This Morning...

[x-mactaggart.livejournal.com]

Nathan finds Moira watching the sunrise on the porch after a sleepless night. They try to reassure each other and eventually realize that they both need sleep.



She was out on the porch. Alone. Nathan grimaced a little, but decided not to point out that she shouldn't have been out on her own. After all, he was here and she wasn't anymore, was she? "Didn't sleep either?" he asked, closing the door behind him as he went out to join her. Betsy had shooed him away at the end of their security shift inside and told him to go find her. Never let it be said that I can't occasionally take orders...

Moira glanced over her shoulder and smiled a little wanly at him. "Aye, been watchin' over Jane tonight. Poor lass was scared out o' 'er mind." So was she but she had thrown herself into her work with a vengance in an attempt to get her mind off the folks missing. "Find anythin'?" she asked, worried but hoping that, yes, they had found something and the matter would be finished with.

Nathan shook his head, settling into the chair next to hers. "Nothing," he said grimly, rubbing at his wrist. "I'll go down and check on Jane in a few hours. Both her roommates are gone - she's going to have a hard time with that."

"I know. I'll be tryin' ta keep 'er close an' feelin' as safe as possible." She wiped a hand over her face, trying to shake herself out of this tired funk she happened to find herself in. "I'll be givin' Dr. Strange a call once me brain starts workin' again, see if'n 'e can 'elp us out wit' this."

Nathan muttered. "Remind me to throw something at Cain's head," he said darkly. "Not that it would do any good, but still."

Moira blinked over at him. "Pardon?" she asked, brain still trying to catch up with the conversation.

"Him jumping to the conclusion that it was Amanda, right away." Nathan's jaw clenched as he fought down the worry. He was worried about all of them, but especially her, since she wasn't fully recovered from what had happened at Columbia yet...

The little bit of color left in her face quickly left. "Aye, I know. Cain's a friend but sometimes..." Moira shook her head, thoughts going to Amanda as well. The girl was made of strong stuff but after everything that had happened, she couldn't help but feel a spike of fear go through her. For her and everyone else.

"We'll get them back," Nathan said, knowing he was saying it as much to convince himself as to convince her. "We can't not, Moira. It just can't be that way."

"I know, I keep tellin' meself tha'," she whispered, hugging herself around the waist as she stood to lean against the porch railing. A flash of memory, of Kevin, went through her mind and she pushed it away, too tired to do much else. "Charles would know if they were..." Moira closed her eyes tightly, trying to pull her iron will back around herself.

Nathan got up and went over, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "You need to try and get some rest ," he said softly as she leaned back against him. "I mean that. If I have to carry you upstairs, I will."

With a sigh, she fit her head into the crook of his neck and tried to relax. "After I call Stephen," she promised quietly, watching the sky through half-closed eyes. "'e needs ta know an' if 'e can 'elp, th' sooner 'e gets 'ere th' better. An' I'll only go if'n ye rest wit' me."

"Have to see if I'm still needed to do rounds today," Nathan murmured. The thought of rest was more appealing than it should have been, though, after only really missing one night's worth of sleep.

"Willnae sleep without knowin' yer restin'," Moira remarked, stubbornly, a part of her not wanting Nathan to get more than an arm's reach out of the way.

"All right," Nathan conceded. There were people who had gotten at least some sleep last night, after all. He could let them take the next few hours, if there were going to be more shifts - and given the situation, he couldn't imagine there wouldn't be - and catch a little sleep himself.

"Aye, sleep is good," she murmured. "'ope I can actually sleep tonight, wha' wit' everythin' goin' on th' way it did."

"So," he said as briskly as he could. "I'll check on Jane and check in with Scott. You do what you need to do, and I'll meet you up in the suite in about an hour?"

Nodding, she turned around in his arms and looked up at him. "They'll be back," Moira said, sticking out her chin. There was worry and fear in her eyes but she kept it out of her voice.

"They will," Nathan said firmly, brushing his lips against her forehead. "Can you imagine anyone or anything keeping those kids against their will for very long?"

"God 'elp them," she responded, completely serious. Reaching up, she kissed him and then hugged him tightly. "Go, I'll be fine until ye get upstairs."