he's going the distance, he's going for speed

[new_ophelia]

"Sam!"

She knew this day would come, but it seems too early. He's still so little and she should have more time to prepare, mentally and strategically. It shouldn't be this way. She's supposed to have more time.

There's just no way Sam should be able to unclip his leash already.

It's like every bad made for TV movie Kate's ever seen. She only left him

Comments

[aminorkey]

Peter isn't sure that a young boy by name of Sam Crew ought to be part of the wildlife and so when he discovers him amidst the trees, he crouches down and picks him right up. "And where do you think you're going, hm?" he wonders, adjusting him in his arms and heading towards the sound of shouting. "Kate," he shouts right back. "Kate, we're right here."

[new_ophelia]

"Oh Christ," Kate breathes, running towards the sound of Peter's voice. "Oh god. Where was he? Where did you find him?"

She immediately runs her hands all over Sam until she's absolutely certain that he hasn't been mauled or something.

[aminorkey]

Peter comes out of the woods and extends Sam with both strong hands, giving him a light wiggle to try and elicit a smile from both mother and son. "He's perfectly fine. I think he was merely contemplating the wildlife. A true jungle boy, this one."

[new_ophelia]

"Oh my God he was in the jungle?" she cries, voice growing higher in pitch with each word. "He could have been mauled by a boar! Sam that is so bad."

[aminorkey]

Peter gives Kate a long look before he comes up beside her and offers a light hand on her back to rub lightly. "Kate, really, it's all okay. I found him and I've brought him back safe and sound. No harm done, we can all sleep easy tonight."

[new_ophelia]

"But what about tomorrow night?" she moans, stomping her foot and huffing as Sam turns to bury his face in Peter's shoulder, now pretty clear that he's in trouble.

"You know he's like this close to being able to climb out of his crib? Jesus."

[aminorkey]

Peter adjusts Sam and bounces him slightly, hushing him with a soft 'there there' as he looks at Kate. "Kate," he begs of her. "Breathe for me? A nice deep breath, please. It's going to make you feel better," he assures, stroking Sam's hair. "He just needs some discipline about what he's not supposed to do. He's young, yet!"

[new_ophelia]

Kate nods, trying to take a deep breath and shove her hair out of her face.

"That's the whole problem. He's too little and if he sneaks out I can't watch him all the time. I mean, how do single parents do this?"

[aminorkey]

"Babysitters?" Peter suggests mildly. "You've a whole island and I know the old saying is a bit tacky about taking a village to raise a child, but it doesn't have to be entirely off the mark. You should let us help you. I can take a day if you'd like."

[new_ophelia]

"I know, I know," she sighs, scrubbing a hand over her hot face. "It's just...he's already lost one parent and it's like I need to make up for it or something. And I'm not doing that if I let everyone else take him."

[aminorkey]

"It doesn't mean you have to suddenly be absent from his life, but Kate, you're on the verge of a bloody nervous breakdown," he says, very bluntly and seriously. "You can still be a mother and stay sane, you know."

[new_ophelia]

Peter probably has a point. Kate doesn't sleep much. Hasn't slept much in six months and the bed is still too big and Sam gets more and more mobile and forgets all about Jack with every single day.

"I don't think he remembers Jack," she says softly as Sam watches her, solemnly.

[aminorkey]

"You'll tell him stories." Peter is sure of that and palms Sam's head to stroke his hair back and fix it up more properly. "I've no doubt about that. He might not meet the man, but he will know him. After all, you're an actress surrounded by artists. We do love a good story."

[new_ophelia]

She offers up a small smile, imagining Geoffrey's stories about Jack. "I'm pretty sure your accent isn't going to be a very good Jack impression. He wasn't very proper."

Sam leans back against Peter, probably sensing he's the saner of the two.

[aminorkey]

"No, but I can be lewd and lascivious if you ask me to be. I had a couple of friends who were paragons of sin," Peter remarks. "Not that I'll tell young Sam those kinds of stories, but consider it my application to you that I can be far more than just a proper bloke."

[new_ophelia]

"Yeah, but you still say things like lascivious," she points out with a weak laugh. "Do you mind walking us back home? I think I need to lie down or something."