As the hours ticked by, and day shed to night the cops thankfully did not return. Sean eventually fell asleep against me, keeping me pinned to the couch afraid to wake him, and darkness settled around us.

I however forced my eyes to remain open. Despite the exhaustion I felt maneuver through my being, I kept awake. The anger that continued to haunt my mind frankly made me fear sleep. I don't want to see Dark face to face, not when he's this angry.

I still don't know why he's acting like this, sure he's shown some interest in Jack, but he can't really believe anything will happen between the two of them, right? Even he isn't that stupid.

But as the clock strikes midnight I feel my eyelids begin to droop, weighed down by an unseen force. I long to move, to get up and do something to ward away the sinking feeling of exhaustion, but dare not make even a slight motion. A part of me truly didn't want to wake Sean up after everything he's been through today.

So I sat, trying to focus on something, anything but the tiredness that clawed at my eyelids.

I studied each mark strewn across the ceiling at least twice, mentally went through my schedule no less than five times, and finally studied the sleeping man beneath me. Trying to uncover the mystery that always surrounded him.

However as the hour passed, I feel my head begin to loll to the side, I feel my eyelids drop, limbs becoming heavy, until I feel it pull me under into the sleep I so wanted to avoid.

My eyes open in the same forest as always, only this time the tall trees seem more constricting, more claustrophobic. My eyes wander through the thick brush until coming to a set of furious crimson irises. I feel my heart rate pick up, though force my face to remain emotionless. The silence that surrounds the two of us is menacing, the way he stood straight, business as usual puts me on edge.

His eyes scan over me, sizing me up before landing plainly to meet my gaze, his eyes swam with rage, yet the way he held himself was calm, collected, confident even.

"Mark..."

His voice is no different than his stature, cool and serene, but a new darkness slithered beneath it. I force my own back to straighten, my only current goal being to seem as composed as he is to seem like I'm not afraid.

"Dark..."

I match his tone with a soft voice, pretending to not see the anger alight in those crimson orbs as I speak his name.

His head rolls side to side, as though composing himself once again before stepping forward.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing...?"

The anger becomes more prominent in his deep voice, seeming to echo around the trees, his form flickered as though a simple glitch, and not truly in front of me. I feel my eyes narrow in silent question, a new annoyance working its way onto his face at my confusion.

"What do you mean?"

He gives a low rumble of a scoff, stepping forward once again as to intimidate me. I resist the urge to step back, refusing to give him the satisfaction, despite my heart nearly beating from my chest.

"Are you daft? It's about Sean... I don't like you treating him like this... I don't like you touching what's mine..."

My eyes narrow even more if possible, and for a moment I almost think he's joking, however I never saw him as the comedic type.

"Seriously?"

The word leaves my lips before I can stop it. The demon narrows his eyes at my disbelieving tone, and for a moment I think he'll snap. Noting his silence I continue in a much more respectful tone if not a little fearful.

"Dark... He's not yours, he's definitely not mine... I don't see him like that..."

"Bull shit!"

His booming voice echoes around me, sending shivers racking through each nerve of my body. I feel my throat tighten, face surely paled at his tone. His form glitches once more, looking almost like a maniac for that moment, polar opposite of his usual calm composure.

He takes a few deep breaths, straightening his back once more. Relaxing his shoulders he reaches a gentle hand up, pushing back a few loose strands of raven hair to complement his professional appearance once more. Taking a minute he finally meets my eyes again, any plans of hiding my fear out the window by now.

"Look... Mark..."

He speaks through grit teeth, nearly spitting out my name.

"I see how you look at him... How he looks at you... And I don't appreciate it... I should have been there for him today...."

I swallow, desperately trying to wet my throat before I speak. My voice still comes out scratchy and hoarse.

"Dark... I don't' know what you think you see but... There's nothing between us..."

His hands clench to fists at his sides, though that calm nature remains as he steps forward, the grass below us seeming to almost wilt with each deliberate footstep.

"Do you think I'm stupid, Mark?"

He speaks up, in the same low tone, standing directly in front of me now. Frankly I feel small standing in front of him, we stand eye to eye, same height, but he made me feel tiny, pathetic. I hate it....

I dare not open my mouth, afraid whatever I say would awaken that anger again. The pure rage I continued to feel from him, frankly I fear he'll hurt me... All over a human? It just seems wrong.

He takes a minute, eyes wandering over each crevice of my face, as though expecting an answer.

"Do you?"

His voice comes out a snarl this time, though he didn't yell this is almost worse. The red that glowed in his irises made me shrink back, the way he spat out the words letting venom drip from his voice. I quickly shake my head, foot instinctually moving backward as though to flee from the demon.

The coolness returns as though it'd never left.

"Then don't... Treat me as a fool..."

He straightens up, quietly clearing his throat as he stared me down. Finally a sigh leaves him.

"Don't touch Sean... I don't want to have to hurt you, Mark... I am here to help..."

And with that, he's gone.

~~~~~~~Jack's POV~~~~~~~

I feel my eyes open slowly, nearly crusted shut as far as I can tell. The first thing I notice is the light peeking through the curtains in front of me. The second thing I notice is the soreness in my back. I sit up to stretch it out only to notice another form beside me.

My eyes move over curiously, landing on the doctor who lay, head lolled to the side, fast asleep. I slowly, carefully push his arm off from around me, letting it fall gently to his side. My back cracks as I sit up straight, muscles untensing and a new soreness replacing the tightness.

I close my eyes a second, letting the cloud of exhaustion dissipate, remembering the night before. The cops... Mark... He helped me...

And himself...

The voice startles me, and I finally feel the familiar presence within my mind, making sure I was never alone with my thoughts. I simply brush his comment off, standing on wobbly knees and letting the blood return throughout my limbs.

My hand moves up to the mess of hair on my head, brushing it from my face. I'd almost forgotten what it was like to not have the green, forgot how liberating it is... My eyes move to the kitchen, stomach grumbling as I did. I probably should eat, despite the nausea that clawed at my stomach I force myself to enter the small room.

First things first I go to the fridge, letting the cool air hit my face, eyes wandering over the chilled food. Nothing I want, nor know how to make. Closing that I go to the cupboards, opening a few containing things like cups before finding one that had a few boxes of cereal. With a sigh I grab the box of cheerios. Simple enough I'd maybe be able to keep it down.

I search through the cupboards some more until I find the bowls, and then drawers until I managed to find a spoon. Soon enough I sit at the counter, stirring the small circles into the milk.

Forcing myself to swallow a few bites the knot in my stomach tightens. I force a few more down before simply dumping the rest, a new ache settling over my gut.

I jump slightly as I turn around to be met with Mark's figure in the doorway. I give a breathless laugh, hand going to my chest where my heart nearly beat from my chest again. Damn my jumpiness.

"Mark... You scared the shit out of me..."

I give a soft smile, looking up to meet his brown-.... Red eyes...? I feel my heart drop. He gives a small smile watching mine drop.

"Hello, Sean."