Nic nodded.

Laurel started for the door and stopped, turning to stare at Nic, "If I'm doing something you don't agree with or don't like... I hope you'd tell me." she told him quietly, "I respect your opinions... It might not change my mind but I'd consider your side of things. I know you're a lot wiser than me."

Nic didn't say anything.

Laurel nodded, "I'll see you later then." she replied before leaving.

Nic watched the door for a moment as he reached back and touched the tip of the scar that brushed the back of his neck. She'd never understand how this made him feel. But he'd learn to live with that.

A few hours later Laurel returned, she seemed to be in some kind of outfit. It wasn't as revealing as the ones Nic had seen her in before, but they were definitely performance getup. She brought in some of his favorite breakfasts and set them down with a smile.

--

The door to the art studio opened slowly.

Nic was at his computer, and, like before, it took him awhile to drag his eyes away from the screen.

--

Like usual, Dan was there working on something or another.

Laurel set the food down and sat next to him, watching him silently.

--

A pair of small eyes watched her from the open doorway.

Eventually he looked at Laurel and then glanced at the food like he usually did.

--

Dan didn't seem to notice.

There was the bear bun on top of the coffee again. Laruel just watched him eat. After a long moment she spoke quietly, "I love you."

--

The patter of small feet walked closer to her.

Nic glanced at her and finished chewing and swallowed before replying, "I love you too."

--

It took Dan still awhile longer to notice before she realized someone was there and glanced around.

Laurel held out a small tablet looking devise. Nic would recognize it as a kind of tracker. There were two little green dots on the virtual map. Laurel held up her wrist, "I'm sure you already know how this works... but if I find myself in trouble I push on the bracelet and the tablet with vibrate and my dot will turn red. The other green dot is Rosen... It took me a while to get the bracelet on him. Will you feel better knowing where I am?" she asked after she was done explaining.

--

The little girl nicknamed Dot was staring up at her with wide eyes.

"... I trust that Rosen can take care of you," Nic replied, dodging the question.

--

Dan stared down at Dot with confused eyes. "... Hi..." Dan muttered after a long moment.

Laurel rolled her eyes, "You'd feel better knowing." she answered for him, "So here." she forced the tablet into his hand.

--

Dot blinked before stepping a little closer and suddenly hugging Dan's leg.

Nic took the tablet quietly without a struggle.

--

"... You're not Bee's, are you?" she asked Dot.

Laurel chuckled a little, shaking her head, "I'll be fine. I won't let you down and get myself hurt." she promised as she rubbed his shoulder.

--

Dot started crawling up onto Dan's lap.

Nic's expression remained the same as he nodded.

--

Dan let her.

Laurel continued to rub his shoulder, "Your back hurting you?"

--

The little girl snuggled into Dan's chest and began to suck on her pinkie.

Nic shook his head.

--

"... Who's watching you?" Dan tried.

Laurel nodded. After a moment she asked, "Why don't you get it removed?"

--

"Doctor." the two year old replied, "Pink hair took me."

"... I don't want to forget," he tried to explain.

--

Dan wasn't quite sure what that meant, but she was pretty sure Wolfe was involved. But instead of contacting him, she called the house doctor on her tablet.

Laurel was silent for awhile before slowly nodding, "Alright." but she reached out and tugged on a clump of his hair gently, "But I'll do my best to combat those negative memories, mkay?" she smiled a little sadly.

--

The doctor took one look at the kid on her lap and sighed, "Good. Just keep her for awhile, alright? At least she stopped crying." he moved to hang up, muttering something about not being a pediatric doctor.

Nic nodded, expression neutral.

--

So Dan nodded, letting the doctor hang up.

Laurel kept watching Nic before nodded again, "Alright, give me a kiss before I go." she ordered.

--

The small child seemed quite content on Dan's lap.

So Nic drank a little coffee before getting up to give Laurel a "proper" kiss.

--

Dan let the girl sit on her lap as long as she wanted.

Laurel chuckled a little, "Be good while I'm away." she cautioned him.

--

Dot seemed a little too comfortable with Dan. She watched her draw, continuing to suck on her thumb. After a little while, "Scary one is here." she told Dan quietly.

"... I'll try," Nic replied after waiting a little too long for it to be funny. He was trying.

--

"Hmm," Dan muttered to the little girl. "Pink haired guy scares everyone," she replied.

Laurel smiled at it anyway, "Good boy." she teased, pulling his nose once before heading for the door.

--

Dot shook her head, "She's scarier."

So Nic let her go quietly.

--

"Hmm... orange hair?" Dan guessed, not paying to close attention to the conversation.

Laurel turned and waved from the door before closing it behind her.

--

"No hair." the girl said very quietly before snuggling tighter against Dan.

Nic nodded a little back. When the door closed, he turned back to the computer.

--

"Then what is it?" Dan asked.

"She's scary." Dot repeated quietly.

"Hmm," Dan replied.

Awhile after Laurel and Rosen had departed there was a scream that echoed down the halls of the mansion. It was undoubtably Laurel's voice and filled with terror and pain.

Dot instantly put her hands over her ears and curled into a ball on Dan's lap. Kale shot upright on the bed only to cuss himself out as he slowly tried to lay back down.

Nic took the tracker out of the drawer he had shoved it in and glanced at Laurel's location.

--

Dan almost cussed, but managed not to.

--

Surprisingly, Blaze wasn't there to help Kale lay back down.

(lol I'm going to be mean)

It looked like the battery was dead. Laurel apparently hadn't thought to charge it. She really wasn't good with electronics.

The scream continued.

--

Dot suddenly started screaming as well.

Nic was out the door before the tracker hit the floor.

--

Dan covered one of her ears as she tried to comfort Dot to get her to stop screaming.

The scream led Nic down the halls until he rounded a corner and there was stood a cruelly smirking James.

--

When Dot managed to stop screaming she started sobbing.

Nic kept sprinting, adjusting to round and pass James since he didn't see Laurel.

--

Dan held Dot, still comforting her.

Just as Nic passed him, Laurel's voice came from James's mouth. "NIC!" it was a frantic scream, "DOMINIC HELP!"

--

"S-Scary..." Dot whispered.