Damien frowned. "Has she tried talking to anyone about it besides you?" he asked, watching her.

Sera walked with him quietly, not really minding his company at the moment.

"Knowing Sera, probably not," Rose replied. "I refused to let her drive today, she was falling asleep on her feet. I just don't know what to do..."

Taylor helped her into the car and then got in himself. The drive to the little diner was short, since it wasn't far.

Damien frowned. "I could always kinda talk to Taylor," he suggested hesitantly. "I mean, he can go through dreams and figure out if someone's screwing with her."

Sera sat in his car quietly before getting to the cafe. She let him pick the table this time.

"That's possible?" Rose asked. It wasn't exactly as if she thought about such things all that often.

Taylor picked a table and sat down with Sera.

"Get whatever you like," he said. "It's on me."

Damien nodded. "Very possible," he agreed. "I think that may be what's bothering her right now, is something interfering with her dreams."

Sera nodded but only got a sandwich and water, since she didn't much feel like eating.

"That's... slightly disturbing," Rose replied. She wasn't sure she liked the thought of something going through her head and messing with her dreams.

Taylor noticed, but didn't say anything. If she wasn't hungry, he couldn't force her to eat.

Damien grimaced and nodded. "I know. I hate it too. I can't do anything about it, either. Not really. I mean, most things won't go through your head if they think you're with me, since they know that my kind are prone to hunting down anything that hurts those we hold dear."

Sera picked at her food, keeping her eyes on her plate as she ate.

Rose blushed a little at that, but didn't comment.

"Are you alright?" Taylor asked after a moment. "Really, I can take you home, if you like."

Damien smiled a little when he saw her blushing and stayed quiet for a bit. "You've been okay, right? No weird dreams?"

"No," Sera said stubbornly. "I'll be okay."

"Not really," Rose replied. "Just what counts as normal for me."

"But you're not okay right now," Taylor pointed out. "You won't even let me in and I can tell."

Damien nodded. "Good. I'm glad. I wouldn't want it trying to get to you, too."

Sera shrugged. "Well, I'll live," she muttered stubbornly. "I'll finish up the rest of the day and maybe stop and get some sleeping pills on my way home."

Rose didn't know if she would end up starting to have nightmares as well, but she hoped she wouldn't. She didn't particularly like waking up all the time out of terror.

"I wouldn't," Taylor replied. "If something is really messing with your head, then it can make it so you still have nightmares. The pills will just keep you from being able to wake up."

Damien watched her quietly for a moment before he looked off to the side. "If you need to, you can always stay with me," he offered quietly.

Sera sighed but nodded. "Okay, no to that idea then."

Rose blinked, and then blushed when she realized what he said.

"I couldn't possibly..." she mumbled. She couldn't impose on him like that, especially if there was technically nothing to worry about.

Taylor thought for a moment, trying to figure out some way to help her. His offer was still open, but she had already shot the idea down.

"If you ever needed to, though," Damien said quietly. "If the need arises for some reason, any reason, you can come stay with me. I don't mind. I have a guest room, and my cat likes everyone, even other cats."

Sera sighed. "Don't we have to give the tigers their rabies shots soon?" she asked, hoping to change the subject somewhat gracefully. The last thing she wanted was to talk about this more and make it more real.

"You're too kind to me," Rose said, still blushing faintly.

"Soon," Taylor agreed, noticing the attempt to change the subject. If she wanted to, he would let her, but he still wanted to keep an eye on her even if she wouldn't let him help.

"Not at all," Damien said with a faint smile. "I want to make sure you're safe."

"Who else? I haven't been able to check all the records, but I know a couple others are supposed to get their shots soon." Sera took another sip of her drink, glancing around automatically.

"I still think you're too kind to me," Rose replied.

"The lions," Taylor said. "A few of the other cats. I try to get them all done around the same time."

Damien just smiled. "Well, I wouldn't be if I didn't want to be," he replied.

Sera nodded. "Makes sense," she admitted. "Although you're going to have to do the lion cubs after they're born. I don't envy you that."

Rose just smiled a bit.

"That's why I have Damien for, remember?" Taylor joked.

"We should probably head back soon," Damien said, glancing at his watch with some regret. He'd love to stay out longer, but he didn't want to get her into trouble.

"True," Sera said, shrugging. "Still, their mom is not going to be pleased."

Rose looked at her cell phone and her mood fell a little. She'd been enjoying the time they spent together.

"Yeah, probably," she replied.

"Of course not," Taylor agreed. "Again, that's what Damien is there for."

Damien hesitated for a moment. "We could go out to dinner, if you want," he offered. "Or this weekend, we could go do something."

Sera snorted. "Use him as bait and fodder, huh?" she teased.

Rose considered it for a moment before nodding.

"That sounds nice," she said.

Taylor shrugged.

"I'm not the one who relates to them," he said. "I go in once it's safe."

Damien smiled and paid the bill when it came, getting up and offering her his hand.

"Well, then, we'll certainly have to plan something."

Sera merely shrugged and paid for her sandwich and left a tip on the table.

"Come on, we'd better get back." Besides, then she'd have more things to think about, which meant she wouldn't be brooding so much.