Raven started to run over to restrain Laurel's father, but slowed down as he realized he wasn't reacting violently. "Umm... Please stop doing that," he told Laurel's father gently. "They're helping you become healthy again."

Danny paused, staring at Raven a bit suspiciously now as he continued to unplug himself slowly.

"Please," Raven tried again as he slowly walked over and reached out a hand to stop him gently. "Laurel is worried about you and wants you to get better as soon as you can."

Instantly Danny's eyes glinted and he lashed out at Raven wildly.

Raven took what Danny dished out as he tried to restrain him. "You can't keep doing this," he tried to reason. "You're making Laurel worry. This is hurting your daughter!"

Danny only struggled harder as Raven spoke to him, eyes getting wilder.

So Raven gave up on the talking and focused on restraining Danny.

Dan limped in around this time. "... She won't wake..." she told Raven.

"Stay back," Raven instructed Dan. Dan swallowed and stayed by the door frame.

Then suddenly Danny fell still, eyes seeming to go blank in an instant. He wasn't asleep and he remained upright, but his body seemed empty as he started at the far wall.

Raven paused a moment before loosening his grip. "... Sir," Raven told him, trying to get his attention.

For all he responded Danny might as well have been asleep. But his eyes remained open and staring at the far wall.

"Snap out of it," Raven told Danny, putting his face between Danny and the wall and getting closer. "I need to talk to you. "It's important. Your daughter needs you to be strong."

Danny's eyes didn't focus on Raven, his soul seemed to be absent from them.

So Raven shook Danny a little. "Come on, snap out of it!" he told Danny loudly.

"... Raven..." Dan muttered.

Still nothing on Danny's part, his eyes remained dead.

"... We won't let you hurt her anymore..." Raven told Danny as he slowly let go of him and backed off. "We'll find a way to get through to you."

Danny showed no sign that he had heard.

Raven continued to back off and slowly left the room. Dan let Raven pass her, but she stayed where she was.

After Raven had left, Danny slowly turned to look at Dan. There was a hint of curiosity in his eyes once more though they mostly remained blank.

Dan didn't say anything as she turned away. But she didn't leave.

Danny's eyes continued to be on her.

After another few hours, Danny had fallen back asleep but Laurel was waking.


James went looking Yue, all dressed in his stage attire.

Dan stayed to keep watch over Danny, but after awhile she sat against the door frame outside to try and avoid his eyes.

Raven wasn't seen again until just before Laurel started to wake again. His eyes were redder than usual, but he held himself higher now.


Yue was sitting by a window. She was dressed up like she had the intention of working out. But she clearly hadn't done so yet. Her tablet was in her lap, but today she was looking out the window instead.

Laurel blinked her eyes open slowly, a bit disorientated as she sat up and glanced around.


James walked over to her, "I need your help." he stated simply.

Raven was beside her with a glass of water. "... Have a nice nap?" he asked quietly.


"Huh?" Yue asked a little blankly, not looking at James.

Laurel blinked at Raven before slowly taking the water, "How long?" she asked after she had taken a small sip.


So James reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Quite a long time," Raven replied. And then he gave her an honest approximation.


"What?" Yue asked in the same tone, not enraged like usual when he did something like that. She even looked at him to. She was a little pale and looked tired, but her eyes were alert. She hadn't had anything to drink recently.

Laurel's eyes widened, "W... What about my dad?" she asked, voice worried.

"I need your help." James repeated.

"He's asleep," Raven reassured Laurel, rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.


"With what?" Yue clarified.

Laurel swallowed a little as she nodded and stared down at the cup in her hands. "Sorry about before." she murmured softly.


"One of my dancers rolled her ankle and we're about to go on." he explained with a sigh as he started to drag her off.

Raven was silent for a moment as he kept rubbing Laurel's shoulder. "Don't worry about it," he told her gently.


Before James finished, Yue had shaken his hand off and stopped in her tracks. James hadn't seen this expression on her before. She looked truly afraid. "No," she told him simply, some of her typical fire back in her voice.

Laurel was quiet for awhile as well, "You really should leave." she suddenly told Raven not unkindly, "You can't heal my father and being here is only hurting you."


"What?" James asked, voice a little annoyed, "No one will recognize you from so far away."

"... Being here doesn't hurt nearly as bad as not being here," he replied seriously.


The fear turned into annoyance for a brief moment before it became neutral again. "I'll only make a fool out of the both of us even if I knew the dance," she retorted. "What's so bad about being one dancer short?"

Laurel blinked, frowning a little as she didn't understand. But then she winced as the frown hurt her bruise and she sighed. "Alright," she replied quietly, "It's your choice. But be gentle around him, he's fragile."


James sighed, "Look, you don't really have to dance, you just stand there and kinda smile. You can move around a bit but you don't have to know a designated dance." he tried to explain.

Raven sighed. "Laurel," he replied as gently as he could, "this isn't working."


"Then why even put me on the stage in the first place?" she inquired.

Laurel's eyes flashed up angrily, "What do you know about it?" she spat before standing and turning to leave.


James didn't reply as he grabbed her arm again.

"Let me explain myself," Raven replied calmly, not moving.


Yue shook James' hand off again. "If I get on that stage, the Yin Long will find out about it."

Laurel paused, turning and giving Raven a sharp stare. But it looked like she would listen, for the moment.


James watched Yue silently for a moment, "Don't they already know you're with us?" he inquired.

[[grumble]]

"... This isn't working for your friends," Raven tried to explain. "You might think this is only hurting you, but it's not. Knowing you're going through this alone and shutting everyone else out is hurting everyone who cares about you. And there are a lot of people who care about you."


"... They shouldn't," Yue replied.

Laurel frowned slowly, "It's not hurting me." she retorted stubbornly, "My father's finally awake, why would it be hurting me?" she stated before turning and continuing towards the door.


James lifted an eyebrow, "Why are you so frightened of them?" he asked in a quieter voice.

"We won't stand to watch you be physically hurt by your father," Raven replied bluntly.


"I know..." but Yue's voice trailed off. "... No, even I don't know what they're capable of..." she whispered. It looked like she was getting lost in her thoughts again.