(chase/open) shutting down

[Babydoll]

Babydoll's clothes hung on her slight frame, swaying with her movements. These articles of clothing had been purchased months before, they had never fit, and usually she had found a way to tie them or alter them so they did, but she didn't care anymore. She walked across the Brooklyn Bridge with her hair–unkempt and lifeless–falling into her eyes.

Never before had she felt so abandoned and lost. It was like she didn't have a friend in the world. Manhattan seemed too far away, as did Staten. She didn't know anyone in any other borough that she could confide in. She didn't know what she was going to do when she left the lodging house that morning without a single thing on her except the amount of money needed to get on the ferry. Maybe she was going to visit BlackJack or Jack for some comfort…she couldn't remember.

Silence had been the one person she'd never thought would leave her. She'd always felt so much stronger and safer around him, he'd made her want to keep going, he'd almost filled the gap in her heart–as cheesy as that sounded. And then he'd ripped the whole thing out of her chest and stomped on it. She hadn't slept well in weeks, nightmares and panic attacks grabbed her whenever she tried to catch those coveted "z"s.

The day she lost him was still fresh in her mind. It wasn't to long ago, but in any normal memory detail would've faded somewhat. But this wasn't true in the particular case of when she noticed Silence was gone every single action was still crystal clear in her mind. She'd asked where he was, and Darling had told her he wasn't coming back, though she'd phrased it more delicately. Babydoll had asked if she was joking. She had to be joking, it was too cruel of a reality to be true, right? Wrong, she'd been told once again that Silence was not coming back.

It'd felt as if she'd been socked in the stomach and all feeling had been taken with her air. As if the world should have fallen apart at any second. As if she were about do die. She had cried for a while after that, until she just couldn't make another tear roll down her cheek.

After that she'd wanted to curl up in a sock drawer and sleep for days on end, maybe with a great deal of chocolate to keep her from starving. But she'd continued selling, just to keep herself from completely shutting down. But she had shut down, or at least begun to. It was her first real heartbreak, and she wasn't handling it very well. She doubted she'd ever love again. Not if it hurt like hell every time it ended.

Babydoll slowed to a stop at the end of the bridge, her eyes watering and her throat clenching trying to keep back any sobs. She sank to the ground and sat in a loose ball. She breathed deeply for half of a minute, trying very hard not to cry, and then snapped, taking in a choked breath after which she let out a watery cry of despair. Tears started flowing down her cheeks once again and she struggled to breathe between waves of sobs.

[Chase Neumann]

Chase stopped walking immediately. He was walking across the bridge, trying to find something to do. He heard crying. He turned around slowly and saw a girl at the other end of the bridge. She'd fallen to the ground and seemed to be sobbing. He walked slowly toward her. He looked around and no one else was in sight. He spoke to her softly. "Hey. Are ya okay-?" He choked off the last word, realising it was a stupid question since she clearly was not ok.
He crouched down beside her. He cocked his head, his blue eyes searching. "Hey... What's happened?" He reached a hand towards her, not sure quite how to comfort her. He dropped his hand on her shoulder. Chase waited for a response from her. He didn't like seeing crying. He wiped away a falling tear with his other hand. He lifted her chin so he could look at her better. He gave her a small, crooked smile. "I'm here for ya." He said, putting his hand on her knee.

[Babydoll]

Babydoll at first flinched at the sound of a boy's voice. She didn't want to talk with a boy she didn't know. It set her off-guard, made her nervous. His first question made her curl up tighter on herself, of course she wasn't okay! What clue was there that she could possibly be all right? She flinched again, not happy with the contact of the boy's hand on her shoulder.

She had no other option but to look at him as he lifted her chin. Who the hell was this guy? He had a kind enough face, if that was any consolation–which she doubted. Why was he showing so much concern for her. She gave a few more sniffs and whimpers before speaking shakily.

"I-I-I'm just upset," she managed. "I'm sorry if I was in your way!" Baby rushed on and started to stand up. "I can m-move. I'm used to that…"

[Chase Neumann]

Chase stood as quickly as the girl had. He could tell she didn't like him touching her. He raised his hands in a surrendering guesture. "No... no. Yer fine. I just wanted ta make sure ya weren't hurt." He told her. his german accent mixed with his new york accent, but none-the-less strong. Chase couldn't explain his reasoning for talking to a complete stranger when she was crying. He always had that problem, but he couldn't help himself. He didn't like to see anyone like this. His protectiveness had come out when he'd first heard her cry. Afterall that was why everyone called him 'Tiger'. He had such a protectiveness over women and children. That's how he'd grown up.

"Please. Don't go. I'm sorry if i startled ya. Meh name's Chase. Chase Neumann." He told her, hands still in the air, when she'd turned away from him. "It's just- I heard ya crying and i- i had ta make sure ya were all right. Unlike the other guys i'd met, i'm not one ta just close meh eyes ta a problem and walk away." He still hadn't moved in anyway except his mouth, so if the girl had wanted to leave he wouldn't stop her. "So, who did this to ya? Who made ya cry? A pretty goil like yerself shouldn't be cryin'." He gave her a small smile but only half of his mouth pulled up.