She sat quietly, lazily ensconced in the corner chair. She scanned the room. The accommodations were better than she expected, kudos to Baker. The deep velvet night has long fallen outside and the quietude finally reached here. The soft shades sang stillness, ever obliging. She allowed herself to take a breath. "Overnight", the young doc threw at them earlier. Stahl ground his jaw as she scowled, "Lovely!". Now she welcomed the opportunity to rest. She was yet to tease out what tonight's craziness cost them all but she did not want to start that just yet. Christina was safely at home and that's all that really mattered. So she hit a pause button on her brain and sat back. TV and wings beat the night vigils every time but she would take what she could. She pressed the space between her eyebrows with her fingers and hung her head.
God, it was dark in here! What happened to the usual underbed lights? She did not want to end up conking out just yet so she decided to watch him. In the white sliver of hallway light she could just make out his form, his broad shoulders, torso, long legs. He seemed peaceful. His chest rose and fell with unhurried ease and she was somewhat relieved. His face did not show any marks of what passed, although the Light of the morning may think otherwise. She smiled faintly as her eyes adjusted. Strangely, he reminded her of a certain cat she once met at a shelter. Cristina was the one looking for a pet but Harlee still felt the need to have some say in the matter. The thing was cream colored with straw masquerading as fur. She never got to touch it because it bounded back into the cubicle as soon as it was taken out.
This cat was much bigger, meaner, and annoyingly determined to stay. He has proven this repeatedly, his endgame a mystery to her. At least he was quiet now. What a blessing! A grudging Thanks No Thanks to Woz...
His blond hair fell over his forehead in certain surprise and she itched to brush it back. His new boyish face bothered her.
Carefully, she moved the chair over to his bed. Her eyes tracked down to his mouth and she audibly sighed. She realized his habit of sucking in his lower lip both irritated and beckoned her. That's when things got interesting for them both, she surmised. She blinked at the pale stern lips relaxed slightly in sleep and wondered if they were soft, wondered what they would taste like, what she would feel if she touched them: Wanting, Disgust or, worst of all, Nothing.
When yellow pink dawn tickled her back she woke up with a start. Her head on his bedsheets and his slitted eyes boring through her. He was frowning. Then, quickly, a smooth curtain fell. "Next time, you know, I can willingly share...", he rasped pointing to the bed. Her eyebrows jumped up. Suddenly, hospital coffee seemed a great treat and she walked away, shutting him in with the Silence.