Author's Note: The premise of this scene is shamelessly stolen from a Gilmore Girl's episode. I appologize and disclaim in advance. That said, have I ever mentioned how much I love Jackie? She's so fiesty and tacky at times, yet underneath, she's just a mum worried for her daughter.
012. Grief
Jackie, Rose – Post Doomsday
I'll admit that the days after . . . well, after everything that happened, were hard. I expected tears from my daughter, as well as a few days of basking with a few choice movies and enough chocolate to last a lifetime.
None of that happened. Instead she threw herself into her research at Torchwood, working until her eyes were bloodshot and her hands shook from fatigue. I don't think she ate, and attention to her appearance was cast away as she looked for a way to make it back to him.
There was no way.
But we let her look. Perhaps it was the best way to give her some closure.
Until one day I came home to find her on the couch in the living room. She was in a soft pink robe, and her eyes were red from crying. On the telly 'The Notebook' was ready to be watched, and stacked on the table there were our collection of Nicolas Sparks DVDs. There was an assortment of popcorn and chocolate covered pretzels with a dipping sauce made of marshmallow paste and chocolate syrup. She was clutching the tissue box as if it were a lifeline.
When her eyes met mine, my heart broke for her all over again.
"I'm ready to grieve now," she croaked, and I made my way to her side.
Halfway through 'A Walk to Remember', her tears didn't fall as fast, and her sniffling had stopped. Still, I squeezed her hand, telling her I was there for her.
Just barely, she squeezed back.