Cougar's gun would normally be here, tucked securely in easy reach so he could grab it and defend himself. Then again, he also knows that a knife can do just as well, which is what he searches for to try and fight off those fiery faces of hellions, Roque's laughter looming. And he can hear Roque calling his name.

The touch to his shoulder kicks automatic reaction into gear and he swats the hand away, grabbing the wrist and flipping the body onto the bed, rolling to get the knife and pin the intruder down with his elbow to their chest.

Except, when he blinks through the night terrors, the screams dying away, he sees dark hair and no malevolence in the eyes. Only innocence and the face of the girl he's been trying to protect. "Orar por mis pecados," he mumbles to himself as he goes pale, the knife clattering to the floorboards as he rears back, nausea pulsing over him as he realizes what he's almost done.