Sam walked back to the bed where Lee was and sat down putting a hand on her back patting it trying to comfort her like it didn’t take much thought to do. “He’s still there just think of it as a deep sleep, he has to wake up at some point right?” Sam said smiling as Cammie let out a loud purring sound. “See,” said Sam “Cam likes that idea!”

Moving his hand from Lee’s back Sam petted the purring feline as he addressed her next problem, “Well if your…” he looked at her for a second trying to find the right words, “People Radar is messed up I guess we will have to work on that huh?” grinning as he stood up and walked back to the window and letting his small pack back in who took the opportunity to great the new guest with head nudges which screamed ‘pet me’.

Sitting down next to Lee on his bed again but this time leaving more room that he had before “We can just work on your powers in the Danger Room if you want, it usually helps me get through some tough times when I’m not doing to good.” Sam said as he remembered one of the dates he had with Lee that ended poorly and with a kick to his ribs. “We’ll take care of you guys here! Promise!” said Sam with a smile on his face, trying to bring her mood up a little more.

Lee nodded as Sam spoke while petting his many animals that were in the room with them. Tarin's vitals, as far as DocProf had told her, were all normal, there was nothing physically wrong with him.

But then Sam was up, moving to another door in the room, which he opened and called to the dogs. Shivering as she felt the chill breeze blowing toward her from the door, Lee lowered her eyes as she thought. All things considered, Tarin's current condition was fairly good, but Lee couldn't help but think that it wasn't enough. She wanted, needed, him to wake up.

Hearing the door click closed once more, it didn't surprise Lee when Sam sat down on the bed beside her. It did, however, surprise her when she suddenly felt him extremely close to her a moment before she felt his hand on her back. Then he was talking again, Sam's words washing over her like a wave as he suggested she think of Tarin's condition as a deep sleep.

A wave which felt more like a tidal wave the more she thought about it. She knew how it felt when Tarin slept, even when he was extremely tired because of...a long day. She also knew how Tarin felt to her, to her siphoning, after she had drained him to the point of exhausted collapse. What she had felt down in the infirmary that evening was nothing like any of those times. It was like nothing she had ever felt before. Like he wasn't fully there.

Apparently, Sam thought that was a great suggestion of how to think about the situation, citing the cat's purring as consent as well. That was the last straw that sent Lee back over the edge, though. Shaking her head, failing at her fight to keep the tears out of her eyes, Lee refused to look at Sam as she spoke.

"He's not 'just sleeping'," Lee said, still shaking her head as she felt Sam push off the bed and stand up. Then move to go let the dogs back in with another cold gust of air. "It feels nothing like when he's sleeping. It was different, but almost felt like he has less energy now than times I've siphoned until he's passed out.

"What if he doesn't wake up, Sam?" Lee asked tearfully, finally turning her head to look at him.

Sam was going on about her powers now, saying that they'd figure them out, that they could work on them in some 'Danger Room', and Lee just nodded, still tearfully. And that they'd take care of her and Tarin there at the mansion. She simply nodded again. What was there to say to that, really? And what did it really matter how they were taken care of if Tarin wasn't going to wake up?

Petting the Thor the Husky who jumped to his side and started wagging his tail Sam let out a smile before addressing Lee with a frown, “Look you have two ways to see it, in my opinion,” turning his attention back to the dogs he continued to pet Thor and now Roxxie, “You can look at this like you are now which sounds super depressing, talking like he won’t wake up.”

Now turning to Lee with a sincere smile on his face, “Or you can be happy that you were fortunate enough to bring him here under the care of one of the best healers in the world! You honestly think DocProf would let Tarin sit there and waste away?” getting up Sam walked to his closet and pulled to bags of animal food one for the dogs and one for Cammie.

Pouring the two bags of food into five separate bowls Sam looked to her as the dogs ran for the food, “Don’t think Tarin is one to lay around and do nothing either, I only talked to him a few times but he doesn’t strike me as the type to die easy, and just because he is in a coma it doesn’t mean that he isn’t receptive to what’s going on around him.”

Grinning as he picked Cammie off of his shoulders and putting her on the floor next to her food, “I read a magazine article about a man who was in a coma for a year and one day he just woke up and said, he heard his kid calling for his dad.” That had been one of the only magazine articles he had ever read from time but as he said it he was glad he did. Walking over to Lee Sam opened up his arms and embraced her in a hug, "Things will get better I promise!"

Maybe Sam was right. She couldn't really be thinking about it like that either, and Tarin wouldn't want her dwelling on the worst possible 'what-if'. He'd be telling her to stop worrying if he was able to. He'd want her to be as happy as she could be given the situation while they worked at figuring it all out.

Right?

The problem was, Sam didn't understand what she was saying about her siphoning, didn't understand what the problem was with not really feeling Tarin there. She didn't know anyone who could actually really understand that, who could understand what she meant by Tarin being there, but not fully. It was almost like...

Quicksand, the thought popped into her head. Something that looked solid, but didn't feel solid. Not exactly the same thing, but it was the closest thing that Lee could come up with.

Maybe that was something she'd try to explain again some other time, Lee decided as she felt Sam's arms wrap around her. Returning the hug, clinging tightly to Sam, Lee buried her head in his shoulder and just sat there crying.

Or maybe it was all just her powers being wonky, Lee came to decide as the tears slowly stopped. Really, she didn't know her siphoning all that well, and if they were being weird, who knew what it was she was feeling that wasn't real or right?

Finally, the tears came to an end, and Lee turned her head to wipe them away, her cheek now resting on Sam's shoulder. Only to let out a large yawn.

"Oh wow," Lee said as the yawn ended. "Maybe DocProf was right to kick me out. What time is it, anyway? I haven't actually looked at a clock since I got here..."

Not moving when she started to cry on his shoulder Sam rubbed her back slightly saying, “It’s going to be okay” after that however he didn’t really know what to say what could he say to make her feel better, not much right? So he stood there and was her shoulder to cry on until she was good and ready to stop. A few months ago he would have loved this being this close to Lee. But she was with Tarin now and he was with Leila, the love of his life.

A little surprised at the fact that she didn’t pull away when she stopped crying Sam felt a little out a place, sure another time another place it would have been heaven for him but now, it just felt wrong, wrong but at the same time right. Shaking the thoughts from his head he gave Lee an tight squeeze and then let go looking at his clock on his nightstand which was behind Lee, “Around two thirty,” he felt bad about suggesting this but she was tired and he was exhausted, “Why don’t you crash on my bed tonight, I’ll take the pack and go sleep on the balcony, and then I can take you to your room tomorrow?”

Sam walked over to his closet and grabbed a large blanket and a large comforter making a high pitch whistle Sam motioned to the dogs who got the hint and ran to the window, all except for Cammie she jumped up on his bed and took over and curled up on his pillow, “Hope you don’t mind sharing with her, she doesn’t move much and she’s a good cuddle if you need it, he said with a small smile, “Well Lee sleep well!” Sam said with a smile, “just come get me if you need anything!” Sam opened the window which all the dogs jumped threw with out second thought.

Being the last one out Sam clapped his hands which activate his second light system he usually had turned on when Leila came over, the lights turned off as a disco ball shot down and scattered light every where in tiny dots. The real treat was the music that started to play; Barry White singing, “Can’t get enough of your love” dropping the blanket and running over to the light switch Sam flipped it which cut the music and the disco ball.

His face beat red in the moonlight Sam grinned and said, “Pretend you didn’t see or hear that….” With that he ran out the window and shut it behind him. Sam opened the window a crack and stuck his hands in to slowly pull the blankets outside to where he was going to sleep. Spreading the blanket in a elevated floor of ice Sam threw the comforter over him and the dogs who all cuddled around Sam under the blanket.

Lee almost didn't want the hug to end. The way Sam's arms were wrapped around her, squeezing her, was so comforting, Lee didn't want the contact to end. Not as comforting as if it were Tarin's arms around her, but comforting nonetheless.

It did feel kind of odd at the same time, though. Despite how much physical contact Lee had gotten used to, almost all of it had been with Tarin, she still avoided contact with other people almost as much as she always had.

But despite how comforting it was, not because of how weird it felt, the hug ended. Sam pulled back and ended the hug, glancing around for a moment before he told her the time. "Wow, no wonder I'm so tired," Lee said softly. She hadn't been up this late in a while, well, at least not when she had as little energy as this. She had been up long past this on many nights since she had gotten married, but those times her energy level hadn't let her sleep, she hadn't felt tired.

Lee couldn't believe what Sam was suggesting next, though. She was tired, though, and the thought of being able to just curl up right then without really having to move much further was tempting.

Then it clicked in what else Sam had said, and Lee blinked at him. "You're going to sleep where?" she asked, shocked. "It's the middle of February, you can't sleep outside! I can sleep in a chair, or go find a couch, or something..."

But Sam was already grabbing blankets, calling for the dogs, and tossing things out a window. How could he honestly be thinking about sleeping outside, Lee wondered. The fact that he could control ice didn't even click in, she just remembered how she had shivered when he'd simply opened the door for the dogs.

Then Sam was wishing her a good night, apparently set on spending the night out in the cold on the balcony. Really, was he that insane? And telling her to come get him if she needed anything.

And suddenly, Sam clapped, which shut the light off, but not completely. Instead of the normal light, there was a disco ball shining light around the room, and music playing in the background. Raising an eyebrow, Lee looked over to see Sam blushing as he raced to the light switch. Blushing. And asking her to pretend she hadn't seen or heard anything.

Before she could say anything, though, Sam was hurrying back to the window, and was outside, leaving her alone in the room. Well, alone other than the cat. Sitting down on the edge of the bed once more, slipping her shoes off her feet, Lee looked around the darkened room.

As if the night hadn't been weird, hard, bad enough, she was now spending the night not only in a strange room, in a strange bed, but in someone else's room, and had kicked them out of their bed to do it. And, Lee realized as she looked down at her hands in her lap, she didn't have anything to sleep in. She had even left her coat down in the infirmary, she'd been that out of it when she'd been kicked out.

Glancing around once more, Lee got up and made her way to the window. Opening it up and shivering as she stood there, Lee looked at Sam, a slightly embarrassed, quizzical expression on her face. "Um, Sam?" She asked, her voice sounding unsure. "You wouldn't happen to have anything I could wear, do you? It's just, this blouse isn't exactly the most comfortable to sleep in..."

Sam was almost asleep after creating a small ice dome that connected to the window to cut the wind and coldness out so the dogs could sleep easier. He only moved slightly and only his head, his shirt was off and was placed over one of the dogs, the comfoter covered his lower half of his torso as he laid out on the make shift bed of ice which was under a blanket.

Blinking at Lee’s request Sam said, “Umm.. Ya…” he paused to think which drawers his shirts and pajama pants were located at, “Top right drawer and top left drawer on the main dresser, anything in those drawers is good to wear, boxers T-shirts pajama pants, they might be a little big on you but their all clean.” turning his head back to the other side he added, “Also if you want to shower or anything there is some towels and washcloths right next to the shower, spare tooth brushes are in the top right drawer in the bathroom.”

He yawned and scratched his head as Mackenzie crawled on his side closest to the windows and snuggled up into a little ball of fur on his side. “You need anything else just ask… sweet dreams Lee, everything will look brighter in the morning.” and with that Sam was on his way to dream land.

Sam was definitely tired, it seemed she had woken him up as she leaned out the window to ask the question about whether he had anything she could wear while she slept.

Thankfully, he did, and he told her right where to find said nightclothes. That would definitely make the night that little bit easier for her. Or at least slightly more comfortable.

Wishing Sam a good night, honestly not at all sure how he could be so certain things would get better, and quickly, Lee shut the window and shivered her way over to the dresser Sam had mentioned. Pulling open one of the drawers, Lee found a shirt and pulled it out to look at, then rolled her eyes. Like she would actually need pyjama pants or anything like that with this; the t-shirt looked like it would just about reach her knees, it'd cover her more than most of her dresses did.

Pushing the drawer closed once more, Lee made her way into the bathroom to wash the disaster that was her make up off her face and to change. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the fact that apparently Sam had extra toothbrushes, but she had showered and brushed her teeth and all that when she'd gotten home from work, and it wasn't like she had actually eaten since lunch since she and Tarin had never made it out for dinner...

Finished in the bathroom, sniffling slightly, Lee made her way back to the bed, setting her clothing on the chair on her way. Crawling under the covers, Lee rolled over as a tear escaped her eye.

Thankfully, sleep came quickly that night thanks to the long day and her lack of energy. Unfortunately, it wasn't a very relaxed sleep, and as normal, it wouldn't be a restful sleep.

Leila was drumming her pencil against the edge of the desk, her lips pursed. She couldn't sleep, not now, not without Sam. She wanted to go check in his office, maybe hang around there until he was done, but somehow, she decided to draw for a few hours instead, and then check in his bedroom, maybe surprise him. She looked over her latest drawing: a beautiful WereDolphin, something she had never drawn before, because it was entirely new. She was the WereDolphin, and she loved it. Sure, it was a bit strange at first, but she was slowly getting used to it.

She looked at the drawing pinned on her wall, she had done this on New Year's day, after she and Sam had started dating, offically. It was an image of both of them, cuddling in a very tight embrace. She loved that picture, and had it pinned there for inspiration. She glanced for the fourth time in the past minute, at her alarm clock, it was nearly 3:00am. Great, she really should get some sleep. Sighing, she took the spare key to Sam's room. If he wasn't there, she could just settle in his bed and wait. He wouldn't mind.

So with that, she got her jeans and a clean T-shirt on (Just in case someone happened to bump into her) and opened the door of her own room. The hall was deserted, and it was rather dark. She sighed, and passed a few doors, finally stopping at Sam's. She knocked, but no one responded. Either he was already asleep, in the shower, or still in his office. She unlocked the door and peered inside.

Gasp!

Who was that in Sam's bed? She was certain it wasn't Sam, actually, it was a woman with long brown hair. She was sleeping soundlessly and Leila felt her heart leap. First Ghost, now her? The anger she'd been able to quiet down a few days earlier came back. Sam was cheating on her! He must be, why else would he have brought someone else to the Ball, or have this woman in his bed? He didn't want her to come and sleep here tonight because he had other plans! Leila gritted her teeth, trying to repress her WereDolphin transformation. She wasn't sure if anger would trigger it, but she didn't want to take chances.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU IN MY BOYFRIEND'S BED?!" she yelled, hoping this had startled the sleeping woman enough.

Screams could be heard off in the distance as the ground shook as if it was going to be torn asunder by god. Lightening split the sky as it was engulfed in fire, “What the hell is happening?” Sam asked as he ran around looking for answers but could find none, it was the end of the world and their was nothing he could do, one question popped into his head as he looked for someone, “Where is Leila?” it was then he saw here standing over him the way a giant stands over an ant. Looking up and raising his hands to be picked up he started to cry as he fell on his rear and watched the super sized love of his life walk away and vanish off into the distance.

Tossing and turning was exactly what Sam had been doing for the last twenty minutes of his nightmare, which he couldn’t wake from no matter how much he tried. Opposite the ice bed from Sam four dogs laid curled up not sure what was going on. They wanted to help but didn’t know how, their eyes looked back inside through the windows to see if anyone was there to help some one had to help. The dogs started to whine calling out for Cammie, she was after all the oldest one of the master’s pack and she would know what to do.

The faint sounds of whining aroused the ears of the small Tabby cat that was sleeping on Sam’s pillow. A loud meow could be heard as the whining from the balcony started to get louder and louder. Cammie got up and went over to the sleeping girl who was different from the one she was used to but the cat sat there looking at her meowing and pawing her fingers till the door opened up, which was when she say the other girl that had slept in her bed so many times before. She yelled which Cammie didn’t like for the second she finished yelling Cammie was already at the window clawing it to get to Sam.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU IN MY BOYFRIEND'S BED?!"

Sam heard the cry and looked around hearing Leila’s voice which jumpstarted his brain, “Shit!” Sam awoke so hard and so fast he smacked his head on the small ice dome that he erected earlier that night a large bruise was formed instantly as Sam felt blood rushing down his forehead, “Ow” Sam gasped as his head was sent on a disoriented roller coaster. He couldn’t think straight but he knew that Leila was in his room. Sam waited for a second holding his head and trying to cover the small gash with ice. All he knew he was sitting up one second and laying on his back the next.

Sam’s head was swimming as the dogs started to bark and howl trying to get into the room to see what all the yelling was about.