Elaine Hammond (elaine_hammond) wrote in omega_reality, @ 2013-04-12 14:38:00 |
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RP: Coming Home
Who: The Hammonds, Margaret, Claudia, Robert, Sean, Savannah, Marty, Travis
Where: the trailer park
When: Friday, April 12, 2013
Summary: They return home
Elaine had told her mother to get some sleep. She knew it would take some time before they could drive there and back, and there was no reason why they should all stay awake. Not that she could have slept.
Knowing that Sheldon was injured and they were likely to park close to his house, they invited Doug to stay with them. It was nerve wracking to sit there and talk like nothing was happening, but then it wasn't the first time that they had done it. If anything, two close calls with death prepared you for hours of chit chat, waiting to see if your son was going to live or die. At least this time, they were reassured that TJ was doing well.
The moment they saw the headlights of the truck, she went to her mother’s room and woke her and Claudia. She wasn't sure Claudia cared enough, but they had to keep up appearances. After that, they walked outside to where the truck was parking and waited for them to get out.
On a normal day it took an hour to get from the safe house to the trailer park they called home. With aftershocks and rocks down at various points in the road, it was after five before they finally got back and TJ really didn't want anything more than to crawl into bed and curl up -- painfully -- with Travis to sleep for days. But, the sight of his family coming to meet them as they pulled up told him sleep would have to wait a little bit longer.
Getting out of the truck was slow. His shoulder was the only true injury, but he had bruises starting to blossom in places he hadn't known could get bruises until he was thrown around like a rag doll in a rock slide. Both feet on the ground, he was flashing back to the last time he'd done this and feeling like a sheepish twelve year old when he came home from the hospital. How many more times was he going to do this to them?
Running a hand through his hair, he approached his mother slowly. He wanted to go to Doug first, but that wasn't the way they did things in his family. "Hey, Mama."
Yes, definitely a sheepish twelve year old.
"Hello, Sweetheart." Elaine looked at TJ for a moment, before moving closer. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?" She would never get used to this, to her son being hurt. It never got easier, but she couldn't show it, not when this was very different from the last few times. Instead, she smiled and opened her arms.
"I'm okay." Closing the distance, he hugged her gently, if a little awkwardly because of his shoulder. He pulled back after a moment. "Mild sprain in my shoulder that Maura tells me shouldn't keep me on limited activity past the end of next week, a collection of bumps and bruises. But, I'm okay."
Turning to his brother, he smirked a little. "Unless you count the fact your wife has gotten to know me far too well over the last month and included 'energetic sex' in her list of forbidden activities that could involve carrying, lifting, pulling, pushing, or shooting. But, hey, I don't have to wear a sling."
Doug smiled a little, before going to TJ. He didn't ask which shoulder, because he knew his brother too well not to figure that one out, but instead put an arm around TJ's left side and pressed their foreheads together. "You need to stop doing this to me," he said softly, almost a whisper and a prayer. "I'm glad you're all right, but if you do it again, I will kill you myself. They are teaching me how to do it."
TJ gave a short huff of laughter. "I never thought you needed teaching for that," he teased. But, he wasn't having any of this one-armed hugging. He'd been just as worried about Doug, not knowing what was happening here until Brian showed up. Against doctor's orders, he used his right hand to pull his brother into a proper hug, whispering in his ear. "I'm sorry, little brother. I've stopped trying to leave you. I promise."
Doug couldn't help himself. He hugged TJ tight. "You'd better keep this promise." He pulled back and looked at his brother. "For what it's worth, I believe you. Your time to dream, remember?" TJ might not agree, might want both of them to dream, but Doug was happy enough if one of them could. He'd done it long enough, and now it was TJ's turn. "Finish this reunion and then we can go home and get some sleep."
Claudia gently touched TJ's shoulder when she had the chance. "I'm glad that you are all right." The touch might have been for appearances, but the sentiment was genuine.
TJ shared a look with his twin over her head. They hadn't had the last conversation about dreams, but Claudia's approach also reminded TJ they were on stage, still. Story of their lives. Like the good elder brother he was trying to be for real to his twin, TJ gave her a little smile and put an arm around Claudia's shoulder. "You can't get rid of me that easily, little sister."
“That’s good to hear,” Claudia said.
Bud waited his turn before approaching his sons, not wanting to get in the way of others and wanting to give Elaine time with them. “I’m glad you are alright, boys.” When he uttered the words he felt a huge amount of worry and stress leave his body. “You’ve looked better, T.J.,” he said with a sly smile and gave his son a hug. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
"Yeah, amenities and accommodations on a mountainside suck. I'll complain to management about it later." TJ wasn't sure what to make of his dad. The sarcastic reply came more naturally than the return hug. But, even though he winced with the movement to his shoulder, that hug was what he needed.
Even if neither of them was ever going to admit it.
"Thanks, Dad. But, I'm good. Maura's given me something for the pain -- not addictive -- and I've got an excuse to be lazy for a few days. A shower and a lot of sleep. I'll be fine." He almost said he had Travis and Doug to look after him. But, for once, he had no interest in provoking his father. The night had taken most of the fight out of him. "I'm just glad you guys are okay."
“Good, that sounds like a recipe for recovery if I’ve ever heard one,” he took a step back and looked over his son. He simply smiled. Largely. He wouldn’t say it to anyone, but he had been afraid they had lost him. And he muttered the words, thank god. After a moment, he continued, “Well, if you want a break from one of your nursemaids,” he said with a snicker in reference to Doug and Travis, “you can beat your old man at a game of cards. Or try.”
Doug could just imagine how well that would go with TJ in this state. "We're not his nursemaids," he answered, 'but my wife will kill us all if we let him do things he's not supposed to, and since you've taught me never to piss off my wife, we'll just make sure that he gets some rest." His father had never taught him any of that. If anything, he'd taught him that screwing around was okay, but that wasn't something he wanted to point out "We should probably go."
Bud thought about saying something smart, but he decided not to, instead he smiled at Doug and TJ and said, “See you soon, Doug, T.J.”