Adopted by Phan

Chapter 45

Phil's P.O.V.

We didn't even have to open the door, it was already cracked open with the night air streaming in. The only light, the little remaining at nine thirty, was the only light we needed to see the pair of crutches lying on the ground, right at the edge of the building.

I didn't see Jay, not until she moved. She was sitting on the edge, on the small brick wall to stop people falling off. Her legs were dangling over the side, hands gripping at the bricks and head bowed. I could see her body shaking from where I was standing and over the wind, sobs, echoing around the roof.

Dan was frozen beside me, his mouth opening and closing and both of us were unsure of what to do, not wanting to move. Dan made the first move, tip-toeing towards her as she sat there, unaware of our presence but would spook if we got too close too fast.

"Jay?" Dan almost choked on his words as he spoke and Jay whirled around, almost over-balancing and falling, but she caught herself and tried to remain steady. She didn't turn towards us, but simply looked out over the other buildings and buried her face in her hands.

"Leave me alone." Dan reached out his hand and placed it on her shoulder, pulling her off the ledge and back into his arms. She didn't do anything except rest her head in Dan's chest and closing her eyes.

My phone rang in my pocket and I jumped, pulling it out. It was a call from Louise, and I answered it.

"Phil? We haven't seen anything, have you?" I let out a deep sigh.

"We found her, she was on the roof. See if you can round everyone up yeah?" I knew Louise could hear the tension in my voice.

"Is she okay?"

"Upset. I think she'll be staying with us tonight."

"Okay, I'll get everyone back and I'll meet you back downstairs, I'll keep everyone out of the corridors too."

"Thanks Louise, see you later." I put my phone back in my pocket and turned back to the other two, Dan was looking up at me helplessly and Jay was staring blankly at the floor, tears falling from her eyes.

"Jay, why didn't you tell us about this? We really care you know, we want the best for you." She shook her head, the tears falling faster.

I looked at Dan despairingly but he just wrapped his arms tighter around her, motioning for me to join them. I did, squeezing my arms around both of them, Dan resting his head on my chest. I could feel the tears welling in my eyes and as we sat there, the wind blowing in my hair, they started to fall.

Jay's sobs were still audible over everything else, the wind, Dan's muffled crying and my own and I tried to think clearly. I couldn't.

"Jay, please, we love you. We want the best for you and this doesn't matter, please, just let us in." Her eyes were closing but she let out a mumbled reply, which I barely caught.

"I know. I just keep trying to run even though I don't want to."

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We waited upstairs for a little over half an hour until Louise called and said everyone was in their rooms, and it was safe to come down without being spotted. Jay was almost asleep, eyes closed and breathing slow, so I carried her with her head resting on my shoulder and legs dangling out the side.

Dan was carrying the crutches and sticking close to me, I could feel his breath on my neck and his uncertain steps, the way he refused to leave my side.

The room door was unlocked when we got back and Louise ran at us when we opened but stopped as soon as she saw Jay, she froze. Her eyes trailed from Dan to I and then back to Jay, who hadn't stirred.

"She's okay. We're going to sleep now, I think it's just a little overwhelming for... both of us." She nodded, her eyes trailing back to Jay and then Dan, who was resting his head on my shoulder and trying not to fall over because of how tired he was.

Dan opened the door for me and I gently carried Jay over to the spare bed, her head lolling to the side and legs dangling in the air. I set her down on the bed and moved her leg out of the way, so her cast wasn't underneath her and it was more comfortable.

"Are you okay Dan?" He opened his mouth to speak but it closed again, his eyes looking at me worriedly.

"Scared. What if something like this happens again?" I wrapped him in a hug, listening to uneven breathing on my neck.

"I know, we're all scared but she's our daughter now, we've got to take care of her. We've still got a long way to go before she trusts us completely and until then, we're going to have to keep an eye on her." Dan sighed, nuzzling his head into my shoulder, his hands resting just above my hips.

"Come on, sleep now and we'll think tomorrow." He nodded, dragging me to the bed and I collapsed beside him, pulling the covers over the two of us. I gave him a quick kiss on his forehead and then settled down, his eyes closing almost at once.

"Love you, ya spork." He let out a string of mumbled words, none of which I understood until he lifted his head.

"Love you too-" He was interrupted by a huge yawn, his head falling back onto my shoulder. "But let me sleep."

I kissed him once more, his chapped lips pressed against mine and his eyes closed. When I pulled back I ran my fingers through his messy hair, trailing my fingers down his neck and shoulders. I stopped when he shivered, trying to curl up on himself as much as possible.

"Night you."