He looked away. He didnt want to talk about it. Just thinking about it made his moind falsh to the different images he remembered out of order.

He doubled over suddenly as he tried not to think about it, but it only made it worse.

He was beginning to feel the whole thing gavve him ptsd but he couldnt burden anyone with it.

"I..." he was panting as he sat up.

"I dont remember much...but i keep getting flashes...it makes my head spin." he shook his head.

"It...i feel cold...and hot...and i..." he put on his shirt again and rubbed his eyes.

Eke launched his arms around Rykers neck. He buried his face into the mans chest and just...cried.

Despite the times he almost died by thugs and wolves and his own recklessness, he just couldnt get over the images still in his head.

Time had seemed to stop while he felt his consiousness slip. The biting cold seeping into his bones. His lungs aching as he couldnt breathe.

He cried and coughed and just curled up into Rykers lap.

He smiled. "You sound like the dad i never had..."

He eventually calmed down and wiped his face.

"I think i need meds for my cold..." he coughed and leaned against him smiling.

"Then the big brother then" he grinned.

He looked at the workers of the inn and smiled.

"I think im in good hands here" he chuckled then coughed

He laughed then coughed.

"Funny" he smiled.

"Go on go. ill be here" he smiled his cheeks still red

Eke happily waited.

He was having a good time but he worried about Ryker.

He seemed to harbor so much pain. A loneliness he knew all too well. He had to survive now.

He couldnt get sick now. Nothing more than a cold. It had to stay just a cold.

He took it and smiled, though he was sweating now.

"Thanks." he smiled and got up beaming.

He had something up his sleeve with such a grin.

"Wait here" he said. despite the fever, he jogged to the back where the kitchen was.

Eke came out backing up. He had the biggest smile on his face.

He turned and was holding a plate with the most gorgeous strawberry creme cake on it. The frosting was tinged pink and there were strawberries cut in have to decorate the sides.

"I thought you could use a little cheering up. Sweets make me happy, and so does baking. So i thought making you a cake would make you feel better" he smiled gently.

"Because you need it" he smiled and put the plate down. It was a large cake or anything. Just big enough to be a personal cake.

"Because i dont think anyone has really done something nice for you" he continued.

"So i hope you like it. The people here were nice enough to let me use their kitchen." he sat down coughing into his hand.