Jacob waved at Mattie as if he were dismissing her thanks. "It's not a problem," he said. "I'm not the kind of person who would just let someone go without help if they needed it." He looked over at where she'd set Cole and decided that chair was a pretty good place to set him, if anywhere. He took a blanket off of the back of the couch across from Nicholas and bundled it at the end of the chair, in case the baby turned over.

"Well," he said. "Mattie, you can sleep on that couch if you feel like it, alright? I think I'm going to relax in my bed and get whatever sleep I can get." He looked at the two of them and then continued, "I'm a pretty light sleeper, especially recently, so don't try any funny business. I keep my revolver with me at all times." He looked at her sternly, not counting on being killed in his sleep by two people that he'd helped. "There's two blankets in that tiny closet over there if you need them," he pointed to the closet, told the two of them goodnight, and then retreated into his bedroom, shutting the door.

---

Nicholas could feel the effects of the pills. His eyelids were getting heavy, as well as his body. The pain had subsided the slightest bit, but it was still there with such an intensity that it almost seemed to numb it. Nicholas reached his hand out and put it lightly on Mattie's arm once Jake had gone into his bedroom. "I didn't mean to make you cry," he frowned. "I just...i-if I die tonight, I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry."

He stopped, and for a moment the only noise in the room was the sound of Cole's light snoring.

"If I die, then, everything I've done is for nothing," he said bitterly. "I c-can't die, I can't."

Looking back up at Mattie, he furrowed his eyebrows and pursed his lips. "Just can't leave you or Cole, not now." He laughed a little bit, "I mean, I know we haven't known each other long, but...I mean, you saved my life right after I met you. Seriously, I-I probably wouldn't have lived through Alisa and my mom both." He frowned again and looked back down, "I mean, you're the closest th-thing I have to family or friends now."