A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

All of the preparations were in place, and things were paid for. It was simply a matter of when the rental car would be dropped off at their location. The vehicle had four-doors and three rows of seats, though; the very back row had to be pulled up. That wouldn't be too much trouble, and Nick suspected that the creature would sit back there with (f/n) so that they would be offered more privacy.

After Deidre and Nick had dealt with the archives, hotel and car rental, they had moved back to the front of the office while the vet had walked back into his office. Ether had promised to pay him for his services, and Nick assumed that Ether would do so right before they left. His brown optics glanced down the hallway slightly when he leaned forward in the chair. No sign of Ether leaving the operation room greeted him, but Nick wasn't surprised either, so he returned his attention to the rest of his team.

Deidre helped Ren reposition Chris comfortably across several of the chairs. Her right leg, her fibula and tibia broken, was secured in a cast. Crutches were nearby for when she woke and would need to move. If she remained sleeping when the car arrived, Nick would carry her out since Ren had his own set of crutches; the auburn-haired male needed to stay off of his left ankle for about two weeks so that his wound could heal properly. Chris probably would require the crutches for about two months, and they'd have to visit their doctor back in their town, Teller's Den, for her cast to be removed and for her to transfer over to a boot about six weeks in.

Inspecting each one of them, Deidre and he really had been the only two left able to function fully. There was Ether, but Nick didn't know how helpful he would be around the house. Most likely, he'd stay by (f/n)'s side most of the time and take care of her. If he could cook for her ... that would be another story. Horrid images of cooked human flesh formed in his mind, and he almost audibly gagged. Other than Ether, Deidre and he would have to undertake most the work for the first two weeks. Chris and Ren could continue their research on their laptops, which was a relief, but Nick didn't expect them to start working immediately. He wanted to give everyone a few days, maybe a week, off to recover mentally and emotionally from it all.

Realistically, it would take a lot more time to recover, but they also did need the income, especially with all of the bills that would be coming in, unless they wanted to wipe out their savings entirely, which he wanted to avoid if he could. A ring from the reception's phone, though, pulled him from his thoughts, and he answered it before he hung up soon after. They would be at the vet's in just a few minutes.

Standing up from his seat, he mentioned, "I'll be back." Both Ren and Deidre nodded. Deidre did offer to go in place of Nick, but he shook his head. "I've talked with him before. It's fine. He won't kill me." They looked skeptical, but Nick gave them a small reassuring smile before he stepped towards the operation room.

Once there, he peeked inside. (F/n) remained unconscious, and the creature had his head down on the table on his forearms. He now had another black hoodie over his torso, but (f/n) continued only to have the sheet pulled over her lower half, her bandages and her bra on. Probably, Ether had been too worried about moving her right after surgery. Nick didn't blame him; she appeared incredibly fragile.

Lightly, Nick knocked on the right side of the doorframe. "The car will be here soon. You should start moving her." Gradually, Ether lifted his head and stared over to Nick, who forced himself not to focus on the tear stains on the creature's face. He had seen the creature cry before, but it still was a shock to him. Nick released an awkward cough, however. "... Do you need help?"

A scowl met the creature's lips. "No. I'll be fine." The creature stood up from the chair, and his very pale blue optics focused back on (f/n). "How long will the drive take?"

"About five hours to our home. The road should be pretty flat, so there shouldn't be too many bumps." The creature didn't respond. "Is that going to be too long?"

"No, that'll be fine as long as we don't move her too much. And if the road's like that, it shouldn't be a problem." His hands clenched around the metal table again before he released his grip on the object. Nick noted the indents in the metal, and he ignored the urge to gulp. "But ..." Ether sighed and seemed reluctant to say anything more, but he eventually added, "I ... need you to watch her." Noticeably, surprise greeted Nick's countenance. "I need to pay the vet and have a little chat with him, so I'm entrusting her to ... you." The creature's voice lowered significantly. "Don't screw it up."

"I won't."

"Don't even touch her unless it's an emergency." Nick nodded firmly. "If you do, I'll remove one of your fingers, and I'll continue to do so for every time after that." Again, Nick managed not to gulp. The creature analyzed him closely, and Nick remained perfectly still. A frown remained on the creature's lips before he walked towards Nick and out of the room.

Hitting his ears was a slight gasp from out in the front. Nick presumed that Deidre hadn't been expecting Ether to enter the room so soon and without (f/n) in his arms, but soft footfalls greeted his ears again, and he heard an office door open. The sound of a chair screeching across tile met his ears next, and Nick had a feeling that the vet was trying his best not to scream.

Not listening in anymore, Nick headed over to (f/n). He didn't sit down since he didn't desire the creature to grow furious about him being too close to her. Still, her present image contrasted greatly with the last time he had seen her in Faller's Grove. There had been tear stains on her cheeks and scars on her too, but there hadn't been so many, and she hadn't nearly died either. His brown optics rested on the bruising around her neck since it stood out so much against the throng of other injuries. Part of him was tempted to glide his fingers along it as if that would heal the discolored skin, but he kept his hands back since he knew that the creature wasn't bluffing about his recent threat.

Simply standing and watching over her, he waited for the creature to return, but it was growing harder to keep his distance from her. Her current condition pained him so much, and he could feel a few tears forming again. Callest's hands roamed over her shoulders again as he recounted all of the horrible acts he had done to her. Nick clenched his fists to try and control his thoughts, but they kept spiraling back to that. "I'm so sorry," he whispered before he heard soft footfalls right behind him.

"I'd say you should be, but we're both to blame for this." Nick glanced over his right shoulder before he took several steps away from the creature since he had been so close. Ether barely acknowledged his action before he concentrated on (f/n). "The car's here; your friend Deidre has the keys." The creature took Nick's place by (f/n). "The vet's also been paid and has been persuaded not to mention us to anyone else. If he goes back on his word, he knows the consequences that await him."

"... Right." Nick didn't really know how to comment on that last bit of information. "I'll go bring Chris into the car, though; we probably want to wait for you to enter it first since you'll be sitting in the back." Nick's tone was unsure because he didn't know if the creature would approve of that arrangement. Mentally, he sighed in relief when Ether nodded in response.

Softly, the creature slid his left arm under her knees and his right under her head. The sheet fell off from her as he lifted her up. "Put the sheet back over her," the creature ordered, and Nick followed immediately not just because of the creature but also because he wanted (f/n) to have privacy. Nick draped it over her body, and she shifted just slightly to snuggle into it. Unknowingly, she leaned into Ether more, who smiled a barely noticeable smile.

Without another word, the creature stepped towards the front and where the car was. Deidre hurried over and opened the door for Ether and (f/n), causing Ether to give her a slight glance. She didn't move, and he mumbled, "Thank you," before he went towards the backdoor on the passenger's side. She followed behind him, and Ren remained close to her. Nick carefully picked up Chris along with her crutches. He pushed the door open with his back and walked outside while Deidre unlocked the car.

Opening the backdoor for Ether, Deidre left it open and pushed the backseat forward before she popped up the very backseat. That time, Ether didn't thank her, but he nodded, which she took as a thanks, and she honestly wasn't expecting any. With extreme care, he carried (f/n) into the car with him and made sure that he didn't bump her against any part of the car. Once in, he seated himself on the passenger's side while (f/n), with her head on his lap, lied across the rest of the seat.

Ren continued to stand with his crutches as Nick brought Chris, the two backpacks and the duffel bag out. Deidre took Chris's crutches and the backpacks from Nick and placed them down on the floor while Nick positioned Chris across the back seat, similar to how (f/n) was. Coming over next, Ren seated himself before he set his crutches on the ground too. Gently, he turned around to face the front of the car, and he watched where he put his feet. Chris's head rested again on his lap, and Deidre shut the door after them.

Both Deidre and Nick hurried into the car, Deidre taking the wheel and Nick shotgun. Briefly, Nick looked in the rear-view mirror and noted that the creature had his eyes averted down towards (f/n). When Deidre turned the key in the ignition, though, he broke his gaze from the mirror and concentrated on the scenery as they drove out of Delain. If Callest planned to follow them, he could do so easily, and he probably would keep himself hidden. Nick, however, wanted to keep a watch out for him so that they wouldn't be caught off guard, especially since none of them were in much of a position for another attack, minus Ether. Even Ether, though, was vulnerable since he was watching over (f/n), which meant that they had to be all the more cautious.