Charles and Moira

[x-mactaggart.livejournal.com]

Moira didn't even bother with knocking this time, worry and exhaustion outrode being polite. And, besides, this was Charles--the one person she really didn't have to be polite with, except for Nathan. She knew she looked like death warmed over. The scare from Nathan yesterday coupled with Amanda and Manuel's incident plus the thing with Pym had done very little to help her sleep. Moira looked at Charles as she shut the door.

"Ye wouldnae 'appen ta 'ave an extra brain 'round, would ye?" she joked, weakly.

"Would that I did. Come, Moira, sit down, please--I don't think the chair's fast enough for me to catch you if you fall. I have tea, coffee, cocoa--even some of Henry's ungodly concoction, although from the looks of things the last thing you need is a stimulant."

Gratefully, she sank down into the chair near Charles and held her head. "Tea, please." That was probably a good warning sign when Moira MacTaggart turned down coffee.

Charles poured, and set the steaming cup on an end table near her elbow; the chair hummed as he moved around to her other side and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I suppose I don't need to ask how you're doing. How can I help?"

"I...I dinnae know. God, Charles, everythin's spinnin' out o' control an' I dinnae know wha' t' do anymore." She looked panicked. "I'm out o' me league."

"Your league is a great deal larger than yourself, Moira," he chided gently. "If you want my advice, what you ought to do is rest. Let someone else shoulder your burdens for a while." He smiled. "As it happens, Nathan contacted me just a short while ago asking for my help; I'm meeting him this afternoon."

Moira looked up, pleasantly surprised. "'e did? Oh thank God." She cupped her face in her hands. "I've been wantin' t' push ye at 'im but I know 'ow 'e is. 'as ta be 'is decision an’ I know ‘e mentioned it an’ I trusted ‘im but…I’m still glad. But, Charles, really...I dinnae know 'ow ta let others take me burdens..."

"You are selfless and stubborn to a fault. It's one of the things I've always admired about you. But Moira . . . even you have your limits." He squeezed her shoulder. "And as you aren't in charge here, and I am, I can very well order you to take a day off if I want to."

She scowled at him half heartedly. "An' then I'd jus' worry meself ta deat'," she reminded him. "Besides, th' last time I took a break it was nice but dinnae last."

"I once told Logan I'd make him believe he was a six-year-old girl if he didn't behave himself," Charles replied sternly. "I'm certainly up to ensuring that you sleep." He smiled wryly. "The breaks never last, but that's no excuse not to take them."

"Ye..." Moira looked horrified for a moment before laughing a little. "I'm nay sure when I'll take a break but I promise, I will." Her face clouded over. "If'n *she* lets us..."

"She will, if I have anything to say about it. I won't let him come to further harm, Moira. My word on it."

Reaching up, Moira gripped his hand in hers. "Thank ye, Charles," she whispered. "'Tis nice knowin' I'm nay alone in this."

"You are not now, nor will you ever be alone, Moira. Not while I live. And I will keep telling you so until you remember it. You're not the only stubborn person in this house."

She rubbed her eyes furiously and sniffled a little. "I'm sorry I threatened ta roll ye in th' lake."

"You’ll do it again, unless you come up with something worse." He smiled. "And I wouldn't have it any other way, as you should know quite well by now."

She couldn't help but laugh at that. "Aye, I will, 'tis wha's so bloody charmin' 'bout meself...all me deat' threats." Moira reached over and hugged Charles with a sigh. "Wha' would I do wit'out ye, ol' friend? Besides find someone new ta threaten?"

"Determined to steal the easy answer, aren't you? You'd manage somehow. Even if you would need to find someone else with a pool."

"Charles, need I remind ye tha' I am tha' good?" she teased. Breaking the hug, she stood slowly and sighed. "I guess it would be a good time ta go take a nap...there's nay any invasions, explosions or screamin' women from th' future right now."

"It would, at that. I'll let you know how matters stand with Nathen when you wake up. And if you set an alarm, I _will_ know."

Moira rolled her eyes. "Am I allowed ta, ye know, wake up?"

"When your body decides it's time. I suspect it's rather irate you've been ignoring it for so long."

"It should be used ta this by now," she mused. "Then again, maybe yer right, I was more cranky than normal today."

"Good heavens. Be sure to let Henry know, he'll add it to his catalog of physics-defying incidents that have taken place within these walls."

"Ye know, I take it back 'bout regrettin' 'ow I threatened ye. I really, really wish there was a door ta th' lake right 'ere. Ye'd make a most satisfyin' sploosh."

"Ah, there's the Moira MacTaggart I know and love. Go get your sleep. You'll feel better once you have."

She chuckled as she walked to the door. "I probably will...an' after I dream 'bout knockin' ye, finally, int' tha' lake o' yers."