oom for doc, kate, and esfir - kate's room upstairs in milliways

[scurlock]

[follows this]

She's peaceful.

Doc stays awake once Kate has fallen asleep, choosing to watch over her and keep 'guard' instead of getting his own rest. He's not particularly tired, even after not getting any sleep the night before thanks to the conversation with Bill. His mind is alert, and awake - yet his thoughts wander, and time passes without him really knowing how long it's been.

Approximately a half-hour after she's drifted off, he decides to fetch the tea he promised earlier. It won't take long to run downstairs and make a quick stop at Bar.

When he moves from the bed, he's careful not to jostle the mattress or make a sound as he pads across the room to the desk. He pens a note and leaves it beside the one from Esfir, just in case Kate wakes while he's gone:

Getting tea. I'll be right back. - J

He continues on through the room and unlocks the door without making a sound. The only noise that echoes faintly is the click of the door being unlocked, and then he steps into the hallway--




-- and nearly into Esfir.

A pause.




"Good timin' or what?"

Comments

[aimedforthemoon]

So Esfir waits.

[ikissdhimbck]

And eventually:







"I have no answers for you, Fira. I have nothin' that'll satisfy us both."

[aimedforthemoon]

"But you heard everything I said? And you will think about it, without going down the self-hatred route again?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She nods.

[aimedforthemoon]

"Good. Because it doesn't help. And...I don't actually care how you work it out, I just...I want you to start thinking again, instead of reacting.

[ikissdhimbck]

you cannot just run around and kill people and steal from them






"I'll see what I can do."

[aimedforthemoon]

Esfir watches her. That was not a 'yes, I will think about it practically', which was...what she was after. Or something close. At least on the same scale.

[ikissdhimbck]

She's still reeling after everything Esfir has said thus far; practicality and sensibleness aren't exactly on the menu.

She's worn out. She's frustrated.

And she just hasn't really thought about it. Any of it.


"S'that all?"

[aimedforthemoon]

"I'll want to talk to you about Doc. But later. For now...promise me you'll think about it."

[ikissdhimbck]

She flinches.






"I'll think 'bout it."

[aimedforthemoon]

"Thank you," she breathes out, obviously relieved.

[ikissdhimbck]

She nods once, though the motion is so slight it's barely noticeable.

[aimedforthemoon]

Esfir leans over, and reaches out to curl her fingers around Kate's. "I'll go while you sort it out?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She doesn't lift her head, though she does cut her eyes over to their hands.

Another slight nod.

(She doesn't really want Esfir to go -- there is still so much that remains unsaid between them -- but she does need time to think.)

[aimedforthemoon]

"You know where to find me, later." Getting to her feet, she squeezes Kate's hand and then lets go.

"Take care, Katyushka."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Thank you."

[aimedforthemoon]

"I'm your friend."

And with that, and without anything else to say, Esfir shuts the door behind her. Quietly.

[scurlock]

It stays quiet in the room for several long moments, before there is a gentle knock on the door - before it opens, and Doc peers his head carefully into the room.

Esfir is gone, and Kate is on the chair beside the window, staring out the glass with a distant look in her eyes.

Obviously they're done talking, but...




The tea is placed on the table, before he makes his way over slowly.

"...Kate?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She's poised on the back of the armchair, with one arm around her knees. Her other arm is resting, bent, with her hand at her neck.

A few strands of hair around her face and neck are visibly damp with sweat, her forehead resting against the cool pane of glass as she peers out the window. It's bright and warm outside, and she can just see the lake's edge from her room; light dances off the water and dazzles her eyes -- and makes her head hurt -- but she doesn't look away.

[scurlock]

He frowns when she doesn't respond, or look away from the view out her window, but he still moves closer towards the arm chair.

When he's close enough, he gently touches her elbow - the one on the arm around her knees - and runs his fingertips over her shirt in what is an almost natural soothing instinct.

"Darlin'?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"Hi."

It's not a very enthusiastic welcome back, but it is an acknowledgment, at least.

She trembles slightly at his touch.

[scurlock]

He knows that Esfir was angry - just the sight of the pilot was enough to tell him that - but he's not sure just what was said during their 'talk'.

And obviously if it did this...

"Hey."

He's not going to push her to tell him what happened, not when he can tell she's upset.

"I'm here."



It means more than just the physical.

[ikissdhimbck]

"I'm tired."

Her voice is completely toneless and even as she speaks. She doesn't tear her attention away from the window for even a second.

"Think I'll lay back down. Why don't you go on and go?"

[scurlock]

"You sound tired," he agrees.

She looks lost.

Doc lightly pulls in a breath as he runs through the options that flit through his mind. Leaving isn't really one of them - especially with her in a state like this.

"I haven't got any obligations."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Beaut could use some mindin'. Don't think I'll be makin' it out t'see her t'day."