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Jessie's nonchalant attitude seemed to put Wendy at ease, at least a little. She slowly lowered herself back down into the chair. "Wow." Admittedly, she knew nothing about the UFC and all of Wendy's questions came with a tone of sincerity. "So is that like...professional wrestling? Like on TV? Think you'll end up in a video game?" She glanced over at Deacon, wondering if he had any more insight.

Milos was taken aback by Marie's statement. Though he did his best to keep his cool, a goofy grin broke out across his face. "I can agree to those terms." He leaned over and picked up Marie's sled, holding it out to her, "You ready? No cheating this time."

"Shhh," Crete hushed, trying to comfort and reassure Raiden as she ran her tiny fingers through his hair soothingly. Seeing Raiden like this felt like a hand reaching into her chest and squeezing the life right out of her heart. Despite her own tears still tumbling down her bruised cheeks, Crete felt obligated to focus her energy on Raiden. "This isn't your fault. I'm the one who lied, who's been lying. I didn't mean to make you angry, I just didn't want you to get hurt." Crete shook her head, realizing in that moment that she had been hurting him for years. It was obvious now that Raiden had known for a long time, but she kept up the facade. "I'm sorry Raiden. For lying, and getting you involved in this mess, and for not listening to you. This is all my fault." Crete couldn't help but hide her voice from cracking as the wave of raw emotions started to flood in. She didn't deserve Raiden.

"Well...you're here right, and awake? Alive?" Leila confirmed, her head tilting to the side, "I'd say it was worth it. I'm glad I tried to take the shortcut home." Leila cracked a smile, "You'll just owe me another special request once you're feeling better."

Wendy found it odd, hearing Deacon refer to himself as a wimp after he went out of his way to help her. She clearly saw him in a different light. Even though he hadn't done anything particularly athletic in her time of need, she saw him as capable. Upon Jessie's question, Wendy couldn't help but glance back towards the hall where Jared was hiding out. "Not really." She said. It wasn't exactly a lie, but Wendy wondered what Jessie would think about Jared's demand. "Just trying to keep entertained. I'm going stir crazy already, I just want to move, go for a walk or something."

Milos sat down on his sled and looked ready to race, his body tense and leaned forward in anticipation of pushing off. When Marie signaled the start of the race however, Milos simply relaxed and leaned back in his sled. He watched her fly down the hill alone, smiling to himself as she slowed to a stop near the bottom. Milos waited until Marie sat up and looked around to begin his own decent down the hill. He took his time, sitting back casually on the little blue sled, and using his long legs to slow down as he neared the bottom. Milos had nearly come to a complete stop, his sled just barely tapping the front of Marie's upon collision. He was silent for a moment, taking the time to just look at her. The way Marie's cheeks turned pink in the cold was so cute. "Looks like you won." He said quietly, reaching his hand out to brush a few stray hairs out of Marie's face before slowly leaning in and gently pressing his lips against hers.

Crete glanced up at the television upon mention, then her gaze returned to Raiden. It seemed like such an odd suggestion - TV was the last thing on her mind. Something about the idea seemed to warm Crete and a smirk tugged at the corner of her busted lip. "You're so lame." She teased, then nodded as if to give him permission. "You think they have Food Network in this joint? Maybe you'll learn something - you can cook dinner for me for once." Crete scooted herself toward Raiden, wanting to remain close to him, and rested her head down on his shoulder.

Leila left the room without any protest and stepped out into the hall, shutting the door behind her. With how drowsy she had become, the idea of coffee sounded appealing despite her day job. She wandered down the hall until she reached the small coffee station, nestled right next to a snack machine. Leila pulled one of the small Styrofoam cups and, as she filled it, couldn't help but wonder whose idea it was to stick a vending machine full of chips and candy in a hospital. Once her cup was full, Leila headed back towards Spider's room and leaned up against the wall just outside the door. Taking a sip of her coffee she shuddered and made an audible sound of disgust. What do you expect from hospital coffee? Leila sighed and resigned herself to powering through the acidic taste.

Leila jumped in surprise when the door opened. "Is he okay? Can I go back in?" She asked, wanting to catch the doctor before she scurried off too far.

A laugh escaped at the thought of riding down the snowy sidewalk on a scooter and Wendy smirked. "Yeah, you have access to one of those?" Her attention was drawn to Jessie as she got up, the mention of food causing her to ponder. She hadn't eaten much that day, and would have to before her next round of medication, but eating a meal just didn't seem appealing at the time. Wendy just couldn't shake the craving for fresh air. "I'm okay." She replied, giving Deacon a nod that encouraged him to speak up if he was hungry. "I think I want to go outside." Wendy said, standing slowly from her seat. "If I sit here any longer my butt is going to fuse with that chair." Not the brightest idea, but Wendy couldn't take it any longer.

Milos was tempted to test his luck with a second kiss, she was just so cute, but he decided not to push it - at least for now. "Cheating?" He asked, feigning surprise, "I didn't see any cheating. My sled engine stalled just as the race started. It was a travesty, really." Milos took the time to push his glasses back up the bridge of his nose, "You won fair and square. Though, if you'd like to take pity on me, we can call it a tie. However, that would mean you would have to go out on a second date with me."

Crete seemed confused by Raiden's question. Ok? The idea of asking for permission was foreign and caught her off guard. Derek certainly never asked for permission - though he was rarely affectionate with Crete like Raiden was. Her and Raiden often watched television that way, and had been doing so for a long time. Perhaps it wasn't normal for most friends, but it was second nature for the two of them. Crete had never once stopped to think about how she felt. Had it been anyone else Crete would have wanted her space, especially considering the recent events, but Raiden was different. She wanted to be close to him. Crete glanced up at Raiden and nodded, then shuffled herself closer, resting her head on his chest. "Thanks for asking." She said sincerely. "Just push me off if you get uncomfortable."

Leila was taken aback by Rebecca's comments. They seemed much more familiar then a normal doctor and patient relationship. She watched the doctor go, pondering the idea that perhaps Spider was some kind of hospital regular. Leila shook her head in attempt to rid herself of the thought and turned to reenter the room. Once inside she stood there awkwardly. She glanced between Spider and her cup of coffee, blowing a piece of hair that had escaped from the bun atop her head out of her face. It felt weird being there, but the thought of leaving Spider alone felt even worse. "Your doctor said you're doing well, all things considered." Leila finally commented, desperate to break the silence. "Is there...anyone you'd like me to call?" Surely someone had to be wondering where Spider was.

A look of defeat fell over Wendy. Her brows furrowed and a frown tugged at the corner of her lip. Deacon was right, even standing up hurt. How was she supposed to make it all the way down stairs, much less down the street for an actual walk? Wendy was used to being fairly active, even a couple of days on bed rest was driving her crazy - recovery was going to be hell. Desperate to get some fresh air, another idea popped into Wendy's mind. "I think I can at least make it up one flight of stairs. Come with me?" She requested, holding her good hand out in hopes Deacon would join her.

Milos smiled smugly, feeling like he had won the lottery. "I suppose I'll take what I can get." He agreed. Though, Milos couldn't care less where they went, he just wanted an excuse to spend more time with that girl. He hardly knew her, but Milos wanted to learn everything about her. "Did you have something in mind?"

Crete's eyes, while pointed towards the television, remained unfocused. Rather than paying any attention, she had allowed herself to become lost in thought. Despite Raiden's comfort, what was to come next was unknown and it unnerved her. Crete had lost sense of time, only startling to reality when there was a knock at the door.

After a brief warning knock, the door opened. The OBGYN, a middle aged woman with dark skin and square framed glasses, slipped into the room before shutting the door behind her. She watched as Crete sat up, looking dazed. "Hey Mom and Dad." She greeted quietly as she grabbed a nearby stool and swung it closer to the bed. "I've got some good news. Looks like baby is doing just fine. We didn't see anything to indicate any complications. Everything looks great and that heart is beating strongly." The woman gave both Raiden and Crete a once over, her eyebrow raised suspiciously at their condition. "Though, for the safety of you and the baby, I'd advise you take it easy. Otherwise, you're free to go. We would still like to see you back for your next checkup. Do you have any questions?"

Crete, having felt like she was hit with a ton of bricks, had to force herself to respond by shaking her head 'no.' She hardly heard the OGBYN dismiss herself, or the sound of the door opening and closing. It all came through like a distorted radio signal. The baby was safe, so why did she feel so sick? The reality of Crete's situation came crashing down on her. Baby or not, she was screwed. She had no job, no where to go, no money. As her complexion drained of color, Crete managed a glance at Raiden and simply shook her head. "What am I supposed to do now?" She whispered, the very action of speaking making her stomach churn like she was going to vomit.

"Bouncer?" Leila questioned, raising her dark eyebrows in Spider's direction. "Expecting a crowd?" She smiled, if that was the case she would feel a lot better about Spider's situation. It sounded like he had people who cared for him. "I think I can handle it." Leila crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. Despite her efforts, she didn't look very tough. "Who should I call?"

Wendy's frown tipped upward, "Thank you." Happy to have his support, both physical and companionship, she gently took his arm and led them out the door. Being on the tail end of her medication made the short journey that much harder for Wendy but she was determined to get outside. Despite the pain, and the frustration of being less physically capable, Wendy hid it well. Down the hall and up a short flight of stairs, Wendy had managed to make it to the roof entrance. She was careful to slide the stray red brick lying on the ground between the door and the frame with her foot, preventing the door from closing all the way. She had been told it had a tendency to stick and the last thing Wendy needed was for her and Deacon to get trapped on the roof.

The cold, crisp air hit Wendy and she sighed with relief. It wasn't a bike ride or a run, but it would do for now. She turned her gaze up to Deacon, "I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but I'm part wild animal. I don't do so well being cooped up inside for long periods of time." Wendy couldn't help but smirk at her own joke, but her expression quickly softened. "Thank you." She said again, knowing she couldn't say it enough. "Would you mind adding this favor to my tab, too? I know, it's a large bill but I swear I'll get you back."

Milos raised a single eyebrow at Marie and peered at her over the frames of his glasses. He had expected something else - perhaps a restaurant she had always wanted to try or a favorite activity. The mention of meeting her roommates seemed to sit well with Milos, bringing him a feeling of self worth. Milos had been alone for so long despite being constantly surrounded by people who admired him. The idea of being truly social, with Marie at the center, was an exciting one. There was, however, a brief flash of guilt that stuck Milos in the stomach like a sharp object. Is this how you should be spending your free time? Shouldn't you be trying to find your sister?Milos shook off the thought, knowing that one evening was not going to make the difference. He had to live his life, just as he hoped Crete was living hers. "Taking me home to meet the family already?" Milos joked, trying to suppress all of his negative feelings with humor. "I'd love that. You just tell me when and I'll be there."

"No, Raiden...I can't..." Crete knew that Raiden lived on a tight budget, the idea that he would have to spend money on a hotel just to keep them safe for the night made her feel even worse. But what other options did they have? The guilt was heavy. It was Crete's fault Raiden had gotten wrapped up in this mess to begin with, and now he was making even more sacrifices. Her gaze fell down into her lap, knowing a hotel was their only option. "I've got some cash, not much, but some. Let me cover what I can." Crete insisted, willing to spend her last few dollars to ensure Raiden didn't put himself in a financial sinkhole.

Questions about what was to come next kept trying to sneak into Crete's mind. Where do you go tomorrow? How do you plan to get a job? No one will hire a pregnant girl - especially in your state. Have you even looked in the mirror? How do you expect to raise a baby alone, without a father? Good luck finding someone who loves you, especially now that you come with baggage. Crete pressed the heel of her hands to her eyes, trying to suppress the tears that were threatening to fall once more. She had done enough crying in front of Raiden. For now, her number one priority was to make sure he was safe and his life returned to normal. Crete would worry about herself later. Step one was making sure they both had a safe place to stay that night. Crete slipped off the bed and stood before turning to Raiden and nodding. "We should get going."

Leila's head tilted to the side like a curious puppy, the bun on top of her head shifting as gravity started to pull it from a different angle. Why does he go by Spider? What's wrong with Emmil? Leila opted not to ask, clearly he preferred the nickname. She punched the number into her phone and held it up to her ear. As the line rang, Leila grabbed the chair she had previously been dozing off in and sat down. (Lame, sorry)

Asim let out a huff of exhaustion as he finished the long ascent up to the top floor of the complex. His day had been long to begin with and seeing the stairs upon entering the building was like the cherry on top, it was like they were mocking him. Asim had gone to unlock the door but found it swung open with ease. Someone other then Wendy must be here. He dropped off his laptop bag at the kitchen table before heading to the living room to check on his injured room mate. Asim was surprised to see Wendy missing and Jess looking worse for wear. "Uh, hey." He greeted, sensing that Jessie was not in the best mood. He motioned to the armchair "Um...", a roundabout way of asking about Wendy, before addressing her condition. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Wendy had forgotten how cold it was outside. After a few seconds the chill set in and she began to shiver. Despite the weather, Wendy was determined to stick it out. It had been a struggle just to make it up to the roof and she wasn't ready to resign herself to sitting around in the apartment for the rest of the night. Wendy needed at least a few minutes to soak in the fresh air, even if it was frigid. She crossed her good arm across her body in a feeble attempt to keep in any heat she could before turning toward Deacon to address his question. Wendy couldn't help but smirk playfully. "Vampire, actually." she said nonchalantly, as if it was nothing more then a casual piece of trivia. "If you tell headquarters they'll discharge me for sure. What do I have to do to ensure your silence?"

"Yes, tomorrow. What time would you like me there?" Milos confirmed, sensing that something was wrong but unsure of where he had made a mistake. Figuring it best not to pry, he stood and brushed the snow off of his pants. He bent down and collected both sleds, holding them both in one hand, before offering his free one to Marie. "Let me drive you home. I'd hate for you to have to take the bus from this far out."

Despite Raiden intending his comment to be in jest, Crete's stomach churned. She hadn't worked a job in years. Shortly after moving in with Derek he had insisted she quit her part time waitress position, and not long after he convinced her to drop out of college. It later became the topic of a few arguments. Crete wanted to work and yearned to get out of the house, but Derek simply wouldn't allow it. She knew Raiden had only been teasing her but it still stung. She couldn't allow Raiden to shoulder the cost alone, no matter how much he insisted. Knowing she had some left over tip money from open mic night, Crete vowed to find the first opportunity to slip the bills into Raiden's wallet or pants pocket.

Once outside, the cold winter wind whipped at her face. Despite being bandaged, her fresh abrasions stung sharply. When Raiden wrapped his arm around her she turned toward him and leaned in, attempting to shield her bruised skin from the elements. Even though she felt a massive amount of guilt, Crete was happy to have Raiden by her side. "Thank you." She said quietly, though knew it would never be enough to express how thankful she was for him.

"Oh, hi." Leila seemed caught off guard by the peppy greeting. She glanced up at Spider, wondering what his relation to the man on the phone was. "My name is Leila. I'm looking for Robert." Leila said, repeating the instructions that Spider had given to her. "It's about Emmil." She shifted uncomfortably, for some reason nervous about what the reaction may be.

"Ah." Asim remembered Wendy's cousin who had come looking for her the morning after she didn't return home. He wondered if that was who had come to visit. He wasn't thrilled about her being up and about in her state, but it wasn't his place to say anything. Asim shook his head, declining the cigarette. "No thanks." he said politely. He relaxed a little when Jessie explained the marks on her face. "I never took you for the office type." Asim admitted in jest, "A professional fighter huh? Did they put you through an audition or something? What's your nickname going to be?"

Wendy gave Deacon a concerned look as he took off his coat and placed it on her. She was the one who had brought him outside, the last thing she wanted was for him to further sacrifice his comfort for her sake. He'd done enough of that already. Wendy was about to protest, but Deacon's continuation of their playful charade was enough to dissuade her for the time being. She shook her head at his statement, looking down at the snow. "And condemn you to an eternal lifetime of suffering?" Wendy spoke dramatically, as if she were a character on a soap opera. She stood in silence, then closed her eyes and held out her hand, resentfully giving in. "If you're sure this is what you want, give me your hand..."

"How does five-thirty sound?" Milos suggested. He wanted very badly to continue holding Marie's hand, but opted to let go once she was standing. He didn't want to come across as too forward. "That'll give me enough time to run home after work and feed Jaws. She wouldn't be very happy with me if I missed dinner time." Heading back towards the car, Milos unlocked the vehicle remotely then opened the passenger side door for Marie, gesturing for her to get inside.

Once to their room, Crete closed the door behind Raiden and locked it. After slipping off her shoes she took a look around. A single queen size bed took up the majority of the floor space, outfitted with outdated linens that matched the faded curtains. The television looked like it came out of the same era. It was large and clunky, at least fifteen years old. Overall, the room was drab, but it would serve its purpose. All Crete needed was a clean space and a bed, thankfully the room met her expectations. She wandered closer to the center of the room before glancing back at Raiden, wondering what he was thinking. It had been a rough past few days for the both of them, climaxing during the fight in the stairwell. Crete knew they would have to have a longer conversation about what had transpired and what the next steps were, but now was not the time. She wanted to forget, if only for a moment, that there was a whole road of obstacles in front of her. Turning her back to Raiden, Crete reached out and grabbed one of the pillows from the bed. Without a single word she whipped around and tossed it at him, hoping for at least a small smile. It would give her some glimmer of hope that things may someday return to normal.

The sudden change in demeanor caused Leila's lip to wrinkle in concern and she glanced up at Spider, almost as if to ask for direction. She decided to continue on her own. "My name is Leila. Emmil...got into some trouble that I happened to run into. He's alright, relatively speaking, but I'm with him at the hospital. I asked him if there was anyone he wanted me to call and he gave me your number." Leila hoped what she had said was alright, but she figured who ever this Robert person was would hear the full story eventually.

"How about 'The Bomber.'" Asim said, cringing at his own suggestion before managing to laugh. "Or not. I'm not exactly the creative type." Had Jessie known him a little longer she probably would have known better then to ask for his input. His specialty was computers, not coming up with unique stage names, or anything else that took imagination. "Sorry, that was really bad. Maybe you should ask Marie or Wendy, I'm sure they've got better ideas then I do."