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[As much as Jamie wants to be with them both, Claire knows he understands himself well enough to know when he needs to step away. He'll be back.]
It'll take away the soreness.
[She was hit in the face, too. She hasn't forgotten that. Probably roughened up in ways that will only seem like a pinch, should Jamie or Claire get their hands on Bonnet.]
It'll take away the soreness.
[She was hit in the face, too. She hasn't forgotten that. Probably roughened up in ways that will only seem like a pinch, should Jamie or Claire get their hands on Bonnet.]
[ Bree nods, letting out a soft breath and pulling back just enough to let her mother do whatever she needs to. Whether that's brushing her hair out now, braiding it, or healing her.
She hasn't seen the state of her own bruises on her legs, around her hips. There was no time to look at anything, think. She was just back, on the floor, then in her mother's arms. ]
She hasn't seen the state of her own bruises on her legs, around her hips. There was no time to look at anything, think. She was just back, on the floor, then in her mother's arms. ]
[Healing, first. Claire gently checks her over, her face, her arms, and then very hesitantly the rest of her, to see what needs to be done. Decades of medical practice has made her beside manner very good, but there's still something more tugging at the corners of her mouth when she sees physical evidence of Bree's encounter.
Fucking animal. She'll kill him before Jamie has the chance.
It's quick and easy, then, to erase the bruises and all the physical discomfort. A touch, palm flat, and she works her way upwards. When she gets to Bree's face, and heals her cheek where she guesses a blow landed, the work is done. And now she can cup her face with a bit more sureness, and kiss her forehead harder.]
Did I miss anything?
Fucking animal. She'll kill him before Jamie has the chance.
It's quick and easy, then, to erase the bruises and all the physical discomfort. A touch, palm flat, and she works her way upwards. When she gets to Bree's face, and heals her cheek where she guesses a blow landed, the work is done. And now she can cup her face with a bit more sureness, and kiss her forehead harder.]
Did I miss anything?
[ Brianna feels like she can't breathe the entire time, and as soon as Claire kisses her forehead, the tears come even as she shakes her head. She tries to speak and that's when the choked, soft sob escapes her as she cries, reaching out blindly and crashing her body into her mother's. ]
Oh, Bree. It's all right now. [Without worry of agitating any hurts, she hugs her so tightly that her arms ache.] I'll help you through this, and so will Jamie.
[Unfair that such a thing has happened to both father and daughter. Her whole family here, Fergus included, have suffered.]
You don't need to talk about it now. But you can, if you must. I'll always listen. Whether it's tonight or in a month. There's no such thing as a bad time. Understand?
[Unfair that such a thing has happened to both father and daughter. Her whole family here, Fergus included, have suffered.]
You don't need to talk about it now. But you can, if you must. I'll always listen. Whether it's tonight or in a month. There's no such thing as a bad time. Understand?
[ Bree nods, hiccuping and sniffling and letting out a breath. ]
Okay, mama. Okay. I'm okay.
[ She's trying to sound sure of that, anyway. ]
Will you brush my hair? Please?
Okay, mama. Okay. I'm okay.
[ She's trying to sound sure of that, anyway. ]
Will you brush my hair? Please?
I'd love to, Bree.
[She does love her daughter's hair, and she loves brushing it out now even with the curls. All Claire needs to do is step away for a moment, fetching her hairbrush, and then she parks herself behind her on the bed.]
One braid, or two?
[She does love her daughter's hair, and she loves brushing it out now even with the curls. All Claire needs to do is step away for a moment, fetching her hairbrush, and then she parks herself behind her on the bed.]
One braid, or two?
Just one, I think.
[ She closes her eyes as her mother brushes, and she sways with the movement. ]
It hasn't been all bad.
[ Bree feels like she needs to say that. ]
I sang 'San Francisco' to Joanie. I met a woman named Lizzie who travels with me now. She's quiet but nice. And Scotland was so pretty. The mountains, the snow.
[ She closes her eyes as her mother brushes, and she sways with the movement. ]
It hasn't been all bad.
[ Bree feels like she needs to say that. ]
I sang 'San Francisco' to Joanie. I met a woman named Lizzie who travels with me now. She's quiet but nice. And Scotland was so pretty. The mountains, the snow.
[One braid. She's careful combing out her hair, the curls snagging on the brush now and then despite her best efforts.]
Jamie will be over the moon to hear you've been to Lallybroch. It might not be his home now, but it's where he grew up. Where the rest of his family lives.
Jamie will be over the moon to hear you've been to Lallybroch. It might not be his home now, but it's where he grew up. Where the rest of his family lives.
I wish I could have stayed longer and met everyone.
[ Bree's head moves with the brush and she's not tender-headed. She couldn't be with her hair. ]
I dropped out of Harvard. But I graduated from MIT with a degree in mechanical engineering. Not that it matters now.
[ Bree's head moves with the brush and she's not tender-headed. She couldn't be with her hair. ]
I dropped out of Harvard. But I graduated from MIT with a degree in mechanical engineering. Not that it matters now.
You should tell him. Explain, of course, what that is--but I know he'll be as proud of you as I am, Bree.
[He already is.]
[He already is.]
I had this plan in my head. To try and make indoor plumbing work in North Carolina.
[ She smiles softly, and her body is slowly starting to sink a little, sag, beginning to feel the sleepiness. ]
[ She smiles softly, and her body is slowly starting to sink a little, sag, beginning to feel the sleepiness. ]
And be tried as witch?
[Claire teases, voice soft as she feels the shift in Bree's body. Time for a quick braid, then. It's not perfect, but it'll keep her hair at bay, and once Claire is done she sets it over her shoulder.]
There. Now, darling, let's get you into bed so you can get some real sleep.
[The nap on the station, on the floor, was hardly rest. Bree needs to eat, drink, and recover from the shock, but that can wait until she's slept some.]
[Claire teases, voice soft as she feels the shift in Bree's body. Time for a quick braid, then. It's not perfect, but it'll keep her hair at bay, and once Claire is done she sets it over her shoulder.]
There. Now, darling, let's get you into bed so you can get some real sleep.
[The nap on the station, on the floor, was hardly rest. Bree needs to eat, drink, and recover from the shock, but that can wait until she's slept some.]
Just for us, I meant.
[ She murmurs the words sleepily and it's easy for her mother to move her to a position better to sleep in. ]
[ She murmurs the words sleepily and it's easy for her mother to move her to a position better to sleep in. ]
[ Jamie returns then, quietly letting himself into the room. His right hand is suspiciously wrapped around the knuckles with a piece of cloth as he takes in the scene. He looks less angry but there's still a tension set in his shoulders. ]
I came to say goodnight to ye both.
[ He assumes Bree will want to be alone with Claire for the evening, so he bends down to kiss Claire's forehead first, then Bree's. ]
I came to say goodnight to ye both.
[ He assumes Bree will want to be alone with Claire for the evening, so he bends down to kiss Claire's forehead first, then Bree's. ]
[Claire's just gotten Bree under the blankets when Jamie arrives. She sees his hand, and truly, isn't very much surprised. It's just a relief to have him back.
She gives his good hand a squeeze as she sits on the edge of the bed Bree's in. She'd like Jamie to stay, and doesn't think Bree would mind it as long as she's there with her, but she's not about to speak for her.]
She gives his good hand a squeeze as she sits on the edge of the bed Bree's in. She'd like Jamie to stay, and doesn't think Bree would mind it as long as she's there with her, but she's not about to speak for her.]
[ Bree shifts a little in the bed, looking up at both of them. Claire knows her well. ]
Will both of you stay? Please.
[ She knows Jamie may think she wants distance and space, but she extends her hand now, to him. ]
I want you to stay.
Will both of you stay? Please.
[ She knows Jamie may think she wants distance and space, but she extends her hand now, to him. ]
I want you to stay.
[ Jamie looks down at her hand in his, then lets his fingers curl around hers before he kneels down. ]
It's a small bed, we'an. But I think if yer mam holds ye close, then I can hold ye both.
[ With his back against the wall it will be a tight fit, but he'll do it. He would sacrifice a thousand sleepless nights if it meant his daughter was at peace. ]
It's a small bed, we'an. But I think if yer mam holds ye close, then I can hold ye both.
[ With his back against the wall it will be a tight fit, but he'll do it. He would sacrifice a thousand sleepless nights if it meant his daughter was at peace. ]
I certainly will have no problem with that.
[She'd never expect they'd all be crawling into a bed together, but here they are. It's a thing that should have been a reality when Bree was younger, and smaller--a daughter wanting nothing more than to be in bed with her parents, safe and warm. This is as close as they'll get.
When Claire stands, she has an urge to kiss his cheek, but she doesn't. It might be strange for Bree to see her so intimate with him so soon. It's different than the two of them comforting her. But she does touch his arm.]
Get in there with her. It'll be easier for me to cover us up when I get in.
[And she might be raiding the other bed for it's blankets, too.]
[She'd never expect they'd all be crawling into a bed together, but here they are. It's a thing that should have been a reality when Bree was younger, and smaller--a daughter wanting nothing more than to be in bed with her parents, safe and warm. This is as close as they'll get.
When Claire stands, she has an urge to kiss his cheek, but she doesn't. It might be strange for Bree to see her so intimate with him so soon. It's different than the two of them comforting her. But she does touch his arm.]
Get in there with her. It'll be easier for me to cover us up when I get in.
[And she might be raiding the other bed for it's blankets, too.]
[ Bree shifts to the very edge of the bed; she'll be curled, she'll be held. She isn't afraid of falling.
Maybe she's too old for this, but all she wants is to feel safe and loved. For the people she was trying to save to be right there with her. ]
Maybe she's too old for this, but all she wants is to feel safe and loved. For the people she was trying to save to be right there with her. ]
[ Jamie gives his wife a meaningful look before managing to get himself onto the bed after removing his boots. He isn't sure how much of a touch Bree wants from him, but he does reach out for a moment to rest a hand on her shoulder, speaking quietly. ]
You're safe wi' me, Bree. But if ye need me to leave, only say so.
You're safe wi' me, Bree. But if ye need me to leave, only say so.
He does snore.
[Claire jokes (but it's true), throwing another blanket onto the bed before crouching in front of Bree's face.]
Do you want to be in the middle, or the edge?
[She never got to squeeze into a bed between her and Frank, seeing as they didn't share a bed. This is new.]
[Claire jokes (but it's true), throwing another blanket onto the bed before crouching in front of Bree's face.]
Do you want to be in the middle, or the edge?
[She never got to squeeze into a bed between her and Frank, seeing as they didn't share a bed. This is new.]
I want to be held. By both of you.
[ So, it's decided, and Bree scoots back into Jamie's arms. ]
[ So, it's decided, and Bree scoots back into Jamie's arms. ]
[ Jamie's honestly stunned, but his arms open immediately and when she's comfortable, his arm goes around her protectively, kissing the back of her head. He whispers, a soft Gaelic prayer, right into her hair.
Then, he looks at Claire, tears making his eyes shine. ]
Then, he looks at Claire, tears making his eyes shine. ]
[The surprises don't seem to stop. Claire slips into the bed--a tight squeeze, and half her arse is hanging off, but it's fine--and wraps her arms around Bree, tucking her face into her neck.]
Oh, my baby.
Oh, my baby.
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