Room 406, afternoon into evening

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel has not been having the best time of it the last week or so. There'd been the horrendous trip to LA, coming back to find out that Jack was in trouble, and then fighting with Greg. The only thing that could make things worse would be a call from Max with more of his particular brand of stupidity.

Too keyed up to even attempt sleep, Isabel sat on her bed and floated the nerf balls from the day at the beach with Cedric and Jack through the air in a complicated pattern. It was easier to focus on that then think about how closely the argument she had with Greg paralleled why everyone was mad at Jack.

The door was open.

Comments

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm tired," she said quickly. "I haven't slept well in days."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack studied her, wondering what was up. "If you're mad at me, you can tell me. I know I deserve it, so feel free to yell." He could tell she was hiding something and that was the only thing he could think of.

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm not, honestly!" She promised, squeezing his hand. Isabel sighed, realizing that of all people, Jack would understand. "Greg wasn't happy that I left to go with Parker last night."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Oh," he said, feeling guilty - again - as he looked at their joined hands. "How unhapy?"

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Jack's not the only one that can be perceptive. "It's not your fault! It was my choice to go. It was also my choice to not wake him up and let him know I was going."

"I'm not sure we're dating anymore," Isabel said sadly.

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Isabel." Jack very carefully wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry," he said, pressing his cheek against hers.

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

A freak indoor rainstorm was the only explanation for why Jack's shoulder was suddenly damp. Honestly.

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

And that's exactly what Jack would tell anyone who asked. But he stroked her hair and murmured soothing nonsense in her ear while he held her.

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Eventually the rain stopped and Isabel wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Don't be. I think that's kind of what I'm here for." Jack untangled himself from Isabel long enough to get her a glass of water and a tissue, then sat behind her and put his arms around her waist.

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You need a shoulder to cry on?" she asked, leaning back against him.

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I am a shoulder to cry on," Jack corrected, and kissed her hair. "But I could use some Isabel time." He pressed his forehead into her shoulder. "Everyone else is too mad to let me touch them."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It didn't go well after we left?" Isabel turned her head and pressed a kiss into his hair.

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"We're all still alive, and they were willing to stay in the room while I slept," he pulled her closer, until she was sitting completely inside the circle of his arms and legs, "but I think it's going to be a long time before touching one of them isn't going to get my arm ripped off or me turned into a frog."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She relaxed against him, reaching up to hold onto his arms as he held her. "They were worried about you. We all were. We didn't know what we'd find. What shape you'd be in."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I know. I get it. And I'm sorry. For awhile there I didn't know what sort of shape I'd be in." His voice dropped lower, and he said, "I really hurt them, Isabel. And I didn't mean to. I was just trying to keep them safe."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You did. I know that. And I know that's you were trying to do," she said. "It's why I didn't wake Greg up. But we can't keep wrap them in cotton. And they can't do that to use either." Isabel sighed, "We have to look out for one another. That's what caring about someone means."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know that now. You had to go away just in time for me to do something stupid," he teased, tugging gently at her hair. "I don't think either of them are ready to give up on me, which means there's no way Greg's going to give up on you."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Sorry," Isabel said quietly. "I would have much rather been here. Trust me. And if I had been, you'd have never gotten away with this." She turned, resting her head against Jack's shoulder. "Even if they were mad, they stayed. Greg left. Not that I blame him. We were only talking in circles. Which wasn't helping. But still...."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but I think they mostly stayed to stop me from doing anything else stupid," Jack pointed out, and reached for her hand. "I don't know what to say, except maybe it'll be better tomorrow." He held Isabel's hand, and drew circles on her palm with his finger. "I could stay, if you wanted me to."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I think they stayed because they wanted to make sure you were safe," Isabel said. She hesitated for a moment, thinking over his offer. "They won't mind?"

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"If I'm here, I'm not off doing something stupid, so probably not." And it would keep him from knocking on one of their doors and being told to go away. "Can I stay? Please?"

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That's true," she smiled. "I'd thwap you upside the head and tie you to the chair before I'd let you out the door." Isabel brought his hand up and kissed his knuckles. "Company would be nice. Of course you can."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I'm not exactly dressed for it, but I can sleep in jeans." Jack eased away from her, leaning back against the wall. "It's better than the fur coat I had on last time."

Re: After Everyone Else Leaves

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Not exactly dressed for bed herself, Isabel got to her feet and went to her dresser to pull out more suitable clothing. "Are you wearing anything under those jeans?" she asked, smirking. "And some sort of thong doesn't count."