Before us...

Chapter Seventeen

As he looked on, unsure of what to say to her, she began to choke on her breath like it was caught in her throat. Without thinking, Milo moved towards her and gently placed his hands on her soft cold cheeks and lifted her tear stained face up to meet his eyes, her eyes widening as she focused on him.

"Hey, you're okay you're fine, just breath. I'll drive you okay? You'll be with him before you know it okay?" Milo announced, eager to calm her. Lila began to shake her head at his words.

"I can't as-ask you to-to do that." Her head continued to shake, her hands were lifted and threaded threw her long hair.

"You're not asking I'm offering. Go get Zar and his food and whatever else he needs, I'm sure Nathan will be willing to look after him while you're gone. Go." Lila jumped at his words into robotic action, quickly unlocked the door to gather what she needed. Zar was sat up on the couch looking at her intently and confused as she ran into the kitchen to grab a few cans of his food that she had purchased at the store, shoving them into a bag. She grabbed his lead, attaching it to his collar, and returned to Milo awaiting her next set of instructions still in shock.

"Okay, you get in the car and I'll take care of him, okay?" Milo reassured Lila who handed the dog to him before making her way back to the passenger side of the car, the dog food taking up residence on her lap as she stared vacantly out the window.

Milo led Zar to the back seat, opening the door allowing him to jump up and make himself comfortable for the brief journey up the street. As Milo closed the door behind the pup, he made his way to the driver's side, climbed in and switched on the engine. Lila was silent beside him as he parked outside Nathan and Jensen's home; she stared vacantly ahead completely closed off and unaware, twitching noticeably when Milo lifted the food from her lap turning to fix him with a look of pure fear.

"I'm going to run him inside and explain to whoever answers that you will call them later to let them know how long you will be gone. I'll be right back, and we will be on our way to your dad, Okay?" Lila followed his lips as he spoke trying desperately to take in his words. At that moment she was capable of only a single nod as Milo sprang into action once more, pulling Zar through the front of the car with his free hand. As he shut the door behind them, Lil felt a panging desperation for his return.

Snow had seized falling, a blanket of it pittered the ground accepting the foot and paw prints of seemingly the only two living things outside at this time. As they created a path through the snow, it crunched beneath them, the sound of breaking twigs and sticks audible below. Milo reached a frozen finger out towards the doorbell pushing it in roughly, glancing back at the car to see that Lila was watching him anxiously. His head was forced to turn again when the door was thrown open and Nathan greeted him with confusion.

"Milo? This is a surprise, what are you doing here?" Nathan questioned, folding his arms over his chest to trap some warmth.

"Listen, Lila's dad has had a heart-attack and I'm driving her to see him and Lila needs you to watch Zar whilst she's gone. I've got his food oh and him," Milo paused to hand over both canine and bag to a shocked Nathan, "and Lila will call you when she has had time to wrap her head around everything. Okay?" Milo finished, nodding at Nathan expectantly.

"Eh yeah okay? Is she okay?" Nathan enquired, in a concerned tone. Milo released a sigh, rubbing his forehead stressfully.

"I don't know yet ... honestly I'm just tackling one problem at a time." Milo informed Nathan, who nodded in understanding before saying a quick goodbye. Nathan stood at the door watching as Milo ran back to the car, waiting for them to drive away before leading Zar inside, and closing the door behind them.

Back in the car it was silent, other than pitiful sobs which broke free from Lila's chest as Milo watched on helplessly. Having dealt with similar instances himself, he understood that it was in his best interests to allow Lila this time to herself to wrap her head around the news that she had just received. He felt that it would not be beneficial for someone she barely knows to try and force her out her silence having an understanding for it himself in times of crisis. Thus, they drove out of town with only the mumbles of the engine speaking volumes underneath them. Up until they passed Grace's.