Cleo fiddled with the thick strand of white than ran through her dark curls now. Dye wasn't moving it and it seemed to scream at her that she'd been through something horrible, even when she tied it back.
"It doesn't look that bad, you know," Quinn said softly from behind her.
"Then why is it all I can see?" Cleo muttered
"Because it's all you're looking at."
"I can't imagine what else anyone would see," Cleo replied
"You wouldn't believe them anyway," he said with a wry smile.
"I'd believe you," Cleo replied softly. Their relationship was still new, and she still struggled to settle into being in a genuine and truthful couple.
Quinn's smile softened and her reached out to tuck the strand behind her ear. "I see you."
"Which means what?"
"You're a beautiful, caring and selfless woman," Quinn said. "You have this," he touched the strand, "because you were helping people."
"You were, I was there."
"Selflessly?"
Cleo chuckled, "cute."
Quinn frowned. "What's funny?"
"You are," Cleo smiled and moved to stand
"I wasn't trying to be."
Cleo sighed and curled back into the chair.
"There's room on the sofa," Quinn pointed out.
Cleo moved and settled beside him. "Better?"
Quinn shifted to put his arm around her. "Yes."
She leaned into him. "I'm sleeping even less."
"I noticed. Are you seeing anything?"
"Everything and nothing," Cleo shuddered
"Anything you want to talk about?" Quinn asked softly, feeling her shudder.
"It seems like I'm seeing every death, nice in the sleep deaths even."
"And you didn't before?"
Cleo shook her head. "It's like the walls are down."
Quinn winced. "Since when?"
"Since the spell," Cleo admitted
"Shit. Why didn't you say before?"
"Tell my new boyfriend why I'm refusing to sleep with him? In case I smack him in the face when I wake up from yet another death?"
"He's really quite understanding."
"Kills the romance a bit though."
Quinn quirked a soft smile. "Maybe. But I'd still rather know."
Cleo leaned into him and returned his smile. "I could fall for you pretty quickly Mr Dower."
"Is that because I'm cute and funny?" He brushed his fingers lightly through her hair, hoping she wouldn't flinch or pull away when his fingers got too close to her bare skin. He knew she still wasn't used to actual skin-on-skin contact and that it probably take time for her to.
Cleo screwed her eyes closed, a tear creeping down her face as a blurry death flashed through her head
Quinn sighed and rested his head atop hers. "When are you next expected to be in for work?" he asked.
"In the morning, Annabelle's shattered"
"So are you."
"Not as much"
"Clee..."
"You know I'm used to not sleeping," Cleo replied
"I know. But you've just admitted that this is extreme at the moment."
"For all of us, I'll collapse on Sunday. I'll expect beans on toast," Cleo replied
"Well it's my signature dish," Quinn quipped.
"With cheese?"
"Oh, now you're complicating things," he said with a chuckle, kissing her temple.