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Neil Donovan is ([info]incharge) wrote in [info]rooms,
@ 2015-09-07 21:56:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:!ocean's eleven, *log, meredith janssen, neil donovan

quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[Neil wasn't drunk.

He was hungover, though. After parting ways with Sam he'd stopped off for a couple of bottles of whiskey and got himself a hotel room. Drank himself back into oblivion. All afternoon, all night, and in the morning he dumped the rest out and got some coffee. He showered twice. Brushed his teeth three times. But even with a change of clothes and his skin scrubbed raw the sickly sweet scent of booze clung, faintly, and his eyes were bloodshot, his face haggard. Stubble had started to show. But he knew he needed to see Mere regardless of how he looked, and despite his fear of taking care of her he did want to see her. Guilt roiled in his belly; he couldn't eat anything. He seemed to only be existing on liquids these days, and sleep? Sleep was passing out drunk, that was the only way he could manage it. He wondered if pills could, eventually, replace the booze when (if) he went back to A.A.

For now, he focused on putting one foot in front of the other. On going into the hospital without turning on heel and running the fuck away like the coward he was.

Up the elevator and down the hallways, Neil shuffled along until he found her room. Nobody stopped him, nobody said he couldn't go in, so he knocked lightly before pushing the door open.]



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quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 12:54 am UTC (link)
[Meredith wasn't talking. Doctors came and went, nurses in their softer shoes that checked this and that, the scratch of pen on paper, the beep of some sort of monitor that she couldn't see let alone name. They came and went and the world around her continued to revolve but Meredith didn't say anything.

What was there to say? Things had happened that were beyond a proper, logical explanation. She was attacked, she was raped, and that's all there was really to say. So she didn't say anything more, even when they spoke to her, instead simply curling in on her side to let the world pass by around her. She had been moved from ICU the day prior, and with it came a little more peace, for which she was grateful for. But that didn't make any of it okay.

If someone had asked her, before all of this, to imagine what it was like being blind, she would have imagined darkness. But it wasn't about darkness, not in the absolute sense. There was simply nothing. A grey expanse of nothing, though there were shadows, dim and barely there, when they removed the bandages to check the progress of the healing. But the grey came back when the bandages were replaced, hiding the mess of her eyes, swollen skin that had only recently started to cool from infection.

There were IVs in both arms, antibiotics, pain meds, and pale skin was still covered in a plethora of bruises. The worst was hidden beneath the blankets that were pulled up to her waist, the stitches and the bruising, the worried whispers of a possibility that she wouldn't be able to have children again. Meredith tried not to listen, tried not to worry, but it was a battle she was losing.

When Neil arrived, she was sleeping - actually asleep, not the faking that she often did. There was a white swath of bandages around her eyes and head, bruises peaking out from beneath, lips parted slightly in sleep. She had lost weight, shadows at her cheeks, her hands a little bonier. She slept, and she didn't hear him enter.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]incharge
2015-09-10 01:11 am UTC (link)
[It was cowardly (big surprise), but Neil didn't want to hear what the doctors had to say. He didn't want to know. They'd tried, before, while he waited, medical terms put into layman's English, and he'd just wanted to shut it all out. He didn't want to think about Mere being blind, or Mere not being able to—Christ, he didn't want to think about that part of it at all. He couldn't even think the word. Rape. This was the shit he drank to forget and he wished, he wished, he could be the kind of man he needed. But he wasn't, and so the poor woman was stuck with an alcoholic who couldn't even be sober for a day before coming to see her in the goddamn hospital.

He stopped in the doorway. Froze right the fuck up. The sight of her in the bed, pale and bruised, IVs and machines hooked up, made him feel dizzy. Guilt made him feel sick. How could he not feel like this was his fault, how could he not blame himself?

She didn't stir, which made Neil think that she was actually asleep. So he was quiet, easing the door shut behind him and carefully making his way to her bedside.] I'm sorry, Mere. [His voice was a whisper as he looked down at her, and he didn't know what the hell to do. Stay? Go? He glanced over his shoulder, torn, before he finally decided to just... stay. A little while couldn't hurt, even if she didn't wake up. He grabbed a chair, dragged it over (still quiet), and sat. He didn't have the heart to wake her up.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 01:18 am UTC (link)
[She didn't hear him enter, didn't hear the close of the door as he eased it shut, but she did hear his voice when he spoke. It was just a whisper, barely there, but it reached in through the fog of sleep to pull her back towards the surface of awareness.

It was as she was waking that she heard the scrape of the chair over the tile floor, and even though he was quiet, painfully so, she still heard. There was the squeak of vinyl as he settled into the chair, the sound of his breath when he exhaled, the smell of the-

Alcohol. She could smell it clinging to him, above the smell of the hospital that she had become quite accustomed to. It was there, sharper than everything else, and it, over everything else that had happened, hurt the most.

She snaked a hand out blindly, seeking him, groping until she found his fingers to grab in her own. She didn't say anything, didn't even try, but she held onto that hand tight enough that knuckles bled bone white with tension.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]incharge
2015-09-10 01:33 am UTC (link)
[He thought, maybe, that he would just sit there in silence until he lost his resolve and left. At least then he could say he'd gone, pathetically pretend like that made a difference. Neil didn't realize she'd woken up, didn't realize she'd heard his whisper. He wouldn't have said anything if he knew it would rouse her from sleep; he figured she needed her rest.

But then her hand snaked out, and he looked down when her fingers found his. God help him, part of him wanted to pull away, to run, to tell her that she deserved better. But, he didn't do any of those things. He let her squeeze his hand, let her hold on near painful-tight, and he even gave her hand a squeeze of his own. It was a weak attempt at reassurance.] Hi. Sorry I woke you.

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 01:37 am UTC (link)
[For a moment, she was afraid he'd pull away, that he wouldn't respond, whether it was out of fear or guilt or something else entirely. But then their hands met and he returned the squeeze, and it was that which had her hand relaxing from a grip that was too tight and too desperate.

Apologies. More apologies came from him and she shook her head quickly, thumb running over the ridge of his knuckles.] Stop. Don't. Please. [Her voice was a little hoarse from disuse, rough and low and barely above a whisper.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]incharge
2015-09-10 01:43 am UTC (link)
[All he knew how to do was apologize. He felt like he should offer reassurances, comfort, but those words felt thick and clumsy on his tongue. Neil kept his hand in hers, a light tether, but he fell silent when she told him not to apologize. He nodded, and said nothing, because he didn't know what to say. Or do. It should have been him, here. Not her. She didn't deserve this. What if her blindness was permanent, what then? How could he help her through that when Sam had to try to strike a deal with him just to get him to consider A.A.?

After the silence had stretched for what felt like an eternity, he felt like he should say... something. Anything.] You're... in good hands here. [His voice was scratchy, but he tried to keep it positive.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 02:04 am UTC (link)
[So much silence, stretching out long and thin between them. He breached it before she had the chance to, words that ended up sounding hollow in her ears and in her heart.

Again, she ran her thumb over his knuckles, hand slipping from his to come to rest again on the bedside. She could tell, even without looking at him, that he was here out of obligation, and part of her wondered who had forced him to come look in on her. He didn't want to be here, and she didn't want to force anyone to be there right then.] They're doing well. [It was an empty answer, just as hollow as his words had been, and fingertips grazed over the rough hospital blanket, feeling the catch of the fibers beneath her fingertips. Monitors beeped and outside carts rolled down the hallway, the world spinning on while they sat so still and quiet in the hospital room.

She let out a breath, cool air against chapped lips, her hand smoothing down a nearly invisible wrinkle in the blanket.] They're taking care of me. So you don't have to be here. It's okay for you to leave. I don't mind.

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]incharge
2015-09-10 02:32 am UTC (link)
[It was funny, that he actually missed her hand in his when she pulled it away. Neil blinked, swallowed hard, and his fingers twitched as he tried to figure out what to do with them. He knew he wasn't acting like he wanted to be here. It was like Cris said, that Mere would be able to pick up on other things with her sight gone. He should've listened. Her words were hollow, empty, and he licked his lips desperately. Stress was one of his triggers, and he'd never been very good under pressure.

His head jerked up when she said he didn't need to be there.] No. I want... I wanted to see you, Mere. [He shifted in his seat and rubbed the back of his hand against his mouth.] I'm not... good at this. I'm not good at anything. But I came to see you.

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 02:38 am UTC (link)
[She didn't say anything in response for the longest time, listening instead, to his words, to the way he moved, the rasp of skin against skin, the shift of his body in the uncomfortable hospital chair. Meredith knew that even if he said he wanted to be there, even if he wasn't good at this, that being here wasn't good for him. She knew that, knew that this was hard for him, and after everything that had gone on, didn't he deserve to remove himself from the things that were hard, at least for a little while?

A fold of the blanket was worried between her fingers and she was quiet before she spoke.] There are things you are good at, Neil. You- you should go where you're more comfortable. It's- It's really okay. Being here isn't good for you, I know that.

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]incharge
2015-09-10 02:48 am UTC (link)
[He laughed a dry, quiet little laugh when she said there were things he was good at. Humorless. It slipped out, Neil didn't intend for her to hear. And there was nowhere he was comfortable now that wasn't a bar, because he didn't want to go home, and he sure as hell wasn't crashing on Cris' couch.] Don't say that. [Inhale. Exhale.] If anything, me being here isn't good for you. [His brow furrowed.] You deserve better. But... once you're out of here, you'll be taken care of, I promise. [He was good for that much, at least.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 03:06 am UTC (link)
[She listened, shaking her head in the negative even as he continued to speak. It took some effort to push herself all the way up, but she managed it after a moment, reaching out to him again. A hand, a leg, some point of connection.]

You don't have to take care of me, Neil. I don't want to be something that needs to be taken care of. I- I can do this in my own. It'll be fine. I'd rather you get done rest. Some food. Something to drink that isn't alcohol.

[She didn't judge, her tone quiet and gentle.] Go home, alright? See your brother, your sister. I'll be fine. You don't have to take care of me.

[It hurt to say, but Meredith felt she had to. All of this, in the end, was because of her. Remove her from the equation, and things might have been different. Neil wouldn't have been at odds with his family, and perhaps everything else could have been avoided. No silent hill, no disastrous picnics, no dreams that weren't dreams where she hurt someone else.

If only she didn't exist.

If only.]

I'm tired, Neil. [A pat to his arm.] Go get some sleep yourself. For yourself.

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]incharge
2015-09-10 03:14 am UTC (link)
[Concern was surprisingly sharp when Mere fought to push herself up, into a sitting position, and he reached out in an instinctive, if illogical, gesture to stop her. She shouldn't be straining herself. It meant that Neil ended up meeting her hand halfway, and this time he wound his fingers in hers.] You don't have to do this on your own. [Guilt coated his words, even though he tried to scrape it away. He didn't want her to feel like a burden, but he didn't know how to make it sound like he really wanted this, like he was fully prepared to deal with his shit and stand by her.

Her saying that he didn't have to take care of her, it was what he wanted to hear. But, at the same time, it wasn't, and he didn't want to be free of her, he just didn't know how to handle the responsibility.] I want to be there for you. I want to be strong. [Mournful, because he wasn't.

He hesitated when she told him to leave, to get some rest.] Are you sure? I can stay. Sleep here.

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 03:27 am UTC (link)
[She wanted nothing more than to tell him no, that he didn't have to stay, but there was a very selfish part of her that wanted him to be there. Their hands were together once again, and Meredith was quiet. The hesitation. Was he just offering because he thought he should? Was she doing something wrong by asking him to stay?

It was hard to know the right thing to do, but eventually, that selfish need won out.]

Come up here? On the bed? [Already she was scooting over, making room on the narrow mattress, because if she was going to be needy, she want going to do it halfway. He offered, even after she gave him so many ways to leave, and this time, she was going to take it.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]incharge
2015-09-10 04:46 pm UTC (link)
[A tiny, tiny part of him was strangely proud that he'd insisted on staying. It would have been easy to take her out and leave, run away and drown in booze again, but no, he was here. Neil decided he could stay for a couple of hours. This wasn't going to be the thing that killed him, after all. He hesitated when she asked him to come up on the bed, but after a second or two he nodded.] Alright. [He was careful, not wanting to hurt her after she'd been hurt so much already, and he felt a pang of regret that he hadn't been sober longer; this close, the booze would stink.

Next time. Maybe he'd do better next time.

He stretched out beside her, maneuvering a little so he took up as little space as possible.] Is this... okay?

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 04:54 pm UTC (link)
[There was a part of her that had expected him to leave. To refuse, to back up, to put distance between them. So when he stayed, Meredith had to admit that she was somewhat surprised. With everything that had happened in the last year, leaving would have been the smart thing to do.

But he stayed, and he came up onto the bed beside her, and she scooted over a bit more, hip pressed against one rail, giving him as much room as she could allow. He settled, warm and familiar even with the stink of alcohol, but not even that small bit of unpleasantness bothered her just then. It was still him, and she hated to admit how much it meant that he was here.

The bed was small, leaving little room for either of them, but she adjusted, situating herself on her side, an arm over his middle, head finding a pillow against his shoulder.] Shhhh. Just stay here. Be here. [There was meaning in the words that was heavier than she could properly articulate. Even though she felt at fault, even though she thought it'd be better if she simply left his world, it didn't keep this moment from feeling better than anything had felt in a long time. So she was selfish, greedy, but she was at peace for that moment and that's all that really mattered.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]incharge
2015-09-10 05:07 pm UTC (link)
[Part of him felt wrong, like he didn't deserve to be the person she needed, leaned against, relied on. And it was sad, that maybe he was all she had. This really was the very least Neil could do but he was doing it, and even though he was shit at showing it he did care about her. Despite everything else, no matter where they went from here, that would always be true. She was warm against his side, not booze-warmth but still not unpleasant.]

Okay. [He was good at shutting up. Shutting up, he could do. Neil said nothing else, just slid a careful arm around her shoulder and let her pillow her head against him. Being here didn't seem like nearly enough, but it was something he could do. Something he wasn't failing horribly at, and that felt... well, kind of good.]

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Re: quicklog, vegas hospital (ocean's eleven): neil & mere
[info]ex_perspecti86
2015-09-10 05:15 pm UTC (link)
[It was sad, the truth that he was really all she had. But it was a hole she had dug for herself, one that she had gotten herself into from the very first words she had put on paper so many months ago. But those weren't the thoughts going through her head right then as he slid an arm around her shoulder and held her gently. She simply let out a breath, some of the tension draining from her shoulders.

At that moment, it really didn't matter that she couldn't see, that so many things were in shambles. None of that mattered because he was here and she didn't have to worry for that moment. So she relaxed and she rested, and the sleep that crept up to sweep over her wasn't filled with the same nightmares that had plagued her since they had left Silent Hill behind. Her breathing evened out, her hand went lax against his chest, the soft beeping of the monitors slowed in response.]

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