[IC] Just Passing Through

[LadyDove09]

"I am glad they have your pain under control." She said softly her eyes conveying her relief to hear that he wasn't too terribly uncomfortable. She continued to watch him carefully for any signs that his meds might be wearing off. She wouldn't hesitate to call the nurse for him.

She crossed her arms over her chest appearing genuinely upset as he told her they had not yet found the person responsible for hospitalizing him. "I hope they catch him and throw the book at him!" She said angrily. "You were lucky you weren't killed." She shifted again in her chair shaking her head in frustration. She knew it was unlikely they would find the person responsible, at least not until he screwed up again.

She smiled as he mentioned there being nothing on but the news. "Unfortunately most hospitals these days don't carry the good stations, so yeah the selection sucks. Although, it has to be better than the food." She shudders exaggeratedly. "I have had many days where my meals came from the cafeteria here. I almost always regret it. I sometimes wonder if they serve the horrible food they do in an attempt to help keep themselves in business." She laughed softly at her own really bad joke. She was slowly beginning to feel better, just sitting here in his company was making her day not feel quite so horrible.

"Speaking of really bad hospital food" She said as she reached out and scooped up the pile of movies from the table to hand them to him. She didn't want him to have to move any more than necessary. "Did you actually eat any of it?" She wanted to know. If he had any sense at all, he drank the juice and maybe, depending on the flavor ate the jello, but nothing else.

[Xion Demente]

Smiling some at her concern for him before she brought up that he could have been killed smile vanishing. As he tried to push the memories that always threatened to crush him under their weight. Sighing somethings could never really be changed and him being who he was he couldn't change that.

Though when she mentioned the guy about throwing a book at him. "Good idea how about we throw 'how not to screw up and hurt people' at him." It was a bad way of trying to lighten the mood in him mostly. He knew it was horrible no one had to tell him. "Mostly I rather eat at horrible take out than this stuff."

He gestured toward the full tray of food he hadn't touched that was at the side of his bed. "I just drank water that's it the jello was horrible today too so I didn't really get anything to eat." Sighing slightly he for all honesty he didn't want this to end, but he knew to keep his distance.

[LadyDove09]

She watched the smile vanish from his face, and it troubled her. She reached out and lightly brushed her fingers over the back of his hand saying nothing, just offering silent support. She assumed his look was because he realized how close to being killed he was. She was slow to pull her hand away from his. She couldn't explain why though, it just felt right. She didn't need to say anything else, because his mood brightened as they began to joke about throwing the book.

"Well if that title doesn't work, I am sure we could find a copy of 'Stolen vehicle driving for dummies' somewhere. They say there is a dummies book for everything." She was finally no longer touching him, but her hand rested on the bed next to his. Her attention turning to the uneaten tray of food. Just as she had feared, it was lime Jello. No one actually liked that green crap, but they insisted on serving it anyway.

All this talk of food reminded her that she hadn't eaten anything today herself. She'd had a little bit of time, but it was too hot, and she had had no appetite. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She was in no hurry to leave, and he had just given her a handy excuse to hang out for a little while longer. "Pizza or Pasta?" She asked opening an app to search for the nearest delivery joint. "Oh, there is also a Chinese place that delivers here." she said holding up the phone and leaning closer to show him the options. "Apparently we aren't the only people who can't stomach hospital food." She laughed a little. "So It's our lucky night. Just tell me what you are in the mood for, and according to this, it will be here before we know it."

[Xion Demente]

Feeling the touch of her hand, he looked down to see her fingers lightly brushing the back of his hand his breathing hitched for a moment. Before he remembered how to breath again. He laughed at that, "true the dummy books have everything that I know of anyway." Before he watched her glance at his full tray of food.

Frowning slightly in thought, "can't choose surprise me." Why the hell wasn't he telling her to go? He knew if he got to close to her he would regret this whole meeting in the first place. He guessed he just missed the company, since he hadn't had it for so long.

He sighed slightly, he didn't know if she would fall asleep here or not. If she did then he would have a problem with his nightmares and things not that many people knew about them. Well no one really knew he had nightmares when he slept for the most part.

[LadyDove09]

She rolled her eyes as he said he couldn't decide. Well two could play at that game. She used her phone to place an online order for two large pizzas, a couple of sodas and an order of spaghetti with a side of garlic bread. She figured it would be better to have a little variety. She ordered out enough that sadly, her credit card information had long since been saved on most of the local sites. She watched him cautiously out of the corner of her eye while she appeared to be occupied on her phone. She would love to keep talking and joking with him, but she wondered if maybe watching a movie would be a safer bet. She gave his hand a soft squeeze as she stood up. "I will be right back, going to talk to the nurse." She said softly.

She walked to the door and poked her head out and spotted a nurse. She quickly walked to the nurse and well, she bribed her to bring them the pizza when it arrived. Sam knew how to work nurses, she ordered two pizza's one for her and James, and one for the nurses on the floor. It ensured the food would arrive, and that she wouldn't have to get up in the middle of the movie. Arrangements made, she hurried back to the room.

She was going to sit down, but stopped herself. "Are you comfortable? Would you like some more water or anything?" One hand was resting lightly on his arm as she spoke, at least she thought she had just rested her hand on his arm, but her fingertips lightly moved along his skin.

"I thought we should start watching one of those movies while we wait for dinner to get here, unless of course you'd rather talk." She said with a smile, knowing that if he was like every other man on the planet he would jump at a chance to avoid talking.

[Xion Demente]

Watching her order before he looked around the room. When she said she would be right back she squeezed his hand which sent a shiver to go up his back. Letting out a shaky breath no one had this effect on him before which he was new to the whole feeling. When she came back watching her close the door behind her.

Before she asked him if he needed anything, "I'm fine Sam no need to worry." Though her fingers sliding against his skin caused goosebumps to rise in their wake. He suppressed the shiver that threatened to be his undoing. Before she suggested a movie. "Well how about this we'll start the movie once the food gets here no interruptions then."

"Taking her hand from his arm he squeezed her hand. Trying to figure out what to do though he didn't exactly know he didn't let go of her hand in his gentle grip. James would've by now, but seemed like his mind had other plans for him tonight.

[LadyDove09]

"That sounds like a great plan." She said sitting down once again smiling slightly as he took her hand, she entwined her fingers with his showing no signs of pulling away. She shifted in her chair getting more comfortable. She was going to be here for at least a few hours, and that made her strangely excited. She tucked a few escaped hairs behind an ear as she racked her brain for something to talk about. Sam usually was not good with silences. She is one of those people who almost feel compelled to speak. Tonight was different, there were silences, but they were not awkward.

"Soooo..." She said drawing out the word. "tell me a little bit about you. I didn't have much success in striking up a great conversation this morning." She said with a slight eye roll remembering the disaster that was their first encounter in the cafe. "I mean I have no idea what was wrong with me." Oh she knew, but she wasn't going to admit it. She caught a glimpse of his beautiful eyes and all rational thought escaped her leaving her babbling like an idiot. She couldn't help but think that it was probably a good thing he didn't immediately recognize her at the accident scene, or he would have been screaming at Marc to make sure that I didn't touch him. She was damn lucky he didn't still think she was an idiot. She glanced down at their joined hands and smiled. Really lucky he didn't think of her as an idiot, she thought to herself.

[Xion Demente]

Feeling her hand twine fingers with his his ears turned pink a little. Why the hell was he getting all flustered this had never happened before so why now? Shaking his head of the thought. He stiffened at her saying to tell her a little about himself. Before relaxing slightly, "I grew up poor not on the good side of town."

He made this up as he went though most of it was true. He just had to set the back maybe 18 years or so. "My dad had to work a lot while my mother took care of my brother and me when I was fourteen middle of the night. I had snuck out to go get something when I come back the house is on fire. Your looking at the only survivor of that fire."

He kept his response good and simple at that. For now till he could trust her fully his secret would stay with him and only him a flash of sadness went through his eyes and seemed to stay their. It was his fault for leaving, but it had saved his life maybe if he had died in that fire he wouldn't have to deal with this.

[LadyDove09]

She relaxed a little as he began to speak, just for a moment. It seemed that tragedy, followed him. She maintained eye contact listening to his story, but when he began to tell her of the house fire, she flicked her eyes upwards to stare at the ceiling telling herself not to cry. Staring at the ceiling really does help, there is some real reason why tears don't fall, but who cares. Point is no tears will be shed. She takes a deep breath and once again looks at him clearing her throat before speaking.

"James, I am so sorry." She gave his hand a squeeze, and it looked like she was about to say more, but it seemed that the powers that be took pity upon them both because before she could speak the door opened. A nurse poked her head through the door and then pushed it open. "Food's here!" The nurse said cheerily. "Thank you guys for buying food for us too." She said as Sam disentangled her hand from James' so she could grab their dinner. Once Sam had the food well in hand, the nurse disappeared out the door closing it behind her, leaving them alone once again.

Sam turned and saw the tray holding his abandoned meal from earlier. She picked it up and dumped what passed for food around here in the trash. There was no way he was going able to eat pizza easily with one hand, so some improvising must be done. She cut up a slice of pizza for him into chunks that could be managed with a fork. "Would you like some Pasta too?" She asked as she added a piece of garlic bread to the plate she was preparing for him.

[Xion Demente]

Once he finished the somewhat out dated story he had given her. The pain lingered in his eyes for a moment, before it was gone covered by a barrier he had set up for the past hundred years or so of his life. When she said she was sorry he shook his head, "its not your fault no reason to apologize." Once he was out of the hospital he knew he would have trouble getting into his apartment. Also with getting anywhere out of bed.

He looked to the door, when the nurse came in with their food. When Sam untangled her hand with his the warmth disappearing from his hand. He watched her make his plate for him. "No pasta I'm fine with the pizza and garlic bread." He shaking his head, he got rid of any lingering memories in his head. Knowing he would have to get a hold!d of his thoughts sooner or later. He wouldn't let his memories rule his life.

"By the way thanks for doing this you didn't have to Sam." He meant that most people would just leave him alone. Well more or less that would be his fault somewhat.

[LadyDove09]

Sam finished making his plate. She had cut two pieces of pizza into pieces for him. She carefully set it in front of him and handed him a fork. She smiled when he thanked her. It made her happy that he seemed to be enjoying her company as well. "I am happy to do it." She said as she went from messing with the food to plug in the DVD player. "I am really glad I came by tonight."

She busied herself getting things ready to watch a movie. She knew it was getting late, and she should head home, but she did not want to leave yet. She was determined to stay as long as possible. "What do you want to watch?" She asked reaching for the stack of movies. "We have an action movie, not sure it has a plot, just lots of blowing stuff up." She held up the first movie and gave a smile. She went through the movies letting him know a little bit of what they were about.

She figured she would stay with him, watching the movie until he fell asleep for the night, she didn't want him to be alone any longer than possible, she just wished she didn't have to work ih the morning.

[Xion Demente]

Once his plate was set down in front of him. He started eating, not having much food for the day really took a toll on his body plus with it trying to fix itself up. James knew he would be getting tired and soon, but he wouldn't want to fall asleep just yet. Getting the DVD player positioned to where both of them could see what was going on.

Listening to her as she listed off the movies. Frowning in thought as he thought on what to choose. Picking up the action movie he set it up. Though he was distracted with his thoughts on why she came to visit him. Which was the question he would ask tonight. Sighing some, before he turned his gaze to the woman beside his bed.

"Sam why did you visit me? Out of everyone in this hospital why me?" The question had bugged him for awhile. Pausing the movie just to hear her answer the question. Because he was confused really confused why she came to visit him.

[LadyDove09]

"Sam why did you visit me? Out of everyone in this hospital why me?"

Sam stiffened slightly. She really had no idea how to answer the question, she had been asking herself this question all night. "Oh uhm, that is a good question." She said stalling while she gathered her thoughts. She took a minute but finally met his eyes. "I wondered myself why, but the more I thought about it, the clearer the answer." She said standing up to pace a little. She was uncomfortable, she wished she were one of those people who could spout off a cute funny answer and just leave it at that.

She paced back and forth at the foot of his bed mentally trying to find a way to answer the question without sounding creepy and stalkerish. "Your eyes." She said finally. She had stopped pacing but was still agitated. "I know it sounds weird, but your eyes." She moved close to him once again, but did not touch him this time. "I met you this morning, and saw sadness in your eyes. Then I asked about emergency contacts, and saw it in your eyes, that you truly had no one. Most people will think of a friend, or co-worker, or even a neighbor, but not you."

She tucks her hands into her back pockets and shifts her weight. There was so much more she wanted to say, but as the words ran through her head, she clenched her jaw to keep them from escaping her lips. " I mean, I guess I probably shouldn't have come, but no one should have to feel that alone ya know?"

[Xion Demente]

Watching as she gave him some answer, then watching her pace back and forth in front of his bed. His brows scrunching together, as she gave him a bit more of the answer. Shifting just to get in a more comfortable position, making sure to keep his weight off his leg and he wouldn't hit his arm.

Once shifted James looked back up at her. Blinking slightly when she said his eyes. That she had seen the pain and sadness in them. His gaze moving to the bed as he mentally cursed himself in his head. He had to get that under control some how though he probably doubted he could. When she said that he had no one, he stiffened slightly in response memories rushing through his head though he shook them off.

Nodding as she said that no one shouldn't feel as alone as he did. "I have my reasons for being alone, but right now maybe once I get to know you better I can trust you with the secret as to why I'm alone." He mentally hit himself for saying that he couldn't take it back now. The gods were truley cruel to do this to him once more.

[LadyDove09]

She listened to him and cocked her head to the side a little as he mentioned having reasons to be alone. She could understand that to a point. He had lost a lot from just the little he told her that would make anyone not want to be around others.

"We all have our secrets." She said quietly sitting down again. She watched his face as she spoke again. "I can go if you want. I mean if you really want to be alone, I can go."

She hoped he would tell her to stay. She was no stranger to loneliness. It was a horrible feeling, but if it was a choice he made, she couldn't force them to be friends.

She reached up and pulled her hair out of the pony tail just to start finger combing it and putting it back in place. Her face pointed towards the floor as she nervously played with her hair.

[Xion Demente]

He nodded when she mentioned they everyone had there secrets. Though his was more major than mostly everyone's on this world. Glancing down to his good hand, before she mentioned leaving. He reacted immediately, his hand going out and grabbing hers.

His grip wouldn't hurt, but it was tight. "Stay please...." He had enough of being alone in his life. His expression showed fear of being alone being his age with no one to care for him did that to a person. He took an unsteady breath he didn't know why the hell he wanted her to stay he should have kept her at a distance.

He didn't really realize it when he let go of her hand that his was shaking. Slightly swallowing some to try and push down the fear that had rose in him.

[LadyDove09]

She jumped a little as she felt his hand grasping hers. She saw the fear in his eyes. She had not expected him to react so strongly. He let go of her hand suddenly, and she felt his withdrawal.

She reached out and touched his arm to get his attention. When he looked at her she smiled. "I am not going anywhere. I will stay as long as you need me."

She sat there her hand on his arm. "I promise." Her voice was soft. She never made promises. Her motto was I don't break promises, so I don't make them, I make plans.

[Xion Demente]

Making his hand clench so then the shaking in his hand stopped. When she touched his arm he looked at her. Surprised by her words slightly he nodded some. He was tired that's all his mind registered even with the itchy blanket and the pillows that were hard as rocks.

He managed to get two words passed his lips before sleep took him. "Thank you."

(Just gonna time skip here)

By morning he was woken by the sounds of doctors and nurses walking up and down the hall. How the heck people got sleep here he would never know. "I see your wide awake." His head snapped to the window to see a long black haired man maybe 6'2 at most. "Zeus what the hell are you trying to do to get me to care again." He knew this visit no one would come in and no one could hear the conversation.

"I'm doing this for you maybe if you care enough you'll get what we've been trying to teach a stubborn man as yourself for so long." James growled at the response before sighing, "I'm not going to get a straight answer out of you I know that from the many years I've been here."

He swore he saw a slight smirk on the sky god's face before he disappeared in a flash of lightning. "Damn I hate when one of them visit me its hard enough as it is." He sunk down into his pillows more turning whatever movie happened to be closest to him.

[LadyDove09]

After he fell asleep, she wrote a note and left it for him. "James, Sorry I had to run for a little while. I have to go into work, but I will be back as soon as I get off work. Call if you need anything. -Sam"

Fortunately today, things were calming down. Today was not nearly as busy as the last several days had been. She could think of nothing more than getting back to the hospital. She hated that she had to leave for work today. Marc had been teasing her mercilessly ever since one of the ER nurses had spread the gossip that she had been upstairs until the wee hours of the morning. She rolled her eyes and tossed a package of gauze at his head telling him to shut up. Her shift finished uneventfully, but she still felt an urge to hurry back to the hospital.

She called in an order of Chinese food on the way to the hospital, she knew that he probably hadn't eaten again today since the food was horribly disgusting. It should arrive shortly after she did. She parked in the garage again, dashing across the street. Traffic around the medical center was always insane, she should probably consider herself lucky that she didn't end up in the room next to his.

She made her way to his door knocking gently. "Honey, I'm hooooooome" She joked as she poked her head in the room first before walking in. She grabbed the chair and moved it back near the bed, and sat down. "How are you feeling today?" She wanted to know.

[Xion Demente]

Most of the day he kept getting asked questions. James just felt like beating his head against something. The talk with the sky for didn't help either stupid gods and their vague explanations. Shaking his head he had the half mind just to lock the door to keep the doctors out.

Getting through several movies, leaning against his pillows as he finished off the last movie. Before a nurse came in with a tray of hospital food the smell of it almost made him gag. Watching her set it down before leaving. He quickly went to work grabbing the milk and water before setting the tray on the floor with a thud.

He had read Sam's note after the talk with Zeus. Sighing before he heard her voice grin spreading across his lips. "Glad your home now what food did you get?" That was the first thing he wanted was food he was starving. Before she asked him how he was. "Wish the doctors would stop with the questions."