Who: Sam and Elizabeth What: After Russia Where: Cafe near the university When: Beginning of April Rating: High - trigger warning Status: Complete
Elizabeth sat at a table by the window of a favourite cafe of herself and Sam nursing a cup of coffee. The sun was warm on her face and she closed her eyes as she enjoyed feeling it on her face. So much so that she didn’t hear her best friend sit down opposite her.
Sam looked her friend over noticing with concern that she was thinner and had an unhealthy pallor to her skin, she obviously hadn’t been taking very good care of herself. “Hey” she said softly, “Earth to Lizzie”
Elizabeth turned to look at her friend, still too exhausted from the past month to jump in surprise. "Hey," she smiled softly at her friend. "You ok?" she asked. "You've got your frowny face on," she joked.
“Sorry” Sam said, “Though I think I should be asking if you’re okay. You’ve been working too hard. Damn UN needs to take proper care of it’s star people”
"I'm not one of their star people," Elizabeth smiled sadly. "At least not this week," she sighed. "And besides, you know me better than to think that even if they did try to mother hen me they wouldn't get very far," she pointed out.
“Nonsense, you will always be a star for them” Sam said, “I was trying to let you pass the blame since that does mean you haven’t been looking after yourself. You know better than to think you can stop me from mother hen-ning you if I think you need it”
Elizabeth quirked a smile. "Touche young padawan," she told her friend quietly. "How have things been here? I heard there was a bombing?" she asked, a diversionary tactic but it might work.
"You heard correctly but right now I want to focus on you and the fact that you've lost twenty pounds that you couldn't afford to lose and look like you haven’t slept since before you left"
"I..." Elizabeth went to protest but a look into her friend's face prived she wouldn't win this round mostly because she didn't have the energy. She let out a sigh and shook her head. "I'm fine. The food over there isn't always the greatest and when there's a war brewing on the doorstep no-one ever really sleeps well," she shrugged. "All that piled on top of what happened before I left and I..." she trailed off quietly and gave a little shrug.
Sam nodded and reached over to squeeze her hand, “Well you’re home now and you’ll just have to let me take care of you for a while” she told her friend decisively but with a smile.
“I don’t get much of a choice in the matter do I,” Elizabeth replied with a quirked of a smile. “Thanks Sam, you’re the best friend a girl could have,” she squeezed Sam’s hand in return. “So how have things been here? What’s been happening at the university?” she asked, taking her hand back to take a drink.
“No, you don’t. But I thought it only fair to give you warning” Sam replied, “Things have actually been fairly quiet. Especially on campus. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Couple of new dreams, just your run of the mill incidents on new planets though, no great conspiracy in the latest ones”
“That’s good,” Elizabeth nodded, looking down at her coffee. She wanted to ask Sam something but she wasn’t sure she should.
Sam watched her friend, “What is it Lizzie?” she asked, knowing something was wrong but not sure what. Other than everything that had happened lately that was.
“How is he?” Elizabeth asked, assuming she’d know she was talking about Leonard. She glanced up from her drink, running a finger over the handle of the mug. “I mean, how has he been?” she clarified.
“Worried about you” Sam said honestly, “He’s not really said much to me about it but he’s called most evenings to see if I’d spoken to you that day. Lizzie, I know it must be so hard but you should talk to him. Properly”
"I've tried," Elizabeth sighed. "When I got home I went to see him right after I got off the plane, but he just kept saying he was worried about me. I don't know how he feels after everything," she shook her head sadly and looked out the window. "I know he's never been particularly forthright with his emotions in the past but I had hoped he would talk to me about it all. Maybe I hurt him too much by going to Russia," she pondered quietly.
“It’s hard for both of you. Neither of you are the most forthcoming people, you play your hand pretty close to your chest” Sam pointed out, “I can’t imagine him resenting you going away, you needed time and being away from here was probably a good thing”
“I hope you’re right, Sam,” Elizabeth sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to stay with him and Joanna for a few days. Just to get back into a pattern. Catch up on some sleep,” she told her friend. “Maybe he’ll open up to me a bit more,” she shrugged.
“Of course I don’t mind” Sam replied, “You do what you have to. You know where I am if you need me” she smiled, “I’m sure you’ll open up to each other more when you’re together”
“Thanks Sam, I’ll be home soon, I just…” Elizabeth gave her friend a tight smile. “I need some time to recover,” she let out a long breath. “I’m hoping to be back teaching next week though, hopefully the classroom didn’t fall apart without me,” she joked.