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[givingback]

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[nineteenfortyfive]

I was thinking she'd make it through because she's so much like you.

[Too much, now. What a horrid thought.]

[seventeenfortythree]

Perhaps it's the strength of both of us, Sassenach.

[ Jamie reaches out again and strokes Claire's cheek tenderly. ]

Ye should get some rest. She'll need you, come morning.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[She places her hand over his.]

What did you hit?

[Hopefully not whom. He's more likely to take out his frustrations on objects, not people.]

[seventeenfortythree]

[ He doesn't look at all regretful about the way his knuckles have been bloodied. ]

A wall. It wasna very forgiving, but I cannae say I could feel much at the time.

[nineteenfortyfive]

I'm so sorry, Jamie. Everything is--difficult, waking up here, but on top of it...

[Nothing to apologize for, she knows, but she is sorry. The other night was good, father and daughter meeting, and then they spent the night together, holding one another. And then it all went downhill.]

[seventeenfortythree]

[ Isn't that just the way of their lives? Happiness, then devastation. He'd hoped North Carolina would be an end to it all. But it wasn't to be so. ]

No apologies are needed here tonight, Sassenach. No' from our daughter. And no' from you.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Then not from you, either.

[She can feel the guilt radiating off him.]

We can't change what happened, but we can make sure that she has an easy a time as possible, going forward. I think she'll feel better once we're back in Olympia.

[seventeenfortythree]

[ Yeah, well. He won't apologize anymore but that doesn't mean the guilt has gone. ]

To be in the home ye've created for her, in her own bed, aye. I'm sure it will do her good.

[ And it would be good, too, to be able to hold his wife the way he'd like when not restricted by such a small bed. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Claire's thinking along the same lines.]

I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep.

[seventeenfortythree]

Try. For me, Claire. For Brianna.

[ He strokes her hair softly. ]

I'll be here. Watchin' over ye both.

[nineteenfortyfive]

We can both watch over her.

[She'd urge him to sleep, but. He just woke up.]

[seventeenfortythree]

[ Christ, his wife is stubborn. But tonight at least, he won't say anything about it.

Bree definitely gets it from her though, so. ]

Then we will.

[ But he keeps stroking her hair. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

I love you both.

[She has the two most important people in her world with her, in this bed. She only wishes they weren't all hurting so much.]

[seventeenfortythree]

I love you more than my heart can take. Both of you.

[ His voice breaks, just a little, his hold tightening a bit. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

I know. I think she knows, too.

[She reaches over their daughter to touch his face, fingers stroking his cheek.]

It's all right, Jamie. We'll be all right.

[seventeenfortythree]

Aye.

[ He turns his head just enough that his lips touch her fingertips. ]

The three of us.

[ As it should have always been. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

I'm glad you're here. I don't know if I'd be able to do this alone.

[She would. She'd manage. But some part of her is put at ease knowing that Jamie is here to lean on and help not only her, but Bree now, too.]

[seventeenfortythree]

Christ, I wouldna ever want you to go through this alone, Claire. I'm here. And I willna go anywhere and leave ye again, either.

[ He'll fight the Almighty itself or whatever it is that he has to do in order to stay. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

When we get to Olympia, you should take her out. We have horses. I think the two of you could use some time alone together.

[To talk, or not talk. Or simply get used to one another.]

[seventeenfortythree]

Do ye think she'll want to?

[ He asks that quietly, eyes on Claire's face, unsure, apparently. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

She might. I wasn't sure if she'd want to share a bed with us, but...

[Well. Here they are.]

[seventeenfortythree]

Aye.

[ He whispers it softly, stroking Claire's cheek tenderly over their daughter. ]

To ken I have the opportunity now...Christ, to ken she was coming to us before...

[ Jamie swallows hard, lips pressing to the back of Bree's head. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Maybe it's a good thing the world ended.

[Better to be here than die in a fire, right?]

[seventeenfortythree]

I dinnae care what had to happen for us to be together.

[ And he means it. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Neither do I.

[She strokes Bree's hair, light enough as to not wake her.]

If she came to us, she couldn't stay. We'd have to send her back.