Room 406, evening

[izzyalienqueen]

It had been a very quiet Sunday for Isabel. After being up half the night, she finally fell into a deep sleep after the sun rose. After a visit to the gym, she returned to find a voicemail waiting for her. Shaking her head, she hoped Alec was doing okay.

At some point she was going to have to go out and spend some time in the common rooms, Isabel realized. But for now it's easier to stay in her room and read and think. Settling down on her bed, she started reading through her notes for Revolutions.

The door was open.

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"No, it's an all or nothing deal. You wouldn't want to, anyway, Isabel," he said quietly. "Having a big hole in your mind isn't much fun. And you never know when what yyou're missing will come back and bite you on the ass."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"And you'd know wouldn't you?" Isabel asked, turning to rest her her cheek against his chest. "It's just hard."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I know, Izzy. I know." He tucked her hair behind her ear, letting his hand linger. "Sam said you just have to give it time."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm trying. And during the day I can almost pull it off," she admitted.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Still not sleeping?" he asked, looking down at her, worried but not wanting to make it worse.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel shrugged, "I am. Sort of. Just not well. But it's been so long since I slept well I've forgotten what it's like."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He frowned, making a decision. "All right. We can fix that, at least for tonight. Go put your pyjamas on," he said, opening his arms and giving her a gentle nudge. "And we'll go to bed."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You don't have somewhere better to be?" she asked, getting to her feet and rummaging in a drawer for pajamas. "A thingie to visit?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"No," he said, almost sadly as he remembered Sam. "No thingies. Not tonight." He pulled himself off the bed and slipped off his shirt, glancing over at her. "Isabel, there is nowhere better to be. If you need me, this is where I belong."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel studied him, wondering what was going on. "I won't tell you to go." She slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I know you won't," he said to the closed door and sat on the bed to pull off his socks. He was going to have to start keeping clothes in Isabel's room if this kept up, but for now, he'd sleep in jeans.

Jack pulled back the covers, waiting for Isabel to come back so he could lie between her and the door, and sighed as he realised that was something he'd learned from Sam.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

The door opened and Isabel stepped out wearing her penguin pajamas. "Me first?" she asked sitting on the edge of the bed and eyeing his jeans. "You've got something on under them?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You first, and yeah, the usual," he replied, nudging her to lie down.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Then be comfortable," she said, sliding under the covers. "I'll even close my eyes."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Like that would bother me," he laughed, but slipped out of his jeans. "Lights?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel reached up and turned the nightlight on and then turned the room light off leaving them bathed in the soft light from the star lamp. "That's been a big help."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded and climbed into bed next to her, slipping an arm around her waist. "I'm glad."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Reaching down, she laced her fingers with his and held on tightly. "Can I ask a question?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Anything," he replied, closing his eyes as he let his head rest against hers.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Just because he said she could ask didn't mean Isabel believed he would answer. But she had to try. "What's wrong?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Apart from you not sleeping properly?" he asked, tucking her a little bit closer against him.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's not about me. It's about you." She rolled over then, turning and pushing Jack just a bit until she could rest her chin on her hands on his chest as she looked down at him. "You've just spent the weekend with Cedric, River's away. So why aren't you with Sam? Is something wrong?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He opened his eyes, staring up at the ceiling, hands reflexively stroking her back. "Not wrong, no," he finally answered, tilting his head to smile at her. "Everything's fine."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure?" Isabel asked, not really believing him and pressing just a bit. "You know you can talk to me."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

As Jack met her eyes, he thought about explaining. Would have, maybe, if he had any idea what the hell had happened. And if it wouldn't have felt like betraying Sam. "I'm sure." Whatever was wrong, they'd have to figure it out themselves. "Thanks, Izzy." He bent his head and kissed her forehead. "I don't deserve you."