Comments | taxonomites: 09 | location: old city sanctuary

longaevus in taxonomites

09 | location: old city sanctuary | refused to have

Dec 18, 2011 23:30

She'd lost many people over the years; many friends, lovers. And family. She'd stopped allowing herself to get close to people long ago. After Ashley had died that distance had only increased ( Read more... )

paul smecker (au), helen magnus, @ osten, dwight hendrickson, (night)

Leave a comment

Back to all threads

ty for tagging me troublescleaner December 19 2011, 05:58:57 UTC

Dwight isn't new to imagining Lizzy. She would have been nine years old now, beautiful with her mother's eyes and his own hair, only softer. She would have been prattling on and on about the Nutcracker the moment she saw the snow. It was a little thing, but Dwight always made sure to drive to Baltimore with her just to see it before Christmas. She knows the entire ballet by heart and sometimes Dwight thinks he does, too.

It's hard, but Dwight's moved on. Or so he tells himself. The Teagues know better and keep an eye on him around the time her birthday rolls around, because Dwight starts to get stupid with his jobs, but otherwise he's moved on. He doesn't tell anyone about the laughter, about the pitter-patter of footsteps he still sees. And she's always in her tutu, mid-plie. She's moving now, though, and Dwight can't help but follow her.

She's never moved before. He hadn't even been drinking.

The little girl leads him to a shooting range and Dwight's not even paying attention to the noise because she's here, his little girl is here, dammit. He stops at the doorway, though, putting his hand out as she twirls and moves with grace and ease. Just like her mom.

"Lizzy, wait, you know I can't be in he--"

<333 longaevus December 19 2011, 18:56:09 UTC

Her heart was breaking all over again, although that would suggest that it had begun to mend. She was fighting, with herself, her emotions and everything that pulled at them to keep her composure; she couldn't afford to lose it, not if she wanted to retain her focus.

She'd managed to hit her target straight on with every shot. She paused, shutting her eyes to clear Ashley from her sight.

"Mom." She wasn't speaking but Helen could hear it from her memories clear enough.

"I'm sorry."

She forced her eyes open again, shooting to push herself past the memory, push herself away before she completely broke.

Except this time she missed. Although it didn't exactly miss but... change direction?

troublescleaner December 19 2011, 19:53:04 UTC

He felt the shot before he heard it, but he was positive it was pain tended to register quicker than sound for him, thanks to a lovely tour of Afghanistan. He felt a dull thud and then the wind being knocked out of him, dropping against the wall and then sliding down it like some sort of cartoon animal.

It was instinct that kicked in, telling him to breathe evenly and close his eyes to get rid of the sudden vertigo. The bullet had sent a shock to his system and he was stunned, momentarily, before opening his eyes and grunting. Short, gruff, and slightly pained.

Lizzy had been another hallucination. One that wanted him killed.

Wincing, Dwight opened his eyes and, after a few seconds of sitting absolutely still, began to undo his shit to examine the damage done to his vest.

longaevus December 19 2011, 20:30:13 UTC

Helen turned in the direction, surprised first that Dwight was there and then horrified in the realisation of what his actions meant. She'd shot him. How Helen had no idea but that wasn't important - she had to check the damage... her damage.

She moved quickly to him, putting her gun down as she reached him and helped with undoing his shirt. She was surprised to note a lack of blood on it and more so when she noticed the vest underneath it. A bulletproof vest? She hadn't noted it during her previous examination, although her work had been confined to another area. Had he arrived wearing it? And if so he was lucky for having it.

"It hasn't perforated the vest." She's still poking at it, using her actions and concentration to hide herself.

"You're rather lucky."

troublescleaner December 19 2011, 23:33:49 UTC

"And you're crying."

Dwight grunts as he pulls himself up (and as much as he thinks Helen's a sweet girl, poking at what's sure to bruise isn't really helping him. He wakes up and he's normally stiff and sore and this is probably just going to add to it.

He'd like to think Helen's crying for him but he isn't stupid, and he offers a strangely toothy grin as he rights himself up a little more, wincing and trying to catch his breath.

"...Another ghost?"

longaevus December 20 2011, 00:22:36 UTC

Helen stands quickly as he moves, ready to help balance him should he need it (although this time he seemed to be okay - the vest had done well).

She turned her head away, embarrassed that he'd caught her so vulnerable - she didn't even let James know when she felt as such. She gave a small nod, turning back when she felt as if she were no longer crying (although she hadn't really noticed at first).

"The same one." She wasn't quite certain if she could handle others also. And there was a lot of choice.

troublescleaner December 20 2011, 04:55:35 UTC

"Ashley?" He remembered the name--he never forgets things like this--and he's glad she helped him up. He's not judging her or anything, either. Ghosts have a heavy weight. He supposed he'd be spooked, too, had he not been used to it.

He takes his shirt off but not the vest, looking down to examine it himself before glancing up at Helen and offering a smile.

"You'll be fine."

longaevus December 20 2011, 11:43:34 UTC

She gave another nod at the name but being fine? It was easier said. She had been until this but really all she'd done was push everything aside and bury it. What now?

Avoiding answer Helen picked up her gun, moving back into the range to unload and put it away. She'd not been able to talk about her since her death - it was too hard. (But then again she'd never tried through pain. As Will said she only ever talked when things were on her terms).

troublescleaner December 21 2011, 00:23:52 UTC

Dwight stepped back--a reflexive reaction--the moment Helen went back to the range, but he saw the unloading of the gun and sighed in relief. He didn't need anymore potholes or bullets in his skin.

But Helen's answer is obvious enough. He wishes they weren't strangers so he could at least hug the other, but he settles with a small, slight clap on the shoulder.

"I mean it," he repeated.

longaevus December 21 2011, 00:38:02 UTC

She looked up at his touch, knowing that he did. But that wasn't enough. He may have believed it but it was harder for her. He wasn't feeling it, being 'haunted'. She wanted to believe him, even still.

Not knowing what to say, not wanting to rebuff or argue with him she changed the topic back to him.

"I'm sorry." It was still a mystery as to what had happened. "For shooting you."

troublescleaner December 21 2011, 05:47:13 UTC

"I had a kid," Dwight's statement nearly cuts off Helen's, but he's not really sure what to say other then that fact. "Lizzy. She would have been 9." The phrase is the worst thing a father could ever say, but he clears his throat and glances to the stairs.

"Followed her in here." He didn't want to tell her the other facts--that he's always seen her, that he gets exceptionally drunk around her birthday, that he has a tendency to get far more reckless during jobs around august...

"You're not the only one seeing ghosts."

longaevus December 21 2011, 13:46:05 UTC

Well that changed everything. Not quite everything but enough. He understood, truly so and it made her feel... what, relief? Not relief, but as terrible as the feeling of loss was it felt it a little better than his words were understanding rather than just platitudes.

"How long has it been?" She knew loss enough to know that it didn't really get better... the pain dulled but better? You would always feel it in some way. For him to tell her that she'd be all right? How long had it been for him to think that?

troublescleaner December 21 2011, 17:27:13 UTC

"A while," He confessed. He doesn't want to give exacts even though he's been counting the days. First his wife, then his daughter...

"The troubles." It's all he really wants to say about that and all he will, at least for now. The fact that he'd inadvertently killed his own baby girl, he didn't think he could handle it. Hell, he knew he couldn't. But Helen was freaking out and Dwight didn't want to bring that up. "We would be driving to Boston about now. Every Christmas I take her to see the Nutcracker."

longaevus December 21 2011, 17:34:54 UTC

Helen gives a nod, far more understanding on that - on all of it - than he could possibly know. Troubles. It seemed to be a recurring theme.

"It sounds like quite the trip." That was one thing that Helen hadn't promised (or rather broken the promise of) to Ashley - she'd seen it when she'd been young but it hadn't caught her interest.

"Can I ask what she was like?" She didn't want to cause him pain by him telling her but anything to distract her from her own would be welcome.

troublescleaner December 21 2011, 18:25:34 UTC

Dwight's next sentence was the complete and utter truth:

"Can we get out of the shooting range? Kinda making me uncomfortable."

longaevus December 21 2011, 18:34:28 UTC

"Of course." It would be easier to talk somewhere else too, and relax a little. For her her mind automatically went to her office - its one of the places she felt most comfortable in the Sanctuary. She gave another look to him, making sure that he was all right before stepping around him to lead them out.

Back to all threads