More Than Darkness
50
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“Is this kind of what you had in mind?” Jeffrey asked
softly, moving a little so that he could reach out and play with Salida’s hair
while she closed her eyes and settled herself under the covers.
"Mmm-hmm," she sighed. "I love feeling you play with my
hair."
“I suppose that’s a
good thing because I like playing with it,” he murmured as he began running a
hand through her black waterfall of hair from her scalp on down, being gentle
and moving slow so he didn’t pull too hard and hurt her.
"I thought
about cutting it once...but now I'd never consider it."
“Good. I’m glad you
aren’t. I like your hair. It’s pretty,” Jeffrey said with another smile,
raising his hand up off the bed and letting the strands of her hair he had in
his hand fall out slowly before picking them up and repeating the process,
seemingly fascinated by the way her hair looked as it fell.
"Your hair is
pretty too..." she teased softly, trying to withhold a yawn.
“My hair is getting
long,” he muttered in response.
"It is. I
liked the length it was the day we met. Perhaps you're due for a trim."
“How long was it
when we first met? My mind was on other things at the time than hair.”
"Not quite
brushing your shoulders."
“Oh,” he said,
looking down at his hair that was definitely brushing his shoulders now. “Time
for a trim.”
"Not too short
though. I'd miss..." she yawned.
“You can tell me
what you’d miss later. Time for all good vixens to take a nap. That means you,”
he said fondly, still running a hand through her hair while using the other to
prop up his head so that he could look at her.
"Not
good," she protested. "Good vixen is," -yawn- "a
contradiction."
Jeffrey pretended
to think about it as she yawned again, swallowing a cough as he did so. “Then
what are you if not good, vixen?”
"I'm yours. You
wouldn't keep me if I were good..."
“Oh I don’t know.
I’d keep you around for a little while. But you’re right. I much prefer devil
horns to halos and naughty to nice,” he said as he kissed her very gently on
the shoulder. “I guess it’s my nature.”
"And
mine."
“I know. And I’m
thankful for it. Being good all the time is boring. I’d never have any fun.”
"You have too
much fun sometimes."
“What do you mean?”
he asked softly, still moving a hand through her hair but slower now.
"Get in trouble.
Too much fun."
“Would you be upset
with me if I told you I like getting into trouble sometimes?” he asked softly.
"No. It'd
upset me if you liked getting caught."
“I haven’t yet and
I won’t later. You don’t have to worry about that, vixen.”
"Okay." Salida
sighed deeply.
“Was that a tired
sigh or a resigned sigh?” he asked, trying to sound casual, but wanting to know
how she felt.
"Mmm?"
It was Jeffrey’s
turn to sigh. “Never mind. Get some rest. Do you want me to stay?”
"Sands..." she murmured. "He'll want to see Grant."
“Alright. I’ll
check in on you later if I can.”
"I'd like
that. Kiss before you go?"
“Since you asked,”
Jeffrey said with a smile, turning her gently so that she was lying on her back
and meeting her lips in a kiss that while gentle and slow, was not lacking in
passion.
Salida sighed again,
this time in contentment. She was warm, and drowsy, and in her husband's arms. It
wasn't until she stopped responding to him, that Jeffrey realized that she'd
fallen asleep.
Jeffrey laughed
softly upon the realization and kissed her gently on the forehead before moving
his arms out from under her slowly as to not wake her, and moved off of the bed
with equal caution. Once he was standing at her side, he sent her a final look,
sighed a little that he was leaving her when he wanted nothing more than to
stay and watch her sleep, and sent Sands off to find Aida.
******************************
******************************
Aida was sitting in bed reading, flushed and miserable
because of a sore throat. Against her own better judgment, she'd run out and
done one or two errands while Sands had been gone, the results of one of those
sitting next to her on the bed, wrapped in black paper with a iridescent bow.
It was a small token, and she wasn't sure how it'd be received, but she'd
wanted to do it. And now I'm paying for
it. She wasn't sure, but she thought there might be more behind her flush
than exertion, but she forced herself not to think about that. She was
hospital.
Sands walked down
the hall towards his and Aida’s room, stopping suddenly as he had a small
coughing fit that left him a bit hoarse. “No, don’t tell me. I do
as he entered his bedroom and saw Aida sitting there. “Hi. What are you doing,
spitfire?” he asked, moving into the room a little and coughing again into a
hand, cursing as he did so.
"
she croaked, wincing as her throat informed her that it did not appreciate
being used right now.
“What are you
reading? And do you need a glass of water?” he asked with a frown, ignoring the
obvious coincidence that he was coughing and that she sounded as if her throat
were filled with sand.
She nodded in
answer to his question and then held up her book so he could see the title.
“Hmm, never read
it. I’ll be right back with your glass of water though. I could use one
myself,” he muttered with a frown.
Aida smiled
encouragingly, and sank down into her pillows.
Sands left to get
her water, drinking his down in the kitchen so that he would only have to carry
one glass up the stairs. “Here you go,” he said, handing her the water. “Are
you feeling alright? You look a little…peaked.”
"I had to run
a few errands," she murmured, sipping from the glass. "In hindsight,
it wasn't my best idea."
“What errands? And
what do you mean it wasn’t your best idea? What’s wrong?” He groaned as it
suddenly came to him. “Don’t me. me. You’ve got a cold.”
"I hope its
just a cold," she mumbled.
"I'll be pissed if its not."
“What? What do you
mean?” he asked, taking a seat down on the bed at her side, not noticing the
small bit of wrapped paper because he was focused on her face.
"If I get sick
or start coughing, I'll have to go to the hospital, and they'll put me on all
sorts of nasty antibiotics."
“Have you been
coughing?” Sands asked with a worried frown. “And how are antibiotics nasty if
they help you? They do help you, right?”
"No, I haven't
be coughing, and I don't like having to take so many pills. And they're
enormous ones at that."
Sands, still
worried, moved to lay the back of his hand on her forehead. While he had never
really dealt with someone who was sick before, he knew at least some of the
signs. His frown deepened when he felt that she was warmer than she should have
been. That meant she had a fever, right? “I think you have a fever, spitfire,”
he said softly. “Do we have a thermometer? I’m not sure I trust my hand.”
She grimaced.
drawer. And before you freak out on me,
let's see if Aspirin helps."
“I’m not freaking
out. Did I say I was freaking out? I just want to make sure you’re ok.” He got
up and went to retrieve the thermometer, rinsing it off a little in the sink
since he knew it would be going into her mouth. He remembered being sick a
handful of times when he was younger. It was always more of an inconvenience on
everyone than something to worry about though.
Aida obediently
opened and closed her mouth around the thermometer.
sick. When a few minutes passed, she
allowed Sands to pull the instrument out of her mouth so he could read it.
He squinted a
little at the small numbers before frowning again. He knew what normal body
temperature should be and hers was definitely not normal. “It’s a little higher
than it should be, but I’m not frng ong out. It’s about 101 degrees.”
"Bah,"
she growled...then winced. "If Aspirin doesn't help, then I'll let you
talk me into whatever you want."
“I’ll hold you to
that,” he murmured before moving back into the bathroom again and pulling a
bottle of aspirin out of the medicine cabinet. He walked back to her side and
shook out a couple onto his hand and offered them to her. “Bottoms upit, it, do
you need more water?”
Aida shook her
head. "No. I'm fine." So saying, she managed to show off by
swallowing the pills without any water at all.
“That can’t feel good
on your throat though,” he murmured with a wince as she dry-swallowed the
pills. “That’s why— ” He coughed into his hand again. “I was going to get you
some more water. I suppose it doesn’t matter now though.”
"I should be
pushing fluids," she admitted softly. "But you don't have to go
downstairs. You could just get it from
the bathroom sink."
“I will if you want
water. But we have orange juice as well if you’d rather have that. At least, I
think we have orange juice.”
"Water's
fine." In all honesty, she didn't want to send him running all over the
house.
“Alright.” He took
her glass and went to refill it, handing it back to her a few moments later.
“Is there anything else you want?” he asked, before coughing again and rubbing
at his throat absently.
"I got you a
present." It wasn't the answer he was suspecting, perhaps, but she did
want to see him open it.
“You got me a
present?” he repeated incredulously. “Why? My birthday’s in February and it’s a
long ways off from Christmas.”
"I wanted to. But
you have to promise not to think that I'm silly for buying it."
“Why? What is it?”
he asked curiously.
"You have to
open it to find out." Suddenly nervous,
she grabbed his hands. "Promise me you won't think I'm silly for giving
this to you."
He looked at her
and saw that she was both nervous and serious. “I promise. If I’m going to open
it though I’m going to need my hands back eventually,” he said with a small
smile.
She held his hands
for a minute longer as if contemplating whether or not she really wanted him to
open it, but finally let him go.
He took the small
wrapped object and lifted it into his hands, doing everything but shaking it
like a little kid before looking at her. “No one’s really ever given me a
present before. Why did you?” he asked, flipping it over and untying the
ribbon.
"I-I don't
know. I just saw it and had to buy it." She watched anxiously.
After a moment more
of just looking at the wrapped object in his hands, he finally pushed the paper
back and just stared for a long moment, not knowing how to reaA raA rabbit. She
had gotten him a little white plush rabbit. Not
completely white. It’s got a brown spot on its right eye, see? Aloysius didn’t
have that. “You got me a rabbit,” he said softly, his gaze fixed upon it.
"Y-yes."
She couldn't tell what he thought by the tone of his voice, and that made her
even more nervous. Sometimes he was soft before he got angry too, and she
didn't want to fight right now.
“Well, I don’t
think you’re silly,” he murmured, unsure of whatdo wdo with the thing. He could
feel three reactions buzzing through him. Sheldon’s reaction was to hug the
thing and drag it around by it’s ears for the rest of the day. Jeffrey really
didn’t give a damn about the whole thing, and his…he di kno know what his
reaction was. He did know he was a little shocked, although he probably
shouldn’t have been. He had told her about Aloysius and she had went out and
gotten him a rabbit. It shouldn’t have been so surprising.
"You don't
like it, do you?" she asked, absolutely certain that was the cause for his
hesitance. "Well, I kept the receipt so it can be taken back if that's
what you -"
“No, it’s not
that,” he interrupted. “I honestly don’t know what to think. Sheldon will like
it,” he murmured. “He does. I’m not so sure about me. I’m a little surprised.
That’s all.”
"I don't care
if Sheldon likes it," she whispered. "I didn't get it for him."
He looked up at
her, the rabbit still in his lap, and cocked his head to the side slightly. “I
know you got it for me, but why?”
"I don't know.
To make up for Aloysius I suppose."
His brow furrowed
at that. “You didn’t have to do that, Aida. It was over twenty years ago,
remember? But…thanks I guess.”
She shrugged, and
restlessly picked up her book again. It wasn't quite the reception she'd hoped
for, but it was better than what she'd so nervously anticipated.
He saw her turn
away and frowned. “How did you think I was going to react?” the question wasn’t
angry, but curious. “Or how did you want me to?”
"I don't know.
I guess this is right in between what I expected and what I hoped. I should
have known better than to get it in the first place."
"No it's…it's
ok. I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but I'm not upset with you for
getting it," he murmured, looking the rabbit over. "It's
different."
"And
more than this." She shook her
head. "It's alright.
particularly bright idea."
"It's still…
You got me a gift, Aida. It doesn't matter what it is. That's enough for
now," he said with a small smile.
The "for
now" didn't escape her notice, and it didn't do anything to cheer her up.
"Thank you for
the rabbit, Aida," he said softly. "But maybe I'll leave it up to you
or Sheldon to name this one. Aloysius was always a bit unwieldy for a
rabbit."
"But it was
typically you...or at least the intension behind it was."
wanted Sands to, but he was so obviously uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I
suppose so," he murmured, passing the stuffed rabbit from hand to hand
absently. "Saturninus," he said suddenly.
"Why?"
it back. "I mean, I like it...and
I'm not at all surprised that you chose a Latin name."
"Saturninus is
the emperor of Rome in the play Titus Andronicus," he murmured with
a slightly confused look on his face as if he hadn't meant to blurt out the
name.
"And is there
some strange symbolism in that?"
He looked askance
at her. "What? Oh. No, I don't think so. I don't know. It was the first
thing to come to me."
She nodded to
indicate her understanding. "You
realize that now you've named him, you can't take it back."
"I wasn't
going to take…him back, spitfire. I don't know what I'm going to do with it,
but I wasn't going to take it back."
"It'd be
alright if you did. I understand that I
may be being pushy about all this."
"Maybe a
little," he murmured, giving her a half smile. "I'm not upset with
you, though. You wanted to do it and you did it. I understand
impulsivity."
"That doesn't
mean I have the right to make you uncomfortable.
special, but perhaps I should have chosen more wisely."
"It is
special, spitfire. I just haven't decided or don't know to who yet."
"But that's
not something you should have to decide," she murmured, taking a sip of
water. "I should have gotten you
something that the moment you looked at it, you thought, 'This is
mine.'" Despite all his reassurances,
Aida still felt bad about buying the toy.
Any answer Sands
might have given was cut off by another round of coughing that left him just a
little bit more hoarse than before. "If that's really the way you feel
then you'll get plenty of other opportunities, spitfire. Besides. You're not
supposed to be buying me things. I'm not the one who has a birthday coming
up."
"That and I
have no money," she murmured, handing over her glass so he could take a
drink. "So I suppose that even that
isn't really a present."
He took a small sip
from the glass of water handed to him and gave it back to her with a thankful
smile. "If you want money, all you have to do is ask, spitfire. But that's
not the point, is it? Never mind. Don't worry about the rabbit. Just because
I'm a little surprised and don't quite know how tt art around it doesn't mean
you were wrong in getting it. I'll…do something with it."
"You don't
have to do anything with it," she sighed.
"You can use it for target practice if that's what you really want
to do. Its yours."
"I'm not going
to use it for target practice although it's been awhile since I've…Never mind.
Mine, huh?" He looked at it. "Aloysius had floppy ears, I think. Not
straight. But I can't really remember. Maybe it looked like this and I've just
forgotten. Ask Sheldon. He'd know," Sands murmured to himself.
"You're not
hearing me," she said tightly.
"I don't care what Sheldon thinks about the rabbit.
him. I don't care if it looks like
Aloysius or not. I was contemplating
buying a stuffed yak, but it was blue with yellow spots and I wasn't sure how
you'd react to so much whimsy. So I got
the rabbit."
take a rabbit over a yak any day of the week, spitfire," he said with a
small smile. "I guess…I like it. I don't know. I don't mind it like I
thought I would or you probably thought I would, but…I don't know."
Aida suddenly
didn't want to talk about this any more.
"I've been up here all day.
I think I'd like to go downstairs now.
Perhaps we could watch a movie."
"Sounds like a
good a plan as any," Sands murmured, happy for the change in subject.
"I'm pretty sure sunrise is asleep as well, so we pretty much have the
house to ourselves."
"Alright.
arms.
He floundered for a
bit trying to figure out what to do with Saturninus before deciding to place
him on the bed in front of his pillow next to Aida. Once that was finished, he
pulled her up as gently as he could.
When he would have
swung her up into his arms, Aida shook her head.
"I'm well
aware of that, spitfire. Technically, you've probably been walking longer than
I have," he said with a bit of a smirk. "I just like carrying you.
Maybe it's a possessive thing. I don't know. Come on."
On slightly
unsteady feet, Aida followed him down the stairs, taking a seat on the couch as
soon as she was able.
"Did you want
anything? I think I'm going to get a glass of orange juice," he said,
distinctly not asking her if she was alright. It was beginning to become a
redundant question.
"I should
probably eat something," she admitted since she couldn't remember the last
time she had.
"What do you
mean, 'should probably?'" Sands asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"It's been
awhile," she admitted. "I
don't think I ate yesterday."
Sands let out a
breath in utter frustration. "Damn it, Aida. You have to take care of
yourself. I can't be around all the time," he said with a deep sigh.
"What would you like?" he asked with a slight air of resignation.
"Nothing, I'm
not hungry," she said stubbornly.
She knew better than he what she needed to do to take care of herself.
"I don't
care," he said, just as stubbornly. "You're going to eat
something."
"You can't "You know "Stop cursing "Stop making "Sands, I know "Fine. Aida just looked at Sands didn't bother He found Aida "Are you going "First you "How hard is "You don't Sands was stuck and "You were "I shouldn't Aida nodded. "It's alright. "Do you still He shrugged. "I'm not "It "It's "I won't. I "What?" He shrugged. "What are you "You." "What about "You fascinate "Why?" "I don't know. "How do I look "Like you "I do "I know that. "Oh...well "No, I didn't "What?" "Apparently Aida rolled her "Yeah, but "You all smell "Hmm, I guess "He's a mal> "Yeah, I "Things can be "Yeah, I guess Aida caught his "Don't push "Ok, those "Then what Sands looked down "You're not "I can see "You're "'These words "Wow," Sands shrugged. "How do you "Rabbits are "What about in "I wouldn't "Well that's a "English "It's not for "I like English "Move to "Something "No, I can't "No one's ever Sands just laughed "Perhaps you "What? "It has lots "That's not "But "Alright fine. "Nope. "Since I've "Okay. "Do you have "No. "Alright then. "Will Aggie "I don't think "This is Sands took a Aida caught up and "I Deciding to play "Don't ask me Instead of forcing "Ok, that was "I'm Sands groaned, "That would be "Would I do a "Yes," Sands swallowed a "Tell "You're "I've seen "Alright fine. "And what "Anything that “So you saw me "Something "Well, you're "Look at it "Hmm, you may She smiled. "You did, huh? "You could "I don't "And you'd Sands made a face. "Don't give me "Well fortunate "But you admit "I admit "You'd "Why's that, Words were wasted Sands stiffened at She stopped "That's "Too He immediately "It's "I'm still "It's an easy "Never crossed "I don't "I won't treat "I love you, "I love you "You're not "Well…no, not "I'm going to "I know you "And if you "Alright. No "Good "What have I "Well, Scarlet "Sounds "It doesn't get "If you say "Watch and "What happens "That's how "And you "You can nap "No, you "And you and "Your lap is "Then choose "I don't want "Sands. "Can I still "Always. "As long as "Did you want "This is fine. "So what? "I'm not going "So you "Yes. So I "Alright. "I know. I'm "Not "Yeah, you "I know. "Good. Now "Yes, "No, because "Jerk," "Yeah, but you "Yes. "I love you "Alright… I "I know. Sands nodded After that, Aida "Just…for a Looking down at ****************************** Sands had slept almost two straight hours through without "What's "I don't know. Aida stood, He frowned a She held up two "Two hours? The moment they "I'm thinking "You've got a "Sleep is “Well…you don’t "What do you "We both know Sands shrugged and "And the same "Again, I say "You're being "Probably," "No He took a step back "Maybe if you "Maybe," "First "No, can't say "That you have Sands frowned and She gave him a "We've slept "Mmm-hmm...and "Well, no, but “Sleeping is fun,” "Sleeping is a "Like "Oh I don't "Most of those "Oh really? "For one, you "You're no "Cough Sands made a face. "Stop being a Sands opened his "I'm Sands nodded. She smiled. Sands immediately Sands moved into "Oh my "Someone "Who would do "I'll let you His tone alarmed "Whoever did "Are you "Can't go to "So's doing "You can't "I can and do He turned his "Please don't "You didn't Aida shuddered and Sands nodded. "I'll "Alright. I'll "Alright." "I suppose "We should "Alright," "Sands?" "What is "If I said "That that's "So I "No." They worked in "Then do it. "But you just "What I said His voice was so A few more minutes "But you never "No, I "I don't need "I guess I "And I can't Sands frowned at "I don't "I'll keep "Me too," "What are we "No. "If that's "Well...we "If we don't, "And it's the Sands shrugged. "Then I'd "Fine. But "Alright," "Guess I "Please don't "If I don't "Then don't "Forit.
it. "You should "Do we even Aida shed his shoes That wasn't exactly "Here it He made another "It'll make He eyed it as if he "Baby," "I don't see "I don't have "Well that's a "Half an "Are you "No." "Then uhe "You won't He gave her a "And you He nodded and went Aida shook her head "What do you She might have been "Then come on. She wouldn't have Sticking close to "Aida, Aida! "I don't "Well in "I don't want "Ice may be "Okay." "Do you need "No." "I'm sorry. I "It's not your Sands shrugged. "I don't need "If you don't "Fine," He nodded. He came back a few "Not like He leaned down a His tenderness was Sands heard her Aida didn't know Sands seemed to "Tired," "Then "I hate this, "You will "I know. Sands thought about "I like "Then you'll "My first "You are a It was too much to "Then rest. "Where's " "Just Sands nodded and then ****************************** Sheldon was warm. He wasn't sure where he was exactly, but Aida felt someone Sheldon started, "Why are you "I don't know. "You donhavehave to ou'rou're not tired." "Whose rabbit On some level, Aida "He's "Yes. "Thank "Mmm-hmm. "I'm "You don't "It's not "You're "You'll let me "Mmm. "What I "Then you "I will. Not Aida watched him Sheldon sat quietly "Yes?" "May I go "Yeah. "Um." If "No. "Help you "Help pull me Sheldon nodded and "Take my Sheldon set "No. Sheldon reclaimed "But you "I "Sheldon, when "What about Aida thought about "I wish "I know you Sheldon nodded then "Yes you "Are you sure Since she didn't "It tickles. It was amazing to "Miss Aida, She just smiled. "I like being "I'm "It's hot "Yes. "Oh. Ok. It's "What's "I donave
ave "You're Sheldon just "I don't know, He just nodded and He shook his head, If they did that, Sheldon smiled and "They should He sat down on the Aida paled Sheldon didn't "Don't," "I'm She nodded, and &quorighright," "But I tried "You didn't Sheldon nodded. "I actually Sheldon immediately "Yes," He nodded and She should probably "Ok," he He really was a "Alright," "If you go "Ok. I'll be Aida reminded him Sheldon whispered Aida barely managed "My hand. It "You must have "But…" he "I'd Sheldon suddenly "No. "Not a "I don't "Ok. I'll see "Go take care "Alright, Aida was halfway "Ok, that's Aida sighed, but He saw her face and Aida groaned, but Slowly she nodded, "You stay here "No." Sandsed ted to hear Salida was still Jeffreacedaced the
make me eat if I don't want to," she said, looking away from him.
what? Fuck it, you're right. I can't. I can't make you do anything you don't
want to. Starve to death if it makes you happy," he muttered. "Why
should I care? I'm only your husband."
at me."
me curse at you."
what I have to do to take care of myself.
I don't need you watch over me
as I choke down every mouthful, and I know just how often I have to eat to keep
my strength up. You forget that I've
been through this once already without anyone at my side.
food. You offered and I accepted, but if
you hadn't, I would have gotten it myself.
I don't need you acting like I'm a silly child."
Whatever. Eat or don't. I don't care. It's not up to me."
him for a second, then she shook her head and pushed herself up.
kitchen, she came back out holding a large mug.
Without saying a word to her husband, Aida took her mug and herself back
upstairs.
to watch her go. He could hear her shuffling steps up the stairs well enough.
Goddamnit, why couldn't she just do what he asked? He just wanted her to take
care of herself. Was that so much to ask? He worried about her. It was his job
to worry. How many fucking times had she reminded him of what things would be
like when she got sick? How many times had she made it clear that he would have
to do things for her when she couldn't.
wouldn't. How hard is it to eat? She had lost so much weight already, just
the thought of her losing more twisted his stomach up into knots.
anything to her. I let her do what she wanted and she fucking left. He
didn't understand it. He couldn't understand it. But he couldn't let things
stand either. He didn't even know what he had done wrong. He had just been
looking out for her. That's all. He didn't force her to eat, he didn't force
her to do anything. Why did she leave
then? He pushed himself off of the couch and made his way up the stairs to
their room to find out.
sitting on the bed, sipping from her cup and stubbornly pretending to read a
book, Aggie purring happily at her side.
to at least tell me what I did wrong?" he asked, trying not to sound as
irritated and confused as he felt.
treat me like a child, and then you see fir to curse at me."
unreasonable."
it to eat, spitfire? Just one meal would have been fine. But no. First you tell
me that you haven't eaten anything since yesterday and then you tell me you're
not hungry as if to spite me. Seems childish to me. And I didn't
calling them names. I used one word
because you ticked me off. One. And I don't know, just sauntering off as if I
don't exist just because I wanted you to have something to eat seems pretty
unreasonable to me."
need to be cursing at all," she seethed.
"Did I or did I not voluntarily give up the information that I
hadn't eaten in awhile? It would have
been easy to not say that. Do you even
understand that I am constantly nauseous?
That even eating small, bland meals sounds too difficult to handle?
ever feel hungry? And then when I
protest being treated like a child, you huff that I could starve to death for
all you care. Perhaps after that I
didn't want to pretend that I wasn't upset."
was wrong. And now that he knew he was wrong, he didn't know what to do about
it. "I'm sorry." There, that was a start. "I didn't think…I'm
sorry. I was the one who was being childish."
right to be concerned," she assured him, “but I didn't appreciate the tone
it was expressed in, and I never have.
It was instinctual for me to react the way I did.
jumped to anyone's commands."
have been giving you any commands to jump to in the first place," he
murmured softly. "I just…I get worried and then I get overprotective, and
then I get pushy and irritated easily…and I'm sorry."
You just…forced the issue. It needed to be done, I guess. Sorry for making
you," he said, taking a seat down on the bed and absently playing with
Aggie's twitching tail as she batted lightly at his hand with his gaze fixed
downward.
want to watch a movie?" she asked hesitantly.
"It'sto yto you. If you'd rather read," he looked over at the book on
her lap but not up at her. "Then that's alright with me."
really reading. I was
brooding." She gave him a small
smile.
happens," he said softly, sparing a brief glance upward at her. Whenever
he had gotten called on for something he had done wrong as a child, looking
down at one's feet was not an option. Eye contact and honesty about what you
did was what he had been taught. "I didn't mean to treat you like a child,
Aida. I know you aren't. I know your strength. It was wrong of me to do that to
you."
alright," she assured him, setting aside her soup to sprawl herself across
the bed with her head in his lap.
"Just don't make a habit of it and we'll all be fine."
promise," he said softly, looking down at her and running fingers
feather-light over her cheek. He didn't say anything after that for a long
time, contenting himself with simply looking down at her with a curious little
smile on his face.
she asked, raising her hand to run light trace his lips.
"I don't know. You."
thinking about?"
me?"
me."
You just do. The way you look at things. The you you look at me."
at you?" Her voice was soft, as if
she was afraid of intruding on private thoughts, but she really wanted to know.
care... Enough to try," he murmured.
care," she whispered, frowning a little.
"I care more than enough to try."
I really do. It's just sometimes…I don't know. It's like sometimes I realize it
again and it enthralls me a little."
that's sweet." She smiled at
him. "I don't mind being a source
of constant wonder."
think you would," he said bemusedly. The bemusement grew a little more
when Aggie, having decided that she wasn't getting enough attention, wandered
over to seat herself in Sands' lap - or as close to it as she could with Aida
taking precedence - and began butting her head against her mistresses.'
she asked the cat in mock exasperation.
"Can't I be pet by my husband without you getting
jealous?" Despite her words, Aida
reached up and scratched the cat's little head.
not. Thankfully Obsidian seems to have occupied himself elsewhere, probably
getting into trouble, otherwise things would become a little crowded up
here," Sands said wryly.
eyes. "I can't imagine how they got
so possessive. I've heard of one person
cats, but this is ridiculous."
what's even more strange than that is how Obsidian doesn't seem to
differentiate between me and Jeffrey or me and Sheldon for that matter. I don't
know if he just doesn't notice, which isn't entirely impossible, or doesn't
care."
the same," Aida pointed out.
"And most of the time you probably look the same.
that's true. I don't know…maybe I expected him to show a little preference to
me, but he didn't. Not efromfrom the first day. I'm just being silly. Forget
about it."
cat," she pointed out. "He
loves you...in whatever incarnation you may be."
guess. Told you it was silly."
silly and matter. Just look at
this." She picked up the rabbit
she'd gotten him, and tossed it into the air before catching it.
parts. It's silly to place those things
in any place of importance, but we do.
Emotions are strange like that.
Not necessarily bad, but strange."
so. Strange, confusing, irritating, bewildering, troublesome, you name
it," he said, watching her throw Saturninus up into the air, and frowning
a little that he had started calling him Saturninus now instead of
"it" or "the rabbit."
frown. Playfully, she brought the rabbit
up to his face and pressed its nose against his cheek while making a loud
kissing noise. "I wuv you,
Sandsy," she said in a high-pitched voice.
it. And a rabbit, especially one named after a twisted Roman emperor in
Shakespeare's most violent play, would definitely not speak like that."
Doc?'" Aida used her best Bugs
Bunny impression and tried to stifle a smile.
cartoons I have seen, at least a few,
and no, that's not it either."
would he say?" she asked, handing the plush toy over.
at the rabbit with a slight frown. "It's a rabbit, Aida. And a stuffed one
at that. It shouldn't be able to say anything."
playing," she pouted. "I'm not
trying to be serious or realistic."
that," he murmured. "And you're cute when you pout."
avoiding what I'm pouting about."
are razors to my wounded heart,'" he murmured under his breath. "But
that's a misquote. Saturninus didn't say it." He paused and gathered his
thoughts. "'But if I live, his feigned ecstasies Shall be no shelter to
these outrages; But he and his shall know that justice lives In Saturninus'
health; whom, if she sleep, He'll so awake as he in fury shall Cut off the
proud'st conspirator that lives.' There. That was one of Saturninus'."
she said, looking at the toy.
"That's one fierce rabbit."
"I haven't read that play in a very long time. I'm almost surprised I
remember lines from it still."
rabbit-y," she said picking it back up.
figure?"
cowards. They don't stand and
fight. They turn tail and run."
Monty Python and the Holy Grail?" he said with a slight smirk. "That
rabbit definitely didn't turn tail and run."
know. I've never seen it."
bit different. I saw it while at college. More than a few times. There's a
rabbit in it that has the temperance of a dragon. He attacks the band of
knights the story focuses on, and they're the ones who turn tail and run."
humor." She shrugged and made a
face. "I just don't get it."
everyone," Sands agreed with a shrug. "I like English mysteries
better."
accents," she teased.
England then. Plenty of accents to go around," he teased back.
tells me you wouldn't appreciate the competition, even if it would be
weak."
say that I would. Not that it'd be hard to overcome. I guess you're just stuck
with my flat east coast accent, my little southern belle," he teased.
called me a Southern belle before," she murmured.
at that. "I guess that means I'll have to use it more often then."
will." She was quiet for a long
minute, then looked up at him.
"Let's watch Gone With the Wind."
Why?"
of Southern belles in it."
really telling me why I have to watch it, spitfire. I only need one and that's
you."
It doesn't look like I have a choice otherwise."
Then you can pick something else."
never seen it before I guess I can't say that I truly don't want to watch it.
It's fine."
Grinning, Aida struggled to her feet and retrieved her meal.
reheat it in the microwave.
this movie or are we going to have to go and get it?"
It's downstairs in one of the entertainment center's drawers."
Do you want me to bring Agatha while you get the soup or not?"
even let you pick her up?"
I've ever tried." He made a move to pick the cat up and was met with
growling resistance. "It would seem not. She only has eyes for you, I'm
afraid," he said dryly.
ridiculous," the red-head informed her pet.
Sands. Aggie mewled in what almost
sounded like a confused manner, but Aida just looked at the cat.
cautious step towards the door and away from Aida, and was repaid by the
feeling of claws in his arm although Aggie didn't try to leave his arms.
"I guess it's working. Sort of. Come on before she decides to use me for a
pin cushion some more."
wrapped the hand that wasn't holding the soup around his arm.
won't." Arm-in-arm, they made their way out of the bedroom, down the hall,
and down the stairs slowly, with Sands doing his best to keep his rate of
walking even. Everything had been going fine until a sleeping Obsidian had
refused to give up his position on the couch and had to be moved aside before
Aida could sit down. "Here, you take Aggie, don't let Obsidian tell you
what to do, and I'll find the movie."
while Sands looked for the movie, Aida reached out with one foot to gently poke
Sid. The first time she did it, he
merely started purring, not even bothering to open his eyes.
to a golden gaze before he twitched his tail and closed his eyes again.
tail twitching madly, Obsidian tried to ignore her.
took a swipe at her. Aida had expected
the reaction sooner or later of course, so she was able to move her toes out of
the way before he clawed them. What she
gathered himself and then pounced on her foot and ankle, his half-sheathed
claws hooking her while his playfully bit her ankle.
to intervene. You started it, spitfire," Sands murmured from across the
room, having glanced over and seen what she had been doing. He turned away then
and continued his search for the movie… What
was it's name again? Wind something? Oh, Gone With the Wind. Got it.
He put it into the player and grabbed the necessary remotes as he walked back
to the couch.
the cat off, Aida sat Aggie on the couch where she could see the other
cat. Within seconds, the female feline
was bounding towards her counterpart, attacking him playfully when she reached
him. Obsidian abandoned her leg for
Aggie, and the two rolled around, leaping off the couch and racing around the
room, each taking a turn as pursuer.
Finally the ended up in a chair, Obsidian on the bottom while Aggie
her
her front half sprawled over him while she vigorously set to cleaning his ears
and neck.
probably the most entertaining thing I've seen all day," Sands said with a
short laugh as he settled into the couch next to his wife, still watching the
two cats.
entertaining," she protested.
"But they are rather cute. I
wish I had a camera so I could get a picture."
disposable kind, and even those had been rare.
"Which reminds me, we never picked up the film from that disposable
we used while we were in Hawaii."
remembering a series of embarrassing pictures of him in the sand, being buried
in sand, rolled in sand, the possible puns were in endless supply. "I'll
do it tomorrow if you want."
nice. If they haven't be
confiscated. Tell me - you didn't take
any pictures of me when I was asleep or anything.
thing like that?"
she said suspiciously. "Did
you?"
grin. "Well then, if that's the way you feel then I certainly must have.
We'll just have to wait and see."
me," Aida demanded, propping herself up on her knees as she straddled his
lap and supported herself with her hands on his chest.
missing your movie," he said, trying to distract her but unable to hide
his grin a second time.
it," she said flatly. "Tell
me."
I might have taken a few pictures. Nothing that I would have to kill the
developer over though."
kinds of poses would fit that criteria?" she asked, still suspicious.
you wouldn't want to show in
public," he answered her, placing his hands on her hips.
sleeping one day and thought, ‘Gee, my wife is so cute.
like that, yeah," he said wryly. "Do you realize that I don't have a
single picture of you? Or you of me for that matter?"
I suppose I should ask you to spring for a real one."
the one with the birthday coming up. Perhaps I'll consider it," he said as
he looked up at her with a smirk.
this way," she said, leaning against him.
"If we don't have a camera, you can't take any pictures of
me...totally innocent or not."
have a point. Alright, a new camera has definitely made it's way to the
list."
How do you figure? Because I would like to take the 'or not' kind of pictures
of you? Is that it? Well, perhaps I would, but I wouldn't be able to develop
them, so it's almost a moot point."
learn to develop your own film. Turn
that old shed into a darkroom."
know…sounds stalker-ish to me."
never turn stalker?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Please."
that," Aida said. "You so
would."
enough for me, I'm not nearly that desperate. No need to turn stalker quite
yet."
that under the right circumstances, you could."
nothing."
better," Aida grinned, leaning over to rub her nose against his.
spitfire?" he asked grinning back at her as he could feel her hot breath
on his face she was so close.
at a time like this. No, her husband was
a man of action, and he understood actions.
Given that, Aida pretended like she was going to give him a hug, but
instead set her wicked fingers to his ribcage.
first and then attempted to buck her off of his lap in a vain attempt to get
her off of him. When that didn't work, his grabbed at her wrists.
"Don't," he warned.
immediately, biting her lip. Sands was a
strong man; she doubted he even knew that he was gripping her a little too
tight. But he was.
cheating spitfire," he said dryly before frowning at her expression.
"What's wrong? I just don't want you to tickle me, that's all."
tight," she informed him in a soft voice.
"Fragile princess, remember?"
released her wrists as if he had heard her bones cracking under his fingers
himself. "Sorry. I won't forget again."
alright. I forget until something like
this happens." Making no move to be
deceitful this time, Aida laid herself on Sands' chest.
sorry," he whispered down to her as she tucked her head under his chin. He
wrapped his arms arounr bar back and held her close, but not too tightly. He
had meant what he had said. He would not forget again.
thing to forget when we're playing. And
before you say anything, not playing
isn't an option."
my mind," he lied.
believe you," she murmured. "I
want an ordinary life, Sands, or at least as ordinary as we can make it.
you like glass," he murmured.
but you're being patronizing."
too and I am not."
just telling me what I want to hear without taking any of it to heart?"
exactly, but I wasn't being patronizing either," he said with a short
sigh. "Sorry. I'm listening. I understand. Be careful but not too careful.
Got it."
get better," she reminded him.
"And I just have a few more weeks of chemo and radiation left.
not I'll need another round of radiation, but the doctors think I can go
without more chemo."
are. I don't doubt it," he said, giving her a small smile even though she
still had her head to his chest and couldn't see it.
treat me with kid gloves now, and not when I'm better, I'm going to suspect you
of being a..." Well, hypocrite
wasn't quite the word she was looking
for. "Well, I expect you to treat
me now how you'll treat me then. Let's
just leave it at that."
kid gloves for my strong Southern belle. I promise. I'll treat you the same as
I always have. And if I'm not, feel free to remind me."
enough." Content at last, Aida
squirmed around until she could actually see the TV screen.
missed?" he murmured, resting his chin on the top of her head gently and
casting his gaze forward to the television as well.
O'Hara - and that's the girl talking now - is at a house party on a friend's
plantation. She just found out that the
man she loves is marrying another woman, and she's scheming to get him
back. Rhett Butler - that's the man next
to her - liker, er, but he's a Yankee, and the South has just declared war on
the North."
complicated already and I don't thit's t's been playing for that long."
too much more complicated," she assured him.
so. So it's about unrequited love, is that it? Or something else?"
see. You have four hours to figure it
out."
if four hours?"
long the movie is."
honestly expect my attention span to last that long?" he asked with a
raised eyebrow.
if you want," she offered. "Or
you can choose another movie. I've seen
this countless times."
wanted to watch it so I'll watch it. And why would I want to take a nap? You
and sunrise are the nap takers around here. Not me."
Jeffrey don't get enough sleep, I'm sure.
We can move so you can rest your head in my lap...although you might
want llowllow."
better than a pillow every time, spitfire, but I'm not going to take a
nap."
another movie."
to," he said a bit stubbornly.
I don't want to sit here and watch something that you don't.
use your lap as a pillow?" he asked with a smile.
for comfort."
it's still your lap, that won't matter," he said, releasing her so that
she could move off of his lap to sit on the couch so that he could rest his
head on hers. It didn't matter how boney her legs were. They were hers and that
was enough.
to watch this or try to find something else?" she asked as sheediaediately
started running her fingers along his temple.
The movie is still early yet. I'll let you know in a few hours if I still feel
the same way," he said with a bit of a contented sigh at her touch.
wake you up so you can decide to what something else?"
to fall asleep," he murmured.
say."
say," he murmured, his eyes falling shut of their own will as he began to
relax. "Ok, fine. Maybe a short nap."
laying on top you," he said with a smirk, but still didn't open his eyes.
entirely. I could get up if I wanted to."
could. But I don't want you to. I like you here."
keep rubbing," he demanded gently with a small smile.
highness. Shall I peel you a grape while
I' it? it?"
then you would have to get up to get one."
she muttered, not for a moment stopping the soothing motions of her hand.
love me anyway," he said slowly.
too." His voice definitely had a hint of a sleepy slur in it now.
wasn't going to take a nap, you know…"
eyes. You can still listen to the
movie."
against her lap and folded an arm against his chest so that his hand was lying
on her leg in front of his face.
stayed quiet, wanting her husband to get some sleep if he needed it.
going on lately, she wouldn't be
surprised if he was run down.
little while…" he murmured before turning his face a little so that he was
looking more down to her lap than to the television and settling with a soft
sigh. He didn't say anything else after that, and for all intents and purposes
had fallen asleep.
him, Aida almost wished he'd brought his present down.
unlikely to ever see. Ah well, this was
just as good.
******************************
stirring before suddenly sitting upright, his breath coming in panting gasps
and his eyes scanning the room frantically. He looked to her and mouthed her
name with a slight frown before clearing his throat and trying again.
"That was…no fun," he murmured.
wrong?" In the hours she'd been
silent, her throat had gone scratchy and dry, and she nearly swallowed her tongue,
but Aida got the question out.
I think I had a nightmare but I can't remember it now." There was a
definite congested sound to his words now, which he heard and scowled at.
"Stupid cold," he muttered, his words sounding a bit like 'supid
colt.'
groaning a little as she did - staying in one position for so long make her
bones ache - then reached down and pulled on his hand, trying to get him to
stand.
little, but did as she wanted him to. "How long did I sleep for?"
fingers, not willing to take the chance of coughing.
would get it into his head to do.
You would think I'd feel more awake after that but I don't. I only feel more
tired," he muttered as he rubbed a hand over his face.
reached the kitchen, Aida poured herself a glass of juice and took a
drink. When her throat was no longer
parched, she said, "Sounds like you either sleep too much, or too
little."
both," he muttered as he moved to pour himself a glass as well.
cold," she pointed out reasonably.
"onlyonly makes sense that you need sleep."
overrated," he murmured after taking a drink of orange juice.
sleep much and you have a cold. Perhaps
the cold is your body’s way of telling you to sleep more.”
mean I don't sleep much? I sleep all the time," he murmured, purely
arguing for argument's and stubbornness' sake.
that's a lie, so why did you bother saying it?" Aida asked curiously.
took another sip of his orange juice, wincing a little as the acidity warred at
his now nitenitely sore throat. "It's not my fault I don't get a whole lot
of sleep. Whenever I'm sleeping Jeffrey's awake and out doing whatever it is he
does all day when I'm not around. And that's definitely not sleeping."
goes for you whe's e's not around," she agreed.
sleep. It doesn't matter if you mind is
awake - you body must get exhausted."
sleep is overrated."
stubborn," she accused.
he said with a bit of a smile as he set his empty glass onto the countertop. He
had been about to make a further comment in kind when he was interrupted by a
wide yawn that definitely weakened his position on the not getting enough sleep
issue.
probablies," she said with a smile, poking his ribs.
it if you at least gave me the courtesy of not playing dumb."
and attempted to scowl at her through a smirk. It didn't quite work as well as
he had hoped it would. "Alright fine. I don't get enough sleep. I never have.
Even when sleep and I are on speaking terms, which isn't always often
enough."
got more, it'd help your state of mind."
he allowed her, although he doubted it. Schizophrenia didn't seem like the
thing a good night's sleep could cure. He was sure that wasn't quite what she
had meant, but he couldn't help thinking it all the same.
'probably,' now 'maybe.'" Aida put
her hands on her hips. "Lack of
sleep can lead to psychotic episodes.
that I have. It's a movie, I take it. And while I have been getting random
catches of bad sleep pretty much all my life, I can count the true psychotic
episodes I've had on one hand. So you don't have to worry about that."
any at all makes me sad," Aida murmured.
"And if plenty of sleep can help..." she shrugged.
try?"
murmured an apology in response to her comment before idly sliding
hand to hand as he continued. "I suppose so. Alright, I'll try and get
some more sleep."
small smile. "I suppose it
it was made for."
in it before. More than once."
that's what you think of when you hear the term 'Going to bed.'"
that doesn't mean that we haven't slept in our bed before. Just that there are
things that are many times more fun than sleeping that a bed is good for."
she protested.
waste of time. There are many more interesting things you could be doing
instead of sleeping."
what?"
know. Building a house, creating world peace, learning a handful of other
languages, having wild passionate sex with my wife," he said, looking
innocent. Or trying to, at least.
aren't valid answers. In fact, none of
them are," she teased back.
And how do you figure that, spitfire?"
can't build a house on a bed. For two,
I'm sure that nothing that happens in our bed is for the benefit of world
peace, except perhaps when you do sleep.
For three, I'm certainly not learning any new languages.
resembles wild and passionate."
fun, spitfire," he teased with a small pout before coughing into a cupped
hand and scowling. "Is there something I can do about this stupid thing? It's
annoying."
medicine," she said blandly.
"I've heard that stuff tastes awful. Any other solutions?" His nose
still seemed to be stuffed, making his sentences a bit slurred.
baby," she chided. "Cough medicine
doesn't taste that bad, and you can
always rinse your mouth out afterwards.
And I hate to break it to you, but as long as you're sick, we should
sleep in separate rooms. I really don't
want to get more than a sore throat."
mouth to pose an argument but then he
seemed to reconsider it. "Alright. I guess that means I'll be sleeping on
the couch since I have a good idea that Jeffrey isn't going to want to get
sunrise sick either," he said with a soigh igh and another cough.
sorry," she murmured.
know I'd rather have you with me, but I really, really, really don't want to end up in the hospital."
"That I can understand. It's
alright, Aida. The couch isn't sd and and itked ked well enough a little while
ago."
interrupted her.
moved to shield Aida from whatever or whoever seemed to be attacking them, but
the attack never came. "What the fuck was that? Stay here," he
ordered, walking over to the wood block and pulling out a large knife since he
didn't have either of his two on him. "I'll be right back."
the living room slowly, holding the kitchen knife he had grabbed in a slightly
loosened grip in case he needed to throw it. When he saw what had created the
commotion, he went still, casting steely eyes out through the shattered window
and into the street. Whoever had done this was long gone and Sands' fist closed
on the knife handle tightly in a barely contained rage. "It's alright,
Aida. You can come out here if you want. Just stay back," he ground out
between clenched teeth. He would not let this stand. If it was to be war on the
entire fucking neighborhood, so be /p>
/p>
god..." Aida breathed, coming into the living room.
seemed to think it would be a great idea to throw a brick through our window.
Mind the broken glass," he muttered, his cold gaze still fixed out into
the street where he could see the neighbors across the street looking out
through their blinds and curtains at him. He just glared back.
that?" she asked, surveying the ruin and feeling herself torn between
getting the broom and going er her husband.
know when I've found him," he said evenly.
her for some reason. "What do you
mean?"
this is not going to get away with it," he answered, still looking out the
broken window.
talking about informing-the-police not getting away, or
talking-matters-into-your-own-hands not getting away?"
the police. Too risky." This wasn't exactly an answer.
anything yourself," she said, ignoring his warnings to stay back.
him."
honestly expect me to just let this go, can you?" he asked, casting an
incredulous look her way.
expect you not to do anything that will call undue attention to yourself."
attention back to the window for a long moment before muttering
"Fine," through gritted teeth and a slightly pained look on his face
as if he were spitting up broken shards of glass with the single word.
be upset, at least not with me," she pleaded as she plucked at his
sleeve. "I...what's
that?" When Sands turned, he saw
that her gaze rested on the brick. It
had a paper wrapped around it.
think someone could just throw a brick through our window without braggingout out it, did you? I'm sure it's something to do with the fact that we are
technically one man and two women living in the same house which the
neighborhood already fucking knows. Bastards." He made no move to look at
it. He truly didn't care about it. He only cared about finding and killing
whoever had done this, and slowly. But Aida wouldn't let him. Maybe Jeffrey
could. It wouldn't be the same, but it wouldn't be a total loss either.
leaned against him. "We should
clean this up. Elsewise we'll be invaded
with bugs before the hour is out."
"Sweep or tape up the window?"
sweep. There should be some cardboard
and duct tape in the garage."
be right back. Be careful. It might be a good idea if you put on some shoes
rather than slippers."
find what he needed. When he came back
in from the garage, he found his wife with a broom in her hands, and a pair of
his shoes on her feet. On her, they
looked like clown shoes.
those are better than nothing," he said, almost smiling as he dropped the
pile of cardboard he had carried in on the couch. "I'll wait until you're
finished."
vacuum the couch just in case I miss any slivers.
help him cheer up, but Aida was deeply disturbed.
that was a position she'd never found herself in before.
he said with a sigh, his almost smile fading into nothingness as he was
reminded about what had happened. "You were right, you know. I wasn't
thinking clearly. I was…upset." That was a bit of an understatement, but
he said it anyway. "I'm alright now." He took the cardboard in his
arms again and grabbed up the roll of grey duct tape and walked over to the
broken window.
Aida asked carefully as she focused on the rug.
it?" he asked, casting a glance over his shoulder as he held a taped piece
of cardboard in place.
that I wanted to cry over this, what would you tell me?"
what whoever did this wants."
shouldn't?"
silence for a few more minutes before Aida murmured, "But I still want
to."
I'm not going to tell you want to do, Aida."
said -"
doesn't matter. If you want to cry, then cry."
cold and flat that even though she was thoroughly miserable, she couldn't
cry. "Never mind," she
whispered, trying to keep her mind on her work.
passed and Sands took a step away from the window to admire his handiwork. It
wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. "I never said you couldn't cry,
Aida."
said I could either. You don't like it
when I cry."
don't," he said with a slight shrug. "I don't like not knowing what
to do, and whenever you cry, that's what happens."
you to do anything when I cry. Well...nothing
more than to hold me."
know that, but still…. It makes me uncomfortable. I don't like to see you
sad."
always express my feelings in ways that don't use tears."
that and walked over to stand next to her, spinning the roll of duct tape in
his hands absently as he did so. "Do you still want to cry now?"
know. It's not something I'm really used
to doing on command. At least not
to know."
that in mind," he said with a slight sigh, turning to look at the now
blocked window. "I really hate people sometimes," he muttered under
his breath.
she agreed.
going to do about this? I ask you because you know my thoughts on the matter,
and that's not an area you're willing for me to go."
life." She shrugged.
the police and report this. You don't
have to necessarily get involved."
what you want to do."
have to do something. Right?"
then something like this will happen again."
choice that's the least risk to you, right?"
"I guess so. There's always risk in the world, Aida. You can't avoid
it."
rather not report it."
this only means that we'll have to solve this ourselves. No, not my way, don't
worry about that. What I meant was that we can't be seen to hide away after
this. If we do that, we will have lost."
she whispered. "I'd rather do that
than risk someone recognizing your license plate or something."
should be glad I didn't opt for the vanity plates on this car then, huh?"
he said in a dry tone.
joke about this," she whispered roughly.
"Just...please don't."
joke, I start to realize just how angry I am still. But alright. I won't."
joke about that.
It's fine. If you don't wan to to joke about it, I won't. No big deal."
His sentence was interspaced by ill timed coughs and sniffles. His cold, it
seemed, didn't like being ignored any more than he did.
take some medicine," Aida insisted, absently setting the broom down and
wandering towards thtchetchen.
have any medicine for colds?" he asked, following behind her after setting
the roll of tape down on a small end table.
and climbed up on the counter so she could better search the cabinet.
of my things."
the answer he had been wanting, but he figured it was his own fault for asking.
He hated medicine. He hated doctors. He hated hospitals. They were all equally
despised in his book. But the hatred for this cold was beginning to outweigh
even all of that. And the fact that his own wife wouldn't let him sleep in his
own bed for fear of getting sick-something he didn't like, but
understood-overbalanced the scales even more. "Well I haven't been using
it, so it should still be there," he murmured.
is," she called from the depths of the cabinet.
close enough to help her down from the counter, and then she crossed the
kitchen to dig in a drawer. A few
seconds later she had a small plastic cup in her hand, and was pouring the
thick red liquid into it. "Drink
up," she instructed, handing the medicine over.
face but took the cup from her. He sniffed at it, made another face, and looked
up to his wife who seemed to be both amused and slightly frustrated with him as
he stalled. "And this stuff will really make me better?"
your cough go away."
didn't fully believe it, but took a deep breath and upended the cup of cough
syrup like a shot of alcohol. Once he had swallowed it all he made an utterly
disgusted face, sticking his tongue out and screwing his eyes shut like a
little boy. "God, that stuff is horrible. I'd rather have the cough."
she muttered, rinsing out his cup and then getting him a glass of water.
to line your throat. It'll get into your
bloodstream quicker."
you taking any," he muttered over his glass of water, swishing a large
gulp around and walking over to spit it in the sink. "That stuff is
wretched. Why would anyone ever want to take it? And why can't they at least
make it taste better if people have to?"
a cough," she said tiredly.
"If I did, I'd be on antibiotics so fast it'd make your head
spin. And I've taken cough medicine plenty
of times. Enough to know it doesn't
taste that bad. And when they try to
make it taste better, they only make it taste worse.
fucked up rule," he murmured. "How long does it take to work?"
hour. Give or take."
had joined her husband is nas nap. Then
she wouldn't be so tired now.
alright?" he asked, noticing her looking very weary all of the sudden.
"It's all well and good that you tell me to sleep, but what about
yourself? Take a nap. The couch isn't so bad. You can even lay your head in my
lap this time."
be vacuumed still. I don't want to get
glass slivers."
he
bed. Supposedly that's what it's good for. The glass isn't going anywhere. We
can deal with it later."
breathe on me?"
confused look. "If you think that will help."
should wash your hands."
over to the kitchen sink and washed up thoroughly, shaking the water from his
hands as he walked back to her. "Anything else?"
and held out her arms. "Help
please," she murmured.
want me to do?" he asked, taking a hold of her arms and looking at her.
tired, but Aida still had her pride.
"Never mind," she murmured.
"I'm tired."
We'll go as slow or fast as you want. Just don't fall asleep mid-step. That
might be a tad awkward on the stairs," he said with a small smile.
to worry about stairs if he'd just carry her.
Aida sighed.
her husband, Aida managed to get up the first few stairs without mishap, but
her feet felt like lead, and she eventually tripped before they were even
halfway up. Falling awkwardly, she
gasped as her left wrist twinged, sending a bolt of pain up her arm.
Are you alright?" Sands asked with a worried frown, crouching down to help
her.
know," she whispered, trying not to cry.
"I think I sprained it, but I'm probably overreacting.
hurt all the same.
either case, you're done with stair-climbing for the time being." He moved
her into his arms, mindful of her injured wrist and of gravity trying to claw
at him and pull him backwards down the stairs, managing to pull her tightly
against her chest and moving up the rest of the stairs. "I'll get you some
ice once you're on the bed, alright?"
ice," she sniffed. "Too
cold."
your only option, Aida," he said kindly, laying her down gently on the
bed. "But if won't be that cold. It'll be wrapped in a washcloth."
squirmed on the bed, arranging pillows to support her back and neck.
anything else?" he asked, unable to keep the worry from his face as he
watched her move, her arm clutched against her chest.
should have carried you from the beginning after you said you were tired. If I
had, this wouldn't have happened."
fault. I could have been a bit less
proud."
"I'm still sorry." He stood there for a moment, unwilling to leave
her like this.
icuot;uot; she said, seeing his reluctance.
"You...you could stay."
put ice on it and it is twisted or sprained, then it'll just swell up and be
worse. I'll go get your ice." He looked resolved enough, but still he
didn't move.
she conceded with a sigh. "But
you'll hold it on?"
"I'll be back." With a last glance at her, he hurried out of the room
to get her ice, knowing that if he stayed any longer, he wouldn't have left at
all.
minutes later, wrapping a handful of ice tightly in a couple of clean
washcloths. He could still feel the cold coming through, but it wasn't that
bad. He took a seat on the bed next to her and gently laid the ice onto her
injured wrist.
this," she murmured, climbing into his lap.
him, her left arm held away from her so he could continue with his icing.
little and kissed the top of her head, trying to soothe her as much as possible
while he pressed the ice filled washcloth against her wrist. "Shh. Let me
take your pain away," he whispered. He began to murmur soothing words to
her as he held both tight against his chest and gently in his arms at the same
time. His words weren't all in English, but then again, they didn't really all
need to be. His message was clear. He loved her and would never let anything
bad happen to her. She was safe in his arms.
all it took to make her start crying.
She was utterly miserable between the exhaustion, the naggy cold she
had, and her arm. Not to mention what
had just happened downstairs. Her tears
didn't come fast or heavy, they just trailed down her cheeks as she sniffled.
crying and did the only thing he could. He held her. Actually, it turned out
that that wasn't the only thing. He tilted her head up slightly so that she was
looking up at him and began to kiss her cheeks; began to kiss her tears away,
still whispering soft endearments as he did so.
how long she cried, just that when she was done, her throat was sore, her
eyelids were like lead, and her wrist was numb.
On top of all that, she was utterly enervated.
the covers and taking a long nap.
sense this and gave her a quick kiss on the bridge of her nose and then gently
moved her off of his lap so that she was laying on the bed. "Get under the
sheets, spitfire and I will too if you like. We can both nap the day away like
cats if that's what you want right now." It actually didn't sound like
such a bad idea.
she agreed, her voice gravely. So tired
that she didn't even bother trying to move.
rest," he murmured, pulling the sheets out from under her and laying them
across her body. He then crawled under the covers beside her, careful not to
bump her injured wrist and thankful that he had taken his shoes off downstairs.
He truly didn't feel like doing anything more than sleeping next to his wife.
"See?" he murmured into her shoulder as he held her close. "We
use our bed for sleeping sometimes."
Sands," she whispered. "I hate
it. I just want to be well again."
be," he responded gently, believing every word.
it. "If that's what you really want, far be it from me to try and dissuade
you. I want you to be happy."
working," she whispered. "I
like meeting new people and doing new things."
work. You don't have to have my permission or anything."
priority is to be your wife," she told him.
good wife, wife," he said softly, placing a gentle kiss on her shoulder.
"But what if I want you to put your happiness first because I want you to
be happy? I'd rather have you happy than worrying about me."
think about right now when even her thoughts were sluggish.
allowing him to have the last word this time around.
I'll be right here by your side keeping you safe." His arms tightened
around her slightly. Not enough to hurt, but enough to reinforce his comment.
Saternitus?" she asked sleepily, opening one eye to look at him.
murmured, reaching a hand around his back to feel for the rabbit he knew was
there. He pulled him by the ears and brought him to Aida.
checking." She closed her eye
again.
looked at the rabbit with a small frown, not knowing where to but him. He
settled on placing it on the pillow above their heads so that it leaned against
the headboard. It likely wouldn't stay there, but at least it was out of the
way for now. "Pleasant dreams, wife mine." He settled next to her and
closed his own eyes after gazing at her for a moment longer. She wasn't the
only one who felt like they could use a long nap.
******************************
he didn't care. As long as he was warm and safe, nothing else mattered. He
burrowed against that warmth, but was more than a little surprised when the
warmth burrowed back. He opened a single sleepy eye and was greeted by the
sight of Miss Aida's face mere inches from his own. Opening both eyes wide now,
he extracted himself from her grasp, trying very carefully not to wake her, but
needing to get away. She wasn't his mother. She wasn't even related. This was
all wrong. Improper was what Mother would have said. As he was pulling off of
her, he noticed movement as something fell down onto the bed off of the pillow
and he froze, thinking that he had woken her up. When she didn't stir, he
turned his attention to what had fallen and couldn't help but smile. Aloysius!
He was here! Sheldon immediately scooped the rabbit up into his arms and hugged
him tightly. When he pulled his arms out in front of him so that he could get a
good look at his friend, he frowned. "Not Aloysius. Not the sane."
His rabbit didn't have a spot over his eye and the ears were different.
"Mustn't touch what doesn't belong to me," he murmured, setting the
rabbit back down onto the bed. He looked upon it with longing, but didn't dare
pick it up again.
moving next to her and sighed. "Is
it time to get up?" she rasped, not bothering to open her eyes yet.
not noticing that she had woken up until she had already spoke. "It's not
for me to say, Miss Aida," he answered her murmured question.
up?"
I just am, Miss Aida. Do you want me to go back to sleep?" he asked with a
frown.
is this?" he asked softly, casting a glance toward it as he spoke of it,
but still not touching it. It wasn't his.
was aware of who she was talking to, so she answered, "I got it for my
husband, but you're part of him and he knew you would like it.
a little bit."
mine?" Sheldon asked with a trace of hope in his voice. "Mine to
share?" he corrected himself. Being selfish was mean and wrong and would
get him punished. Unless it was the right kind of selfishness. Sheldon didn't
understand the difference, but Father did.
you." There was a dictionary of emotion in those two words. Sheldon
reached out and rubbed his hand across the rabbits' soft fur. "Does he
have a name? Saturninus," he said a moment later, as if he had known all
along.ch tch technically, he had. "Like in the play."
going to get in her sleep.
sorry," he said suddenly when he heard the tone of her voice. "I'm
being rude. You're tired. I'll go."
have to. I'm awake.
It took a tremendous force of will to pry her eyes opened, but Aida
managed.
polite to lie." There was a small smile on his face as he said it.
right. I'm not a polite person.
want."
stay?" he asked with a surprised tilt of his head.
want," he repeated what she had said softly, as if she had whispered some
kind of magic incantation. "I don't want to be alone," he said at
last.
don't have to leave. You can stay with
me. Just warn me ahead of time if you
decide to go exploring though."
supposed to leave alone. Not safe," he agreed, setting Saturninus on his
lap and petting the top of his head gently.
for a moment, then closed her eyes, mentally shaking her head.
on the bed for quite a few minutes more before he cast a longing glance into
the afternoon sunlight through the window. "Miss Aida?" he asked
gently, not knowing if she was still awake or not.
outside? Please?" he asked softly, almost as if he expected to be denied,
holding Saturninus to his chest tightly.
he had been stand he he might have scuffed his feet his feet a little.
"Not if you're tired."
though." She smiled reassuringly.
how?": Sheldon asked. He didn't exactly frown, but it was close.
out of bed."
moved off of the bed and walked around so that he was standing at her side,
Saturninus still tucked under an arm. "How?"
hands," she said, holding out her arms.
"And pull gently."
Saturninus on the bed reluctantly, but knowing that dropping him as he helped
Miss Aida up would be worse than putting him down. He took her hands in his and
pulled her to her feet as gently as he could. "Do you still need
help?" he asked once she was to her feet.
Saturninus and looked at her askance. "It was what you asked me to
do."
didn't have to do it."
didn't?" he asked, mildly confused. "But you asked me to. I'm supposed
to do what I'm told."
ye hee here with me, you're a guest. You
only have to do things - that I ask you - if you want.
Sands, and I don't think he'll be mean."
the other one? Jeffrey? Do I have to listen to him?" he asked curiously,
holding Saturninus a little tighter. "I don't think he likes me much. He
calls me names sometimes. Mr. Sands too."
that for a moment. "Only listen to
Jeffrey if he's going to hurt you," she said slowly.
like something he'd do. "But I'm
really not sure about him."
sometimes that it could just be me and you," he said with a child's innocent
selfishness.
do, sweetie." Aida patted his
shoulder. "And for right now it is,
so let's go outside like you wanted to."
frowned after taking a few steps, Saturninus in hand. "Do you know where
my shoes are? Can't go outside without shoes."
can. It's summer.
fine." Aida took his hand and
pulled him out of the room.
I can be out here without shoes?" Sheldon asked with a slight frown,
taking a step on the warm grass. He found he liked the sensation of it tickling
the bottom of his feet. But what had Miss Aida said about bees? He didn't like
bees. It made his steps halting and cautious.
feel like walking anym Aid Aida sat down on the porch and just watched as
Sheldon cautiously took a few steps on the new surface, smiling a bit at the
look of surprise on his face.
Doesn't it, Saturninus?" he addressed the rabbit without looking at him,
still striding across the lawn with a bit more confidence than before, but not
a lot. He really didn't like bees. He was afraid of them. He didn't want to get
hurt. But these fears didn't stop him from wandering over to look at the
flowers Salida had planted. They weren't roses, but they were pretty all the
same. He liked them. He then walked some more, looking at all there was to see.
He looked up at the large magnolia tree with something akin to wonder. He had
never seen such a tree before. He would have to ask Miss Aida what kind it was
later.
watch. Sands had seen all this before,
as had Jeffrey, but Sheldon's wonder was genuine.
did? Deep in her gut, she knew he wasn't
a threat.
come look! A butterfly!" Sheldon called out, watching the fluttering bit
of color sail past his face. He laughed but made no attempt to chase it. He
didn't want to catch it. He wanted to watch it move. He wanted to watch how it
flew. Why couldn't he have butterfly wings? Wouldn't that be fun? He knew it
would.
outside,&q he he said as he walked slowly back to her, still keeping a careful
eye out for bees.
glad." He didn't need to tell her
that he enjoyed it - that was more than plain to anyone who took a minute to
watch him.
though. Is it always this hot here?" he asked, plucking at the collar of
Sands' silk shirt with one hand while the other kept a firm grip on Saturninus.
not this hot at…home," he said softly, all the sudden remembering that he
didn't have a home anymore. He took a seat on the porch a few feet away from
her and stared out into the yard, seemingly not wanting to go out into it
anymore.
wrong?" she asked softly, more than able to interpret the look on his
face. It was one that her husband made
often enough.
a home. Not anymore. It's gone."
right. It is.
nodded. She had nothing to be sorry for. She hadn't done it. He had. He had
killed his own parents and burnt the only home he had ever known to the ground.
Had anyone else been hurt? His family had dozens of other people working in it
at any given point of time. More than a few of them had been Sheldon's friends.
"Was it just…Mother and Father or more?" he asked her. No one else
was available to answer his question.
Sheldon."
hugged Saturninus close. "I think it was more. No one talks about the
others. Only Mother and Father, but there were others. Friends. All dead
now."
not wanting to talk about it anymore. If he kept talking about it, then he
might start to cry and he didn't want to cry in front of her. "Can we go
for a walk, Miss Aida?"
he'd need shoes, and she'd need help.
But she wasn't about to deny him a walk of all things.
We'll go for a walk." In her
weariness, she forgot about the broken window and the as yet unread note.
helped her up off of the porch, forgetting that she was probably too tired to
be dong such things. He didn't think about it. All he wanted to do was too take
a walk. He was sometimes allowed to take walks at home, but he had to stay on
the grounds and he couldn't go alone. The notion that he could explore
somewhere he had never been before appealed to him. "Do you know where my
shoes are, Miss Aida?" he asked as they entered the kitchen.
be by the front door." She led him
there, and sure enough, there was a pair of shoes there.
floor next to them to put them on slowly and awkwardly, not entirely used to
his longer legs as an adult, and glanced into the front room. "What's
this, Miss Aida?" he asked after he had put on his shoes and went to
investigate, picking up the brick with the note attached that had crashed
through their window.
drastically and covered her mouth with a hand.
What had she been thinking? There
was no way that they could go out right now.
Not with Sheldon. Perhaps if she
had Sands at her side, she'd be able to face it, but not with Sheldon.
notice her reaction because he was busy unwrapping the piece of paper that was
bound to the brick. He set the brick on the ground and opened the note only to
have it snatched out of his hands by Aida.
she said in a soft, harsh voice.
"You don't want to read it.
This letter came from some very impolite and not nice people."
sorry," he said, looking down at his feet at her tone for a brief second
before looking up again, but somehow not really looking at her even though he
met her gaze. "I won't read it."
gave him a shaky smile. "Just trust
me when I say that you really didn't want to see what had been written and that
I'm not upset with you at all. I should
have gotten rid of this earlier."
he said softly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have picked it up. It was my
fault."
wasn't," she assured him, bending down so they were face to face.
didn't give this to me."
to look at it and you didn't want me to. No excuses. I'm sorry."
know," she said softly. "I
don't blame you, so you shouldn't either."
"We don't have to go on a walk now."
think that would be best," Aida said tiredly as she straightened.
because the next thing she knew she was seeing spots and swaying on legs that
didn't want to keep her up.
reached out to steady her, worry clear on her face. "Are you sick?"
he asked slowly. "I've been sick before. I didn't like it."
she whispered. "I am a little
unwell. I think I should sit down."
helped her to a chair, looking down at her and hugging Saturninus even tighter
in his worry. "What can I do?" he asked with a frown. "One of
the cooks made me some chicken noodle soup one time when I was sick. Maybe
that's what you need."
eat, but she didn't want Sheldon trying to cook either.
bit."
said, taking a seat on the floor at her feet and looking up at her. "I
don'nt ynt you to be sick."
sweet-heart. "Why don't you play
with Saturninius for awhile?" she suggested softly.
you."
he agreed with a small smile. He played with Saturninus for a few minutes,
pantomiming vast worlds around him for the hopping rabbit to explore. After a
little while though, something occurred to him. "Where are the cats, Miss
Aida? I would like to play with them too if I can."
shake the food bag in the kitchen, they'll come running," Aida murmured.
right back." He got up, taking Saturninus with him, and walked into the
kitchen to find the bag of cat food. Once he had it in hand, he gave it a good
shake, careful not to spill any on the floor. Sure enough, a few minutes later
four pairs of feet could be heard and Sheldon could see the two cats running
towards him, nearly tripping over each other in a race to get to their food
bowl. Sheldon let out a delighted laugh and bent down to pet both of the
meowing cats. He then walked back to where Aida sat with the cats in tow.
to be gentle with the animals and to allow them to leave if they wanted to go,
but soon felt her attention wandering.
She knew she should ask Sheldon to wake Sands for her, but she couldn't
manage to make the request. Instead, she
closed her eyes and let her mind drift.
to the two cats and to Saturninus to be quiet while Aida rested her eyes. She
was sick, didn't you know that? He had a lot of fun crawling around on the
ground as he chased after the cats. That is, until he caught a sliver of glass
into his palm. "Miss Aida, Miss Aida!" he called after her, bringing
his bleeding hand to her attention.
to drag her eyes open, and even then she had a hard time focusing on his
hand. "What's wrong?" she
asked, her voice rough.
hurts," he moaned to her. "I was just chasing after the cats on the
carpet. I wasn't doing anything wrong."
gotten a splinter," she decided after a few minutes of sluggish
thought. "You're going to have to
ask Sands for help. I'm not feeling
well."
cut himself off and nodded. "I'm sorry. Shouldn't have asked," he
said with a wince. "You're tired. Don't want to be bothered. I'll ask Mr.
Sands for help. You can go back to sleep."
help," she murmured weakly, "but I'm not well."
shook his head a little and Saturninus dropped to the floor at his side with
Sands staring back at her. "Oh spitfire," he said as he knelt down in
front of her in much the same way as Sheldon had earlier. "What are you
doing out of bed? You look like you could still use a year's sleep. Maybe
more."
And Sheldon got a splinter."
splinter. Glass," he said with a pained grunt as he yanked a large piece
of broken glass out of the middle of his left palm. "Fuck. That
hurts," he murmured, trying to keep his hand level so his blood wouldn't
drip dowto tto the carpet. "You stay here. I'll go get this cleaned up and
I'll get you something to eat. What do you want?"
care. Something with sugar.
what we have. I'll be right back." He got up and moved into the kitchen
after placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. He dropped the piece of bloodied
glass into the trash and rinsed off his hand in the sink. It was still bleeding
freely under the water, but at least the cold seemed to numb it a little. In
lieu of Band-Aids at the moment, he wrapped it tightly with a handful of paper
towels and set about getting Aida some food. He returned to her with all the
fruit they had in a large bowl, a knife to cut some it with, and the bowl of
sugar and a spoon. He set each item on the coffee table in front of her before
pulling back to press at his bloodied palm through the paper towels, frowning a
little when he could see blood beginning to seep through. "Enjoy."
of that," she instructed in a whisper as she reached for a banana.
alright," he murmured. He moved into the bathroom quickly and opened the
medicine cabinet above the sink and pulled out Band-Aids and set them on the
edge of the sink as he unwrapped his hand and threw away the bits of paper
towel into a trashcan beneath the sink. He washed the cut thoroughly, dabbed a
little alcohol on it for good measure, making a face as he did so, and covered
it with a Band-Aid. It still stung like a motherfucker, especially with the
added alcohol, but at least his hand wasn't becoming covered in blood anymore.
Satisfied, he returned to his wife.
through the banana and chewing slowly.
Her color was off, and her eyes were heavy-lidded.
it. Aida, if you still have a fever, you're going to the hospital. I don't want
to make you go, I don't want to take you, but if I looked the way you did right
now, you'd sure as hell be taking me." Before she could respond he hurried
back into the bathroom and returned with the thermometer after he had rinsed it
off. "Open wide, spitfire."
did as she was told, praying that she didn't have a fever.
guessed her prayer. He hoped she didn't have a fever either. After a few very
long moments, he pulled the thermometer out of her mouth and looked at it.
"101. Still. It either hasn't gone down since last time, or it's risen
again. Either way, it looks like we're taking a trip." He sighed.
"I'm sorry."
didn't protest. Instead she set the
banana down and pressed the heels of her hands to her teary eyes.
long run, won't they?" Sands asked hopefully, running his fingers over the
her cheek beneath her hand gently to offer comfort and to just touch her.
but that didn't help with the fact that she just felt downright miserable.
and rest. I'm going to go and tell sunrise where we're going. Do you need
anything from upstairs?" he asked gently.
that tone in her voice, but what choice did he have? Hadn't everyone been
telling him the minor illnesses alone could have devastating effects on her now
that her immune system was down? He was just trying to take care of her; to do
what he was supposed to and needed to do. He gave her a final look and mounted
the stairs and walked into Salida's room, calling out her name softly, not
knowing if she was awake or asleep.
soundly asleep despite everything that had gone on in the house since she'd
started her nap.
so he figured a note would work. He found a pad of paper and a pen on the night
table, and let Jeffrey pen the note after explaining to him what was happening.
sick so she and Sands are going to the hospital. They'll bring the cell with
them if you want to call. I'll be back as soon as I can.
note on his pillow next to her and gently moved a lock of her hair aside so
that he could look at her face. He wanted nothing more than to climb in next to
her, but he could feel Sands' urgency thrumming in the back of his head, unable
to ignore it. With a sigh, he kissed her gently on the cheek and let Sands go
back downstairs to collect his wife.