oom: room 25, millitimed to halloween night

[scurlock]

Doc leads the way up the stairs to his room, Katherine trailing behind him (because this way, he's not tempted to check her out) and while he's expecting both of their costumes to disappear...they don't. So he opens the door to his room, which has been cleaned up nicely since the last time she was in it.

The bed is made, the weapons are all put away, his desk still looks like a bit of a disaster area (but that's to be expected, given the books and papers and the fact that he's been writing a lot lately) but it's generally a lot better than it was last time.

"I got somethin' you can wear," he tells her. "Let me get it and then I'll run back down and get us somethin' for dinner."

He rifles through the dresser for some drawstring pants, socks, a t-shirt and a button down, all of them getting put on the polished surface, next to those folded paper cranes. "You may have t'roll the sleeves up a bit," he apologizes. "But that should work."

Comments

[scurlock]

"It's beautiful," he says. "Y'should wear it down more often."

Of course, there were Rules about how one would wear their hair and dress. Only certain types of women wore their hair down, and she was definitely not one of those types.

[ikissdhimbck]

No, she most definitely is not. Which might explain the soft blush on her face.

"Th-thank you," she murmurs, a bit shyly. She moves to tuck it back behind her ears yet again.

"Did-did you want to get changed yourself? You've been sitting here in that getup all night, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to put something more comfortable on."

[scurlock]

Doc looks at the outfit he's wearing, the black t-shirt and the black jeans, and the black boots. "Yeah, I probably should," he admits. "I could use a shower. You be alright for a little while if I grab one and get changed? I came in the bar fresh off chores out in the stables."

It'll give her time to explore his room.

[ikissdhimbck]

She nods.

"Of course. Take your time."

[scurlock]

"I will," he says. "And hey, maybe if I'm lucky, Bar will give me my hair back early."

Doc leans down to unlace the boots (which are your typical black stompy combat boots, laced up to the middle of his shins, so it takes a minute before he kicks both of them off and then picks them up and pads across the room to drop them near the door.

"I think I got some readin' material on the desk," and by that he means dime novels, given the smirk on his features. "If y'want." Then he grabs his clothes and heads into the bathroom to shower and change.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Thank you," she chuckles, as he gathers his things and steps into the bathroom.

She sits for a moment longer, taking a deep, cleansing breath, and stretching her tired muscles. She rubs absently at her forehead and takes the time to think about everything that's happened over the last twenty-four hours.

(The memory of the kiss makes her blush.)

She moves slowly about the room after a while: fingering the literature, but not picking it up; glancing at the poems and papers on Doc's desk, but not really reading them. She steps to the dresser and pokes at the paper cranes. The new, orange one holds her attention. She picks it up, wondering what the significance is for him.

She doesn't quite set it back straight, when she's done looking at it.

Eventually, she just ends up right back where she started, legs curled underneath her and head leaned back on the couch. She closes her eyes for only a minute.

Just a minute.

And falls into a fitful sleep.

[scurlock]

When Doc returns from his shower, his hair still how it was when he went in, but he's cleaned and changed into more comfortable clothes (a long sleeved cotton shirt and sweatpants) and his feet are bare.

He notices she's asleep on the couch and folds his clothes, putting them aside quietly, eyes on her. He notices the orange crane moved ever-so-slightly, and his eyes focus on it a moment before he glances back at her.

"Y'are gonna kill your neck sleepin' on that couch," he mutters, to himself, before he walks over and tries to figure out just how light she's sleeping.

(Because he's so going to pick her up and put her in bed.)

[ikissdhimbck]

She's sleeping pretty light, as might be evidenced by the fact that her breathing is a little fast and uneven, rather than slow and steady.

Her brow is furrowed lightly, and given the way her hands are clutched into fists, one might be able to ascertain that she's not sleeping all that peacefully.

(So one shouldn't worry about waking her up on accident.)

[scurlock]

Doc puts his hand on her shoulder.

"Kate," he whispers. "Darlin'."

Her having a sore neck tomorrow is not what she needs, given the circumstances. She needs sleep, a good breakfast, and then another nap, and then lunch. And then another nap, before dinner.

[ikissdhimbck]

She starts when he touches her, jolting awake. She's looking at him through a haze, so it takes a minute or two for her blue eyes to focus.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, swallowing the thickness in her mouth.

"Wasn't tryin' to fall asleep."

[scurlock]

"I know, but you're exhausted...you're gonna put a crick in your neck sittin' on the couch like that. Least lie down with me?"

One hand brushes over her face gently.

[ikissdhimbck]

She's too tired to argue.

(Or notice the way the invitation included himself.)

She nods almost imperceptibly.

"All right."

[scurlock]

He offers her his hands to get up off the couch.

(The man can be proper and still be there as a friend.)

[ikissdhimbck]

She sucks in a deep breath, blinking away her tiredness, before accepting the proffered hands and hauling herself upright.

She takes a minute to steady herself on her feet.

[scurlock]

Doc notices that too, but merely inclines his head towards the bed.

"C'mon. Ain't far," he adds.

And I've got you, is implied.

[ikissdhimbck]

"All right," she murmurs, in response to both the words and the implication.

She doesn't let go of his hand as they walk the short distance to his bed.

She hesitates before lying herself down, not knowing whether he wants on the inside or the out, since the bed is snug in that corner. But she's not sure how to ask him that.

[scurlock]

The bed is big enough that he can get past her and flop down on the far side near the wall without her having to ask, and he only has to uncover a few books and a notebook and toss them towards the foot of the bed before he can get comfortable.

"Y'can go ahead and get under the covers," he says. "I'll take this," he motions at the quilt that's folded at the end of the bed, and he lies down on top of the blankets as he drags it over himself.

It might be a little chilly, but, he'll live.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Aren't you gonna be cold?" she asks softly, brow creased with worry.

[scurlock]

"Well...I..."

Doc looks at her. Looks at the quilt. Technically there are more layers between them than the last time she slept on him in the infirmary, so...

"Alright."

He slips under the first blanket and tosses the quilt over them both, but there's still a blanket and sheet between them.

(It seems Doc has made himself a nest.)

[ikissdhimbck]

She still looks a bit worried, but the added blanket appeases her some.

She settles down into the bed a bit stiffly.

It's strange being in someone else's room. Even more strange that it's Doc's room, and he's currently lying beside her.

She's still a little anxious, not quite wanting to allow herself to drift off. Being in the room with someone else has only intensified those feelings.

So she lays there, very still, eyes open to the ceiling.

[scurlock]

Doc shifts, slowly, getting closer until she's close enough that she can rest her head on his shoulder.

"I am right here," he reminds her. "And I will be here all night. I'm not leavin'."

This is so many levels of wrong if you looked at society but he doesn't care.

[ikissdhimbck]

She swallows nervously, head shifting on the pillow until her face is turned towards him, almost resting against his shoulder, but too afraid to close the distance between them.

"I know," she whispers, nodding slowly. Her blue eyes are focused on his green ones.

"I just don't want to give you a fright, if I dream again. Sometimes I get to thrashing."

[scurlock]

"You won't," Doc says. "And I don't mind. You want me to wake you up if you're in the middle of another dream or would y'rather me let you sleep? I know sometimes gettin' woke up can be worse."

So he moves a little closer, then pulls her to him, in a hug of sorts.

"I've had my share of nightmares," he adds. "I'm used to it."

[ikissdhimbck]

Her stomach goes in knots when he draws her to him, but she doesn't pull away. Her head falls against his shoulder now, in that embrace, her hands resting on the sheets and blankets between their bodies. After a time she can feel the heat from his chest pulsing through.

"Y'can wake me," she murmurs, face nuzzled against his throat. "I usually wake up, anyhow. But it ain't... it isn't pleasant."

She's starting to relax, though. The warmth and solidity of his body is a reassuring comfort.

[scurlock]

One of his hands moves to cover one of hers on his chest.

"Alright. I will."

Doc smiles a little and settles a bit more on the bed, keeping close and knowing that she's relaxing a little. That's all he wants. That, and her to sleep soundly for a little while.