xp_logs | Log: [Haller, Betsy] A Visit

An unexpected visitor neatly removes ten years from Haller's projected lifespan.

Jim slipped back into his office, really not feeling up to being there but knowing there was nothing for it. He'd already sacrificed the morning in the city with his psychiatrist, and even if this wasn't a day to see students he should at least attempt to catch up on some of his paperwork and follow-ups. He closed the door behind him with a resigned click, thinking about just saying fuck it and smoking in the office.

A number of things happened in short succession.

Something scythed down towards his back. Jack triggered instantly at the threat, and the weapon -- a knife, he registered distantly -- was telekinetically wrenched from the attacker's hand and driven hilt-deep into the floor. The alter whirled, and in one motion grabbed his attacker by the shoulders and drove it up against the wall.

Then he blinked.

"Surprise, love." Betsy practically choked out, the wind knocked out of her. "How'd you like your introduction to hand-to-hand combat?"

The shock of her presence washed Jack right out of his system, leaving Jim suddenly standing there with his girlfriend pressed up against a wall and the keen awareness a knife was now lodged in the floorboards of his office.

"Betsy?" he sputtered, automatically loosening his grip so she could move away. He looked her up and down, completely thrown. "Why aren't you in England?" His brain added, Are you intentionally inventing new ways to render us a blithering idiot?

"I was in England and now I'm here. I've been thinking about our encounter at the HFC." She heaved, still trying to catch her breath. "That assassin was at your back and you were completely oblivious. I had some time and you're in desperate need of help. It was perfect, actually."

"So you decided the way to follow a trans-Atlantic flight was an ambush?" The telepath reached out to rub her arms, as if he could smooth away the potential bruises from Jack's grab. He cringed at the thought of what he might have done, especially as on edge as he was, but couldn't help but smile at the audacity. "Are you nuts?" he asked. "I could have hurt you."

"That's quite adorable, dear." Betsy laughed, her eyes crinkling together. Pure, maniacal joy. "If that's so, then what's that?" Her eyes tracked a small square on Jim's back. "Horrible damage that would've cause, could've nicked an artery."

Jim eyed Betsy, but dutifully felt around in the area of her gaze. After a moment of groping his hand came away with a yellow post-it note. Jack hadn't even noticed its placement. He pulled it around to where he could see it and raised an eyebrow at her.

"'Tis a flesh wound'," he read. He crumpled the note and flicked it towards the trashcan, ignoring the fact it fell short. "Your knife's still in the floor, you know."

"The knife was never in play." She came closer, her hand running through his hair, a calming gesture. "It was always about if you could notice how close an opponent got to you through subverted means." A moment of her amused facade cracked. "One day, I won't be there and I want to know I didn't send you to your death because of my negligence. So I'm here for however long it takes to get this right." She sighed, smiling, hopeful. "Okay? "

It took a moment to realize what Betsy had already picked up on. He, specifically the he that was Jack, had been irritated. Irritated that she's got him off balance, and still more irritated that she'd circumvented his defenses so easily. He'd known that not all attacks involved the speed that triggered his response, but he wasn't used to being confronted by his own vulnerabilities. A large part of his reaction had been wounded pride.

But as Jim he could sense her sincerity, and her concern. There was fatigue there, too. He forced himself to relax; she meant well. He had no reason to take out his mood on her, and he couldn't claim he'd been at 100% since the encounter with D'Spayre. He'd even told her about that. They both knew there was nothing to be done for his reaction to a psychic assault; perhaps this was her way of offering what help she could.

"Okay." He rolled his shoulders a little, loosening the knots that had gathered. He managed a smile that warmed once it reached his lips. "I have to admit, I didn't exactly have any complaints the last time you put me through my paces. But I take it you didn't come here just for that."

"Not only that, no." Betsy replied, terse. "But that's neither here nor there. My problem isn't with you, per se. It's with Jack and his way of meting out wrongs." She took a few steps back, gaining distance, perspective. "Only pointed, obvious attacks are dealt with and a blade an inch above your heart ignored. Why?"

"Because I can't feel them. What else are you here for?" Even if the deflection hadn't been obvious, she hadn't risen to a double entendre. That was unusual.

"What?" She knew exactly what he was asking her but faking innocence had always been a handy tool. "I may have some work in New York to tend to but when I say I'm here for you, I mean it." She reached behind Jim's back and pulled away one, two, three more post-its. "Look, you have no arms or legs." She smiled. "So we'll work on it until you can."

Jim snorted. "Or until I have no more appendages, apparently." Still holding back. Maybe it had to do with her work for Snow Valley, something she couldn't tell him -- he didn't think so, but she could be so hard to read sometimes. Still, even if she wasn't telling the whole truth, what she did say wasn't a lie.

Without warning Jim pulled her into a hug. He was glad to see her, and they could deal with whatever was on her mind later. For now he just wanted to enjoy her presence.

"Okay," he said, resting his chin on her shoulder. Her cheek was cold. "Okay. Teach me how not to die."

Betsy tensed slightly but allowed herself this moment. This peace. She closed her eyes, a pained expression on her face, fighting against the tidal of emotions running through her. All the while, blocking it from Jim. A moment later, her face returned to normal. She leaned closer to him and sighed. If she could freeze this moment in time, she would. But she couldn't. So this would have to be enough. She answered softly, "That I can do."