Nate and Jean-Paul - backdated to Saturday evening

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

Nathan checks in on Jean-Paul; plans and bets are made for Spring Break.



After clearing the air with Cammie, Jean-Paul found himself with something almost like an appetite. This was good. Making his way to the kitchen was more problematic. He didn't even know what he had in the fridge that he could get together before being on his feet left him feeling sick again.

'Pity the poor speedster,' he thought wryly. Maybe if he flew...it was a very short distance. Not the worst idea.

#If you fly, I will tie you to the bed,# came a familiar voice in his mind. #No, wait - actually, I'll drag you down to the boathouse and tie you to the couch. That way I can keep an eye on you.# Nathan appeared at the open doorways, eyeing Jean-Paul. "I'd ask you how you were feeling, but you look like crap, so."

Jean-Paul snorted softly, smiling despite his sour guts as Nate entered the suite. "Where did you come from? And I'll have you know that I look far better than I did last night."

"I know. I may have looked in on you at some point. Hurray, insomnia." Nathan sighed, shaking his head. "Sit down," he said. "What do you want to eat?"

Jean-Paul sank onto the couch again, feeling a little light headed. He really should have eaten before now, but odds were that it wouldn't have stayed down. "I should have the makings for French Toast. Just steer clear of the eggs on the bottom shelf. They're getting ripe. How's Rachel doing?"

"Rachel? She's fine. Still enjoying her room. I don't know that she knows quite what to make of Manuel's sister, but I can't help but think the socialization is good for both of them." French toast he could make; quite well, as a matter of fact.

"Mmm. I suppose it can't be a good thing for the youngsters to be even more cut-off than us old creatures." Jean-Paul was speaking over the back of the sofa now. "Two losses, one draw now. I should probably stop keeping score before I embarrass myself further."

"Keeping score of what?" Nathan asked patiently, assembling his ingredients. "If this is the setup for a self-flagellating comment, I may have to hit you, convalescent or not."

"I was saying nothing." Jean-Paul half-smiled. "Are you doing anything for the upcoming break?"

"Mmm." The bread was passable, Nathan decided. "I will probably spend some time on Muir, I imagine. But, well - the work here continues, even when the kids are off gallivanting."

"I think I'll find a clothing-optional beach somewhere and throw myself back into hedonism for a week. I've been behaving myself far too much as of late. As you can see, it is not a healthy lifestyle."

"Oh, but see, you'll find something that needs doing or someone who needs saving from themselves," Nathan said wisely. "It's like you have this compulsion."

"I...think you have me mistaken for someone else." Jean-Paul was giving Nathan a look that said he suspected that his friend's concussions were coming back to haunt him.

"Oh, sorry. Did I say that aloud?" Nathan slapped his own forehead lightly with his fingertips. "Inside voice, Dayspring."

"Aren't you the amusing one? Shall we make it a bet, then? If I manage to have a week of relaxing, selfish bastardry, I get another bottle from the distillery." There was a faint emphasis on the second-to-last word. "It will save me from having to go look for it myself."

"And what do I get if you pick up a stray, waif, or loveable but brain-damaged ex-mercenary?"

A moment of contemplation, then Jean-Paul chuckled. "I'll look after the mini-you for a weekend. That should steel my resolve nicely. And yes, you are oddly endearing. It must be the reason I put up with the abuse and the manhunts."

Nathan nearly dropped the egg in his hands. "Well. Much as I would like you to have said vacation without interruption, I'm also very amused by the idea of you looking after Rachel for a weekend..."

"I wasn't suggesting cutting out my vacation. But if I get back and have failed in my resolve to be utterly self-absorbed, you can pencil me in as babysitter on a weekend of your choice."

"Deal," Nathan said. "It's been a while since Moira and I had a break alone together. Besides, about the only other person around here who would take Ray for a weekend is probably Jean, and while she and my little handful of trouble would probably enjoy that to no end, Scott would be walking around with a hunted look for the next month."