She is.
[ So yes, he agrees right away. ]
There isna a part of her that isn't.
[ So yes, he agrees right away. ]
There isna a part of her that isn't.
not here | for when they're on olympia, finally.
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seventeenfortythree
2019-01-06 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ His first night in the mansion, Jamie can't sleep. He tries and does for a bit, falling asleep with Claire. But at not quite two in the morning he's awake and sitting on the edge of their bed, thinking, rubbing at the hand Claire once put back together with tears and sweat.
Eventually, he stands, pulls on his trousers and shirt, and lets quiet footsteps take him to Brianna's room. He listens for a moment at the door before slowly opening it. There's a candle burning on her nightstand so that he can see her face in the glow of the light. He still can't believe it, his child right here with him. Flesh and blood of his and Claire's that he can hold and protect.
Try to protect.
It guts him to know that his daughter was attacked by the same man who terrorized his wife, that he could protect neither of them. To know that his daughter knows the same pain Jamie himself felt at the hands of Randall - to know Fergus knows it, too. Some moments it's too hard to breathe as his mind processes it. Both of his children, attacked. Hurt in a way Jamie knows takes a long path to recover from.
As he watches Brianna now and sees her smile in her sleep it makes him mad with joy; Claire described it, but to see it is a wholly different thing. It's a sweet thing and Jamie smiles as he takes her in, his heart aching with pride and joy. He'd always imagined her so wee, still a bairn he would be able to cradle in his arms. Logically he knew that wasn't possible, he'd always known she grew, he'd seen the photos. But to see her now. Christ, it's different. It's completely different.
Slowly, quietly, he makes his way to her bedside and kneels, holding his hands together after crossing himself. He whispers the practiced words of the Hail Mary in Gaelic. ]
Failte dhut, a Mhoire,
tha thu lan de na grasan
tha an Tighearna maille riut
is beannaichte thu am measg nam mna,
agus is beannaichtc toradh do bhronn, Iosa.
A Naomh Mhoire, a Mhathair Dhe,
guidh' air ar sonne na peacaich
a nis agus aig uair ar bais. Amen.
[ He prays for the Blessed Virgin to watch over his daughter even here in a place his mind never would have been able to fathom on its own. Hesitantly, because he doesn't want to wake her, Jamie takes Brianna's hand and kisses the back of it before placing it back down and standing. Bending, he kisses her forehead now just lightly, then leaves her room, going back to Claire. Undressing, he says the same prayer over his wife once he's in bed and holding her again.
Only now, does sleep come. ]
Eventually, he stands, pulls on his trousers and shirt, and lets quiet footsteps take him to Brianna's room. He listens for a moment at the door before slowly opening it. There's a candle burning on her nightstand so that he can see her face in the glow of the light. He still can't believe it, his child right here with him. Flesh and blood of his and Claire's that he can hold and protect.
Try to protect.
It guts him to know that his daughter was attacked by the same man who terrorized his wife, that he could protect neither of them. To know that his daughter knows the same pain Jamie himself felt at the hands of Randall - to know Fergus knows it, too. Some moments it's too hard to breathe as his mind processes it. Both of his children, attacked. Hurt in a way Jamie knows takes a long path to recover from.
As he watches Brianna now and sees her smile in her sleep it makes him mad with joy; Claire described it, but to see it is a wholly different thing. It's a sweet thing and Jamie smiles as he takes her in, his heart aching with pride and joy. He'd always imagined her so wee, still a bairn he would be able to cradle in his arms. Logically he knew that wasn't possible, he'd always known she grew, he'd seen the photos. But to see her now. Christ, it's different. It's completely different.
Slowly, quietly, he makes his way to her bedside and kneels, holding his hands together after crossing himself. He whispers the practiced words of the Hail Mary in Gaelic. ]
Failte dhut, a Mhoire,
tha thu lan de na grasan
tha an Tighearna maille riut
is beannaichte thu am measg nam mna,
agus is beannaichtc toradh do bhronn, Iosa.
A Naomh Mhoire, a Mhathair Dhe,
guidh' air ar sonne na peacaich
a nis agus aig uair ar bais. Amen.
[ He prays for the Blessed Virgin to watch over his daughter even here in a place his mind never would have been able to fathom on its own. Hesitantly, because he doesn't want to wake her, Jamie takes Brianna's hand and kisses the back of it before placing it back down and standing. Bending, he kisses her forehead now just lightly, then leaves her room, going back to Claire. Undressing, he says the same prayer over his wife once he's in bed and holding her again.
Only now, does sleep come. ]
We'll need to remind her. Consistently. Just as I had to remind you that you were still my husband in every way.
[And that she'd want him, always. No matter what.]
[And that she'd want him, always. No matter what.]
Somehow, we made it to the other side of that, Claire. Brianna will, as well. Though I must be honest and say I wish I could make it better, faster.
[ He'll always wish that for Brianna. ]
[ He'll always wish that for Brianna. ]
You will. I think your being here... your experiences, and your love for her, Jamie. That will make more of a difference than you can ever know.
[Well. He might.]
[Well. He might.]
If ye think telling her all of it will do more harm than good, Sassenach...
[ He doesn't sound fully convinced himself, but he'll try anything. ]
[ He doesn't sound fully convinced himself, but he'll try anything. ]
I think that's for you to decide. But I do know that knowing you are the man you are today despite what happened will give her peace. Remind her there's a place beyond this pain.
[Things might have been easier for Jamie if he had someone like that to talk to himself.]
[Things might have been easier for Jamie if he had someone like that to talk to himself.]
[ Jamie nods at his wife's wisdom. She's right. It could help - he could help. ]
I'm glad she's sleeping now. And more relaxed, too.
I'm glad she's sleeping now. And more relaxed, too.
For now. I think it's best she sleeps with one of us until we go back to Olympia. And even then--well, I suppose we'll see what she wants.
[So much for her time with Jamie, but to be honest, it's the furthest thing from her mind. Bree comes first. Always. And she knows he feels the same.]
[So much for her time with Jamie, but to be honest, it's the furthest thing from her mind. Bree comes first. Always. And she knows he feels the same.]
Aye, agreed. If she doesna want to be alone, then it willna be so.
[ There's nothing on his mind but being sure his daughter has everything she needs. ]
[ There's nothing on his mind but being sure his daughter has everything she needs. ]
[Realizing that Bree's hair is still pinned up, and damp from the shower, Claire's fingers gently sets the braid free. And then that hair, too. Easier to run her fingers through it this way, hopefully soothing her even as she sleeps.]
I hated leaving just to get our food. I don't know if I'd be able to leave her side again even if she asked.
I hated leaving just to get our food. I don't know if I'd be able to leave her side again even if she asked.
I can go, Sassenach.
[ Jamie can do that for her, for both of them. ]
Ye'll stay with her, and I'll go.
[ Even if he doesn't want to leave her either, he can do this for his wife. ]
[ Jamie can do that for her, for both of them. ]
Ye'll stay with her, and I'll go.
[ Even if he doesn't want to leave her either, he can do this for his wife. ]
Or we take her with us. She'll have to be out and about sooner or later. Better it be with us by her side.
[Compromise. Or clinging. She doesn't care right now.]
[Compromise. Or clinging. She doesn't care right now.]
As ye said, it's whatever she wants.
[ Whatever Bree expresses she needs, he'll do ]
[ Whatever Bree expresses she needs, he'll do ]
You needed some gentle nudges now and then.
[And by gentle, she means she had to get physical with him. But, hopefully, they won't have to deal with such stubbornness from Bree.]
[And by gentle, she means she had to get physical with him. But, hopefully, they won't have to deal with such stubbornness from Bree.]
[ Claire, have you met your own daughter?
Jamie smiles though it's a faint flicker of a thing. ]
Yer good at that. 'Gently nudging' I mean.
Jamie smiles though it's a faint flicker of a thing. ]
Yer good at that. 'Gently nudging' I mean.
[It's a win, that faint smile. If only she could coax one out of Bree, too.]
I've had to be. Sometimes I think I married a mule.
I've had to be. Sometimes I think I married a mule.
Oh, then ye ken what it is to be married to you, then.
[ But it's clear in his eyes he doesn't really mean it. ]
[ But it's clear in his eyes he doesn't really mean it. ]
Hmm.
[Never good, that little noise of consideration when it's aimed at him.]
You're lucky your daughter is between us.
[Never good, that little noise of consideration when it's aimed at him.]
You're lucky your daughter is between us.
[ He smiles softly again and now he can stroke Brianna's hair tenderly. ]
Aye. I am lucky.
[ But for different reasons. ]
Aye. I am lucky.
[ But for different reasons. ]
[She understands his meaning.]
Try and get some sleep, Jamie. I'll watch over her. [Over the both of them.] I'll wake you in a while, and you can have your turn.
Try and get some sleep, Jamie. I'll watch over her. [Over the both of them.] I'll wake you in a while, and you can have your turn.
[ He should sleep; he knows he's no good to Brianna exhausted. Still, he reaches out to touch Claire's cheek lightly, thumb gliding over her skin gently. ]
Tha gaol agam ort, Sassenach.
[ He loves her. Desperately. ]
Tha gaol agam ort, Sassenach.
[ He loves her. Desperately. ]
[ Brianna was one of the first people to greet Luke and take an active role in trying to help him, and he'd wanted to get to know her more, spend time with her more, but she'd seemingly disappeared. Not wanting to pry too much, he'd kept his distance, but now he's just a little worried and wants to make sure she's okay, so he reaches out with a simple text. ]
Hey, it's Luke. Haven't seen you in a while, just wanted to make sure you're okay?
Hey, it's Luke. Haven't seen you in a while, just wanted to make sure you're okay?
[ Bree's stayed in the little room with both parents since she returned.
Sweet Luke. God, she'd been so wrapped up in everything that happened, she didn't realize anyone would miss her. ]
Luke.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you.
[ She pauses, then sends a follow up just so he knows: ]
I went back into stasis for a few days. My mother says it can happen, that it's happened to her before.
Sweet Luke. God, she'd been so wrapped up in everything that happened, she didn't realize anyone would miss her. ]
Luke.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you.
[ She pauses, then sends a follow up just so he knows: ]
I went back into stasis for a few days. My mother says it can happen, that it's happened to her before.
[ He's still learning about all this...stuff. Being in stasis, "waking up," and now apparently people can go back into stasis? ]
No, it's okay.
Were you hurt or sick, is that why you went back into stasis?
[ He worries, he can't help it. ]
No, it's okay.
Were you hurt or sick, is that why you went back into stasis?
[ He worries, he can't help it. ]
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