[[ wheelsy, south carolina ]]

[justdidntseeit]

[ "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.

Comments

[justdidntseeit]

She adjusts the pillow under her knee one more time, and with her hand still tucked in Bill's, it's not long before her muscles relax and she starts to drift.

"Thank you."

The words are soft and slurred, and she's asleep before she realizes she's spoken.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

His eyes crack when he hears her soft words and he looks over at her.

After her breathing evens out he watches her awhile, making sure she's resting easy.

He can't help worrying that what happened today is going to be something that will bother her for a long time, and there's really nothing he can do for it.

He also can't help wondering, a bit bitterly, how long they're going to have to keep enduring things like this; bad situations they can't control. There's so much going on and so much keeps happening, it's some kind of miracle that they've gotten this far.

"We just gotta do our best an' then pick up the pieces when the dust clears."

Doc was right, and even though Bill is tired as hell, he'll keep trying; keep working to make this work, to keep this and her, and get to the point when they can have what they want and he can finally give her what she deserves.

It's worth it. She is worth it.

With a worn but fond smile he turns, rolling onto his side facing her. His hand squeezes her fingers and his eyes drift closed watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as she sleeps.