"You kinda didn't, man," I point out, looking up toward the ceiling when I hear a soft thump from upstairs. "Shit. Excuse me, I gotta--"

I glance at myself in the mirror, quickly wiping at the smudge of blood on my face, but I don't have time for anything else. I shove past Spike, calling over my shoulder, "Just... take care of him."

Funny thing is, I know I can trust him to do it.

I take the stairs two at a time, busting into Mack and Flo's room just as they're about to try and come out into the hall. Fuck. They're all sleepy questions, wanting to know what the noise is, wanting some water, wanting to know where Daddy is. My heart's nearly beating out of my chest, but I'm good at this. Good at keeping them calm when I'm ready to crawl out of my own skin.