Saturday Night in the Park

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

She and Ten had gone home. She cleaned up the bed, her clothes, and all the tissues. Everything was fine now thanks to Lily.

She had gotten a call from Chip. They had released him...she had told him to come see her. She explained to Ten that she needed to talk to him. Alone. After dinner she went out into the park and took a seat on a bench overlooking the pond. She waited. He would hopefully come, or call.

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

*from several feet away*

It's me.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She turns to look at him, and she smiles]

You came. Come, sit down.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Are you sure you want me to do that?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Yes, Chip. Come here. [she pats the bench with her hand] Unless you really don't like me anymore...

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

That's not funny. What I did isn't funny. I'm scared to get too close to you.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Chip...[she gets up and walks over to him, putting her hand on his arm]...don't be scared. I'm really not upset with you...and I don't want you to be upset with yourself.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

*flinches* That's generous of you. I don't see how you can say that.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Chip...[sighs]...please come sit next to me. Please don't pull away from me. Tell me...please tell me what happened. That wasn't you yesterday.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Then how come I can remember every moment of it? I don't know what happened.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

OK...you don't know what happened, but something happened. I've never seen even a glimmer of that in you. I don't see it now. All I see is someone being eaten alive by guilt.

I am the paragon of forgiveness, Chip. I don't judge, I don't condemn. Honestly, it wasn't even the worst thing that happened to me yesterday.

No harm, no foul. Will you be my Chip again? [She looks into his eyes] Or would you rather I back off? Treat you like any other student and not one I lo...care about?

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Of course I'm feeling guilty. I am guilty. I held a weapon in my hand and meant to use it on you to end your life. And I remember how that *felt*, to mean to do that. I don't know *why*, but I still remember it.

And I don't know how that's not the worst thing that's ever happened to you yesterday. It's the worst thing that I...

*bites his lip* How come you don't hate me?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She smiles, shrugging her shoulders] I don't hate you because I don't. You weren't yourself...even if you remember it in vivid detail.

And if it's the only thing in your whole life that you ever feel regret over, consider yourself lucky. The only person who really got hurt was you. It broke my heart to have to do that to you. I told you all this at the clinic, while you laid there. I held your hand and petted your hair and...I'm sorry, Chip. I'm sorry I put you there.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

God, don't be sorry about that. Otherwise, I'd really be moping today. You know, except for the part where the Doctor would have dismembered me.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Chip, are you still my boy? I'm really possesive and I need to know.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack looks for something charming to say, witty, suave and mature. But he's too strung to do anything but tell the truth.

I'm yours.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She smiles and whispers] Good...good. [She wraps her arms around him and hugs him, gentle and caring.]

Chip, I know you feel horrible, but that wasn't the worst thing that's happened to me. Yesterday or in my life. I've been shot at, stalked, manipulated, ra-[she breaks off abruptly]...it was just a scare. And if you're mine...really mine...it's all gone. Wiped clean. In my mind, anyhow.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

*is clinging to her* I don't understand you. But I'm so grateful.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

You don't have to understand me, sweetie. Just don't run from me.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

I'm not going anywhere.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She stands there, holding him. She wishes she could tell him everything she's biting back...things you just do not say to a student...or to a teenage boy. Finally...]

Chip, let's sit, ok?

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Okay. The moon's almost full, the sky is clear. It's a good night.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

It is a good night.

[She let's him go from her embrace and walks over to the bench. She stares a the moon's reflection on the still water.]

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

*sits down* *closes his eyes and relaxes*

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Feeling any better about yourself?

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Well, I feel less like hitting myself over the head repeatedly until I feel better. So I must be better.