Disclaimer: Nope,
still don't own anything besides Susana. Sorry! Stabbing Westward owns
the song You Complete Me and the CD Darkest Days; Jeep owns Grand Cherokees;
The Appletree Inn is a real place in Pittsburgh, and it looks really cool- I
wouldn't mind staying there.
Notes:
sound
*thought*
} telepathic
conversation {
Setting: Emma's
office. 2:00 PM on July 15th.
Susana, Jono,
Angelo, and Jubilee all shifted uncomfortably under Emma's icy gaze. *We didn't do anything bad.* Susana reminded
herself. *We're just here to say
goodbye before we hit the road.*
Emma spoke,
breaking the tense silence. "I've put a
packet of maps into the glove compartment of the Jeep. There's a full sized map, and then three
littler maps that show rest stops, construction, possible routes, and
such. I put a cell phone with them, but
try not to use it except in an emergency, will you?" She stood and walked around the edge of the desk. "Susana and Jonothan, you two are the
responsible...what am I saying? Susana,
you are the responsible adult on this trip." She leveled a cool gaze at Jono. "Keep everyone out of trouble as best you can, and if you can't do that,
then get in touch with me. I've gotten
you all credit cards without a credit limit. The bills for them are taken care of, but please try not to overuse
them. Everyone has a key, and there's
one hidden behind the rear plate if you somehow all manage to lose yours. You've got tents, but if the weather's bad
or you don't feel safe wherever you are, go ahead and stay at a hotel. I'm sure the two of you can convince a hotel
clerk to rent you a room or two. I think
that's everything I wanted to say." She
ticked off a mental list on her fingers. *money, lodgings, keys, safety procedures...what else? Oh, yes.* "You're also to use the cards for food...We'd like it if you didn't eat
so much junk food as to make yourselves sick. Ok, I think I'm actually done this time." She directed her attention to Jono, Angelo, and Jubilee. "I don't know if I told you all this at
graduation, but I'm very proud of the three of you. You've grown into quite a sensible group of young people. Susana, you have too, but I don't really
feel that I had anything to do with that. Well, enough of that. You should
be going now. You did call to tell your
mother you would be there soon, didn't you?"
"Of course. And, Emma?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you. You've helped me quite a bit since I came
here. I'll definitely be sure to visit
some time after we get settled in at the New York mansion." She smiled fondly at Emma, who she'd come to
respect immensely as a telepath, teacher, and businesswoman. "And maybe I'll even bring people with
me. But you're right, we should be
going. I think I'll go out and double
check the car-make sure we've got everything we need, and that the engine
fluids are all high enough. I'll see
you guys outside." She stood and
thanked Sean as well, then walked out to the driveway. Jubilee, Angelo, and Jono all said their
goodbyes to their teachers and followed soon after. As they came out, Susana slammed the Grand Cherokee's hood
closed, then checked the pressure in all the tires. Satisfied that everything was as it should be, she pulled out her
keys. "Anyone mind if I take the first
shift?" At the flurry of negative
responses, she smiled. "Well, then, are
we ready to go?"
"Yeah! I want to see what the rest of the east
coast is like!" shouted Jubilee, scrambling into the back seat of the
Jeep. Angelo followed her into the car,
and Jono stood beside the front passenger door, looking at the mansion.
}Y'know, when I
came here, I never thought I'd miss this place. It's weird t'think I won't be coming back here.{ He shook his head, then looked down as
Susana wrapped her arms around him. }Ignore me, I'm being morose.{ She raised a hand to her mouth in mock surprise, and he laughed. }Yeah, I know that's not a surprise...now,
let's go. I'm sure you're anxious to
see your family.{ She stood on tiptoe
and pressed a kiss to his cheek, then just stood, enjoying the feel of his arms
around her.
"Good plan...you
do realize that sitting in that seat means you're the navigator, right?" She unwrapped her arms from him and stepped
back, then walked around to the driver's side and got in. Buckling her seatbelt, she adjusted the
mirrors and turned the key in the ignition, then put the transmission into
drive and left the driveway.
Emma and Sean
stood on the driveway and watched until the Grand Cherokee disappeared down the
driveway. With a final wave, Emma
turned and headed back into the house to fill out paperwork on some of the
school's new students for the coming year. Sean remained outside for a while, thinking of all the students who
attended the Academy and how exactly the four who had just left had come to be
so valued in so short a time. Shrugging, he followed Emma inside and went to his office. Paperwork awaited, and he thought that after
he finished that, he might call Moira. He hadn't spoken to her in some time
Several hours
later, the mood in the car had improved considerably. The crate full of junk food had helped, as had the cooler full of
soft drinks and water, the TV and VCR, the stereo, and the rear seat, which was
laid down into a bed. Jubilee and
Angelo were currently lying on the back seat, cuddling, feeding each other
M&M's, and watching Miss Congeniality with headphones on. Jono was driving, and he and Susana were
sitting in companionable silence, listening to the gravel-voiced singer of
Stabbing Westward sing along to scratchy guitars and electronic beeps.
Only you
can make me whole.
Just one touch and
you complete me.
God I pray you find me worthy
of the right to stand beside you.
And of your truth, and of your passion,
And of the right to sleep beside you.
Jono took his
eyes off the road long enough to reach across the center console and squeeze
Susana's hand. }D'you know this bloke? Cause he and I seem to have a lot in common
here.{
She smiled at
him, then tilted her head to the road, indicating that perhaps watching the
other cars on the highway might be a good idea. }Don't worry. Like I told
you back when we first got together, you're entirely worthy...{ She sighed, and blinked sleepily. }Think we might stop soon? It is almost 8, and we've all been up
since early this morning.{ She unfolded
the map and looked at it. }Looks like
we're maybe an hour from Pittsburgh; we could get a hotel there. Sound ok to you?{
}Sounds great...a
comfy bed and you to share it with. Think Ange and Jubes will want separate rooms?{ She turned to look in the back of the Jeep.
}Looks like they
may not...but this is Ange and Jubes, so maybe we should hold off on that
decision. Lots can change in an hour
with them.{ She smiled. }I'm happy for them though. They're usually pretty happy together.{ She rummaged a bit more in the glove
compartment, then pulled out a small guidebook to hotels along their
route. Paging through, she found a
suitable hotel and began reading aloud. "'The Appletree Inn is a beautifully restored
Italianate Victorian home located in the heart of Pittsburgh's charming and
historic Shadyside neighborhood. Built in 1884, the home is a grand
representation of the era, with intricately designed decorative plasterwork on
ceilings and skirtings, original wood floorings, and well appointed
fireplaces.' If we get this suite, the
Cortland Apple Suite...ooh, wow. It has
a Jacuzzi." She looked at him
speculatively. "But it's almost two
hundred dollars. Think Emma would
mind?"
}I
think it sounds like somewhere Emma would stay if she were on this trip. She respects your judgment. If you think it sounds good, we'll stay
there.{ Without looking away from the
road, he reached over and squeezed her hand again. She returned the squeeze, then lifted his hand and pressed a kiss
to his knuckles. She rested their
joined hands on the console, then leaned back in her seat and closed her
eyes.
}I'm
just gonna rest my eyes a bit. They're
dry..feel gritty.{
An
hour later, she was awakened by a gentle pressure on her shoulder. Sitting up, she realized that they had
arrived at the bed and breakfast she'd been reading about in the guidebook. She turned around to see if Angelo and
Jubilee were awake, and was nearly knocked out by Jubilee's backpack. *Hm. Guess so.* She unbuckled her
seatbelt, opened her door, and swung her legs back and forth to wake them
up. Cringing at the pins and needles
feeling, she hopped out and grabbed her bag. }Jono, you want to go in or should I? I figure we need at least 2 suites, so maybe Jubilee and I should go
in.{
}Sounds
good. You hungry? If so, why don't you ask for recommendations
while you're in there? We'll all go
out.{
"sounds
good. We'll be right back." The two girls entered the office, then
reemerged in a few minutes. "ok, Jono,
you and I are in the Cortland suite, and Angelo and Jubilee are in the Northern Spy
suite. The desk clerk recommended a
Thai restaurant a few blocks away...sound ok to you, Ange? Ange? Ahem." She waited for him to
turn his attention from Jubilee. When
it became apparent that that wouldn't be happening, she turned back to
Jono. "What do you say we leave the car
parked here in the lot and walk down to that restaurant by ourselves, since
they have keys to the Jeep and Jubes has their suite key?"
}Sounds good.{ He offered his arm to her. }If I may?{ They headed off down the street, leaving Angelo and Jubilee
to drag their things up to their suite.
When they returned about two hours later, the
B&B was quiet. Susana unlocked the
Jeep to get their duffel bags, then handed them to Jono, climbed out, and
locked the Jeep securely. Satisfied,
she dug the suite key out of her pocket and they climbed the stairs to the
second floor. She unlocked the door and
pushed it open in front of Jono, then followed him through and whistled at the
room. Jono had gone into the other room
to drop their bags, and commented on the whistle.
}You know, gel, that if you're goin'
t'whistle at a bloke, you should make sure he's visible 'fore you do
it...right?{
"Conceited...I was whistling at the room."
}Well, I suppose it's nice too.{ he crinkled at her. }Kidding, gel, kidding. There are limits to my conceit.{
She ignored him and walked further into the
room to look at it. "Jono, this is
absolutely beautiful. But you know
what's better?"
}Afraid to ask.{ He teased, laughing at her
signature 'shut up, you!' glare.
"The fact that there's a Jacuzzi. C'mon!" She closed and locked the door, then headed for the bathroom, shedding
clothes as she walked. She disappeared
into the bathroom and soon the sound of rushing water could be heard. He followed her into the bathroom, and as
soon as his foot hit the tile, he was hit in the face by a pair of khaki
safari-style shorts.
}You know, when I was in London, they usually
threw knickers or bras. Not
shorts. Is that some weird New Orleans
custom?{
"I'm ignoring that comment, just so you're
aware. Do we want green tea bubbles, or
country herb bubbles?"
He
tapped the side of his nose. }Can't
smell, remember? It's up to you.{ He looked down and began unbuttoning the
front of his shirt, stopping suddenly when he was hit across the face by a lacy
bra. }Wot's this about?{
"Seems
to me you should already know, since you're the one who brought up the
throwing-undies thing." she said right before she disappeared into the now
bubble-filled tub.
He
finished with the shirt, and made quick work of his jeans and boxers before
joining her. The action of sinking into
the tub made the scent of the bubbles rise up to his nose. }This is supposed to smell like green tea?{
"The perfume
variation, yes. Now pass me the
shampoo," she said as she ducked her head under the faucet and came back
up sputtering. He opened the bottle and
squeezed a bit of shampoo into her outstretched hand. }Thanks, Jono dear.{ She
spoke telepathically, not wanting to get soapsuds in her mouth. After rinsing the suds from her hair, she
turned to him. "Want me to wash your
hair for ya?"
}Erm...sure, why
not?{
"Well? You have to get over here under the water,
silly!" She scooted over, making space
for him. He ducked his head under the
water, then held the shampoo bottle out to her. She poured a bit into her hand, then reached up and squished it
through his hair. "You have nice
hair...I'm almost jealous. But somehow
I doubt this mop would look right on me. Have you ever dyed it?" She kept
up her monologue the whole time she was massaging the suds through his
hair. As soon as she had rinsed the
last bit of shampoo from his hair, she leaned over and pressed a kiss to the
damp bandages across his lower face.
}Wish I could do
that.{
"You're absolutely wonderful the way you are. But if you really want to return that kiss, we could always take the Jacuzzi and our hot little selves to the astral plane...." No sooner had she said it than she was on the astral plane. She looked down at herself and over at him, then giggled. He'd managed to put both of them in bathing suits...if what she was wearing could honestly be considered a bathing suit. "Nothing odd here, folks. Just two kids having a little hot tub party in the astral plane. Now, did you plan on making this trip worthwhile?" She smiled as he leaned across the tub and showered her face with kisses. }you know, we're spending almost two hundred bucks on that B&B room. We should go back and get our money's worth."