Red X: Paige and Jamie

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

While searching for people in the wreckage left by the storm, Jamie discovers that he's not quite as done with the last hurricane as he thought he was. Good thing Paige is there to talk him down.



Jamie jammed the end of his staff under a protruding beam and heaved, carefully. The debris shifted, revealing more debris, and a scattering of broken toys, but no bodies. Or parts. He heaved a sigh of relief and wiped his forehead.

"Nothing over here except mess," he called to Paige, who was working nearby. "You?"

Something fell, a little ways off, landing on the ground with a loud thump, and Jamie flinched, head whipping around to track the noise, muscles tense. After a moment, he forced himself to relax and figure out what piece of collapsed house to move next.

Paige on the other hand seemed to be hellbent on a cross of exhausting herself to the core and taking care of Jamie all at the same time. Of course, she didn't know about the exhausting part quite yet. She'd figure it out later, when her legs refused to move.

"I'm good," she replied, letting her voice carry over the rubble. She'd grazed her knuckles before figuring out that she probably shouldn't be doing this a human and husked into something stronger, but so far, the two of them had done without any trauma.

"Good. I think we're--" The piece of debris Jamie was trying to move lurched suddenly, making what he had thought was a solid place to stand shift, and he leaped back with a startled cry, panting and wild-eyed.

Paige was over in a flash, hand on his shoulder. "Hey. You're fine. Right? You're okay?" She'd been prepping herself for this, for this kind of reaction, but it was still so peculiar seeing Jamie, happy-go-lucky Jamie, like this.

"Yeah." Jamie closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths. "Just a little twitchy. I dunno, maybe I was biting off more than I could chew coming out here instead of just staying and helping at the shelters."

"Hey," she repeated, squeezing his shoulder in reassurance. "Back on the horse right? I think you're doing the right thing."

"It's harder than I thought it would be," Jamie confessed. "I mean, the last time was almost a year ago, you'd think I'd be over it."

Paige nodded sympathetically but let go, coming around to face him. "I understand. But you must have made some progress or you wouldn't be here at all, right?" She finds questions are soothing, even talking and still all the thoughts in ones head it soothing. "Most people couldn't even be here. Most people would have taken the easy way out."

"Most people," Jamie said dryly, "don't have to worry about dealing with situations like the one they died in."

Paige laughed, appreciating his sense of humour, however dark it was. "Good point, good point. So you're doubly special and amazing, obviously."

"Yeah, that must be it." He shook his head. "Good old X-gene and its all new ways to be screwed up. Everything was a lot easier a few years ago."

"But not quite as fun," she reminded him, smiling. "Now, come on. We're going to go to the next section and you will do just fine. And then we'll go to another one. And you'll still do fine. And another and another until we've finished all of them and you're still fine."

Jamie glanced up at her, managing a smile. "You've got a heck of a lot of faith in my ability to be fine."

"You're the finest person I know, chickpea," Paige said before pausing in what almost appeared like confusion. "That came out a world of wrong. Let's not repeat it. The fact is, I have a heck of a lot of faith in you in general. Not just your being fine abilities."

". . . Thanks." The smile steadied, and became a good deal more genuine. "That means a lot coming from you. World of wrong or not." He took another deep breath, then straightened. "And I guess we'd better get back to it, huh?"

Nodding in agreement, Paige turned in the direction of where she knew to be their next area. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it, world of wrong or not, but you're welcome," she answered, pleased with his bringing up their setting back out. It was nice to know she didn't have to bribe him with hot chocolate at the end of the day now, although, she'd probably get him some anyway.

"Okay then." Jamie cracked his knuckles thoughtfully, then duped twice--something he'd avoided doing, out here, though he had a crew helping out at the various shelters. "Sooner we get started, the sooner we go home."

"There's the spirit!" Paige said, laughing. "Or a spirit of some form. A spirit that gets the work done and that isn't bad at all."

Comments

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

And it occurred to me on my way upstairs to get cookies that I couldn't remember Paige having used the word "chickpea" at all during this scene, but a quick perusal when I got back proved me wrong. The streak is still intact. :)

[x-dazzler.livejournal.com]

I was actually looking for it while reading. Then went all "aah, there you go" and read on. XD

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

It's like watching for the M. Night Shyamalan cameo in his movies. Only with a cute Kentuckyish endearment instead of a twisty-brained film director. :)

[x-foliate.livejournal.com]

Erm. Thanks? :D

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

Definitely. I'm an embarrassingly big fan of M. Night Shyamalan movies. The comparison is decidedly complimentary. :)

[x-foliate.livejournal.com]

If you listen reeeeeally carefully, you can hear me sigh in relief.

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

I had darn well be getting a phone call as soon as you get back to the Mansion boyo, or I`m going to bite through my nails worrying about you.

That came out a world of wrong. Let's not repeat it.

Heh. It`s true! He is the finest person you know. Me too! -loves the boy-

[x-crowdofone.livejournal.com]

Well, duh, of course there's a phone call. Biting nails is a nasty habit, and one does what one can to keep it manageable. :)

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

Much appreciated. There`s only so much one can do with nailpolish to break bad habits.