Room 238, Saturday night

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Yesterday Aeryn had thought about feeding the sea monkeys, but the conversation hadn't really left an opening for that. But she wasn't about to let her pets suffer because she was having problems, so Aeryn made a phone call, then waited a minute. Because this was fine and there was no reason to feel uncomfortable. She was just feeding the sea monkeys, and there hadn't been a breakup. Simple.

After another minute, Aeryn went next door, stopping in the doorway. "Hi."

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[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John looks up from where he's been absently working through some math equations when she appears in his doorway.

"Hi," he says quietly, blinking a few times. "I don't know how to feed them or I would've done it. Sorry."

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"It's okay," she says, and figures she should probably step into the room. So she does. "Did you... want to know how?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John figures if he gets to close to her, it's gonna hurt more so he swallows and says, "I can watch from here. It's not that complicated, right?"

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"No, not at all," Aeryn says, intent on not sounding disappointed. She walks over to the tank in order to demonstrate. "You just take this, and... put some of it in the water."

Yep, that's really it.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Okay, that wasn't so hard at all and now she's gonna leave and he doesn't want that yet. "Okay. I can, um, do that."

"So...how are you?"

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Aeryn puts the food back down, and says, "I'm all right... How are you?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"All right," he says even though it's a lie. "Rory gave me some presents earlier tonight and then I've just been in here, trying to finish up this math independent study thing. An exciting Saturday night, you know."

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"Yeah, I know. I haven't been doing much, either." And as she doesn't really want to leave yet, she asks, "Is this independent study all you have left?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"No. I've got a Quantum Physics project still left to do too. And a Criminology interview to type up." He looks back down at his notebook and scratches something out. He rubs a hand across his brow before scratching at his stitches and wincing a bit. "Maybe I'll get some sleep once I'm done."

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"Stop touching it," she says automatically, seeing the wince. "Um. I can leave if you're busy."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"It itches," he counters. "And no, you don't have to leave. I'm getting nowhere with this anyway. I mean, you can leave if you want to. You don't have to stay if you don't want to."

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It shouldn't be this difficult, it really shouldn't. Aeryn swallows. "I don't want to leave," she says finally.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Okay." He puts down his pencil and scratches at the stitches again. Damn things are really damn itchy. "Do you, um...um, do you want something to eat or drink?"

He pushes himself off the couch and heads into the kitchen.

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"No, I'm fine," Aeryn says, and a second later follows him into the kitchen. She's deciding she hates small talk. She's not good at it. "Besides itchy, how's the eye?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"All right," he tells her, scratching at them again. "Stopped throbbing after awhile. Should be able to get them taken out sometime next week and forget I ever fell out of bed."

"Unfortunately, now I can't blame my wicked stitches for me not sleeping," he says, pulling a half eaten sandwich out of the fridge.

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Aeryn stops, watching him for a moment. "You're not sleeping?" she asks, wondering if and sort of hoping she's interpreting that wrong.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He takes a bite of the sandwich and shrugs. "Not well. Stress from finals and my eye was giving me a headache for awhile."

"I'll sleep in a few days. Get through finals and all."

This is safe conversation, nice and safe.

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"You'll sleep in a few days?" Aeryn repeats. "That doesn't sound very helpful."

She frowns. "Usually I'm on your end of this conversation."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He shrugs again and finishes the sandwich. "I have stuff I need to finish," he mumbles. "Can't let my grades drop and lose something else important to me."

He turns his back to her and drops the dish into the sink, running the water.

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Ow.

She struggles for the right words, then thinks there probably aren't any. "John..."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He doesn't know where that came from but it's out now and he can't take it now. So, instead, he washes the plate and dries it.

"Sorry," he says, deflated. "I shouldn't have said that."

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Blinking, she says, "I'm still here."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I know," he says quietly. "I know and your still hurting and that makes me feel awful. I hurt you. I did that to you."

"That's why I'm not sleeping," he admits.

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Aeryn could say something, but doesn't trust her voice. It hurts more not being around him, but admitting that is too much, so she nods.

[leeadama.livejournal.com]

*waves flag of triumph*