Homecoming (open to the household)
Alison let herself into the house, through the basement door to the Nexus. Leaning back against the door as it shut, she closed her eyes and let out a breath.
Everything had gone better than she'd hoped: Sara was found, nobody was hurt to the point they'd not recover...
Nobody died. On either side. And that frustrated her. It went against every impulse of glorious battle pulsing in her soul. She ached with the frustration, even though she knew it was out of her control. A fist it the door. And again. And thrice. And then she recovered herself, taking the stairs at a leisurely pace. She hesitated in the front hall, then turned first to the kitchen. Upstairs could wait until she'd made a plate of sandwiches (half peanut butter and strawberry jam, half turkey with lettuce and cranberry sauce) and another of apple slices with honey, and a pot of rich creamy cocoa.
All these things balanced on a tray, she took the last flight of stairs, somehow knowing which room Ed and Sara were in without investigating, and knocked softly on the door.
Everything had gone better than she'd hoped: Sara was found, nobody was hurt to the point they'd not recover...
Nobody died. On either side. And that frustrated her. It went against every impulse of glorious battle pulsing in her soul. She ached with the frustration, even though she knew it was out of her control. A fist it the door. And again. And thrice. And then she recovered herself, taking the stairs at a leisurely pace. She hesitated in the front hall, then turned first to the kitchen. Upstairs could wait until she'd made a plate of sandwiches (half peanut butter and strawberry jam, half turkey with lettuce and cranberry sauce) and another of apple slices with honey, and a pot of rich creamy cocoa.
All these things balanced on a tray, she took the last flight of stairs, somehow knowing which room Ed and Sara were in without investigating, and knocked softly on the door.