[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]

"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?"

[porcupineliz]

"I can do that, sure. Let you know that my plane didn't crash and neither did I." She smiles back.

And adds after a moment: "If you ever have any interest in visiting Boston, let me know?"

[dr_j]

Another sidelong look.

"How's Boston in the spring?"

[porcupineliz]

She glances back at him, smiling again. "It's beautiful. Lots of flowers. Probably not as warm as you get here, but nice. Warm enough to go to the beach, for walking at least. If you're talking late spring, it's warm enough to swim."

[dr_j]

"Once we're out of flu season?" Light. "I think I could take some time."

[porcupineliz]

Her smile broadens, and brightens. "I'll look forward to it. ... And in the meantime I guess I'll see you at Milliways?"

[dr_j]

"Naturally." He pulls up to the departures gate. "Are you good? I can park and walk you in, if you want."

[porcupineliz]

"I think I'm okay from here."

A pause.

"... although now I'm trying to figure out how to offer you a hug if we're still in the car."

[dr_j]

Jordie puts the jeep in park, and opens his door. "Fortunately I have to get your bags out of the back," he says cheerfully as he slides out.

[porcupineliz]

"Oh," she says brightly, climbing out on the passenger side, "that's handy."

[dr_j]

He pulls his seat forward, hauls out both bags, and circles the jeep to put them in front of her. "I'm a handy person," he says, solemn.

[porcupineliz]

"You're a pretty excellent person."

She reaches out to hug him. "See you soon."

[dr_j]

"One way or another," he murmurs into her hair.