Take A Chance and Make it Big

Abel still hadn't been sleeping through the night, concerned for Cat as she'd been through so much in such a short period of time. And she didn't deserve it. Scotland had been an escape, a necessary one. But now they were home. Abel hadn't left right away, he'd stayed behind in an attempt to gather his thoughts and calm his nerves. He'd stayed several days after everyone had left, over a week longer.

When he finally did return, he still wasn't himself. He spent a few sleepless nights, pacing the apartment or roaming the lab, doing any work he could to keep himself busy... He also jogged or walked for hours, keeping himself distanced from others and even withdrawn and quiet in conversations. His mind was elsewhere most of the time.

Cer was worried, but nothing she did or said changed anything. She eventually went to Cat with her concerns. Cat loved her father and she didn't like seeing him the way he was either, distraught and closed-off. It just wasn't like him.

She went to him and tried talking, but it was like he wasn't there really. Discouraged, she thought of one thing to try and pull him out of his apparent stupor-and had him spend a few nights with her and Evan. Maybe if he saw that she was coping and functioning, he'd snap out of it and revert back to his usual self. He reluctantly agreed, not wanting to impose but the twins insisted.

The first night, Abel didn't even bother lying down, he just sat at the fire escape window and listened to lonely Manhattan. It did seem lonely - always ragged with motion and noise, never peaceful. It was kind of sad, but that's how it was.

The next day seemed to pass him by at an alarming speed and night fell again just as quickly as it had vanished that very morning.

"Dad, you need to sleep. You aren't...you. Everyone's worried. Please." Cat pleaded of him before giving up and going to bed for the night.

He laid down that night, but remained awake, moon shining bright in the night sky. He finally sat up on the couch he'd been staying on after a few long hours, sick of laying there, consumed by the quiet stillness.

He tugged on his white wife-beater, having already been in his jeans, and stood, rubbing his face in his hands and groaning lightly. He took a few steps toward the kitchen before stopping, hearing someone sneaking around but doing a pretty lousy job. He took a deep breath, inhaling an all-too-familiar scent; indignant by whom he was faced with. Cain. He immediately grew tense and sullen.

Cain froze in his tracks when he felt someone close by, nearly jumping out of his skin when he turned around to discover Abel standing across from him, looking rather rigid. But Abel didn't say anything. Surprised and confused at first, Cain just shifted awkwardly on his feet-feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He sighed.

It was odd - if things had been different, they might've actually grown up as brothers all those years. But they were like strangers, enemies in so many ways...and yet - similar in some. It was sad. Though Cain had finally come around after everything and finally felt the guilt, sorrow, and regret for what he'd done. And he was sorry - more than he could express. Sorry wasn't enough for Abel and he knew it. He had a lot of making-up to do. He wanted Abel to accept him. He wanted to be with Cat and not take her away from her family or have them look down on her for being with him. He wanted to make things right.

Abel could sense Cain's demeanor changing - squirming uncomfortably in the 'spotlight' so to speak. He'd been known to be a tolerant and rather forgiving person, though he was still concerned for his daughter's, his family's' well-being and thus far, Cain had brought them nothing but pain. Still, there was something noticeably different about him that even Abel couldn't ignore. He said nothing at first, easing up a bit as Cain's guilt became more prominent. Abel’s sightless eyes were fixed on him and it sent chills down Cain’s spine. He thought for a second that Abel could actually see him, see into him as his vacant eyes bored into him, anger plastered all over his face. And while Cain knew better, he still couldn’t help but gaze back into those eyes.

Something stirred, breaking Cat from her first thorough sleep of the week, rousing her from a slumber she hadn't been aware she had been in. It had been tenuous at best, even if she was aware of why. Her father was worrying her. This wasn't about acceptance anymore. This was about her father's sanity.

Shaking the sheets from her frame, she stretched herself before rising from the bed, and creeping across the floorboards to her door.

"You hurt her again...and I promise you there will be no place in my family for you. We were brothers once--and now you have a chance to redeem yourself to me, and to my family for all the betrayal. I'm done fighting with you, Cain."

Grasping the icy knob in her small fingers, she cracked the door open, listening as her father spoke, telling Cain that he was done fighting. A small smile lit her features as she soundlessly closed the door and crept back into bed. Maybe this was going to be the point her father finally snapped out of his state, and life began again. Maybe, just maybe a new chapter was starting.

Cain was taken back yet again by Abel, left standing and staring at him in shock. There was definitely more to him than he had given him credit for in the past. And in his own way, Abel had just brightened up Cain's evening, his future. There was a chance. He wouldn't screw it up this time. He'd prove it to Abel, to Cat, to Ceridwyn, to everyone. He could change - just like Abel had.

A chance. One chance. That's all he needed.

'Cause it's the last you'll ever get...if we don't take it, when will we make it?