Forgiving (Roland, Geoffrey)

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

She was probably right, but he still wasn't ready to see Alison. He wanted to wait until he felt well enough to talk to her. He wanted to feel a little closer to himself first.

He looked up at her, his eyes still so filled with pain. "I'm just... I'm not used to this. I'm usually the one who takes care of everyone. I don't know how to lean on people... I still feel like I should be getting out of bed and making you lie here instead... Like I should make sure you're really OK and that the baby's doing well."

[Riley Neves]

"I'm fine," Riley promised him, her voice still soft. "The baby's fine." She didn't mention the cramps from the day she was brought in, or how terrified she had been that something was wrong a t the time. Geoffrey didn't need to worry about it, especially because everything was fine now. "I even know how to let you hear it's heartbeat if you want proof," she added, smiling half-heartedly.

"But right now, you need to be resting, and you need to let other people help you. It's okay to let go of all the responsibility every once in a while."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

He sighed and reached for her hand, squeezing it tightly. "It's OK. I believe you. And I really am happy for you. You're going to be a great mother... I know you don't believe that, but I have confidence in you."

It was easier to talk about her than about his problems. The odd thing was that he couldn't entirely regret what had happened, because he'd been targeted because he was taking care of Riley. That was what he was used to doing--taking care of the people he loved. He just didn't know how to let them take care of him.

"Remember that day at my house?" he said suddenly. "When we were talking about our lives ten years from now? You never did say that you wanted a husband or children. And now look... You have Roland, and a baby on the way... Maybe I'm the one who's destined to travel the world with no one but my dog."

[Riley Neves]

Riley sighed. She had the dog, she had a baby on the way, and while she kept telling Roland no, he had proposed.

"I remember that day," she said at length, her eyes a bit unfocused. "But you're wrong, you know. You've got Alison, whenever you're ready to go back to her, and you've got your family. And you've always got me. You'll never be alone, you know."

Her gaze focused on him again, and she got a smile on her lips. "Besides, I think you're more of a cat person." It was a lie- Geoff was definitely suited for a dog, but she was trying to make him smile.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey rolled his eyes and managed a slight smile, though it was still a little sad. "Yeah, right... a cat," he said. "Did I tell you Alison has a puppy? His name is..." He stopped and frowned. "I can't remember. I can't remember what Alison's dog's name is..."

This threw everything out of whack for him. Did Alison really have a puppy? Was there even really an Alison? Was Riley really sitting here, or was he just talking to himself?

"Could... could you get me some water?"

[Riley Neves]

Riley frowned. She was far more worried about Geoffrey than she was letting on. "It's okay, Geoff. You can ask her what she named her puppy next time you see her." Did Alison even have a puppy, or was Geoff confusing her for Alison? She kept this thought to herself, though, and squeezed his hand.

"Yeah, I'll get you some water. I'll be right back, okay?" She looked around, making sure there wasn't already some water in the room. She didn't want to leave Geoff, but she had to get out, at the same time.

Stepping outside, Riley made sure she couldn't be seen, and she leaned hard against the wall, letting out a rush of air. It was her fault that he was like this. She should have never involved him, and she should have fought to see him before now.

"I can't breathe," she whispered to no one in particular, both of her hands pressed against her stomach as the guilt threatened to swallow her whole.

((I figured Geoff might need a moment... and I couldn't remember if Roland was waiting for her, or if he'd gone back to his room))

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

(Roland did go back to Riley's room.)

Geoffrey felt her absence immediately. For a brief, terrifying moment, he wasn't sure whether she'd been there at all. She left no trace behind, and no one else had seen her... what if he'd dreamed it? What if he'd been dreaming and was just now waking up to an empty room?

"No," he said aloud. He refused to believe that. She had been there. She had come in with Roland, then Roland left and she had stayed.... Right?

He let out a breath and forced himself to think about Alison. She had a dog. What was the dog's name? He closed his eyes and imagined the dog... it was a little golden retriever puppy. And its name was.... Bobo. No... Bandit. No, but it definitely began with a B. Benji! Yes, that was it...

He had a brief moment of triumph as he repeated the name several times. And then, just as quick as it had come, he felt it vanish, leaving behind a wave of despair. He flopped back down on the pillow and closed his eyes, allowing a few tears to leak out. When was he going to feel like himself again?

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine arrived in the way she usually did, thanking the house elf who could sneak her past security. In her arms were a few more photos and things from home. She insisted on bringing them to make Geoffrey at least feel a little more comfortable. She also snuck in a piece of gooseberry pie. The hospital food just couldn't compare to the five star cuisine at home, although the pie was something she baked herself, she needed to keep occupied.

Really the only things that even animated her anymore was the thought of being with her brother, and for his sake she was coming out of her shell a little more everyday, trying new things so she'd have something to talk about with him when she got there.

After seeing how gaunt he looked and was still looking, she decided to take up cooking convincing herself that he'd have to eat what she made, even if it was only guilt riding his appetite.

She saw him distraught and a small whimper escaped her lips, she wasn't sure what had happened to him but it didn't look good, "Geoff...?" she asked cautiously arms still full.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

At the sound of Christine's voice, Geoffrey's eyes flew open. Once again, he was confused. Had she always been there? Had Riley never been there at all? Was he just waking up from a dream?

"Christine?" he said, puzzled. "When... when did you get here? How? Did you see Riley? She was here a minute ago... I think."

[Christine Montgomery]

"Just now." she answered, " The way I always do, this time Mipsy took me. Was Riley here?" she asked before setting things down. She arranged the photos she brought then set the pie down on the side table.

"That's good, I know how much you wanted to see her."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

"She went to get.... something," he said. He couldn't remember what anymore, or how long ago she had left, and he looked over at the door and frowned. "She's really alive, right? She's OK? And Roland, he's alive, too? I didn't dream those things, right?"

He struggled to sit up and reached over to the bedside table to get some water, only then noticing that the pitcher by the bed was empty. "I think she went to get some water." That sounded reasonable. In fact, he thought he could remember asking for water.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine reached for what he was reaching for, his questions broke her heart all over again. She realized at about the same time he did that the pitcher was empty and gave him a fragile little smile. Then she nodded, "She's okay Geoff, she's really here, and she's okay." she promised him taking his hand.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

He released a breath and nodded slowly. It was OK. If Christine said it, it must be true. Right now, he was relying on her, completely and totally, for support. She was the only one he could really let himself lean on right now. He squeezed her hand tightly.

"I'm scared, Christine. I want things to be the way they were... but they never will be again, will they? Why do things have to change?"

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine had always considered herself a mature person, oh she'd throw a tantrum now and then to get her way, but for the most part she was well educated and cultured. Now however she felt so young, and quickly she was beginning to feel so old. Geoff forced her to come up with wise answers, he was depending on her and she would rather die than let him down.

Smiling a little she sat on the bed, " Because without change nothing good would happen either, and even if it did we would never really appreciate it unless we understood that bad happens to." She brought his hand up and held it to her face for a moment a moment of intense relief, " We're still so lucky Geoff...you're alive." she smiled, " You're still here, and so is Riley, and even Roland...we're all still here, and we can live, and one day...things are going to change again, for the better and we're all going to be so happy."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

He felt almost like a child, like she was so much older than he was. He needed to hear what she was saying, and it sort of helped... but it sort of didn't. Because she was right, things would eventually change for the better and everyone would be happy, but it seemed like, for Riley and Roland, that had already happened. They were together, they had each other and they were so in love. And he was in hell. Somehow, the tides had shifted, and he was left stranded on the beach.

A few tears leaked out of his eyes. "I'm so tired, Chrissy...."

[Christine Montgomery]

She leaned forward to kiss him lightly on the forehead, "Sleep Geoff. I'll be here." she promised, vowing to watch over him and make sure no harm would come to him while he slept, "You can sleep."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey lay his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes, but he clung to Christine's hand. He feared sleep, but Merlin, he needed it. Having just had a nightmare, maybe he could sleep peacefully this time. He tried very hard to shut off his mind and let sleep take over him, but it still took a while. But finally, with Christine sitting next to him and talking softly, he was finally able to drift off to sleep.

(I'm thinking maybe we can call this thread finished?)

[Christine Montgomery]

(Agreed)