an old fashioned brawl [[closed to John for H&M]]

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica really isn't worrying. Not at all. The pacing she's doing isn't worrying. It's just that her husband is out breaking up a fight when she would really love to be there. Not fighting, of course. No. Not punch throwing. Probably

Comments

[yippiekiyaymf]

She could probably figure out exactly what he was doing from the sounds, because he was a creature of routine. First he hung up his coat, then he went to check on the kids, looking in to see Angel peacefully asleep, and Puck probably out with Veronica or his other friends. Then he petted the dogs, and checked to see that they had water.

Then he went to the bedroom to look for Erica, but first, he stopped by the locked drawer where his gun was put as soon as it was taken off without fail.

Through all of it, except for a few words to the dogs, he hadn't spoken. After putting his gun up his weary steps took him to the bedroom door where he looked at her.

"Hey, Honey." His voice is tired, with more that physical weariness.

[5thcolumnfed]

"Hi baby," she says as she stands, examining to make sure he has no bruises and isn't limping.

Then her hands move to his chest. "Your pajama pants are warm. Waiting."

She ducks her head a little sheepishly.

"'Case I was wearing them."

[yippiekiyaymf]

He chuckles.

"Then I can't wait to get into them." He places his hands over hers, and leans forward to touch heads with her, and kisses her forehead. Then he pulls back, to take off the holster, then his shirt.

[5thcolumnfed]

She lets him have his routine, she knows it's important. She's there for him when he's ready. She gathers up the clothes he's discarding and his holster, draping that over the chair in their bedroom.

"Fight get broken up okay?"

[yippiekiyaymf]

There's a tiny smile as he pulls on the warm pajama pants, then he puts on a t shirt as a pajama top.

"Yep. Instigators, and one minor dependent in custody." He sighs and sits on the edge of the bed.

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica changes into a tank top to wear with her shorts. She's tried to lighten up on the cold temperatures inside since its cold outside.

"I hope the fact that you're here now means that you left me the paperwork to do tomorrow," she says as she sits next to him, rubbing his shoulders.

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Ummm, no. I got most of it done when they were being processed and I was waiting for their visitors. Oh, that reminds me." He went to his messenger, and typed out a message.

"Lilah's my usual prisoner advocate, but she works for the main complainant, so she's representing him. She suggested Laura as a substitute."

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica kisses his shoulder, nodding. "I think that's a good idea. She's negotiated on behalf of humanity, this should be easy for her."

Once he's done typing, she finds his eyes. "What can I do for you?"

[yippiekiyaymf]

"I don't know." He lays down and puts his head in her lap (what remains of it) hand stroking her belly.

"Help me figure out how to save people from their own stupidity?"

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica lets out a soft laugh, her fingers stroking the top of his head and his ears.

"An exercise in futility, dear. It'd be easier to get a wall to talk back."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Faith's guy left the village. She's alone with the baby. And...she's not built to go to someone for help. So she walked into a vampire bar and picked a fight." He sighed.

"I think Dean was mostly there for moral support, but he's a dysfunctional dick too." He says it with exasperation, not anger. It's actually harder when you like the dysfunctional dick in question.

[5thcolumnfed]

"Losing someone isn't an excuse to beat up a group of people who aren't doing anything but existing." She knew from losing. And she'd wanted to do some crazy shit - could have gone after Lisa, easy - but she didn't.

"But I know it doesn't make things easier."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"I know it's no excuse, but Faith wasn't brought up the way we were. She wasn't brought up at all. Sort of a free range kid, with no one to trust, authority figures never there to help, only judge. She's got a lot of anger."

[5thcolumnfed]

"You can't beat up people for nothing. Just because they wouldn't mesh in her world doesn't mean she can try taking them out here. I understand, it's hard for her. But from what I'm gathering, she just walked in with intent, honey."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"I know that, Honey. I'm just afraid...if she doesn't find some forgiveness, it'll make her lose hope -- give up on ever trying to be a good citizen."

[5thcolumnfed]

"Her baby doesn't do that for her?" Erica can't help but wonder.

"I'm not saying someone through the book at her."