Original: Return of the Living (Dree) PG
Title: Return of the Living [ INDEX]
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters, Pairing: Dree (mention of El'Ari, Chapel and Massey)
Rating: PG
Summary: It wasn't exactly a clean getaway...
Warning: nearly 20 years before Stay Asleep *Written for Round 33 of prompt-in-a-box. Prompt #12, Round 29: You don't even like me. Why did you come back? (Simon, Ep. 05 - Safe)
Disclaimer: The original characters of The Wizard of Oz belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters of Tin Man belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The OCs are mine and bizarra's.
Liz Springer was curled on her side in the hospital bed, staring out at the dark beyond the window of her room. She hated being in any sort of medical facility, but Doctor Barnes wasn't going to let her get out of this one. It was supposed to be an easy escape - but, was it ever really easy?
She hadn't planned on Barnes finding out, though. And, really, she had to wonder why the woman even cared. They'd only met a few times, and most of El'Ari's friends had taken to the stars after graduation. Why hadn't Barnes started her practice up there? Why the hell had she stayed on the ground?
She seemed to understand enough to notice that Liz really didn’t want to talk about it. Coming back from the dead wasn't exactly the way to start a conversation. And, on top of that, Barnes had been in the room with her when she came to. Most people would have run for the hills. But, no, not Chapel Barnes. Sure, she was spooked, but she was also intrigued.
Liz offered short and simple answers - regardless of her relationship with El'Ari, Barnes was still a doctor and Liz didn't trust doctors. Period. And she really didn't want to talk about El. Liz had managed to run her off - Massey, too - and they would both be better off without her.
She'd stay in the medical unit just long enough to appease Barnes and then she'd be gone. Work would get over it... so would her other job. They knew the drill and would be contacted once she was resettled. Resettled... she'd have to think of a new name.
Lost in the thoughts of possible names she could go by, Liz didn't notice the door had opened until she saw the reflection in the window. Sucking in a breath, Liz turned just enough to see El'Ari looking at her. Liz noted she looked like hell, and then realized that it was because of her. She hated seeing that look on the younger woman's face, and hated more that she was the reason. Elly was too pretty to ever look that miserable.
Four months, since they'd fought; four months, since El packed a bag and left; four months, since they had spoken. Liz turned back to stare at the window, but focused on the wall, instead. She didn't want to see that look. She didn't want El to see her. Not like this. She was gone. El had left, vowing never to return and wanted nothing to do with Liz, ever again.
And, as much as it hurt, Liz knew it was for the best. Her guard had dropped and Elly snuck in, under the radar. By the time she'd realized it, it was too late. Liz did everything she could to back out. She shut off; pushed back... she didn't do attachments. It wasn't the way to live, and her friends and family from long ago would have been disappointed, but she couldn't deal with the pain of losing the people she cared for.
Liz could tell Elly had moved closer, but she didn't flinch. She didn't have to. Liz could see El's reflection in the window, so she knew exactly where the young woman was. When Massey appeared in the doorway, Liz closed her eyes. She felt sick and relief, all in half a second, and didn’t know if she should laugh or cry.
Actually, in that moment... all she really wanted to do was throw up.
_______________________________
Note: Dree is Liz is Adora... etc.
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters, Pairing: Dree (mention of El'Ari, Chapel and Massey)
Rating: PG
Summary: It wasn't exactly a clean getaway...
Warning: nearly 20 years before Stay Asleep *Written for Round 33 of prompt-in-a-box. Prompt #12, Round 29: You don't even like me. Why did you come back? (Simon, Ep. 05 - Safe)
Disclaimer: The original characters of The Wizard of Oz belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters of Tin Man belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The OCs are mine and bizarra's.
Liz Springer was curled on her side in the hospital bed, staring out at the dark beyond the window of her room. She hated being in any sort of medical facility, but Doctor Barnes wasn't going to let her get out of this one. It was supposed to be an easy escape - but, was it ever really easy?
She hadn't planned on Barnes finding out, though. And, really, she had to wonder why the woman even cared. They'd only met a few times, and most of El'Ari's friends had taken to the stars after graduation. Why hadn't Barnes started her practice up there? Why the hell had she stayed on the ground?
She seemed to understand enough to notice that Liz really didn’t want to talk about it. Coming back from the dead wasn't exactly the way to start a conversation. And, on top of that, Barnes had been in the room with her when she came to. Most people would have run for the hills. But, no, not Chapel Barnes. Sure, she was spooked, but she was also intrigued.
Liz offered short and simple answers - regardless of her relationship with El'Ari, Barnes was still a doctor and Liz didn't trust doctors. Period. And she really didn't want to talk about El. Liz had managed to run her off - Massey, too - and they would both be better off without her.
She'd stay in the medical unit just long enough to appease Barnes and then she'd be gone. Work would get over it... so would her other job. They knew the drill and would be contacted once she was resettled. Resettled... she'd have to think of a new name.
Lost in the thoughts of possible names she could go by, Liz didn't notice the door had opened until she saw the reflection in the window. Sucking in a breath, Liz turned just enough to see El'Ari looking at her. Liz noted she looked like hell, and then realized that it was because of her. She hated seeing that look on the younger woman's face, and hated more that she was the reason. Elly was too pretty to ever look that miserable.
Four months, since they'd fought; four months, since El packed a bag and left; four months, since they had spoken. Liz turned back to stare at the window, but focused on the wall, instead. She didn't want to see that look. She didn't want El to see her. Not like this. She was gone. El had left, vowing never to return and wanted nothing to do with Liz, ever again.
And, as much as it hurt, Liz knew it was for the best. Her guard had dropped and Elly snuck in, under the radar. By the time she'd realized it, it was too late. Liz did everything she could to back out. She shut off; pushed back... she didn't do attachments. It wasn't the way to live, and her friends and family from long ago would have been disappointed, but she couldn't deal with the pain of losing the people she cared for.
Liz could tell Elly had moved closer, but she didn't flinch. She didn't have to. Liz could see El's reflection in the window, so she knew exactly where the young woman was. When Massey appeared in the doorway, Liz closed her eyes. She felt sick and relief, all in half a second, and didn’t know if she should laugh or cry.
Actually, in that moment... all she really wanted to do was throw up.
_______________________________
Note: Dree is Liz is Adora... etc.