ikissdhimbck: (Milliways Room)
Katherine "Kissin' Kate" Barlow ([personal profile] ikissdhimbck) wrote2013-07-28 12:40 am

OOM: Room #100 -- for Tommy Gavin

[Following this:]


The sun's just setting when Kate heads in from the stables. Lately, she's been staying out after dark, but tonight she needs to clean up before Tommy stops by.

Her room is untidy, a 'tee-vee' and 'dee-vee-dee player' on a rolling cart stationed in front of her bureau. There's a small stack of films lying nearby. The table in the corner is covered with dirtied glasses and half-empty — or completely empty — liquor bottles, used tissues, and cupcake wrappers.

She unlocks the door and steps in, greeted by the expectant mewling of her cats. Taking off her gun belt, she leaves it on the chest by the foot of her bed, and heads into the washroom. She feeds the boys, and takes a quick bath.

By the time Tommy stops by, the bed will be made and the trash collected, the glasses stacked to be washed later and the bottles pushed aside. A few tissues escape her notice under the T.V. cart, but at least she feels mostly presentable.
gavin62truck: (I jumped across for you)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-28 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, that's usually the case with remakes, too. They're never as good as the originals."

He takes a sip of cocoa, also sobering, a slight crease between his brows. Feeling guilty for adding to her need of a distraction this past week.

Ambling over to the bed, he sits beside her, holding his cup on his knee, and breathes a short sigh.

"Listen, I'm-- I just wanted to say sorry for-- y'know, the trip to New York going the way it did. I just-- I thought I could help."
gavin62truck: (I jumped across for you)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-28 07:06 am (UTC)(link)
He shrugs and nods.

"I guess. We watched a movie, had dinner. They liked your biscuits. Lou didn't wanna pass 'em off as his own, though, so he said he got the recipe from a friend. They also didn't believe me when I told them I helped make the butter. Or that I helped, period."

He snorts a chuckle, shaking his head a little before taking a sip of his cocoa.
gavin62truck: (I jumped across for you)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-29 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
He covers her knee with a hand, doubly warm from holding his cup of cocoa, and squeezes gently.

"Wish you could've stayed. --Well. Wish I hadn't messed up. I mean, thinking back on it now, I'm like, jeez, what an idiot I was. I shouldn't have pushed you into all that. It's just-- I wasn't sure what you wanted, and-- I dunno, I guess my idea of a day out wasn't the same as yours. 'M sorry."
gavin62truck: (giving in)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-29 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
He's a little confused at first.

"But I-- I did wanna be with you, honey..."

They had breakfast with Lou and Tommy's dad, and then they went sightseeing in the heart of the city, walking through midtown along Fifth Avenue with all its fancy stores and skyscrapers and people and tourists and--

Yeah.



With a deep sigh, he puts his arm around her shoulders. She doesn't have to explain herself.

It's a little disheartening to think that the only place they can really be together is right here in this room, within these four walls.

"Maybe we could try again another time. Somewhere else."
gavin62truck: (I jumped across for you)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-29 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
He shrugs (not with the shoulder under her head).

"No, not really. Not now, anyways. I was then, but not 'cause of you, of course. I mean, sure, I was disappointed that you couldn't stay for dinner or meet the girls, but more like I was disappointed in myself for-- well, y'know, messing up. And not making things better for you."

Squeezing her shoulder, he kisses the top of her head.

"But anyways. What happened happened, right? No sense dwelling on it now. And coming from me, that's sayin' something, 'cause you know me, honey, I'm a huge dweller. I can dwell on things from here to kingdom come. You give me a problem and you bet I will dwell the hell out of it."

A beat.

"Except for this. This, I won't dwell on. Also, the word 'dwell' really starts to sound funny when you say it too many times."

He's rambling.
gavin62truck: (I jumped across for you)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-29 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right."

Silenced for the moment, he purses his lips and presses them against her hair, still damp from her bath and smelling sweet.

"I know it ain't my duty, honey, but-- well, I'm still your friend. And honestly, you're pretty much my closest friend here, so I just wanna help. That's all."
gavin62truck: (giving in)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-29 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
He breathes a warm chuckle into her hair, his lips twisting slightly. Lou might be secure enough in his standing with Tommy, but pouting wouldn't be out of the question.

Hugging her closer, he rests his cheek against the top of her head.

"I know I can't fix everything like magic or come up with some miracle cure, and I sure as hell ain't no fancy doctor with all the know-it-all textbook answers, but-- anytime you wanna tell me anything, you know I've been down those roads, too."
gavin62truck: (I jumped across for you)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-30 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
He's never judged her or pitied her, never questioned her choices or ever told her to get over something. All he's ever done was to try to make her feel safe, and wanted, and cared about. Maybe he'd made some mistakes along the way, and maybe he hadn't always been successful, but his intentions were always good.

He rubs her arm, keeping her pressed against his side. Not only is holding on something he's been trained to do when someone's life depends on it; it's a part of his nature, too.

"I can do that."
gavin62truck: (grief)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-30 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
His hand comes to rest on her shoulder as they sit quietly. The cocoa fills him with sweet warmth, just as having Kate be near him does the same.

Then, cup held in his lap, he considers what she says.

"I guess I-- I kinda want the same things you do. To stop running for a while. To get away from the stuff in my head. To sleep. You help me sleep, too, y'know. And that's a huge thing for me 'cause any time that I can spend where I don't feel angry or guilty, or I don't see the faces of people I couldn't save, or I don't hear-- the voices-- I--"

His voice suddenly cracks.

Shit.
gavin62truck: (grief)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-30 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
He quickly turns his face away from her in case the wet sting in his eyes and the lump shoved up into his throat turn into something more. He puts his cup down on the floor at his feet and leans forward on his elbows, head bent, jaw clenched, a hand pressed to his brow-- willing this feeling to go the fuck away.

He hates it. He hates its suddenness, its randomness. That it's becoming more frequent and uncontrollable.

That it could happen in public, in front of other people.


After a few moments and a few deep breaths, the jag passes without getting worse. This time. Face still turned away, he roughly wipes his eyes with the heel of his hand. Embarrassed and frustrated and angry again.
gavin62truck: (giving in)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-30 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
He doesn't feel as if he's being coddled, but though one part of him wants to pull away, the other part deeply wants this and needs this. It's been too long since he's let anyone close enough to give this to him.

Eventually, he sits up a bit, shoulders still hunched. He doesn't look at her, only shakes his head as she runs her fingers through his hair.

"That wasn't supposed to happen."

It's muttered self-deprecatingly.
gavin62truck: (somber)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-31 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
He manages to huff a dry chuckle. Whenever their jagged edges are exposed, they always seem to fit together.

Breathing a deep sigh, he turns his head, pressing his cheek lightly against her forehead. He swallows, hesitating before deciding to speak.

"I've been-- seeing the same ghosts again lately. Even when I'm awake. And I ain't even drinking. They just-- appear, whenever, wherever, and-- and I just lose control. 'S never happened like that before."

He sighs again, leaning into her, his limbs sagging.

"Dunno why. Must be stress or something."

Slipping his arm around her waist, he gives her a grateful squeeze.
gavin62truck: (I jumped across for you)

[personal profile] gavin62truck 2013-07-31 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
It's hard when you're supposed to be the big tough guy, to allow yourself to be comforted in a moment of vulnerability. But Tommy has always trusted Kate, and he trusts her now, even though it's still a little difficult to look at her.

"I know, I know..." he murmurs, nodding. "'M fine now. It comes and goes."

Pursing his lips, his gaze briefly flicks up to meet hers.

"Thanks."

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