Post fear-toxin, locked to shane_mcc for now

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe sits on the sidewalk outside of Spike's Pub, trying to calm herself down as she waits for Shane. Although she can't shake the still-increasing feeling of being enclosed, she feels a little bit better outside than she did trapped in the pub.

Comments

[mycanonhatesme]

"Are you sure? I don't want to keep you here. It's late," Chloe says, trailing off quietly as she leans back in to rest her head on Shane's shoulder.

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"I promise, it's totally cool," Shane says again, reaching up to gently stroke Chloe's hair. "I'll stay here as long as you need me to. Deb let me go for the night; it's no problem."

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe lets out a little groan, frowning. "You were at work when I called? I'm so sorry."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"It's okay," Shane says, her voice as soft and soothing as it was just a moment ago, only not there are faint notes of amusement drifting through it. "You're just lucky I forgot to take my phone out of my pocket."

[mycanonhatesme]

"I don't know if I'd call myself lucky tonight," Chloe remarks. If only she hadn't decided to get a drink before going back to the dorm. Damn it. "But I guess I am lucky that I got a hold of you, and that you were willing to come."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Of course I was willing," Shane says, fingers still carefully carding through her hair. "Why wouldn't I be?"

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe leans in a little more towards Shane's hand, enjoying the nice feeling of being physically comforted. "I don't know. Because it's so late? Because I sounded so stupidly scared?"

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"That's why I knew I had to come," she says, faint amusement still coloring her words. "Did you really think I was gonna say no after that? I mean, I know you don't know me very well yet, Chloe, but... c'mon..."

[mycanonhatesme]

"I don't know. I mean, I didn't think you would say no. Not completely. You seem too kind for that." She smiles at Shane. "That's why I called you."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Well, I'm glad you did," Shane says, returning the smile. "How are you feeling? Is it getting any better?"

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe nods. She's breathing easier, her vision seems to be clearing, and she's not nearly as afraid as she was a little while ago. "It is, yeah. I feel better."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Good," Shane says encouragingly as she smiles, rubbing Chloe's arm. "That's good. Keep drinking your water, just in case... I don't know if that's helping any, but it can't hurt, right?"

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe laughs softly and takes a big sip of the water, just for Shane. "No, I guess it can't. And it probably is helping." She leans against Shane again, thankful for the warm contact. "Thank you. Again. I think I'm going to be saying that for a while. Hope you don't mind."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"No," Shane murmurs, resting her head against Chloe's as she keeps rubbing her arm, though she still sounds a little shy as she says it. "You can say thank you all you want, just ... ummm, don't say 'you're my hero' or anything? Please?"

[mycanonhatesme]

"Not even once?" Chloe asks, a lightly teasing tone in her voice. "Just to get it out of my system?"

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"You did that earlier," Shane says, grinning, her own tone playfully apologetic.

[mycanonhatesme]

"Damn, I did, didn't I? Well fine, I won't say it. But I might be thinking it. You'll just never know now." Chloe smirks.

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's cool," she says, chuckling. After a moment, she gives Chloe a curious look. "What did you mean, earlier, when you said you were tired of getting rescued?"

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe sighs softly, looking down and picking at the grass distractedly. "I'm probably the only person at school who's actually averaging fewer life-or-death situations per week than I did at my last school. I've been in a lot of situations that required being rescued. I thought I was finally getting to the point where I could save myself, but I guess not."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"You can do it, Chloe," Shane says quietly, hand coming to rest on her back, smoothing slowly back and forth. "This just kinda took you by surprise... that's all."

[mycanonhatesme]

Shane's hand feels really nice, and in any other situation, Chloe would probably be purring right about now. For now, she settles for giving Shane a soft smile, trying to make herself relax more. "This was definitely a surprise. At least we had some warning with the zombies."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, totally," Shane agrees. She thinks about what it was like, standing at the door at Deb's, watching as the first shadows fell along the empty street and barely suppresses a shudder. "They showed up in town, first, and I tried to call somebody at the school, but the phones were all fucked - otherwise you would have known a lot sooner."

[mycanonhatesme]

"Well, I speak for all the students when I say thank you for your efforts," Chloe replies, unsure if knowing sooner would have made a difference in the long run of the zombie fight. "I'm just so glad everyone ended up being all right."

[shane-mcc.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, me too," Shane says, her voice faint even to her own ears.

Physically, at least, everyone was all right. Her mind couldn't help but remind her, though, of the other things that the zombies had destroyed, besides property and peace of mind for so many people on the island. Like the new and painfully fragile relationship she'd been trying to build with Rogue.

[mycanonhatesme]

Chloe frowns at the tone of Shane's voice, and shifts closer to her in an attempt at being comforting. "Shane? Are you okay? I didn't mean to bring up a bad subject, I'm sorry."