Kitty and Moira talk

[x-kitten.livejournal.com]

Backdated like all get out.



Moira peeked her head into one of the side labs, frowning. She thought she'd heard a noise a second ago when she'd walked by Jean. If one of the kids decided that playing in the MedLab was a good idea, she had no problems chasing that particular thought out of their heads.

"Ye might want ta come out," she said, dryly, hearing another noise. "I _can_ hear ye, ye know."

It wasn't, Kitty told herself, that she was still avoiding Jean. Really. She just... didn't really want to talk to her. Besides, Hank had said he'd left his notes on her latest project on his desk, only she figured she'd check in here just in case. Moira's voice, however, startled her. Kitty quickly turned around and stepped out where she could be seen. "Sorry," she said. "I was just... looking for some stuff." Of all the excuses in the known world, that had to be the lamest.

"Kitty?" The young woman looked like she wanted to melt into the floor--not exactly something that wasn't a possibility, Moira noted wryly. "Wha' on earth were ye lookin' for?" She paused. "In th' dark? Is everythin' okay?" She hadn't really seen much of her in the last couple of days. Which was kind of unusual since she sometimes worked with Henry.

Kitty blinked, then glanced about - indeed the lights were off. She'd been in such a rush to get out of Dr. Grey's way she hadn't even noticed. That would be harder to explain. "Oh, I was just looking for some notes that Dr. McCoy said he'd mark for me. He thought they were in his office but I figured since I was down here I'd check anyway. With the light from the hall coming in the door there's pleanty to see by, no sense wasting energy." Kitty really needed to practice her spur of the moment excuses, it seemed, cause that was just weak.

Her lips twitched, just a little bit. "Well, since yer down here why dinnae ye stop in for some tea?" she asked, smiling a bit. Kitty was an interesting person and she really never had gotten the chance to get to know her better. Perfect chance on top of making sure that nothing was wrong. "I'm nay sure where Henry would have put those notes--sometimes only his filin' system makes sense ta himself."

"Tea sounds nice, sure, thanks," Kitty said, shrugging. By now Dr. Grey would have left... "You're definitely right about Dr. McCoy's filing. I'm sure it follows some perfectly sensible theory and system, but God and himself only know what it is." She followed Moira out of the lab towards her office.

"Henry's always been like that," she grumbled good naturedly. "Try ta find somethin' by yerself an' tis like yer on a wild goose chase. Ask him ta find it, an' he's handin' it ta ye in minutes."

"Yeah," Kitty said somewhat distractedly, shoving her hands into her jean pockets as she walked.

Glancing over at Kitty, Moira frowned a little. She was acting a bit...off. Pushing open her office door, she waved her in and then started on the tea. "Kitty--is everythin' alright?"

"Um... yes?" She hadn't meant that to end quite so uncertainly and she flopped into one of the chairs biting her lip.

Glancing over her shoulder, she blinked a little. "Is tha' kind o' like a maybe?" she hazard a guess, having caught the question in her voice. "If it were anyone else, I'd ask first about classes but...well..." Moira gave her a sheepish grin.

"Maybe," Kitty answered, shrugging slightly. "And yeah, I do tend to take the fun out of asking that one. But no, not worried about any Bs this term and have already got my spot at my first choice college, so nah, no worries there."

"Aye, congratulations on that, by th' way. Tha's fantastic news. Nay surprisin', but fantastic nonetheless. Wha' do ye take in yer tea? Be grateful o' th' baby--I cannae offer ye any o' me coffee." She grinned over at Kitty, trying to gauge her mood.

"Sure, but I at least know the proper safety procedures for dealing with unstable molecules so at least I'd have a chance to properly dispose of your coffee if you did. I feel bad for the usupecting souls you'll spring it on when you can drink it again." Kitty grinned back, willing to be distracted. "Sugar and milk, please."

Moira laughed at that one. "Ye people wound me, I swear," she said, mournfully, bringing the tea over and settling herself across from Kitty. "Ye act like it could kill ye. Clean yer silverware, aye, but nay anythin' more than tha'. Ach, I miss me coffee." Once firmly seated, it was starting to become a little hard finding the perfect spot now, she tilted her head slightly. "I dinnae mean ta pry--even though I am--but are ye sure yer okay?" There was obviously some worry behind her words.

"I'm not entirely convinced that it's not some new form of chemical warfare, personally," Kitty said, sticking with the banter cause it was easier than answering qusetions. Of course, they couldn't be avoided for long. "Is anyone ever sure they're ok?" It was a flip answer and rather unlike Kitty, but she knew it and sighed. "God's truth, I'm ok-ish. Things are just... piling up a bit."

"Chemical warfare for our side, maybe. Juice them up wit' enough o' me special coffee an' th' troops will run for days." Moira smiled at her softly. "Need ta spill? I'm nay about ta go anywhere for a while..." She pointed at her stomach. "Baby jus' demanded a break, I think. An' I know how it 'tis when things pile up. God, do I know."

Kitty shrugged. "Just, a lot of stuff, you know. Talked to my mom, and, and planning for next year, and everything." And everybody going out on some mission that left Nathan in traction and half the staff imobilized in some part or other, and Dr. Grey's miraculous return, and Betsy leaving, and...

"Kitty?" The expression had gone from slightly concerned to very concerned. Probably without realizing it, all of that had been said outloud. Putting down her own cup, Moira reached over to touch Kitty's hand. "Breathe, lass..."

The touch refocused Kitty in the here and now and she blushed violently. "Um... I'm sorry." She'd been bottling for too long, really, and hadn't even gone to see Doc Samson in a while, and it was all starting to get to her, clearly.

"Dinnae apologize," Moira said softly. "'appens ta everyone, especially after such a tryin' time. Yerself included--dragon mistress or nay." She smiled a little bit to ease the tension. "Anythin' I can do ta help?"

Kitty shrugged. "I don't know, really. I'm... I'm coping, now. Sort of. I guess." Which utterly failed to be an answer.

"'Tis okay ta nay be okay, ta quote me uncle." Moira gave her another soft smile. "Yer a brilliant lass an' yer goin' ta go verra far. But right now, ye've got a lot o' stuff on yer plate--family, Jean, school. An' I can see why it would take a toll on ye. Ye know, I started university when I was 16, so I really know how ye feel."

That got something close to a real smile out of her. "I could have, you know, but I figured I needed more of a chance to socialize with my peers or something, and I'd put it off. Turns out it's not any easier at almost seventeen."

She snorted a little at that and grinned. "God, nay. Though th' wait probably did help, even if ye cannae see it right now. So I really understand how stressed ye are, though ye'll probably handle it better than I. Ye dinnae seem one ta go out drinkin' as much as I did." Moira winked at her at that one.

Kitty laughed. "Well, if you did it ever, then yes, I'd say I do it less. And, if nothing else, the wait means I'm starting with Jamie, and he's always a help."

"An' God knows, Jamie's a nice enough lad," Moira said, an obvious fondness for the young man in her voice. An idea started to stir in the back of her head. "Wit' all th' stress yer havin', would ye like ta get away for a few days? I've recently had a change in staff at Muir an' I'll be goin' ta check on Dr. Connors soon enough." She pointed at her stomach. "This'll soon get in th' way o' much travel, unfortunately. But I think I'd like ta have ye meet him an' have a...better time o' runnin' around in my labs than last."

Kitty brightened instantly. "Oh, that would be fabulous. Do you know, will you be going before finals or after? And can I invite Jamie?"

A part of her relaxed as Kitty brightened. Hopefully all she needed was some time away from it all. "Aye, o' course. I know how much he enjoyed th' wee ones th' last few times." And while she was at it, Rahne might be overdue for a few days at home as well. "We can work somethin' out time wise--apparently I'm gettin' married soon--but I think th' trip would do everyone, meself included, a world o' good."

"Are you not getting married in Scotland, then?" Kitty asked, cocking her head. "Also, wheee. Holidays are good."

"Oh, we are. I'd be so verra dead if we dinnae. Hunted down by me family on bot' sides. But it'll be...hectic ta say th' least." Moira looked slightly horrified at the thought. "And probably best ta keep these two visits apart. Ye'll be at th' weddin'--" There was no argument in her tone. "But...aye, a wee bit stressful."

"Ah... true," Kitty said. "I can see wanting to have a vacation that wasn't so... um, busy." She grinned. "That being the case, whenever's best for you. I can make my exam schedule fit just about anything."

"I'll let ye know as soon as I can, aye?" Moira grimaced suddenly and started to push herself out of her chair. "Unfortunately, th' part I hate about havin' a baby is hittin' an' I need ta excuse meself. I'll catch ye later?"

"Sure," Kitty said as Moira got herself safely out of the chair. "I'll see you later."