[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/422758.html?thread=35500646#t35500646)]

Meche went a few steps into the hallway and then stopped to make sure Manny was keeping up. His protective instinct was sounding more like paranoia to her, but if he wanted to hold her hand to ward off the things that went bump in the night, fine.

But if the children were here, Meche thought suddenly, she hoped they were still snug in their beds. Just in case.