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Savannah Monroe ([info]savannah_monroe) wrote in [info]omega_reality,
@ 2012-11-22 23:18:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:*complete, 2012 11, character: alexis castle, character: brian kinney, character: bud hammond, character: claudia donovan, character: derek morgan, character: derek reese, character: dominic vail, character: elaine barrish hammond, character: emily prentiss, character: g callen, character: john connor, character: margaret barrish, character: marty deeks, character: nell jones, character: robert callen, character: sam hanna, character: savannah monroe, character: sean hanna, character: tim riggins, character: troy bolton, dead: eric beale, dead: jenna hanna, dead: leon vance, dead: mike renko, dead: nick green, dead: sheldon cooper

RP: Thanksgiving
Who: Everyone
Where: The Rec Center
When: November 22, 2012
Summary: It's time for another Thanksgiving

Savannah was anything if not creative. They might not have furniture, but that didn't mean that they had to eat on the floor.

The bar at the re center was used to put all the food and trays. Savannah had sent people to all the empty hotel rooms to get enough chairs. The tables came from the jail and interrogation rooms (and she didn't want to know if those stains were blood). They were covered by cheap dollar plastic tablecloths. The fact that she had to mention them and the decorations during the shopping trip told her just how wrong things were with Brian, but she could only tackle so many men at once. Still, she planned to talk to him and John today. Actually there were many people she wanted to talk to.

She waited until they had finished their meal. Not that they were really done, but at least with the turkeys carved and eaten, they could hang around the three rooms in the center, watch the games, eat and talk.

It was just another holiday with their crazy team.


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Alexis/John
[info]alexis_castle
2012-11-22 04:40 pm UTC (link)
Alexis was filled was so many emotions. She missed New York already and she missed the chance to help, but she also felt safer here. There were no soldiers, but more importantly she had seen all the radars. She didn't know what they did yet, although she was sure that they'd get a crash course at some point, but at least they wouldn't have to live in constant fear. Also, there were two people that they thought dead living and breathing right here. That was happy news.

She had spoken to Savannah for a little while, but the person she really wanted to talk to was John. She waited until he was alone, aka when Brian stepped away for something and approached him. "Hi," she said with a smile. "I... I wanted to talk to you. No about the house," she added in a rush. "I'm not upset that you guys haven't moved in, although I'd really like to have you there. I... I guess ... I'm sorry about Brian. I feel like we should have done more. I should have done more, but I thought giving him space for a bit would help. If there's anything I can do now...."

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Re: Alexis/John
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-22 08:23 pm UTC (link)
"Hey, Alexis." John smiled at her approach, taking his eyes off Brian as he walked away. He felt like he was walking a tightrope between too much togetherness and not enough the last few days. But, he knew better than to crowd Brian too much, even if part of him didn't want to be separated at all. And not just because of what Brian had gone through. Sighing as she finished, he shook his head. "Everyone was dealing with their own reactions to things. I know you guys would have done more when you got through your own reactions."

He was a lot less angry than he had been before he talked to Vance on Monday and it gave him a chance to fully realize others had been hurting as much as Brian. Savannah had touched pretty much every one of them in some way, even John. It was expected that a lot of people would have been grieving in their own ways if she died.

"Just don't let him push you away," he told her. "That's really the best thing anyone can do for him right now. He's going to try to push everyone away. Don't let him. Just let whatever he says roll off and offer him a drink after or something. He just needs to remember people care about him." And that he cared about people, too.

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Re: Alexis/John
[info]alexis_castle
2012-11-22 10:40 pm UTC (link)
It would be so much easier to take the out that John was giving her, but she had decided that she would stop hiding the day those towers went down. "it's not that, though. I mean.. we missed you. A lot. You've become part of this group, but that wasn't it. I felt that when I tried to talk to him, I was doing more harm than good, so I left him alone, thinking that it was what he needed. I was wrong, and I'm sorry."

Alexis nodded. "I won't, although you're here now," she said with a smile. "Although let's switch to non-alcoholic drinks, okay? He needs to sober up while we show him that we care about him and about you. You two need to come for dinner daily, you know that, right? And I told Nick that the extra room is reserved for you. If you change your mind or if you think it's better for him to be around people, then move in. The room is there and we'd love to have you there. Derek would too. He's been very silent. He's spent a lot of time training and with the dogs, although Nell has kept an eye on him." She stepped closer and hugged him. "It's so good to have you back."

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Re: Alexis/John
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-23 06:45 am UTC (link)
John blinked for a moment, not making the connection at first between what he'd said and her explanation. He'd been talking about everyone mourning Savannah. He was barely on the peripheral of anything. Why would they miss him? Still, he shook his head. "You don't have to apologize, Alexis. You tried. It's all anyone can ask. And it's not like he's one of the easiest people to get to know when he lets so few people in. You did what you thought was best. I can't and won't ask for more."

Hugging her back, he felt that confusion again, though. He'd really thought only Brian and Derek would really miss him if he was gone. "He needs more than just me. But, yeah, non-alcoholic drinks are just fine. We'll play it by ear with dinner and the room, though." Between Brian and Derek, John had a feeling he owed Nell big time for looking after his family for him. "I don't want to push him too far, too soon. But, we'll come over as often as we can for dinner and after that, we'll see what happens. Life here's going to be a lot different than what we've had before. Maybe we can all relax a little and that will help."

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Re: Alexis/John
[info]alexis_castle
2012-11-23 05:33 pm UTC (link)
"I know better now," she said, forcing a smile. She didn't like to fail her friends. She wanted to help Brian, but she hadn't known how. Now she did and she planned on doing something about it.

Alexis nodded. "I know. It's why we haven't pushed with the room, but we've left it empty. Just in case you change your mind." She smiled. "And if you hides too much, then you don't have to push. You can let us do some of the pushing. We owe you for not doing a better job with him, regardless of how much we tried." She hugged him again. "I'm so glad to have you back." She pulled back, smiling. "We'll have to thank Troy for bringing you over long long ago, in a galaxy far far away, but then his ego would get even bigger, so we won't. Have you talked to him? Troy? After what happened with you two... not that it's any of my business, but.... I think he felt guilty, tried to avoid Brian and concentrate on Sean." Of course Troy was all smiles and jokes, because that's how he reacted to things instead of becoming sarcastic and bitter like Callen. Men, they really sucked with dealing with emotions. "Anyway, I probably should let you know. Plenty of people that will want to talk to you."

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Re: Alexis/John
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-23 07:22 pm UTC (link)
"I guess you do. And I appreciate the room." Smiling, John nodded. It'd be good for Brian to have the others helping. John wasn't sure he'd ever be able to trust anyone else completely to take care of Brian. He didn't really want to, anyway. He wanted to be the one that was there for Brian in ways no one else could or would. But, for Brian, he would take any help he could get.

He could only shake his head in bemusement and hug her back when she hugged him a second time. "Wouldn't want to cause a galactic ego rift," he said with a chuckle. The rest of what she said had him frowning in confusion. Troy feeling guilty over John's supposed death made no sense. But, then, people caring at all was surprising. So, what did John know? "We've said a few things in passing during training, but haven't really had a conversation, no. But, it sounds like maybe we should."

Chuckling again, he nodded. Plenty of people wanting to talk to him was definitely odd. "And I wouldn't want Tim to think I was monopolizing his girl on the holiday. We'll talk later, I'm sure."

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Savannah/Claudia
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-22 04:44 pm UTC (link)
Savannah liked parties. It didn't matter the occasion, parties gave her a chance to talk to people, even the ones she usually didn't have time to talk with. That seemed to be even truer right now, when her family was still dealing with her 'death'. However, today, she had nothing to do but talk, which was great.

Walking after Nicki, who seemed to love her new found freedom to touch everything, she ran into Claudia. "Hey. Thanks for the help. De-coring all of those apples couldn't have been fun. So how have you been?"

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Re: Savannah/Claudia
[info]_claudia_d
2012-11-23 01:25 pm UTC (link)
"Hey back at 'cha." Claudia welcomed Savannah with a smile, and one for Nicki. "And hello to you, too."

She returned her focus to Savannah. "Nah, it was fun. Nick whigned until an apple core 'accidentally' hit him. Then there was a brief skirmish until we were reminded that we were all adults, to which I thought 'So?' and it became a game of who could hit whom when no one was looking. I don't know who came up with the idea that being an adult meant you couldn't have stupid fun when stupid fun was available to be had. As long as its not something you could get arrested for or hurt, it's all good."

Claudia took a sip of her drink. "I'm good. The island's cool. Eric's all for getting me surfing, which will be rad. How's life in Savannah-land?"

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Re: Savannah/Claudia
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-23 04:56 pm UTC (link)
Savannah could imagine how much Derek, Mr. Everything Had Its Place, had loved that in his kitchen. "I guess the people who don't like a mess in their kitchen and have to sweep and wash the floor after you," she answered with a smile.

"I think everyone here will tell you that stupid fun leads to not paying attention to the important things and can get you killed. It's not what you do, but a mentality that you carry everywhere." Strangely that had been the easy part for her. She'd always taken everything seriously in life. Cheer competitions were like a war, only with cuter outfits and sparkling make-up.

And once again she had no idea what 'rad' mean, although she got the general idea of what 'getting her surfing'. "How many times did G ask you to rephrase things in the last two weeks?" Or maybe he'd just shut her up. It must have been two fun weeks at training. "It's good. We're here, it's beautiful, we have to learn totally new set skills. We'll also have to work around the sun since the island is in the dark, except for the building, after sundown. It'll be challenging. I like challenges and I love learning. I'm sure we'll spend a lot of time in the water even without the surfing."

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Re: Savannah/Claudia
[info]_claudia_d
2012-11-23 06:14 pm UTC (link)
Claudia rolled her eyes. "Stupid fun is a part of living life, and if we're not living life why bother surviving it? You of all people should know that, considering the amount of parties and get togethers you put together. Paying attention and having fun are not mutally exclusive. Same with having fun and cleaning up afterwards." For a woman who'd been dead, and who'd people had grieved over and had gotten pissed off over, she was rather sanctimonious.

"Unless we were working on an undercover exercise, none, because we were too busy to talk. I'll give him props: he's a master at sarcasm. Luckily, I don't take that sort of thing personally."

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Re: Savannah/Claudia
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-23 06:26 pm UTC (link)
"I take my parties every seriously," she said, chuckling. "Throwing food in someone else's kitchen is... not something I'd do, because it would annoy the owners and it's disrespectful unless they start it, in which case then it's fine. I don't know. I was never good at 'stupid fun'. Fun, yes. Stupid usually annoys someone and I'd rather not upset people without a very good reason. Not that I haven't upset people on occasion, but that's inevitable." She still remembered how upset Harvey had bee because she had turned the trip to the hairdresser into a security exercise. She hadn't particularly worried about that.

Savannah laughed. "That he is. He has a very ... strange sense of humor." One that was even worse with Sam around, but they had gotten used to that long ago. "I'm glad you didn't take it personally."

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Re: Savannah/Claudia
[info]_claudia_d
2012-11-23 06:44 pm UTC (link)
"No reason to take it personally. Criticizing comes in all shapes and sizes. If you can't hack it, get off the computer." Claudia shrugged, and watched Nicki take off again. "Ut-oh. Looks like your kid's been taking running lesson's from Callen. Better catch her."

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Savannah/Emily
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-22 04:52 pm UTC (link)
With Nicki on a mission, Savannah didn't stay still for long and soon she was on her way again. This time it was Emily that they ran into, quite literally in Nicki's case, since she hit Emily's leg before falling back on her butt. "At least I know you can stop them," Savannah said, laughing.

"How are you? How's your fiance? I can't believe you got engaged and didn't tell anyone." Savannah hugged her tight (and not for the firs time). "I know things have been crazy, moving back to the base, work, then I was dead it seems, but it's been ages since he gave you that ring. When are you going to have an engagement party? What about the wedding? You know we have to plan things. It was bad enough in New York where I could go out and get things. It'll be so hard here, we have to time it with the trips to the mainland, and now I'll take a break so you can answer some questions."

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Re: Savannah/Emily
[info]emily_prentiss
2012-11-22 09:56 pm UTC (link)
Laughing, Emily reached down to let her fingers dangle low enough Nicki could use them and her jeans to pull herself back up onto her feet. "Yes, I just have to stand in their way and let them run," she said with a chuckle as she stood up straight again once Nicki let go of her hand to balance with just a grip on her jeans. "And they have a padded landing."

She hugged Savannah back, then pulled back with a smile. "Oh, that's okay. You can keep asking a few more questions if you want. But, Derek and I are good. Our timing with the engagement might have been a little off with everything that's happened since. With as infrequent as it looks like those trips to the mainland are going to be, it might be a long engagement to get everything ready for a wedding. Or a very short one if we decide to take a page out of Callen and Sam's book," she teased. "We're not in a rush."

Really, it was a formality to share with everyone else. They already knew this was it or there wouldn't be a ring on her finger at all.

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Re: Savannah/Emily
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-22 11:06 pm UTC (link)
"Oh you, underhanded you. I knew you were going to be sneaky about things," she said, chuckling. "They are lucky. With the diaper and the soft ground out there, they'll never feel anything. Now, cleaning guns on the coffee table, when there is one, will be so much more interesting. I think Sam will have so much fun keeping track of all of his springs."

Savannah snorted. "I think people don't mind my questions so they don't have to answer." Of course, she knew enough when to stop asking questions. "You can't do what they did. Sam proposed and they got married all in about ten minutes. You've already taken way too long, but don't worry, we'll give you the wedding you want. Did you see the coast? It's beautiful. You can have a wedding outside. We can go searching for the location while we run during training," she said, laughing.

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Re: Savannah/Emily
[info]emily_prentiss
2012-11-23 07:49 am UTC (link)
"What can I tell you? You can take the woman out of the agency, but you can't take the spook out of the woman." Emily kept her expression serious for all of about a second before laughing. "And that will just teach Sam not to clean his guns where little hands can reach."

Smiling innocently, Emily shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about." Tapping her chin, she pretended to think a moment, then shrugged. "Oh well, I guess we'll have to do it our way. Although, personally, I'm tempted to just let it go and see how long it takes anyone else to notice." It was moments like these when she really missed Penelope and J.J. God, Pen would have been over the moon and already explaining to Derek that, no matter how romantic the notion was, even a woman who didn't put down roots easily wanted that fuss and ceremony. Pushing that thought aside, she chuckled. "We'll have to make sure to tell Sam we have to run at different times of the day to gauge the light at different times of day in all the places we like. John was telling me how this island is actually the place one of my favorite books as a child was supposed to take place in. I used to dream of what it'd be like to live all on my own like the main character. Getting married here would actually be a bit poetic. So, would it be safe to assume that while you're offering to help in the planning, when we do start making some decisions on things, like a date, you might be convinced to stand with me as Matron of Honor?"

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Re: Savannah/Emily
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-23 05:04 pm UTC (link)
"And which agency would that be? I lost track of letters long ago," she answered, laughing. "Sam is in for a shock. I'm just waiting for that couch and coffee table before mentioning it. Well, okay, I'm being mean and waiting until after he needs to crawl to look for springs to mention it."

Savannah snorted. "With these people? The ones who'd notice will never mention it, because they wouldn't want it mentioned if the situation were reversed and the ones who'd mention it are never going to notice. You're pretty much stuck with me and Sean." She grinned. "I know, I heard the story even if I didn't read the book. I wasn't allowed to read a lot of books growing up."

She chuckled. "We can 'suggest' it to him and we know how much he likes suggestions. We also have the weekends to find the perfect place. You only have to pick the season, and then we'll match everything. We'll get Brian to help, whether he likes it or not." She hugged her tight. "Of course I'll be the matron of Honor." She pulled back. "You're family to me and Marty. You know that, right? You and Derek. You know I'm so nice that I can even provide Flower Girls free of charge."

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Re: Savannah/Emily
[info]emily_prentiss
2012-11-23 11:09 pm UTC (link)
"After the first couple it all becomes a blur." Emily grinned, but couldn't help laughing as well at the image of Sam crawling around looking for his gun parts after two little girls turn them into toys. "I think you need to make sure there's a camera available so you can share that moment with us. Derek and I will promise never to let on we've seen it."

She smiled. "Well, I suppose I can't do much better than you and Sean. It was a good book, though. If it exists here, maybe we should get a copy so you can read it with your girls when they're old enough.

"He just needs to learn that sometimes suggestions are for his own good." Like that would ever happen. "Brian will help. He likes working with people who have great taste and that we happen to have." Hugging Savannah, she smiled. "Now that you mention it, that's right. You do come with ready made Flower Girls. How very handy."

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Savannah/Sean
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-22 05:16 pm UTC (link)
"And here we go again." Tired of not moving, Nick was walking again. Savannah loved watching her. She looked like a drunken baby trying to keep her balance, waving her hands, and yet managing to stay upright. Girls, so much better than boys. Not that she said it aloud with two boys around. Although their next stop was a boy, or a man.

"You wanted to say 'hello' to Uncle Sean, did you?" She hugged Sean as they got closer and kept an arm around him, staying close, but. "My daughter seems to be very sociable. She's dragging me around talking to people. Such an impositions as you can imagine." She stopped for a moment, taking a good look at him. "I don't know if this is going to sound presumptuous, but I'm sorry for what you had to go through."

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Re: Savannah/Sean
[info]sean_hanna
2012-11-22 10:39 pm UTC (link)
"Girl's got her priorities straight." Sean picked Nicki up, laughing as she squealed happily, and smacked a kiss to her cheek before setting her down again and hugging her mother tightly. He might have been doing that a lot the last few days, any chance he got that Marty wasn't already holding onto Savannah in some way. "Yes, I can see you hate it so much. All this talking and socializing," he teased.

He stilled when she apologized, not a fan of talking about sad things on happy days. But, in a way, it wasn't fair to Savannah and John to blow off what had happened. "You don't have to apologize." Squeezing her tightly, he kissed her forehead. "It wasn't your fault. Just don't do that to me again. I don't want to lose you for real, got it? I know I was an ass at the start, but I got over it and I worry about you as much as I worry about Dad or Jen or G."

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Re: Savannah/Sean
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-22 11:17 pm UTC (link)
"She's her mother's daughter," Savannah answered, grinning at the sight in front of her. Sean was so good with the kids and it made her feel better that her children would always have this crazy family. "I despise it, can't you tell?" The smile never wavered as she answered.

Savannah shrugged. "I don't like that you had to go through that even if it wasn't my fault." The difference with G was so palpable at the moment. G couldn't even accept that her power and training made her very difficult to kill while Sean wanted a promise that she'd stay alive. "You know what I can do. I'll stay alive for all of you," she said, seriously, before breaking into a smile again. "It doesn't matter what happened at the start. We moved past that long ago. You're my baby brother and you can worry just as much as I worry about you and Troy. Is he doing okay? It couldn't have been easy with what happened with John."

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Re: Savannah/Sean
[info]sean_hanna
2012-11-23 07:19 am UTC (link)
"Oh yes, you look like you're being tortured," he told her with a laugh.

"Wasn't fun. I won't lie." Sean shrugged. "But, it proves how far we have come since that start because for all that it hurt thinking you were gone, it was because I love you and I missed my sister. The world's a much brighter place with you in it, Savannah." The shifting of his gaze was almost Pavlovian. She mentioned Troy and Sean's eyes automatically looked for him. "It wasn't easy, no. And, he focused a lot on me because that's what he does. I'm not sure if he's even talked to John, really, since we got here. I'm thinking of nudging him in that direction. It'll be good for both of them. How's G doing? I'd ask about Marty, too, but he's easier to read what with not letting you out of his sight in days."

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Re: Savannah/Sean
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-23 05:11 pm UTC (link)
She laughed, before shutting up abruptly. "Please don't say that anywhere near G or Marty. I know you're joking, but there was a discussion about capture and torture before I left, and right now I don't know what reaction you'd get. Nothing pretty."

Savannah nodded. "I would be disappointed if you had fun. You're much better than that. It's never fun when people die, even people we don't particularly like." She squeezed him gently. "Thank you. I missed you, too, even if it wasn't quite the same thing. We were trying to rush to come home. We never thought that the move was going to be this quick."

It always made her feel good to see the way Sean and Troy looked at each other. "He's very good for you. I think you're right. It's time for you to do that nudging." Savannah sighed and shrugged. "It's G. He pretends that he's fine when he's not. I've started talking to him, but with him, you can never push at once or it backfires. You say something, let him think it over, then say some more after a week or two. It's a slow process, but it's the only one that gets through to him. I know you guys have all of your friends, but try to come over with Troy. It'll be good for him."

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Re: Savannah/Sean
[info]sean_hanna
2012-11-23 10:05 pm UTC (link)
"Sure, not mentioning torture in jest. No problem." Sean didn't fully get the problem with what he'd said, but if Savannah thought it a potential problem, then he'd watch his words.

Leaving the subject of her death and undeath as far too depressing, Sean smiled and focused on Troy and their family. "And far too good to me, sometimes. It's definitely my turn." So, making sure Troy and John talked went on his list of things to do. And Savannah gave him one more. "Convincing Troy to come over and eat your cooking won't be difficult," he said with a grin. "But, yeah, we'll come over. Anything we can do to help."

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Savannah/John
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-23 02:52 am UTC (link)
Nicki just didn't seem to want to stop in one place and Savannah was all right with that, although the next party she'd have to take Kayla and see just how much she wandered around. However this time, she steered her toward her partner in crime.

"How is he doing?" she said when she got closer, not even bothering to ask how John was. John would be okay when Brian was. "Anything I can do to help, just ask. Although I was thinking, maybe we should spend the next few days turning this into a club. We got a few things at the store. Well, okay, I got a lot of things that weren't on any list, but then I don't think that Vance would mind. How about we have a small party here on Saturday so we can decorate for the Christmas holidays. It'll give him something to do, people to do it with, instruments, singing. It's what we do, right?"

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Re: Savannah/John
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-23 06:59 am UTC (link)
"Trying to pretend nothing happened and everything's as it was a year ago?" Shrugging his shoulders, he smiled down at the little girl babbling away happily at his feet. John didn't have to ask who she meant. As Savannah's daughter turned her attention from him, to his very tightly tied combat boot laces, he looked back up at Savannah herself. "I know where you are when I need help. I'd tell you what I've told some of the others, but I already know you won't let him push you away, even if he tries," he added with a smile.

"It couldn't hurt. And it's something others would enjoy, too. How's Sean's hand doing? Is he up to it? If it's not something just for Brian, it might go down easier at first. He's too likely to dismiss it if it's for him." And, no matter what he said, John knew Brian would do it for others. He'd tell himself it was to prove how good he was at what he did. But, John had seen firsthand how much pleasure of his own Brian got in doing something for the people he considered friends.

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Re: Savannah/John
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-23 05:18 pm UTC (link)
"Oh right, I know that reaction well. Have you meet the men in my family?" she asked, snorting. "And yes, you could tell me, and then I'd have to smack you. Once again, have you met my family? I'm used to people pushing other away when they are hurt. Besides, we have Christmas to plan, an engagement party, a wedding, a first birthday for Liam and with the limited trips to the mainland, we'll have to do a lot of planning. Nothing can be left to the last moment. He needs to be on top of his game."

Savannah squeezed John's hand. "It won't hurt. Any of it. We just have to remind him and others that life needs to be enjoyed and these things are things that he enjoys, even if he likes to pretend that he's only doing it to shut people up. Sean's hand will be okay by Christmas, but I was thinking more in terms of music from a computer for this decorating party and lots of singing."

She looked at Brian who'd just bumped into G and they were talking. "Now, that is something we need to use to our advantage. I don't know how, but they are talking, which is good. Maybe you two should come and have dinner at the house one night. You can consider it thank you for help I'm going to need. I want to email April and Eliot, but I don't want to do it if we put our location at risk. Is there anyway it can be done so people don't trace us? I'm not worried about them, obviously, but people with real computer skills working for the government."

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Re: Savannah/John
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-23 09:32 pm UTC (link)
"I might have spoken to them once or twice." John laughed. Really, people like Sam and Callen were people John could understand. Focus on the mission and keep moving forward. It basically described every member of the Reese and Connor families John had ever known. "With a list like that, I guess he does."

Squeezing her hand in return, he nodded. "Yeah, I figured canned music for Saturday. But, you also said instruments, which is kind of Sean's thing. Still, I don't disagree with the need to get Brian doing things he enjoys."

Following her gaze, John chuckled. "Not something I ever thought I'd see. Those two getting along. Callen doesn't even look like he wants to hit him. I guess trying to drink themselves into oblivion is a bonding experience?" Turning to look back at her, he raised an eyebrow. "As a thank you for help, hm?" But what she asked for was actually fairly simple to set-up. At least for him. "Yeah, that's easy. I'll need about an hour or so with your laptop to set-up some IP spoofing and randomized proxy-routing to bounce the transmission around enough to make it a bitch to trace. A separate partition with a kill switch you can activate to wipe all traces of any communications if need be. And, I can tell by the way your eyes are glazing over I lost you at IP spoofing. So, short answer is yes. I'll set it up for you tomorrow."

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Re: Savannah/John
[info]savannah_monroe
2012-11-23 09:44 pm UTC (link)
"Then you might know how they react," she said, coyly. She also knew that John could understand, because he and Derek weren't much better. "I'm sure I'll remember more. Like New Year's Eve. There will be others."

She sighed. "I know it's Sean's thing. Hopefully his fingers will be okay for Christmas, even if it's just an hour or so. We'll play it by ear and we'll just make people help whether they like it or not."

Savannah chuckled. "It's amazing what alcohol can do. There was something about water into wine and being a miracle. I guess we have our own version of miracles based on alcohol." She snorted as he went on. "You talk and I hear blah, blah, blah. I'll give you the laptop, you won't be made to watch Bring It On again, you and Brian will get dinner. I have a few fish recipes I want to try.... or I know, if we can catch some of those lobsters, we can have risotte and lobsters. I like that. So the short answer is you get a laptop and dinner and I start organizing this party for Saturday. I now have work to do." She kissed John's cheek. "I'll see you later. Come on, Nicki, time to organize a party."

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Sean and Jenna
[info]sean_hanna
2012-11-23 07:25 am UTC (link)
As Savannah moved away, Sean looked for Troy, intending to steal him away for a bit before possibly steering them toward John so his husband could start dealing with his own reactions to their friend's death after spending all his time focusing on Sean's loss. But, before he could truly formulate that plan, he noticed Jenna walking toward him and stayed where he was instead.

"Hey, Jen." Smiling broadly, he hugged her. "How's my favorite nephew enjoying his first Thanksgiving?"

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Re: Sean and Jenna
[info]j_hanna
2012-11-23 06:39 pm UTC (link)
Jenna had been thinking about what Savannah had said since they talked and the thought that Sean doubted that she cared bothered her. She still wasn't sure what to do (she would never be the kind of person Savannah was, it was impossible for her to be) she was determined to try.

Starting with giving her brother a proper hug. "Hey," she said, hugging him a bit tighter than normally. She laughed at the question. "Quite well, especially seeing how he's happily unaware of it being Thanksgiving." She looked at him. "I think he's jealous of the twins for walking, though he's certainly crawling fast enough to give them a run for their money."

"How are you enjoying Thanksgiving?" she then asked, focusing on him. "And this place in general."

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Re: Sean and Jenna
[info]sean_hanna
2012-11-23 09:39 pm UTC (link)
"Now that's just not right. There should be pictures of him with turkey and cranberries so he can remember later," Sean chided teasingly as they pulled back from the hug. Chuckling, he shook his head. "I guess those exercises Savannah was doing with the girls work. Either that or clearly he takes after the smart side of the family and knows how to chill, like his uncle."

He grinned. "Are you kidding? I love Thanksgiving. Food and happy thoughts. It's a holiday pretty much made for me." Before he continued, he shrugged. "The island's okay, if you're a nature boy. I'm much more of a city boy, though. It's pretty. But, not enough people for me."

Although, they had stars again. Maybe he needed to revisit the idea of a picnic under the stars for his husband. Some of the headlands on the island would be great spots for it.

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Re: Sean and Jenna
[info]j_hanna
2012-11-23 10:11 pm UTC (link)
"Yes, because that would make him remember," Jenna teased. "More along the lines of making us remember his first Thanksgiving. Not that I mind."

"Which is why I asked," she said with a smile. "I know this place isn't exactly your cup of tea." It wasn't really hers either - shew was a city girl at heart - but compared to some of the places she'd been? Oh hell this was so much better. And as safe as any place could be in this universe. "We'll just have to make sure to entertain you as best we can, even if there aren't enough of us."

"Perhaps you and Troy could come over to our place some night," she added. "If you don't mind eating on the floor that is," she added.

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Re: Sean and Jenna
[info]sean_hanna
2012-11-23 11:56 pm UTC (link)
"You never know, it might." Sean grinned, but shrugged. "You should probably do that, too."

Rolling his eyes, he shook his head. "You asked because you already knew the answer? It's fine, though. No worse than the ranch and I survived that just fine. My friends are very entertaining and when that's not enough, Troy and I are pretty good at keeping ourselves entertained," he added with a wicked grin. "I think I'll be fine."

One eyebrow raised almost imperceptively at the dinner invitation, wondering if this was going to be like before, promised and never followed through on. But, he only shrugged once more. It was Jenna, so it would be what it would be. "Sure, we could do that some night."

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Re: Sean and Jenna
[info]j_hanna
2012-11-24 01:54 pm UTC (link)
"No I asked because I know you're a city boy and wanted to know how that made you feel about this place," she said with a smile only to roll her eyes at him as he went on. "Are you know? I would never have guessed," she teased.

"Great. So how about next week? You and Troy can pick the day and Dom and I'll figure out what to eat. Would you prefer fish, fish or sea food from our wonderful selection of proteins?"

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Re: Sean and Jenna
[info]sean_hanna
2012-11-24 06:53 pm UTC (link)
It didn't seem like there was much point to asking if she already knew the answer, which wasn't that hard to figure out if she already knew he was a city boy at heart. Although, how she really knew that since Sean himself hadn't figured it out until they'd gone to the ranch, he didn't know. But,Sean let it go. Half the time his sister asked him questions it was just nothing as she tried to work up to asking what she really wanted to know, anyway. If he tried to figure out exactly what she meant every time, he'd have gone insane ages ago.

"Clearly, you need to pay more attention, then, if you couldn't guess," he teased in return.

Sean nearly laughed at the invitation because that was so his sister. "Oh, we've got more proteins than that. How about turning some of those canned chickpeas into hummus?" he suggested with a laugh. "Seriously, though, you know our schedule. It's the same as everyone else's. Just pick a date you want to cook for four and let us know."

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Re: Sean and Jenna
[info]j_hanna
2012-11-25 04:49 pm UTC (link)
"Hummus isn't food, it's something you have with food," she laughed.

"Okay, how about Tuesday?" she suggested. "It gives you and Troy some time to spend with each other or your friends on Monday after Sunday's family dinner."

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John and Troy
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-24 12:31 am UTC (link)
Coming back from the dead was surreal, John had decided. If he'd ever thought about it -- he hadn't -- he'd have been sure the only people who'd care if he was gone were Brian and Derek. Of course, planning for his death wasn't something John did. He couldn't die. He had too much to do. First and only rule that mattered: stay alive.

But, Alexis must have hugged him three times in the short time they talked. And Nell had hugged him every time they talked since everyone else had come to the island. Sean had clapped him on the back and told him it was good to have him back at least twice. Honestly, John was almost ready to hide with Brian in their room as another rule ingrained into him kicked in: keep your head down and avoid the need to appear special.

He had one person he needed to talk to, though. What Alexis had said about Troy feeling guilty over John's death didn't sit right with him. Troy not being able to look after Brian because he had to look after Sean, who was grieving a sister? That was understandable. But, there wasn't any reason for Troy to feel guilty and John's conscience wouldn't stay quiet until he talked to his friend got that straightened out.

So, grabbing two slices of pie, he found Troy. "I come bearing pie. What are the chances I can hide out with you until Brian's finished talking to Callen and ending the world with their lack of anything resembling animosity?"

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Re: John and Troy
[info]t_bolton
2012-11-24 01:06 am UTC (link)
Troy looked at John and the plates, resisting the urge to put his hands in his pockets. Since John's death, he'd done what he could to make people forget about that night that had been made public thanks to his own anger. Touching John was not a way to make people forget. It was also not going to help in the long run

"Are you turning into Savannah?" he asked, chuckling as he reached for the plate. And that request was not going to help either. "They've been... I don't know, I wouldn't say friendly, but there haven't been any fireworks since we were told... you know. The world hasn't ended in three weeks, so I think we're safe. You can still join me, though."

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Re: John and Troy
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-24 02:34 am UTC (link)
"Two weeks isn't quite enough for her to rub off on me that much," John replied with a chuckle, letting go of the plate as Troy took it. "I'm much more practical about these things. Straight up bribe. You want the pie, you'll let me hide out from redheads who hug a lot." Tucking into his piece, he took a bite and watched Brian for a moment where he was talking to Callen. It was good, if surreal to watch.

"Since you were told I died," he said quietly. "It's okay to say it, Troy. I wasn't aware of any of it, didn't even have a hang nail. So, it won't bother me. I'm bothered more by what the people I care about were put through for a lie, albeit a necessary one. So, unless it bothers you, it's okay to say it." Being alive bothered him more. Or, unnerved him at least. He'd been John Connor, Savior of Humanity for so long, you'd think he'd be used to people making a big deal out of his being alive. But, here, none of that applied. He was just John to these people and it was...weird.

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Re: John and Troy
[info]t_bolton
2012-11-24 02:44 am UTC (link)
"It's a lot more than two weeks. She's had months and months. It's a slow and methodical plan," she said, smiling. "People missed you; that's why the hugs." Troy took a bite of the pie, knowing that Savannah must have spent hours to make all of the different types. "You're part of our group, John. We had a wake for Derek, because he meant something to you and you meant- mean something to us. It's that friendship thing you aren't so sure about."

Troy nodded. "Yeah, since we thought you were dead." He sighed. "I get all this need to know bullshit. Well, okay I don't really get it, but I've gotten used to it, but this sucked and I hope you and Brian are doing okay, and I'll be nice and not even hug you."

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Re: John and Troy
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-24 04:05 am UTC (link)
"I think I might still be a match for her in long-term strategy." John chuckled and shook his head. Listening to Troy, he ate in silence. "Hasn't been a lot of opportunity for friends. It's still strange to me, I guess, that I've been here long enough to have any. We moved so much at home." And it was too dangerous to let anyone into his life.

He couldn't help laughing softly. "I appreciate the lack of hugging." Sighing, he looked at Troy. "We will be. As you said, this sucked. I get the need to know. I understand why it had to be done. But, it was pretty rough on Brian." Watching Troy a moment, he opted to push a little. "From what I hear, he wasn't the only one it was a bit rough on. And I don't mean Derek. You want to tell me about it? Pie makes talking easier I've been told."

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Re: John and Troy
[info]t_bolton
2012-11-24 04:25 am UTC (link)
"Nah, she makes you think you're good enough, then she laughs, hugs you and she's already won while you're still playing the game. I'd just give up now," he said, chuckling. Talking about Savannah was easy; talking about John's world not so much. "You've told me a little bit about it before, but the words 'moving so much at home' considering all the moves we've made in a year is really weird and this comes from the son of a high school basketball coach."

He smiled. "Girls are just braver in a way. They hug you, they can reassure themselves that you're alive and keep going. Guys do it differently." Troy looked at him, frowning. "Who are we talking about? Derek, Nell, Alexis, Tim, Sean, me? You'll have to be a little more specific." He took anther piece of pie and at this speed the pie would be long gone before they got through this conversation, a conversation he really didn't want to have anyway.

"I don't know who told you what, but-" He stopped and sighed. "How many other people have you been with since Brian? I know how many I've counted, and one isn't a big number I didn't want to be a reminder for Brian, and of course, here was Sean and Savannah." He rubbed his hand over his jeans. "And if you kept track of the people I've been other than Sean, then you know that number is just as high. I know it didn't mean anything and we weren't in our right mind, but you're a friend and with all the crap that's happened... I don't even know, John. It's nothing rational and there was no time to think. It doesn't matter now, so we're good, and why are we talking? I might just have to hug you."

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Re: John and Troy
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-24 05:50 pm UTC (link)
"Mm, we'll see," John replied noncommittally. No point in showing all his cards when he didn't need to. He did chuckle at Troy's assessment. The man had no idea how weird it could really be. "That's weird enough for me. Trust me, the sons of the basketball coaches at home were not very inclined to get chummy. Girls like Alexis wouldn't have noticed if I was gone."

John grinned. "Man, I wish I could introduce you to my mom and best friend at home, just to see their faces when you say hugging is for girls. Of course, we'd have to keep Sean away so he wouldn't fry them when they tried to hurt you for it."

He let Troy talk much like he would have with Brian. It was easier to figure out what was going on with people if he didn't talk too much. "We're talking because our friends are worried about how you reacted and seem to think talking to me will help. And if you don't believe me, the look your husband's giving us right now should confirm it. But, I'll let you in on a secret, it's never rational. If emotions were rational, we'd never be taken surprise by people like Brian and Sean. And, maybe what happened didn't mean anything that way, but in a way it did because it was that first test of friendship. One we both failed," he added with a smirk because they had both been dicks, to borrow Brian's word, about how they handled the aftermath. "Still, it sounds to me like you're using it as a reason to hide the fact you cared. And, if you keep that up, I'm not only going to hug you, I'm going to make Brian's day and kiss you, too.

"Of course, then Sean will hurt me and Derek will hurt him and then the three of us would have to go on the run from Sam and Callen. So, really, we're probably safer if we just agree to skip that part."

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Re: John and Troy
[info]t_bolton
2012-11-24 06:26 pm UTC (link)
Troy didn't want to see John and Savannah on different sides, because he didn't think that the world would survive, and he didn't think it would happen anyway. "It wouldn't be any different in our dimension. I think high schools are pretty much the same no matter where you're from, but this isn't high school, and we get chummy and miss each other. Are you saying that you wouldn't miss us if we were gone?"

He smiled. "I have no problem hugging them, though, and I'm too irresistible for them not to hug back. Sean will hug them too. We'll just confuse them that way."

Troy looked up and saw Sean's eyes on him. He smiled in his husband's direction. "They are all so full of it," he said, without changing expression. "It's just easier to worry about other people than deal with what you feel." He turned to look at John. "I never said that I don't care, John. If I didn't, I wouldn't have invited to our house all those months ago. I wouldn't have come to your room after the fight and after we lost Derek. Of course I care, but I didn't want people to feel worse because of what I felt, that' all." He chuckled. "I don't have a problem hugging you, man. Hell, I don't have a problem kissing you. I'll just tell Sean it was a dare. He'll get that."

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Re: John and Troy
[info]johnbaum
2012-11-24 08:42 pm UTC (link)
"Well, I know I'd miss Nell and Alexis' cooking," John teased before shaking his head. "Nah, that's not what I'm saying at all. Hell, I'd probably miss you guys even if you didn't talk to me. I've never been good at not caring about everyone. And believe me, I tried really hard to not care when I first got here."

He snorted. "Man, I don't suggest trying it. For your own safety."

Chuckling, John nodded. "It's totally easier. Why do you think I'm over here worrying about you?" he pointed out. "And I never said you didn't care. I said you were hiding that you did. But, I don't think you would have made them feel worse. People deal better when they know they're sharing the pain." He smirked softly. "Learned that one when this crazy jock I know threw my father's friend a wake so I wouldn't feel so alone." Laughing, he took another bite of pie. "Touche. No hugs or kisses for you, then."

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Re: John and Troy
[info]t_bolton
2012-11-24 08:51 pm UTC (link)
"You have priorities; I like it," Troy answered with a grin. "We won't have to find out, because we talk to you and you're our friend."

Troy smiled. "I'm loveable. I'm telling you, they will find me adorable and they will hug me back. No one can resist me. Trust me, Sean tried,a and we know how that went."

He laughed at that honest answer. "Coward." He wasn't sure that he agreed with the rest, not when their pain was so much worse than his. On the other hand, John didn't deserve to get off so easily and Troy wasn't really the reserved type. Still holding the plate with one hand, he hugged John with one arm, clapping his back, while he kissed his cheek. "I'm glad we're friends."

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