The weekend flew by, the following two weeks along with it. Sura had been here for a few weeks now, slowly warming up to being here and seemed to feel more like part of the family than just a resident. She'd begun approaching Daniel and I more often as the days passed, seeking our company in a similar manner as Riv back some years ago. In the late evenings both children would join us on the big sofa to lean against me as I did against Daniel, just enjoying the comfort each other's presence granted us before heading to bed.

One weekend Ulimi came by to visit and see this new resident for himself, not satisfied with only hearing about her from the trips into town. The little girl was nervous around him at first, but seeing Riv's interactions and with his encouragement she started to come around, accepting his gentle headpats and gifts of pastries. It was nice to see him again, and nicer still that we were remembered after all this time. Such a thing was still quite new to me, at least in a positive way.

Every so often I'd notice that one daystaff eyeing me from some dark corner of the room. He'd do this more and more as the days proceeded, but only when the others were either not present or not facing his direction. It made me incredibly uneasy, but I tried to ignore it as much as I could. I did offer my assistance a number of times when spotted, but he'd just remain silent and resume his glaring. Interestingly he seemed to show up more after my walk around town with Morissey. We'd made it a point to go on walks around town on Friday evenings from there, my enjoying the time spent outside and his enjoying my company. Every outing he seemed to open up a little more and I got to learn a little about him as a person instead of just a figurehead. Even with this large organization he seemed to have few, if any, confidants, and I couldn't help but feel a little bad.

Morissey seemed more conflicted lately than usual, but did appear softer toward my family and I in the mornings than he had been in the past. For the first time in a long time he'd even smile when picking up my work and dropping off what he wanted done that day. It was a small, hesitant smile but he did seem genuine about it in his own way.

It was a Thursday morning and I was already out in the lobby, sitting behind my desk and waiting for my employer to arrive. Turning my head to look outside it was a cloudy, grey day with a stiff, salty breeze. I wouldn't be surprised if it rained as it usually did this time of year on this side of the region.

My two children sat at their table, the nurse sitting between them after he finished washing up the morning dishes. Sura was just about caught up with Riv as far as schoolwork went, a feat of which both of the kids were quite proud. Daniel and I certainly were, too.

Finally the big door opened and Morissey stepped past the threshold with a folder in his hands. He carried his head high, seemingly in a good mood, as he walked over to my desk. Just beyond him that staffmember's head poked out from the corridor, watching both of us rather intently.

"Good morning, Reverend," he said with a smile as he reached the desk. "I hope the day has so far been treating you and yours well."

Daniel looked over to us and raised an eyebrow.

"I would say so," I replied. "You seem to be in a good mood lately. Did something happen?"

"No, just...had a pleasant few weeks, certainly with your help," he said, putting the folder down on the edge of the desk. "I hope it's...not too strange."

"Not at all, it's nice to see you in a good mood," I affirmed, taking his folder and giving him mine. "If you still wanted to go on a walk tomorrow evening I will be available at the usual time."

"...I would appreciate it," he said with a nervous little smile. "I shall see you then."

Before he completely turned back around that staffmember made himself scarce, eluding the view of his superior. As Morissey slowly sauntered back toward the door he looked over to Daniel and the children, his ears lowered but with a smile and nod. Even from here I could see Daniel's face show some degree of surprise by such a thing and the two children seemed a bit perplexed.

After he left the nurse looked over to me, his head tilted and ears cocked askew. I just smiled and shrugged. Some things are best just taken as they are.

---

The day was ordinary, though on several occasions I would feel eyes on me. Looking down to the end of the lobby I'd see that staffmember again, eyes narrow and looking right through me. Once he'd notice anyone else about to look toward him he'd vanish, and it was getting to the point where I wasn't sure if I was actually seeing him or if my paranoia was just making it up. Once or twice I'd get up to use the bathroom and swear I heard unfamiliar footsteps in the upper hallway. I was quite used to the sound of my family's pace, but this one was new to me. Even behind the stall door my ears slunk back and I'd dig my nails into my arm, unsure of how to proceed with this staffmember.

As I sat on the seat trying my best to be quiet those footsteps grew louder, soles gently striking the tile below. I held my breath the closer they came until they stopped right in front of the stall I occupied. With nowhere to run I sat as still as possible as they stood right outside the stall door, and just past that door fell a small slip of paper. I placed my hand over my mouth as he finally walked away, my refusing to stir or make any motion until I could no longer hear those footsteps out in the hallway.

After he left I took a deep breath and stood up, flushing the toilet and opening the stall. Reaching down I grabbed the paper and flipped it over.

"I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, DEGENERATE."

...Maybe, for once, I should bring this up with Morissey.

The remainder of Thursday was like any other, though I'd become even more wary of his untoward stares from the other end of the lobby. Daniel took notice of my behaviors, an irritation that brought him back to a couple years ago. Putting two and two together he picked up his chair and moved it, situating it on another side of the table to allow him to look down the corridor straight ahead. From this new arrangement I felt more at ease and I didn't see nor feel any eyes on me for the rest of the day. Daniel stayed close and alert even as he helped the children with their schoolwork, doing everything he could to keep us all safe and comfortable. I felt bad about it, but at the same time it was a role that he was adamant to take.

At the end of the evening we called it a night, fulfilling our nightly routine and ensuring the children were snug in bed. It warmed me right up to see Sura's little smile as we hugged and nudged her forehead, our child coming a long way in such a short time. She clung tight to her new stuffed lion under the covers just as Riv did with his bear and cat on the other side of the room. We all said our goodnights and left, closing the door and letting Kuri's watch take over.

I looked back down the hall and saw the nightstaff, but they seemed preoccupied with something else and weren't too interested in either of us. Even so, I urged Daniel to spend the rest of our night in my room in private, a suggestion to which he had little issue agreeing. He grabbed his sleepwear and I changed in the room, letting him back in once we were both ready.

"I'm sorry to be such a pain, just..." I trailed off, tugging my sleeve.

Without a word he opened his arms and swept me into a big hug, slowly rubbing his snout in my hair.

"Shh, I never once thought you were a pain," he shushed. "If there's anything I can do to help ya feel safe and comfortable I'm more than happy to comply. Ya seemed really uneasy today and I couldn't help but notice. What's goin' on?"

"...Just that one staffmember again," I whispered. "I feel like he's been watching me more and more as time goes on but I'm not sure why. I thought it was because Sura was here, but all of his attention seems to be toward me in particular. I don't understand it."

"Well I haven't really seen or heard anything from them lately, though I'll certainly keep my chair where it is since that seemed to help ya feel better. Are you still okay with this whole Friday outing thing?"

"I don't mind it, and I think Morissey needs the company. I never thought I'd...be in this situation, but if I can help him in some way I'm happy to try. He does seem to be in a better mood lately."

His ears dipped low and he looked off to his side.

"Sorry, just...I'm worried about the whole thing after that one run-in," he sighed. "I don't want to tell ya what to do with your life, just please be careful. I care a lot about ya and don't want ya gettin' hurt."

I rested my head against his chest. His heart was beating awfully quick, his worries undoubtedly playing a part. As I rested my head upon him and hugged him with my scrawny arms it gradually slowed to a less frantic pace, his leaning his snout against my head and gently swaying from side to side.

I didn't know what I'd do without him.

---

Before I knew it Friday evening was upon us. I waited for my employer in the lobby, having already eaten and fed my two hungry children. Fortunately by now the staff had changed over so I had little issue waiting in the lobby by myself. After a minute or two I'd hear a gentle knock on the heavy front door, my rising to my feet to open it and investigate.

Morissey stood on the porch, his snout lowered and hands behind his back. It was admittedly a little amusing how shy he seemed when he was here for leisure instead of business. I stepped out of the house and onto the porch, closing the door behind me. Side by side we left the property, walking down the cobblestone path to the town road in front of the large building. It was relatively silent between us until we reached the greater part of town, walking down some of the nicer streets when he noticed my lagging a bit behind.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked, turning his head back a bit to look at me.

"Um, well..." I hesitated, not really knowing how to broach the subject. "I'd be lying if I said 'no', but..."

"...Is it something to do with me?" he asked further, stopping his stride under a streetlight.

"N-No, that's not it at all, just...I've been having some issues with one of the people in the daystaff, though I'm not really sure how to describe it."

He tilted his head, his expression seeming truly concerned.

"...Lately there's been a member of your daystaff who's proven...uncomfortably interested in me in particular," I said, tugging at my sleeve. "I've no doubt he's unhappy about my taking in a second child, his taking to staring at me with contempt and following me around during the day."

"Have you tried to approach him?" he asked.

"When I spotted him staring at me from the hallway corridor I did ask if he needed some kind of assistance, but he wouldn't answer and just narrowed his eyes like I'd just insulted him," I answered. "I don't know what to think, but...it's gotten worse over the past few weeks."

"Past few weeks?" he repeated. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since the morning after I took S...Sienna in," I said. "It started with some nasty looks, but as time went on he'd keep watching me from the shadows. When my family would look over or when other staff was present he'd make himself scarce. He's fixated on me, specifically, it seems, especially since we'd begun these brief Friday outings. That just...seems far too coincidental for my comfort."

His ears dropped back and he folded his arms in front of him, looking down to the lit ground below in thought. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"...He's been following me around the house when I'm by myself to the point I'm...afraid of being without my family for very long," I quietly said, my sharp nails digging into the skin of my arm. "I understand you and your staff are leery of my family, but they truly mean no harm. If they did I wouldn't keep them so close to me."

"Has anything come of them following you around?" he asked. "It certainly doesn't seem to be the case, but maybe they're doing it for your safety."

"Well...yesterday morning I was in the bathroom and he...slowly followed me into it, standing right in front of my stall," I said with a wince. "...In front of the stall door he dropped a note and walked away as slowly as he came in."

"A note? Do you have it with you?"

I reached into my pocket to retrieve it and hand it to Morissey to inspect under the bright streetlamp. With a squint and a tilt of the paper he made out the words, his ears raking back with an irritated little sigh.

"And you're sure this is from a staffmember?" he asked.

"It's not my family's handwriting, and...this wouldn't be the first time I've gotten notes like these from your staff."

"...What?"

I gripped my arm firmly and squinted, my ears fallen back in worry. Did he really not know?

"There was a time leading up to your...outburst in my room when notes of this sort were routinely slid under my bedroom door," I admitted. "I didn't say anything about it because I was afraid of what might happen if I did, lest I make matters worse and aggravate you any further."

"...I'm sorry about that, Reverend," he whispered, looking down to his feet. "The...event you speak of, there was a long case of hostility between my organization and a new type gang some ways north of here. A number of my employees were hurt during the ongoing matter and it was really...putting me in a dark place. When a crucial branch of the organization was attacked I just...I flew into a rage the likes of which I'd never experienced before."

"...What happened, exactly?" I asked, never really knowing the details of that situation.

"It was...a meeting of my highest-ranked staff and I regarding the future, where to go from here," he grimaced. "By then I was...already not doing well, dealing with report after report of incidents and hospital trips to the point of needing concealers. I did something horribly reckless in an attempt to push ourselves forward and it...led to a terrifying, infuriating backlash both in the meeting by a...guest and outside the structure by a gang. A lot of my staff got hurt, and...and all I could see was red."

"I-I'm sorry, I never knew."

"No, I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. "My staff has been very on-edge since the first matter, many of them already uneasy around new types. I just...can't be around as much as I'd like to be to ensure everyone cooperates, and I can't do anything about incidents I'm not privy to. I have a feeling who in particular might be ailing you, so I will try to talk with him in private about this matter in hopes to alleviate this tension."

I wasn't sure what to say, honestly quite surprised.

"...And I also apologize for my nightstaff's rumors from further back," he said, giving me back the note. "I was...really not sure who to believe between one of my best lower employees and staff I'd kept for several years with the same story."

"It's fine," I sighed, putting the note back in my pocket. "...I just want to move forward and raise my family."

"I understand," he said, turning back toward the rest of the road.

I wondered if those staff had been feeding off of Morissey this whole time. Though strange, it wouldn't be the weirdest thing I've ever heard of...morale can be a surprisingly potent force. Though the staff had never been too fond of us the worst of it did seem to line up with this timeline. The replacement staff had been worse at the start, but for the past while they'd been remarkably placid. If they stayed that way I'd take little issue with them.

We continued our walk through town, the saline wind through our hair as we paced through the dim evening streets. Although I'd grown more comfortable around my boss as a person I still tried to maintain some distance, keeping myself armed at night should anything unsavory take place. I felt horrible for such a precaution, but I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

After a while we returned to my house, my stepping up onto the porch as he turned around to head to his residence.

"I will talk with him this weekend, Reverend," he stopped and said. "Please do not hesitate to tell me if the behavior continues."

"...Thank you, Morissey," I said, his continuing down the stone path back toward town.

---