the_lawless (the_lawless) wrote in the_colony, @ 2011-01-06 21:40:00 |
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Entry tags: | ^ week 24, bridget mackenzie, leo parker, | bridget and leo |
Week 24: Tuesday Evening
Characters: Leo Parker and Bridget Mackenzie
Location: Hall outside of Bridget’s bedroom.
Summary: Leo’s dying to see Alice after she returns, but Bridget doesn’t want to allow it.
Rating: G
Leo lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling, his hands folded across his stomach while Walker slept in the bed across from him. Of course he couldn’t sleep --he never could-- but this time was different. All he could think about since learning that Alice had come back after running away were his own actions. Now he knew, better than ever, how his disappearance must have affected her. Now he knew first-hand the bitter self-doubt and the hollow feeling of abandonment, and she had come back. What might it have been like if she never did?
He felt a heavy sickness in his stomach that he had never felt before; the foreign weight of anxiety and heartache. Shifting from one side to the other didn’t help. Neither did walking or cigarettes or the game of Go Fish with Walker before he’d fallen asleep. Leo had to see Alice. He had to see for himself that she was back and she was okay. Closing his door quietly behind him, he slipped out into the hall and headed for Bridget’s room.
Bridget was returning to her room after getting up yet again to use the restroom. She’d had a hard time sleeping that night, even with the emotionally exhausting events of the past two days. Tossing and turning wasn’t something she was really able to do anymore and she hoped that after this she’d actually be able to drift off for the night.
She’d just reached the door to her room when she heard another door open down the hall, and a man’s footsteps headed her way. It didn’t take a lot of effort to deduce who it was as Leo’s silhouette grew closer. Greg and Derek were both off on guard duty, Tom, Searle, Drew and Nate were all downstairs, and Mike had no reason whatsoever to come by her room.
Bridget turned around to face the approaching man, blocking access to her room. “Go back to bed Leo.” Her voice was kept soft but pitched just above a whisper to keep it from travelling very far and waking anyone.
The man couldn’t help but feel aggravated at being treated like a child lately, being told what to do and who he could and couldn’t talk to. While Tom may have been the authority around here, Bridget with her swollen belly could be just as intimidating. Leo glanced up at her with a slight frown and hooked his thumbs in the back pockets of his jeans.
“I can’t sleep,” he muttered and glanced over her shoulder, where his expression transformed into a sad sort of concern. “I wanna see Alice. Is she all right?”
“Not really,” Bridget admitted. “But the last thing she needs right now is another emotionally exhausting encounter with a man. And it’s the middle of the night Leo, let it go ‘til later.” She was tired and didn’t really want to deal with him right now. A lot of Alice’s troubles could be traced back to this man, and she wasn’t about to let him waltz back in and try to pick up where they left off. Her friend needed time to heal and Bridget was determined to give it to her. Leo gave a sigh of disappointment through his nose.
“Did you kn--” he paused and rested his hand on the back of his neck, his gaze sinking to the floor. “Did she tell you she was leaving?”
“No. I didn’t.” Bridget shook her head, feeling the emotions she’d had when she’d realized Alice had gone rearing back up: surprise, hurt, disappointment, fear. “I did rate a ‘Dear Bridget’ letter, where she apologized for leaving though.” Which was better than what Leo had given Alice when he’d left.
He finally met Bridget’s eyes and wondered if she meant for her words to sting the way they did; surely she must have known that Leo received no such letter. No hasty note. He had no clue of Alice’s intentions. Somehow --Leo felt-- it would have been different if nobody had gotten anything at all. What did I do wrong?
“But she’s back now, that’s all that matters.”
Leo nodded and tousled his fingers through his hair, making his appearance match how he felt inside: a frazzled, tired mess. He cleared his throat, let his hand drop to his side and nodded again, only this time more adamantly. “Yeah, you’re right. That’s all that matters.”
Bridget took in his appearance and couldn’t help but have a little sympathy toward the man. It had to have hurt that he hadn’t even rated a letter, given that the breakup had really been all about him. After thinking it over for a moment, she decided to throw him a bone. “If it’s any consolation, I think the only reason I rated a letter was that I’m her roommate and she knew I’d be freaked out if I woke up and couldn’t find her. She’s been pretty out of it the last two days.”
Rolling his shoulders back in an attempt to loosen up a little, Leo gave Bridget a sideways glance and put his hands in his pockets. He stared at the floor and forced a small smile at her effort to console him, grateful for her sympathy.
“Thanks,” he murmured under his breath after a few seconds of silence had passed between them. At least he knew Alice was in good care.
“Give her a little more time, Leo.” Bridget urged softly. “She’s not going anywhere now, and the best thing for her is sleep.” She yawned, feeling the need for sleep herself. “I’m going back to bed, you ought to do the same.”
“A’right,” he answered quietly, albeit with a bit of reservation. The last thing he wanted to do was to go back to his room and sit in the dark, alone with nothing but his thoughts. But Bridget was right, and he knew it. Talking to Alice now --waking her from what surely must be much needed sleep-- would probably do more harm than good.
Swiveling slowly, hesitantly on his heels, Leo turned back toward his bedroom. “G’night, then.”
Bridget couldn’t help but feel sorry for him even if his actions were the root cause for her friend’s problems, the man was truly wearing his heart on his sleeve. It was obvious even in the darkened hallway here in the middle of the night. “Leo,” she called over to him quietly. “If you promise not to wake her, you can come in and see that she’s there sleeping. Will that help any?”
Leo’s features lightened there in the dark as he turned to face Bridget again, his whole demeanor shifting as the woman allowed him even a sliver of hope. He stepped closer, quiet as a mouse, and rested his hand on Bridget’s forearm. This time he managed to look her straight in the eyes.
“I promise,” he whispered. “I won’t wake her.”
The young woman smiled slightly and nodded. “Come on in, then. Just be quiet, ok? She really does need her sleep.” And so did she, but she wasn’t going to be so crass as to say so. Bridget patted his arm and turned to go into her room. Leo followed closely behind, pausing in the shadows as he spotted Alice asleep in her bed.
Bridget was right. There she was, soft and whole and physically unscathed. She seemed so small. Leo now understood the meaning of that expression: mountains out of molehills. He worried as though she’d been gone for days. In that moment, it all appeared to lift away and he stood side-by-side with Bridget, wanting desperately to walk over and sit beside Alice without the risk of waking her.
Even though it didn’t necessarily show in his expression he looked a little more at peace, and when he glanced to the woman at his side he could see that she was tired but patient. She was so caring. Maternal. He half-smiled at Bridget.
“You’re gonna make a great mom,” he said.
“God I hope so.” Bridget exclaimed softly, hands rubbing the small of her back as she smiled tiredly over at Leo. “Think you’ll be able to get some sleep now that you’ve seen her? I know Tom keeps you busy.”
“Yeah.” Of course, he still wouldn’t be able to sleep, but that was no fault of Bridget’s. A smirk still lingered from her mentioning of Tom. “That’s okay, though. I like to keep busy.” Plus, he was grateful to Tom for giving him a second chance, despite barely knowing him at all. Leo felt the need to defend him.
His eyes wandered over Alice’s blanketed form one last time before he made his way for the door. “Thanks.” This time Leo’s gratitude was a little more genuine. “Sorry for you keepin’ you.”
“It’s okay.” Bridget assured him. “It it hadn’t been you it would have been my two soccer players.” She was already heading toward her own bed, looking forward to trying to get a little more sleep yet that night. “Have a good night Leo. She’ll still be here in the morning, I promise.”
He nodded, contented, and crept out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.