Who: Wash, Anna and Katou When: After Wash wakes from his coma Where: Wash’s place What: Chatting Rating/Warnings: Low/None Status: Complete
Katou would never admit just how much it shook him to see Wash laid out like he had been, but damn was he glad that Wash was awake and fine now. He sprawled back on Wash’s couch, wishing he had an actual drink instead of the coke he had in hand, but knowing better than to complain.
“Dude, you totally missed the aliens,” Katou said, grinning. “That seems right up your alley. Bet you're kicking yourself.”
That Wash was doing “fine”, may have been over selling things a little bit. There was no reason for him to be in the hospital anymore, thankfully, but he was nowhere near 100%. He hadn’t yet been cleared to return to work, either at The Ranch or as a bounty hunter, and he had a whole new set of follow-ups he was expected to go to before that would happen. At least this time around he didn’t have to ride the bus to the VA Hospital in Los Angeles. He was also relieved that he didn’t have to explain the neural implants to the VA Hospital. He was, however, wondering how long it would be until word of his “skull reconstruction” from “an old military injury” got back to the VA and he had a bunch of questions to answer.
It was Wash’s hope that he would be able to make it through these follow-ups without having to field too many of those types of questions. He was considering having that neurologist Leliana had put him in contact with last year step in on his behalf, maybe even clear him for work. Sitting on the couch all day unable to do much of anything but watch daytime TV was both a boring and lonely existence.
At least he was getting visitors. York had been by with food, and a hat to cover Wash’s shaved head (with a few more quips about being a “jarhead” all over again). And Katou stopping by today had saved Wash from an afternoon of slow descent into stir craziness. He sat back on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table, an ice pack wrapped in a towel pressed to his side. He’d been sent home with a powerful painkiller, but Wash was loathed to take it. He’d just managed to beat alcoholism, he didn’t need to tempt fate with another addiction. So unless Carolina gave him one of her looks, the painkillers were regulated for night use only and Wash had to tough out the day with ice packs and ibuprofen.
He laughed a little and winced. “I actually am,” he said. “Like, there are supposed to be aliens in my dreams, but I’ve seen like...three the whole time. And the one and only time aliens come to the county and I’m fucking sleeping. Go figure.”
“Huh, that’s better than the last count I heard,” Katou grinned. Granted, the last count he had heard was ages ago. He guessed it made sense that a space marine would eventually see aliens, if aliens actually existed. “That’s the luck of the draw, man. Though, I gotta say, if we ever get attacked by an army of angels, I’m going to hope to hell that I’m sleeping through the whole thing. Angels are fucking nuts.”
Oh, there were aliens in the world (universe?) Wash Dreamed of. An entire war had been fought in order to keep said aliens from not only invading the worlds humans had come to call home, but wiping out said humans in the process. Not that Wash had seen much of that war in the Dreams. His counterpart had apparently been in the war, but the Dreams apparently didn’t find that nearly as interesting. Just as well, all things considered. He apparently now as involved with another war. Such was the life of a soldier.
“Aliens are one thing,” Wash agreed. He shifted the ice pack against his side. “Angels are a completely different bag and one I can’t say I would want to open.”
Anna had a key. It wasn’t her key, it was the key that York had given her so she could go check in on the animals at Wash and Carolina’s place while York and Carolina were both at the hospital. The last thing in the world anyone wanted was for the furry children to go hungry while Wash and Carolina were otherwise occupied.
She let herself in. “Hey?” She called out, shopping bags dangling heavily from one arm and the keys jingling in her other hand. “I hope you’re not sleeping?”
Katou opened his mouth to respond. Angels were a completely different bag that no one should ever open, and he hoped to - well, not God because God was clearly insane, but some big entity in the sky - that he never had to deal with them again. But before he got the words out, the door was opening.
He grinned widely. “Oh yeah,” he called, his voice sing-songy. “Wash and I were just getting real cozy in bed.”
At the sound of the door opening, Sophie the German Shepherd -- who had been laying peacefully against the front of the couch under Wash’s legs -- jerked her head up off her paws in alert. When she heard Anna’s voice, she quickly scooted out from under Wash and trotted towards the door, tail wagging and tongue lolling out of her mouth in happy greeting.
Wash rolled his eyes at Katou’s response. “Ignore him, Anna,” he called. “We’re in the living room.” He removed the ice pack from his side and managed to get to his feet so he could greet his girlfriend.
Anna bent down, setting everything aside for a moment, and brought both hands out to scratch at the dog’s cheeks. “Sophie! Who’s a good girl? Whooooo’s a gooood giiiiirl??” She asked, then laughed as the dog licked her face. “Are you excited Wash is home? Are you? Are yooooou?” Then she stood up again, picking up her things, and moved into the living room.
Katou was one of those people that Anna had absolutely hated. And now she liked him. It was a strange kind of like, though. Almost like she enjoyed being around him, even though he was a total dick. Well, most of the time. Okay, some of the time. She gave him a quick smile, though her attention came back to Wash. Anna crossed the floor quickly, deposited bags on the coffee table (one holding burritos for dinner) and wrapped her arms around Wash.
“Ugh, gag me with a spoon,” Katou groaned as they got cozy. He was happy that his friends were happy, but he’d never actually show it. But no sooner were the words out of his mouth than a grin crossed his face that anyone who knew him meant that nothing good was coming. “You know Wash, I was totally inside your girlfriend before you were,” he said cheerily. “Doesn’t that poster on her ceiling weird you out when you’re doing it? What’s his face? Shawn Mandela or whatever?”
Wash grew up an only child, however, if he were to have a younger brother, he assumed said younger brother would probably have been just like Katou. He shot a look over his shoulder. Then he grinned a shit eating grin of his own. “Nope. I’m usually too occupied with other things to even notice. Besides,” the grin grew a little wider, “what makes you think we only have sex in her bedroom?” He looked back at Anna and gave her a wink.
Ugh, Shawn Mendes! But Anna wasn’t going to correct him. It helped that Wash had an amazing sense of humor about things. (And that she’d eventually moved the poster when she and Wash became more than a one-night-stand.) Her cheeks went bright pink at Wash’s words and wink, but she was grinning. “Living room sex is the best, actually. I’m particularly fond of that sofa.” She motioned to where Katou was sitting.
Katou almost pouted. That was not the reaction he’d been hoping for. “Ugh,” Katou groaned. “I really don’t need to know where you guys are fucking. Just thinking ‘bout it makes my skin crawl.” Still, he didn’t move to get off the couch. After all, he didn’t think there was a couch in existence that hadn’t been fucked on at one point in time. He frowned at Wash, especially disappointed in him. “She didn’t already tell you we switched bods, did she?” Way to ruin the joke, Anna.
Wash was very impressed Anna had taken the joke that one extra step. He wasn’t going to mention the couch, but hearing it come from Anna was absolute gold. As was the look Katou was giving them now. Hey, wasn’t it the job of an older brother to turn the tables on the younger? “You were the one who brought it up,” he grinned. Arm still around Anna he started to make his way back to the couch. He could really only be on his feet for so long. “Nah, she didn’t, but I like busting your chops, Katou. I don’t get the chance often.”
Anna gave a laugh at the look on Katou’s face. Priceless. And she leaned against Wash a little, almost possessively. Almost. Anna was definitely not the possessive type. It just felt so good to be able to stand next to him again. She moved with him as he made his way back to the couch, one arm around his waist. Not for support. For comfort. Or something. “Was I supposed to tell that story? Because I…” She cleared her throat, thinking about the boobies.