Curtis and Edgar, initial treatment and visiting hours

[simon_doctor]

It's been a rough day for Curtis and Edgar. Fortunately, the Milliways infirmary is definitely set up to handle hypothermia and exposure.

[Icon above notwithstanding, Simon Tam is not actually appearing in this thread.]

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[dejah_thoris]

She opens her eyes and looks at him. Goddess, she wants to believe that, she truly does. A part of her still whispers, selfish, indulgent, greedy. She doesn't want to fight that fight right now. She just wants to have this. Being here with him is not turning her back on Helium. It is not abandoning her people. Time stops for her. They could live out a whole lifetime here, together, and she could return when it suited her.

The surface of her thoughts is serene, contented. But her sense of duty is so ingrained, so integral to who she is, that guilt remains, heavy and dark beneath all her thoughts.

I love you, Curtis Everett. Her eyes flare bright for a brief moment. She needs him to know that. Above all else.

[2goodarms]

This isn't something he'll leave to thought alone. He needs to say it aloud: "Love you, too."

Curtis trails his fingers down the side of her face. The effort to hold up his arm gets the better of him; before he lets it fall back to the bed, he catches Dejah's hand, squeezing gently.

The weight under her thoughts feels so familiar. Different reasons, same kind of shadow that touches even the happiest moments. All he can do is gently push more reassurances her way: it's okay, it's okay.

She can stay. She has earned a rest. And if she needs to go back, Curtis will wait -- or come with her.

[dejah_thoris]

Her head drops so she can plant a kiss on the back of his knuckles. Her thoughts lean into his reassurances.

The last sentiment makes her gaze come up.

"When you're feeling better, we'll talk more about -- you coming to visit me. And when things..." with Edgar are more stable.

[2goodarms]

Yeah. A whisper of thought.

Relief flutters at the back of his mind: he and Edgar aren't stable yet, but they've got some kind of foundation in place, at least. For the first time in months, Curtis has some idea of where to go. Enough rubble's been cleared off the tracks to get moving again.

God, just seeing that path kind of feels like a miracle.

[dejah_thoris]

She lifts her hand to his cheek, gentle as she can possibly manage. She feels that ray of hope and echoes it back to him, like a crystal glass struck, reverberating in harmony.

She stands, carefully setting the mug on the table, and leans up to press a soft kiss to his brow. I would kiss your lips, but I imagine they are still tender. A quiet pulse of amusement. Only means more kissing later.

[2goodarms]

He snorts a quiet laugh, catching the amusement and sending it back to her twofold.

(If there's a thought or two mixed in there related to just how much he'd like to do later -- well. Can't be helped. New connection and everything, hasn't got all the intricacies worked out!)

"Little bit," he admits. "Rain check, for sure."

Still, he can manage a smile, small and beginning to verge toward sleepy. So glad you're here.

[dejah_thoris]

I am where I belong. By your side.

They've been teasing each other with those thoughts, emotions, feelings for weeks now. Gentle caresses of longing limned with licks of heat. She devours those thoughts, revels in the clarity the new bond provides, and he can feel her own longing singing in response.

In answer to his growing sleepiness, she gives him another soft look. "Here. The bed is plenty big for both of us."

A moment later, she's crawling up beside him, gingerly insinuating herself into the crook of his arm.

[2goodarms]

Oh.

His smile grows as much as his windburned face will allow. Curtis scoots back enough for both of them to get comfortable. Just as carefully, he curls his arm around her, rests his cheek atop her head.

Even here, he doesn't have to sleep alone.

"Night, Dejah." Love you.

[dejah_thoris]

"I love you, too."

She relaxes against him and he can feel how safe she feels, nestled against his side. Even with the coffee, it only takes a few moments before she's fast asleep.