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[ Raleigh, as usual, remains totally oblivious. When Raleigh's finished toeing off his shoes and nudging them under the bed with a heel, he looks up, hands resting on his knees.
Abruptly, those hands go into his sweatshirt pocket and pull out a bottle of whiskey. ]
So this won't be a problem?
Abruptly, those hands go into his sweatshirt pocket and pull out a bottle of whiskey. ]
So this won't be a problem?
[Good for you, Ray, but they're not the same person.
His shoulder burns where Raleigh touches it, he's just-- it's too hot, there's too much heat in here, the fire is threatening to engulf him again. Chuck things himself to be a rather tough guy, to swallow his feelings and not give anything away and maybe that's why this is so hard for him to deal with.
Chuck throws the window open and leans against it, for once Alaska works in his favor and it's nice. It's cool. It's how it should be. There's no fire, there's no danger, he's not going to burn alive.
He spends nearly a minute there before he feels more human, more like himself again and he can wander towards the kitchen.]
Shit, we need something stronger than water.
His shoulder burns where Raleigh touches it, he's just-- it's too hot, there's too much heat in here, the fire is threatening to engulf him again. Chuck things himself to be a rather tough guy, to swallow his feelings and not give anything away and maybe that's why this is so hard for him to deal with.
Chuck throws the window open and leans against it, for once Alaska works in his favor and it's nice. It's cool. It's how it should be. There's no fire, there's no danger, he's not going to burn alive.
He spends nearly a minute there before he feels more human, more like himself again and he can wander towards the kitchen.]
Shit, we need something stronger than water.
[Clearly, Raleigh is going to reach that point first because he's a fucking lightweight. And don't fall asleep you jackass.]
You could walk back to get the car then. [Chuck suggests, stretching out next to him.] Or make the waffles if you want them so damn bad.
You could walk back to get the car then. [Chuck suggests, stretching out next to him.] Or make the waffles if you want them so damn bad.
[ He had at least four beers inside the house before Chuck dragged him out, so he's excused. And why not? This patch of grass here is comfortable to lie in, cool on his skin, and the trees block the wind from touching them.
Raleigh drawls with his eyes still closed: ] Hangover waffles. 's different. [ He jabs a finger up at the sky. ] They put like, six pounds of greasy bacon next to the waffles, and you get to choose what kind of hash browns you want.
Raleigh drawls with his eyes still closed: ] Hangover waffles. 's different. [ He jabs a finger up at the sky. ] They put like, six pounds of greasy bacon next to the waffles, and you get to choose what kind of hash browns you want.
[ Or Chuck's weaker than he thinks he is. ]
You're more responsible with me. Look, [ Raleigh tilts his chin up, so the sliver of dog tags show underneath. ] my tags are clearly showing.
You're more responsible with me. Look, [ Raleigh tilts his chin up, so the sliver of dog tags show underneath. ] my tags are clearly showing.
[ It's a french recipe and an american chicken, that's what. Now shut up and drink your soup.
She does, however, do him the favour of extricating Percy, the lovable limpet, from Chuck's leg, onto her lap, and not so privately thinks that sick Chuck may just be the most overdramatic version of Chuck ever. ]
I know. [ Raleigh tells him, but she leans over, removing the cool towel and presses a kiss to his forehead anyway, because he's sick and she supposes she'll let him have his day. ] But you haven't eaten a thing all day.
She does, however, do him the favour of extricating Percy, the lovable limpet, from Chuck's leg, onto her lap, and not so privately thinks that sick Chuck may just be the most overdramatic version of Chuck ever. ]
I know. [ Raleigh tells him, but she leans over, removing the cool towel and presses a kiss to his forehead anyway, because he's sick and she supposes she'll let him have his day. ] But you haven't eaten a thing all day.
[ A little whiskey in Percy's bottle will make Raleigh hurt Chuck, because it's obvious he's put it there. So, you know, there's that. But their one year old can totally be potty-trained, what are you talking about; she's going to train Percy to poop only on Daddy, how's that?
And Raleigh's getting resigned to the fact that Max is going to come and settle between them a lot of the time, which, frankly, makes it quite difficult to get laid because she's not going to have sex with her husband if Max is in their bed. Just no.
She takes it with grace anyway, and scoops up a happily wriggling Percy in her arms, swaddled in the towel. He's choosing to cling to Raleigh's neck, and the fact that he isn't completely dry means that he's getting her wet, and it's going to be a massive trial to get him to put his pajamas on. ]
I dunno, [ And maybe Raleigh really is a pervert, because she's commenting; ] the wet look really works for you.
[ ...She's totally allowed to ogle her man, okay. ]
And Raleigh's getting resigned to the fact that Max is going to come and settle between them a lot of the time, which, frankly, makes it quite difficult to get laid because she's not going to have sex with her husband if Max is in their bed. Just no.
She takes it with grace anyway, and scoops up a happily wriggling Percy in her arms, swaddled in the towel. He's choosing to cling to Raleigh's neck, and the fact that he isn't completely dry means that he's getting her wet, and it's going to be a massive trial to get him to put his pajamas on. ]
I dunno, [ And maybe Raleigh really is a pervert, because she's commenting; ] the wet look really works for you.
[ ...She's totally allowed to ogle her man, okay. ]
[Watch more movies, soldier boy. (Look who's talking.) She feels like he's just here to bait her, but she doesn't understand what exactly she's done to him to make him this bitter and angry at her. She has more rights for that, doesn't she?]
Where's this old friend? Shouldn't you go find them?
Where's this old friend? Shouldn't you go find them?
[ It was supposed to be a family vacation -- Chuck managed to get a week or two off, and they were on the road in the beginning of winter. Grand Canyon; that would be a great place to visit, and Raleigh's pretty much nudged Chuck onto that well-deserved break.
It had been an evening like any other, when Raleigh leans over to help Percy settle in for his nap before they reach the hotel; the eighteen-wheeler had come out of nowhere onto Raleigh's side of the vehicle, and it was a mess of breaking glass and screaming metal and an impossible, impossible choice. Raleigh was caught in the wreckage and their son was crying, hurt and bleeding, and the last thing Raleigh remembered was her husband's face and her terror for their son -- "Chuck, Percy's bleeding -- our son -- " and she had pushed him away; he had to extricate their two-year old first, he had to save them at all costs.
And then everything went dark.
She hears snippets of conversation after, words spoken in the quiet when she rests and struggles to open her eyes but she can't, she really can't; and she loses all track of time, the sound of steady beeps a lullaby when the voices are gone, slow soothing words a distant memory. She remembered physiotherapists, quiet words, and she remembers Chuck.
Raleigh wakes at 1:33am on a Wednesday morning two months and three weeks later, disoriented and bleary and so very heavy. She can't move, not really, and it's the weakness that scares her, that it takes so much effort to open her eyes. She tries, monumental effort spent on taking in her surroundings, sterile but warm (a rehab ward, perhaps?) and she manages to press the call bell laid beside her before she very nearly blacks out at the effort.
Tired, she's so tired. Where's Chuck? It feels like she heard him not so long ago, the warmth of his hands; and a part of her aches for him -- how long had she been gone? Did he still remember her?
The nurses come in quickly, before they notify the doctor-on-call, and they spend a little while assessing her, and the flashlight in her eyes makes her wince. The doctor, a pretty young fellow with an earnest look about him apologises and mentions Chuck's name, which snags her drifting attention. It takes effort to focus, and more effort to actually mouth the words. ] Jello.
[ If her husband's coming, he damn well better come armed with that shit. ]
[ ...Well, it was worth a shot. ]
Which one is it? [ Remind her to give that one a wide berth. A part of her doesn't want to make a scene, because some people are definitely starting to look their way, and she exhales. ]
Look, I'm fine. Get me a bunch of painkillers and I'll be out of your hair, yeah?
Which one is it? [ Remind her to give that one a wide berth. A part of her doesn't want to make a scene, because some people are definitely starting to look their way, and she exhales. ]
Look, I'm fine. Get me a bunch of painkillers and I'll be out of your hair, yeah?
I'm not -- what?
[ There are a lot of things Chuck doesn't tell her, and that's fine by her -- she's not the sort to push for full disclosure or shit like that; and Chuck's really not the relationship type. (Then again, neither is she, but they're trying this out and she surprises herself with how she wants this to work, dysfunctional or not).
But then she finds out things like these and for a moment she's distracted from the fact that Chuck had pretty much hit the bullseye when it came to hurting her. (Why she still wants this to work, she has no idea, but that's love for you -- you do lots of stupid, crazy things, right?) For a moment, maybe she understands just why Chuck is the way he is. ]
Your dad killed your mom?
[ There are a lot of things Chuck doesn't tell her, and that's fine by her -- she's not the sort to push for full disclosure or shit like that; and Chuck's really not the relationship type. (Then again, neither is she, but they're trying this out and she surprises herself with how she wants this to work, dysfunctional or not).
But then she finds out things like these and for a moment she's distracted from the fact that Chuck had pretty much hit the bullseye when it came to hurting her. (Why she still wants this to work, she has no idea, but that's love for you -- you do lots of stupid, crazy things, right?) For a moment, maybe she understands just why Chuck is the way he is. ]
Your dad killed your mom?
[ Chocolate sauce, you heathen. The one she happened to buy last night when they were on a grocery run, and doing the strangest couple-y shit and it occurs to her that they just went grocery-shopping together and did no one notice that?
How hadn't she noticed that? And she eats like shit and still looks like that because she's a hyperactive half-french mutt who generally likes running around at obscene hours of the morning. Except for, well, today. ]
...Chuck. What are we doing?
How hadn't she noticed that? And she eats like shit and still looks like that because she's a hyperactive half-french mutt who generally likes running around at obscene hours of the morning. Except for, well, today. ]
...Chuck. What are we doing?
[ She's a pretty half-french mutt and he'd better know it.
Yes, yes it is. It's a gasp and it sounds so good and she's grinning above him because damn, Chuck. You like it when your girls take control, and Raleigh's learning that. She's touching his scars and definitely not running the other way -- she's admiring him and really, Chuck's a whole lot more endearing when he isn't talking. ]
Yeah? [ She baits, because she likes talking and you're not going to stop her, Chuckles. ] What're those other things? [ Hands, roaming to places, splayed over his stomach, her thumb gently rubbing over the sensitive scar tissue there, too. ]
Yes, yes it is. It's a gasp and it sounds so good and she's grinning above him because damn, Chuck. You like it when your girls take control, and Raleigh's learning that. She's touching his scars and definitely not running the other way -- she's admiring him and really, Chuck's a whole lot more endearing when he isn't talking. ]
Yeah? [ She baits, because she likes talking and you're not going to stop her, Chuckles. ] What're those other things? [ Hands, roaming to places, splayed over his stomach, her thumb gently rubbing over the sensitive scar tissue there, too. ]
[ Raleigh cringes, because why do all the animals in your country want to kill people, Chuck? She glances up at the trees suspiciously, as if expecting one (or ten) to do that at any moment. ]
...I've never heard of those before.
...I've never heard of those before.
[Chuck is a teenager, so he's not a health nut (not yet) but that just sounds like greasy death to him. Six pounds of bacon? Really? He will never understand Americans and their obsession with bacon.]
How are there more than one kind of hash browns?
How are there more than one kind of hash browns?
[Chuck is seriously starting to doubt that Raleigh couldn't sleep and that he was just horny and wanted to come over, get a little tipsy and feel him up. Which is-- not totally unacceptable or unappealing but like fuck is he going to walk into Becket's plan.]
Couldn't have stolen a better brand, could you?
Couldn't have stolen a better brand, could you?
[That is because the utter thought of food up until this moment has activated his gag reflex. He's not being overdramatic at all, he's sick, and sick people have a right to do nothing all day.
Chuck leans against her a little, and then reaches for the tray so he can have his soup.]
I guess I won't divorce you just yet.
Chuck leans against her a little, and then reaches for the tray so he can have his soup.]
I guess I won't divorce you just yet.
[Well then he's allowed to ogle her back, now isn't he? Fair's fair. Chuck smirks at her in a way that says maybe he'll actually shut the door on Max tonight and keep him firmly out of the bedroom. Because no, he's not going to sleep with her with Max even in the same room but he's not very capable of saying no to the dog most of the time.]
All the more reason for you to put him to bed then.
All the more reason for you to put him to bed then.
[Two months and three weeks is too long without her. That's what Chuck has come to realize. He needs her in ways that he'd never admit, he misses her smile and her laugh and all the stupid shit she says, misses how it seems like there's no energy around the house now. That when it's just him and Percy and he can barely stand to look at the kid, it's too much and not enough at the same time.
For the first time, Chuck finds himself in his father's shoes and finds that he hates it here, that it's a horrible place to be and his situation isn't even as bad as Herc's was. Where Raleigh is still alive, there's still a chance for her, and his son isn't old enough to blame him for what happened, to really know what's going on except that Mommy isn't around to tuck him in and he cries and cries and cries and Chuck can't do anything but join him.
Herc comes to help out, doesn't even let Chuck finish explaining what happened before he's interrupting to say that he'll be on the first flight out of Sydney. It's still not perfect with them, they still don't like they should but something's changed. And Herc is good with Percy in all the ways that Chuck can't be right now.
It's the middle of the fucking night when he gets the call but it wasn't really like Chuck was sleeping anyway. He breaks every single traffic law possible getting from the house to the hospital, and he doesn't bring her jello because what the fuck, what does that even mean? Whose first word in nearly three months is jello, Raleigh, you're so ridiculous.
She can yell at him all she wants, so long as she's really awake, and Chuck barks at people to move the fuck out of his way and yes-- yes, fuck, she is awake. Those are her beautiful blue eyes looking back at him from his spot in the doorway and he's not crying again, he's not but he does sort of regret not bringing Percy with him right now.
He'll call Herc and make him come in.]
Shit, Raleigh, don't you-- ever do this again.
For the first time, Chuck finds himself in his father's shoes and finds that he hates it here, that it's a horrible place to be and his situation isn't even as bad as Herc's was. Where Raleigh is still alive, there's still a chance for her, and his son isn't old enough to blame him for what happened, to really know what's going on except that Mommy isn't around to tuck him in and he cries and cries and cries and Chuck can't do anything but join him.
Herc comes to help out, doesn't even let Chuck finish explaining what happened before he's interrupting to say that he'll be on the first flight out of Sydney. It's still not perfect with them, they still don't like they should but something's changed. And Herc is good with Percy in all the ways that Chuck can't be right now.
It's the middle of the fucking night when he gets the call but it wasn't really like Chuck was sleeping anyway. He breaks every single traffic law possible getting from the house to the hospital, and he doesn't bring her jello because what the fuck, what does that even mean? Whose first word in nearly three months is jello, Raleigh, you're so ridiculous.
She can yell at him all she wants, so long as she's really awake, and Chuck barks at people to move the fuck out of his way and yes-- yes, fuck, she is awake. Those are her beautiful blue eyes looking back at him from his spot in the doorway and he's not crying again, he's not but he does sort of regret not bringing Percy with him right now.
He'll call Herc and make him come in.]
Shit, Raleigh, don't you-- ever do this again.
[No, he's not the relationship type but if you were to ask him, they're working just fine. He's with her, isn't he. He comes home to her every day and he talks to her out of his own free will and he listens to her, even when she's got something stupid to say.
That's love, right? Love is picking a person and saying you're mine and dealing with all their shit.]
The car accident that killed her? He left her in the car. Thought he'd have enough to grab me first and then go back for her and he didn't.
That's love, right? Love is picking a person and saying you're mine and dealing with all their shit.]
The car accident that killed her? He left her in the car. Thought he'd have enough to grab me first and then go back for her and he didn't.
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