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crossing_lostrpThe heavenly aromas of coffee, bacon, and eggs gradually roused Scott from a deep sleep. (Ami's making breakfast,) Scott thought muzzily. Something about that wasn't right, though. Eventually he realized what: Ami couldn't be making breakfast because she was curled up beside him.
Grinning, Scott hugged his wife closer. Ami stirred slightly, sighing contentedly. Nevertheless a sense of wrongness nagged at him. Scott tried but failed to open his eyes. (Why am I so tired--)
"Yes, Dr. Jackson, I was going to start another pot of coffee!"
(McKay?) The man's voice was like nails on a blackboard, which helped Scott claw his way to consciousness.
"'Save the world. Make more coffee.' I have to do everything around here," McKay groused. His voice was somewhat muffled, as well as the sounds of cabinets opening and closing and water running from a faucet.
The past few days' events rushed back to Scott. He groaned, which made Ami whimper slightly. /It's all right,/ he soothed. Her emotions evened out as she calmed. The fact that he felt anything at all from her was a good sign. (She's recovering. Sleeping, not comatose. Thank god.)
Scott carefully untangled himself from Ami, glancing around as he did so. They were still on a mattress in a corner of the cafeteria. Since the bunker was underground he couldn't tell if it was day or night. Judging from how hungry he was -- and how badly he had to pee -- Scott figured he'd been out for a long while.
After making sure that Ami was stable and sleeping soundly, Scott stiffly got to his feet. "Good morning," someone said.
Grinning, Scott hugged his wife closer. Ami stirred slightly, sighing contentedly. Nevertheless a sense of wrongness nagged at him. Scott tried but failed to open his eyes. (Why am I so tired--)
"Yes, Dr. Jackson, I was going to start another pot of coffee!"
(McKay?) The man's voice was like nails on a blackboard, which helped Scott claw his way to consciousness.
"'Save the world. Make more coffee.' I have to do everything around here," McKay groused. His voice was somewhat muffled, as well as the sounds of cabinets opening and closing and water running from a faucet.
The past few days' events rushed back to Scott. He groaned, which made Ami whimper slightly. /It's all right,/ he soothed. Her emotions evened out as she calmed. The fact that he felt anything at all from her was a good sign. (She's recovering. Sleeping, not comatose. Thank god.)
Scott carefully untangled himself from Ami, glancing around as he did so. They were still on a mattress in a corner of the cafeteria. Since the bunker was underground he couldn't tell if it was day or night. Judging from how hungry he was -- and how badly he had to pee -- Scott figured he'd been out for a long while.
After making sure that Ami was stable and sleeping soundly, Scott stiffly got to his feet. "Good morning," someone said.
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[Megabyte] Found Her (tag Claire, open)
Date: 2006-08-23 07:36 pm (UTC)The sound of the stopping of the tapping of House's cane made him groan inwardly. (Of course, the bastard has to have the last word.)
"You know, there is something that you could do to help," House called out happily behind him.
(I know that I'm going to regret saying this. I know that I should just keep walking and pretend that I don't hear him. But, House does not go away when you ignore him. Like a bad fungus infection, he gets worse.)
"What?" Megabyte asked carefully, continuing his approach to Claire's side. He had to admit that she looked far better than the other women. The happy drugs that DHARMA had been giving her kept her up – who knows what else they did, and she would need a doctor to look at her – but she wasn't worn down and looking like death on parade like the others.
He gave her an easy smile as he stopped by her bedside, because he didn't have to fake the happiness to see her – alive, well, whole.
"Dopamine." House continued. "A neurohormone released by the hypothalamus to keep you happy when you're, you know - happy."
(He's not suggesting --)
"Know what I mean? All natural, no needles, just Mother Nature's gift to you and me."
(He is suggesting. Asshole. House would go and suggest that just to get a rise out of me and bait me.) Clearly his days of pretending to only have a platonic interest were gone unless Megabyte managed to pull himself together – and quickly.
Then to his surprise, he felt hope surge from Claire. Her words however explained the reason for the hope and the reason that she wasn't terribly offended and disgusted by what House said. "Whatever, I don't give a shit any more! I'll love you forever if there's anything that'll make me feel half-human again!"
"You don't want what he's suggesting," Megabyte sank to the side of the bed. He instinctively slipped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. He didn't care that House was there, or what House would say or imply. Nothing could possibly be worse than the dopamine-happy-hormones reference.
"You heard the lady, she'll love you forever."
"House. Get out." Megabyte's voice was surprisingly calm.
"I'm in pain, and I'm miserable and I know that it's because of the drugs, but I hate feeling like this, Damon. If there's anything –" Claire was practically pleading with him. He saw the desperation in her big blue eyes. If she'd known what she pleading with him for, if circumstances hadn't been what they were, he would have jumped on the opportunity. But Claire didn't know what was asking for.
"Claire. Trust me, you really don't want what Dr. House is suggesting. He's just having a go at us."
"Having 'a go' at you? Trying to become a limey now?"
"House. Get. Out."
The cane began thumping again, the doctor moving towards the exit. "Then I will just take my helpful suggestions and be on my way."
(Good riddance.)
"Yes, I do! I want –"
"Sex, Claire." He knew that ears and face were flaming, and he could feel House's amusement as the man's footsteps and cane tapping receded. "House was suggesting that we have sex."
[Claire] Found Her (tag MB, open)
Date: 2006-08-23 10:50 pm (UTC)"You're kidding, right?"
"'Fraid not."
Oooooooh.
"Claire?"
Damon. Still hugging. Hugging good. Sex.. not something she'd given much thought for a while, not in a right-here-right-now context in any case. She stiffened reflexively. This was just a normal hug, right? Of course it was; that thought was dismissed immediately - House was the seedy bastard from hell who'd had the audacity to suggest.. sex!.. not Damon.
"Uh.. well I guess the almighty blush kinda distracts from the all-over body hangover." Claire grinned nervously at the ceiling. "I feel like my skin's on fire."
"Matching set, huh?"
She shuffled closer and rolled her head onto Damon's shoulder, giggling at the wall of colour that was his neck. "Your ears are redder than your hair. Ow!"
"Are you ok there?"
"Yeah," Claire cut her nod short, wincing. "But shh.. Between the aches and the blushes and talking, there's not much brain power left over in here. Bloody doctors and their bloody chemical compounds. Could you pass me that glass of water, please?"
Damon did so, care in his every movement. She didn't care what House had been suggesting.. ok, so she did, but not as much as she had.. because this was pretty good too - not to mention a hell of a lot less awkward. C'mon girl, how would you ask a mate to shag you just to get rid of a headache, really? Such a bad idea it's not even funny! Just like believing Ethan's lies. But cripes, what if Damon was really pissed off about her blanking the sex idea - even though he had too, sort of? Guys could be just as weird as girls, when they wanted.
Claire signed heavily, finished her drink and rolled the cool glass across her forehead a few times. That and a hug was clearly the best she was going to get at this point, which was great because Damon didn't seem to be pulling away in a huff. She really wasn't ready for the hour when Daniel - nice as he was - decided to ask about her experiences over the last few days though.. The memories were fuzzy, but shameful - one fancy IV and she'd been putty in their hands.
Handing back the glass, Claire kissed Damon lightly on the cheek before returning her head to its previous position. He didn't seem to mind, so she made herself comfortable and played mental two-up until she'd thoroughly confused herself about what to do next. Telling Damon about what had happened was really tempting, especially if he could pass on the information so she wouldn't have to deal with anyone else's anger or pity. Then again, being on the receiving end of either from Damon would be just as bad.
After a moment's indecision, she made her mind up. "Can I tell you some, uh, stuff.. about, uh.. here?"
Damon's stomach growled. Crap.
"Never mind," Claire backtracked hurriedly. This conversation wasn't meant to be, which was kind of good and kind of bad, but delaying tactics were definitely good so.. "You go eat - I've been living in the lap of luxury here for days. They even have peanut butter. Find something other than papayas and barnacles; you deserve it."
[MB] Reconnecting (no tag yet)
Date: 2006-08-24 03:59 am (UTC)But this was Claire and she felt good leaning into his side that way. Her hair smelled good and it kind of tickled his neck and chin, but in a good way. She was warm and she was soft and she fit up against him so perfectly, like he was meant to hold her like this and Megabyte really, really didn't want to let her go.
Damn House and his lewd suggestions. Because of House, he couldn't just sit here and enjoy the moment. He had to resist letting his mind wander in places it probably wouldn't have wandered – at least not at this time – if it hadn't been for the Cranky Cane Wielding Bastard. That was on top of resisting the urge to stroke Claire's hair, which was most definitely becoming more and more appealing and harder to resist by the moment.
And he really was not thinking about that innocent kiss that she planted on his cheek.
Nope. Not going there.
Fortunately, Claire was a distraction, in a very non-romantic way as well. She was tearing herself up over something, and though he was tempted to ask, he didn't. Megabyte wasn't certain precisely how much of those drugs had worked themselves out of her system, and how much of her brain might still be clouded by them. If she didn't recall his confession of empathy and telepathy, then he wasn't going to remind her about it by telling her that he could feel her confusion.
Ignoring it wasn't an option, not without shielding himself and he didn't want to shield himself from Claire. So he focused on what he could that wasn't her tumultuous thoughts, like the fact that she was all right, and he could be here holding her. Like the way she smelled and the warmth of her body and how relaxed Junior was as well.
Her emotional tumult changed, drawing his attention before she even spoke. "Can I tell you some, uh, stuff.. about, uh.. here?"
His answer, naturally, was one to reassure her and remind her that she could talk to him about anything.
His answer was meant to be that. Instead, his stomach one upped his brain and his mouth. Loudly.
Claire backed out of that conversation before it even started. "Never mind. You go eat - I've been living in the lap of luxury here for days. They even have peanut butter. Find something other than papayas and barnacles; you deserve it."
There was no way he could lie and say he wasn't hungry. Not with his stomach seconding her suggestion. Yet, he stayed for a minute, holding her close. "Did you eat?"
"Oh yeah, Molly brought me something from the kitchen earlier. She wanted to make sure I take good care of myself." Though he couldn't see her face, he could sense Claire rolling her eyes. It made him smile; it was good to know that Ethan and his bastard friends hadn't wiped that independent streak out of his girl.
(My girl? Cripes. Get a grip, Damon. Fast.)
OOC: To be continued . . .
[MB] Reconnecting, continued (tag Claire, open)
Date: 2006-08-24 04:00 am (UTC)"That's not a hint, that's a sledgehammer," Claire teased. She tilted her head and craned her neck a bit to look at him.
Time stopped. Probably only for a split second, if that long, but it felt like an eternity – luminous eyes staring at him, face and lips and mouth so close to his. Megabyte forced himself to breathe, slowly and easily. Out, in, out, in.
"Yeah, well my stomach has always had ways of making itself known and heard." The quip came easily enough; he'd done it for years to survive. Outwardly, he was calm; inwardly, he was quickly unraveling. "I'm going to go grab some breakfast. You … relax. You need it. Drink lots of water. I'll be back as soon as I'm able.
"And if you want to talk, I'm here and willing to listen. You know you can tell me anything, right?" He gave her a gentle squeeze, a sideways hug. Kissed her temple and slowly disentangled himself from the warmth and scent of Claire.
He was almost free when he stopped himself and looked at her again. Sliding his hand into hers, he gave her hand a squeeze. His stomach could wait a minute or two more; Megabyte had to say this. "I'm glad you're okay, Claire. I know that probably sounds really lame considering what you've been through, but … I was worried. About you. About the baby. I was worried that something … that I might not see you again. So, I'm just really, really happy that you're okay."
Megabyte had never been one for deep emotional statements, and this was a clear example of the reason why. But he'd said his piece – and there was more he could have said but didn't dare – even if Claire thought that it was the stupidest thing he could have ever said.
[Claire] Reconnecting, continued (tag MB, open)
Date: 2006-08-24 01:46 pm (UTC)"You big softie. That's got to be the sweetest thing anyone's said to me in.. ack, non-cooperative brain cells," she grumbled, rubbing her forehead with her free hand in an attempt to get rid of the fog, then swatting Damon when it didn't work. "Go on, shoo - get yourself some food before they run out."
Damon jiggled her other hand a little, their fingers still entwined. "I may be needing this."
She knew he was right and she didn't want to keep him from food, but for some reason Claire didn't want to let go. It was bad enough that she'd lost her hug, though the poor guy would probably keel over backwards if he didn't eat soon. One last squeeze and she let go, looking away in embarrassment.
"You'll be back soon, right?" she whispered, suddenly nervous about being in this room without a friendly presence. It might not be that room, but it wasn't far off, and even House had kept it from feeling like something of theirs. There still weren't any windows and it smelled just the same. Maybe he could show her the way outside, to get some fresh air.
"As soon as I'm able," Damon reassured her from across the room, accompanied by the sound of an opening door. "I promise."
"Great," Claire mumbled, though she really was thankful.
Then her head swung back to the door, just before it shut. "Uh, Damon?"
"Yes?" He ducked his head back into the room, looking a little anxious.
Oops, maybe I scared him.
"I, uh, just wanted to say thanks. For what you said before?" Claire blushed again, realising that she should have said this at the time rather than ten minutes later. "It means a lot."
[Megabyte] Reconnecting, continued ([tag optional])
Date: 2006-08-24 05:51 pm (UTC)Somehow he resisted. Barely.
Megabyte gave her a sincere, warm and affectionate smile. "You're welcome."
He left before his mind and mouth could engage and follow-up with a few things that would definitely have made the situation awkward.
Megabyte hurried to the kitchen (http://community.livejournal.com/crossing_lostrp/95272.html?thread=3151912#t3151912), eager to get back to Claire as soon as possible.