Jenny Lowe (psychicnotcrazy) wrote in low_tide, @ 2009-11-23 22:52:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | jenny lowe, kris michaels |
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Kris groaned in frustration as the incessant beeping of her nearby alarm clock roused herself from an exceptionally good dream that involved dancing, handsome men and other wonderful things like that.
She blinked blearily at the digits and attempted to recall why she’d become a police officer again when it meant getting up this early. Reluctantly she peeled her covers back and placed her bare feet on the carpeted floor, thankful not for the first time that she’d manage to convince Simon that carpet was way better than wood or tiled floors.
Hands slid through her hair and promptly yanked it back into a boring but highly effective plait before those hands rummaged through her closet, pulling out the neatly pressed uniform she wore from the beginning to the end of her working day. She rubbed at an old scar on her shoulder and quickly covered it with the shirt a few moments later before tugging her pants on, the crease running the length of her thigh and shin as the hem of her pants settled around the boots she’d worn in over time.
Kris stifled another yawn as she stepped out of her room, tugging her belt on. “Morning,” she murmured to the passing cat that purred and generally made itself comfortable on her feet. Kris rolled her eyes and crouched down, rubbing at the cat’s ears before she finally made her way into the kitchen.
Simon looked half dead as he all but clung to the cup of coffee in his hands and as for Kris’ other housemate she was quite sickeningly perky.
Sickeningly perky was one way to describe the other housemate. Wired by caffeine was another, and probably more accurate at that. The other housemate had been up for about an hour already, had a good four or five cups of coffee - it was how she woke up - and a nice cold shower to get her started for the day. When she finished her shift from hell, she'd have a hot one before going to sleep.
"Morning sleeping beauty," she greeted, resting her hip against the counter beside Simon. "You sleep okay? I have coffee here if you want some?"
Jenny tipped her head and watched Sampson turn around and chase after Kris' legs and affection before he rubbed himself against Simon, and then Jenny before trotting off to curl up on his couch.
She tucked her hair back behind her ear and then rubbed her neck. "What time to do you guys start work?
Kris was oh so tempted to grunt some sort of non-committal Neanderthal response, but decided against it as she figured Simon was doing that enough for the both of them.
“How much coffee have you had?” Kris asked, taking a moment to survey the kitchen.
Simon held up a couple fingers and then nodded when Kris arched an eyebrow. “Maybe it’s the way to fight off these horrible early mornings?”
Kris picked up the coffee pot and poured herself a cup and nodded her head in agreement. “Maybe? It certainly seems to work for Jenny.” She glanced at her watch before taking a sip from the cup. “I’m on shift in about an hour or so, gotta swing by and pick Leon up first.”
Simon murmured something about having to be halfway across town in about fifteen minutes and how he just didn’t care and wished he could go back to bed because meetings sucked. Lots.
Kris rolled her eyes and reached out to ruffle his hair. “Sucks to be the store manager, huh?”
"Uh...Four, I think," Jenny admitted sheepishly, shifting where she was standing so that Kris could get to the coffee pot. "But it's all good, gotta be awake."
Simon rolled his eyes, "Sucks to be you, Jen," he teased and she just grinned at him as he swatted at Kris' hand in his hair. "KC!" He shoved at her and stepped aside. "It does suck to be a store manager."
Jenny made a tutting sound and then just rolled her eyes. "I know, getting to work normal hours, loads of holiday... right Kris?" She looked up at the police officer and winked.
Kris merely stuck her tongue out at Simon then gave a low chuckle at the good natured ribbing from Jenny. “Yeah, that’s gotta suck. Loads.” She took another sip from her coffee and then wandered over to stick a piece of toast in the nearby toaster.
“You guys got any plans for after work?” She didn’t have any and thought ordering food in might be nice, give them all a chance to sit down and catch up without worrying about getting out of the door on time.
Simon pursed his lips as if deep in thought before he shook his head. “Nope, not a on. Why?”
Jenny shrugged, "I don't have anything planned other than a long hot shower," she admitted, curling both her hands around the still hot cup. "Why, what were you thinking?"
She glanced at Simon and then shifted her weight from one foot to the other. It would be nice, maybe, if they stayed in and did something as a house.
"I can try and get off a bit earlier? The hospital owes me time anyway..."
Kris leaned back against the nearby counter. “I was thinking it might be nice to order something in and catch up. Can’t remember the last time any of us were in the same place for long enough to do that.”
Simon nodded his head. “That sounds good for me, I’d be up for that.”
Kris smiled at Simon’s response and then glanced up at Jenny. “They totally owe you excess hours, Jen.”
"Then I can dig my heels in, see if I can't get any time off?" Jenny smiled, "It'd definitely be nice."
She nodded, considering it for a moment before she nodded her head again, "I'll definitely be around."
She brushed her hair back again and then put her cup down, pulling the hair tie off her wrist and sticking her hair back in a low ponytail. It was messy, but it would do. She wasn't paid to look fabulous.
"That'll give us all something fun to look forward to. Want me to swing by the video store on the way back?"
Kris nodded and held up her thumbs. “Dig those heels in. I could lend you a pair of stilettos if you needed the extra help?” She winked and turned around to pluck her toast out of the toaster, lying it on the nearby surface to spread some butter across it.
Simon swallowed another mouthful of coffee and nodded. “Horror, we totally need horror movies. Lots of horror movies. It’ll be fun!”
“And who are you trying to get into bed?” Kris threw over her shoulder. “Isn’t that why guys love watching horror movies with girls?” She paused and then dropped her voice like she was sharing a secret with Jenny. “But both you and I know who’s the biggest girl in this room.”
“Hey!” Simon objected loudly.
"I might swing back to borrow them," Jenny said with a grin, "Because let's be honest, these shoes?" She lifted one leg of her trousers to show the black sneaker-esque shows she was in, "Might not help me dig anywhere. Except into another fourteen hour shift. Which, by the way, if I ever do again, shoot me."
The couple next door were fighting again and Jenny's hand tightened around the cup as she heard it all in its nastiness. She took a slow breath, the knuckles on her hand white at the grip on her cup. God, that was never a good start.
Unfortunately, one of the side effects of Caffeine was that it boosted her powers somewhat phenomenally. And that sucked, because she loved caffeine, and she needed it to function in the mornings and get herself to work and through a work day. Maybe she had a problem. Maybe she didn't care.
She came back into the conversation at Simon's objection and she chuckled. "Absolutely, hate to break it to you Simon, I've seen you in Kris' heels."
“Oh, I will,” Kris assured Jenny with a firm nod of her head. She took a bite of toast and went about fussing with the collar on her shirt as it seemed determined to flick up at the very corner. “Jesus, I ironed this like… six times yesterday.”
“Starch,” Simon shared sagely and wisely. “It’ll do the trick.”
Kris regarded her best friend like he’d grown a second head and shook her head with an affectionate smile. “God, you are such a girl.”
“What?” Simon said defensively. “There’s nothing wrong with knowing how to look after your clothes!” The mention of heels turned his attention toward Jenny and he held up a finger reproachfully. “Hey, hey, that was a dare.”
Jenny listened to the banter between the friends for a moment, letting it distract her from the row that was happening next door and how it was affecting her. Already she could feel the start of a headache and she had turned to take a couple of painkillers - and the sheer volume of them that she went through was inhuman. She tapped three aspirin into her hand and swallowed them just about dry, tipping her head back.
When she righted her head again, she was being pointed at reproachfully.
"Right," she drawled, "That's what they all say." Her lips were quirked a little, though, teasing him. "But if you wanna teach Kris the ways of clothing care, then by all means, I'm sure she'd appreciate the taming of her evil collar." She tipped her head, "Give it up, Kris, it's not gonna behave."
`Kris threw up her hands in defeat and slumped back against the counter, taking a determined if not a little sulky bite out of her toast. “I dunno why I bother with ironing this thing considering how it always refuses to behave.”
Simon swallowed back the rest of his coffee and playfully flipped Jenny the bird. “So, you ladies got a fun day ahead of you, saving lives and all that?”
“I’m hoping not to get hit today,” Kris shared ruefully.
"Would definitely be good. If I see you walking into A&E again this week, I'm going to kick your ass myself, in your shoes for added indignance." Jenny warned, almost completely serious. She would, in the very least, be very unhappy with Kris and Kris' partner - as lovely as he was.
She shrugged, "It's not that exciting. Let's hope that no one tries anything funny at your store, like shoplifting."
She remembered a particularly amusing thanksgiving where Simon had come home to tell them (well, Kris at that point, Jenny had heard later over the phone) that he had intercepted an old woman trying to smuggle a turkey out of the store underneath her hat and then was rushed off to hospital for hypothermia.
"People tend to get a little crazy this time of year."
She looked over at Kris, well aware that the other woman would know what she was talking about.
Kris caught Jenny’s gaze and nodded her head. “Really crazy.” She finished off her coffee and did the same with her piece of toast, already feeling hungry again thanks to that voracious appetite of hers.
It was a miracle she didn’t get fat.
“Mm, don’t remind me.” Simon shook her head. “I’ll never forget that old woman.”
"See something you really didn't want to?" Jenny asked teasingly, smiling into the dregs of her coffee as he shuddered in remembrance.
She rubbed at her shoulder and hoped to God that her painkillers kicked in soon. "You know, you probably should eat more than that for breakfast, 'specially if you're hungry again."
She hadn't realised that Kris hadn't spoken aloud. Even though she had a good grasp on her ability, it still slipped away from her at times, and considering she was trying to ignore the goddamned neighbours, she thought she could be forgiven a little for overhearing.
Kris turned her head at that odd remark from Jenny and arched an eyebrow. “How’d you know I was hungry again?”
“Because you’re always hungry?” Simon shared helpfully.
Kris’ response was a very light smack to the back of his head.
“You’re such a smartass, you know that?”
Simon beamed as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
“Remind me why we let him live here?” Kris shook her head and went about rummaging in the fridge for something more substantial.
"Oh, you didn't-" Jenny caught herself before she just corrected her comment. "Simon's right, you are always hungry."
That wasn't at all convincing. God.
"And as for why? I'm not entirely sure sometimes. He pays the rent and entertains us occasionally?" Jenny smiled and rinsed out her coffee cup, eyeing the pot with black caffeinated goodness inside carefully. Did she risk another cup?
Simon rolled his eyes, "You make me sound like a dancing monkey."
Kris leaned down and planted a kiss on Simon's temple. "Aw, Simon. You know we love you." She stepped back and now helped herself to a bowl of cereal, not wanting to get hungry halfway through her shift.
She glanced at the time and then rubbed at the back of her neck. "Leon gets to do all the walking today." It probably wouldn't work out that way, it never did, Kris covered more ground and she did it faster.
Simon rubbed his temple and looked up at Kris. "Yeah, yeah, one of these days I'm gonna stop thinking that. You guys make it so hard to remember and all."
"Well, don't let him back out of it like he normally does, wriggly guy." Jenny said, washing up her cup and deciding against another cup of coffee. She had no problem with Leon, but sometimes it seemed like he just stood back and let Kris do the work.
Kris rolled her eyes at Simon's dramatics and then finished off her bowl of cereal, turning to wash up the bowl after Jenny was done with the sink. "Good on you for not having another cup of coffee, I could see you contemplating it."
"She needs a twelve step program," Simon muttered with a solemn nod of his head. "How not to drink a lot of coffee, one less cup a day."
"I'd need more than a twelve step program, that's for sure," Jenny said quietly, poking her tongue out childishly at Simon before she rolled her shoulders.
Jenny figured she could get another cup at work if she needed it.
She rubbed the back of her head and then pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes for a moment and bowing her head. God, she hated her gift sometimes. She wished - more than anything - that the couple next door would just shut up and actually make up. Even though it wasn't nice to unfortunately overhear people having sex, but at least the thoughts were better than the ones she was hearing right now.
"Don't you have a meeting to get to, Simon?"
Simon blinked again and seemed to take a moment to fully appreciate the time, but as soon as he did he was suddenly up on his feet and making a mad dash for the front door, grabbing his jacket on the way out. “Shit, late, very late! I’ll see you guys later!”
Kris watched this with a faint look of amusement and shook her head. “I dunno how he manages to get to work on time when he always forgets when he needs to be out of the house.” She caught Jenny pinching the bridge of her nose and frowned a little. “Another headache?”
"I don't know," Jenny said, bemused. "It's going to confuse me till the day I die."
She looked at the door before she cut her eyes towards Kris, though it hurt to look at her friend out of the corner of her eye so she turned her head. "Yeah," she admitted, willing enough to let her friend know she wasn't feeling great. Unfortunately, it was a daily thing. Happened when you could hear voices.
"You really should get that looked at," Kris said as she left the kitchen to retrieve her gun and holster from the safe she'd bought to keep it in. "You get way too many headaches, Jenny." She tapped the code into the safe and then twisted the handle, pulling the door open. Kris believed in gun safety.
"I have done, it's stress, apparently." Of course, that was a lie. But one that Jenny had told over and over again, and if it wasn't for the voices that haunted her daily, she would have been able to believe it herself. She watched Kris open the safe and remove her gun. The weapon gave Jenny the chills.
Kris checked the safety was on before she holstered her gun and turned back to Jenny. "Well that doesn't sound right. I'm not even a doctor and it still doesn't sound right." She watched Samson make himself comfortable on a nearby chair and let out a melodramatic sigh. "Oh to be a cat."
"If he hadn't been done, I'd say we should get him a Delilah. Then he'd get up off his ass and do something." As it was, he just looked up at them both and blinked slowly at them.
Jenny turned her head. She wondered just how many people Kris had shot with that weapon, but then decided she didn't want to know. She didn't care. Kris didn't just shoot people because she felt like it.
She shrugged.
"Well, short of a brain tumour, there's not much else it could be." She felt bad for lying, but there weren't many people that would understand the things she knew. Once bitten, twice shy and all that.
“Copious amounts of sex?” Kris remarked, eyeing Samson who merely stretched and turned over. “Somehow I doubt that.”
She picked up her jacket and tugged it on, knowing she’d be rid of it before she was halfway through the day given how hot it got when she was out and about, but it was nice to have it on in the morning.
“I worry,” Kris said with a shrug of her shoulders.
Jenny eyed the cat for a moment before she laughed softly, "Yeah, I think you've got a point there, not even sex would make that lazy ball of fluff move."
Not that Jenny would know about the lure of sex. One of the many banes of being telepathic; one hears things in the heat of the moment that one really would rather not.
Jenny smiled over at her friend, "Me too, Kris," she said quietly, sincerely. "I worry too."
"Yeah, I know." Kris offered Jenny a smile before she tugged her jacket on and breathed in only to breathe out again, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead. "God, I hope today is better than yesterday. I really do."
She turned back to Jenny. "Make sure you get that time off, we'll order something in and watch a ton of movies. It'll be good."
Jenny pressed her fingers against her temple before she took a breath and removed her hands, grabbing a glass of water.
"I hope your day's better too. Don't want you to be too wiped out. Movies and all that."
Jenny gave a smile, "I'll get that time off, promise." Or at least, she'd very much try.
"Mmhm," Kris said with a nod of her head. "If I fall asleep I'll try not to drool on you." She winked at Jenny before glancing at the time again. "Ugh, I suppose I'd better head out. Beat the traffic."
She noticed Jenny grabbing for another glass of water and frowned. "If you still feel bad when you're at work I would strongly suggest you just come home and rest. I'm sure that place can get by without you for a couple hours."
"Be safe out there, don't wanna get a phone call." Jenny said softly. "And yeah... less drooling, happy Jenny."
She smiled and then swallowed the water, downing half of it in one go.
"You never know, it might fall apart." Besides, she had a coma patient and a little girl to tend to, she couldn't just leave them alone.
"You sound like my mother," Kris teased gently before nodding. "I'll be safe, promise." She closed her jacket and zipped it up, moving towards the door.
Kris opened the door and paused just on the threshold. "You can't look after your patients if you're dead on your feet or in so much pain you can't think straight."
"If it gets that bad, I'll come straight home," Jenny promised, picking up her stethoscope from the counter and putting it around her neck, locating her nametag and slipping it onto her belt.
She swallowed. "Have a good day, I'll be sending good thoughts. Say hi to your partner for me."
"Will do," Kris hollered over her shoulder before she took her leave of her shared home with her two friends. Hopefully, God, hopefully today would be better. It had to be right?