Early Tuesday, Room #412 [Locked to George & Phoebe, NFB]

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George stands in the fourth floor hallway, staring at the closed door of Room #412 for a long moment. It looks as if she slept in her clothes, overall rather rumpled and miserable. She finally takes a deep breath and musters up the courage to knock.

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[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looks up from her writing and then moves to the door. She opens it and when she sees George, she becomes concerned. She ushers her in and then closes the door.

"George? What's wrong?"

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George looks determinedly at her feet, feeling guilty at Phoebe's concern. "I-- Phoebe, I'm not sure how to do this. But there's something I feel like I should tell you."

[sensethevisions]

This makes Phoebe even more concerned and she thinks she might be picking up faint traces of guilt, but that doesn't make any sense. Stupid empathy power.

Phoebe offers George a chair and then waits.

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George sits down, clasping her hands together in her lap to stop their restless movements. She forces herself to look Phoebe in the eye. "You knew Kitty Pryde, right? I mean, she was your roommate before you moved in with Jayne?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nods slowly. "Yeah, she and Lockheed are very dear friends of mine. I'm helping in the search for her...why?"

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George struggles to hold Phoebe's gaze. "Phoebe, I --" She falters, her throat constricting. Finally she forces out the words. "Phoebe, Kitty's dead."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe's entire face turns pale and she drops to the bed.

"George...are you...are you sure?"

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George swallows. "I'm sure. It happened last Thursday." She takes a breath before continuing. "And the reason I know is because I was there."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe has no concept of why this happened. She can tell that this is tearing her friend apart.

"You were there?"

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George nods shortly. "Phoebe, do you know what I am, what I do? I didn't see what happened to Kitty, but I spoke with her -- after. She was confused, she didn't realize she'd died." She presses a hand to her forehead. "It doesn't normally happen like this."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe pushes her own emotions back and takes George's hand in hers.

"Tell me as much about who you are or what you do as you feel comfortable with." She takes a hitching breath. "Do you...do you know what happened to her?"

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

"I'm a reaper; like Death, in a way. I reap the souls of people who are about to die and help them move on. When I died two years ago in an accident, I 'woke up' and this is what I was, what I did. I don't -- I don't have any choice in the matter."

George squeezes Phoebe's hand. "I don't know what happened to Kitty. At the time, there was no... no body. No signs of a struggle. Nothing to show how or why she'd died. Alanna called me last night, and when we talked, she seemed to imply that it was -- that Kitty had been murdered."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nods, her eyes filling with tears. "Gods, that definitely cannot be easy on you." She swallows. "Thank you...thank you for telling me, George. She was dear to me."

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George simultaneously feels as if one weight was lifted, and another put in its place. Her own eyes filled with tears. "I'm so, so sorry, Phoebe." she said quietly. "I wish I could go back, I wish I could've at least been there when it happened... I couldn't have changed anything, but at least then we'd know the truth."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe hugs George. "You have nothing to apologize for George. You cannot be everywhere at once. I'm- I'm glad she had you to talk to, after..."

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George returns the hug. "I probably could've handled it better, in hindsight." She smiles at Phoebe weakly. "Thank you. Thank you, and I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do, don't be afraid to ask."

[sensethevisions]

"George, some things there is no good way to handle. You're my friend and you risked a lot to come to me and tell me what you knew." She smiles. "That offer goes both ways. You need anything, come to me?"

She smiles faintly. "Since you told me yours, it's only fair that I tell you mine...I'm a witch...apparently a very power witch who is tasked with defending the world from evil."

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George smiles back. "I appreciate the offer."

She's seen and experienced so much in the last two months that she is unphased by Phoebe's admission. "Sounds like you're going to be busy in the near future. If Kitty was murdered..." She shook her head. "Only an evil person would do something like that."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe agrees. "Only a truly evil and soulless person would harm someone like Kitty. We'll find out who did this to her, George."

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George nods, sniffling. "I know we will... She has really good friends who won't stop until they do." She looks at her watch to check the time. "I should get going. I've got Biology class to get to, so I won't be in Journalism today. See you later?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nods. "I dropped Journalism. I'll fill you in later?"

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George raises her eyebrows in surprise. "Sure thing." She stands up and goes to the door. "Well, I'll see you soon. Let me know if you hear anything new about Kitty."

[sensethevisions]

"I will...and again, thank you for letting me know, George."

[deadlikegeorge.livejournal.com]

George gives Phoebe a half-hearted smile and wave before stepping into the hall and shutting the door behind her.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe watches her leave, and then curls up on the bed, letting her tears come in full force.