justdidntseeit | [[ wheelsy, south carolina ]]

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[[ wheelsy, south carolina ]]

[ "i believe i have met your sister, kate." ]

Marie's been in the bar.

Kate all but stumbles inside the kitchen, gripping the back of one of the wooden chairs with her free hand as soon as the door closes behind her.

(She didn't want to show any more weakness than she already had as she left Milliways and Ramon's cruel smile.)

Knuckles bloodless around the smooth curve of oak, she can't stop the shuddering breaths that burn in her lungs and catch in her throat.

don't cry don't cry don't cry, Bill doesn't need this, not now

But her stomach's on fire and the walls are underwater; sinking into the chair, she squeezes shut her eyes. The ice pack is on the table in front of her, forgotten.

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Grateful for the support, she wraps an arm around his waist and leans into his side as they make their way down the hall and into the bedroom.

"I'm just really tired," she says as she eases onto the bed and shrugs out of her fleece.

With the twin aches in her knee and stomach, she's almost nauseous.

His movements are careful as they walk and when they reach the bed.

Kneeling down to unlace her shoes he looks up at her.

"Did you want some aspirin or anything?"

He'll go and refill the ice pack in a minute.

"No, I don't think -- "

She toes off one Nike, then the other, mostly stifling a wince.

"Maybe some ginger ale? There's some in the bottom shelf of the fridge."

He sets her shoes off to the side. The request isn't quite expected but he doesn't question, just nods and stands up.

"Be right back."

Grabbing the ice pack he heads back to the kitchen, dumping out the old ice and water and refilling it with fresh cubes from the freezer.

He returns with the ice and a glass of ginger ale, holding both out to her while standing on the side of the bed.

"Are you hungry? I can run to the bar real quick an' get somethin'."

He's thinking of fast and easy so she can eat and rest.

She swings her legs onto the mattress, keeping her movements careful and deliberate, and she props a spare pillow beneath her knee as she settles into a sitting position against the headboard.

When Bill comes back, she reaches for the ice pack and the glass, but the ginger ale almost slips from her hand when he speaks.

"No, Bill, don't -- "

Her fingers tighten on the glass; she gives him a tight, apologetic smile.

"I'm not hungry."

Her alarmed words startle him and he makes a quick movement to grab the glass when he sees her almost lose it. When she recovers he takes his hand back and brushes condensation on his palm off onto his thigh.

"Okay."

He studies her a moment before sitting on the edge of the bed, being extra careful not to jostle her. Looking down at his hands between his knees he rubs his palms together, silent a long minute.

"Kate, what-- what did you mean earlier, when you were talkin' 'bout a dream? What dream? What happened?"

She places the ice pack on her knee, staring at the cubes inside the clear plastic until they blur.

"It was a while ago."

She frowns slightly, trying to remember.

"The day I met Doc -- the same day I ran into Jack after I came back."

She scrubs her eyes with her free hand.

"I woke you up that night. I -- I dreamed Marie was in the bar, and she was hurting you."

A lot of the details have faded, but the image of Bill, bleeding and held at gunpoint, is burned into her mind's eye.

"She had a gun, and she made you -- "

"Who eats a bullet today, you or my big sister?"

"I couldn't stop her, and she made you choose."

Her throat tightens.

"You didn't pick me."

He looks over at her sharply, surprised.

"Of course I would've picked you, I-- "

And then he realizes that he's misunderstanding her, what he's saying is exactly what she's afraid of.

Frowning he turns and looks across the room at the far wall, trying to remember that night and trying to think of something to say.

He remembers her telling him about running into Jack; remembers how angry he felt learning that Jack knew all along what was going to happen to her back in L.A.

Thinking about it he remembers her waking up later on, and then the promise she made him make to avoid Marie if she ever showed up.

Looking back at her he shakes his head and reaches his hand out for hers.

"Kate, you don't have to... you ain't gotta worry 'bout me. I can-- that ain't gonna happen. I'm gonna be all right."

With a jerky nod, she laces her fingers with his.

"Yeah."

I hope.

"But I still worry."

She squeezes his fingers.

I have to, because I love you.

He nods, looking at their hands together then offering a smile that he hopes is reassuring.

"I know, but, Kate, if it's been years since this guy's seen her her door is probably gone. Things are gonna be okay."

I hope.

Closing her eyes, she nods again.

"But if she -- if something happens and she gives you that choice -- "

She lets out a slow, silent breath before her eyes open.

"You have to pick me."

She can't watch him get hurt; not again.

His throat works and he can't keep his head from shaking 'no'.

"Kate-- "

I can't.

"That's not gonna happen. Nothin' is gonna happen."

But if it does ...

Her chin's trembling again and she can't trust her voice, so she clenches her jaw and swallows hard.

"Okay."

She lifts her glass to her lips, proud it isn't shaking in her hand, and takes a small sip.

He watches her and it hurts to see her like this, with her eyes red-rimmed, her features tight trying for control and her voice so soft.

Curling his hand around hers he strokes her knuckles with his thumb.

"I love you, Kate. You should get some rest."

"I know."

She sets the glass on the nightstand before she can meet his eyes.

don't cry don't cry don't cry

"Do me a favor?"

"What?"

It's almost hesitant but he keeps his voice even and his eyes on hers.

"Could you -- "

She licks her lips.

"Could you stay out of the bar today?"

Please.

He starts to nod and then his thoughts go to Katherine and what he told Doc. He wants to check up on that, to know when she's back, but Kate...

"I will. I'll stay here."

He finishes the nod and follows it with a half smile.

Seeing his hesitation, she's sure she's asked too much, that she's being stupid and irrational and he's only agreeing to placate her.

"Just ... just today."

"I'll stick around here."

As long as she wants or needs him to.

He doesn't say it, but he squeezes her fingers and gives her a better smile trying to prove that it's okay.

"When you get hungry just lemme know an' I'll throw somethin' together."

She returns the squeeze before releasing his hand, shifting to lie down. Adjusting the ice pack, she settles onto her pillow and gives him a small but genuine smile.

"Thanks."

He waits until she's settled then leans over and brushes his lips against hers.

Pulling back so they're just centimeters apart his hand lifts to graze her cheek; smiling warmly now.

"Sure."

He kisses her again before straightening up to stand.

Her eyes open when he stands, and his expression causes her smile to widen.

"Keep practicing -- maybe you'll finally beat Rudy this weekend."

"Oh, you watch, I'm gonna get him."

He tries to sound confident about it but he's also laughing so it ruins the effect some.

He plans to keep it down though, so she can rest and incase she needs him.

"An' if I don't that's just proof that he's a cheater."

She manages a weak laugh as she relaxes against the mattress.

"It can't be that you're just bad at Madden."

She's still smiling when her eyes close.

(She can still see Ramon's smirk.)

"I don't think I've met a human in this place quite so ... unbalanced."

They open again, and she focuses on Bill to replace Ramon.

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