Wednesday Afternoon

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Having gotten her purse back, when she is done talking to Spider, she heads home. Stepping into the TARDIS, she kicks off her shoes and goes into the kitchen to make some food. She clips her iPod onto the hip of Tara's skirt and hums and dances around as she cuts vegetables for steaming. She wondered if she would see Ten...or if he couldn't stand to see her at all...

Hmm, hmm, hmmmm, hmm, hmm, hmmmmmm
Like a heartbeat...drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost...
And what you had...
And what you lost
Thunder only happens when it's raining

Comments

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He's home, actually. He came home right after class and is taking a nap...until he wakes up. The TARDIS is soundproof, but definitely not scent-proof, and he smells cooked carrots. the Doctor actually LIKES those...ew.

After a moment of panic, he composes himself.]

Remember what Beka said. Be there for her.

[So he gets up and puts on his glasses, and wanders down the corridor, very slowly, until he peers around the kitchen doorframe.]


((I hate you. Going to dinner, back later.))

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She's stirring carrots, pepperes, zucchini, and onions on the stove. Her hips sway and her skirt swings loosely against her legs.

She replaces the lid and moves back to the counter to cut up bread. She spreads herb butter mixed with parmesan cheese on the slices and lays them on a pan to toast in the oven.

She doesn't notice anyone watching her.

She keeps singing]


((Hate me? But why? [is innocent]))

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He hates to disturb her, but it looks like she's not going to notice unless he says, rather loudly, but in a nice tone...]

CJ?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She pulls the buds out of her ears and turns toward him. She smiles wide and breathes in a little]

You're here. And...you're here...

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Aye, of course I'm here. [He smiles, slightly awkward but in such a cute way.] Where else would I be, eh?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I'm just...happy to see you. [She turns quickly back to the food on the stove] Did you sleep well?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Just now, yes. [quieter] Last night...not so much.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Me either. I went with Tara and she only has the one bed. She wriggles a lot and is...vocal...when she sleeps. But it was really kind of her to take me in. [She doesn't look at him]

I lost my purse after the bar fight and couldn't get back in. In fact, I couldn't even find the TARDIS.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He hadn't realised it was that bad.] ...I'm sorry.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[very quietly] I thought you had taken it and left.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[also quietly] Never.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Ten...[she turns to him]...would you come here?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He walks over to her, shuffling just a bit because he is still wearing fluffy slippers.] Aye?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Will you....kiss me?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Gently, carefully, he takes her face in his hands and kisses her, long and slow.]

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She wraps her arms around his waist, returning the kiss and holding him close. Breaking it, finally, she looks into his eyes]

I love you. You know that?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He looks back at her and nods.] Yeah. I do.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[Her chest tightens and her arms drop] But...I've ruined everything, haven't I?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He looks at her like she's gone mad.] You haven't ruined everything. Not at all.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Beka and Tara said it would all be better today. Sober. Away from it.

[She crosses to the oven and pulls out the bread]

I just don't know how to find a balance between what I want and what we need.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He sits down at the table.] Neither do I, exactly. I suppose...I think that we can be together, be near each other, and still work it out.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She pulls out two plates and dishes out the vegetables, placing two slices of the toast on each plate. She sets one in front of him, then hands him a fork. When she gets her own fork she sits across from him]

Do you believe that? Really? Because...I can't go. I can't leave. It would...I can't.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Thank you, love. [He sniffs the food and smiles briefly.] You didn't have to make enough for me.

[Then he looks her in the eye.] Yes. I believe it. [It takes a moment for him to speak.] I don't want you to go.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She looks relieved and relaxes a bit]

Good.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He starts to eat.] I...this is hard...I was so lonely without you.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

I know it's hard. I just...[bites her bread and stares at him while she chews]

I need to be myself. I'm not used to being taken care of.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He looks up at her.] What can I do to help you do that?

...I'm already getting out of the hero business for now.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Hero is fine. My saviour is not. Just, I don't know. Let me stumble. Let me fall. Let me pick myself back up. Be my friend and my lover...not my dad.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I will, CJ. I promise.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

And what do you need from me? This isn't all about my problems. You said you agreed...so there must be something.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He thinks for a moment.] I need you to tell me how you feel, when it comes up. I need you to watch your back--this place is dangerous.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

You think I'm naive. That I don't get it. But I do. I just...I can only handle so much at one time.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Then tell me. Please. I get worried.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

You want to know what I'm scared of? In this town?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Aye, I do.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She pushes her vegetables around with her fork. Not looking at him]

I'm scared of some of the students. I'm scared of some of the teachers. I'm scared of some of the people in town.

However...[she looks up]...I'm not stupid and I know how to work things. I'm scared of teachers and students? Viola, Bristow and Spider and I have excellent working relationships. The town? Well, it seems I always find my friends, and there isn't a business I can't go into without finding someone I trust.

And if it comes down to it, I can fight. I found that out about myself with Jack.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[What exactly can one say to that?]
Good.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Do you really think so?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He looks at her.]
I want you to like yourself, CJ. I want you to be tough and badass and able to do all the things you want to. Otherwise...you're not happy, and I'm not happy.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

And you're all right with this? It doesn't...bother you? Scare you?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He sets down his fork and looks her straight in the eyes, with a 'you've GOT to be kidding me' expression on his face.] That you can handle yourself? Of course it doesn't bother me or scare me.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

That I won't need you to...save me. That's ok?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

It...it scares me that you might be in trouble like that. That's what scares me. It scares me if it's something neither of us could handle. And I can learn to live with my fear.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

I think if we're together we could handle anything. Even if it means hiding in here. [She gives a shy smile]

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He extends a hand across the table, reaching for hers.] Aye.