If Ada didn't get some coffee in her soon, she was going to snap. It's not that she didn't like mornings, they were fine enough. She liked mornings with breakfast, a little time to herself, maybe a nice shower. That morning, though, it was as dark out as when she went to sleep and everyone was busy, herself included.

It didn't take her long to pack her things. For one thing, she didn't like to spread out when she was away from home because of that exact stress. For another, she had only been there for just over a week. Sam, on the other hand, had appropriated a quarter of the sink and shower with her favourite soaps and creams, so it took her much longer. She hadn't even started on her other tasks when Ada slipped on her boots; she tried not to trip on the laces on the steps. Her task was trivial, but she believed it was because Cain had been prepared for this day for a while, so not much really needed to be done. He had a to go bag already. She hadn't seen him in a while.

Under her flashlight beam, perfect dew winked at her on the hoods of the cars, the blades of grass, the gravel under her boots. The cellar was easy to find, and she kept her time down there short. Cain had told her exactly where to find the jerrycan. She kept her head ducked low, breathing shallow as though the thick, stale, mouldering air was toxic. On her way out, she doubled back for the work bench.

"Right side, four down," she breathed, stretching the words out as her finger skimmed the dusty drawers. The one she wanted stuck, and she gave a great heave to get it open wide enough to see the first of many perfect coils in the deep, slender drawer.

Footsteps overhead sent thin streams of dust careening from the low beams and right into her hair. She scrubbed the spot, grossed out, hurrying up the steps with as much care as she could manage. The cool humidity was actually preferable to that compressed, earthy space. She brought her prizes to the truck first and got to work; she left the rope on the hood. That was not, thankfully, her problem.

She left the can just beside the front steps, but didn't go inside just yet. There was a lot of movement going on just then; instead, she pulled out the little case that fit in her palm better than her phone and removed the slender joint tucked in beside the hinge. It was a little flat, but just fine. Her fingers shook a little as she struck the lighter.

What was she so nervous about? Sam and her had spent a lot of time together already, what was the big deal about thirty-six hours in the car with her? Well, there was the half-dead, blood-crazed man who was going to be in the back seat. Not to mention, what about when they ran out of things to talk about? She sure hoped Sam wouldn't be sick of her by the end of it.

Cain came out with his bag a few minutes after she ground the blackened stub into the dirt, purpose giving him tunnel vision. He didn't see Ada until he emerged from the truck again and gave a little start. She grinned apologetically.

"How are you?" he asked, joining her under the window, pulling a pack of smokes out of his pocket. He waggled them and said, "Don't tell Aidan."

"I won't," she chuckled. "How's he doing?"

"Aidan? Well, I think. As well as can be expected, at least." The tip flared bright on a long drag.

"You don't think he feels kind of ... I don't know, robotic lately?"

"Oh, absolutely. But I think, given the circumstances, he could be taking things a lot worse. I'll be worried if he starts to sulk again."

Ada nodded slowly, sliding her hands in her pockets. "I guess you're right." Silence, apart from the cheery greetings the birds were sharing. "Can I do anything else? I'm all packed."

Cain thought for a moment. "Oh, could you give Noah some water? There's a jug and ladle already in there."

She wasn't expecting that, but agreed to it nonetheless. How hard could it be? Well, as it turns out, very. She was feeling pretty confident about it as she slipped into the room as though she might disturb his rest. She took the silver ladle, which had a small divot through which to pour, and filled it halfway, finally regarding Noah. Her first issue was the angle. She hoped to do the task with minimal contact, but she could tell as soon as she touched the ladle to his lips it wouldn't work. So, she begrudgingly tilted his head with her free hand and did her best to pour the water into his mouth and not onto him. The whole while she tried to ignore the feel of his greasy hair under her palm. She was only about half successful in her task. Fortunately, there was a hand towel beside the jug and she dabbed away what she could.

Finished, Ada stood over him, watching the subtle rhythm of his breathing. The bruise was almost invisible in the centre of his chest. Though she hadn't seen the wound itself, she had a vivid image conjured of the mended puncture. She swallowed hard. She pulled the chair over and sat; it felt weird to just stand over him like that. She felt no less weird sitting. Slowly, unsure of what to do with herself, she laid a hand over his immobile one—it was nearly as warm as Sam's, which she figured was probably a good thing.

Conflicting emotions made her stomach churn. Ada wanted to hate him, but reminded herself that Sam had already forgiven him. Well, she didn't know that for sure, but considering Sam wanted him to survive and have a second chance, she doubted she was wrong. But he had tried to fucking kill her, more than once. He tried to kill Aidan more than once, too, and frankly, Ada was starting to really like that guy.

Holding grudges was the only way she made it through school. It gave her the fire to keep showing up when she would rather have done anything else. It wasn't easy for her to forget a slight, even if it wasn't against her herself. She took a long, slow breath, her palm fairly humming over Noah's she was so aware of the contact, trying to quell her anger. Noah didn't stir in the slightest.

"I don't know if you can hear me," she hissed for fear of being overheard. She didn't know what she was going to say, but the words flowed out of her. "But know that I have a long memory. Everyone else may forgive and forget, but I'll always be cautious. Hear me now when I say that if you hurt Sam again, in any way, I will remove you from her life myself, however necessary." Her hand flexed around his slack one. "You may be an apex predator, but you don't scare me."

He did, a little bit, but she didn't let him scare her.

There came a soft rap at the door, and then Sam appeared in the narrow gap. Her curious smile grew as she took in Ada's hand, now slack from surprise, and she felt herself returning it.

"We're just about ready, I think." As Ada rose and crossed the short distance, Sam asked, "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I just thought I should say something to him. I haven't been in to see him once this week." The words came easily. Her palm still felt warm and tingly as she stuffed her feet into her boots once more.

Sam and Cain discussed which car Noah would be in, and Ada became distracted, patting her pockets. Her phone was inside. She excused herself, but neither seemed to hear her, and she followed Aidan a few moments behind. It would be on the nightstand, where she left it, and she could see it around Aidan's hip as she entered. She started for it, eyes straying to the task he was attending. Right away she noted the fluidity of his hands.

"Sorry, forgot my phone," she murmured as she leaned past him for it. Even when he moved to accommodate her, he barely slowed. Ada paused in the doorway, a grin on her face that caught his eye.

"What?"

She nodded her head at his hands and said, "You're awfully good at that."

Aidan glanced from the rope, to her, and back again. A split second before he put his back between her and his work, she thought she saw his cheek flush.

"What are you getting at?"

"Nothing," she shrugged, voice innocent. "I'm not judging."

She started for the front door, already grinning a little before she heard him say tersely, "There are plenty of other reasons for someone to be good at tying knots."

Ada snickered, pocketing her phone and feeling a little better about the car arrangements. At least she knew Noah was secure. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing again as she returned to Sam and Cain. She was feeling a little better about the trip.

To be honest, while it was cool to experience a party with werewolves, Ada was grateful to leave in the morning. If she had a distaste for Noah before, it was doubled now after learning most of the details of his last four years. No one mentioned the journal, nor the stalking, but the four of them knew. As for Cain, though, she wasn't sure how much of that part he knew.

The car arrangements were the same as before; it was just easier for all of them. Noah was in no mood to hang out with Sam and Ada, and he didn't want to be around Aidan, so that put Aidan in their car by default. It was cool, though. Now that all the negotiations were done and that shadow was behind them, Aidan was almost a different person. Vibrant, happy, he sang from time to time, he told stories from when he was younger, and not once did he assume that stony demeanour. Ada had only seen glimpses of this side of him before. His energy was contagious.

They stayed overnight in Thunder Bay before making the long drive back home. Ada did most of it. Sam was spent. She had been gone half the night on one last run, and Ada was babysitting Noah. He was in Aidan's room, silent, so she really didn't have to do anything. She slept only lightly, one ear always open. She got barely more sleep than Sam did, but Sam didn't function as well without. Anyway, Ada booked it down the slender, roping highways, following the GPS on her phone so she could space out and cover as much ground as possible before she needed to rest.

They went back to Ada's place so they could see Percy. Mrs. Kreischer had been feeding him for her while she was away. He was elated to see them. He was even more elated to have not one, but two packed bags to sleep on and in. Ada was too tired to care that her clothes were going to be covered in orange fur. It was barely after nine when they collapsed into her bed. Ada woke not long after to pull Sam into her arms. She let out a small, content sigh, her warm palm cupping Ada's arm around her waist.

Two days later, curled up in Sam's bed late at night while they watched Aliens, Sam asked her to move in together. She was half asleep, so Ada tried not to be too thrilled until she could confirm her lucidity in the morning. Ada was too wired to sleep after that, instead watching movies as she dozed, relishing every moment Sam lay curled against her chest.