El!
El has been with the site for nearly two years now and has continued to prove her value. Currently, she is heading up our site event, Battle for Liberterram, on top of keeping up with her own personal plots.
CHARACTER
SPOTLIGHT
Peggy Carter!
Lux's posts are all wonderful to read. She has done a wonderful job of grasping the new universe and incorporating Peggy into it.
CHARACTER
SPOTLIGHT
Peter Parker!
It's good to see Spidey back on the site. Watching him deal with the universe shift in his own snarky way has been nothing short of entertaining.
THREAD
SPOTLIGHT
Eight O'Clock on the Dot!
El and Lux are making magic in this thread. Straight up fireworks, and the way they've played with drawing out the reveal is top class.
“I don’t think this is how you play Seven Minutes in Heaven…”
Something was missing. Darcy had felt a hole in her chest the past few days but thus far, she hadn’t been able to figure out what why. As a single lady, there wasn’t any beau to miss… and Jane was just a few floors down. She hadn’t seen Felicia in a few days, but that was fairly common for them. So what in the hell was missing? Turning the corner near the elevator on the floor containing her office, realization struck home and she inhaled sharply.
The dog whose nose was pressed against the base of a supply closet looked up from his task of snuffling and canted his head slightly. Darcy’s face lit up brightly at the familiar pup and she crouched down to beckon him over. Hutch was technically a service dog, but she’d been working hard the past few years to sway him into liking her. The doggie treats she picked up at the coffee shop when it was her turn to buy drinks for herself and Barnes definitely helped. And yet, he didn’t come barging over, metal paw and all. She could almost see the conflict in his dark eyes - she had food, but he couldn’t leave his post at this door.
That was kind of odd…
Reaching into her satchel, she pulled out the small ziploc where she’d been stashing the treats over the past few days. Bucky was out sick or something, which sucked, but hey - sometimes shit happened. Wait, but… if he was sick… “What are you doing here, Hutch?” she asked, standing and moving over to the dog. He whined and began to snuffle away at the base of the door again. “What’s in there, buddy? Is there a fire in the barn??”
Yes, she knew it was a janitorial closet. No, she didn’t care. The joke was funny to her, and since there was nobody else in the hallway at the moment, that was all that mattered. She was sure that if Hutch could, he’d be laughing at least a little bit right now. “Good boy, Hutch,” she tried, reaching her free hand down to pat the top of his head while her other offered him a treat. “Good boy.” That seemed to ease some of the dog’s tension, at least, but he was still adamant about staying here at this door.
“Alright contestants… Let’s find out what’s behind door number one…”
She really shouldn’t have been surprised, given the fact that Hutch was all but trying to break the door down. Still, as her eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the closet, she couldn’t help but cant her head in slight shock to see Barnes standing there. Maybe she’d thought Hutch’s presence made that option too obvious. And yet, there he was, metal arm and all. “...Barnes?...” she asked, uncertainty in her voice as she took half a step forward, squinting just to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. If he was attempting to play Seven Minutes in Heaven, he was kind of missing a vital piece of the game: a second person.
Can you tell me Doctor, why I still can't get to sleep
And night time’s just a jungle dark, and a barking M16
It had only been a few days since his abrupt and shocking entrance into this… whatever this was, and he was finding himself a standstill when it came to getting stuff done without his phone, wallet and keys. The woman he’d met in the hallway of his apartment had wondered about getting the key back, for some reason, though James suspected that she was a friend; and she lived in one of the other two rooms on the top floor. However, that meant he would have to go back to Stark Tower.
It took several hours for him to summon the courage to walk back towards the tower, stopping to ask for directions twice. Hutch wouldn’t leave his side the entire time, half stepping on his feet in an attempt to curb the continuing anxiety and looming panic attack. James had to do this, however, and the dog was ordered sharply to stay at his side. Getting into the tower was easy. It was a business and James had business to be there. Maybe not this James, but one of them, and it made it easier for this one to get in without any questions asked.
On the way up he started to panic and hit the button to open the doors until they finally parted and he all but ran off the elevator and down several halls, Hutch following at his heels until James tugged open a door and shut it behind him before anyone else could either see him, or stop him. With the door closed, he pressed himself up against the shelves at the back of the small room and started to take deep breaths, hoping that it would stop soon and he could finish the task at hand. After three minutes, it wasn’t helping and he finally closed his eyes and gripped the shelves behind him.
Finally, it seemed that time had caught up to him and he heard voices on the other side of the door. Squeezing his eyes shut tighter, he’d hoped they’d go away if he ignored them, but had completely missed that the words weren’t being directed at him.
When the door suddenly opened, James eyes followed suit and he stepped forward just as his name was being said and pulled the person in, Hutch had already managed to slip by, bringing the door back with them before retreating back to where he’d been a moment before. He didn’t know the woman, but staying near her after that would be considered too offensive, and he just wanted to stay in the dark and get through his breathing before he continued with his day. “I’m sorry, I just… I just… I need a minute.”
“I don’t think this is how you play Seven Minutes in Heaven…”
As soon as the door was open, she felt Hutch go barreling past her into the closet. That should have been confirmation enough that his human was indeed, hiding in the closet. And… from what she could tell, he was alone in said closet. That was good. She’d feel awfully awkward if she’d just interrupted something not-so-professional.
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the mere thought, but deepened even further as she felt Bucky’s hand wrap around her own to pull her in. What the hell was going on?! Knowing he could outmatch her in the strength department probably in his sleep even without use of his metal arm, she skittered in without putting up a fight. “Uhhh…” Well, this was awkward.
The closet wasn’t nearly as large as one might think everything in Stark Towers was and she found herself awkwardly close to her friend. They’d sat next to each other plenty of times and bumped elbows while walking. She’d even hugged him on a few occasions. But this was completely different. Shifting slightly in the darkness so that her back was to the door and she wasn’t pressed up against his chest - unfffff, curse you common decency! - she let her hands fall down to clasp at the strap of her work bag.
“I can give you seven,” she grinned, proud of herself for the joke.
Something about this whole situation wasn’t right, though. Frowning, she reached a hand forward carefully as she searched for his natural arm. She took the motion slow and kept her hand at what she guessed was mid-chest level for him. Too low and she might accidentally touch a part of him that shouldn’t be touched at work; too high, she might accidentally shove her hand in his mouth. “Hey… You okay, Buck?”
Finally, her hand found purchase on what she was ninety-seven percent certain was his arm. Sliding her fingers down, she confirmed the find by wrapping them around the hand at the end of his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Haven’t seen you in awhile, dude. It’s been lonely around this place without you.” Well, as lonely as one could be at a mega corporation. Mostly, she’d just missed seeing him in the morning. His smile was fucking perfect, and he was her main source for classic jokes. Also, he paid for coffee half the time and had a cutie patootie of a dog. And perhaps if he’d been around the past few days, she might not have had to call security to assign someone the task of guarding Tony when she saw him randomly wandering the halls solo.
Speaking of the Stark heir, she needed to pencil herself in to have a chat with him. That face he made every time he saw her was beginning to get to be a bit much. It almost reminded her of Hutch’s when she had a treat held out for him. If Felicia was right and he was having some weird ‘I missed my chance’ issue two years after a one-night stand, she needed to nip that in the bud. Or maybe it was just him getting cold feet with Kayley and he needed someone to slap some sense into him. Either way, that talk needed to happen - the sooner the better.
Can you tell me Doctor, why I still can't get to sleep
And night time’s just a jungle dark, and a barking M16
The closet was small with him inside it alone, all broad shoulders and muscle, but with the woman and Hutch inside as well, it was almost downright claustrophobic. The woman seemed confused by his sudden need to have her inside, and he didn’t know why he didn’t just shut the door in her face, but here she was. Through his breathing, she said something and he looked at her confused. The light in the room was abysmal, considering the light was off and the only other was coming from the gap at the bottom of the door. “I don’t… know what that means.” Would he need seven minutes? Or would she have to walk back out in seven minutes? It didn’t matter.
He did jerk at both the touch to his arm, and the use of his name. Not expecting either. “No… yes… I mean-” What? He couldn’t just rattle off everything that was going on, Steve had said as much and he knew it himself, and it took a solid effort for him to keep the words on the inside of his mouth. “I will be. I think.” And hopefully soon. James didn’t reject or really otherwise respond to her reassuring hand squeeze, but took in her words carefully. They knew each other. Quick well if she was shortening his already short nickname and calling him ‘dude’. He tried to see through the darkness to make out her face, and didn’t give up when he couldn’t.
If they were friends, as it seemed they were, James would have to make something up, and fast, to alleviate any potential questions or worries she might have. “I’ve… been having a hard time, lately.” His voice sounded disjointed, like he was actively trying to come up with an excuse on the spot, but he wasn’t being untruthful, either. “I just… needed a break.” His breath was starting to slow now, so it seemed that whatever she was doing just by being there was helping. “Apparently I still am. Maybe I came back too soon.” Would she be one of the names that he was expecting to see on his phone? She seemed worried about him now, so maybe she’d tried to text him and see if he was okay that way. How many other names would there be? If any. It seemed like this James was a popular person, at least. He took in a deep breath, feeling the worry start to increase again, and held it to avoid another breakdown.
“I don’t think this is how you play Seven Minutes in Heaven…”
It was a really good thing Darcy wasn’t claustrophobic. Spending basically an entire summer cramped in a van with two other people had been really good practice for coping if she had been. Still, that wasn’t exactly the same as being dragged into a closet by a dude she may or may not have had a crush on. Thankfully, she was naturally overt and flirty towards everyone, so said crush wasn’t obvious. And with the distinct lack of light in here, nobody would be able to see the deep stain of her cheeks.
Talk about lucky.
Not lucky like that, though. Right? No, that wasn’t why he’d pulled her in here. That couldn’t be. Her eyes narrowed as he seemed to miss her joke and she actually pouted somewhat. Sometimes, he reminded her of talking to Thor. The 1940’s were like a whole other world, with their own language and mannerisms and everything. “Sorry. Bad joke,” she chuckled dismissively.
Feeling him all but wrench away from her touch, she frowned even deeper. “Bucky…” This time, there was considerably more concern in her voice. He wasn’t usually like this. He was one of the coolest people she knew - as in, it took a lot to rattle him because he was always just nice and calm and ready with a joke. His uncertainty made her worry increase and the fingers wrapped around his hand responded with another gentle squeeze. “I’m here if you need me.” To be fair, she’d be there even if he didn’t need her, too. She was just a nice person like that.
“If you’re sick, I’ll make sure Tony finds someone else to watch his golden ass. You’re not going to be of any use to him if you’re not at hundred percent,” she blabbed, lifting her other hand slowly. She felt a bit awkward as it traveled up his chest, but her intentions were actually mostly pure. Only once her fingertips found his jaw did she pause in order to turn her hand over and lift the back of her palm to his forehead. He didn’t feel overly warm, so she guessed he didn’t have a fever. But not all illnesses came with a fever, so she wasn’t ruling it out. “I think you may be right, hun,” she agreed, letting the hand on his face fall away slowly.
Ugh. So close. He was so close. Keep it cool, Darce. Keep it cool…
“Do you need me to help you get home? Contrary to my previous statement, we don’t have to leave at seven minutes. I’ll stay here with you as long as you need.” Unless he wanted to sleep in here. She’d probably draw the line at like an hour or so before she started ushering him out of the closet and towards home. Besides, Hutch would have to go potty before it got dark, and nobody wanted to be stuck in a broom closet after a doggy dump.
Can you tell me Doctor, why I still can't get to sleep
And night time’s just a jungle dark, and a barking M16
He didn’t understand. He didn’t understand anything, and probably for the best, she didn’t explain any further. Another thing added to the list of things he was currently trying to work through wasn’t the best idea. James continued breathing as she remained silent, not feeling any great changes aside from Hutch pressing his nose into his hand and trying to get him to pay attention to him instead. After a few attempts, James lifted his hand again and Hutch instead pushed himself between James’ legs and tried to distract him that way. The girl spoke up and James looked at the vague shape of her face as she brushed away her ‘joke’. For several reasons, James didn’t mention anything about it.
One of which being that she had touched him and then said his name. The name that Steve used. It didn’t matter how many times she said it, it was putting him off. Most other people he’d met so far called him either James or Barnes. Or, in the few cases, The Winter Soldier. But only Steve was consistent in calling him anything but his names. The girl was insistent in keeping contact and he had nowhere else to move when she gripped his hand. “I don’t-”know you, is what he wanted to say, but he was stopped by his own tongue betraying him. Clearly this James knew her.
She knew Tony too. Any panic in his breath was being replaced by curiosity and cautiousness. He looked down into the dark when the girls hand met his chest. They might have been friends, but he wasn’t getting any reaction from whatever it was that she was… oh. As soon as her the back of her hand met his forehead, he started to frown. Was this supposed to help him take his mind of the panic attack? Because it was certainly working. That term wasn’t… “Are we dating?” He blurted out before he could stop himself. She didn’t seem to be older than him, although his perception of age was skewed anyway.
“No I… I came here to… get my stuff. My phone. Wallet. Keys… anything else.” But he couldn’t. He didn’t know if he’d even gotten halfway there before this had set in and he’d had to leave the elevator. “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t even get to the…” The words died on his tongue and he held up his hands to show them empty. A physical representation of how his head was working at the moment. “I can’t. I can’t go up there.” His voice sounded small, even to him, hoping that she would understand what he meant, and come up with a solution for him. He didn’t know what to do in a situation like this. Hutch, at least, had settled down.
“I don’t think this is how you play Seven Minutes in Heaven…”
She could feel Hutch shifting around between their legs and was grateful this hadn’t been intended as some kind of romantic get away. That dog was more than a little distracting. In a good way, though. Not only was he cute and sweet and fluffy, he was doing good work. From what she’d heard of Bucky’s history, the young (technically? Because cryo?) man was definitely a viable candidate for some kind of therapy or companion. Hutch had done a marvelous job as long as she’d known the pup.
When he started a sentence only to stop, she didn’t push. He was clearly under some kind of mental stress. Instead, she just continued to hold his hand, letting her thumb brush small circles over the back of his palm. That had always soothed her when she was sick and her parents held her hand. Hopefully it worked the same on… whatever was wrong with Bucky. At this point, she wasn’t sure if he was sick and delusional, or suffering from some kind of severe PTSD. Hopefully the former because she had no clue what to do in order to help someone dealing with the latter.
Well, he didn’t feel hot. That was a good sign, but it also meant this was probably -- “What?” Oh god, oh god, oh god. That thought caused a stupid giggle to burst out of her lips unbidden, the sound a little more embarrassed and high pitched than her normal stupid laugh. “Are we… uhm…” No. No, they weren’t. Unless this was his way of asking. “No, we’re… uhm…”
Get it together, Lewis! This man was having a mental fucking breakdown!
Clearing her throat, she sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was thankful suddenly for two things in that moment: that the lights were out so he couldn’t see the vast expanse of crimson staining her flesh from her cheeks all the way down her chest, and that she’d brushed her teeth this morning. “No, Buck. We’re just good friends. And coworkers. But mostly friends.” Never mind that they’d met at work and that most of their interactions occurred at work. Sometimes they went to the coffee shop together as buds.
But I really like you!
She quashed that thought quickly and focused on his answer to her question. He’d left his stuff here? God, how had he survived without those things for any amount of time? Even if she didn’t leave her house for three days straight, she’d still need her keys (to get into said house), her phone (to tell everyone to eff off - except the pizza dude), and the wallet (to buy said pizza). “Hey, hey, hey…” He was faltering and even though she couldn’t see him, she knew the sound of defeat intimately.
Unsure what he was doing with his hands, she stepped forward. He’d opened his arms. Did he need a hug? That seemed like a decent solution for helping someone calm down. Wrapping her arms around his abdomen, she turned her head and rest it against his metal shoulder while hugging him - gentle, but firm. “You don’t have to go anywhere. I can have someone go get your things. Or I can go get them if you want. Or we can go together. But you don’t have to do a damn thing you don’t want to, hun.” she assured him.
“And if anyone ever tries to tell you different, you send them to me and I’ll make ‘em wish they’d never said anything to begin with.” She wasn’t a violent person, but she was fiercely loyal and protective to those she cared about. And hotness aside, Bucky was probably one of her best friends, so she’d have no qualms laying into someone who thought they could boss him around.
Can you tell me Doctor, why I still can't get to sleep
And night time’s just a jungle dark, and a barking M16
It was comforting in a way that he almost wished it wasn’t. Hutch was already trying to be comforting 100% of the time they were together, but it felt more natural when another person tried it. Although, there was that part of him that thought the dog’s companionship was more natural. It was outwardly obvious that at the very least, the ‘comfort’ she was providing was distracting him from his panic. Alongside Hutch, it was very effective at making him talk like a human instead of a record scratching away with a broken voice.
Her hand eventually slipped away from his head, though she didn’t say anything about it until he asked if they were dating. It was the last thing she needed to do to completely distract him. Confusion, at first, which was a good sign to him. The laughter was… he didn’t know. Weird. She wasn’t comfortable with the question, that much he gathered. Now it was her turn to sound as broken as him and his chest filled with a laugh that never got the chance to escape. Darcy said that they weren’t dating, but her sentence cut off abruptly and James didn’t want to ask her to finish it. Either way, he eventually did. Just good friends. How many more friends did he have?
And coworkers, and there she was was calling him by that name again. It meant they must be friends. While she repeated the word, James lifted his hands to his face and pressed his palms into his eyes only a moment before she stepped into him and… she was hugging him. That her head turned into his metal shoulder sent a strange shiver through his spine, but he reciprocated and wrapped his arms around her shoulders while he listened to her talk. “No, please don’t go. I just… I can’t go up there.” He wouldn’t tell her why, he didn’t think. “Can you send someone else?” Because even in the end, he would need to get it all back.
The familiarity she was displaying stressed him on the inside. She knew him, and he couldn’t offer her the same courtesy. Hutch had no such problem, now that Bucky wasn’t stressed out or having a panic attack, and Darcy was around, he could finally relax and play a little. He jumped on the spot and then shoved his nose into the pocket where he knew Darcy kept the treats.
“I don’t think this is how you play Seven Minutes in Heaven…”
Darcy was an expert at making things as awkward as possible. Seriously, she should probably get tested to see if she had the X-gene because it was likely some kind of super mutant power she possessed. Smoothing things over after making them awkward, however, was just something she’d never gotten the hang of. She could feel the blush still staining her cheeks long after the silence (which was awkward in itself) stretched for a few moments between herself and her not-boyfriend Bucky.
Feeling the movement in front of her, Darcy shifted slightly, allowing him the space he needed to move his hands. She couldn’t see what he was doing, but she guessed it was something like holding his head. Did he have a headache? Maybe she should offer him some ibuprofen. She kept a bottle in her satchel at all times for just this reason, except usually it was her head that was pounding.
Instead, she decided that hugging him was the best medicine. Honestly, he seemed more stressed out than anything else, and hugs were the best way to get people to settle down. It wasn’t a permanent fix, but it always tended to help her in the moment. Granted, he wasn’t her (that would be weird), but it was probably encoded in human DNA that hugs were good and helpful.
“Okay, okay…” she murmured, the faint hint of a chuckle trickling past her lips. The sensation of his arms completing the hug by wrapping around her shoulders sent a shiver racing up her spine, but she dare not sink her fingers into the back of his shirt and hug tighter. They weren’t dating, remember? It was best not to give off weird mixed signals like that, no matter how ridiculous her crush on the dude was. “I’m here for you, Buck. I can send Miller up to get it. He should be into the office soon if he’s not here already,” she suggested, though she didn’t bother moving just yet. Contacting Miller involved using her phone. Using her phone involved breaking the hug.
The sudden movement of the dog still lurking around their feet caused Darcy to jump slightly in Bucky’s arms and she let out a tiny squeak. She’d totally forgotten Hutch was there. “Whoa, whoa…” she chuckled, realizing fairly quickly what the dog was hinting at. “Are you gettin’ fresh with me, Mister?” Slowly pulling herself out of the hug - ugh, no, whyyyyyyy, damn you dog! - she obliged to his canine wishes and produced a few treats.
She offered the first one to Hutch directly, smiling as he gobbled it up with delight. Chuckling quietly, she offered the others over to Bucky so that he could treat his own dog while she shot Miller a text. “Jesus, that’s bright,” she complained, her fingers working quickly to dim the screen of her cell phone once it was unlocked. The text to Miller didn’t take long, and his response was quick. He’d have the items on her desk in fifteen minutes. “He’s gonna bring your stuff to my office. It’s just a few doors down. There’s a couch and a lock on the door so nobody can get in without my say so. And a light, she added with a wink, though even with her dim cell phone screen light, it was hard to see.
Can you tell me Doctor, why I still can't get to sleep
And night time’s just a jungle dark, and a barking M16
She wasn’t going to send him up there. She wasn’t going to make him walk out into the hallway like nothing had happened, and he hadn’t just had a panic attack, and make him go into the elevator and- he felt Hutch shove his nose into his pocket and then into Darcy’s. James still wasn’t entirely comfortable with the animal, but like Darcy, he was proving to be useful at getting his mind off the bad stuff. James didn’t know who Miller was, when the girl mentioned him, but he was thankful right then that someone called Miller existed to do the dirty work. “Yes.” Was his confirmation that someone else would need to attend to the matter of getting his things.
“What?” Was he… she was the one that hugged him! “No, I’m-” And then she was stepping away from him and looking down at the dog. Right. James took a step back himself and wrapped his arms around himself while he watched the dog and girl interact. After feeding the dog, she offered the treat bag over to James who took it and looked at it as the screen on her phone glowed to life and she commented on it. In the time it took for the girl to text and Miller to respond, James had given Hutch two of the treats and then handed the bag back when Darcy spoke.
“Thank you. I don’t know what’s going on lately, but it’s all… weird, and I don’t think I’m coping very well.” His arms returned to stretch over his chest in a hug, but he turned and looked at the door as well. “I keep having these… these, and they come on without any warning.” Which explained why the first door he’d come to seemed like a good one to take, regardless of what had been behind it. “It may seem like an odd request, but... can you go first?” He stepped away from the door, giving her enough room to squeeze past him and open it. If Howard should happen to have walked down to this floor, James needed something, or someone, between them as a quick buffer. Not that he would be able to hide behind her. She barely reached his collar.
“I don’t think this is how you play Seven Minutes in Heaven…”
Darcy had never witnessed a panic attack before. The closest had been her minor freak out in the desert when she’d taken out the Prince of Asgard with his own element. But she’d gotten over that really quick. Bucky’s panic attack seemed to be considerably more severe, and there was nothing a good taser could do to help. Thankfully, she had staff members to do her bidding and help him out.
Glancing up at Bucky’s confusion, she chuckled. He was cute when he was confused. Well, he was cute all the time. But that was beside the point. And wait, no. His cuteness in general was also beside the point. God, Darcy! Now was not the time to swoon over the poor guy. He was vulnerable, like a drunk girl at a frat party.
The sound of Bucky’s voice drew Darcy’s attention back up to him as she finished the text conversation with Miller. (Note to self: Give that boy a bonus this month.) Any hint of a smile that had begun to form on her face disappeared as the soldier began to speak and instead, her lips dropped into a frown of concern. “Panic attacks?” she asked quietly, her concern almost choking her. One hand reached out, resting gently on his crossed arms in a comforting fashion.
“No, yeah, that’s totally fine.” He didn’t want anyone to see him like this, she guessed. That was completely understandable. Giving his arms a gentle squeeze, she scooted out from in front of him and over to the door. The handle turned without a sound, and she pulled the door open a crack to see if anyone was nearby. No footsteps from the left and none from the right. She waited a few more seconds, poking her head out to give the area a quick skim before finally pulling the door open all the way. “All clear.”
Her office wasn’t far and the hall from here to there was empty. Even Melissa, her assistant, hadn’t arrived yet. That was probably for the best. Reaching back, she grasped around for one of Bucky’s hands and began to lead him out. She wasn’t any kind of secret agent or anything, but she certainly felt like one right now, trying to sneak through a building without anyone noticing. Her shoulders were tense, her spine rigid, and she swore she could feel every individual hair on the base of her neck standing on end.
“Go on in,” she murmured after unlocking the door and releasing his hand. I’ll just be a sec.” Stepping back towards Melissa’s desk, she snagged some post-its and jotted down a few notes: one telling Melissa to clear her morning schedule, and the other for Miller to leave the items in the drawer of the table near her door.
That task done, she scurried back to her office and slipped inside, closing and locking the door behind her. “How you doing?” she asked, dropping her satchel onto the desk and turning to wander towards her friend. “Can I get you anything, hun?” Her concern for the soldier hadn’t decreased at all between the closet and her office, but at least now it was more visible on her face in the gentle morning light shining in through the window to the right of her desk.
Can you tell me Doctor, why I still can't get to sleep
And night time’s just a jungle dark, and a barking M16
James nodded. Panic attacks. He didn't want to say it, because that would make it official and when he was in his right mind, he thought he was far too well trained to ever have one. To ever panic. His job during the war, after all, had been a sniper. He wasn't the one that needed to panic. He looked down at her hand and took a breath in. She was trying to comfort him, and he'd allow it, but he didn't know just how much she was helping. A lot more than the dog, or him on his own.
She took his request better than he'd hoped for and squeezed his arm before opening the door. She checked the area outside before pulling it open fully and he waited a half second after she'd left to follow her out. She even gave the all clear like a proper soldier and he felt his lips quirk quickly in a grin before turning back to worry.
It only took a few seconds before they were down the hallway and James was looking at their clasped hands to avoid looking anywhere else. When they reached the door the girl was looking for, she let go of his hand to open it and ushered him in. Hutch was the first one in, scoping the room to make sure it was clear before returning dutifully and sitting by the side of the doorway. He did as instructed and watched the door shut, turning only when he heard it click to look around the room. By the time the girl returned, James was sitting on the couch with his head in between his knees and Hutch pressed up against him. The dog was the one that looked at her first and whined softly. Asking without words why his James was so off.
James finally looked up and sat back into the couch when the girl spoke and watched her move around her office. “Better? I think.” His heart was still racing, but he wasn’t hyperventilating any more, so that was the positive. “Maybe just a water.” Something to take away the dry sting at the back of his throat.
