Taylor
"See, isn't this much more pleasent? If you'd been like this in the beginning, poor Natalia might never have been whipped nor Jane have had her nose broken. Actually, I think I broke her cheekbone as well. Or at least bruised it."
*
"I have become most vexed of late because of you. I would suggest not trying my patience further."
*
"There still remains to be addressed the question of whether you have paid adequately for helping two of my most vaulable specimens to escape."
*
"You know, Natalia would lick her own blood off the floor if you told her to, and apologise for bleeding."
*
"I believe Natalia would have said much the same. But you've seen her. Talked with her. She would do anything for her Masters. She'll probably give Mouse the slip and wind up back here, shivering and pleading to be let back in."
*
"Ah. I see now why you didn't want me to come down."
"Please leave, Dr."
"I can not condone this."
"You don't have to."
"You can't do this to someone!"
*
"What the hell do you mean you killed her, you idiot?! I told you both of the girls were to be brought back here unharmed! She was carrying three embyros! Do you know how much work went into designing them?!"
*
"I told you you would be at my feet one day. I didn't think it would be this soon though."
*
"Love. It weakens you. Brings you down. There is nothing you can do. Nothing left to live for, to keep yourself strong for. Is there, really?"
*****
"NO!" Taylor cried, shooting up in bed again.
His right hand wiped the sweat from his face, as he realized it had happened again. And he couldn't stop himself shaking.
Mouse
Mouse was brought back into awareness by the surge of Taylor's fear, hand automatically going to her ankle where she'd carried a knife for so many years and blinking her eyes quickly to focus so she could attack and defend herself. Fafnir and Bets had leapt to their feet, and were showing their teeth. "What's wrong? Cher?" The three of them quickly established that there was no physical threat. Mouse put a hand on Taylor's shoulder, trying to soothe the fear. She could feel him shaking. She scooted over in the bed and hugged him. "What's wrong?" The two canines lay down on either side of the bed again, ears still slightly pricked and radiating watchfulness.
Taylor
"I... I'm sorry," Taylor shook his head, "I should have known better, I..."
He glanced at the wolves, taking a deep breath.
"It's nothing, really. Just go back to bed."
Mouse
"Don't try to fool the empath, amour." Mouse looked at him worriedly. "What's wrong?"
Taylor
Taylor rolled his eyes and lay back onto his pillow. It was too late at night to try and block her again.
"I don't know," he sighed finally, "it's just... they're just nightmares."
MOuse
"I know a lot about nightmares. Which one?" Mouse could sense Taylor giving her that puzzled look. "Like, is it the one where you're running and running in the dark, and there's something after you, but you don't know what, but you know it'll eat you if it catches you, and it's getting closer and closer all the time? Or, is it a falling one? Or, um, fire. I know I have a lot of nightmares about fires. Or drowning." Mouse bit her lip thoughtfully. "Or there's the one where I watch my parents die again. And ones about the Spider. And the labs."
Taylor
"It's nothing like any of those," Taylor screwed his face up, his worry turning to her.
He sighed then wiped his face with his hand again.
"It's just... dark. And light. It's a bit of both," he frowned, "and I just hear voices. I don't know, they just seem real."
MOuse
Mouse cuddled into him. "It's probably memories...Tanya said there would be some leaks. I love you, you know that right?" She was suddenly worried.
Taylor
"If those are memories of something that actually happened, then I'm kinda glad I got rid of them," he gulped, putting an arm around Mouse protectively.
"The voice... it blamed me for alot of things," he shook his head, "for breaking your nose... It said Natalia would lick her blood off the floor if she was told to. It told me you were dead, and it went on about love being a bad thing."
He hesitated, confused.
"Sorry."
Mouse
Mouse bit down on the inside of her lip thoughtfully. "Might've been Blakesley...he did come in once and belt me across the face. Broke my nose. Think he cracked my cheekbone as well. Had the same type of achy feel to it anyway. Sounds like the type of things he would've said as well. Natalia could probably confirm it, but I don't like reminding her of that..."
Taylor
"No, no... not a good idea," Taylor insisted, "I don't want to upset her too much."
He scratched his cheek and let his head fall back again.
"I love you too."
MOuse
"Mine." Mouse pressed her face into his chest and breathed in his scent, feeling drowsy again. "Feel better now? Want to talk more? I'm happy to talk."
Taylor
Taylor's eyes searched the ceiling for a moment as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"It's pretty late," he amended quietly, "we should probably get some sleep."
MOuse
"Mmm. Sleep." Mouse's eyes closed slowly. "Night, mon couer." They fell asleep together, holding each other tighut and trusting in the other's presence to chase away any nightmares.