Las Vegas, Sunday afternoon

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel had spent most of the past week throwing herself into work and school. It kept her too busy to think about what had happened the previous week.

Today was her first day off since she'd gotten back. Isabel wasn't looking forward to it.

Fortunately obsessive cleaning was a good distraction.

[Expecting a call but open to all. SP through about 8.]

Comments

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*riiiing*

Phone calls were a good distraction too. Well, maybe from other people....

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

It was a good thing Isabel had powers. She'd need them to defend herself from the greasy dust bunny she found when she moved the stove out from the wall.

When the phone rang she debated not answering it for a moment. But finally she picked it up.

"Hello?"

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I know way too much about concealing evidence after this weekend. Tell me something amusing," Parker asked, talking to the ceiling.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I've discovered a new form of life hiding behind my kitchen stove?" Isabel offered, her voice a little more subdued then normal.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. Now, that sounded like Isabel on an avoidance kick.... "Can we merchandise it?" Parker asked idly, considering what it could be. "How's Wyatt?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Wyatt was worried about her. "He's good. He spent last weekend chasing down gargoyles."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Fun for the whole family. I'm guessing. How many did you get?" Because that would make sense, wouldn't it? Possibly?

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Missed out on that bit of fun," she replied. "I had to work."

For a moment Isabel considered leaving it at that, but she knew she wasn't sounding like herself, and knew Parker would pick up on that.

"And then I had to go see Peter in New York."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"How's he doing?" Parker asked, kicking off her shoes, wondering why Isabel sounded more serious to her.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

My wasn't that a rather long pause.

"Not good. He died."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker sat straight up, shocked. "He what?... How?" Maybe not polite, but shock had slammed Parker's manners to the back of her mind.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

There was the long story, and then there was the simpler version. Isabel wasn't sure she could handle the long story tonight.

"Long story short, he picked up the wrong power. He couldn't control it and it killed both him and Nathan."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"God, I'm sorry, Isabel." Parker had only met Peter a couple times while he and Isabel were dating, but knew they'd stayed friends after the break-up. That said something about the guy, especially with Wyatt's possessiveness. "So sorry. Did his family call you or something?"

Please let it be that.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Strangely enough, Wyatt and Peter had always gotten along. "He called me," she said quietly. "Because of his drawings, he thought he knew what was going to happen. He wanted me to stop him."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Stop him... how?" Parker asked, not liking the sound of that at all. "And why you? And, are you okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"How do you stop an exploding man?" Isabel asked before answering her own question. "A single bullet, in the right spot would have stopped him. He asked me because he trusted me." And Isabel let him down.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Isabel," Parker breathed. Yeah. She knew what that was like, having to be ready to do that.... "This is not because of you. You don't know that would have worked, with Peter's powers--- what did happen?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No. I know it's not." At least not Peter. Nathan on the other hand... "It would have worked. Peter was certain about that. I didn't want to know how he was so sure."

"As for what happened, he picked up the stupidest power ever."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Christ. Isabel..." Parker sighed, closed her eyes. "What do you need? Can I do anything?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel shook her head, even though Parker couldn't see it. "No. I'm just keeping myself busy. Not much else to do."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"Come here for a visit," Parker asked. "Next weekend, maybe? Something to take your mind off this, just for a little while."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I can't. I'm working most of the weekend to make up for taking a few days off over Thanksgiving," she explained. "We're supposed to go to LA."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker grimaced. "Damnit." She sighed. "I wish there was more I could do." She remembered how helpless she'd felt when Hamlet died, and Zero had been so bummed. "Is there going to be a funeral, or no?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Not that I know of. And not that I'd expect his mother to call me even if there was." Isabel realized that required a bit more explanation.

"The power he picked up? Was nuclear radiation. Like I said, the most useless power ever. He was going to blow up and take the city with him," Isabel said, remembering. "But Nathan came at the last possible second and they flew off into the sky. I saw the explosion. Neither one of them came back."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker was silent for a long minute, then said, "I'm glad his brother was there. And I'm glad you didn't have to kill him. I know you're blaming yourself--" Because this was Isabel. "But I'm glad you didn't have to do that again." She shook her head, then sighed. "I want to see you before Christmas. Okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

It was everything Wyatt had been telling her, everything she'd been telling herself. It didn't help her feel any better.

"You could always come to Thanksgiving. I'm sure it'll be interesting."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"That's one word for it. Well. Maybe I will. We'll see how crazy things are here." Parker released a slow breath, and said, "Please get some sleep. I'm only guessing you've been avoiding it."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Wyatt will orb you over for the day," Isabel offered. "You an avoid all the airport chaos."

Yes, she was deliberately not mentioning how she was sleeping.

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

And yes, Parker picked up on that.

"That sounds... do-able." It could work. If only as a way to check up on Isabel. "I'll call to confirm it, next week. Okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's a plan. And look at it this way," Isabel said, reaching desperately for a bright side. "It's free entertainment. I'll make sure to make popcorn."

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

"I'm holding you to that," Parker said, keeping her voice light. "I'll bring the marshmallows to throw too."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Good. Thanks Parker."