Wednesday Afternoon

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

He'd been bitten and he was coming for her. Sonia told her that. Fear pushed the sadness to the far corner of her mind. She knew she'd be safe around other people...and if all else failed she was sure she could deal with him as she had Chip. Hopefully she wouldn't have to worry about it at all. Hopefully Rover would have found him but now and gotten him to the clinic.

She didn't really want to leave campus though. Campus was...well, safe wasn't the word. But surely safer than home.

She sat in her office with the door closed. Her cell phone on her desk, a cup of coffee, and a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Comments

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Because only my dad calls me that. And the President. I don't know...it makes me feel small I guess. [She shifts in her seat.]

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

A pity, that. [He tilts his head and looks at her, still moving forward.] It's a beautiful name: Claudia Jean. Hm.

[He leans on the desk, much as he did to Geoff.] You'll be pleased, I found dearest Adam.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

Did you? The Dean said he was releasing him. [She keeps eye contact with him, even though it's like looking into the face of a predator]

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I did indeed, Claudia Jean. [He rolls the name around in his mouth a bit.] He was quite the worse for wear. And he ended up having a bit of a breakdown by the end of our conversation.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

That's too bad. I'm sure the closet isn't the place to be for a week. [She stands slowly.] Why are you telling me this, Doctor?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Because I can, love. Because. I. can. [He leans forward a little, looking up into her eyes.] I've had ever such a day.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

So I understand. Sonia came to find me after you got bitten. Oncoming Storm, huh? You let that one slip?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Ms Belmont. Such a dear, she is. I would have expected sweet Ms Carter to be the one. [He licks his lips slightly. They were dry.] She pushed me to the limit, testing me, insisting. A bit of a masochist, I think.

[His mouth twitches in a bitter smile.] And she got her information, for the fucking good it'll do her. Now everyone will know just how bloody awful the dear kind Doctor actually is.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She moves around her desk, moving slowly, carefully, steadily. When she gets close, she puts her hand on his arm. Her voice is calm, but quivers with fear.] It won't matter, you know. I know how awful you are, and I love you. Ten...come back to me.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He laughs, bitter and slow, but he doesn't shake her off.] Oh, you love me now. Did I tell you what I told Adam? That I kissed Geoff? That I nearly made dear Ms Cally cry?

I ripped them all to shreds. Today everything I touch turns to shit and garbage. Not a surprise, around here.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[Her face falls, and her hand slides off him.] Told...kissed...Cally?

[In her confusion her fear morphs rapidly into anger.]

Are you a fucking monster? WHY would you do that? Why would you do that to ME?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[His eyebrows go up and he looks at her, right into her.] Didn't I just bloody tell you that? Of course I'm a goddamn monster. Everything I do goes completely and utterly wrong.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[Her voice is acid anger] You make it go wrong, Ten. YOU do it. You think you're a monster so you make it that way. You don't even know you're doing it...but you fuck everything up on purpose so you can play this pity card. I'm not buying it.

[She takes a deep breath and feels her body tighten. She doesn't want to fight, but it's happening so she may as well do it well.]
If you're such a monster, prove it. To me. Right now.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I don't need you to tell me that, CJ. I don't need you to tell me that I make everything go wrong. But it's NOT ON PURPOSE. [He is yelling now, basically in her face.] And if you can't handle it, then why didn't you walk out the door months ago? Or are you a masochist too, just like dear Ms Carter?

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[Her voice rises too, until she's yelling back in his face]
If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't have ever started dating you. I'm not a masochist and I'm not stupid and if you think that you can shove it right up your ass. You have yet to see me take your shit, Doctor. I'm not about to begin now. You've never seen a fight like the one I'll give you, lover. Step back. Right. Now.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I never SAID you were bloody stupid! You're the one who keeps saying 'oh, I'm dumb, 'oh, I'm stupid because I don't understand'. When you're bloody NOT!

[He realises what he just said.] Oh. God. [His hand goes to his forehead.] I think...I need to sit down. [And he stiffly sits on the floor.]

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

[She's still fuming, but seeing him, broken, the venom hopefully having worked through his system with the adrenaline she was pushing him to, she kneels beside him, her voice gentle]

Ten, let me take you to the clinic. You're sick...ok?

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[His voice cracks.] Okay. [And he leans against her, eyes closed tight.] I did bad things today, CJ.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

I know, Ten. It...it's nothing we can't fix. I love you and I'm here. Let me get you to the doctor. [She puts her hands under his arms to hoist him up. She kisses him gently on the forehead, her anger gone.]

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He still leans on her, biting his lower lip, as they move towards the door.] I...oh my god, I did horrible things. And I gave Adam a candy bar.

[prof-cregg.livejournal.com]

It'll be all right, Ten. I promise. [She walks him to the clinic]