Room 238, Wednesday morning

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Aeryn hasn't really slept. Mostly she's been trying to sleep and failing because the thoughts won't stop. Not for the first time, she realizes how much easier this was when she didn't have to think for herself.

She finally gave up and got out of bed, and is now sitting on the floor near the door, back against the wall, distractedly plying with a thread on the knee of her sleep pants.

Comments

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Exactly," he says, shrugging. "We know it's not going to be easy. We just have to deal with it as best we can. That's all we can do."

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"Yeah," se says. It doesn't make her feel any better, but she thinks it's the best she's going to get. "It's okay."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I know it's not okay," he says quietly. "So, you don't have to lie. I'm not, I promise you, trying to solve this for you. I just give advice without really thinking."

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"There's just nothing to do be done about it, so let's just... Don't worry about it," she says, and even manages a little smile she doesn't really mean.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"If you'd like to get this out, Aeryn, I can promise to listen quietly."

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"I don't want to talk about it anymore," she says honestly.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I don't want to keep fighting."

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"Then let's drop this." And it's just that simple for her.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"That's hard to do when I know you're not going to drop it."

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"Please." She's not above that at this point.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I don't mean..." He pauses. "You have to tell me if you want to do this, Aeryn. I don't want to bring you into a bad situation."

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Aeryn is pretty sure she knows what he's saying, but she still frowns. "What?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I mean." He pauses. "I mean, there are a lot of other places we can go, if you'd like. I don't mean your home. I mean, here."

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"Everything's already set," she says, shaking her head. "You have school."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"I can make arrangements," he says. "We can go on a vacation before school. Go away and get used to not being here."

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It doesn't solve the problem, but at the same time, she doesn't hate the idea of some sort of adjustment. "Are you serious?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he says. "There'd be time to go somewhere, just you and me and a bed."

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"Like where?"

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Nags Head." It was a completely random place. "It's on the beach, just south of here."

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"Do you think it will help?" she asks, genuinely curious.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"It couldn't hurt," he says. "It'll give us both a break too. A week of adjusting to leaving here and getting ready to go there."

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"We could try it," Aeryn says after a moment.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Good," he says. "I'll make a few calls today, see what's the what."

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"See... what?" she frowns.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"It's a saying," he says. "It means I'll check it out."