"Do you normally make-out with the people you're hired to kill? It doesn't strike me as very professional."
"Put the gun down," Gabriel panted, not answering her.
"Why on earth would I do that?"
"Because you're not going to shoot me," Gabriel rep...
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"Packing" consisted of everyone shoving as many things in the suitcases and boxes in Rin's house as possible. Once they each finished packing up any personal items, Gabriel's parents went to the bathroom to gather all the medical supplies they could, Kyle and Rin worked on transporting Rin's computer equipment, and Gabriel and Levi headed into the kitchen to pack up all of Rin's food. The fewer trips they had to make once they arrived at the beach house, the better.
But once Gabriel stepped into the living room on his way to the kitchen, he immediately knew something was wrong. Carter sat rigid on the couch as he struggled to breathe, his entire body trembling.
"Shit," Gabriel cursed. His sleep-deprived mind had forgotten that Rob answered when Ash had called Lisa. Which meant Carter had undoubtedly gotten Rob as well.
Before he could react, Levi sprang into action, rushing over and kneeling down next to Carter.
"Do you want us to leave? Do you need space?" Levi asked calmly.
Carter quickly shook his head.
"Okay. Can I hold your hand?"
Carter nodded, his terrified eyes meeting Levi's.
Levi grabbed Carter's hand, while Gabriel looked on in shock, not understanding how Levi the cowardly lion was better at handling a panic attack than he was. The last one he tried to manage was Ash's – it wasn't even real and he ended up kissing her, which he was pretty sure you weren't supposed to do.
"Try to breathe," Levi told Carter gently. "You're safe with us. Is there anything we can get you?"
Carter shook his head as he continued to focus on Levi.
"Do you want to talk?"
He shook his head again, but this time pointed at Levi.
"You want me to talk?"
Carter nodded.
Levi smiled. "This is a first. Usually people are telling me to shut up. What do you want me to talk about?"
"Ash," Carter replied quickly, his breathing still shallow.
"Okay..." Levi paused for a moment, searching for what to say. "She hadn't watched the Lion King or the Sound of Music, so we watched those. She seemed to really like them. What else? Sometimes she would hum Despacito while she was cleaning. I don't think she realized she was doing it."
"Ash l-likes p-pop music?" Carter asked, struggling to get the words out between gasps.
"She does now. And reality TV. I think I was a bad influence on her because I made her watch a ton of it with me."
Carter smiled while he fought to control his breathing. "I used t-to m-make her d-do that too," he choked out.
