The heavy air filled the already tension-laid room in a thick, cloying manner. There was nothing good or pleasant about the way it felt.

"It's okay," Scott said, trailing his thumb up the side of Allison's hand softly. He had continually followed her here after hearing the news. "I swear he'll be up and walking in no time."

Allison managed a weak smile, but tried to subtly move her hand away. Scott had been saying the same two lines over and over again for the past two days. The comfort level had only decreased. A nurse walked out of her father's hospital room, and she shot to her feet, instantly filled with adrenaline.

"How is he—is he awake—can I—?" she stuttered, running her hands wildly through her soft locks of brown hair.

"He's not awake yet, sweetie. I'm sorry. The doctor will determine when he thinks your dad is stable enough for visitors."

Allison nodded, swallowing thickly. Apparently Scott wasn't the only one good at repeating lines, "Okay." The nurse gave her a sympathetic hug before walking away.

"I brought food!" a voice called down the hospital entrance hallway. Allison glanced up and she heard Scott jump out of his chair behind her, his movement enunciated by a loud growl erupting from his stomach. Isaac Lahey made his way over to the pair, his piercing blue eyes glowing under the fluorescents. Allison felt her heat beat a little faster.

The goofy werewolf gave them both a huge smile before guiding them over into a corner and spreading a picnic-style blanket on the floor and pulling out plastic boxes full of Chinese takeout.

"Sorry it's not Mexican," Isaac said with a quick grin in Scott's direction, as if they were sharing an inside joke. Allison squirmed a little, envious of how easily he acted as if everything was how it had been before. It seemed much easier for him then for her. "Is there an update on Daddy Argent?" he asked none-too-gently.

"Same as before," Allison said softly, looking down at her food with no appetite whatsoever.

"Hey," Isaac said, and she looked up to meet his gaze. "I can't speak for him, but I'm pretty sure he's handled worse. I mean, he's had to deal with you for all these years."

Allison laughed, just a small giggle really, but sparks of genuine happiness exploded in her chest. Funny how with a few sentences from Isaac, she already felt better. Then she caught his warning gaze.

Too much, Isaac's eyes said before he relaxed back into his usual demeanor. Allison glanced quickly over at Scott and, surely enough, Scott's gaze seemed a little tighter than before.

"Scott," she said, grabbing his hand. He looked at her, seeming surprised. "Thanks for being here with me, okay?"

"Yeah," he said, smiling now, "You know I'm always here for you."

"Wow," Isaac said through a mouthful of rice, "This is a touching moment and all, but I brought you food with my own money. Eat it."

The three of them laughed, and then dug in. They stayed in that corner in the hospital as it got later and later. All three of them were yawning by the time Scott's mom finished her shift.

"Hey, sweetie," she said to Scott as he grabbed her bag for her, "Isaac, let's go." The three teenagers exchanged glances. "What?" Scott's mom asked. "Oh, Allison, I'll give you ride too."

"Nah, it's okay," Allison said, "I really wanna be here if my dad wakes up. I can drive myself to school tomorrow. I brought clothes and stuff. You guys go ahead."

"Y'sure?" Scott asked, but his drooping eyelids begged her to let him go.

"Yeah, yeah. I can take care of myself."

"I hate it when you say that," Scott said, though he smiled like he found it adorable. "Um, go out to the car, mom, I got your stuff. I'll be there in a sec."

"Okay," she said with a shrug, used to his sometimes cryptic behavior now.

"Isaac," Scott hissed, dragging him over to where they were out of earshot of Allison and his departing mom. "With these crazy attacks lately, I need to watch over my mom. But I don't want Allison here alone. Will you watch her? I'm sorry if I'm asking too much—."

"I'll do it," Isaac said, and then realizing his answer was too quick, "You've given me a home, Scott; the least I could do is help you out."

Scott smiled, "You're a good dude. See you in the morning." Scott patted Isaac on the back, turned around and gave Allison a hug, and then walked out of the hospital with nothing but a quick wave behind him.

"What did—?" Allison started, but Isaac held a finger to his lips and they waited in silence for a few minutes.

"Okay, he's out of earshot now," Isaac said. He took a seat by Allison, "And, we're alone for night."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo OoOoOoOoOoOoO

"How do you do it?" Allison asked a few seconds later.

"Do what?" Isaac said, linking his hand in hers and studying her face with a curious expression.

"Pretend," she said. "I can barely look at him now. And you waltz in here and act like everything's the same."

He laughed, "Everything is the same." Allison gave him a look. "Okay, it's a little more complicated, but we both agreed we'd tell him when he's ready and can handle it. I'm just going along with the agreement."

"It's weird," she said, "Whenever we're together, I can barely stop myself from touching you or holding you hand…but I think it's the guilt that makes me hold back. I don't wanna feel guilty anymore. I wanna be able to walk into school and know I can show the world you're mine… or spend every second of every day with you. And I can't."

Isaac bit his lip, but forced a smile, "I want those things too. We just gotta be patient. Like…waiting for your dad to wake up."

Allison rolled her eyes to stop the tears, "Like we haven't dealt with enough. Now the darach's going after our families."

"Hey," Isaac said, seeing her watery eyes despite her attempt to hide them, "We're gonna be okay. Everything is gonna be okay."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Allison said, reaching her hand up to stroke the side of Isaac's face. He leaned into her touch with a mischievous smile.

"Because we're all smarter then you."

Allison laughed and pulled her hand away from his face, "Oh, shut up, Lahey."

His smile deepened, "I'll shut you up."

She shook her head with a smirk, "You've tried several times. All of them unsuccessful."

"Maybe…I need a new tactic?" he said and she rolled her eyes.

"I doubt that a new tactic would help—." Before Allison could finish her sentence, Isaac closed the distance between them. And just like every time they kissed, her mind went blank. Tasting his lips felt like satisfying a craving that had manifested within her for years. His tongue explored hers, trying to memorize the way she moved for those times they were apart when he felt like he would never know again. Allison was lost in bliss, and when Isaac knotted his hands through her hair to pull them closer still, his touch was like fire on her skin. She didn't want to stop. Nothing mattered. It was just this moment. Just the two of them. Nothing else even existed—.

"Um, excuse me," a timid nurse tapped Allison on her shoulder and they broke apart. "I'm sorry, but we can't allow that in our waiting room."

A furious blush exploded across Allison's face. She's forgotten she was in a public place. "Sorry, it won't happen again." The nurse nodded and walked away.

"I can't promise that!" Isaac called after the nurse and Allison slapped his arm. "What?" he said, laughing, and planted a kiss on her cheek. "You look adorable when you blush."

"You're so full of it," she said, but smiled nonetheless and linked her fingers in his again.

"I need to keep up this trend," Isaac said, as Allison leaned on his shoulder.

"What trend?" she asked, yawning sleepily.

"Of accomplishments," he said, also yawning, "I got you to shut up."

Allison laughed and they fell asleep together, enjoying the peaceful night where, for a second, all their problems went away.