show me your scars (closed)

[endingpoint]

Who: Jane Doe + Kurt Weller
Where: Kurt's Room
When: Aug 22
Rating: PG-13, could get up to R for death/language.
Summary: Jane died, and Kurt says he's fine, but he's not.
The Story:

[ The nightmares have slowed down, at least a little. She still wakes up at least once a night, but it's not with screams anymore, and as long as he's beside her, she can fall right back to sleep. It means she hasn't left his place, has lived there since Wonderland turned back to normal. He hasn't said anything about it, and Jane hasn't either. She sleeps tucked against Kurt, every night, but now that she's sleeping more she can tell he isn't.

He says he's fine, but she knows he isn't. She knows what he's doing, that he thinks he has to be strong for her because of what happened; because she was murdered and he wasn't there. He couldn't keep her safe. He'd failed Taylor when he was ten years old, and now he'd failed Jane. She knows him, and she knows he's holding onto guilt that doesn't belong. The problem is, when she asks how he is, he says he's fine. He's not sleeping, but he's fine. He's drinking more, but he's fine. She asks him again tonight, quietly after being in the garden for a while and at his usual response, Jane finally pushes back, not accepting his answer. ]

You're not okay. Why are you lying to me? If you're going to hold me to the fire every time you think I'm not being honest about something, I deserve the same courtesy.

[ She's not angry when she says it, she just sounds sad. This happened, and she can't help him. But he can't keep bottling it up, because something will give, and it won't be good.]

You need to talk to me.

Comments

[endingpoint]

[ Her heart feels like it's shattering, knowing he stayed right there with her, and she closes her eyes tightly, swallowing against a large lump lodged in her throat. ]

But I did. And I'm here. And you made sure I didn't wake up alone.

[startingpoint]

You told me...you dreamed about me. Before you woke up?

[endingpoint]

[ Jane takes a deep breath and nods. ]

Yeah I...it must have been when I was...back, but not awake yet. It was...we were sitting in one of the interrogation rooms, like the one from when we first met. And you were holding onto me. Like this.

[ She demonstrates by holding both of her palms to his, and then interlocking their fingers. ]

We were just looking at each other and then you told me to open my eyes. "Open your eyes, Jane. Look at me." That's what you said, and then I...then I did.

[startingpoint]

[ He looks at their joined hands, pressing his forehead to hers. ]

Jane. I can't...lose someone else. [ Because he did lose her. ]

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I'm sorry, Kurt. God, I'm sorry. I couldn't have known it was going to happen but if I could just...never leave, if I could change it and stay in bed with you, I would.

[ All that she can do now is wrap her arms tightly around him and pull him against her, holding him tightly.]

[startingpoint]

[ He leans into her touch, letting her hold him, wanting to be held by her as he wraps his arms around her in return. ]

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[ She wants, so badly, to tell him how much she loves him, but she knows he's already overwhelmed by that. So, instead, she cradles him close to her body, running her fingers through his hair. ]

We're both here, and we're okay. We're gonna be okay.

[startingpoint]

[ He knows on some level that she loves him, and he's conflicted about wanting to hear it and feeling like they moved too fast, but he knows he doesn't want her to move out of his room. He wants her here, now. ]

I know.

[ He finally lifts his head to kiss her lips, amazed that hearing all this didn't break her. ]

[endingpoint]

[ When he kisses her, Jane bring her hands to his face, holding onto him. Even if she doesn't say it out loud, that kiss holds everything. ]

Take something to sleep tonight. Okay? I will too, just so you know I'm sleeping.

[startingpoint]

[ He knows how worried she is, and he'll do anything to erase that concern from her mind. So he nods a little, knowing he needs the rest, too. ]

I will. I promise.

[endingpoint]

[ Jane takes his hand and stands, moving to the bedroom, grabbing two sleeping pills and taking one of them, handing him the other before getting into bed and reaching out for his hand. ]

Come on, baby.

[startingpoint]

[ Baby. That's new, as far as he knows, yet it slips from her tongue so naturally. He smiles when she says it, clearly indicating that he's happy to hear it, and he takes her hand, getting into bed with her. He swallows it and then stretches out, pulling her close. ]

I wanna help Sarah forget all of this. I asked the closet for a potion. I just...want it to be safe, but she shouldn't have to deal with this anymore.

[endingpoint]

[ Wrapping around him, Jane rests her head on his chest. ]

I agree with you. Give it to her and then at least we'll know she's okay.

[startingpoint]

[ He knows he'll get too sleepy to talk soon, but he keeps up the conversation for now. ]

I'm sorry I put you through this.

[endingpoint]

There's no way to really know how to deal with this.

[ She closes her eyes and listens to the beating of his heart. ]

All I care about is that we're here right now.

[startingpoint]

[ He nods a little, kissing the top of her head and finally closing his eyes when the drowsiness creeps up on him and starts to pull him under. His hold on her is tight, though, not willing to let go. ]

[endingpoint]

[Jane fights to stay asleep until she knows he's out, trying to watch over him, and then she falls asleep, both of them needing this, badly.]

[startingpoint]

[ The day after Sarah spent the night with them, Kurt brings back burgers and fries from the diner for both he and Jane. They sit together on the couch to eat, watching a movie. Since purging his emotions and being open with Jane about everything, he's been sleeping better and eating more regularly again. He looks healthier, too; not as pale, no dark circles under his eyes anymore. ]

Jane. You and me. What this is between us - we should...talk.

[endingpoint]

[ She can't help it, the pattern of her life as she remembers it right now is: get good thing, watch good thing go up in flames. So, Jane tenses a little and doesn't look up at him as she sits forward on the couch to put down her book and then tighten the blanket around her shoulders. ]

Okay. What about, exactly?

[ Her voice is purposefully measured so she doesn't seem like she's freaking out already. ]

[startingpoint]

[ He knows her, though, and he reaches out to take her hand. ]

I've never felt like this. About anyone.

[endingpoint]

[ Well, that wasn't what she was expecting, and Jane does look at him now when he holds onto her hand. ]

I haven't either. It's good, right?

[ She knows that things are still really, really screwed up at home, but they've had months here together now. ]

[startingpoint]

Yeah. It's good. It's really good.

[ His thumb sweeps across her knuckles in a tender stroke. And then he smirks a little. ]

You called me baby.

[endingpoint]

I um...you were having a bad dream a while ago and I whispered it to you. It helped. I mean, I think it did. You stopped dreaming.

[ Jane's cheeks are a little red, not embarrassed, just never thinking it would really come up again. ]

[startingpoint]

It did. It does. Everything you do helps, Jane.

[endingpoint]

[ He says it and really believes it, and she finds herself believing it, too, smiling up at him. ]

So, this is okay? We're okay?

[ There is so much hope as she looks at him, and she's so in love. ]