I open my eyes at the sound of soft knocks on the bedroom door, to find Zak leant against the door jab with a small smile. 

"Hey." I whisper, scrunching one eye from the pain behind it. 

"Still got a migraine?" He asks crossing over the room to sit on the end of the bed. 

"Sure have. I've taken pills but they are slow working... You heading out now?"

He nods "We can all stay around for a bit longer-"

"No, no."

"Seriously, I don't mind. You're a part of this crew too."

I smile "I know. I didn't want to sit this one out either, but we have the time and interviews in place. I'll just have to give in and admit that I'm not well enough for this investigation."

His slides his hand over to mine and takes hold of it. "Still sucks though..."

"That you can't send me somewhere alone?" I joke. 

"That I can't stay here and look after you."

I give his hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll be fine. You better get going. You got everything?"

"Yes." He answers with a playful eye roll. 

"So you have your inhalers..."

"Damn." He mutters, letting go of my hand to get up and call down the corridor for Bacon to get them for him. Zak comes back in and sits down, this time at my side. He runs a soothing hand over my hair before smiling. " If you feel better, give Bacon a call and he can bring you out."

"I will do."

He smiles before leaning down and pressing a kiss onto my forehead "Get some rest and maybe I will see you later."

"Stay safe." I whisper as he stands up and pulls the sheet over my body tucking me in. 

"I always do. See ya sweeties."

"Bye."

I sigh in content before a yawn shoots through my body. Curling up, I let the quietness of the house sink into my body before I drop off to sleep. 

****

The second I hear a howl, my eyes part. Looking up at the ceiling, I wait and sure enough the howl I heard, sounds again. 

Coyotes?

Rolling onto my back, I reach for my phone, to check in with the guys to make sure they are okay when the front door to the rental home opens and their voices bounce off the walls. Setting my phone aside, I rub my eyes, relieved that the migraine had gone and curious to know why they were back when I hear grunts and howls. Only this time, it's clearly the guys messing around. 

Before I can get up, I hear Zak speak. "I am a warrior and I am going to protect my tribe!"

The hoots of the rest of them has me frowning wondering what the hell they had all been up to, when Zak appears in the doorway. 

"There she is!" He beams taking a run and a jump, landing on the bed and half on me. 

"Yo, what the hell?" I complain as he crawls up my body and flops onto me. His head against my chest and arms spread wide.

"Found you."

"I haven't been anywhere... Zak what have you got on your face?"

"I'm a warrior. Walking Thunder gave it to me. You like it?" He asks lifting his head up to stare at me.

"Yeah.. It's lovely." I comment trying not to laugh at the orange streaks across his cheeks and the wide eyed stare. 

"I'm a warrior."

"Sure you are." I reply patting his back as he sets his head down and sighs. 

"You smell good and all soft like a marshmallow. Can I bite you?" He asks. 

"I'd rather you didn't."

He lets out a disgruntled noise before nuzzling into my neck. "I sleep now."

I'm about to suggest his own pillow when Bacon appears flustered. "Oh thank god you're awake and have him... The whole plan went to shit. They had some ritual done and now I think they are high."

"I'm a warrior!" Zak corrects him before letting out a hoot. 

As if it's some calling, hoots sound throughout the house. 

"What is going on?" I ask Bacon. 

"Walking Thunder, some dust and magic herb has made them all batshit.  They have been driving around the canyon spaced out. I only found them when Zak sent me his location because he wanted to see you."

"Hmm I see her now. Pretty lady." He answers patting my face. 

"Jesus.. How long does this last?" I ask Bacon.

"No Idea. You deal with him.. I'll try and stop the rest of them eating the entire kitchen.." Bacon answers before walking off with a mutter in his throat.

"You smell like raspberries."

"Thank you." I smile patting Zak's back as he inhales my neck. "Can I bite you?"

"No sweetie. You can't."

"Not even a little."

"Nope."

"So unfair.." He huffs.

I watch as he twitches, from his nose, to his toes, he moves and shuffles. "Are you itchy?" I ask him, getting concerned with side effects.

"Nope. Just needed to see you. Super soft." He replies holding my hand between his.

Then he begins laughing, real belly chuckling, making me giggle "What's up with you?" I question amused.

"You're so tiny. Tiny tea cup human." He giggles. 

"I'm average size."

"Teacup human. Look how long my leg is!" He kicks out a leg and then has me do it. I oblige, only to have him burst into fits when my leg comes up short to his. That's the difference between 5,2 and 6,1.

"What if I take a little bite from her? She won't notice..."

"I will notice if you bite me." 

He shoots away from me, gasping. "MIND READER!" He points with an accusing finger.

I laugh "You're talking out loud, idiot."

"What am I thinking now?" He probes sitting closer and staring at me hard.

"If you can have a nap, here, beside me."

He smiles "No, but I want that too! Sleep over!" 

The air is knocked from my lungs as he tackles me back onto the bed and ends up laying on me instead of the mattress.  I find comfort in his heaviness and soon find myself dozing off with my fingers buried in his hair, when he lifts his head. "Pssst."

"What?" I mumble.

"I'm a warrior."

"So I have heard... Warriors need to be strong, which means, they need lots of sleep. So let's try it. First one to sleep is the real warrior."

He gasps and clamps his eyes shut before putting his head back down.

It's safe to say that he win as only a minute later, he is snoring happily, with his head on my chest and legs tangled with mine. I give him a gentle pat on the back and grin. 

"Sleep my warrior, because when you're awake. I'm gonna never let you live this down."