[pfsb+new mexico] achoo

[porcupineliz]

It's morning on the third day of a four-day visit, and they seem to actually be still enjoying each other's company. For a miracle. Today they're supposed to go exploring one of the nearby neighborhoods, and Liz went to bed last night in happy anticipation.

... and can't seem to pull herself out of the guest bed this morning.

Maybe it's got something to do with the cough and headache she seems to have developed overnight.

Comments

[dr_j]

"Right?" Easily; he turns toward her, knee coming up on the couch with him; he pillows his head on the back of the couch, eyes on the screen.

[porcupineliz]

"And those are not smart cat owners." There's a wince in her voice. "I mean, look at that, that's just gonna scare her ..."

The impulse rises to stretch out her blanketed legs toward his, just to touch. She doesn't do it.

[dr_j]

"They think animals are easy," he says, absently.

[porcupineliz]

"Yeah." In recognition. "Like they want a cat that'll sit on their lap and purr, and they think it's just a matter of getting a cat and plonking it down on their lap and going 'Okay, now purr.'"

[dr_j]

"Somebody never did 4-H in high school." Amused. "On the screen, I mean."

[porcupineliz]

"... I don't think I did either," she says.

[dr_j]

"If I ever get a cow," he says, lightly, "and I go on vacation, that means you're off the hook for petsitting."

[porcupineliz]

She laughs -- a light laugh, since her chest still hurts a little if she laughs hard. "Good to know. Oh, no, you idiot, don't do that --" That last is directed at the hapless cat owner on the screen.

[dr_j]

Sorrowful: "I don't think she heard you."

[porcupineliz]

"Curses." Mournfully.

At least Mr. Galaxy seems to know what he's doing. And doesn't seem averse to losing a little skin in order to do it.

[dr_j]

No. And Jordie's seen this episode before. And even if he hadn't... he's going to go out on a limb and guess that it has a happy ending.

When he glances over at Liz, she appears to be asleep. That's fine. He'll just give her spoilers when she wakes up.

[porcupineliz]

She's more dozing than genuinely asleep; drifting in and out, and vaguely aware that she isn't quite managing to follow the story of the episode anymore, but not really concerned about that.



"'M up," she says about an hour or so later, straightening with a jerk.

[dr_j]

"You don't have to be," he says quietly; he's shifted, feet stretched out on the coffee table, reading a book.

[porcupineliz]

Liz rubs her eyes, and glances at her watch.

"Should be soon, though." Rubbing the back of her neck, now, as she stretches toward sitting up. "To go to the airport."

(That's a little uncertain; she's having trouble keeping track of time. Jet lag has nothing on Milliways lag.)

[dr_j]

"Yeah. Maybe another twenty minutes. You're packed?"

[porcupineliz]

"Yeah -- let me just go make sure I didn't leave anything."

She stretches, rubbing the back of her neck, and then pulls herself to her feet.

[dr_j]

Jordie watches this process, fingers folded over his stomach.

[porcupineliz]

She glances down at him and gives a quick smile, before making her way back into the guest room. (Checking for forgotten belongings is part of what she's doing there; the other part is making sure she hasn't left any gross crumpled tissues anywhere around.)

Emerging after a few moments, back into the living room: "Yeah, that's everything."

And she pauses, feeling suddenly and ridiculously shy.

[dr_j]

Jordie stretches. "Want a sandwich for the road? There's not much between here and Albuquerque."

[porcupineliz]

"That'd be great," she says honestly, with some relief. "And I think I'm gonna refill my water bottle before we head out?"

[dr_j]

"Good call." He stands, and heads for the kitchen.

[porcupineliz]

The sandwich-making and water-bottle-filling uses up most of the time they have left; it's time to carry things out to the car. Liz insists on taking both her own bags out to the car, as she's going to need to carry them onto and off the airplane, and if she can't manage that then now's a good time to find that out.

They feel heavier than they should, but not unbearably so.

[dr_j]

And it's a quiet drive to Albuquerque.

It was a fun visit, before Liz got sick. Mostly Jordie's very tired, and wanting time to himself. But that'll happen soon enough.

[porcupineliz]

She's thinking mostly the same. (And is still stupidly ashamed of having gotten sick and ruined things, but knows better than to say so.)

The airport's looming closer.

Softly: "Thanks again for inviting me. Flu aside, I had a really good time."

[dr_j]

He gives her a quick smile. "At least there's that. I'm glad. -- you're going to text me when you get home, right?"