A/N: OK, folks. A little explanation is in order here.
In my rush to get this story out, I made a 'small' error.
Small in that I totally missed two chapters.
So when I posted Chapter V - Missing, there were actually two chapters before that which were 'sort of' important.
I have tried to correct this by deleting Chapter V - Missing, and inserting the other two chapters so the sotry runs with some sort of continuity.
My apologies for the confusion.
Out Of The Past
Part V - A Grilled Cheese Sandwich And Tomato Soup
5/24/2024- Words: 9,647 Chapters: 6/? Kudos: 6 Hits: 102
The next morning started like all his mornings had started for the past 11 months. He woke up and spent several minutes starting at the ceiling, thinking over his plans for the day.
It was a pleasant fantasy.
But it didn't take long for reality to crash through the door he had set against it.
The ceiling he was staring at wasn't his.
There was far too much noise outside his bedroom door.
This wasn't his bed.
And there was no roommate.
Laying in the bed, he tucked his arm behind his head as he continued to study the ceiling above him.
Silently he wondered if there would ever be a roommate again.
He missed her. He could admit that much to himself. Even past everything she had told him she did, he still missed her.
Then the anger began to build up inside of him.
Not at her.
At himself. For allowing himself to feel that way about her still.
How could he miss her? She had sat in front of him and admitted she was the reason Josie had died. She had killed her.
Threatened her.
Tortured her.
And finally killed her.
For months he had shared a cabin with her. Lived with her like she was just an extension of his lost family. Someone to talk to. Share parts of his life with he shared with no one else. Confided in. Laughed with. Fought with. Cried with.
Protected.
How many time had he done that? Stepped in front of her when danger threatened?
Layton gave a soft laugh.
"One time too many." He whispered to the empty room.
But his mind quickly snatched the thought back.
No. He didn't want her dead. Despite what he had said to her, he hadn't meant it.
He rolled over in the bed. It was too early and he wasn't ready to face any of this yet.
Hugging his pillow to him, he felt simply staying where he was the best decision he was going to make that day.
Several hours later he was woken by a pounding on his door.
Not even waiting for him to get out of bed or get dressed, Audrey came through the door carrying a tray and a small folding table.
Setting the tray on the small dresser where she had stuffed several articles of his clothing last night after he had gone to sleep, she snapped the table open and placed it in front of him.
"If you choose to hide out in your room all day, that is your decision." The Night Car manager told him. "But I'll be tossed off this train if I'm going to have you starve in one of my rooms."
And with that she plopped the tray down on the table in front of him.
Layton didn't even need to look to know what was on the tray. The smell assaulted his senses like a memory he couldn't say was good or bad at this point.
"Really?" He asked. "Grilled cheese and tomato soup? That's what you brought me?"
Audrey failed to make the connection. "It was the fastest, easiest thing I could make." She replied indignantly. "You could at the very least show some appreciation."
Layton shook his head. "No. You don't understand." He answered in a low, almost dismal tone. "This...it was the first thing they gave me when I came up the train." He glanced at the offering on the tray again. "I guess you don't have to feed a starving man much to get him to do your dirty work. She understood that."
Audrey shifted her indignation to a quick apology. "I'm sorry, Andre." She said, getting up from where she sat next to him on the bed and made to pick up the tray. "I'll go to the cafe and..."
But Layton quickly pulled her back down.
"It's fine, Audrey. Somehow," he said with a small smile, "I find it somewhat appropriate."
"Well, I'm not trying to coerce you into doing any of my 'dirty work'." She offered in a still apologetic voice. "And I'll gladly get you whatever you want to eat. Just as LONG as you eat it." She added in a slightly more lighthearted manner.
But Layton shook his head again. "No. This...is actually perfect. This is what started my life here so many months ago. And this is what ends it."
Audrey gave him a concerned stare. "Your life isn't ending, Andre."
The man next to her lowered his head. "Then why does it feel like it?" He asked.
Audrey wrapped a comforting arm over his shoulders. "Because you're hurt. And you're angry. Confused. And probably feeling a little lost."
Layton gave her a soft chuckle from under his long braids. "Try a LOT lost."
Audrey gave him a slight shake as she got up. "Eat your lunch." She advised lightly. "Then just...stay here for a while. Sleep. Get your bearings back. I'll make sure no one bothers you. And if you want to talk...I'm always available. All right?"
Layton turned his head slightly as he watched her walk to the door. But she stopped there and turned back to him.
"All right?" She reiterated.
Layton managed a small smile for her. "Yes, ma'am." He replied.
Audrey gave him one last, long look before leaving.
As the door closed behind her, Layton looked over the meal on the plate in front of him again. Slowly he picked up half the sandwich and bit into it.