Room 238, early Wednesday morning

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Aeryn did sleep, though she woke up every time John moved. She has no idea what's happening, but knows enough to be Concerned. And if it wasn't for the fact that she knew Wednesday was John's busy day with classes, she'd be camped out here all day making sure nothing happened, or trying to talk him through whatever did happen.

Not sure if he's actually sleeping or just faking it, Aeryn slowly moves to get up from the couch, careful not to wake him if he is, in fact, actually out. They both have class first period. If he goes to his, she'll go to hers. Otherwise she's not leaving. Which is why she opens up the locker for the second time since she got back. She pulls out some clothes, and changes into them. Because putting up a fight about this right now is stupid.

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"I didn't say you did," says Aeryn, though she believes it's a really good idea.

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John drops his plate on the table and puts his face in his hands.

"That wasn't to you. Sorry. It was to Casper the Friendly Ghost."

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Aeryn wonders just how crowded his head is. "Who's Casper?"

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"Scorpius," he clarifies. "He's sitting next to me and taunting me."

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She nods.

She gets up to go back to the counter, and just to see what happens, she throws a discarded eggshell at the seat next to John.

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John eyes the eggshell with a frown and then a slight laugh.

"You threw an eggshell at my hallucination, honey."

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"Did I get him?"

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Scorpius is...grinning at John again like he knows something.

John just frowns and shakes his head. "No. Sorry. Thanks for trying."

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"This would be much easier if I could just hit him," she says, and she's serious about that.

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"I know, honey." He runs a hand through his hair, swiping at his ear and shaking his head against Scorpius' voice. "I wish you could hit him too. Save me some sanity."

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There are a lot of things Aeryn could say, but the fact is, she doesn't like seeing him the way he was last night, and she wants to avoid that as much as possible. So she teases, "As if you ever had sanity?"

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"I've had sanity," he protests, standing up and walking over to her. "It's just been hidden. And kept a secret. My sanity is shy."

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"Does it bury its head in the sand like an osterich?" asks Aeryn, slowly, trying to pronounce a word right. And it's both a metaphor and proving she learned something all in one.

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"Oh, she is a quick one, John. Very quick. I can see now why you feel the way you do about her."

John tries ignoring him this time. "God," he says quietly, almost under his breath.

"Unfortunately not. Merely a man."

"Freak. Freak."

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Aeryn drops trying to keep the mood light, going over to take his hands. "Hey," she says, trying to get his attention again.

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He shakes his head, still trying to get rid of the taunting voice. It's not working very hard.

"Take a hike. Hit the highway. Go away. Leave me alone. Just a for a little bit. Please."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, John.

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The reaction's already become almost automatic. "Don't listen to him," she says. "He isn't there."

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"He's here with me," he tells her. "I know he's not real but I can see him and hear him. He won't go away and he won't stop."

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She lets go of one hand to touch his face. "We'll get him to go away. Just stay with me, all right?"

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"How?" he asks because he really doesn't know. Things are just jumbled and confused for him right now.

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She touches her forehead against his. "There's nothing we haven't been able to get through together." Which both is and isn't an answer.

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"Now, declare your love and kiss your sweetheart!" Scorpius. Dressed as Cupid.

John shudders and doesn't respond right away. Taking several deep breaths, he says, "Yeah. I know. I just...I don't know what's going on. And it hurts."

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"We'll figure it out. It won't keep hurting."

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"Am I freaking you out?" he wonders.

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She's not even thinking about her own reactions beyond not knowing the right thing to say. "I'm okay," she assures him.