Room 406, evening

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel had finally flipped the calendar to April, which only served to remind her that it had been almost a month since she left for Antar and everything changed. Logically she knew the longer she waited to call back to Roswell, the worse it was going to be. But it didn't make dialing the phone any easier.

The number was entered, all she had to do was hit send.

Eventually.

The door was closed.

[ooc: Door is closed but post is open.]

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack was on his way to see Cedric, but Isabel's room was right there, and it was time to work on her shoulder again, so he knocked.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Any excuse to put the phone down was welcome.

"It's open."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You should be careful," he said as he opened the door, closing it behind him and leaning on it. "You never know who might come wandering in. Hi, Izzy."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"But I didn't say come in," Isabel pointed out. "So a vampire wouldn't be able to get in."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"But a troll, a jello dragon, or a door-to-door salesman would," he countered. "How are you doing?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"We haven't had repeat invasion yet," she laughed. "So I'm not to worried about trolls or jello dragons. If we get salesmen? Well let's just hope they're not like the obnoxious guy that does the infomercials. Cause I'd have to hit them."

Isabel shrugged and patted the space next to her in invitation. "I'm okay," she replied, which was her standard answer. Nights were still long, but she was surviving, day by day. "How about you?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He sat, looked around the room, and decided lying was the way to go. "I'm fine. I thought you might need me to do your shoulder again."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," Isabel replied bumping against his shoulder. "It's fading enough that hopefully I'll be able to cover what's left with make-up for prom. I really don't want to have to wear a dress with sleeves."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"No. That'd be a waste," he said, smiling at her. "Got the doohickey?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She reached under the bed, pulled out the bag and gave it to him. Turning her back, Isabel undid a few buttons of her shirt and slipped it and her bra strap off her shoulder. Glancing at the mark she realized that it was almost gone, but even the faint markings still made her shudder a little. "I talked to Parker last night. They were still in Europe."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"How's she doing?" he asked as he triggered the device, moving it in slow arcs over the mark. "This is almost gone, you know."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"She's tired. But otherwise okay. They're slowly tracking Jake down." It still burned, but she coped. "I know. I'm glad."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Good," he said, then sighed, because this felt like talking to a stranger. He rested his head against her shoulder and closed his eyes, memory and practice keeping the device moving in the right spot. Small talk was just easier.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel waited till he was done, then took the device from his hand and set it aside. Turning back to Jack, she slipped an arm around him. "What's wrong? I heard radio, but I'd rather hear it from you." Although if he said Lana was a new thingie, Isabel was pretty certain she'd smack him.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack hadn't heard the radio, and he tensed, pulling away slightly. "What did it say?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You and Lana, smoochies in town, making out in a common room, Sam dragging you out," she said, gently running a hand down his arm. "What happened?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Anger spiked through him as it all came flooding back, the minor calm River had granted him washing away. "Nothing," he said flatly. "The radio's right. That's what happened."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Judging by the tension she could feel under her hand, Isabel knew that there was a lot more to the story. Flashing him a look that clearly said Bitch, please, she slid behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders and masaging the tight muscles.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack stayed still under her hands, but he ignored the look and avoided her eyes, because he didn't want to tell her. He just wanted her to know, like River had known. Explaining was too damn hard.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

He'd given her time until she was ready to talk, Isabel could only return the favor. It was harder to give a through massage while they were sitting up, so Isabel focused on his shoulder and upper arms, pressing her fingers deep into the knots she felt.

Of course not talking meant she had all that time to worry.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Ask Sam," he finally said, trying to relax and hoping Sam would forgive him. "Tell her I said she should tell you what happened."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'll do that," she said quietly, never letting her hands stop. "What can I do?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Nothing," he said, turning his head to smile at her, trying to take the sting out of his words. "But thanks."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You'll tell me if that changes, right?" Isabel asked, leaning her head against his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his waist. She'd talk to Sam, see what she had to say. And then she'd talk to Jack again.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He pushed back against her, happy to be held. "I promise."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel slid back to lean against the wall, tugging Jack with her. "Have anywhere you need to be?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. I'm on my way to see Cedric," he said, resting his head on her shoulder. "I can stay for a bit, though."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You can go if you have to," she said. "Whatever you need to do."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I'd like to stay, if that's okay," he said carefully, hoping it would make up for his silence about what had happened.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That's fine," Isabel smiled, pressing a kiss to his hair. "I'd offer to tell you a story, but somehow mine just aren't as interesting as yours."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Go on." He snuggled back against her, getting comfortable. "Tell me something about growing up. I know," he chuckled. "Tell me about something embarrassing you did while you were a kid."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel was still worried because it was obvious something was definitely bothering Jack, but if he needed time, she'd give it to him. "God, I don't know," she said, trying to come up with something. "Everything sounds so pathetic."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Then don't worry about it," he told her. "It doesn't matter. Silence is fine."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"We can do quiet," Isabel said, squeezing him just a bit. She sighed and closed her eyes, offering what comfort she could.