Back in apartment

[chelleuncurled]

[ooc: Millitimed to earlier today]

Michelle isn't going to the bar today. She was okay yesterday, but for some reason she's having trouble getting out of bed right now. She feels that he's missing.

She doesn't plan on moving today, but the knock on her door makes her stand up, throw on a robe and walk out to the hallway.

She runs a hand over her hair and wipes under her eyes, hoping that she doesn't look as terrible as she feels. Then, she opens the door.

Comments

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack hurries toward Tony and Michelle's apartment from the bar, the note clutched in his hand. He knocks on their door, a little concerned when he doesn't initially hear movement behind the door. After a moment, though, he can hear someone moving around inside, and after another minute of waiting, the door opens revealing a puffy-eyed Michelle.

"I got your note," he says, dispensing with the usual greetings. He puts a hand on her arm and looks at her carefully.

[chelleuncurled]

"It's okay. He's coming back," she says, looking up at him.

She will not allow any other thoughts to enter her mind.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He nods, holding her gaze. He won't allow himself to think anything else either.

"He will. He'll be back," he says, pulling her inside so anyone walking down the hallway won't see her in this state.

[chelleuncurled]

It says something about her state that she lets him move her around.

She goes into the kitchen, pushing hair out of her face as she opens a cabinet. "I know how to make coffee now."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Congratulations. Anything else besides that and biscuits so far?" he asks, letting her change the subject for a minute.

[chelleuncurled]

She fills a kettle with water and puts it on the burner. "Tony showed me how to make an omlette last week," she grabs two mugs and pours in some instant coffee.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

His mouth twitches at the sight of the instant coffee--not that he minds, it's just not his preferred way of making coffee--but he doesn't comment.

"Well you've got to start somewhere," he says, walking over to the kitchen, looking at her carefully.

"How are you holding up?" he asks, gently. If she was half as scared as he'd been when Kim disappeared, well then she had to be frantic under that calm exterior.

[chelleuncurled]

Instead of trying to lie to him, she turns and looks at him instead. "How do you think I'm holding up?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Not good, but I wanted to hear it from you."

[chelleuncurled]

"I'm not in denial or trying to hide how I feel. I just don't want to bleed before I'm cut."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Jack nods. "Who was it that was taking him outside the bar, again? Hav you talked to them, gotten any clue to where Tony might be?"

[chelleuncurled]

"Gil Grissom, he said that he walked through into his world and Tony...was longer behind him. He just disappeared."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"So he didn't close the door or anything? Tony just...disappeared in the doorway?"

[chelleuncurled]

She turns back around and moves the mugs slightly. "Somewhere between the bar and Gil's world..."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Which doesn't really help when it comes to finding him." He rubs the bridge of his nose for a moment, before putting a hand on her shoulder again. "He'll be okay. He has field experience, he'll be fine. And he'll come back."

[chelleuncurled]

This isn't a matter of being able to shoot, it's a matter of not being crushed by the forces that hold the universe together

"I know, I just hope that he's safe wherever he is."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, me too."

[chelleuncurled]

The kettle starts to whistle and she hurries to turn it off.

"Do you want some coffee?"

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Sure. I forgot mine out on the bar when I read your note."

[chelleuncurled]

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you last night..." she pours hot water into a mug.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Hey, it's okay. I can't balme you for not being able to think straight at a moment like that."

[chelleuncurled]

She nods, "Tony said you liked the hockey gear."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He manages a weak smile. "Yeah, I do. Thanks a lot. Now I just have to wait until I can use it."

[chelleuncurled]

She hands him a mug, her hands not even trembling. "I thought you might like watching a game, but...well, that would probably be closer to comic relief than sports."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, and I'd rather be out on the ice, playing. Especially when most of the players live in a place that doesn't get ice even in midwinter."

[chelleuncurled]

She pours hot water into another mug. "We would probably get hurt."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Well that's part of a standard hockey game, too."

[chelleuncurled]

"Tony always liked..." and she catches herself talking about him in the past tense.

She takes a sip of her coffee, focusing on the burning hot liquid instead of Tony's whereabouts.

"I didn't tell him goodbye before he left."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"You couldn't have known he'd end up somewhere else. And he will be back."

[chelleuncurled]

"But if he doesn't come back, I...I'll never know what happened to him."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Michelle, he will come back. I thought you weren't questioning that?"

[chelleuncurled]

"I'm trying not to -- but at the same time I'm not sure that ignoring the possiblity is such a good idea either."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"And neither is worrying yourself to death about something you can't do anyhting about. Though I know how hard it is."

[chelleuncurled]

She smiles thinly, "You're right, and it's not even been 24 hours yet..."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"No, it hasn't. Just don't let yourself get carried away, okay?"

[chelleuncurled]

She nods and takes another sip of her coffee. "Tony told me that Kim left, but at least you know where she is."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He nods, sipping his drink. "Yeah, and she left a note this time."

Of that doesn't mean he isn't still worried.

[chelleuncurled]

"I know, I saw it, but I'm sure everything's okay."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He's not so sure about that, but he's not about to argue the point at the moment; not when Tony's missing.

"Yeah, probably. You sure you're going to be okay?"

[chelleuncurled]

"No, but, I don't think there's anything you can do, either."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know," he says with a wry smile. He's sure he doesn't have to mention how much he hates that.

[chelleuncurled]

"I appreciate you checking on me though," she says after a moment. It's true, she doesn't like having people look after her, but something about talking to him sometimes makes it easier to have faith in things working out.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Well you did mention in your note that you'd be here if I wanted to talk. I figured that was something of an invitation. But you're welcome, Michelle. Anytime."

[chelleuncurled]

"It was," she admits.