Room 406, Saturday Evening

[izzyalienqueen]

	After getting Isabel's call that she was ready to come home, Bel shimmered to the Hyperion to pick her up. Angel wasn't around to his disappointment, but he did his best to cover it and helped Isabel with her suitcase. "The second time you shimmer is easier than the first," he said, grinning at her. "You shouldn't get as nauseous this time." He held out his hand to Isabel; when she took it, he shimmered them both to her dorm room in Fandom.
	Isabel looked around her room with relief. Letting go of Bel's hand, she sat down on her bed, wincing as the souveniers of her trip to LA made themselves felt. "Thanks," she said quietly. "It's good to be home."
	Bel saw her wince and frowned. "You okay?" he asked, looking her over in concern.
	"A little battered and bruised," Isabel said, trying to brush it off. "He wasn't exactly a warm and fuzzy demon. And he definitely didn't appreciate us trying to stop him."
	"Demon?" Bel repeated. "You went up against a demon? And Angel let you get hurt?" He scowled, more out of helplessness that he hadn't been there to help than out of any real anger with Angel.
	"He needed my help," Isabel explained. "There was a...Gah, I can never pronounce it's name. But it was demon that was killing people in their dreams. Angel needed me to do my thing, to get him into the potential victims' heads so that he could stop him." She shuddered, remembering what she'd seen in the demon inspired nightmares. "That meant I had to go along with him."
	"He should've protected you better then," Bel grumbled. "Did you vanquish the demon? Is Angel okay?"
	"He was otherwise occupied dealing with this nasty little critter the demon conjured up out of the girl's fears," Isabel said with a sigh. "That was when the demon moved in to kill the girl. I tried to stop him but I got tossed. And whatever this demon did to you in a dream, it got carried over to reality. So I'm a little bruised." She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering how it felt when she woke up and could feel the bruises. "Angel's okay. A little battered as well, but nothing he can't deal with. We did eventually stop him. It just took a little effort."
	"I wish I'd been there to help," Bel said, unhappy that two people he cared about were injured. "Not that you can't take care of yourselves. I just...." He shrugged.
	"No, I get it," Isabel said with a soft smile. "If we'd known it was going to be that difficult, we would have called for back-up. But after the first time, we did a lot of research and were better prepared to take him out the next time we went in."
	"You're going to become quite the demon slayer at this rate," Bel said. "You'll get a rep in the Underworld if you keep this up."
	Isabel chuckled weakly. "I'll pass. Thank you very much. That's not an experience I'd want to repeat." She pushed carefully to her feet and gave Bel a hug. "Thanks for playing taxi driver."
	"No problem," Bel said, hugging her back. "Anytime you need to go anywhere, just let me know. I can have you there in a heartbeat." He gave her another concerned look. "You need to go to the clinic, or are you going to be okay?"
	"I will definitely keep that in mind," she smiled. "You're much better then dealing with the airlines." Isabel shook her head, "I'll be okay, I just need to get a decent night's sleep. One where I don't have to worry about some weird ass demon showing up."
	"I'm faster and you don't have to check your bags," Bel said, grinning. "Okay, I'll let you get your rest then. If you need anything, just give me a call, okay?"
	"I will," Isabel promised, sitting back down on her bed and kicking off her shoes. "Thanks again." She watched Bel leave and reached for her phone. She couldn't rest until she made a few phone calls. Calls made, she stretched out on her bed and tried to relax.

[ooc: The door's closed but knockable. I'm mostly coherent. It's been a hell of a long day but it's good to be back. Much love to demonbelthazor for both the pre-play, the coding and all the effort to get it to me since the damn email still hasn't shown up.]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"And you wonder why I haven't slept well?" she asked weakly.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"No, I don't wonder," Greg said softly. "Nothing's going to hurt you here, though. My word on it."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I know." Isabel looked down at the clothes in her hands. "I'm going to go get changed. Can you stay?"

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I might have to duck out for a little while, but if I do, I'll be back. So yes," Greg promised, nodding.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That's fine," Isabel said, slipping into the bathroom and closing the door behind her. She came out a few minutes later, dressed in a pair of soft flannel pants and the t-shirt Greg had loaned her after the luau. "My comfort clothes," she said, walking over and taking a seat on the bed.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Nice shirt," Greg said quietly, wrapping his arms around her.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"My favorite," she said, nuzzling against his neck. "I wore it out there and tried to pretend you were holding me. But this is better."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I would hope so. The shirt is like Greg Lite," Greg said. "Fewer calories, all that, but not nearly as snuggly."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel laughed, feeling better then she had in days. "No, I much prefer the original Greg." She kissed his collarbone. "No substitutions for me."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Not even like, Greg with crunchberries or something?" he asked, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Or two percent Greg? Or new and improved Greg, now with pine scent?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Smiling, she pushed him back onto the bed then carefully snuggled into his side. "Nope. Why mess with perfection?"

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"See, that's what I said about the original Cap'n Crunch," Greg said softly, blushing and wrapping his arms around her.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You didn't like the berries?" she asked, trying not to wince as she shifted to get comfortable.

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"I do, but why mess with a good thing?" Greg asked, stroking her hair.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," she yawned. "Stupid people."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

"Go to sleep," Greg said softly. "I'll keep you safe."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I know," Isabel murmured, already mostly asleep. "Love you."

[like-a-sponge.livejournal.com]

Greg smiled dorkily. "Love you too," he whispered, holding her just a little more tightly.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

On the verge of the first peaceful sleep she'd had in days, Isabel heard him and smiled as she drifted off.