What to do? (RP with abbytude)

[fey_fire]

God help me, this is agony. For both of us.

Rory sat by the bed, watching the slow rise and fall of Pippa's breathing. His lover slept deeply, but it was the sleep of exhaustion rather than true rest. Last night he'd soothed and rocked her after another scream-inducing nightmare, then comforted her through the tears and self-recriminations that followed. Stupid, useless, a burden ... every word tore at his heart, but all he could offer were embraces she felt she didn't deserve and reassurances she didn't believe.

He couldn't even sing her to sleep. Not even hum. Not after what he'd done to her with Rory's own music.

Love was supposed to heal wounds, to conquer all, wasn't it? And yet, thanks to that piece of filth, Rory had to watch his sweet believer girl suffer through no fault of her own and know that all the love, closeness and support he could give her wasn't enough. Not for this.

Leaving Pippa with Mr. Beaker curled at her side, Rory walked into the living room, pulling his cell phone from his jeans pocket. He checked the time before calling up his contact list. Eleven in the morning ... Abby would probably be at work by now. Well, he could leave a message if she wasn't free. Pippa needed help that he couldn't give, and Abby was the only person he trusted to ask for some direction.

Keeping one ear tuned for the sounds of Pippa stirring, Rory listened to the dial tones with the other.

Comments

[abbytude.livejournal.com]

"I'll be here." Abby wipes at her face again, when had the tears resumed falling? "This afternoon or tonight, unless you enjoy watching me run around like a maniac while I pack."

She's trying for humor, but really, the sooner she can get things under control in both cities (because Abby always needs to feel in control) the better. "She's all right being left alone?"

The doctor is guessing at Rory's problem of the moment, she hasn't talked to Pippa much beyond how the woman is feeling physically and making sure she has the sleeping pills Abby suspects she isn't taking often enough.

[fey-fire.livejournal.com]

His hand scrubs across his forehead once more. "She swings back and forth, to be honest," he sighs. "But Cait has offered to stop by anytime she wants or needs company. I'll check before I come over."

Leaning forward again, he starts massaging the back of his neck. "I can be there by four, if that works for you."

[abbytude.livejournal.com]

Abby nods as if he can see her. "That's fine. I'm really not going anywhere." She pauses and snorts softly, "I'm not sure I can, I think my ass is numb. Don't ever sit on your sister's balcony all morning."

What she is going to do between now and then, besides somehow manage to get up off her rear end, is call Ruairi and work as well as the airlines and people back in Chicago one more time. "Rory, it's only been a little over a month...it will get better."

[fey-fire.livejournal.com]

That she can offer him reassurance when he can hear tears behind her voice only reinforces in Rory's mind how glad he is that Da found her. "Thank you, Abby," he husks. "I know that's true ... but it helps to hear it from someone else."

Another sigh, this one less depressed and more determined. "I'll see you at four."

[abbytude.livejournal.com]

Doctor first, take care of everyone else then worry about yourself--Abby's always been good at that. "Anytime. See you."

She hangs up the phone and tells herself to call the hospital, her significant other, her best friend...then promptly ignores her own orders to smoke another cigarette and wait for four o'clock to roll around.