[JMM] 28.2.1 A problem shared is a problem halved

[thepainted_lady]

[ooc: AU 'verse based on spin-off from Heroes graphic novels "Bloodlines, part 1 & 2" - Joseph not aimed at any particular journal. Samuel is offering_hope].

Eastern Europe, Christmas, 2008

Lydia stood in the shadows of the trailer, stunned. She couldn't have heard Joseph right, couldn't have. Surely she must have been distracted by the horror of what he described to Arnold, about Coyote Sands, and misheard what he asked the time traveler to do, yes? And if she hadn't been? If she had heard him correctly? Something inside her heart seemed to constrict tightly, a fluttering, aching feeling that made it hard to breathe. There was nothing she could do. Arnold was already gone, and if he did what Joseph had asked...her whole world would change.

But Christmas morning dawned and the world was still the same. Lydia watched Joseph with speculative eyes, watched his darting looks at Samuel, the worry around his eyes, and she finally dared ask where Arnold was, a picture of innocence. Joseph didn't answer, not really, just saying something about work the time traveler had to do, but later he came with Samuel to her trailer asking them to use their new found ability to work together and find Arnold.

Samuel's fingers were warm on her skin, the pierce of the needle quickly familiar, and she reached out for the lost family member a little desperately, even as she tried to hold on to the presence of the man next to her.

"Arnold's not missing in the past," Lydia said, looking back over her shoulder at Joseph. "He's right here, in the present day."

Even as old as he was, even with the tumor, it was possible Arnold could still travel, she thought, once they had him back home. Joseph's words rang in her ears, praising her and swearing her to secrecy about Emile Danko. Or, well, not secrecy, but just asking her not to tell Samuel. He wasn't going to send Arnold back again. He apparently wasn't that cruel to someone so frail--just to family. His intentions came through loud and clear as his hands curled around her hands.

Couldn't he see that fate had been on Samuel's side? That something greater than he was had stepped in to stop him murderous intent? He'd sent Arnold back to murder a baby in his crib. Her mind flashed to Amanda, to her lost baby, the one she ached for every day, so helpless against the world, and the thought of her idol doing something like that, and to someone she...her heart twisted.

This Danko person had killed Arnold's son. She'd just told Joseph that, and again he was planning to put his own blood in the line of fire.

For a while she sat in her trailer, robe wrapped tight around her, torn between loyalty to the man who had saved her and the growing feelings that had taken root so many years before and blossomed more each year. Her idol's feet were made of clay, apparently, and that hurt. And Samuel...had done nothing to deserve such a fate.

Mind made up, the bitter feeling of betrayal burning inside of her, she made her way across the space that separated her trailer from Samuel's and knocked lightly. He had the right to know what Joseph was planning, and to protect himself, and she'd do whatever it took to help him.

Comments

[thepainted-lady.livejournal.com]

She hovered close, fingers slowly stroking over his shoulders, light and easy, just staying close.

At his question, she nodded. "I saw it when I was looking for honey..."

[offering-hope.livejournal.com]

"I was saving that," he told her, though there was nothing accusatory in his tone. It was just a simple statement. "It was supposed to be for a special occasion."

And this was clearly not what he had had in mind.

[thepainted-lady.livejournal.com]

Lydia winced, even though his tone wasn't accusatory. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I just thought you could use some..." And she hadn't seen anything else likely to blend well with tea.

[offering-hope.livejournal.com]

"It's alright." He shook his head, lifting the cup back to his lips to take another mouthful. "I think you were right -- I think I did."

[thepainted-lady.livejournal.com]

She nodded a little, glad he wasn't randomly angry about the whiskey. She wrapped her fingers around her own teacup, half wishing she'd put a shot in there, as well. "I hope it's helping, at least a little..."

[offering-hope.livejournal.com]

"It is," he assured her, moving away to the couch to sit down. She could join him if she wanted, but he didn't feel much like standing anymore. He didn't feel much like anything.

[thepainted-lady.livejournal.com]

After a moment she moved to perch on the edge of the sofa, not sure what else to do. She cradled her cup, letting the warmth near burn her fingers, but it couldn't reach the cold place inside. It seemed there was just time to wait, now.