Fic for the holiday
Title: need a little hand
Summary: Demeter steps in when things are gray
Rating: PG
Characters: Kate Warner, Bill Pardy and Demeter (24, SLiTHER, um... Greek mythology-ness?)
Spoilers: None
A/N: Written for ceitfianna from her fic prompt: Kate/Bill-Demeter-Spring will come again. This uh, this is one of those ones where I sat down with only a bitty idea to start, started typing, and it um, kind of got away from me. Way away. *eyes word count*
Disclaimer: Characters be not mine.
It's freezing outside. The snow on the ground is thick, and the clouds above threaten to dump more soon.
Despite the current conditions and the forecast, Bill is outside working in the middle of it.
Armed with a snow shovel, he's busy clearing a path at the bottom of the porch steps outside the bar's back door.
He's so preoccupied that he doesn't notice her approach until she's suddenly alongside him.
"Bill?"
Fumbling the shovel of snow he was hefting, he dumps it onto is own boot. Looking down at the mess, then up at her, he tries to pull himself together.
"Demeter, hey."
She has his knit cap in her hands, and he glances back towards the porch railing where he left it.
"It's freezing, child."
Her voice is soft and kind, and he can't bring his gaze back to meet hers.
"I'm okay."
His bare hands are red and stinging, and he quickly shoves them into his coat pockets.
"What're you doin' out here?"
She regards him quietly, and it takes a huge effort on his part to not shift his weight or fidget.
"Wondering the same of you."
He turns his head, looking back at the bar, then nods down at the ground.
"Clearin' a path."
Her eyes trace his work, then move in the direction it's headed.
"To where?"
Bill frowns at that, looking over what he's already done, and giving a shrug.
"I dunno."
The goddess remains quiet, and Bill removes one hand from his pocket to grip the handle of the shovel.
"I was just-- I needed somethin' t'do."
Demeter nods.
"It's good to feel useful."
He looks at her sharply, then turns away.
"I was only tryin' t'help."
She moves around closer, and his eyes flick down to the hat when she offers it to him.
"Of course. Anyone can see that."
Hesitating, he takes the hat. With his head bowed, he works the knit cap in his hands.
Her fingers lift to brush his cheek; warm against his cold skin.
"Do not stay out too long," she tells him, drawing her hand back slowly. "This storm will be harsh, but do not worry, Spring will come again soon enough."
He nods and she leaves back to the bar.
After she's gone he takes in the sky, and then what he's done. Letting out a tired breath, he lifts the shovel and heads inside.
*****
The suite is a mess. She has a mountain of paperwork to get through, and it feels like she'll never get out from under it.
With the end of year looming, her stress levels are high, and she can't seem to focus properly on what she needs to to get the job done.
She had thought with the suite empty she might make more progress, but now the quiet is too loud and she feels surrounded by all the spreadsheets and documents laying about, and why can't she find September's numbers?
The knock at the door catches her sifting through a stack she's looked through four times already, and she expels a sigh.
Bill went downstairs some time ago, so if it's not him knocking because he forgot his key, it's company she doesn't have the time for.
Armed with an admonishment for Bill, and a polite turn away for anyone else, Kate is taken by surprise when she opens the door and Demeter steps in like a breeze.
"Hello, dear," The older woman smiles, taking in the state of the room before looking at Kate.
"Demeter, hello. I was just, um-- "
"Working too hard," Demeter says, moving for the kitchen. "You need a break, I shall make us some tea."
"That's very thoughtful of you, but really I can't-- " Kate sighs as her words go ignored by the goddess working in the kitchen. Glancing hopelessly at the paperwork, Kate goes to join Demeter at the table.
After it's ready, the tea is a welcome warmth down her throat and Kate can feel some of the tension easing as she takes a few careful sips. Demeter is watching her, and Kate self-consciously tucks a loose strand of hair back behind her ear after setting down her tea cup.
"Tell me, what's wrong, child?"
The question and the concern behind it throw Kate and she looks up from her cup to shake her head.
"Nothing. I'm just working. It's a very busy time for me right now."
Demeter tilts her head, eyes going past Kate to the bed in the other part of the suite and the papers lined up there.
"Just work?"
Kate feels warmth creep into her cheeks and she bows her head a little.
"I'm afraid that's all I have time for right now."
Demeter lifts her cup and takes a small sip.
"One would think a little help would be welcome."
Kate gives a small, tired smile.
"I wish I had some, but what I'm doing is important, and difficult. It's not really a job I can recruit just anybody to do."
"And you told him as much, of course."
"I-- "
Kate freezes with her cup halfway from the table, looking over to see Demeter studying her patiently.
The tea cup clinks against the saucer when Kate finally sets it down, and she licks her lips before shaking her head slightly.
"I told him it's not really something he can help me with."
Her chest suddenly feels too tight, and her eyes go to the front door. It's then that she realizes she doesn't have any idea how long Bill's been gone. He'd been such a nuisance all evening that his absence didn't fully register until she found a moment to look up from her work to suggest he spend some time downstairs, and found him already gone.
Dropping her gaze to her teacup, Kate frowns to herself.
*****
He's in front of the fireplace, shoulders hunched and one hand trying to work the stiffness and cold out of the other.
He blinks at the mug of hot chocolate that appears in front of him, and follows the hand holding it to the arm and person it belongs to.
Kate gives him a small smile, and he hesitates a moment before taking the mug from her.
"Thanks."
"Is this seat taken?" She asks, gesturing to the couch cushion beside him.
Bill glances down, then shakes his head; moving over slightly to give her some room.
She sits with her own mug of hot chocolate held between her palms, her eyes on the fish swimming in the fireplace.
Bill cradles the mug between his palms, feeling the warmth sink into his skin and watching the whip cream on top of the chocolate melting.
It's almost gone before either of them speaks.
"Bill-- "
There's apology in her voice when she says his name, and he stops her before she gets anywhere.
"I wasn't tryin' t'be a bother, or step on your toes."
"I know-- "
"An' I know what you're doin' is important, an' it ain't somethin' I'm qualified for." He looks over, a hard expression masking the hurt underneath. "But, I'm at least smart enough to be able t'read a date, an' know which comes before an' after the other."
Her expression shifts into shock, and she shakes her head at him.
"I never said-- "
"You were lookin' for September," he interrupts her again. "You've spent half the evenin' tryin' to sort your dates out an' get it all in order. I might not be able to do your figurin', but at the very least I could've helped you with that bit of it. If you'd of let me."
He keeps his eyes on her and she doesn't haven't a response. Eventually they both break off; she looks down into her mug and he turns to stare at the fire.
She looks over to see him placing his untouched hot chocolate down on a nearby end table, and then he goes back to rubbing his hands.
Setting her own mug down, she rises, moving to stand in front of him, and offering her hands.
"Come on."
He looks up at her, then drops his eyes before taking her hands.
She helps him up, and together they walk back up the stairs.
Outside of the suite he stops her before she can get the door.
"I'm sorry."
"Sweetheart-- " she shakes her head, squeezing his hand.
"I was only tryin' t'help," he continues, looking down at their hands.
"I know, and I let the stress get to me."
"If this is somethin' that you need to do yourself, I understand."
"What I need is you."
She reaches her hand up to stroke his cheek, glad to see the smile that spreads across his features.
"What about your deadline?"
"What's the point of coming to the end of the universe, if you don't take advantage of the time freeze?"
She smiles back at him, then pulls him in for a slow, sweet kiss.
When they break she opens the door and he follows her in.
The sight inside makes them both stop.
In the kitchen area a dinner for two has been laid out on the table, and in the suite all traces of paperwork have been removed from the bed.
The living space is filled with warmth and the smells of fresh bread and good cooking.
Sending a silent thanks to Demeter, Kate takes Bill's hand and the two of them settle in for dinner and a night where the work doesn't involve any kind of paperwork at all.
Summary: Demeter steps in when things are gray
Rating: PG
Characters: Kate Warner, Bill Pardy and Demeter (24, SLiTHER, um... Greek mythology-ness?)
Spoilers: None
A/N: Written for ceitfianna from her fic prompt: Kate/Bill-Demeter-Spring will come again. This uh, this is one of those ones where I sat down with only a bitty idea to start, started typing, and it um, kind of got away from me. Way away. *eyes word count*
Disclaimer: Characters be not mine.
It's freezing outside. The snow on the ground is thick, and the clouds above threaten to dump more soon.
Despite the current conditions and the forecast, Bill is outside working in the middle of it.
Armed with a snow shovel, he's busy clearing a path at the bottom of the porch steps outside the bar's back door.
He's so preoccupied that he doesn't notice her approach until she's suddenly alongside him.
"Bill?"
Fumbling the shovel of snow he was hefting, he dumps it onto is own boot. Looking down at the mess, then up at her, he tries to pull himself together.
"Demeter, hey."
She has his knit cap in her hands, and he glances back towards the porch railing where he left it.
"It's freezing, child."
Her voice is soft and kind, and he can't bring his gaze back to meet hers.
"I'm okay."
His bare hands are red and stinging, and he quickly shoves them into his coat pockets.
"What're you doin' out here?"
She regards him quietly, and it takes a huge effort on his part to not shift his weight or fidget.
"Wondering the same of you."
He turns his head, looking back at the bar, then nods down at the ground.
"Clearin' a path."
Her eyes trace his work, then move in the direction it's headed.
"To where?"
Bill frowns at that, looking over what he's already done, and giving a shrug.
"I dunno."
The goddess remains quiet, and Bill removes one hand from his pocket to grip the handle of the shovel.
"I was just-- I needed somethin' t'do."
Demeter nods.
"It's good to feel useful."
He looks at her sharply, then turns away.
"I was only tryin' t'help."
She moves around closer, and his eyes flick down to the hat when she offers it to him.
"Of course. Anyone can see that."
Hesitating, he takes the hat. With his head bowed, he works the knit cap in his hands.
Her fingers lift to brush his cheek; warm against his cold skin.
"Do not stay out too long," she tells him, drawing her hand back slowly. "This storm will be harsh, but do not worry, Spring will come again soon enough."
He nods and she leaves back to the bar.
After she's gone he takes in the sky, and then what he's done. Letting out a tired breath, he lifts the shovel and heads inside.
*****
The suite is a mess. She has a mountain of paperwork to get through, and it feels like she'll never get out from under it.
With the end of year looming, her stress levels are high, and she can't seem to focus properly on what she needs to to get the job done.
She had thought with the suite empty she might make more progress, but now the quiet is too loud and she feels surrounded by all the spreadsheets and documents laying about, and why can't she find September's numbers?
The knock at the door catches her sifting through a stack she's looked through four times already, and she expels a sigh.
Bill went downstairs some time ago, so if it's not him knocking because he forgot his key, it's company she doesn't have the time for.
Armed with an admonishment for Bill, and a polite turn away for anyone else, Kate is taken by surprise when she opens the door and Demeter steps in like a breeze.
"Hello, dear," The older woman smiles, taking in the state of the room before looking at Kate.
"Demeter, hello. I was just, um-- "
"Working too hard," Demeter says, moving for the kitchen. "You need a break, I shall make us some tea."
"That's very thoughtful of you, but really I can't-- " Kate sighs as her words go ignored by the goddess working in the kitchen. Glancing hopelessly at the paperwork, Kate goes to join Demeter at the table.
After it's ready, the tea is a welcome warmth down her throat and Kate can feel some of the tension easing as she takes a few careful sips. Demeter is watching her, and Kate self-consciously tucks a loose strand of hair back behind her ear after setting down her tea cup.
"Tell me, what's wrong, child?"
The question and the concern behind it throw Kate and she looks up from her cup to shake her head.
"Nothing. I'm just working. It's a very busy time for me right now."
Demeter tilts her head, eyes going past Kate to the bed in the other part of the suite and the papers lined up there.
"Just work?"
Kate feels warmth creep into her cheeks and she bows her head a little.
"I'm afraid that's all I have time for right now."
Demeter lifts her cup and takes a small sip.
"One would think a little help would be welcome."
Kate gives a small, tired smile.
"I wish I had some, but what I'm doing is important, and difficult. It's not really a job I can recruit just anybody to do."
"And you told him as much, of course."
"I-- "
Kate freezes with her cup halfway from the table, looking over to see Demeter studying her patiently.
The tea cup clinks against the saucer when Kate finally sets it down, and she licks her lips before shaking her head slightly.
"I told him it's not really something he can help me with."
Her chest suddenly feels too tight, and her eyes go to the front door. It's then that she realizes she doesn't have any idea how long Bill's been gone. He'd been such a nuisance all evening that his absence didn't fully register until she found a moment to look up from her work to suggest he spend some time downstairs, and found him already gone.
Dropping her gaze to her teacup, Kate frowns to herself.
*****
He's in front of the fireplace, shoulders hunched and one hand trying to work the stiffness and cold out of the other.
He blinks at the mug of hot chocolate that appears in front of him, and follows the hand holding it to the arm and person it belongs to.
Kate gives him a small smile, and he hesitates a moment before taking the mug from her.
"Thanks."
"Is this seat taken?" She asks, gesturing to the couch cushion beside him.
Bill glances down, then shakes his head; moving over slightly to give her some room.
She sits with her own mug of hot chocolate held between her palms, her eyes on the fish swimming in the fireplace.
Bill cradles the mug between his palms, feeling the warmth sink into his skin and watching the whip cream on top of the chocolate melting.
It's almost gone before either of them speaks.
"Bill-- "
There's apology in her voice when she says his name, and he stops her before she gets anywhere.
"I wasn't tryin' t'be a bother, or step on your toes."
"I know-- "
"An' I know what you're doin' is important, an' it ain't somethin' I'm qualified for." He looks over, a hard expression masking the hurt underneath. "But, I'm at least smart enough to be able t'read a date, an' know which comes before an' after the other."
Her expression shifts into shock, and she shakes her head at him.
"I never said-- "
"You were lookin' for September," he interrupts her again. "You've spent half the evenin' tryin' to sort your dates out an' get it all in order. I might not be able to do your figurin', but at the very least I could've helped you with that bit of it. If you'd of let me."
He keeps his eyes on her and she doesn't haven't a response. Eventually they both break off; she looks down into her mug and he turns to stare at the fire.
She looks over to see him placing his untouched hot chocolate down on a nearby end table, and then he goes back to rubbing his hands.
Setting her own mug down, she rises, moving to stand in front of him, and offering her hands.
"Come on."
He looks up at her, then drops his eyes before taking her hands.
She helps him up, and together they walk back up the stairs.
Outside of the suite he stops her before she can get the door.
"I'm sorry."
"Sweetheart-- " she shakes her head, squeezing his hand.
"I was only tryin' t'help," he continues, looking down at their hands.
"I know, and I let the stress get to me."
"If this is somethin' that you need to do yourself, I understand."
"What I need is you."
She reaches her hand up to stroke his cheek, glad to see the smile that spreads across his features.
"What about your deadline?"
"What's the point of coming to the end of the universe, if you don't take advantage of the time freeze?"
She smiles back at him, then pulls him in for a slow, sweet kiss.
When they break she opens the door and he follows her in.
The sight inside makes them both stop.
In the kitchen area a dinner for two has been laid out on the table, and in the suite all traces of paperwork have been removed from the bed.
The living space is filled with warmth and the smells of fresh bread and good cooking.
Sending a silent thanks to Demeter, Kate takes Bill's hand and the two of them settle in for dinner and a night where the work doesn't involve any kind of paperwork at all.