A/N: Hello, everyone! I hope you're all doing well. This one wanted to be a double drabble, so I let it be. :)
THANK YOU to Pink-Libra-Girl and T.F. Crosby for reviewing! I really, really, appreciate the feedback. :D And don't worry too much, Crosby, it's just a baby monster. ;)
Episode: Spike V. Spikette
Rating (This arc): Low T, because Chase will be sad.
Warnings: Chase sadness. Actually, basically everyone will be sad, now that I think about it, so just sad people in general.
Inspiration: What if Kate's sonic scream had messed up Chase's hearing in the last scene? After all, Chase doesn't get up from that hit... *here the story is born*
Kate and Chase obviously have some things to work out, so I'll just leave them to it. :)
Be the reason someone smiles today! :)
Kate found Chase sitting on the roof, staring listlessly into the moon. She hadn't been looking for him, but she was glad she'd found him.
She sat down beside him, almost facing him. "I'm so sorry," she said, succinctly, clumsily signing the same. "For everything." A pause. "How're you?"
Chase quirked a somewhat bitter smile. His hazel eyes were dark in the moonlight. "I've been better, and worse," He said quietly, almost too quietly to hear. "I'm not in pain. I think my hearing might be improving, but Douglas says it's more likely that I'm just getting used to the little I have left. Mostly..."
He paused, letting his head hang as he continued, "I just don't know what to do with myself. I can't go on missions. I can't train. I can't mentor. I can't interact with people easily. Douglas and Mr. Davenport won't let me help research. Mostly, I just sit, and watch the world go by."
He sighed, but looked back up into Kate's face. "But I don't blame you, honestly. I don't blame Douglas, either. It was an accident, plain and simple."
"But that doesn't make it any easier," Kate said, softly.
"No. No, it doesn't."