Seahorse Cabin Steps: Early Wednesday Morning

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The sun was just pulling over the tops of the trees when Jack settled onto the Seahorse cabin steps.

He'd woken when the sun had slanted through the window. Cedric had been curled around him, muttering in his sleep, and Jack had taken a moment to simply enjoy it before easing away and slipping out of bed.

The Dining Hall had beckoned him with its promise of coffee, so he was a bit bemused to find himself sitting here, drinking tea.

But it was a beautiful morning.

[ooc: open and completely botherable. Content of Jack & Isabel's conversation NFB, please, but that they talked is fine for broadcast.]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry," she said quietly as she slipped an arm around his waist and squeezed. "I wish it could have been different, easier for you both."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Me too, especially for her. I could see her hurting, see her needing things from me that I couldn't give her." Jack took a drink and offered the cup to Isabel. "Tea? She's an extraordinary woman, though."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Tea? That's sacrileige around here. You're supposed to be drinking coffee." Still that didn't stop her from taking the cup and having a sip. "She wanted you to love her."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I was just in the mood for tea." A small smile made a brief appearance. "She did. She wanted it so badly, and I would have traded almost anything to give it to her. But I just didn't feel it." Jack's shoulders slumped. "We talked, and I explained as much as I could, and she listened, and told me what she could."

He decided against mentioning the letter or her reaction to it. The emotions tied up with that were too confusing, and he wasn't ready to try and explain them to anyone. Not even Isabel.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I wonder why," Isabel replied in a tone that made it clear she had a pretty good idea why. "Give it time," she said quietly. "If you're willing to see her again that is."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Tea is good," Jack said. "I promised her I'd call, and write, as often as I could manage." He leaned against her, tightening his arm. "I should have stayed longer, but I just couldn't. It hurt too much, not being able to give her what she wanted."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"That's good," she said. "What you had took time. Now you just need to rebuild it." Isabel rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry that it hurt."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"So am I. And there was nothing I could do to make it better." Jack rested his head against hers. "I hate that, feeling helpless like that. It's never going to be the same as it was, but I think - I hope - we can find our way to something."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You will. You're an easy person to love. And you've got a big heart," Isabel said, grateful she wasn't looking right at him. "You'll figure it out."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack pulled away enough to look at her face. "You're too good to me, Isabel." He set his cup down on the stairs and put his other arm around her, drawing her close. "Thank you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You deserve it," she said as she returned the hug. "And I told you, anytime."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack held her tight. "I don't know how I got so lucky," he said. "But I'm glad I've got you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I think I'm the lucky one," Isabel laughed softly as she let go and rested her arms on her knees. "It's weird, we knew each other before, but it was much more casual. I don't think I would have been up sharing tea with you first thing in the morning then."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Maybe it's because we didn't know each other?" Jack picked up the cup and rolled it between his hands. "And apart from Parker, you were the first person to come and talk to me. Remember? You came and found me in my room, my first day back."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Oh I remember. I guess I'm just trying to say, I'm glad we got a second chance to get to really know one another," she admitted. "You're a good friend."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"You too." Jack nudged her shoulder. "You make everything that happened somehow seem not so bad."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad I can help," Isabel said. They sat quietly for a few minutes, enjoying the quiet. Finally Isabel got to her feet. "I'd better go get ready for karate. I'll see you later?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I hope so. If you're not too busy with Greg, that is," he teased. "You'll forget all about me and I'll be left sad and alone."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She reached out to thwap him and settled for ruffling his hair. "I always have time for my friends," Isabel promised. She blew him a kiss and then headed back to her cabin.