Beatrice, Haller, & Jessica | In the Hall

[xp_birdy]

(backdated) Jess finds a conscious Haller in the hallway and is soon joined by Bea.



"Oh, come on. Who left this guy out in the hallway? He's a coma patient, for fuck's sake. I know he doesn't talk, but you can't just leave him standing alone out here."

The tall, disquieting form of David Haller was indeed standing in the middle of the hallway. Unfortunately for Jessica it was not, as she had supposed, due to neglect, but rather due to a sudden inability to remember where he intended to go.

Jim turned.

"Um, what?"

The brunette had fortunately been holding an empty takeout coffee cup, which she nearly dropped in the full-body jolt of hearing Haller's voice for the first time in more than a month - the ensuing pseudo-juggle to keep it from falling more undignified than simply letting it go. She stared at him. "Are you fucking kidding me? You talk again now?"

The telepath hesitated, his brain stuttering slightly as it tried to pair face with relationship. What was this feeling? This instinctive, almost comforting response?

Oh, right.

Sarcasm.

"Nice to see you, too," said Jim, dryly.

The brunette recovered herself, giving Jim a withering glare. “Congratulations, you’re back to lurking in hallways,” she said.

"I'm supposed to be down here. Probably," he admitted. He raised an eyebrow at her, and recalled something. "Were you coming to check on me?"

"Doesn't sound like me," Jessica said. "Do I look like someone who checks in on lame coma patients who broke their stupid brains?"

Jim blinked, slowly.

"You know people suffering from altered states like catatonia and coma can still register some outside stimuli, right?"

"I've never put myself into a fucking coma, so no," Jessica said, narrowing her eyes. "I assume they are hallucinating for the entire time."

"No, you don't take much in, but it's like being half-awake. You remember some things. Impressions of conversations or parts of a routine." The telepath paused, then added, "'Cursing me out."

"Oh David!" Came the chirp of greeting as Beatrice came upon the two of them. Immediately a smile bloomed, cheeks taking a rosy tint and she carefully brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Goodness, how good to see you talking. And Jessica. I'm so sorry, have I interrupted something?"

Jim jumped. The transition from conversation with Jessica Jones to conversation with an obvious morning person did something painful to the settings in his brain.

"Oh, um, Beatrice," he said after a few seconds of frantic searching. "Yeah, I came out of it a little while ago, I'm just getting reoriented." He tried to think of a follow-up for this, and panicked. "How are... you?"

“Oh, I’m so happy,” she nodded, smile still present though gentler. “I’m well. Jessica and I moved in together, and it’s been a comfort to me, hearing footsteps and knowing they’re supposed to be there.” She sighed softly, refusing to let the mention of her nerves color her. “And I’ve met Arthur’s dog, Felix.”

Jim's brain spun like a thrown bicycle chain and offered its very best reply: "Felix is cool."

He looked from the tiny blonde to the surly brunette, trying to put the sense of unease he felt into words other than "who the fuck let that happen".

"And... How's that... Arrangement working out for you two?" he asked, staring directly at Jessica.

The look Jessica gave him was the flattest look anyone had ever given anyone. "Ask Arthur," she said. "It was his . . . idea."

"Oh. Then I'm . . . sure he thought he was helping." He had no idea how, but given Arthur's usual vibe-based approach to decision making it was entirely possible he'd received some secret message from the universe. What exactly the universe thought could be gained by pairing Jessica Jones with Beatrice was anyone's guess.

"Oh, yes, Arthur's very helpful, David," Bea agreed happily, before flushing more upon realizing she'd stepped into their conversation. A nervous giggle escaped. "I- sorry, I'm intruding."

Jessica looked at Bea like she was crazy. "On what? The hallway?"

"You're fine," Jim said automatically. "Jessica's just in a bad mood because she didn't realize I'd actually be able to hold a conversation."

Her shoulders had drawn back, thin arms wrapping around her as her face flushed in utter embarrassment at the situation. Beatrice didn't even know how to respond and instead she nodded at Haller, an attempt to smile starting before immediately stopping. Another nervous round of giggles. "I see. Well, I will say you're a much better conversationalist like this."

"The fuck he is," Jessica said immediately.

"What I meant is that Jessica was expecting to do rehab and ended up having to socialize instead," Jim replied smoothly. "It threw her off. Oh . . . you helped out too, didn't you? Thank you. I really appreciate it."

And Bea slowly straightened, eyes bright at the comment, half-nodding before she stopped herself. "I, uh, yeah, sorry, I think I got you a little wind burned once." A hand shot up to curl a lock of hair around her pointer finger.

"Really? I didn't notice." In fact his skin seemed better than it usually did, which had not been his previous experience with long hospital stays. Well, it probably wasn't important. Jim rubbed the back of his head. "Anyway, I think I remembered what I was supposed to be doing: finding lunch. I'd invite you to join me, but the protein shakes are-"

This fake-ass whiny bitch needs to shut the fuck up    

I didn't even think he'd notice, I'm...

I want to be anywhere fucking else

I shouldn't think too much on it

Jim staggered into a wall, grabbing his head in both hands.

"For fuck's sake," Jessica said, immediately moving to support him, but hesitating to touch him. She ended up using one hand on his back to at least keep him upright. "Should you even be out here, or are you just being a goddamned idiot as usual?"

Jim's body convulsed as the full force of Jessica's anxiety shrieked through the hand on his back he used his brain to fucking punch someone and now he's dying in this hallway and adrenaline that might have been hers and might have been his or might be both of theirs began to burn his teeth like hot metal and he couldn't - couldn't - couldntcouldntcouldnt

And Jess's hand pulled away from Haller.

Beatrice's grip was firm on her roommate's wrist, as a bead of sweat trailed down her cheek. "Mr. Haller — David? Darling? Are you alright?" A soft glow before she blinked and blue-green peered up at blue and brown, lips parted in worry.

The anxiety vanished instantly. Once again, Jim found himself alone in his own head.

"I . . . y-yeah. S . . . sorry." Jim grit his teeth and leaned against the wall, trying to get his heartbeat out of his ears. "I'm okay," he said, more confidently this time. "My telepathy was acting up. I was just startled."

"Sorry," Jessica said, the edge out of her voice, her eyebrows uncreasing. Something seemed to unwind in her; she let out a breath, held up a hand. "I just thought you were gonna collapse, I guess."

“I think that worry is very understandable, especially given the circumstances,” the blonde chirped brightly, releasing her hold to smile at the taller pair. “If you feel like you’re going to collapse, Mr. Haller, please do tell us, so we can get you a seat and maybe some orange juice.”

"I will, sorry." Jim pushed himself away from the wall and gave them an apologetic smile that was only marginally better than a grimace. "It's okay, I'm just going to grab my food and go back to the Box for a while until this calms down a little. But thanks again for checking in on me. I really do appreciate it."

“Of course,” Beatrice nodded, brows knitting together in a brief instance in concern before she offered a smile. “I do hope you feel better, David.”