(no subject)

[starchilde_lost]

Rachel just didn't want to think about Halloween. Ever. Again. Just the image of all those bodies, all her friends, her family, in a pile in the jungle gave her chills. She'd seen massacres before and had never wanted to again and yet there she was, smelling the blood soaking into the ground, hearing the buzz of flies drawn by the blood. The rest of it, too, was something she never wanted to see, but the island had different ideas and now that was an image that was actually keeping her up at night.

She should be sleeping, but her body ached from the fight with Logan and she was still far too wired after having to babysit him and watch Charles get carted off to the clinic. She was actually a little surprised Logan hadn't broken free at some point and gutted her, he'd certainly tried, and while the adrenalin had long ago left her, she was stuck staring at the ceiling after she got home. For hours. Punctuated only by brief sleeping interludes that ended with her jerking awake, trying not to scream. Somewhere around dawn she managed to drift off for good, tossing and turning, but finally getting some shut-eye.

Which had been her mistake. She should have just stayed up.

They'd both been worried about Halloween, but Rachel and Aidan both knew they'd be more useful split up for the day. Rachel could check on her friends, fight if needed, Aidan could pitch in at the Clinic. They'd agreed on a place and a time to meet the next day so that they'd know the other was okay. At least that had been the plan. A plan that was completely screwed now that Rachel had pretty much slept through the meeting. Running out of her door, she knew that even if she ran the whole way flat-out, she was going to be hopelessly late.

She had to hope Aidan would stick around and not panic. Seriously, she was going to hunt Stark down and make him build a damn phone system for the island if it was the last thing she did.

Comments

[starchilde_lost]

He had no idea. She couldn't wait to spring the family tree on him. ALL of it. Alternate time lines, time travel, clones, if that didn't send him screaming, nothing would.

Going back to her lunch, her brow wrinkled. "Swimming? You want to go swimming?" She took a bite or two while she waited for him to give her an answer. The last thing she wanted today was activity.

[likesthestooges]

"More like... I want to just float in the water and not think."

Not thinking would be good. It wasn't something he could manage often, centuries full of worries and thoughts stuck in his head, but he felt physically and mentally exhausted enough that he could maybe give it a try.

[starchilde_lost]

She remembered to swallow so she didn't talk with a mouthful of food. "Mmmmm, that might be nice. I might just find a spot in the sun and soak it up." Yeah, that could be really nice. Lay out, close her eyes and just... drift.

[likesthestooges]

"I think a massage also might be in your future," he said with a grin and leaned close. He knew she was trying to eat but he didn't want to stop being close to her. It felt too much like her being alright was too good to be true.

[starchilde_lost]

"A massage, huh?" She pushed the plate forward. She'd eaten enough, she didn't want to overdo it while she was still this tired. Besides, it was much nicer to snuggle up with Aidan at this point. Not that she'd admit that. Well, she might, but she might not. It was a toss-up that she didn't want to think about when she was addled like this.

"A regular massage, or one of those massages you use as an excuse to get me out of my clothes and onto a bed?"

[likesthestooges]

Aidan sighed happily as she leaned into him, glad for the closeness. Leaning in he took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of her along with the feel. She was here and real and with him.

"Anything you want. Whatever you want you can have it."

[starchilde_lost]

"Aidan McCollin, don't you know those are words you never say to your girlfriend?" She poked him in the side, teasing, but it was nice to hear. It was nice to be cared for in just about any meaning of the term. Comfort wasn't something she found often or even took when it was offered, but with Aidan, yeah, she could let herself crumble a little - or a lot.

[likesthestooges]

"Rachel Grey, don't you know it's acceptable to say when she deserves it?" he asked, giving her a crooked grin as he squirmed away from her for a moment. He was glad to see her mood improving. He didn't expect it to suddenly be sunshine and rainbows, but having her tease him was an improvement.

[starchilde_lost]

Stifling a yawn, Rachel didn't let Aidan squirm too far away. Not when he was warm and soft and cuddly and... "We should probably get moving if we're going to check on everyone before I pass out again." Because she could. She'd eaten, she knew Aidan was okay, not one had come looking for her to report any deaths, and the booth was starting to feel an awful lot like a really hard bed.

[likesthestooges]

"You're right. Let's go check on our friends and then get some rest," he said, reluctantly pulling away from her and out of the booth. He was exhausted too, but it was easier to ignore that exhaustion when he was being strong for someone else.

[starchilde_lost]

With a somewhat exaggerated groan, Rachel followed, sliding her arm around his waist as soon as she was standing. A little clingy? Yeah, but she wasn't going to stop any time soon. Not after the day before and probably not for awhile.

"We'll do a circle, then out to my place, yeah?"

[likesthestooges]

"It's a plan," he said with a nod, putting an arm around her shoulder. He didn't mind the clingy at all and wanted her to know that. It was actually comforting.