Kitchen, Alison and Lorna

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It's hard to keep things from one who knows you well. Especially when she's been there herself.
Lorna starts to learn what's wrong with Alison.



She was, she decided, going to do it tomorrow.

Ask Haroun to spar with her, convince him somehow that she could handle it just fine, because not doing anything and being off duty and generally being useless was getting to her in a big way. She'd settled on the idea with much resolved, and in Alison's mind it made perfect sense to at least be doing that much, since it wasn't like she was doing anything else. And there were limits to taking it easy after a while, really.

But in the meantime, heading downstairs to raid the fridge again wasn't a bad idea, though thankfully the odd hunger pangs were starting to settle down.

Lorna was slowly working through the stack of recipes she'd brought back from Hawaii. Today was Huli Huli Chicken which she'd already made once and was working on improving from the simple form they'd given her. The smell was making even her hungry, so she assumed something was going right.

"Oh god that smells good can I have some please?" Leaning on the side of the doorway to keep herself from making a dive at the oven and the food cooking upon it, Alison gave Lorna a pleading look - which had nothing to do with the kittenish 'wee am cute now feed me' thing she usually did and had more to do with a 'if I don't eat now I will keel over in a dead faint' more like.

Lorna laughed, "Just as soon as it's done. In the meantime, corn chowder?" She gestured to the large pot of soup simmering on the burner. Because she knew this school very well, there were already bowls and spoons waiting on the counter for just this eventuality. Meal times where a very fluid concept around here. Lorna retrieved a bowl without waiting for a response; Ali rarely said no. She gave her friend a surreptitious once over as she ladled out the chowder. Five days later and Alison was still unusually quiet which meant that her conversation with Haroun only seemed more worrisome.

It was taking an eternity to serve the soup, in Alison's estimate, and the bowl finally being set in front of her was welcome with a murmured thanks before she tucked in. The taste of the soup was barely there as the need to just eat took over neatly for a moment, until she was done with the portion - and then the sudden ravenous hunger abated suddenly, leaving almost dizzy. At least it wasn't happening as often anymore, she reflected, before eyeing the oven contemplatively. "That smells really good. Hawaiian?" The charm bracelet she was wearing clinked as she set her arm down on the counter.

"Yep, part of my traditional begging for recipes. I'm actually tweaking this one a little because I think it could use a little more kick." Lorna started to set the soup down and laughed when Alison nearly snatched it from her hands. "This is actually a Hawaiian recipe as well. Not your average corn chowder."

"It was good." She repeated herself so much, these days, sticking to what she felt safe saying. It was an odd feeling. Turning to look at the oven, Alison stretched her neck out a bit to see better - the smell of grilling meat seemed to take over though, as she watched, and feeling suddenly a bit faint, Alison glanced at her arm for a moment, before falling back on the stool. "Maybe I'll skip the chicken," she said, in a low voice. "Not so hungry anymore."

Lorna barely stopped herself from snapping her head around in shock. She turned around more slowly, "Sure. I'll feed this to someone else." She gave Alison a curious look but didn't comment further. "Do you want more of the soup?" She nodded at the bowl in front of Alison.

She wasn't sure she should dare it. Now that she'd connected one sound to a memory she really wished she hadn't remembered just then, Alison was feeling… queasy, to say the least. And not eating meant the hunger pangs might come back. Even if they were nearly gone, Alison wasn't inclined to risk it. "Yeah. Yeah, that'd be good." Taking a shallow breath, she suddenly realized exactly how unsettled she must have looked, and tried to offer Lorna a smile, shoulder twitching slightly.

Lorna retrieved the bowl and refilled it, turning the heat off in the broiler before she gave the bowl back. "There's plenty so don't be shy." She got herself a bowl as well and curled up on the stool next to Alison, still watching her covertly.

The second bowl was consumed more slowly this time, Alison trying to ignore the sound of broiling meat. "I'm never shy 'bout food, you know that." The comment was said with a smile, Alison reaching up to tug the short sleeve of the v-neck she was wearing, before instead moving up higher to adjust the collar over her shoulder.

Lorna's hand twitched involuntarily toward her own shoulder as her breath caught. She barely managed to swallow the mouthful of soup, feeling like she'd just been punched. "Alison," she said softly, knowing that the question didn't need to be asked to be heard.

The tone of voice caught her attention and Alison snapped her gaze away from the soup to meet Lorna's. And paused for a moment, what she saw there neatly tilting all of her quietness she had been struggling to keep gathered about her, something small and afraid looking back out before she scrabbled for control once more. "I can't. Not yet." The words were choked out, so small and pitiful that Alison hated them on the spot.

Lorna's stomach twisted, recognizing the look and the feeling behind it. "You don't have to talk about it." Lorna hated to push. "Can I see?" She gave into the impulse to cover her own shoulder, feeling the raised scars beneath the thin fabric of her sundress. She could understand if Alison refused. She had hated any kind of reminder for a long time.

She literally couldn't move - but this was Lorna and not just anyone else. It was Lorna. Of course she'd noticed the gesture…. She'd done it herself for so long, Alison remembered, now. So a short nod was her only answer and she studied the counter, desperately so, as Lorna slowly slid off her seat.

She brushed Alison's hair away and pulled the fabric of her blouse from her shoulder, her touch delicate but not hesitant. She couldn't help the involuntary hiss at the sight of the black scars and bent immediately to give Alison a hug. "Oh, God, hon."

The hug was too much. Stiffening at first, pure reflex kicking in, Alison then shivered and leaned her head against Lorna's shoulder, not saying a word. She didn't want to cry, didn't want to allow herself that much even though she'd been told over and over again it was allowed. But tears did trickle down her cheeks, silent and furious.

Lorna held on tightly to Alison, her eyes closed tightly against the memory of the scars, tar-black and ugly. Even healed they looked vicious and Lorna shuddered to think of her friend's pain. She couldn't offer any words of comfort and even understanding seemed thin. So she just held on.