Don't talk of worlds that never were

[chilichoc]

[To Mel's dismay, her insomnia seems to be returning, though she's been trying to hide it so Mail won't worry. She keeps catching herself nibbling on her fingernails when she's not paying attention, too. It must have something to do with that damn futures room, she thinks. So she found the library with the books about magic, and pulled out all of

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[Mail has been increasingly worried over Mel since their visit to the futures room. So much that he instantly notices the nail-biting and insomnia. It isn’t until two days after the start of the habits that he gives her a kiss on the cheek and says he’ll be right back, only to return with a first aid kit.] Let me see your hands, Mel. [He says softly while setting the kit on her book, opening it and retrieving a small sanitational cloth from within.]

[chilichoc]

*She looks at her bare, ragged nails and shrugs.* It's not so bad.

*But she sets her book aside and holds out her hands, hoping Mail won't notice that she bit the cuticle on her index finger hard enough to draw blood not long ago.*

I just... don't like my dreams lately. I'll be fine once I find the right spell.

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[He noticed.] You drew blood, Mel. How is that not so bad? [He gently cleans off her fingers with the cloth, setting it aside and gently blowing to help dry them. When that's done, he digs out ten band-aids from the kit.]

Well, I'll just have to make sure you don't further harm yourself until we do. [He stresses the 'we' while ripping open the first bandage and applying it to her index finger.] And don't you even think of taking these band-aids off, Mel, because I will know.

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I wasn't paying attention, that's all.

I meant "we," I- Sorry. I'm really tired. *One of her hands twitches as she starts to lift it to her mouth again and catches herself in time to arrest the motion.*

I won't take them off. But you worry too much. Hell, I probably worry too much, right?

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There's some Tylenol PM in the kit. Do you want to see if it'll knock you out? [He notices and places the bandages on her hand before switching to apply the same to the other.]

Fingers are important, Mel. What happens when you accidentally bite a nerve and render your hand paralyzed?

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No... Can we just look for a way to get home? Then I bet I'll be able to sleep. *She tries to hold her hands still and mostly succeeds, though her fingers move faintly, restlessly.*

I think I'd notice before I bit that hard. *She's trying to make light of it, but she frowns. A Mel who can't hold a gun is no Mel at all, right?*

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Mel. How long can a human being go without sleep? After answering that, tell me how long it took for us to find a way bind ourselves together. Then you tell me if you think I'd let you continue working.

You weren't paying attention earlier, Mel. [He kisses her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles.]

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OK... *Her vision is starting to go spangly from sleep deprivation, not that she'd tell Mail that.* We can try the Tylenol PM.

But I just nibbled, I didn't actually bite. *She knows a losing battle when she's in one, and manages a smile when he kisses her hand.* Don't worry, love. Really.

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[He smiles and pulls out the little packet of medicine, pressing it into her hand.]

I'm going to worry, Mel. I love you. [He leans in to press a soft kiss to her lips.]

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*She tilts her chin up to return the kiss.* Love you, too.

I'm sure it was just that damn room. I mean... some of those things aren't even possible now. So why the fuck did it show them to us? *She tears the packet open, then looks at him, biting her lower lip.* They're not possible, right?

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It probably wanted to scare us. [He reaches for a bottle of water, offering it to her.]

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It does like to do that. Thanks. *She takes the pills, but is still thinking this over, and still worrying at her lower lip with her teeth.*

Everything we did with magic... healing you, binding ourselves... It can't take that away?

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Never. Why do you think it's trying to scare us, Mel? [He picks her up, not caring if she does protest, and brings her over to the bed, setting her down and flicking off the lights before closing the curtains to the window and joining her in bed.]

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I know, it's- I'm just being silly.

*She doesn't protest; she crawls over to him the minute he returns to the bed and wraps her arms around his waist, settling her head on his chest.*
It hates us.

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No, Mel. It's trying to discourage us. It's hoping we'll slip up. But we won't, because you are you to get some rest, and then we're going to work on that spell - together. [He kisses her forehead and runs his fingers through her hair.]

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It really is a bastard. But it's OK. You're right. Together, we're unstoppable.

*She holds him tighter, and the medicine makes her yawn, but she's not sure she'll actually fall asleep; her mind's too busy fretting, and sorting through what she's read so far.*
It'll take a complicated spell. At least two parts, I think.