( messed up genius. )

“Not all pain is physical,” she answers matter-of-factly.

He waited patiently until she seemed to be at a level of calm where she could better speak, but didn’t allow her to completely break from him when she released his hand. Instead, his fingers closed around hers, and he crouched to her level. “I missed you,”

Allie softens at her vulnerability, and crouches down to her level. “I’m not just going to leave someone when they’re hurting,” she says softly.

Carter nods, not trying to rush her. It had been a while since they last spoke and part of him wondered if his being there was simply making things worse. “Do you want me to stay?” he asked quietly.

Allie almost has to laugh at Reese’s attempt to snap at her. “Oh, please, honey. Bitch is not a look that works on you.”

Carter took a small step towards her. “Can I help you?”

“You definitely don’t look fine.”

“You’re not a very good liar, y’know.”

Alex takes a long moment to consider exactly what Carter had said, her eyes darting quickly to Reese, and noticing the poor girl hadn’t been prepared to witness a possible murder. She puts her knife back in it’s sheath and crosses her arms. “You have my attention. Continue speaking.”

Once the knife disappears Reese’s breathing should have regained some normalcy, but unfortunately her disorder never worked they way she wanted it to. Hands still clenched against the table, she just tried to keep the attention away from herself, trying to look as calm as possible.

Carter straightens up before continuing, taking a swig of whiskey to steel his nerves. Once his thoughts are collected, he looks his sister dead in the eyes. “I found out about a year ago, and since then, I’ve been trying to find you. It wasn’t until I ran into your adopted brother at this very same bar that I knew what you looked like. Once I had a face and a name, it was all a lot easier.”

Could you take him now? Like, right now? Because I want to go talk to Di but Pat is there too, and honestly I don’t want him anywhere near our son right now.

Carter, in his drunken state, didn’t even have time to react before the blade was pressed against his throat. The threat of imminent danger sobered him up incredibly quickly, and he locked eyes with Alex. “I’m not joking, Alex. I’m adopted. My name is Carter Peralta, but I was born Carter Henderson. I was born in Montpelier, Vermont. Just like you. I’m your brother, I swear.”

Reese’s eyes dart between Carter and Alex, unable to do anything but maintain her breathing. Nails dig into palms as she struggles to maintain control, hoping the situation doesn’t escalate.

Alex takes a long moment to consider exactly what Carter had said, her eyes darting quickly to Reese, and noticing the poor girl hadn’t been prepared to witness a possible murder. She puts her knife back in it’s sheath and crosses her arms. “You have my attention. Continue speaking.”

That would actually be so helpful.

ofcaffeine:

queenxofxterror

Alex is quick to process the information, and even quicker to react. She pulled a knife from her boot, holding it to Carter’s throat without a second of hesitation. “I just lost a brother, you know that, right? And after I lost him, I did everything I could to hurt everyone that was part of the reason that he died. So for you to come around and make jokes about being my brother…well, that makes me a little murderous. So I’m gonna give you about three seconds to leave or you’re gonna regret it.”

Reese goes completely still when Alex takes the knife to Carter’s throat, her hands clenched into tight fists on the table so that neither one of them will see her hands shaking. She’d like to help, of course, but her breath is caught in her throat as the world begins to spin around her, and it’s all she can do to try and pass herself off as not having a panic attack.

Carter, in his drunken state, didn’t even have time to react before the blade was pressed against his throat. The threat of imminent danger sobered him up incredibly quickly, and he locked eyes with Alex. “I’m not joking, Alex. I’m adopted. My name is Carter Peralta, but I was born Carter Henderson. I was born in Montpelier, Vermont. Just like you. I’m your brother, I swear.”