(Untitled)

[priorlives]

The damn cat had been gone for two weeks. Prior hadn't seen her since she'd taken off like a flash toward Jack that day after the day after Valentine's Day, right before Prior had broken down on him and ended up crying like a little girl. No, he hadn't seen Little Sheba since then. And he hadn't seen Scotty either. Not really. In passing,

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[dr_robchase]

Chase heard the coughing and years of training took over when he drifted to the man's side. He recognized him vaguely, from when Cameron was still around. He'd also read the chart because there was only so much to do, so he knew the case. He pressed a hand to the man's back and tried to coax him into the best posture he could to try and clear his airway. "Hey, you okay?"

[priorlives]

Prior managed to stop coughing shortly after the hand went to his back, and took one deep, ragged breath before pulling the handkerchief away. Relieved at least that there wasn't blood on it, he carefully folded it and put it back in his pocket.

"I've been worse," he said, truthful enough, and then looked over his shoulder. "Hey, doc. You make house calls now?"

He didn't really know Rob Chase, but he'd known Maureen for a long time now, and when she got bored or drunk (or worse, both) she liked to talk, and one of the things she'd talked about was her once-ambition to sleep her way through all the cute clinic doctors, especially the ones from New Jersey.

[dr_robchase]

"I go where the coughing does," Chase mock-joked with a slight smirk on his face, shrugging idly as he searched around. "Wait here, okay?" He made quick work of getting a glass of water and bringing it back for Prior, offering it out to him. "Small sips, but I don't think you need the telling."

[priorlives]

"Yeah, well..." Prior took a sip. "Choking on water is really the least of my problems." Another couple of sips, and then he added, "Thanks. I really should start carrying a bottle around with me. It just usually doesn't match my ensemble."

[simpletailor]

Garak had not often spoken to Mr. Walter, despite their mutual interest in the textile arts. Mr. Walter was patently unwell and though Garak doubted it was of a type that was easily transferred, he was not keen to risk it. The chickenpox episode had been quite enough.

Still, he was interested to see what types of designs the man was working on, and so when he spotted the other man sketching in the rec room, he quickly developed a need for another book on twentieth century fashion. The sudden coughing caused him pause in his traverse of the room, however.

"Would you care for some water?" he offered politely.

[priorlives]

The coughing fit blessedly came to a close at that, but after Prior took a ragged breath he still nodded and said, "Yes, thank you." He pulled the handkerchief away from his face and was at least glad to see that there was no blood in it.

[simpletailor]

Garak waited to see the nod, then disappeared to obtain the water. Having offered, he could not in politeness then refuse to get it, but it was not precisely a difficult task, either.

He returned with a large glass and proffered it to Mr. Walter. "Do you require a physician?"

[priorlives]

Prior took the glass gratefully and took a drink, feeling it slip down to take some of the scratchiness out of his throat. "No," he said, shaking his head. "But thank you, Garak."

He carefully folded his handkerchief and put it back in his pocket. "It's okay, I'm used to it. I should really make sure to carry some water around with me."

[scottysous]

Scotty doesn't know how to talk to Prior. He doesn't even know how to feel about Prior, and he's been keeping a low profile as he deals with his own emotional fallout. The last thing he wants to do is spread the story around since he doesn't know if Prior wants people to know -- and mostly he doesn't want to go through the story all over again.

He's in the Compound to look for recipes or a book or a magazine or some new clothes -- a poor substitute for retail therapy -- when he sees Prior. His stomach drops out, and the blood drains out of his face, and in a flash he remembers the way Prior felt against him, the way he moaned, the way he kissedQuickly, his face flushes again

[priorlives]

Still recovering from the coughing fit, Prior heard Scotty before he saw him, and and strange feeling of equal parts dread and relief washed over him. Mostly he was just cursing his usual bad luck that of course, Scotty would come across him when he seems sick.

He removed the handkerchief from his mouth (thank god, no blood) and folded it neatly, nodding as he looked up at Scotty. "Yeah... I'm fine."

A pause hung in the air for what seemed like ages before he added, "And... how are you?"

[scottysous]

He nods and looks down at his hands, tangling his fingers together in front of him. "I'm okay," he says with a nod, though he doesn't do a very good job of selling it. "Um, how's Sheba?" He's trying to be normal, giving a sheepish smile.

[priorlives]

"Gone," said Prior softly. But then he managed a small smile as well and added, "Temporary, I'm sure. She just likes to fuck with my head on occasion. Probably out clearing the island of small rodents."

He wondered how Scotty would feel if he knew how much Prior wanted to just grab him and kiss him breathless.