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Post by The Fixer on Mar 10, 2016 21:04:40 GMT -5
She whimpers the instant he touches her. Stifling another scream as she blinks rapidly at the command is his voice. Tears still streaming down her face she blinks rapidly again, shaking now. She looks at him, her right hand flying to cover her mouth, her left in a death grip on the blanket pulled up to her throat. Forgetting all about the gun she stashed under the pillow that is halfway down the bed. She looks at him again and whispers "Lawrence?" Touching his arm with shaking fingers like she's still trying to figure out if she's dreaming. She utterly shatters. Hugging herself and sobbing and somehow clinging to reality through the shaking hand now white-knuckle gripping his arm. "I'm sorry", she whispers through the sobs.
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 10, 2016 21:29:36 GMT -5
With a sigh of relief he sits on the side of the bed. "I'm here, everything is alright" he says quietly. He notes that she has quite the "kung-fu grip" as it were. Pulling her closely he places her head on his chest, holds her with his left arm and with his right hand strokes her hair. He gently rocks her repeating, "It's alright, you're alright."
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 10, 2016 21:54:19 GMT -5
She lets herself be gathered and comforted. Hearing his heartbeat helps her calm her own. The shudders still persist but the sobbing is letting up. She starts taking slow, measured breaths while he keeps stroking her hair. The fact that he's comforting her instead of leaving her alone helps her let it go. The dream is old, from lifetimes ago. She knows it came because she hasn't slept. She knows it will come again sometime in the future when she's forgotten about this time. She's a little embarrassed that it is happening now, with this relative stranger and the mission, but knows that there's nothing she can do about it. She closes her eyes a moment to let the comfort wash over her. It is the one thing she needs now more than ever. It has been so long since there had been someone to comfort her. Sighing deeply, she takes a deep cleansing breath, letting the last of the shudders out. She takes one more deep breath, sinking into the comfort he offers just a little longer before pulling back to look up at him. "Thank you and I'm sorry to scare you." Wiping her tear stained cheeks with her hands she sits up to wrap her arms around her knees, pulling them close. "I don't always know when that will happen. I'm sorry to scare you and I'm not ready to talk about it." Sniffling and shutting off the second crying jag threatening to start. She looks at Lawrence and offers a quiet pull of the corners of her lips in an attempt to show him she's ok now. She knows sleep will come now. Dark and empty. She also knows they both need it. And badly. She's shown him her weakness and owes him an explanation, eventually. For now knowing there is someone else to do the protecting is enough for her to ask "Lawrence, could you stay here with me? At least until I'm asleep again?"
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 10, 2016 22:15:08 GMT -5
"Alright." he says. As she lies back down he gently covers her with the blanket. Stepping back outside he brings in a chair and sets it down right across from her. He slides it close to the bedside and sits down. "Rest now. I'll watch over you."
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 10, 2016 22:25:51 GMT -5
Hearing him leave the room she watches him bring the chair back in. Smiling a little she closes her eyes and drops into sleep like a stone. Beyond tired far enough that no dreams can come. She sleeps knowing for this night, for the next few hours, someone will be there with her.
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 10, 2016 22:37:03 GMT -5
With Clue seemingly sleeping soundly Lawrence leans back in the chair. The adrenaline from the sudden wake up is starting to fade and he begins to shiver. Looking down at her he can't help but notice how lovely she is when she sleeps. He lightly pushes a lock of hair from her face and gently places it behind her ear. He wonders to himself what must have happened to her to make her react this way. "She is strong, but also fragile." He muses. Time passes slowly and before long Lawrence's eyes grow heavy. Checking to ensure she is well asleep he quietly rises and slips back out to his place on the floor. Along the way he retrieves the Webley and returns it to the place by his head. The old rucksack cradles his head and he curls up on the cold floor. After getting comfortable he instantly is thrust into unconsciousness.
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 11, 2016 8:47:03 GMT -5
[6 hours later]
The sunlight streams in through the small window in the room. The birds are singing outside, oblivious to the nefarious activities going on in the world. Someone shouts a good morning down the street. Groggy from crying, and only 6 hours of sleep, she sits bolt upright in bed, having not remembered where she was, grabbing the gun tucked under her pillow at the same time. Slowly investigating the room, her mind finally snaps awake, remembering the last 24 hours. Seeing the gun in her hand, she scoffs at herself a little, but puts it on the side table. Yawning and stretching, she swings her feet to the floor, quietly. There is a chair to be moved, but no person resting in it. She pauses to wonder where he could be. Taking a few moments to properly stretch out her body, and realizing that the dream last night has produced a very mild headache, she walks, light of foot, to the bathroom, to take the aspirin she thoughtfully picked up last night. Humming to herself, she peers into the mirror and thinks "We'll have to do something with those puffy eyes. Can't have us looking like a marshmallow, now can we?. She sets about righting her complexion, eyes, and teeth. Still humming, she returns to the room, quietly moving around to dress for what should be an interesting day, and fixing the room. Completing her tasks, she nimbly steps to the door, barely making a sound to open it, in search of Lawrence. Resting on the door jam, she sees him laying on the floor, still asleep. Taking a moment, she looks down on him, thinking "He rests, but not soundly. He looks haunted by something." Careful not to wake him, she leaves the door open. Setting in the chair, she pulls out her file and begins to read.
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 11, 2016 9:04:22 GMT -5
Feeling the vibrations in the wooden floor Lawrence stirs a bit and peeks through a mostly closed eye-lid. Seeing Clue sitting in the other room working through her file he decided to try and sleep a few moments longer. As he began to slip back down the slope into slumber he began to dream. Smells, sights, sounds, all returned. So do the confusion and fear. The heat felt palpable to him. Soon he begins to fidget and finally he snaps awake. "Ugh!" he grunts sitting up quickly. Rubbing his face he gives up on the possibility of sleeping any further. Standing to his feet he instantly feels the soreness in his back for having slept on the floor. "Mornings like these I miss the sand." he thinks to himself. Taking a moment to stretch he begins to feel better. Walking into the room where Clue is sitting, he sits down on the edge of the bed. "Hey you, get any sleep last night?" he asks cheerily.
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 11, 2016 9:14:12 GMT -5
She looks up from the file and notes she's spread about the floor, to smile at him and responds cheerfully, "I did, thank you!" "It appears to be a lovely day, and I can smell bagels from the bakery around the corner. Did you sleep well?"
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 11, 2016 9:22:27 GMT -5
"Slept well enough." he says rubbing his bruised left arm. "It does smell delicious out there. While you are working why don't I get dressed, head down to the bakery and retrieve some breakfast? What would you like?" he quizzes, rising to his feet.
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 11, 2016 9:25:39 GMT -5
"How lovely! I think I need a walk though, so, if you don't mind, I'd love to accompany you down. A gorgeous day like this, I want to get in a little fresh air before we dig into some of all this." She gestures to the organized chaos of her file. "Plus, it will give me a change in venue to try and make sense of some of all of this."
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 11, 2016 9:40:52 GMT -5
"Of course!" he says delighted. "Let me step out and get ready." Closing the bedroom door he rummages through the various items purchased the night before. Choosing the white t shirt, blue/grey button down, jeans and brown oxfords he dresses quickly. He also pulls out one of the caps he managed to sneak into the shopping experience the night before. Pulling his army issue watch from the rucksack he has a look at himself in the mirror. Startled by his appearance in something other than a uniform or Arab dress for the first time in two years. "I think she will approve." he says confidently. He then steps into the bathroom to finish washing up and getting put together. Knocking at the bedroom door he says, "Ready when you are."
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 11, 2016 9:53:56 GMT -5
Laughing at his very proper manners, and enjoying the refresh of someone who understands them, she opens the door to the bedroom. Using a critical eye to look him up and down, she smiles brightly, letting it reach her eyes. "Well done, sir! How smart you look!" Grabbing her Red Hat (also snuck in at the store last night) and bag, and checking herself briefly in the mirror to make sure her white shirt is crisp and arranged with her jeans, and hell-raiser boots, she takes his offered arm and they set off.
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Post by W.R. Lawrence on Mar 11, 2016 10:32:58 GMT -5
Making their way down the crowded street Lawrence kept his head moving. Constantly assessing each person that crossed their path. So entranced in his duty he nearly walked past the bakery. Noting his attention is all around them Clue tugs him into the bakery. His senses are assaulted by multiple delicious sights and smells. The smell of fresh baguettes, bagels, croissants and rolls with some sort of sweet smelling glaze. As they find a spot in the queue he decides on a good old fashioned bagel with cream cheese. He looks over at Clue who is busily deciding what she wants. She still has a loose grip on his left arm and for a moment he just enjoys being there with her. To the world around them they looked just like a normal couple. The cold feeling of steel in his back as the Webley shifts reminds him that they are definitely not on holiday even though it looks that way. Making it up to the front of the line he places his order, the clerk then looks at Clue and asks, "And for the lady?"
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Post by The Fixer on Mar 11, 2016 10:52:52 GMT -5
The bakery is heavenly! The smells, mouth-watering and intoxicating. She knows it's a slippery slope down a long ravine in a place like this. Standing in the queue, arm in arm with Lawrence, she is lost in the choices, and the indulgence of appearing quite normal to all those around. Having vaguely heard Lawrence speaking, she's still looking around, and doesn't immediately here the clerk ask what she'd like.
Blushing at the fact that she's caught not paying attention, she spies a glorious, gorgeous, huge tray of blueberry scones cooling. She says to the clerk "The Blueberry Scone with a dollop of butter, clotted cream and blueberry preserve please." Trying not to salivate over the rest of the shop, she looks at Lawrence and asks, "Do you want to sit outside at that little bistro table to eat?"
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