Series: iPod Shuffle Challenge
Fandom: Eli Stone
Character / Pairing Focus: Eli Stone, Taylor Wethersby
Rating: K Plus / PG / All Ages
Notes: Between 01x12-13 ("Waiting for that Day"/ "Soul Free"); set before the operation.
Disclaimer: Eli Stone and all respective properties are © ABC. Megan D. (Veritas Found) does not, has never, nor will ever own Eli Stone.
Vulnerable (performed by Secondhand Serenade)
Tell me, tell me what makes you think that you are invincible?
I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure
Please don't tell me that I'm the only one that's vulnerable
Impossible
"Taylor?"
She jumped at the voice, quickly rubbing at her eyes as she turned to face the one person she didn't want to see today. She slapped a smile on her face as she looked at Eli, standing in the entrance to the break room and giving her a concerned smile. Days like this she couldn't help but feel Patti was right; he was too good for her. He should hate her now, like most men do after breakups, but here he was giving her that look that told her he'd stop the world to make her feel better. Shouldn't he be giving that look to Maggie now?
"Yes?" she asked, and he frowned as he walked over to her. He reached out, as if he wanted to touch her face, but hesitated before dropping his arm back to his side. It hurt to think that what had been second nature not so long ago had to be questioned now, but then again they were both to blame for that, weren't they?
"Are you ok?" he asked, forehead creasing as he looked her over. She gave him a weak smile, and the look only grew worse. "Taylor…"
"I'm fine!" she said, maybe too quickly, and sighed when it became obvious he didn't believe her. "I'm not fine."
"What's wrong?" he asked, and she laughed derisively.
"You really have to ask me that, Eli?" she asked, looking up at him. He frowned, and she laughed again. "God, Eli. You're getting brain surgery tomorrow – brain surgery. And not too long ago I was set to spend my entire life with you. You really think I'm not worried?"
"Taylor, I've told you: I'm going to be fine," he said. She scoffed and looked back to her coffee, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.
"Or you'll come out a vegetable," she said, and when he didn't reply she knew she might've hit a bit too close to home. "You had me witness the signing of your DNR, Eli. You know as well as I do that you might not come out of this fine. Why aren't you worried?"
"Honestly?" he asked, dropping his gaze to stare at the mug of coffee rapidly cooling on the countertop. "I'm terrified, Taylor. I know I might not live through tomorrow, or at least come out one hundred percent ok. But…I'm trying to ignore it. I'm trying to not be scared, because if I stop long enough to be scared…I'm going to be fine, Taylor. I have to have faith in that. I have to."
"Then I guess I'll have to be scared for the both of us," she said, smiling slightly, and his lips quirked.
"Nah, not just you," he said. He laughed slightly, fisting his hand in his pocket as he did so. "Patti and Maggie will be scared with you. Heck, I think even Matt and Keith will worry. It seems everyone's been on edge around me this week."
"Because we all know this could be…" she stopped, unable to finish the thought. She couldn't admit that possibility, though they all knew it was the most…
"But it won't be," he said, looking back at her. He slipped a hand out of his pocket and reached out, entwining his fingers with hers. "I will make it out of that surgery tomorrow, Taylor. I promise."
"You better, Eli," she said, and she tugged on his hand to pull him into a hug. She squeezed him tight, shutting her eyes just as tightly to block out the tears. "You better…"
