Okay, originally I was planning to post this after I finished 'What Dreams Are Made Of', as a little companion fic. But I've been working on it for too long and it's just been sitting in the notes section of my iPod since they day Emily Lake and Stand aired. But I've decided to go ahead and post it, and I'll just write another story to go along with 'What Dreams…'
Okay, now read… (:
She's told him about the war with AZ Technology and Walter Sykes, but he isn't worried. He knows she has Myka and Pete and Artie to look out for her (and he has a feeling Steve too).
They'd been engaged for four months now, and they've handled the distance between them quite well.
But when she comes to his house at midnight, he knows that there weren't any flights that day, and she must have taken the bus.
She hates taking the bus all the way to Eureka.
So he knows something's wrong.
He doesn't say a word as he steps aside to let her enter. He has a feeling that she doesn't really want him to say anything- not yet. He gives her his old college sweatshirt and let's her curl up next to him in bed, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on her head until they fall asleep.
Its a few more hours until he wakes up, to realize that she sobbing on his shoulder.
It's three am, her eyes are bloodshot and she's shaking.
Doug sits up instantly, pulling Claudia into his lap. She clutches at his shirt as her sobs fill the house.
He holds her close to him for the next hour, lightly stroking her head and whispering 'Everything's okay' and 'I love you' into her ear, for about an hour until her tears subside and her eyes start to dry.
Doug kisses her forehead again. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Claudia tenses up instantly, biting her lip. "No."
Doug knows that he probably shouldn't press the issue, but she seems too emotional for him to leave her alone. "Tell me."
She sighs, and buries her head into his neck. A few moments later, she starts to speak. "Walter Sykes infiltrated the warehouse. And he... He blew it up. With an artifact. HG and Artie and Myka and Pete were inside. And when the warehouse dies, Mrs. F dies with it."
She stops, and Doug takes a breath. "Claudia, are Artie and Myka..."
She shakes her head quickly. "No, they're fine. Pete is fine. HG and Mrs. F are fine. The warehouse is fine. The pocket watch made everything fine."
Claudia stops to take a breath. "But Steve..." Claudia trails off, and more tears start to leak from her eyes.
Five minutes later, Doug shifts and lays her down next to him. He places a soft kiss to her forehead and secures his arm around her waist, pulling her as close to him as possible.
Claudia eyes open at seven later that morning, still laying next to Doug, who's already awake and watching her.
"Good morning," he whispers down to her.
"Good morning," she croaks quietly, before starting to cough.
He sits up to go and get her a glass of water, but she tugs his arm, signaling that she wants him to stay.
"Do you have to work today?" She asks, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Not if you need me." He pauses for a second before continuing. "D... Do you?"
It takes her a few minutes to respond. "I need you."
"Then I'm here," Doug answers, a small smile coming onto his face. "I'll always be here."
I really want Steve to come back in season 4… Really really want him to come back… But I don't think he will. We're just going to have to keep the faith without him… :'(
