aftermath

The crime scene soon moved. What was once organized chaos was now just the aftermath. There was a lot to clean up in the kitchen.

Penelope looked around the scene. She couldn't help but gasp. Elliot was with Asa, outside. In the cold, Talking. Comforting. She hoped. But was there any comfort in these sort of scenarios? She bit her upper lip, wondering what she could do.

It was surreal. Someone lost their life here. She went to find something to help with the cleaning. Bleach would do. Hopefully, no one would be staying the night. But it wasn't exactly something you wanted to come back to, either.

She started the hot water in the sink, poured in a little bleach. It wouldn't take much. Wasn't like the cops would be back for anymore evidence. It needed to be done.

"I can do that." Asa's voice echoed through the emptiness.

"No, you're not." Penelope told him. She saw Elliot behind him. She knew Elliot couldn't stay and help. She understood that. She was the outsider, after all. "Elliot, I think you should take Asa somewhere, he needs to eat." Even McDonald's would do, she thought. He needed to be anywhere, but here.

"I'm not hungry." Asa came forth. He found the mop.

"Please, I don't want you here." She didn't mean to argue as she put her hair back in a ponytail. "You need some food. Fresh air. I'll be fine."

Max came in and took the mop from him.

"I want to be here. I want to help." He told them. Penelope nodded. Suddenly, she was consumed with warms tears. She hadn't meant for that to happen. She wanted to believe it was just the bleach. Not a torn emotion. Really, she never thought of Amanda much. She couldn't say they got along, but she didn't bother with her, either. Still, she thought of how it might have been. How a life once lived was now gone. She shivered then as she stared at the darkness on the floor.

"Come on." Finally, Elliot made an effort. He put his arm around Asa, who looked a bit faint as he took one last look at the blood on the floor. The wall. Even the splatter on the white ceiling. At least, Elliot was strong enough to catch him, Penelope almost smiled. He was the man, she thought he was.

She sighed as she watched Max begin to work on the floor with the mop. She took a sponge of hot water with bleach, starting with the wall.

"I know, she's gone." Max cried softly, "But I can feel her, you know. I can. And.." He choked then, saying nothing more. They worked in silence. She found the quiet to be a comfort.