love put a gun in my hand.

Grayson bit down on her lip, willing herself not to start arguing with the man right then and there. There was no way in hell he would be ready to go in two days. For starters, shit needed to cool down before Frank Castle went back out killing people. Secondly, the stab wound on his side was at least two and a half inches deep. Grayson didn’t care if she had to fight Frank Castle her damn self; he would end up tearing it more and then they would have an infection on their hands. Grayson shook her head rapidly, staring down at the floor before looking up and staring right into the pools of Frank’s eyes. “Not happening.”

Grayson didn’t give him a chance to speak before she launched into her reasoning, “If that’s your plan then we ain’t doing it. Let the cops take over this one if we have too. I just sewed your side like I was sewing back on the arm of a teddy bear, Frank.” Grayson looked at him pointedly, but the concern and fear was evident in her blue eyes. “Don’t want to deal with that shit getting worse or you getting it infected or fuckin—fuckin, I don’t know, having your guts get spilled out and shit.”

David was watching the interaction, as silently as he could, but when Grayson said that he lost it. He was doubled over in laughter. “Okay, okay. Seriously, Grayson are you shit-faced already. You think his guts are gonna fall out? We need to get some food or somethin’ into you.”

“I’m fine,” Grayson said convincingly, looking over to David with raised eyebrows. “I’m just worried that the man’s guts are gonna fall out of his side because he wants to be the man of steel and think he can’t get hurt as much as I can.” Grayson thought about her statement for a moment, realizing how ridiculous it sounded and she couldn’t help but fall into a fit of giggles as well. “Okay maybe it does sound dumb, but still. Let’s compromise. I can shoot. I’ve shot your rifle before. Lemme do it.”

Frank snorted when Grayson told him that his plan wasn't going to happen. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, smirking as he leaned forward. His hand was pressed against his side but even so, he was grinning now. It wasn't the happy sort of smile but an almost vicious one that was dripping sarcasm. "Not happening, hmm? Yeah? And who died making you the boss 'round here, hm?" Frank asked, raising an eyebrow as he tilted his head slightly. "Last time I checked, girl, I'm still fuckin' breathin' which consequently means I'm tha fuckin' boss. If I say I'm goin', I go. We clear?"

He huffed as he settled back against the wall, his eyes shifting between Grayson and David now. Frank was a whole lot more aggravated now, the loose, relaxed feeling that had started to develop was long gone now.

It wasn't until David buckled over laughing that Frank looked over to the man, clearly rather annoyed by David's amusement. "What's your fuckin' problem, Lieberman?" Frank snapped the words, only calming slightly when David explained what he was actually laughing at. He rolled his eyes, muttering under his breathe as he decided to roll over onto his side. It was unpleasant since that was the side his wound was on but at the moment, he didn't give a shit.

"Yeah. You've shot my rifle in a controlled environment. You learned to shoot so you can defend yourself. Not so that you can come with me to deal with a situation. Two very different things, girl. Best leave it that way, yeah?" Frank uttered, closing his eyes and praying to a God that he no longer believed in that Grayson and David would simply leave him alone.

Grayson rolled her eyes dramatically and scooted away. She eyed David and held her hand out, “Help me get of this fuckin floor, will ya?” She asked quietly. David obliged and helped the girl up, looking between the pair of them once more. She reached over Frank and snatched the bottle and headed towards the kitchen as she took another sip. “Let’s leave the grouch alone so he can get his beauty rest.”

Liquor most definitely made Grayson a bold and defiant woman.

It was late, or early in the morning depending on how you looked at it, and Grayson knew none of them had eaten. She set to cooking something up rather than going and getting take out this late or not. If Frank wanted to eat, she decided he could help himself. Regardless, she was going to make sure her and David were fed. She dug around the cabinets and the fridge, finding just enough stuff to make homemade lasagna. She scrunched her face as she looked at expiration dates, trying to remember when she had brought this over. It was for David’s birthday about two weeks ago. Frank had gotten pissed with her for God knows what and she had ended up leaving.

Grayson meandered around the kitchen, getting everything ready and cooked. She had put on some soft music, as to know disturb Frank in the next room, and was in her own little world. She finished up the lasagna and called for David. She poked her head into where Frank was and let him know there was food. When he didn’t respond, she shrugged her shoulders and headed back to the kitchen.

“C’mon, let’s eat and then I’m going to go home.” Grayson said as she plated them their food.

“You can’t drive,” David pointed out.

Grayson laughed, “Like hell! I’m fine. What are you gonna do? Tattle on me?”

Frank didn't even bother to retaliate when Grayson called him the grouch, actually rather satisfied that she was being pushed away yet again. It was better that way, it was always better that way. Frank Castle, he led a life that was full of danger. It was there, lurking, always and forever. He would never have a day of true peace where something didn't come at him. The less people that were close to him, that cared about his well being, the better. The less people would be upset when he ultimately succumbed to his demons. Because a man like Frank, he didn't see any other way out of life but the death that would ultimately come for him.

With just how exhausted his body was, Frank had no real will to fight the fatigue as it started to wash over him. His eyes fluttered shut and it wasn't long before his breathing settled, sleep overtaking him. But it wasn't the fitful sleep that Frank had been longing for but then, he had no idea why he thought it had the possibility of being like that.

It was always the same thing. Night in, night out. Maria was leaning over him in the bedroom, smiling down at a sleepy Frank who had just woken up. He'd reach up to brush the hair out of her face and then the next thing he knew, Maria was standing and there was a Cerberus member standing behind her. The man would raise his gun and shoot Maria at point blank range, with Frank's screams silent, as if he wasn't even trying to scream. Tears rolled down his cheeks in his dream and he sat there, dread filling his body because his wife was dead and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Maria, Maria... no, Maria. No!" Frank uttered in his sleep, tossing and turning in his sleep. He'd curled into a ball, his face scrunched as the dreams consumed him.

Grayson and David settled in to eating their meal together. IT wasn’t half bad and Grayson was actually proud of the meal she cooked. They made small talk, him chastising her about being so bluntly obvious, her rolling her eyes and telling him to fuck off. They recalled memories they had together and reminisced on Grayson’s and Sarah’s friendship. Grayson truly did miss Sarah. While she loved David and enjoyed his company, she sure as hell missed having a female friend. There was just somethings that you can’t tell a man or talk to him about it.

As Grayson was cleaning up the dishes and putting Frank’s portion in a Tupperware, she could hear his voice from the other room. She paused her motions and strained her ears to hear him. It would be an understatement to say that her heart shattered in pieces when she heard the man calling out for his late wife.

“Oh, fuck…” Grayson whispered to herself as she started making her way to him.

Grayson was fully aware that Frank had night terrors, it wasn’t an unknown fact. She had woken him up on several different occasions, but she had never heard him call out like that before. Normally he had just thrashed around and mumbled; to hear it clear as day was another thing. When Grayson made her way to him, she crouched down and reached out, one hand cupping the side of his face and the other rubbing his arm.

“Frank,” Grayson called out, “Frank, you gotta wake up, please wake up.” Grayson grabbed a stray towel from the medical kit that was still beside the cot and began wiping at his face. “Frank, it’s a dream, I need you to wake up and look at me, pleae.” Her thumb was brushing his cheek softly, tears welling in her eyes at the sight of the crumbled man beneath her. “C’mon, Frank.”

Soon enough, Frank’s eyes were opening and peering up into hers as if he had just seen a ghost—he may as well have. The tears Grayson was holding back finally fell when she saw the look in his eyes. She crouched lower, now sitting on her knees, and pulled him into her. “Hey, you’re okay. It was a dream, Frank. You’re good, you’re here. Not in your mind anymore, you’re here.”

Frank could just remember the way that Maria's face had looked as she collapsed. He remembered the fear on his son's face and the utter terror on his baby girl's. The way that his entire world changed, the way he hadn't been able to protect his family like a man. He had failed them just like he was afraid he was going to end up failing Grayson. Failing the few people that he had let get close to him, even if he wouldn't admit that they were close. David, he looked at like an annoying ass brother that he couldn't quite shake and Grayson... well, he wasn't ever going to be ready to admit his feelings toward the woman.

Jerking away when Grayson started speaking to him, Frank blinked several times over before he started to actually come to. As angry as he usually was, the fight wasn't there. Not at this moment. He dragged in a deep breathe, pressing his head into Grayson's shoulders.

A shudder ran down his spine as he clamped to his eyes shut. Tears threatened to fall but he refused to let them, not wanting to seem any more weak than he already felt. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to focus on his rbeathing, counting each and every exhale.

"You.. You gotta be careful," Frank whispered the words, not even fully admitting to him and to her what he was trying to say. Frank just wanted to keep those close to him safe. And he owed it to Grayson even more so than usual, because of her brother. He had failed Jason, he would not end up failing Grayson as well.

"Promise me," Frank croaked, sniffling only once before he started to pull away from her. The Frank that Gray was used to, he was coming back to the surface and for that, Frank was fucking thankful. It steeled him against the raw pain that was still the wound of his family's death.

Grayson didn’t think she was ever going to forget Frank looking at her like that. Terrified and upset and vulnerable and seeming so fucking small. She barely had heard what he said, and it caused her brows to pull together in confusion. “Frank, I’m always careful, I always am. You know that, I’m not as dumb as I may seem. I’m always careful,” she spilled out, not even sure what she was really saying to the man. She searched his eyes for several moments, waiting for him to say something, and when he did, she could have cried. “I promise, Frank. I’ll be careful with whatever you want me to be careful with, I can do that for you.”

Grayson’s hand was still cradling his face, thumb mindlessly still stroking his cheek as she stared down at him. Frank’s expression turned soft as she searched his eyes for any other words, and when none surface, she gave him a soft smile. “Let’s go get you to your bed. You don’t need to be sleepin’ out here on this cot all damn night.”

Embarrassed that she was still holding the man, she gently but quickly moved herself away. Grayson helped frank get off the cot and walked with him to his bedroom. “You need me to get you a glass of water or anything?” She asked as she watched him step into his room. Grayson wanted nothing more than to lie in that bed with Frank and protect him from what his dreamed had to offer. He didn’t deserve to be tortured every night, Grayson knew that’s why the man didn’t sleep. Grayson smiled softly at Frank who had turned to her. She was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest. “Anything you need, I’m here. You’re wish is my command Lt. Castle.”

Frank scoffed when Grayson said she was always careful, unable to stop the way his mood had went from terrified one moment to downright annoyed the next. He bit back a retort when Grayson offered her help to get him into his bedroom. He gave a stiff nod of his head, gritting his teeth as he rose to his feet. Each step that he took was a bit more like torture than he cared to admit. Because of the pain in his side and because he knew the moment that he laid down and drifted off to sleep again, the same damn thing would happen. He would watch his wife die, his kids die, and there'd be nothing that he could do about it. His reaction times wouldn't be fast enough, he'd be useless. Weak.

Lowering himself down onto his bed, Frank groaned as he stretched out. His side was throbbing now that he was no longer laying on it. He rolled his head to the side, his eyes locking with Grayson's. Frank hoped that his eyes showed how grateful that he was for her because he would never be able to vocalize it.

His lips twitched upward into a small smirk as he watched Grayson lean against the doorway. "Water would be nice," he agreed in a low voice. He felt downright ridiculous letting Grayson do something so simple for him, that he was fully capable of doing for his damn self. Frank would have a bit more trouble than her admittedly but he would deal with it, just like he had before Grayson joined David and him. Hell no, David would not have helped him to bed like this.

"You did good today, Reed," Frank muttered when Grayson reappeared with his water. He smirked up at her when she held the water out to him. "Might venture to say even better than Lieberman."

Grayson nodded her head and promptly turned to leave the room to go and get Frank a glass of water. The image of his face was burned into her mind; the girl was almost positive it would be a sight she would never forget. When she got his water she came back into the room, padding over to the bed to give him the glass. Her lips curled into a meek smile as Frank began to praise her. She wasn’t sure if she had every really heard him say something seriously like that to her.

“Just like to help,” Grayson said quietly. “I want to stop them too, Frank. Just as much as you do. Willing to do just about anything to get fucks like that off the street.”

Grayson lingered by his bed for a moment, a thought buzzing around her mind. She bit her lip and metaphorically pulled the trigger and sat down on the edge of the bed. “I just, I just need to say something.” Grayson sighed softly and looked away from him. “I know I’m a pain in the ass, I don’t take direction very well, and I’m needy as fuck.” Grayson laughed lightly, her eyes flicking back to Frank. “I never mean to purposely piss you off… I just have a need for knowing I’ve done something, and done it well. I haven’t always… I haven’t always had a knack for something like I do with the shit I do for you and David. So. I just needed you to know that.”

Frank dipped at the offered water, more than a little grateful for it. His mouth has gone a bit dry, likely from how much whiskey he had tossed back in such a short amount of time. He leaned over to set the glass down on the nightstand beside his bed, looking up when Grayson started to speak.

For once in his life, Frank Castle was listening. He was quiet for several long moments after she finished speaking, a small frown lingering on his features. He had never really been that good at advice so he had no clue how he was supposed to offer it to Grayson but it felt like what he was supposed to do.

Giving a slow, deliberate nod of his head, Frank cleared his throat. He pushed up, moving back so that he sat propped against the wall. This was a serious conversation, one that he wasn’t so sure that he was ready for. One that he may never really be ready for. He cleared his throat, drawing in a deep breathe before he opened his mouth to speak. “Each target I’m sent to, every son of a bitch I put down, that’s the proof. I can’t give you that validation you need, neither can David. I mean, he’s a fuckin’ spook,” Frank pauses to let out a soft laugh. He wanted to offer more encouragement but Frank, he had never been very good with words. That wasn’t changing now, unfortunately.

Grayson thought about his words for a long moment and stared down at her hands as she did so. Well hell, it was true. These days, Grayson was finding more leads to send Frank out to than David was. The only reason Frank was able to get to them and eliminate them was because Grayson found them. The more Grayson thought about it, the truer Frank’s words were. A smile tugged at her lips as she realized it, not daring to look up and smirk into Frank’s face.

“I guess you’re right.” Grayson concluded. “Can’t do shit with out me, can ya Castle?” She laughed softly, finally looking up at him. He gave him a sad smile as her next words formed, “My brother used to call me all the time before he got sent out and tell me how proud he was of me and that I was doing a good job with things. We didn’t have the greatest home life as kids and teenagers, so, Jason kind of made up for that… Always giving me reassurance with stuff. Since he’s been gone, I, uh,” Grayson closed her eyes, willing the tears that were threatening to leave, “Just miss it. Having somebody on my side and being there for me.”

Grayson looked back up at Frank, “Then David called me to come work and it’s been us three ever since—guess my mind just needed the confirmation again.” Grayson smiled at him as her glassy eyes shone as spoke. “But anyways… I just wanted to, ya know, apologize for being a brat lately. That’s all. I care about you, Frank, and I don’t purposefully piss you off. I just wanted you to know that.”

"Hey, now. Don't ya go gettin' cocky on me or some shit. There's only room for one cocky asshole in this bunker an' that's me," Frank said, jutting his thumb toward his own chest. His smirk started to fall when Grayson mentioned her brother, not so sure he was ready for this level of emotional commitment from her. Shit, he knew that he wasn't but still, Frank remained silent as she continued to speak. He listened to every word, sure that this was important to her. Frank wasn't usually this friendly but fuck, he was even beginning to realize that he had to recognize the good that Grayson did for their little ragtag team.

He didn't bother to say anything back to Grayson because he didn't know what to say and partly because that was being far too open and apologetic for Frank's standards. Scoffing at her last words, Frank shook his head. As much as he wanted to believe her, Frank simply couldn't Now that he was more aware of Grayson's history, he was sure that she was simply bitter about her brother and that was why she seemed to try everything she could to get under his skin.. Frank couldn't blame her for that, but that didn't mean he received it any better.

"Ya don't have to be goin' and sugarcoatin' shit for me, girl. We don't like each other, means you're gonna look for ways to piss me off. Just the same as I do to you," Frank muttered, reaching out for his glass of water again. He wasn't looking at Grayson, sure that if he saw that she was upset by his statement, there would be a whole new layer of guilt to settle on his shoulders. Frank cleared his throat, "take the spare room. You're not leaving the bunker tonight," Frank uttered, hoping she'd take that as her cue to leave him alone.

“Frank—” Grayson started to speak about how she really did care for him, but by the look on Frank Castle’s face, Grayson wasn’t going to be getting anywhere with that conversation any time soon. At least that night. So instead, she looked away and shook her head, hoping he saw the action and the look in her eyes as she did so. She chewed on the side of her cheek and shrugged her shoulders, pushing up roughly from the bed. Grayson Reed may have been one stubborn women, but she could see the conversation wasn’t going anywhere. “Fine.” She said, looking away from him. “I’m fine to drive. But, I guess I’ll just stay. Don’t wanna deal with it. I’ll go see if David has something I can sleep in.”

Grayson walked out of Frank’s room, trying to hold her head high. It was always like that with Frank. He would give an inch to satisfy her, be the tiniest bit soft, and then take all of it and then some back. She walked down the hall to David’s room and knocked on the door. He didn’t answer. Now she was forced to walk back to the other end of the hall, empty handed, to go to the spare room. She tossed a small “Night, Frank,” to him as she passed by his room.

Grayson made it into the spare room and kicked her shoes off. It had been one hell of a day, definitely one to put down in the books. Was it her or had Frank Castle been flirting with her earlier that evening, just to turn around and be a man made of stone the next moment? Grayson supposed she would never know. She looked around the room, trying to find a blanket, but with no success. She was not going to walk back to Frank’s room just to ask, Lord knows that would just piss the man off. Instead, she lay down on the bed, and hoped she would get a small amount of sleep.

There was only one meal that Frank would ever eat after a night of drinking. There was only one think that would genuinely help a hangover, that wasn't just a fuckin' placebo affect as far as Frank was concerned. Fermented rice, a dish he had grown to love during a short stint in Vietnam. When you were young and stupid, drinking the equivalent of your body weight in liquor any chance you had, you welcomed any fuckin' attempt at ridding your head of a hangover.

Frank had woken up only a few hours after Grayson had left him alone. He was exhausted and his head was sore but he had no desire to go back to sleep because his dreams were the same as they were every night. Frank never wanted to relive those nightmares but he needed rest if he wanted to heal, if he wanted to be able to take the assholes down that he was up against.

Trudging forward, Frank started for the kitchen but just as he was about to enter the room, he thought of something else that he could do. He twisted around, carefully moving down the hallway so that he would make no noise. So that he wouldn't wake the one person that seemed to have unknowingly become his weakness. He peered into the spare room, noticing that Grayson had no blanket at all. His brows pulled together and he turned, heading right back into his room where he grabbed the blanket that was shoved beneath his bed. Frank muttered under his breathe as he tip toed back into the spare room, throwing the blanket over Grayson before retreating back where he'd come.

Frank had already downed a bowl of the rice he'd made by the time that David appeared, looking about as bad as Frank felt at the moment. "S'rice on the stove," Frank muttered, figuring that the analyst could grab a bowl for himself. It was all but expected that Frank had made the rice and David didn't hesitate to walk over to the pot on the stove. It was still a bit longer before Frank heard another round of footsteps. He drew in a deep breathe, holding it in. Frank remembered their conversations from the night before and he knew that he was dangerously close to Grayson thinking Frank had some sort of heart left. He couldn't afford that, it was best if the girl that he was just a heartless piece of shit. It was better that way, to stay at an arm's length from Frank Castle, regardless of who you were.

Grayson woke up the next morning feeling like a compete and utter mess. She was sure she looked one hell of a sight as well. She remembered going to sleep with no blanket, but she woke up curled into one that oddly smelled like Frank Castle. When she opened her eyes, she blinked and squinted, seeing that it was the one that was normally by Frank’s bed. She wanted to smile, she really did, but she couldn’t. The remnants of last night’s conversation were still playing in her head. She rubbed at her eyes, surely smearing left-over makeup and sat up, stretching her tired body. She could hear the boys out in the kitchen and she sighed.

When Grayson finally pulled herself from the bed, she trudged into the kitchen to see David and Frank eating. Frank had his back to Grayson, hunched over a bowl of what Grayson assumed was Frank Castle’s famous hang over rice.

“Dammit, Gray. You look awful.” David commented through a mouthful of food.

Grayson wanted to say thank you to Frank for the blanket, but she figured it would just piss him off. So instead, when she walked by, she clapped him on the shoulder gently, hoping he would get the point. “Yeah, I fuckin’ feel awful, too, Lieberman. Is this up for grabs?” She asked pointing to the pot on the stove. David nodded, and she began helping herself. “I can wash my face here instead of going all the way back to my apartment to clean up before I get started on some work. Do you have a spare shirt I could wear, David? I feel disgusting.”

David looked at her with wide eyes, a wild scheme plotting in his mind. He swallowed his food and shook his head. “Nah, I gotta do laundry. Sorry, Gray.”

Grayson brought her food over to the table, not daring to cast a look in Frank’s direction. “I’ll go home after I eat. I’ll take the laptop with me and just work from home today then.”

@ castle.
can't remember if i tagged

Frank was quiet as he stuffed his mouth full of rice, perched over the bowl like his life all but depended on it. With all the time that he spent stationed in various places overseas, Frank didn't always have the time to sit down and enjoy the food in front of him. Not that there was really such a thing as enjoying MREs but that was another argument for an entirely different day. Looking up through lidded eyes when Grayson appeared from behind him, Frank watched her for a moment. He couldn't help but smirk, realizing quickly that David was being completely honest. That was one thing you could count on from the man was brutal honest, whether it was flattering or not.

"Nah. S'no point in you going to your house to change and do work there. Not with what you're gonna be workin' on," Frank muttered, shaking his head. "Borrow one of my shirts. I do my laundry like a fuckin' civilized person. Unlike Lieberman, I'm not a goddamn animal," Frank said, smirking down at his bowl of rice. He shrugged when David started to speak, deciding to tune out the other man.

When Frank finished with his bowl of rice, he stood and slowly trudged over to the sink where he rinsed out his bowl. He didn't bother to clean it, deciding he could worry about the task later. Right now, his body was sore and tired and he hoped that the fucking hot water would last long enough in the shower to ease his throbbing muscles. Wordlessly, Frank disappeared into his bedroom where he grabbed two shirts and a pair of pants. Frank threw the one shirt toward Grayson, turning to head toward the make shift bathroom. The shower wasn't really a shower, a showerhead jutted out from the wall with a curtain wrapped around it so that whoever was using the facilities could have some privacy.

Frank emerged not even ten minutes later, his mood completely soured because just as he had suspected, the hot water lasted all of three minutes before the heat started to dissipate. It wasn't like he was still serving, why the fuck did he had to even think about the possibility of a cold shower while living in the greatest country on Earth? His face scrunched as he walked, his side aggravated from the motions in the shower. Frank reached for the nearest bottle of liquor when he entered the kitchen. If he wasn't working today, it wasn't too damn early to drink, was it?

"What?" Frank snapped when he noticed the way David was looking at him. Grayson was nowhere to be seen.

"You couldn't make it any more obvious..." David muttered causing Frank to scoff. "Fuck off, Lieberman, you have no idea what you're fuckin' talkin' 'bout anyway."

Grayson wasn’t sure whether to be shocked or surprised or impressed with Frank all but demanding that she stay at the bunker to work. She really wasn’t going to be working on anything too terribly dangerous, so why did she have to stay? She was going to take it, given the tension that had been passed back and forth between her and Frank lately. Instead of questioning or arguing, she mumbled a small ‘okay’ and continued eating. The atmosphere in that kitchen had shifted and Grayson could feel it. She finished her food and went to go to the sink, but Frank had beat her to it. Not wanting to get too close to him, she waited.

When Frank left the kitchen, Grayson made her way to the sink and dropped her bowl in. She huffed when she saw Frank had just left the dish there. So, being the nice woman, she was, she washed both the bowls and set them in the drying rack. As she went to talk to the bathroom, Frank was tossing a shirt at her. She caught it and gave him a small nod and continued on her way. Grayson washed her face and changed her shirt, feeling a little livelier. Though her make-up free face showed the circles under her eyes, there wasn’t anyone here she was too worried about impressing. Well…. Never mind that. Grayson made her way back to the kitchen, stopping to grab the bottle from Frank’s hand and toss back a quick shot. He gave her a look and she simply mumbled, “Hair-of-the-dog or some shit like that,” and kept walking towards her work space.

Feeling like complete shit, Grayson pushed away from the computer after about two hours of diligent work. She decided she was gonna lay for a moment on the cot Frank had been on the previous night. Just as she was about to close her eyes, Frank was walking passed her. “Hey,” she called out softly, hoping to grab his attention. “I found something. Two of those gang members were booked this morning on drug charges, but the other four are still out. But they were booked an hour north from here. I have a feeling they are trying to split up a bit to not be so clustered and more likely to get caught.” Grayson yawned and rubbed at her eyes. “But that’s as far as I got.”

Grayson chewed her lip momentarily before looking back up at him, “Sorry ‘bout last night. We were all pretty drunk. Didn’t mean to emotionally throw up all over you.”

Frank raised his brows, giving an agreeing nod of his head. He disagreed with Grayson's logic but he would be lying if he said that he hadn't used the same logic once upon a time so he wasn't going to lecture her on it. Not right now anyway. She had things to tend to and Frank, well, despite the ache that permeated even muscles that he hadn't known existed, he was going to do a light work out. You didn't maintain a physique like his if you didn't and with his line of work, it was important to keep in top physical position day in and day out. There were days where Frank would like nothing more than to simply be fuckin' lazy but discipline had been drilled into his head for so damn long that he didn't have a say in the matter anymore.

Frank debated on taking another swig of the alcohol for a moment before opting not to. He trudged over to the bar that he used for chin ups, kneeling down long enough to grab the chain connected to the cinder block. Locking the chain around his waist, Frank loosened his shoulders and rolled his neck. he let out a satisfied sigh before looking up to the bar, reaching to grab the bar with both hands.

Even his 'light' workouts usually lasted close to an hour and this one was no different. Frank's chest was heaving with the effort of each breathe that he took. Dropping the chain from around his waist, Frank shoved the cinder block with his foot until it was pressed against the wall. He sighed, turning to head into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Downing it, Frank poured himself a second glass before trudging into David's area and sitting by the man.

Frank sat there, quiet as ever as he listened to the sounds of David's fingers tapping away on the keyboard in front of him. In the distant, he could hear another keyboard and he wondered briefly who would bring him the first lead. He wouldn't go out today,n ot unless it was of the utmost importance but he thought it was unlikely.

After an hour of sitting by David and no conversation, Frank decided he could head to his room and pull out his guitar. It wasn't often that he played and even less often that he felt like playing but for once, it was going to be both. Until he heard Grayson speaking. He paused by the cot, turning to face her without looking up at her. Grinding his teeth together at her words, Frank exhaled slowly. "I'll go out tomorrow... see who I can find," Frank paused, a little smirk settling on his features. He waved off her apology about the night before, deciding that it was a conversation not worth having. "Should be plenty of rest."

Frank eyed Grayson for a moment, praise slipping to the tip of his tongue. He opened his mouth to speak before deciding to simply shut up at the last moment. It would sound forced and stupid, Grayson didn't need to hear that from him. Grumbling, Frank dropped down onto his bed once he was inside his bedroom, leaning to pull his guitar out from under the bed.

Grayson laid there and listened to the soft strums of Frank’s guitar before she lulled herself to sleep. When she woke up, she decided that she should probably call it a day and head back to her apartment. She had been around Frank entirely way too long, she knew he wasn’t good for her—hell she wasn’t good for him, but she doubted he thought about her like that. She pulled herself from the cot and said a brief goodbye to David and slipped out of the bunker before Frank could chastise her about leaving early when there is “always work to be done.”

---

Grayson had decided she was going to take a couple of days for herself and work from home. The girl needed a little bit of alone time. Both her heart and her mind were a complete and utter mess, she thought if she could separate herself from the situation it might get better. But shit started getting really weird at her apartment.

The first day Grayson was home by herself, there was a knock at her door. She peered through the peephole and watched a man with a black hoodie walk away from her door. She waited until he was out of sight to open the door. There was a single rose laying at her doorstep, with a small piece of paper that just had a very intricate letter G scrawled across it. She furrowed her eyebrows and picked it up and brought it inside. She thought nothing of it on tossed it on the counter.

The second day, there was another knock. This time there was two roses, and once again, a letter G in an intricate script on a piece of paper. Something wasn’t right. Her mind briefly thought of Frank, but the man she saw walking away from her door was nothing compared to the stature of the ex-Marine. She bit her lip and put the rose on her counter next to the one from the day before. That same night, someone knocked on her door three times, and it frightened her out of snooze on the couch. Struck with fear, Grayson remained in her place. She checked the door several hours later, and there was a note stuck to her door. Ignoring me? it read. “Fuck.” Grayson mumbled.

The third day was when Grayson lost her shit. Once again there was a knock at her door. Three roses this time. Same G scrawled. But on the back, there was a note. Third time is the charm, Grayson. 9PM tonight you’ll be mine.

Grayson immediately called David, too worried about calling Frank and hearing about how she was probably just being stupid. “David, listen to me…” Grayson launched into the story and told David about everything that had been happening the past few days. She ran a hand through her hair as she got to the end of the story. “Please just, just don’t tell Frank. Just come over here please, I can’t be alone and I’m too afraid to leave the house.”

“I’ll be right there.” David had replied, immediately hanging up after the words left his mouth.

It was thirty minutes before David’s knock came. They always knocked on each other’s doors the same way, so Grayson knew it was him. He also had a key to her apartment, so she wasn’t surprised when she heard the lock turning or heard the door being opened. But she was surprised when David waltzed in, with Frank right behind him.

“God dammit, David! What did I tell you?!”