the sun shines on the living, the sun shines on the dead

[a_mere_child]

When Alyx awakens, the first thing she sees is the familiar windowless wall of Room 287. There's a momentary flood of relief: It didn't happen, it wasn't real, it was all a just a horrible dream.
( the sun shines on you and me, wherever we lay our heads )Then she sees her hand resting on the mattress next to her. Her knuckles are still bruised from

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[acts_of_gord]

Being outside today didn't help, exactly. Not in the way Gordon had been hoping, anyway. Nothing's really any better for having spent all that time sitting, but at least the worst of the chaos in his head's settled down. That probably counts for something.

It's getting downright cold and soggy out there, though, so he figured he might as well come inside. He's not quite up to facing the main room again. Annabelle and weird-past-version John were difficult enough to deal with. So really there's only one choice- well, two, but Gordon's not really the type to wander around the garage for wandering around the garage's sake. Three if you count the library, but he doesn't know where it is. That leaves room 287.

Hopefully Alyx... he's not sure what he's hoping as he reaches for the doorknob, just that it won't be a repeat of last night.

[a_mere_child]

Alyx is not immediately visible.

However, there is a suspiciously Alyx-sized pile of blankets on the bed, and if it's quiet enough, Gordon might be able to hear the ragged breathing of someone who's crying but not being very loud about it.

[acts_of_gord]

"Alyx?" Gordon calls quietly, before closing the door behind him. "Alyx, it's me..."

If she answers at all- which she might not, all things considered; it's the sort of situation where holding still and pretending very hard to be asleep might well seem the wisest course of action- he half expects it'll be a 'go away'.

[a_mere_child]

Silence for a long moment, then:

"Gordon?"

The voice from the blankets is faint and hesitant, as if she's not really sure that she heard anything.

[acts_of_gord]

"It's me," Gordon repeats, a little louder this time. "Are you okay?"

Stupid, stupid, stupid question, but what else is he supposed to say?

[a_mere_child]

The lump of blankets shifts, and Alyx's face peeks out, peering up at Gordon.

"You came back..."

[acts_of_gord]

"Yeah," Gordon says softly. "I had to see how you were doing."

[a_mere_child]

"You came back--"

She reaches out for him, but hesitates.

"Oh, God, Gordon," she sobs, "I'm so sorry about last night..."

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon settles down silently on the bed next to her. After a moment, he reaches for her hands.

[a_mere_child]

She grips his hands tightly in hers.

"I'm sorry," she says again. "Please don't go."

[acts_of_gord]

"I wasn't planning on it," Gordon assures her. "I promise."

[a_mere_child]

Alyx lets out a long, shuddering sob and sags against Gordon.

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon rests his uninjured cheek against the top of her head for a moment.

"I didn't exactly cover myself in glory last night, either," he murmurs. "You deserved better than that. I'm sorry."

[a_mere_child]

"'s okay. I just... I thought..." She shakes her head. "I don't know what I thought."

[acts_of_gord]

"It's all right. Under the circumstances..." He wraps his arms around her and pulls her closer. "You had reason. I don't blame you."

[a_mere_child]

"Thank you," she whispers fervently. The thought of losing Gordon, on top of everything else, is too much to bear.