Nic slowly tipped over. After awhile Laurel could tell that he was coming out of it, but it was taking a long time. After almost five minutes, Nic started blinking open his eyes.

--

Raven sighed a little with a small smirk. She was hitting a soft spot, but Raven kept insisting. "And how are you going to take care of it when it grows bigger?"

Laurel continued to hit him, not happy at all. When he finally started to open his eyes she leaned over him, gripping the sides of his face and peering intently into his eyes.

--

Frei continued to pet the cat, ignoring Raven's question.

Nic groaned a little as he came to, feeling the bruises.

--

"Well?" Raven asked, waiting for her to answer.

Laurel continued to grip his head, "You didn't take it, did you?" she whispered fiercely.

--

"I'll feed you to it," Frei blankly whispered.

It took Nic a few moments to process Laurel's words. Then he slowly shook his head as he tried to sit up.

--

"... That's... not very nice," Raven replied.

Laurel pushed him back down, not letting him up, "If you ever get near that stuff again I'll..." and began to cuss at him once more.

--

Frei clutched the cat a little tighter, causing it to hiss a little.

"I... didn't," Nic muttered as he kept coming out of it. "I... was meditating."

--

"Don't hurt her," Raven told Frei gently. "I'm not gonna rip her out of your arms."

Laurel didn't look like she believed him, "Meditating?" she clarified.

--

Frei didn't look like she believed him, eyeing Raven closely. But she loosened her grip on the cat.

Nic nodded, trying to sit up again.

--

Raven didn't go for the cat, sighing again. He'd probably need to call in Wolfe for help.

Laurel paused but slowly got off of Nic, allowing him to sit up.

--

Frei frowned a little as the cat wiggled it's way out of her arms and jumped on the ground with a tiny yowl.

So Nic sat up, getting his orientation back. After another few minutes, he explained, "I was meditating."

--

Raven let the cat be and went to sit next to Frei instead.

Laurel glared at him a little, "You already said that," she spat.

--

Frei looked very unhappy. Perhaps she felt a little rejected.

"... Oh..." Nic said.

--

"... She'll come back," Raven reassured Frei. "Just give her awhile."

Laurel huffed a little, heartbeat still too fast.

--

Frei sniffed a little, glancing up at Raven.

Nic didn't say anything more.

--

"Let her come back to you," Raven suggested, watching the cougar.

Laurel was quiet as she calmed back down, bringing her knees up to her chest again, "... Did... sleeping with Rosen have to do with why you were scared yesterday?" she eventually asked.