Dayton

Chapter 22

Leaving the bathroom after my sobbing-shower fest, I walk quietly into the bedroom to grab some clothing to sleep in, but do not plan on dressing or sleeping in this room. I do not want to bother Ajax any further. He is lying on his side with his back toward the door, and he does not acknowledge me which I expected. Taking my phone from my dirty sweats, I toss the dirty clothes into the hamper before the room for Darien's. I plan on sleeping on the floor in case he has another night terror, and so I do not bother Ajax further.

Quickly dressing, I lean against the wall by the head of D's bed after sitting on the floor with my phone in my left hand to text Archer after reading his five; 'Hey as Ajax said, I am home now. I will explain tomorrow. Heading to sleep now.'

Lulling my head toward Darien, I silently watch him until I fall asleep with my almost phone sitting on my lap. I am jolted away sometime later when I am lifted into Ajax's arms as he carries me to our bedroom where he lies me on my side of the bed.

"I am sorry for worrying you, and I am okay with sleeping in D's room since you are mad at me now," I mumble as he moves to his side, and I roll out of the bed, grabbing my pillow and the blanket off the foot of the bed. Ajax watches me the entire time without a single word, so I take it that he has decided I should sleep in Darien's room on the floor. I believe I do not deserve to sleep in bed next to Ajax after scaring him as badly as I probably did.

Exiting my bedroom for Darien's, I settle myself on the floor beside D's bed with a sigh after I place the pillow on the floor, and the blanket over myself. Silently crying into my pillow, I cry myself to sleep, hoping I do not wake my son.

"Dada, sweep my woom?" Darien asks from above me with excited confusion. "Dada, boo-boos?"

Softly groaning at my sore body, and sleep filled mind, I crack my eyes open to squint at my son while he leans over the rail in confusion; "Mornin' D. Yes, dada slept in you room, and I have boo-boos, but I am okay.

Fully sitting up, I give him a painful smile as I hold my hands out toward him to help him climb off the bed which he does.

"You have to walk, bub," I mumble, holding my right hand out to him, and he takes it, and we leave his room toward the bathroom.

Considering how quiet the house is, I figure Ajax has already left for work, and as Darien and I head to the kitchen for breakfast, he asks about Ajax, and I tell him that I think papa is already at work, but he will see him later.

"Miss pa," he mumbles as my body protests the movements, and I will be taking pain meds before too long, but after I make D breakfast, and he is settled in his chair.

"I know you do baby, and so do I, I mumble as we step into the kitchen.

"Pa!" Darien hollers, and I flinch with a forming headache that I did not realize was forming.

Looking over to where Darien has run off to, and I find Ajax sitting at the table, and drinking a cup of coffee that he leaves on the table far away from Darien before lifting the toddler onto his lap. To say that I am surprised that Ajax is home would be an understatement.

"Pa, dada sweep my woom," Darien excitedly tells the man while poking at the graphic on Ajax's t-shirt, and by the way he is dressed, I assume he is not working today, or any time soon.

Knowing that Ajax is angry with me by his expression on his face, I remain silent while Ajax and Darien speak to each other, and I prepare D's breakfast of oatmeal with cut up banana, and a sippy cup of milk. Placing his breakfast in front of D and Ajax with a spoon in the bowl since it does not seem like Ajax is going to place Darien in the high chair. Turning around, I head to the coffee maker to pour myself a cup with creamer. Leaning my backside against the counter, I carefully sip my hot coffee while I watch Ajax help D eat his breakfast.

"Eat something, and take some pain medicine," Ajax states in a cold voice.

"D and I are gonna be out of the house today," I say, ignoring his statement. "I have a few errands to run before I have to be at work tonight. "

"You are not going to work tonight, possibly tomorrow night," he flatly replies, but I swear I see fire snapping in his blue eyes. "I called Apollo this morning to explain what happened last night to you on you way home. He said you are off from work tonight, and possibly tomorrow night."

"Thanks for snitching on me to Apollo before I could speak with him this morning," I reply while blinking back tears. "Thanks for not trusting me to speak with him about what happened, and taking away my right to decide what I do along with Apollo."

Ajax raises his right eyebrow at me; "Like you trusted me to help you with D's night terrors, and dealing with that on your own. You are not alone anymore in handling things in your life, yet you act like you are."

Gripping my cup tighter in my left hand as I stare at him with anger bubbling up to the surface, and I try to stuff that feeling down; "I know this, and you cannot begin to understand how thankful and appreciative I am of you. If Apollo and Archer were completely forthcoming with information to you, they should have told you why I never asked you to get up with Darien in the middle of the night."

"Yes, I was informed of your reason, why though?" he says, looking intently at my bruised nose and busted swollen lip. "Still, if you were becoming that exhausted, you should have asked for help. Being stubborn, you hurt yourself, and you could have done something worse by unaliving yourself or someone else. Did you think of that possibility?"

Clenching my jaw tight enough that I am afraid I am going to break something; "Yes, I am aware of these possibilities. We are not discussing this in front of Darien any further. I am sorry for not wanting to burden you with my problems, or concerns because your job is extremely stressful, and you do not need mine, too."

Ajax stands with D in his hold because the toddler has finished his breakfast, and walks them to the sink to wash Darien's hands and face. After he places the toddler on his feet, Darien runs off to the living room to play with his toys.

"You do not get to decide for me if I do not want to be "burdened" with your problems. We are a couple, and couples help each other," he quietly states, but I can hear the anger dripping from his voice.

"I am sorry, and you are right and I am wrong," I murmur in agreement, pushing off the counter to head to the living room. "I will work on being better. Sorry again for being a bother to you."