"Two Lies Sometimes Make a Truth," Candice-centric, PG
Title- Two Lies Sometimes Make a Truth
Rating - PG
Characters/Pairings - Candice/HRG, Candice/Claire, HRG/Claire
Originally Written - September 8, 2007
Spoilers/Warnings - A mostly AU take on 1.17 "Company Man" but spoilers for future episodes as well, specifically 1.18 "Parasite"
Summary - Her trembling brave smile and anxiety ridden face say more than the tight little nod she gives in defiance of what you believe (wanted to believe).
Disclaimer - I don't own a thing! I'm just playing with the characters. I promise to give them back unharmed (mostly).
The first time he asks; you chuckle, amused by the complete twisted-ness of his request.
“Don’t you think they will mind?” You gesture to the door; the world beyond the cell he has been in for over a month.
He smiles in a way that makes you wonder if you really do have control. “No, I don’t think they will mind very much at all.”
You consider his request, toying with a long brunette strand of hair. “Do you think she will mind?”
He flinches, just slightly, before recovering to a steely smile and the only hint you might have rattled him is a slight undercurrent of danger to his voice. “Who says she ever has to know?”
You shrug, undeterred and still say no; but as the door clicks into place, locks tight and strong to keep him in, you know your answer won’t always be the one you gave today.
**
When she asks you, the water you just sipped gets caught somewhere in your esophagus, and after thirty seconds, with watering eyes, you manage to ask, “You can’t be serious?”
Her trembling brave smile and anxiety ridden face say more than the tight little nod she gives in defiance of what you believe (wanted to believe).
“What if someone finds out?” Interesting how once you have done it, slipping again doesn’t seem so bad.
“My mother is dead, I haven’t seen Lyle in ages, and who cares enough about me to say anything?” Her challenge is strong, but it’s not until she adds quietly, “I miss him,” do you realize your answer is yes.
You walk out into the alley, still not quite believing what you’re about to do.
But the look on her face when you walk into the shop where you left her is worth all your misgivings.
“Claire-bear.” But the voice sounds wrong in your ears, even if it lifts her higher than you’ve ever seen.
**
“Claire?” The voice you have assumed for so long carries across the restaurant, and it’s a stroke of luck it’s not yours today. Claire wanted someone that wouldn’t stand out shopping; so today, you’re young, hip and female.
Claire turns, eyes sparing you a second’s confused glance before she is lost in his voice. “Dad?”
Age is clear on his face, the sun highlighting wrinkles and laugh lines you never knew he had, but Claire is already in his arms; her still tiny frame so small there; you feel just a moment of jealousy - not just of Claire, of them both. You’ve played their parts so many times, you thought you had it right.
But as you watch them now, you realize you always had one thing wrong. You thought neither of them knew what the other wanted.
You always thought the kiss he dropped on her head was innocent, and every time she squeezed him around the middle neither felt any response. But in the afternoon light of the café, you realize they knew all along.
You foolishly believed you were real to them, but now, as you fade into another life, you finally see that to them you were exactly what the rest of your life has been: an illusion.
Feedback is love!
Rating - PG
Characters/Pairings - Candice/HRG, Candice/Claire, HRG/Claire
Originally Written - September 8, 2007
Spoilers/Warnings - A mostly AU take on 1.17 "Company Man" but spoilers for future episodes as well, specifically 1.18 "Parasite"
Summary - Her trembling brave smile and anxiety ridden face say more than the tight little nod she gives in defiance of what you believe (wanted to believe).
Disclaimer - I don't own a thing! I'm just playing with the characters. I promise to give them back unharmed (mostly).
The first time he asks; you chuckle, amused by the complete twisted-ness of his request.
“Don’t you think they will mind?” You gesture to the door; the world beyond the cell he has been in for over a month.
He smiles in a way that makes you wonder if you really do have control. “No, I don’t think they will mind very much at all.”
You consider his request, toying with a long brunette strand of hair. “Do you think she will mind?”
He flinches, just slightly, before recovering to a steely smile and the only hint you might have rattled him is a slight undercurrent of danger to his voice. “Who says she ever has to know?”
You shrug, undeterred and still say no; but as the door clicks into place, locks tight and strong to keep him in, you know your answer won’t always be the one you gave today.
**
When she asks you, the water you just sipped gets caught somewhere in your esophagus, and after thirty seconds, with watering eyes, you manage to ask, “You can’t be serious?”
Her trembling brave smile and anxiety ridden face say more than the tight little nod she gives in defiance of what you believe (wanted to believe).
“What if someone finds out?” Interesting how once you have done it, slipping again doesn’t seem so bad.
“My mother is dead, I haven’t seen Lyle in ages, and who cares enough about me to say anything?” Her challenge is strong, but it’s not until she adds quietly, “I miss him,” do you realize your answer is yes.
You walk out into the alley, still not quite believing what you’re about to do.
But the look on her face when you walk into the shop where you left her is worth all your misgivings.
“Claire-bear.” But the voice sounds wrong in your ears, even if it lifts her higher than you’ve ever seen.
**
“Claire?” The voice you have assumed for so long carries across the restaurant, and it’s a stroke of luck it’s not yours today. Claire wanted someone that wouldn’t stand out shopping; so today, you’re young, hip and female.
Claire turns, eyes sparing you a second’s confused glance before she is lost in his voice. “Dad?”
Age is clear on his face, the sun highlighting wrinkles and laugh lines you never knew he had, but Claire is already in his arms; her still tiny frame so small there; you feel just a moment of jealousy - not just of Claire, of them both. You’ve played their parts so many times, you thought you had it right.
But as you watch them now, you realize you always had one thing wrong. You thought neither of them knew what the other wanted.
You always thought the kiss he dropped on her head was innocent, and every time she squeezed him around the middle neither felt any response. But in the afternoon light of the café, you realize they knew all along.
You foolishly believed you were real to them, but now, as you fade into another life, you finally see that to them you were exactly what the rest of your life has been: an illusion.
Feedback is love!