24 Fic: Balanced 1/1 (Karen/Bill)
Title: Balanced
Fandom: 24
Characters: Karen Hayes/Bill Buchanan
Prompt: #046. Star
Word Count: 502
Rating: G
Summary: Something important is missing from the Buchanan house.
Author's Notes: Long time, no see! I’m still here writing as often as I can. Hopefully I’ll be able to pick it up.
She’d known as soon as she’d gotten started, something was missing. She couldn’t figure out exactly what it was, but she just knew. Her gut rarely failed her, so she didn’t think it would start leading her astray now.
Even though they’d been moved in for months, there were still boxes and piles of things that hadn’t been unpacked yet. She’d managed to find everything labeled for the occasion, her gut told her there was something missing.
Bill, of course, thought she was crazy, but she couldn’t shake it.
As they started to decorate, she got a better idea of what was missing, but she didn’t mention it. Her words would’ve been lost among Bill’s continuous commentary to the dog that if she didn’t start moving she’d be wearing jingle bells. Her husband was a comedian, he really was.
At the end of the exercise, it made sense. The star was missing. The star her father gave her. Even saying it made her heart sink. It was the first year without him, now she’d lost the gift he’d given her for her first apartment, too?
Bill’s hand landed on her shoulder, fingers clasping gently.
“I’ll look for more boxes,” he murmured calmly, dipping his head to kiss her temple. “There has to be one hiding out in another part of the house.
She nodded, thanking him softly. “I wouldn’t even make a big deal, but…” she trailed off when Bill shook his head.
“But it’s special to you,” he smiled. “So we’ll find it.” As if to emphasize his point, he kissed her hand.
The touch alone calmed her. Bill always calmed her, really, often to her annoyance. Right now, though, she’d take as much tranquility as he could offer her. She had to find that star.
Laika’s head nuzzled her hand, reminding her she wasn’t alone in the living room. She smiled, scratching her ear gently. “I told you I wasn’t crazy.”
“Not about that at least,” Bill interrupted, his face partially obscured by a box. She didn’t bother to acknowledge that crack. He’d done well, she would let him mock her a little.
“You found it,” she breathed, leaning into his arm.
The cardboard bounced a little when it landed on the couch, but from the sound of it, nothing was in danger of breaking.
“It’s the last box in the entire house that says Christmas on it, so I think it has to be there.”
Even if it wasn’t in there, he deserved a kiss anyway. Standing on her toes, she drew his face down to hers.
“Thank you, Bill.”
His arm wound around her shoulders, drawing her into a loose hug. “Of course, honey.”
He rubbed her back easily, lips touching her hair. “I wouldn’t let you lose it, Karen. I’ll even put it on top for you.”
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she squeezed him gently.
“My hero.” She grinned, lifting her face for another kiss.
Already things were starting to feel a little more balanced.
Fandom: 24
Characters: Karen Hayes/Bill Buchanan
Prompt: #046. Star
Word Count: 502
Rating: G
Summary: Something important is missing from the Buchanan house.
Author's Notes: Long time, no see! I’m still here writing as often as I can. Hopefully I’ll be able to pick it up.
She’d known as soon as she’d gotten started, something was missing. She couldn’t figure out exactly what it was, but she just knew. Her gut rarely failed her, so she didn’t think it would start leading her astray now.
Even though they’d been moved in for months, there were still boxes and piles of things that hadn’t been unpacked yet. She’d managed to find everything labeled for the occasion, her gut told her there was something missing.
Bill, of course, thought she was crazy, but she couldn’t shake it.
As they started to decorate, she got a better idea of what was missing, but she didn’t mention it. Her words would’ve been lost among Bill’s continuous commentary to the dog that if she didn’t start moving she’d be wearing jingle bells. Her husband was a comedian, he really was.
At the end of the exercise, it made sense. The star was missing. The star her father gave her. Even saying it made her heart sink. It was the first year without him, now she’d lost the gift he’d given her for her first apartment, too?
Bill’s hand landed on her shoulder, fingers clasping gently.
“I’ll look for more boxes,” he murmured calmly, dipping his head to kiss her temple. “There has to be one hiding out in another part of the house.
She nodded, thanking him softly. “I wouldn’t even make a big deal, but…” she trailed off when Bill shook his head.
“But it’s special to you,” he smiled. “So we’ll find it.” As if to emphasize his point, he kissed her hand.
The touch alone calmed her. Bill always calmed her, really, often to her annoyance. Right now, though, she’d take as much tranquility as he could offer her. She had to find that star.
Laika’s head nuzzled her hand, reminding her she wasn’t alone in the living room. She smiled, scratching her ear gently. “I told you I wasn’t crazy.”
“Not about that at least,” Bill interrupted, his face partially obscured by a box. She didn’t bother to acknowledge that crack. He’d done well, she would let him mock her a little.
“You found it,” she breathed, leaning into his arm.
The cardboard bounced a little when it landed on the couch, but from the sound of it, nothing was in danger of breaking.
“It’s the last box in the entire house that says Christmas on it, so I think it has to be there.”
Even if it wasn’t in there, he deserved a kiss anyway. Standing on her toes, she drew his face down to hers.
“Thank you, Bill.”
His arm wound around her shoulders, drawing her into a loose hug. “Of course, honey.”
He rubbed her back easily, lips touching her hair. “I wouldn’t let you lose it, Karen. I’ll even put it on top for you.”
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she squeezed him gently.
“My hero.” She grinned, lifting her face for another kiss.
Already things were starting to feel a little more balanced.