For muses_w_remotes - 2.2
2. "Will, my love for you is like this scar, (points at elbow) ugly, but permanent."
| Will & Grace
Beth was starting to think that returning to Scotland was a more than viable option. She’d done what she could. She’d laid everything on the line with Riley, and while she couldn’t blame him, she also couldn’t wait forever. The weekend was nearly over, and she hadn’t heard a word from him. The silence she almost felt like she deserved. Why would he want anything to do with her? He was right. She was the one that dumped him and now she was suddenly telling him she still loved him and wanted him and would move here for him.
She’d be ignoring herself as well.
Only she did love him. She did want him. She would move here for him. Beth ran her hands over her hair and curled up into a tighter ball in the hotel chair. And when all was said and done, eventually her money would run out. She either needed to make the move here properly, or get back home. She couldn’t stay in this hotel forever. There was a soft knock on her door, and her stomach clenched. It was him. It had to be him.
Oh God, please let it be him.
The only other people that knew she was here were Tara and Lachlan, and she was pretty sure Tara would be spending the day next to her husband’s side in the hospital. She looked down at herself, and rolled her eyes at her hotel room ensemble of track pants and a cardigan over a faded Rolling Stones t-shirt. Beth quickly crossed the room and pulled the door open without even checking the peephole. Her stomach dropped when she saw it wasn’t Riley. She started at the young woman in front of her, taking in the flaming red hair, and the faded jeans and Nirvana t-shirt under the denim jacket.
Beth didn’t need an introduction to know who she was. “Tab!”
Tabitha London Browne blinked. Her brown eyes darted around as if trying to work out if she’d been wearing her nametag from work, or if she’d met Beth before without knowing it. “Ah… hey. Beth, right?”
“Aye.” She stepped forward and offered her hand. “I’m sorry, I’ve just seen a lot of photos of you and Riley. I’d know you anywhere.”
Tab looked at the offered hand before taking it. She gave Beth a small smile and shrugged her shoulder. “Wish I could say the same, but Riley’s been a bit light on some of the details…” She nodded her head at Beth’s t-shirt. “He forgot to mention you had decent taste music for one thing.”
Beth smiled, and stepped back to let Tab in. “Aye, well… anything is better than half of what your brother listens to.”
“Agreed.”
Beth cleared her throat and gestured to a chair. “Have a seat if you like. I dinnae mind if you make yourself comfortable.” She moved her hands around helplessly for a moment as she tried to work out what to do. “Would you like a drink?”
Tab shook her head, and hooked her thumbs in the back pockets of her jeans. “No on both counts. I’m not really planning on staying long. I’m only here because Riley asked me.”
Beth’s eyebrows went up and she took a seat herself. Something told her she wasn’t going to like this, especially with the way Tab was currently looking like she might be ill. “He did?”
“Yeah, look, there’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to get it the fuck out because this is awkward enough as it is.” Tab ruffled her short hair, rolled her shoulders before fixing Beth with a steady gaze. “Riley’s been hurt.” She ignored Beth’s gasp, and tried to ignore the utter pain on the other woman’s face. Seems like she really did still love Tab’s brother. “He was working in the clinic, or something and some fucking mental arse with a needle decided to attack him while trying to get some drugs. The needle got Riley, and he also tore his arm, and shit. Anyway, the kicker is that the arse has HIV and Hepatitis C.”
“This cannae be… How can it even… Fuck.” Beth clutched at her stomach, and just sat there staring at Tab. It was a joke, right? It was a joke and she was just missing the punch line. It was a horrible, awful joke and she just wasn’t getting it.
Tab nodded. “He wanted you to know…”
Beth started to cry. She didn’t mean to, it wasn’t exactly something she’d planned to do when first meeting Riley’s twin. “Oh, fuck. I just thought he didnae want-I just thought I’d scared him away.”
Tab looked around the room, and sighed before she moved next to Beth and patted the Scottish woman on the shoulder. “Hey, look, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Beth sniffed and looked up at Tab through the tears. “It wouldnae matter, he’s the man I love! I don’t want him hurting like this. Or to be, you know…”
“Infected?”
“Aye.”
“Because you want to fuck his brains out?”
“Tab!” Beth looked aghast, but her cheeks started to heat up and she gave a slight nod.
“Figured. Look, he still loves you, okay? I know it might not seem like it because he’s taking his sweet arse Riley time working out what you being here means to him, but he does love you.” Tab perched herself on the armrest of Beth’s chair and looked at her with sympathy. She hadn’t known the woman for very long, but if nothing else Beth’s emotional reactions alone told her how much Riley meant to his ex. “So… I know it’s a bad time and all, but I need a favour.”
Beth wiped at the tears and continued to sniff. “Is he okay?”
“He’s scared out of his fucking mind. So no.” Tab frowned. “Which again leads to the favour.”
“Aye, what is it?” She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. “I’m sorry, it’s just…”
“Riley. I know. I have to go back to New York tomorrow, and I don’t want him alone. I figured that since you were here and Tara’s busy with Lachlan and stuff, that maybe you’d look after him for a week, or so.”
Beth shifted in her chair. She felt oddly insulted that she was a last resort. Apparently no one thought she was good enough to look after Riley unless there wasn’t anyone else available. Still, she could understand it from the twins’ point of view. She was the ex after all. “Of course I will. I’ll do anything to help. Fuck, I cannae even imagine how he must feel, if I’m only crying from being told about it and not experiencing it.”
Tab shrugged and made a face. “Yeah, well… it’s fucked up, no arguments there.” She moved away now that Beth had stopped crying. She pulled out a bit of paper from her pocket and handed it to Beth. “It’s every possible number and way to get in contact with me if something goes wrong, or you need to me for any reason. You have to promise to call me the moment something happens, okay? I’m not fucking around.”
Beth nodded, and took the paper. She matched Tab’s stern look. “Of course. I wouldnae dream of fucking around when it comes to Riley.”
Tab quirked an eyebrow, but didn’t comment. She still didn’t get why Beth would dump her brother. “Good. So anyway, I’m going to get back to him. Come to the apartment when you’re ready tomorrow, just don’t leave it too long. I’ll probably be gone by lunch.”
All Beth could do was nod again. “Aye, of course. I’ll get a few things packed.” She stood up on trembling legs and moved to open the door for Tab. “It was nice to meet you, even if I wish it could have been different.”
Riley’s sister tried to smile, but it lacked any real happiness behind it. “Yeah, me too. See you around.” She gave a brief wave as she left the hotel room, and Beth shut the door with a ragged sigh. Returning to Scotland was no longer a viable option.
Beth Anderson
Original Character
Words: 1374
pullmysteth and asinthecity used with permission.
| Will & Grace
Beth was starting to think that returning to Scotland was a more than viable option. She’d done what she could. She’d laid everything on the line with Riley, and while she couldn’t blame him, she also couldn’t wait forever. The weekend was nearly over, and she hadn’t heard a word from him. The silence she almost felt like she deserved. Why would he want anything to do with her? He was right. She was the one that dumped him and now she was suddenly telling him she still loved him and wanted him and would move here for him.
She’d be ignoring herself as well.
Only she did love him. She did want him. She would move here for him. Beth ran her hands over her hair and curled up into a tighter ball in the hotel chair. And when all was said and done, eventually her money would run out. She either needed to make the move here properly, or get back home. She couldn’t stay in this hotel forever. There was a soft knock on her door, and her stomach clenched. It was him. It had to be him.
Oh God, please let it be him.
The only other people that knew she was here were Tara and Lachlan, and she was pretty sure Tara would be spending the day next to her husband’s side in the hospital. She looked down at herself, and rolled her eyes at her hotel room ensemble of track pants and a cardigan over a faded Rolling Stones t-shirt. Beth quickly crossed the room and pulled the door open without even checking the peephole. Her stomach dropped when she saw it wasn’t Riley. She started at the young woman in front of her, taking in the flaming red hair, and the faded jeans and Nirvana t-shirt under the denim jacket.
Beth didn’t need an introduction to know who she was. “Tab!”
Tabitha London Browne blinked. Her brown eyes darted around as if trying to work out if she’d been wearing her nametag from work, or if she’d met Beth before without knowing it. “Ah… hey. Beth, right?”
“Aye.” She stepped forward and offered her hand. “I’m sorry, I’ve just seen a lot of photos of you and Riley. I’d know you anywhere.”
Tab looked at the offered hand before taking it. She gave Beth a small smile and shrugged her shoulder. “Wish I could say the same, but Riley’s been a bit light on some of the details…” She nodded her head at Beth’s t-shirt. “He forgot to mention you had decent taste music for one thing.”
Beth smiled, and stepped back to let Tab in. “Aye, well… anything is better than half of what your brother listens to.”
“Agreed.”
Beth cleared her throat and gestured to a chair. “Have a seat if you like. I dinnae mind if you make yourself comfortable.” She moved her hands around helplessly for a moment as she tried to work out what to do. “Would you like a drink?”
Tab shook her head, and hooked her thumbs in the back pockets of her jeans. “No on both counts. I’m not really planning on staying long. I’m only here because Riley asked me.”
Beth’s eyebrows went up and she took a seat herself. Something told her she wasn’t going to like this, especially with the way Tab was currently looking like she might be ill. “He did?”
“Yeah, look, there’s no easy way to say this so I’m just going to get it the fuck out because this is awkward enough as it is.” Tab ruffled her short hair, rolled her shoulders before fixing Beth with a steady gaze. “Riley’s been hurt.” She ignored Beth’s gasp, and tried to ignore the utter pain on the other woman’s face. Seems like she really did still love Tab’s brother. “He was working in the clinic, or something and some fucking mental arse with a needle decided to attack him while trying to get some drugs. The needle got Riley, and he also tore his arm, and shit. Anyway, the kicker is that the arse has HIV and Hepatitis C.”
“This cannae be… How can it even… Fuck.” Beth clutched at her stomach, and just sat there staring at Tab. It was a joke, right? It was a joke and she was just missing the punch line. It was a horrible, awful joke and she just wasn’t getting it.
Tab nodded. “He wanted you to know…”
Beth started to cry. She didn’t mean to, it wasn’t exactly something she’d planned to do when first meeting Riley’s twin. “Oh, fuck. I just thought he didnae want-I just thought I’d scared him away.”
Tab looked around the room, and sighed before she moved next to Beth and patted the Scottish woman on the shoulder. “Hey, look, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Beth sniffed and looked up at Tab through the tears. “It wouldnae matter, he’s the man I love! I don’t want him hurting like this. Or to be, you know…”
“Infected?”
“Aye.”
“Because you want to fuck his brains out?”
“Tab!” Beth looked aghast, but her cheeks started to heat up and she gave a slight nod.
“Figured. Look, he still loves you, okay? I know it might not seem like it because he’s taking his sweet arse Riley time working out what you being here means to him, but he does love you.” Tab perched herself on the armrest of Beth’s chair and looked at her with sympathy. She hadn’t known the woman for very long, but if nothing else Beth’s emotional reactions alone told her how much Riley meant to his ex. “So… I know it’s a bad time and all, but I need a favour.”
Beth wiped at the tears and continued to sniff. “Is he okay?”
“He’s scared out of his fucking mind. So no.” Tab frowned. “Which again leads to the favour.”
“Aye, what is it?” She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. “I’m sorry, it’s just…”
“Riley. I know. I have to go back to New York tomorrow, and I don’t want him alone. I figured that since you were here and Tara’s busy with Lachlan and stuff, that maybe you’d look after him for a week, or so.”
Beth shifted in her chair. She felt oddly insulted that she was a last resort. Apparently no one thought she was good enough to look after Riley unless there wasn’t anyone else available. Still, she could understand it from the twins’ point of view. She was the ex after all. “Of course I will. I’ll do anything to help. Fuck, I cannae even imagine how he must feel, if I’m only crying from being told about it and not experiencing it.”
Tab shrugged and made a face. “Yeah, well… it’s fucked up, no arguments there.” She moved away now that Beth had stopped crying. She pulled out a bit of paper from her pocket and handed it to Beth. “It’s every possible number and way to get in contact with me if something goes wrong, or you need to me for any reason. You have to promise to call me the moment something happens, okay? I’m not fucking around.”
Beth nodded, and took the paper. She matched Tab’s stern look. “Of course. I wouldnae dream of fucking around when it comes to Riley.”
Tab quirked an eyebrow, but didn’t comment. She still didn’t get why Beth would dump her brother. “Good. So anyway, I’m going to get back to him. Come to the apartment when you’re ready tomorrow, just don’t leave it too long. I’ll probably be gone by lunch.”
All Beth could do was nod again. “Aye, of course. I’ll get a few things packed.” She stood up on trembling legs and moved to open the door for Tab. “It was nice to meet you, even if I wish it could have been different.”
Riley’s sister tried to smile, but it lacked any real happiness behind it. “Yeah, me too. See you around.” She gave a brief wave as she left the hotel room, and Beth shut the door with a ragged sigh. Returning to Scotland was no longer a viable option.
Beth Anderson
Original Character
Words: 1374
pullmysteth and asinthecity used with permission.