Life fic: "Between Moments" (pg)
because citosol issued the following challenge: " What if one evening Dani shows up at Charlie's house asking him to keep her for the night to avoid her going to Tidwell house instead and finish what the kiss have started?"
Title: Between Moments.
Author: Keenir
Author's note: I was reading the latest issue of Psychology Today magazine (Dec. 2008), and one article practically screamed "This Is Tidwell!"...since, after writing it, it didn't fit the Highlander Crossover ficathon, I went to get a book on Zen, and added the second part.
the italic-sentances in Tidwell's part are from the magazine article about staying in the moment. the italic-sentances in Crews' part are from the book.
Summary: Dani with Tidwell, and Dani with Crews; in other words, Dani with two men who have more in common than one might think.
Spoilers: Did you feel that?, the knife eps.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. Far better people than me do own them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Work:
'It doesn't matter how it feels - pleasant or unpleasant, good or bad - you roll with it because it's what's present'
The next quakeing shuts him up as he presses his spine against the door frame, one hand clutching at the glass and beam, one hand reaching unwatched into the air. And, once the building stops moving, then Kevin Tidwell notices how close he is to Detective Reese.
He looks at her, she at him.
One moves towards the other - it matters not who moved first, only that both ultimately moved. Both kissed.
There was no case. More recently, there was no earthquake. There is only the kiss.
'you're not judging it.'
Years ago, he'd have rated it as a great kiss - particularly for a first kiss. But years ago, he wouldn't have come to LA. Years ago, he wouldn't have set aside peoples' pasts so much he'd have made that statement about criminals, particularly not with Det. Crews in earshot.
The moment passes, as thoughts of the past - recent past and goof-ups - break the pool of Kevin's thoughts, sending ripples every which way.
"What?" Dani asks, and all he can do is echo her question and hope he doesn't sound like an idiot when he does it.
'being open to the way things are in each moment without trying to manipulate or change the experience - without judging it, clinging to it, or pushing it away.'
He watches her go. Doesn't pursue her or press what just happened - that would be clinging. Kevin Tidwell returns his attention to the supplies with him in his doorway.
~~~~~~~
At Charlie's:
It was a while before she said anything, but Crews didn't mind: he knew Dani'd say something eventually - it was part of who she is. Though if is had become was, then she might not say anything at all. And that was okay too.
Ted was out, assisting one of his students with a project.
Constance was unreachable.
Jen had been avoiding him ever since... well, then.
That left him home alone with his partner, who was looking warily at the kitchen counter with the two plates, sliced turducken,... and
And what?
"No fruit," Dani said halfway through the meal.
"No fruit," Charlie confirmed.
Why no fruit? You always have fruit. "You okay, Crews?" yeah, like I have room to talk. Are fruits only for during work, maybe? That might explain it.
"I'm fine. It's like oatmeal."
"Oatmeal?" Are we still on fruit, or is your health like oatmeal? Or are you turning the conversation so you can ask me what's going on in my life?
"Oatmeal. Fruit. Eat too much, and it lessens it."
Dani nodded. "Have it all the time, and its not as special." Had a boyfriend like that: only wanted intimacy on holidays. Funny and sweet, but that was weird as hell.
"Yep."
You're good people, Crews. You may not know why I showed up at your door, but you bade me welcome and offered me a seat and dinner. And you're not asking why - to anything in all this mess. "So?"
Crews just looked at her.
"Isn't this where you offer a pearl of wisdom?"
"You want a pearl, Reese?"
"I prefer four-leaf clovers."
He nodded. "Okay. 'Your own worst enemy cannot harm you
"'As much as your own thoughts, unguarded.
"'But once mastered,
"'No one can help you as much,'" Crews said, quoting the Dhammapada.
Dani stiffened. "You're saying I wanted it to happen?" Still not saying what the 'it' was.
Charlie'd known her long enough to recognize the sound of Dani using shock to cover the hurt. "No."
"No?"
"No," he confirmed. "Uncertainty can be just as dangerous as wanting the wrong thing."
"And impulses?"
"Sometimes they're subconcious, sometimes not."
"And how do I tell them apart?"
"You know yourself."
That made sense. "'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred of a hundred battles.'"
Crews looked at her.
"Sun Tzu."
"Until and after you reach that point," Charlie reached into his pocket and held out his knife.
Dani remembered. Thanks, Crews.
~~~~~
The End
Title: Between Moments.
Author: Keenir
Author's note: I was reading the latest issue of Psychology Today magazine (Dec. 2008), and one article practically screamed "This Is Tidwell!"...since, after writing it, it didn't fit the Highlander Crossover ficathon, I went to get a book on Zen, and added the second part.
the italic-sentances in Tidwell's part are from the magazine article about staying in the moment. the italic-sentances in Crews' part are from the book.
Summary: Dani with Tidwell, and Dani with Crews; in other words, Dani with two men who have more in common than one might think.
Spoilers: Did you feel that?, the knife eps.
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. Far better people than me do own them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Work:
'It doesn't matter how it feels - pleasant or unpleasant, good or bad - you roll with it because it's what's present'
The next quakeing shuts him up as he presses his spine against the door frame, one hand clutching at the glass and beam, one hand reaching unwatched into the air. And, once the building stops moving, then Kevin Tidwell notices how close he is to Detective Reese.
He looks at her, she at him.
One moves towards the other - it matters not who moved first, only that both ultimately moved. Both kissed.
There was no case. More recently, there was no earthquake. There is only the kiss.
'you're not judging it.'
Years ago, he'd have rated it as a great kiss - particularly for a first kiss. But years ago, he wouldn't have come to LA. Years ago, he wouldn't have set aside peoples' pasts so much he'd have made that statement about criminals, particularly not with Det. Crews in earshot.
The moment passes, as thoughts of the past - recent past and goof-ups - break the pool of Kevin's thoughts, sending ripples every which way.
"What?" Dani asks, and all he can do is echo her question and hope he doesn't sound like an idiot when he does it.
'being open to the way things are in each moment without trying to manipulate or change the experience - without judging it, clinging to it, or pushing it away.'
He watches her go. Doesn't pursue her or press what just happened - that would be clinging. Kevin Tidwell returns his attention to the supplies with him in his doorway.
~~~~~~~
At Charlie's:
It was a while before she said anything, but Crews didn't mind: he knew Dani'd say something eventually - it was part of who she is. Though if is had become was, then she might not say anything at all. And that was okay too.
Ted was out, assisting one of his students with a project.
Constance was unreachable.
Jen had been avoiding him ever since... well, then.
That left him home alone with his partner, who was looking warily at the kitchen counter with the two plates, sliced turducken,... and
And what?
"No fruit," Dani said halfway through the meal.
"No fruit," Charlie confirmed.
Why no fruit? You always have fruit. "You okay, Crews?" yeah, like I have room to talk. Are fruits only for during work, maybe? That might explain it.
"I'm fine. It's like oatmeal."
"Oatmeal?" Are we still on fruit, or is your health like oatmeal? Or are you turning the conversation so you can ask me what's going on in my life?
"Oatmeal. Fruit. Eat too much, and it lessens it."
Dani nodded. "Have it all the time, and its not as special." Had a boyfriend like that: only wanted intimacy on holidays. Funny and sweet, but that was weird as hell.
"Yep."
You're good people, Crews. You may not know why I showed up at your door, but you bade me welcome and offered me a seat and dinner. And you're not asking why - to anything in all this mess. "So?"
Crews just looked at her.
"Isn't this where you offer a pearl of wisdom?"
"You want a pearl, Reese?"
"I prefer four-leaf clovers."
He nodded. "Okay. 'Your own worst enemy cannot harm you
"'As much as your own thoughts, unguarded.
"'But once mastered,
"'No one can help you as much,'" Crews said, quoting the Dhammapada.
Dani stiffened. "You're saying I wanted it to happen?" Still not saying what the 'it' was.
Charlie'd known her long enough to recognize the sound of Dani using shock to cover the hurt. "No."
"No?"
"No," he confirmed. "Uncertainty can be just as dangerous as wanting the wrong thing."
"And impulses?"
"Sometimes they're subconcious, sometimes not."
"And how do I tell them apart?"
"You know yourself."
That made sense. "'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred of a hundred battles.'"
Crews looked at her.
"Sun Tzu."
"Until and after you reach that point," Charlie reached into his pocket and held out his knife.
Dani remembered. Thanks, Crews.
~~~~~
The End