Scene - Lesson Learned: Part 2 - Ren

He ran his hand through her hair. "Sheriff knew what we were gonna do. If Sam goes after Frederick that's his problem. Frederick can handle himself. I ain't gonna cry over a damn Tremere sweetheart." He hugged her to him. "Not that one anyway. I don't think Sam means enough ta Frederick for him ta do anything stupid ta Sam. I'm more worried 'bout you."

"i'll be okay"

"i keep trying to have this talk with him. it's hard though. i suck at relationships and i hate clingy and he's still really obsessed with nazis and when i try to have this talk he brushes it off"

She looked up at James.

"i'm already a walking target, I work hard not to put other people at risk...really hard"

Henri shook her head.

"Love, any trouble that comes down on Sam because of this is of his own doing. We want to teach him the problems of the way he acts. And pretending that trouble came down on you was the only way that lesson was going to be brought home to him."

"i'm sorry i worried you both"

Henri walked across the room and put her hand on the girl's shoulder.

"You have got to stop apologizing. You're clan, and therefore it is our Duty to worry about you."

He hugged her. Then brushed the hair out of her face. "No more apologizin' from ya. Ya didn't do a damn thing wrong. You're clan an' you're my girl. Like it or not. So I'm gonna worry 'bout ya, no matter what." Funny how he made 'my girl' seem like he was talking to a sibling. "An' I'm sorry ta put ya through that. We needed it ta be convincin'. We're just makin' a point to him. Can't have him puttin' my whole Clan in danger like he's already done with you."

"i understand why you did it. i'd have done the same thing. She was still clinging to him, her head on his shoulder.

He kissed the top of her head. Still running his fingers through her hair while he waited for the water to boil. "I'm sorry ta scare ya sweetheart." A slight buzzing sound was heard. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. Snorted. Handed it to Henri. "It's Sam. Wanna take it? I'm gonna stay an' take care of Ren."

Henrietta took the phone from him with a snort of her own.

"I'll take it in the other room, and let you guys know what I'm going to do from there."

She looked up at him, her grey eyes still somewhat dull.

"it's okay. really.

He shook his head. "Naw baby. Ya ain't okay." He kissed the top of her head again. "But I promised ya I'd keep ya safe. I meant that. An' now I'm gonna take care of ya." He turned to pour the boiling water into three cups. Added tea bags and lumps of sugar. "So I'm still sorry."

He walked over. Put a cup of tea in her hands. "I know ya ain't mad. Ain't tha mad I'm worried 'bout. Mad I can handle." He brushed his hand through her hair again. "It's tha hurt I see in ya that has me upset sweetheart. I see hurt."

She took the cup.

"it'll pass."

He frowned. Brushed a hand over her cheek. "Yeah. It will. But that don't mean I like it. I didn't wanna hurt ya sweetheart. That ain't my thing."

She forced a bit of a smile. "i know it isn't." She watched the steam come up from her mug.

"sam wonders why i don't talk about my past much"

He smiled at her. Ran a hand over her thigh. Rested it on her hip. "Ya ain't gotta tell me nothin' ya don't wanna. But for what it's worth, I'm sorry I hurt ya." He kissed the top of her head again. "I understand if ya wanna kick my ass. I deserve it."

"probably couldn't even i wanted to. i don't really want to."

He smiled. Then he kissed her cheek. "I deserve it. I'd even let ya if ya couldn't manage it. Might even help ya."

"maybe tomorrow. when i'm less...lost." She sipped her tea.

He frowned and brushed the hair back behind her ear. "Doin' a little better sweetheart?" He ran a hand over her back. "I'm actually worried about ya."

She looked up at him. "i don't usually snap like that." Please believe me...

He smiled. Then leaned over to kiss her. "I don't usually send Tremere ta kidnap my clanmates." He smiled again. "S'okay. We all break every now an' then."

"it was either that or lose control completely. i was worried if i lost control he'd stake me and then..." She swallowed hard. "at least i can come back from being lost...but if...i'm staked i can't do anything not even scream and..." She started shaking again, everything but her hands...those were oddly steady as they held the cup.

The cup he took away from her. He sat it down beside her on the counter. Then wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. "Shh. I gotcha sweetheart." He brushed her hair again. "I know. I know. They won't touch ya ever again. None of 'em. Ya have my word."