/-^1^-\ Same Week. Thursday. /-^1^-\
Ivana had been yelled at for eating her dinner in the corridor outside the lab by Dr. Milligan. She ran to Dr. Crane's office door and hammered on it, tears down her face. It was Dr. MacLeod who answered to her.
"Where's Dr. Crane!" she cried. Alison raised a brow.
"He's out for a few minutes. What's the matter?"
"Dr. Milligan shouted at me for eating my lunch."
"I'm sure she wouldn't just irrationally yell out you, Ivana."
"No, Dr. MacLeod, you don't understand. She keeps bitching about me to Dr. Crane! She's got something against me! I really need to speak to him!"
"Uhh, he's out. Listen, go back to the canteen and find your fellow students or maybe find a spot outside."
"I don't know where the canteen is," whispered Ivana.
"So where were you eating?"
"The corridor outside the lab."
"Well that's why Dr. Milligan shouted. You're not allowed to eat on any of the corridors."
"I didn't know!" she wailed, burying her head in her hands. When the door went again she turned and ran out.
Jonathan pointed at the door dumbfound, holding a bag with some food in for them from the café.
"You should probably go find her."
"She can't get anywhere she isn't supposed to go and I am starving!"
"I don't think you want to look negligent right now," she warned. He sighed and placed the bag down on the chair, slinging his coat over the back.
"She cries for attention. Is it a wise idea?"
"Jon, she's in tears. She may be doing it for attention but what are the chances there is a reason she wants attention?"
"Oh, you think I should deal with that, do you?"
"It's your job. Get a grip," she retorted. He let out another deep sigh and nodded.
"Sorry," he muttered, kissing her cheek and leaving. Alison sat, eating her lunch in solitary and watching the sun move a little across the sky.
"Ivana?" asked Jonathan, glancing around the lab. She squatted up and peeped over the counter. "Err... what's the matter?"
"Dr. Milligan told me off for eating in the corridor and then Dr. MacLeod tried to dismiss it as a rule-"
"It is a rule."
"See, now you're doing it!"
"Ivana, this SIGN says so," he pointed out, tapping it. "It's not a vendetta. They're lovely people, they're only doing it in safeties interest." Alison, is a lovely person. Dr. Milligan is just normal. "I am on my break; will you be okay for the next 30 minutes?"
"Yes, Dr. Crane," said Ivana. Jonathan left. Ivana glowered at the door. This tactic wasn't working.
When she went home that night she sat, wondering how to do this best. Crying wasn't working. Maybe making herself valuable to him but she didn't know how. She could offer to do more work, and suck up to him. Or just outright coming on to him. She couldn't have bargained on the person taking her being so ... wow!
/-^1^-\ Weekend. Saturday. /-^1^-\
"Stop kicking me," muttered Jonathan.
"I needed to either get you awake or see if you were!" laughed Alison, shivering as he breathed on her neck; it was cold. He wrapped the cover around her body a little more tightly and held her. "Hehe, thanks," she smiled, "what's the plan of action?"
"Go for a walk, as was said, get a bite to eat, go get the dog and whilst your cooing over her I don't suppose if you mind if I make you dinner?" he asked, grinning. It was quite charming.
"Sounds very appealing," she said, curling up a little more. He nodded and kissed her cheek.
When they finally got up 20 minutes later, they got clean and changed and locked the front door of Alison's head, setting off to the park. Usually, Jonathan thought this might have been something he'd suggest but Alison had come up with the idea last night whilst they were getting to a lethargic stage before they needed to physically go to bed.
The chill air was nice and refreshing and brought with it an epiphany they needed to go walking more, and Alison for one would have to go out walking more anyway but Jonathan would only be glad to accompany her of course.
As said, they went and got a small lunch and then set off to the dog, a young golden retriever. Alison was nearly certain she knew what she wanted to call the dog and as soon as she set her eyes on it, she knew she was right. The dog looked at her again as she had before, her dark eyes observing Alison.
She was a rescue puppy and she was only 8 months old. She was quite meek and cautious and whereas the others would bound at the pen she would stay to the side, walking around in a circle for a bit before laying calmly down and she seemed to sigh. If she wanted to get in she never could as the others pushed her out.
"Do you have any ideas what you're going to call the dog?" asked the woman behind the counter looking up at both Alison and Jonathan.
"Lola, I'm thinking," said Alison, crouching down and petting the retriever. Jonathan rolled his eyes and smiled, taking the forms and filling them out.
"It's her dog; she's lucky I love her enough to know all these things about her," he remarked, filing through it all. It surprised him how much he knew. "Well, everything except how to forge her signature!"
"Oh," laughed Alison after a minute. She stood and quickly signed and then bent back down. Jonathan shook his head in disbelief, handing over the money and mouthed 'sorry' but the woman grinned and shook her head.
"I'm used to it," she whispered.
"Glad someone is," he remarked, squeezing Alison's shoulder, "the dog is yours, it's okay. Nobody is going to steal it."
Alison giggled and stood straight, sliding her arm around Jonathan and smiling at the woman nervously.
"Thank you very much," said Alison.
"Oh, you're welcome."
"Thanks," nodded Jonathan, picking up the paperwork and booklet on the top as Alison tanked out of the shelter. He raised a brow at the woman and left, following Alison trying to catch up with her as she bounded at a similar speed to the dog. "Honey, I think you forgot me." Did I just call her honey!
"Did you just call ME honey!"
"Unless I fancy the dog, yeah I did," he gasped, linking arms with her.
"Honey..." she whispered, biting her lip.
"I didn't mean to say it. Sorry if you find it-"
"No, it's fine Jon! The dog could be called Honey."
"That's so much worse than Lola..."
"She's my dog," whispered Alison, glowering at him.
"I know," he laughed, squeezing her hand, "I'm not saying you shouldn't call her it, I'm saying I think calling the dog Honey isn't to my liking. Better still, use the park scenario! Do you want to be wandering around shouting out 'Honey'?"
"Well I do like Lola..."
"Lola Honey MacLeod?"
"Oooh!" giggled Alison, doing that little ... wiggle of excitement she was prone to doing. Jonathan quivered at it for some reason.
When they got home Alison opened the back door that led out from the kitchen which surprised Jonathan because he'd seen the door but had never acknowledged where it led. Stupid because it wasn't exactly going to lead nowhere. He glanced outside into the garden which was beautifully kept. If Poison Ivy would have seen she might have died a little from joy.
Alison was currently teaching Lola her name. She'd call the dog and when the dog approached, gave her a treat and waited until she walked away to explore to call her back. Sometimes she wouldn't approach. Jonathan was preparing dinner, watching the young dog wander around the garden curiously.
"What are you going to do when she defecates all over the garden?"
"Pick it up. I have put a fence around my main plants, so my babies are spared being shat on-"
Jonathan blurted out his drink because he was laughing and proceeded to wipe it off the window using a dish cloth. Alison was laughing hysterically on the other side which excited Lola who wanted to know what was up with her new owner, which only added to the laughter.
Jonathan had his reservations about the new dog which he felt were later proved after dinner when they went to cuddle up on the sofa together and Lola jumped up onto Jonathan's lap, clearly feeling like she was missing out.
"Lola!" warned Jonathan, flicking his hand to the dog bed in the corner. Lola simply panted in his face and nearly licked him until he backed away.
"Lola!" tried Alison, "down!" Lola laid down on Jonathan. He rolled his eyes and glared at Alison.
"Didn't work-"
"I figured that!" snapped Alison, "Lola! Get down," she said, pushing the dog a little. Jonathan moved his weight to the side and Lola slipped off, padding over to her bed looking very dejected by her dismissal.
/-^1^-\
"Stop kicking me," muttered Jonathan.
Déjà vu struck him and he awaited Alison's reply but it never came. She was silent until she let out a little cry from under the cover and pushed it back off herself. He sat up and settled his arm down over the other side of her to prevent her falling off, being careful to watch if she opened her eyes so she wouldn't be scared. She was having a nightmare and he realised it genuinely concerned him.
She gripped his arm for a moment at one point and then curled up, holding one arm up to her face as though she were trying to shield herself. It got Jonathan all worked up seeing her scared; he felt a mixture of pleasure and sorrow. I don't feel pleasure... I feel bemused.
"STOP!" she screamed, thrashing about wildly as she awoke. Jonathan leapt back and grabbed her hand. "PLEASE STOP HURTING ME! PLEASE! I DIDN'T MEAN IT!" she begged, thrashing about.
"Alison! Alison! Alison! Stop it! Stop, you're okay! ALISON!" he barked sternly. She gained control of her very disorganised breathing and after a few wild glares around in the dark settled her eyes on Jonathan.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, "nightmare," she stated, her whole face covered in sweat. She swept her hair back and turned away from him with complete embarrassment. He hooked one finger to her cheek and tilted her back to him, kissing her lightly.
"It's fine," he said gently, laying back with her in his arms, holding her hands tightly. She laid back against him with more comfort as she realised he really was okay with what had just happened.
They both cautiously reared their heads to the left as they head a panting noise to find Lola padding about at the side of the bed. Alison laughed nervously and glanced up at Jonathan. Lola had jumped over the dog gate.
"Unbelievable," he laughed, shaking his head.
"Just leave her," said Alison, settling her head back down on his chest.
"Alright," he whispered, kissing the top of her head and laying his own back against the pillows.
He shut his eyes but opened them after a minute and gazed at the ceiling for a long time, contemplating and bracing himself. He lovingly held Alison, just to let her know she was okay and safe in his arms. After a while she didn't seem so het up.
"Alison?"
"Yeah?"
"...I love you," he said after a long time. Her lips played into a smile.
"I love you too, Jonathan."
I feel like I've moved them on as a couple rather quickly; and by getting the dog not only has she acted a little too late on getting protection in her house, sort of after what he did but I think they start to feel a bit like they've got a shot of becoming a family. But I do make it quick for them because of what they had to begin with. And I will ... still ... try to pick up the pace a little xD