xp_logs | Nathan and Rahne, Thursday evening

After seeing Rahne's post, Nathan and Rachel stage something of a rescue. Rahne isn't quite sure what hit her.

He was smart about it, and got Rahne's coat and wallet before he headed down to the infirmary with Rachel. Catseye had been only too happy to help out. "Because we don't want to give her a chance to back out, now, do we?" Nathan asked the baby, who squealed delightedly and kicked him. He had her well-shielded, and would only be sticking his nose into the main area of the infirmary, in any case. She'd be fine. And all three of them would be out in the fresh air and far away from the stress soon.

Rahne was briskly and perhaps a little ruthlessly cleaning, but she was almost done. With her shift up, maybe she should read to one of the little ones, or -- or not, as she wasn't sure she was up to being relaxing and reassuring, or 'doing voices.' Maybe she should go cook. Preferably something that required being extensively beaten up....

"Hello," Nathan said cheerfully as he walked in, Rachel on one arm and Rahne's coat on the other. "Put your coat on, Rahne, we're going out. Brought your wallet, too, although just for the sake of you having identification, since you're not spending a cent."

She turned and blinked at him, completely at a loss. "Am I late for something?"

"Well, that's an interesting question, and I'm not sure how to answer it - literally, or figuratively. Literally, no. Figuratively yes." He handed her the coat, gray eyes twinkling just a little. "Come on. Unless you'd like to be carried? I could manage that."

"Heeheehee," was Rachel's comment, and she gave Rahne a huge smile before ducking her head against her father's shoulder.

"No, that's--" Rahne began automatically, looking between them in continued confusion. "Just, er, just a moment...." She put away the cleaning supplies, washed her hands, and shrugged into the coat. "What's going on?"

"I'm taking you out," Nathan said. "Well, I'm taking both of you out, but you especially. Rachel just because Moira's very occupied and, well, she could use some fresh air." He steered Rahne towards the door with his free hand. "I was thinking, fresh air, possibly dinner..."

"I was thinking I should cook something...?" That shouldn't have come out as a question. She had definitely been thinking it.

"And I was thinking you should do nothing of the sort, and rather sit in a reasonably mid-scale restaurant friendly to small telekinetic babies and have something cooked for you." She was still allowing herself to be steered and heading in the direction of the garage, so the confused protests were just fine. Rachel would not stop snickering, as if she found all of this far too entertaining.

Rachel's amusement was actually rather soothing, but Rahne still looked up worriedly. "I... shouldna have made that post earlier, should I...."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "You absolutely should have," he said, gently but firmly. "You weren't attacking anyone. You weren't starting a fight. You let it be known that you were wearing down, and while I might not be able to help some of the people involved in helping fix what Masque did, you I can help. You'll be amazed at what an afternoon out will do for the perspective."

Rahne buried her face in one hand. "I snapped at Forge," she said, sounding a bit muffled, then added hastily, "Not literally!"

Nathan gave her a warm grin. "Wouldn't hurt him if you had, you know. Your displeasure tends to carry a lot of weight around here, if you hadn't noticed."

"Mah?" Rachel inquired, looking delighted. "Mah-bah?"

"It doesna feel like it," she muttered. "Everybody acting like idiots.... It doesna help that I'm tempted to."

Nathan put his free arm around her shoulders. "Think about it later," he suggested gently as they approached the garage. "Come out with me and the munchkin and relax a little, now."

Rahne looked up sheepishly. "Thank you." A slightly worried glance back. "So much to do, I feel like I shouldna be walking out on it...." She snorted. "And that'd be how we get some of our patients, wouldn't it?"

"Mmm. If you're thinking of the one who's probably back there lying in a bed reflecting on all the things he's not doing because his stomach is eating itself as an example, oh yes." Nathan grasped at a set of keys with his mind, and led Rahne over to the little red Toyota where he'd last seen the car seat. Still there, he noted. "How do you feel about Italian?" he asked.

"Sounds a bit off given that last description, but... hungry." That sentiment sounded about right for anything other than purely vegetarian, and she wasn't so sure about that.

Rachel squealed in joy as she caught sight of the carseat, and Nathan grinned and kissed the top of her head. "Then it's a good thing we're going out to eat, isn't it?"

"Aye." Rahne slipped into her own seat as Nathan strapped Rachel in, peering over to watch them. Quietly, "Thank you again. I still feel a wee bit guilty, but I feel like I was forgetting to breathe."

"We can't have that, can we?" he asked Rachel. "We like Rahne much better when she's not blue, don't we?"

"Oooo!" was the enthusiastic agreement.