Lazy Tuesday

Work Text:

When Sara woke up on this random Tuesday, she felt like shit. First, she woke up late, past her usual 6am mark. Looking at her clock on her nightstand, she read 9:38. And yet, she didn't feel rested, not really. After almost two weeks of insomnia, she had decided to go to bed early, hoping to catch Morpheus by surprise. Her barely awaken brain calculated that she had sleep 11 hours. However, she felt no energy in her body, and the mere action of sitting in bed felt like a tremendous effort. She took a deep breath but her lungs immediately expulsed it in a trembling sigh. The light was soft and dimmed not to blind her but it still felt too much. She closed her eyes and tugged her sheet against her body.

"Morning, Captain" Gideon said in that weirdly soft voice she often used when Sara felt a bit off. She didn't know how the AI could read her mood so well - maybe something showed in her vitals? – but she truly appreciated it. She liked to think that over time, they had developed a sort of relationship even though she didn't how to refer to it. It wasn't friendship per se, and it had some maternal undertones to it, with an undeniable place to hierarchy but also weirdly cute banter. And sometimes, Sara was awful to her, ungrateful and needlessly aggressive, because she failed to compartmentalize her emotions. At first Gideon would say nothing and turned a metaphorical other cheek, but as they learned to work with each other, Gideon also learned when and how to push, how to make light of things and how to help. Gideon was really good to her, more than she deserved. She remembered seeing her in her human form and lowkey having a crush on her, turning it into a joke. She sometimes thought that if Gideon was around, their relationship would only grow on that weird mix of maternal figure but also loyal right hand and trusted friend. Was it weird? She couldn't tell, her brain was foggy. Wait, wasn't Gideon talking?

"I'm sorry, Gideon, come again?" She ran a tired hand through her hair and on her neck before letting it fall back on her tights.

"It's quite alright, Captain. Director Sharpe tried calling you at 7:30 and worriedly contacted me when you didn't pick up. I let her know that you were merely sleeping and that your vitals showed no reason to worry. She recorded a vocal message for you. The Legends, after making me check your vitals again and briefly looking at the timeline, proclaimed Lazy Tuesday and went back to their respective bedroom, having planed a brunch at 1pm."

Sara nodded slowly, feeling relieved not to have to worry about anyone.

"It's safe to say that all your children are behaving, as you like to say." Gideon added, making the blonde snorted.

"Alright, that's good" she looked around, aimlessly looking for something to do. She should get up and take a shower, maybe eat a snack, drink some water. She could jump at the gym and do some cardio or light workout. "Alright" she said again under her breath. She took another deep breath but didn't manage to keep it in, her whole body melting on the mattress as she exhaled.

"Would you like to listen to Ava's message?" Again, with the soft voice. Hadn't she known Gideon that well would she have heard pity in it, instead of care.

"Yes, please." She laid heavily against the wall and closed her eyes again. She didn't seem to be able to keep them open for too long.

"Hi sleeping Beauty, I hope your sleep was good. I'm a bit sad not to wake up beside you and see you resting. When your sleep gives you the rest and the peace that you need, you have the softest face on. I always have to keep myself from kissing your pouting lips. Gosh, I could have used a couple of your kisses this morning. I truly hope your night was good. Gideon told me that it should have been according to her datas, but well, datas only know so much. Anyway, I'm headed to the Bureau for a series of endless boring meeting, so, I'll see you tonight. I miss you, my love."

Ava's voice left the room and Sara wiped away random tears that were trying to make themselves known on her cheeks. She could have used a couple of Ava's kisses too, and her arms around her back, holding her close, sharing some of her energy with her. She grabbed her phone and smiled when she saw her girlfriend's texts waiting for her.

Morning, my love; I left you a voice message but I just wanted to tell you I love you. -7:45am

Text me when you wake up. -8am

Garry broke the coffee machine, I want to kill him -8:05am

Alright, he brought me a large coffee from a nearby coffee shop, I'll let him live a bit longer. -8:20am

First meeting about to start, love you. -8:30am

Morning baby, i'm fine, don't worry, just sleepy ig, thx 4 ur sweet words, u r the best. Miss u 2 -9:45am

Btw, I love you more -9:46am

She put her phone back on her nightstand and rolled on her side, turning her back to the door. she was too exhausted to get out of bed, and no one needed her anyway.

"I advise you to drink some water before going back to sleep, if that's your intention, Captain. It would prevent any headache." Gideon declared and Sara rolled her eyes unnecessarily before grabbing the bottle of water she always kept on the floor and obediently drinking whatever amount was left inside.

"Could you wake me up a bit before noon, please?"

She could have set an alarm on her phone but she didn't trust herself to hear it in her sleep and she didn't want to miss the Legends' gathering for brunch. They would probably be insufferable, between awkwardly worried and stupidly excited. She needed to at least be functioning like a decent Captain. A shower would be non-negotiable. She would also need to call Ava, or at least try. Maybe working out would be more efficient, it would wake up her fully and set her blood pumping with more energy, boosting her for sure. But the mere prospect of getting out of bed and into her gym clothes seemed too ambitious for her current state of lethargy.

"Of course, Captain" Gideon assured.

Alright, first, a nap, then a shower. That was okay. Maybe she could even force herself to do some yoga, that would do the trick: exercise and relaxation. She yawned and nodded to herself. That was a plan, a good plan. And calling Ava of course… She should also check the timeline in case anything needed to be taken care of. And run a general scan on Gideon to check for any updates. If they were having a slow day, it would be the perfect opportunity for Zari to do them. She tugged the cover to reach her chin and sighed... She felt heavy as if each of her limbs weighted as much as a baby elephant. Elephants were cute, Ava liked them, she had told her once. Ray could check the engine. A general round up of the ship seemed the logical things to do… Didn't she had several files for the Bureau still waiting to be completed? Fuck, when were they due? She had tried to work on them but her insomnia hadn't been the type to allow her that sort of productivity. She had accumulated so much shit to do. Her eyes still closed, she grabbed Ava's pillow and pressed herself in it... So, shower, yoga, Ava… Well, no, yoga then a shower, that made more sense… Yoga, shower, Ava, Gideon and Zari while Ray dealt with the engine, files... Shit, what about the brunch? Yoga, shower, Ava, brunch, Gideon and Zari while Ray dealt with the engine, files... Or maybe Ava first… Ava first… Ava, brunch, no… Ava, yoga, shower, elephants, brunch…

Sara fell back into a deep slumber, no dreams, no thoughts, she barely moved a toe. She came back to consciousness gradually, stretching her heavy limbs and wipe the drool from her chin. She didn't know how Gideon did to wake her up so softly -she told her it had something to do with a slight change in temperature and low music- but it was always nice. Her eyelids were lazy but at last she managed to keep them open. Glancing at her clock, she sighed. 11:30am. Time to get moving. She reached her hand for something to cover herself and landed on Ava's sweatshirt. She forced herself to sit, put it on and stood. It reached her knees, covering her thin tee-shirt and night-short. It would have to be enough. Alright, that was a good start.

"Is the bathroom free?" she asked Gideon, hoping her response to be negative.

"It is, Captain."

"Great" she mumbled.

With a deep sigh, she dragged herself to the bathroom, glad to cross pass with no one. She looked briefly at her face, just enough to note her pale face, deep dark circles under her eyes and a random pimple above her left eyebrow. Fucking beautiful. She did a lazy version of her morning routine, taking way too much time in the shower and applying enough make up to look a bit fresher. She was done with her mascara when she remembered her yoga.

"Fuck."

Well, she'd work out tonight, before seeing Ava. That was still alright, it could work. She knew that moving her body would do her good, would give her energy and free her of that thick fog of… whatever made her so tired. She exited the bathroom and bumped into Ray, he was covered in floor and something suspiciously sticky.

"Aye aye, Captain! Glad to see you on your feet."

His cheerfulness made her smile in spite of herself. He couldn't stay still and was a bit jumpy on his feet, his fingers playing a silent tempo on his palms. Looking behind him, Sara looked for his usual partner in crime.

"Should I be worry?" she asked simply, putting on her usual Time Mom face.

Ray blushed like a five year-old caught red hand in the cookie jar. He laughed a bit, looked behind him for Nate, but there was no sign of him.

"Nah, we're just cooking for the brunch. Did Gideon tell you? It's Lazy Tuesday!"

"Well, don't make it into Messy Tuesday, please. I want the kitchen to be spotless when I step into it."

"Aye aye!" he exclaimed, mimicking what he probably thought was a very serious and respectful salute. "Will Ava join us?"

"Fuck!" She facepalmed herself. How could she forget? Her mind was so foggy, it was unnerving. "I have to call her."

She speed-walked to her room, grabbed her phone. It was past noon and she had two texts from Ava.

I'll worry if I want to, you know that. – 12:03

I'm on lunch break, call me? – 12:09

She phoned her, looking through her closet for something more appropriate for meeting the Legends. They were family, true, but wearing pants might be good idea. She was settling for a light blue jean and dark turtle neck when Ava picked up.

"You better go clean that mess before I finish this sandwich or I'll send you a back to the Cretaceous period for the day !" she declared in her Director voice and Sara couldn't help but laugh softly.

"What did Garry do this time?"

"Gosh, I don't want to think about it again. I swear, this man is playing on my nerves." She complained with as much annoyance as fondness.

"You love him" Sara teased, knowing her girlfriend would be rolling her eyes.

"I don't." She could hear her pouting through the phone. "But I do love you. How do you feel?"

"I'm…"

"Don't say fine, Sara, or I'll send you Gary as an intern for a week."

Gosh, she did love that woman. She finished putting on her rings and dropped on the bed.

"I'm feeling a bit mehh." She admitted.

"Mehh?"

"Yeah, like all tired and lazy, my brain is barely making thoughts, it's annoying." She might have sound like a pouting child, but she knew Ava wouldn't mind.

"You have been having a rough week, it's normal, babe" Ava reassured softly. "Did you eat anything?"

"Not yet. The Legends want to do a brunch but I don't feel like eating anyway."

"Sara" She sighed, and Sara sighed too. She was annoyed at herself too. "I don't have to tell you that your body needs energy to function, which usually can be found in a regular intake of food." It wasn't a reprimand, not really. There was a teasing note in her words that keep it from being admonitory.

"I know, Ava, I just don't feel like it." There was a silence and Sara closed her eyes. She was being needlessly difficult and her annoyance only grew. "Tell me about your morning?" she asked when her the quiet became too heavy.

Ava, kind and patient Ava, humored her and went on about her day, complaining about the hierarchy and brainstorming some idea for her next meeting. Her voice was soothing and Sara welcomed her words, let her presence fill her mind.

"I love you" she said randomly when Ava paused to shew her sandwich. She rolled on her side to reach her pillow and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm being weirdly emotional for no reason, but I miss you, Aves."

"Aw, I miss you too, baby. I love you, and you never have to apologize for telling me. Your exhaustion is not weird, we talked about it." They had indeed. A couple months ago, Ava sat her down and, armed with a power point made with love, she had made her a master class on PTSD, anxiety, depressive episodes, and various coping mechanisms, from dangerous to healthy. They had talked, and argued and cried a bit. But she now had enough information to understand what imbalance of hormones can lead to different mental and physical state. She wasn't convinced to what extent everything applied to her, she wasn't ready to really face that, but at least, the rational part in her had a new understanding of things.

"Go with the Legends, have something to eat, soak up a bit of your chosen family's love. It's alright to be with them even though you're not feeling at the top of your game."

They kept talking until Ava's next meeting was about to start. Sara hung up and gave herself 5mins of self-pity before joining her team in the kitchen. It was like entering a hive, everyone buzzing around her, speaking, laughing, moving in a harmonious chaos that made her head spin.

"Cap, we need your help over here!" Zari called her from the table, yelling as if she were miles away.

Sara went to her, gladly accepting the mug of coffee that Mick gave her with a grunt, and sat next to her friend. Zari placed in front of her a plate with something she had obviously prepared herself.

"What is it?" she asked, looking at her carefully.

"A bagel." She said distractedly, gulping down the caffeine and burning her throat.

"Wrong!" Zari exclaimed, making a buzzing sound while Nate pushed her shoulder with his.

"Don't be a jerk, Zari, it's a bagel and you know it!"

"Shut up, pretty boy, it's not" Mick replied, settling beside Sara with his beer.

Sara looked between her friends and the plate, willing her foggy brain to catch up with whatever was happening.

"Yeah, shut up, Nate! Take a bite, Sara, and then, tell me."

Zari and Nate looked at her expectantly, so she complied, taking a bite of the non-bagel that was obviously a bagel. Turned out, it tasted like an avocado bagel with salmon. Sure, maybe the bagel itself was more tasteful than usual, a bit sweeter maybe, but nothing revolutionary. She searched Zari's face, trying to understand what she was waiting for, and looked down to the food. The realization came and she burst out laughing in spite of herself.

"Just because it has hole in the middle doesn't make it a donut, Z" she said, chuckling at the offended face of her friend.

Ray and Nora joined them at the table with a plate of pancakes and a bowl of fresh fruits. The buzzing went on and Sara tried not to entirely block it, letting it wash over her as she sipped water and nibbled on the bagel-no-bagel-almost-donut. The Legends tried including her more actively at first, but they quickly gathered she wasn't really in the mood, so they made sure she had everything she might want at hand to drink (coffee, water, juice, beer and even whisky) or eat (fruits, granola, pancakes…) before giving her some space. Or, as much space as she could have sitting between Zari and Mick. Mick was is usually self, sipping beers, stuffing his face with various sandwiches and interjecting in conversations he wasn't really part of. Zari was bursting with almost as much childish joy as Ray, which was definitely cute. She shared memories of her brother, started a weird tasting food challenge that left Nate running to the toilets, but most of all, she laughed, and it was delightful to hear her laugh that much. Progressively, Sara grew more relaxed, let herself laugh a bit and it felt nice. Her body was heavy as before, her mind wasn't as foggy. And though she still didn't feel like she could do much, it was easier to breath, it felt nice, almost good.

Two hours went by before a portal opened in the kitchen, letting Ava in her full Time Bureau Director's regalia, and Gary wearing his pants suit oddly paired with a cartoonish tee-shirt, his hair suspiciously wet. They greeted everyone and the Legends moved to leave them room. Ava walked to Sara and knelt beside her, placing a sweet kiss on her nose.

"Hello, you."

Sara linked her arms around her neck and hugged her, grateful that the Legends knew better than tease them for their mushiness.

"Wasn't you suppose to have a hundred of dumb meetings today?" she asked, her eyes closed as she let Ava's perfume filled her nose.

"Yeah, but Gary made a mess and the Bureau had to be evacuated."

"What? Do I want to know?" She stood back to look at Garry who were being actively teased by the Legends for his choice of shirt. "Does it have anything to do with him wearing a Teletubbies tee-shirt?"

"Yeah" Ava laughed, tucking an astray lock of hair behind Sara's ear. "You don't want to know, but all is well now, and it allowed me to come back to you early."

"All is well, indeed" Sara whispered, as Ava kissed her slowly, cupping her face between her warm hands.

Sara sighed in the kiss, feeling whatever thing was off since she opened her eyes righting itself a bit more.

"How do you feel?" Ava asked when they parted just enough to rest her forehead on hers.

"Still a bit under the weather, but better I guess?"

Ava was about to answer her when Zari inserted herself between them, in a very awkward manner considering their initial closeness.

"Come on, lovebirds, we're moving Lazy Tuesday to watch some old thing called Modern Family or whatever. There's gonna be popcorn!"

Her excitement was clearly over the food, and Ava nodded with a chuckled as Sara moved her face away. It was just the two of them in the kitchen as Ava helped her to stand.

"Do you want to join them?"

"Only if we can snuggle" Sara demanded, reaching for her girlfriend's bun to free her hair from its pins, letting it flows on her shoulders. "Do you want to change into something more comfortable?"

"Good idea. Meet you there?"

Sara agreed and kissed her one more time before joining the Legends in her office that had been invaded by pillows, plaids and random snacks. Everyone had taken their usual place, with Zari at the feet of her armchair, her cheeks filled with popcorn. She walked over her to settle in her place, and wrapped herself in the plaid that had been left for her. The first episode was already on when Ava arrived, also walking over Zari, stealing a handful of popcorn before she settled with Sara on the armchair. They had done it enough time that they managed relatively quickly to find a comfortable position in the limited space. Ava sat behind and Sara side way, tucked in her arms. Her eyes were closing in spited on the billion hours of sleep she had today but Ava was petting her hair and randomly dropping small kissing on her face, lulling her even more into Morpheus arms.

"You can rest, my love, it's okay".

So, Sara did, letting the peacefulness of Lazy Tuesday wash over her. She could train and work tomorrow. It was alright to take it easy sometimes, and just sleep the day off.