I Moderate (i_moderate) wrote in we_archive, @ 2006-02-13 07:42:00 |
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Entry tags: | jesse custer, maxine gibbons |
i_assist The First Visit and 'The Talk' (Max/Jesse)
It was her first time getting out of the mansion since the attack, other than going to the hospital. Max had been looking forward to it, because it was her also first time seeing Jesse since he'd left on Wednesday morning. She'd had enough sense to wait until she could walk by herself again to ask for this trip, and even when she had asked very strict guidelines had been laid down.
Max had three hours at Jesse's, and Alfred had to drive her there and back. She was to wait inside the hotel for him to pull up, at eight on the dot exactly. They didn't want her on the streets by herself for even a few minutes, a precaution Max could fully understand and appreciate.
She emailed Jesse early in the afternoon letting him know what time she'd be there, and at a exactly five Alfred was dropping her off and escourting her into the lobby. Max spent a few more minutes convincing Alfred he didn't need to walk her back to Jesse's room, and then happily walked towards the back of the hotel as quickly as she could. It wasn't long before she was knocking on his door, smiling as much as she could with the one side of her face.
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 13:00:42
Jesse opened the door with a great big smile. He was happy Max was well enough to come over, happy to see her again. It only faultered a little when he saw that she hadn't magically healed. Somewhere down in him he'd been hoping that it would just be Max at the door, and not a reminder of what she'd gone through.
It was unrealistic, of course.
He let her walk into the room before he drew her into a strong, tight hug.
"I'm so glad that you're alright, baby girl. I've been so worried."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 13:09:04
Max hugged him back awkwardly with one arm, shifting her other shoulder so that the tight hug wasn't uncomfortable. "I wanted to come this weekend, but it was still kinda hard to walk and everyone thought I should wait until now. I'm really glad to see you." She was still smiling, though she had to pull back slightly to relieve the pressure on her shoulder.
"I got your message on Wednesday morning before I went to the hospital, I just never got a chance to answer. The meds they gave me seriously put me to sleep."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 13:11:52
"Probably for the best, darlin." Jesse guided her to the couch and sat her down. "Can I get you anything? The fridge has fully stocked itself."
He didn't sit down immediately, waiting to see if she'd like anything first.
"Are you feeling better, at least? I know you still hurt, I can see that easy, but do you feel better?"
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 13:19:00
"No, I'm fine. Alfred made me eat while I did my homework this afternoon," she said, leaning back on the couch and getting comfortable. She brought her legs up and crossed them neatly.
"I'm feeling better than last week." Max beckoned Jesse to sit down as well. "Face is kinda numb most of the time, except for when I move it too much, and it turned out my collar bone was fractured, so that's not exactly the best feeling ever. But my neck's mostly back to normal, that's good."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 13:24:46
"That's very good." Jesse agreed.
He sat down and took her hand, the one that hadn't been hurt. He kissed her knuckles first, and then the tips of her fingers.
"How about mentally though?" He peered up at her. "You.. you okay there? Nightmares? Trauma?"
He wanted to make sure she was alright all over.
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 13:35:48
"Someone woke me up one night, but um, that was it. It was just a weird dream, but like, not horrible." Max shrugged, looking down because it wasn't really fun to admit that she'd dreamt about the whole thing. Or that it'd been a borderline nightmare and probably would have een a full fledged one if she hadn't been woken to take her meds.
She sqeezed his hand once. "It's cool though. Just one, that was it."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 13:37:48
Jesse squeezed back. "I'm glad to hear that, really glad. I hate that you had to go through this, and I'd hate if you had to keep suffering because of it. Your wounds will heal, sure, but the brain takes a long time."
He leaned in and kissed her unharmed cheek. "I'm just so glad to see you up and around."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 13:47:32
"Babs told me I might have more, but I dunno yet." It wasn't a wonderful thing to be expecting.
Max smiled again when he kissed her. "I'm going back to school later this week too, so I'll really be up. I think I can start walking Ace again too, if you and Kojak are with me. I've got a few doctor appointments and stuff, but they won't cut in too much." She fiddled with her sling a bit, making it more comfortable before trying to scoot closer to Jesse so she could rest against him.
"Thanks for staying with me that night." Max laid her head up against his shoulder. "And that morning. And also, for whatever you said to Bruce."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 16:14:28
"Like I could leave your side." Jesse said, his tone saying there was no other choice for him. He kissed Max's cheek again.
Bruce was brought up and Jesse smirked and chuckled a little. "Only thing I said to that man was things that needed to be said. I hope he said sorry like he said he was going to."
He thought of Progo and had to smile. "I'm not the only one who feels the way I do, either."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 16:30:25
"He did say sorry... twice. It was a little weird." Max said, smiling. "He appologised for threatening to kick me out, and for the whole thing with the Saint. I said I was sorry for a few things too, and then we talked. And it wasn't bad or anything."
She didn't question his last comment, thinking Babs must have said something along the same lines. Though she couldn't really even see Babs getting Bruce to say sorry for anything.
"But it's good we're talking again now, because the whole silent treatment thing was getting old. Thanks." She snuggled up against him. "And I'm getting defense lessons out of it too."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 16:44:55
"You're welcome. And I'm very glad to hear that. I'll feel a lot better once you know how to take care of yourself. Not that I'll stop being protective over you or anything. You can expect that from here to eternity."
Jesse settled back into the couch, allowing Max more space to get comfortable and snuggle in.
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 16:56:40
"I like that you see us going until eternity, very nice."
She looked up at him after finding the best position that didn't involve leaning on her shoulder. "It's not that I didn't know how to defend myself before, but more that I couldn't that night. I don't know why, I just stopped trying after a certain point I think."
Max paused for a moment before shaking her head and deciding not to continue on that train of thought. There had to be better things.
She stopped and shut her mouth, choosing to hug Jesse instead.
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 17:00:57
"It's okay, darlin, shhh. Don't think about it. You're here now, and that's all that matters."
He was putting off what he knew he needed to discuss with her. Any number of things.
"Babs is real nice." He said, further skirting issues. "And real smart."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 17:06:24
Max nodded, and grinned in agreement. "Yeah. I knew her in my time too, but she's the police commissioner there, and she's not in the chair. She's different here though, personality wise, probably just 'cause she's younger," she said.
"I guess you had a lota time to talk to her the other night. I'm glad you liked her. I think she approves, at least... sorta. It seemed like she did. I mean, she hasn't said anything bad, 'least not yet."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 17:12:02
"I got a few smiles outta her." His smile turned a little embarassed. "She listens real good. Has a good head on her shoulders. I think I explained things in a way that she could understand. The way I feel and such. Plus I gave her my word that we wouldn't be doing anything to compromise you. Or my being not in jail."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 17:19:46
"She would be worried about that," Max said, rolling her eyes. "I told her there was no reason to worry, actually, I told all them. I even had to tell Tim, 'cause he was insisting on teasing me about it-- Did you meet Tim?"
Max shook her head again, but smiling this time. "I wouldn't want you to go to jail anyway, though I'd have to imagine it'd be really hard for anyone to find out to put you in jail."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 17:27:47
"I didn't meet Tim, no. Just Babs and Bruce." He shrugged a little. "She insisted I call her Babs. So I don't know if that's a good sign or what. But I was comfortable with her, and I think it's good you've got somebody like her helping to look after you."
Jesse sighed then. "They might not find out, and even if they did, they may not be able to get me into jail, or keep me there. But I'd know we'd done wrong, and you'd know, and that's what counts."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 17:33:56
"It's a good sign, believe me."
She frowned ever so slightly. "It's only wrong if you force me. But," Max craned her neck up as much as she could, to kiss his cheek softly. "I know what you mean. Just don't be so hard on yourself, I know you wouldn't make me, or 'do wrong'. Whatever you want to call it."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 17:37:47
"No, I'd never do none of that. You're right. But I did make a promise, and I plan to hold to it. No matter how badly I want not to."
He smiled a little at her and kissed her temple.
There was a sigh before he continued. "So I guess there's something that sort of came up while I was over there. In the midst of all the talkin, I realized that I don't know what you want to be called. Or what you're comfortable with, or what you prefer or any of that."
He looked at Max. "I ended up callin you my girlfriend, but... I just want to be sure how you feel about that."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 17:52:16
"Why wouldn't I be alright with it?" Max asked. "Of course I am. I told the doctor the other day that you were my boyfriend." She shrugged slightly, and looked up at him, making sure that had been alright.
"We are... well, I kind of just assumed that we were... there." Max shrugged sheepishly again with one shoulder. "And... yeah. So, I've sorta been thinking like that."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 17:55:01
"I have been too, but. I don't know. I don't know how these things work now. I didn't ever just come out and ask, and that's the only way I know to do it. I didn't want to be assuming nothing, you know what I mean? There's all this crap of friends with benefits and people who like each other but don't consider themselves as a couple. Or now 'dating' is a new term that means your seein each other but not exclusive or some crap. I don't know, Max. I just wanted to be sure is all."
How many times could he fit the word crap into a talk about relationships?
"Crap." There. One more. That would likely confuse her.
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 18:06:10
Max didn't say it, but the thought of Jesse seeing other people actually made her angry. She didn't know when she'd started thinking that way, but the feeling was unmistakeable.
"No, we're definitely 'exclusive,'" she said firmly, though she'd never heard of people having to define whether they were just seeing each other or not. She'd assumed that if you were in a relationship, it kind of went without saying. But then, she wasn't exactly a dating expert.
"And we're definitely not friends with benefits, seeing as we're kinda lacking the benefits as of now. You're my boyfriend."
Max hugged him again, maybe a mite bit possesively. "I don't want anyone else, just you."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 18:30:32
Jesse pulled her in tight. "And I feel the same way."
He let it sit for a long while. Just basking in the glory of the moment. Happy for it being the way it was. She was his girlfriend, and now it was ultra official. He didn't have to worry about how to introduce her to people, didn't have to wonder about how she was introducing him. He liked things when they were just out in the open and simple. He'd never felt the need to overcomplicate things.
Jesse kissed her temple again. "There ain't no one else on this planet I'd rather be with."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 18:43:48
"I'm glad to hear that," she said, losening her possesive hold ever so slightly. He wasn't going anywhere.
She could still feel the touch of his lips on her temple, and she just smiled as much as she could. "That's why I... well that's why I said you could break your promise. Because you were the only one."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 18:46:09
"You're sneaky you know that?" Jesse nudged her a little in the side with his finger. Not getting to tickling, but warning her that it might be coming.
"You could tempt a man into Hell, and I think you know it. Don't you go pushin at me about that, darlin. One day I might cave."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 18:57:50
Max smirked. "That'd be the point," she said innocently, reaching up to kiss his cheek again.
"You caving, I mean." She grinned. "Not to hell, 'm not prepared for hell. But other stuff."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 19:01:17
"Cute." Jesse glared down at her playfully.
The silence filled the room again. A little uncomfortably for him. He'd never been uncomfortable around her before, and it was a feeling he didn't like very much. The source of the discomfort was clear. And it would pass if he could just get it over with.
There was one other issue to discuss, and this one wasn't so light as the previous one. And how to approach the subject.
Best to just get it over with, he supposed.
"Why the fuck do you have birth control pills?"
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 19:09:38
Funny. The first thing that came to her mind was that she'd forgotten to take it that morning, not the answer to Jesse's question. She'd woken up late, and started straight in on homework, forgetting all about the pill.
She squirmed uncomfortably when the question finally sank in.
"Um... how'd you know about those?" Because he wasn't supposed to. No one was. That'd been the point of going down to the doctor and pharmacist in secret.
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 19:15:33
"Gee, I don't know, Max. Maybe because they were sitting on your dresser?" He hadn't meant that to come out so angry. "Babs told me, then I saw for myself."
Jesse turned in his seat and turned her too, gently. He had to look her in the eye for this. It felt too casual to be cuddling up and having this conversation.
"Max, why didn't you tell anybody? Why didn't you tell me?"
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 19:27:02
Oh. That was right. Max could feel herself blushing. They'd only been on her dresser because she hadn't expected any of this to happen. Her room was usually pretty private, especially since she'd been keeping such a solitary existance.
As the heat creeped up her neck and cheeks she started chewing her lip, forcing herself not to look away.
"I was gonna... eventually. I just..." She just what? Where was she going with that? "It's, um-- it's just in case."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 19:31:56
"Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that you're taking the precaution. On so many levels I'm glad, but Max." Jesse shook his head and grasped her good hand in both of his. "You've gotta talk to me about things like this. You can't keep things like this secret. I wouldn't have said no, because it's a good idea. Even if we're not doin anything, it's still a good idea. I just... I don't like being surprised about things like this. I certainly don't like hearing about it from somebody who isn't you. I about had a heart attack when Babs told me. She actually asked me if I knew. I pretty much got a sex talk, Max. Me. A sex talk. From Babs. Do you even know how mortifying that was?"
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 19:45:34
Probably about as mortified as she was now. Max almost wanted to sink into the couch cushions.
"I didn't want you to think I was... uh. Like, going to force it I guess. I was... well, after the other day, um remember? When we got too close and you had to go?" She asked tentitively. "I know you said it was just a matter of self control, but sometimes self control fails. And like I said, I wouldn't mind if it did. But that day if it had, then I could've ended up," Max stopped, only gesturing briefly to her stomach.
"So it's just in case. It's not to force it or anything, I just didn't want to take any chances. 'm sorry I didn't tell you, I just never really saw the chance, and it was kind of embarassing really." She felt herself blushing again, when she remembered the doctor visit. "And I didn't know how, I guess."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 19:54:24
"I want you to always feel like you're able to talk to me, baby girl. You should be able to. Especially if we're going to have the sort of relationship where you feel the need to get... birth control. If we can't talk to each other, then we shouldn't be even thinking about things like that."
Jesse picked up her hand and kissed her palm. "I would never think you were trying to force something. I would have understood your desire to keep things safe. And believe me, I don't want a kid neither. Especially not right now. In this city? Hell no. And it may not seem like it's that serious a matter, considering they're just pills and all, but it is. I want you to feel like you can talk, that you don't have to hide these things."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 20:15:24
"I do feel like I can talk to you, believe me. You're the only one here who I would tell everything. The birth control, I just wasn't sure how to bring it up. I didn't want to just blurt it out... though I guess that did kinda work just now." She smiled very breifly.
"I'd have told you eventually," Max said, looking sheepish once more. "Telling you about birth control and my trips to the gyn-- the doctor just seemed weird then. And then, everything else happened. I never got a chance to say antything."
At least Jesse knew now, she thought. One less secret. Max looked up. "Sorry," she said quietly. "I know I can talk to you."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 20:19:48
"It's okay, it is. I didn't mean to sound angry about it or nothin. It's just that I'm almost thirty, you know? I've had the birds and bees talk, a long - long time ago. And I'm... well, I ain't gonna lie, I've had experience. But when Babs started talking... I felt fourteen again. The only thing that coulda been worse would be if she'd actually walked in on us."
Jesse rubbed a finger lightly over her cheek.
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 20:31:05
"Oh God, no." Max looked properly horrified at that suggestion. "Let's not even think about that happening, okay?"
She did, after all, need to be able to look at Babs without blushing whenever she saw her. "I hope she didn't tell anyone else," Max muttered, color coming to her cheeks.
She had to blink to put the thought out of her head. But that only allowed other things to become more previlant.
"How much experience?"
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 20:37:57
"Enough." Jesse replied. "I wasn't no manwhore or nothin, but I know my way around..."
That line of thought had to stop right now.
"Uh. I'm not going to go into details. It's not only crude, but I don't need to go thinkin about those things."
Jesse concentrated on her wounds. It was helpful to keep him from mauling her. He didn't want to hurt her, and that's just what would happen should he, say, pounce on her.
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 20:47:17
Maybe she didn't either. Better to avoid the frustration altogether than have to push it down later.
She looked down at the sling, played with it a bit. No, she wasn't in the shape for it anyway.
"S'enough detail," Max said, blushing slightly. "Anything else you found out about me while I was nearly comatose? I didn't mumble anything weird did I?"
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 20:53:09
"Just that you're not a twerp." He teased.
Jesse settled back into the couch and drew Max close.
"And you want me alive. But other than that, no muttering, mubling, or secret revealing. No more weird than you are on a day to day basis."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/13/2006 20:57:20
"I am not weird," Max pouted, though it was hard to get it right when half of her face wouldn't cooperate.
"I don't remember this twerp thing you speak of, or the wanting you alive thing, though I'd think that'd be obvious." She smiled at him, and rested her head down on his chest. "That doesn't sound too bad at least. My deep dark secrets are still deep and dark."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/13/2006 21:01:01
"Oh? What deep dark secrets? Now you've got me all curious."
Normally he would have held her down and tickled her into telling him. But he couldn't, not with her all hurt like she was. It took a lot of options away.
"Damn it. I've got no way to get you to tell. Drat. Foiled again."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/14/2006 05:22:12
Max just smirked. Her deepest secrets weren't really her's, or her's to tell.
She wondered briefly what would happen if she ever did reach a point where she was working in 'the family business'. Did she get to tell Jesse? Probably not. Not even if she wanted to.
That was a long way off, though. She didn't know why she was worrying about it. Her mind went on the oddest tangents sometimes.
"I guess that's one benefit of being all slung up then," she said, sticking out her tongue. She forced her mind away from any thoughts of what was below the manor so she looked less distracted. "Besides, you remember what happened last time you started tickling me."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/14/2006 07:44:12
Jesse narrowed his eyes at her, partly playfully. "Don't you think I'll forget this, darlin. Oh no. I will remember. And vengence will be mine."
He looked at the clock on the dvd player. Sighed.
"It's almost time, love."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/14/2006 09:33:13
"It's been nearly three hours already?" Max asked, glancing over at the clock to see for herself. Sure enough it was getting close to eight. They had a bit of time, but not much. Alfred would probably worry if she wasn't on time.
"I hope I can stay this weekend." She made no indication that she was moving just yet. "Weekends may be spotty for awhile though."
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/14/2006 09:55:38
"You've got to do what's best for your body. Don't you worry about anything like staying weekends until we're sure you're all better. If you can, that's great, but don't you go pushing or throwing fits if they say no, you hear?"
Jesse hoisted her up and into standing.
"I'll walk you to the lobby."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/14/2006 11:52:11
"I won't be throwing any fits, trust me," Max said, remembering her promise to Bruce. She was going to at least try and be obiedeiant, within reason. No more running around, sneaking off... She wasn't used to having adults around watching her every step, but she was going to try.
Max grinned, scooting around to Jesse's other side so that she could grab his hand. Not because she needed to, she was walking fine, but because she wanted to.
"I'm gonna try and come back tomorrow at least, once I finish whatever work Babs brings back for me. That okay?"
From: [info]i_seekgod Date: 02/14/2006 12:44:25
"Yes, of course it is."
He walked with her, slowly, out into the lobby. And there, right on time, was a car waiting for Max.
Jesse kissed her quickly.
"Go on."
From: [info]i_assist Date: 02/14/2006 12:50:39
Max stood on her tiptoes, kissing him once more on the cheek before looking at the car.
She had to go, Alfred was giving her a subtle 'now, miss' look. Reluctantly she let go of Jesse's hand.
"Bye. I'll see you tomorrow." And she smiled at him once more before heading for the doors.