xp_logs | Nathan and Moira, Monday night

Moira's heading back down to the labs. Apparently neither Nathan nor his subconscious want her to go. She stays for a few moments (for who can resist the puppy dog stare'o'doom?) and Nate airs a few of his doubts. She suggests he hold off on the big questions until his brain is no longer overheated.

With jerky motions, Moira pulled on a pair of clean pants and tossed on a fresh shirt. It wasn't her first shower since Doug had gotten shot but it certainly was close to it. A stolen pony tail holder soon found itself in her hair, just to keep the wet strands out of her face while she worked. Nudging her shoes on, she hopped out of the bedroom, stopping by the couch long enough to drop a kiss on Nathan's still feverish cheek. "Back later, love," she murmured, not wanting to wake him after just getting him back to sleep less than a half hour ago.

She made it almost to the door when it shut and locked itself. Nathan muttered in his sleep, shifting restlessly, and the couch floated over and landed in front of the door, blocking her exit even further. From her cage, Bella giggled.

"...bloody 'ell, ye've got ta be kiddin' me!" Throwing up her hands, she leaned over the back of the couch--the idiot had boxed himself in--and shook Nathan's shoulder gently. "Nathan, wake up. I've got ta leave."

Nathan opened his eyes, blinking at - the door? Why was the couch over by the door. Pushing himself up on an elbow, he coughed, only then realizing that Moira was right there looking distressed. "What?" he asked groggily. "Why am I over here?"

"Because ye floated yerself over 'ere," Moira informed him, staring at him, "right after ye locked th' bloody door as I tried ta leave."

"Oh." Nathan sat up, focusing, and the couch floating back to where it should be. "Did you sleep?" he asked, rubbing his eyes and peering at her. "You need to sleep."

"I'm fine," she responded. Walking over, she readjusted the blanket around him and tested his forehead again. "Yer th' one who needs th' rest. Yer still nay over this flu yet."

"Having trouble with this whole bedrest thing. Just not me." He reached up and took her hand, studying her face blearily, but worriedly. "Ulcer. Don't want another ulcer."

"I'm still on th' medication Maddie gave me an' I'm avoidin' most o' th' coffee." Most. She had finished off two mugs this morning but was resolute in the fact that she was not going to need anymore. Sugar, on the other hand, was not off limits. "Th' ulcer 'asnae acted up once."

"Do you have to go?" he asked slowly. "This isn't me being clingy... are you relieving Maddie?"

She nodded and smiled down at him. "Aye, th' woman needs 'er rest as well as I, love," Moira pointed out, looping her fingers through his. "More, in fact."

Nathan swallowed, wishing his throat would stop feeling quite this raw. Reminded him rather distressingly of when he'd been first infected with the virus. "I should let you go, then," he muttered, a bit forlornly as he relaxed back against the pillows. "Sorry. About the door..."

Moira stared down at him as he watched her, biting her lip. Damn him, he was giving her that _look_ again. That "I'm so cute and stressed and kicked and HUG ME!" look. "...damn it. A few minutes wouldnae 'urt." Sighing, she sat on the couch next to him and fussed with his hair.

He was being very, very selfish. But Maddie would understand, Nathan tried to convince himself. A few more minutes won't hurt. "I feel like crap," he said woefully.

"I know, sweetie," Moira murmured, pressing her cool hands against his feverish cheeks. "Ye look it, ta. But ye do look better than ye did this mornin', so tha's always a plus."

"I went and taught this afternoon. That was my stupid mistake." The fever had been gone up until he'd gone and worn himself out again. "I hate having a depressed immune system."

"Maybe tha's why we tell ye ta stay put?"

"I don't listen well. We know this." He gazed up at her, thinking about some of the things Cain had said last night. Not that he hadn't been thinking about most of the things Cain had said last night for most of the day. "Are you really okay with me wanting to be on the team?" he asked after a moment, more softly.

A little surprised at the swerve in the conversation, she gazed down at him, reaching for his hand. "'Course I am," she murmured, frowning. "Why wouldnae I be?"

"Because of what might happen?" Nathan flinched, shifting on the couch a little as he thought of Cain's blunt 'until you make a widow of that woman' comment. "All the chances I'd be taking..."

Leaning over, Moira kissed him softly. "Nothin' is goin' ta 'appen, nay right away," she murmured, watching him intently. "I...ye need this Nathan, I know ye do."

"I'm having doubts," Nathan said heavily, trying to muster a smile. "Not so much for myself, but for the kids... look at Doug."

"Maybe now's nay th' best time ta be thinkin' 'bout this, Nathan?"

"Can't help it," Nathan said, pained. "All this lying around... and Cain makes too much damned sense at times."

Smiling, she brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed the back of it. "Yer goin' ta break yer brain again," she warned.

"Probably." He laughed a bit feebly, a laugh that turned into a cough. "I just... I don't know, Moira. I wonder. I'm on a hunt for the elusive Middle Ground, and it's being all... elusive."

"'ence th' reason 'tis th' elusive middle ground, love," Moira said, some humorous sarcasam dancing on her words. "Ye'll find it eventually, trust me."

"Hopefully before either extreme finds me. Or gets anyone killed." Nathan grimaced at her worried look. "Nothing. Don't worry. Too much to think about, and my brain's overheated..."

Reaching over, she slapped him gently in the shoulder. "Ye think far ta much." Nathan gave her a look at that one. "So do I but right now, ye need ta turn yer brain off. Dinnae make me sic Bella on ye."

"Bully," Nathan sighed, trying to relax. "You should go. Relieve poor Madelyn. But if you don't get some sleep soon I'm going to be very cross with you."

"Mmm, like ye really could do much o' anythin' in this state except look utterly pathetic."

He made another face at her. "Don't worry. I'm going to make sure I sleep tonight. You never know what tomorrow might bring..."

"Wit' ye? Quite right 'bout tha'." Leaning over, she kissed him again and then stood up. Tucking him in, she sighed and then headed out, back down to the labs and away from the comfort of her suite.