08-22-2018, 08:27 PM
Jay physically blocked the doctor from entering until Cayli's recognition granted him passage. Natalie watched impassively as he squeezed himself in, choosing to stay put at Cayli's beside -- aside from to shift so she wasn't in the way while he completed a series of checks. After a moment his brow furrowed low, clearly aware that something in his patient had changed; but rather than confront the issue, he retreated hastily. He didn't even pause to ensure they left as requested.
Jay flashed her a look before he belted after him, his parents left reeling in the doorway. His dad's angry voice rang after him, demanding to know what he thought he was doing, while his mother's softer tones tried to placate. They began to argue the virtues of hurrying after and halting whatever foolish thing their son planned to do next.
Natalie's expression stilled carefully as she realised she'd been left to the mercies of Jay's family; a stranger not entirely welcome amongst them.
Cayli seemed unperturbed, though. "So are you dating my brother?"
She turned. Brief surprise registered at the question. Cayli's cheeks were still gaunt, her pallor still pale, but the life burst brilliant in her expression. Warm curiosity overspilled as, beneath the rough hospital blankets, her knee began to bounce with familiar restlessness. Natalie smirked as she pressed a hand to still it. She chose to answer the question she assumed Cayli was actually asking. "We worked together in Africa while I was teaching in a school outside Freetown. I'm here as an ambassador of sorts, to keep your brother out of trouble. Or try to."
Cayli leaned in, one eye on her bickering parents. "See, Anna Marie works here now. She was his old girlfriend, and I know he was looking at rings before he left 'cus I.. uh.. well, anyway. And I just thought. You know, that maybe." Her bright blue eyes widened with the implication, until her earnestness faltered like a lead balloon. Realisation crowded her brows together in disappointment. "But... but he won't stay, will he. Not even if she forgave him."
Natalie softened as Cayli's shoulders slumped, though the set of her gaze spoke more of determined frustration than defeat. It seemed Jay's little sister was a fierce one.
"He can't stay, Cay," she said gently. "It doesn't mean he doesn't want to. But we have some time, I promise." Obligations waited back home; Brandon had made that crystal clear. But Jay deserved this small sliver of happiness, and Natalie meant to ensure he took it -- personal cost to her or no. More to the point, she wondered if Iowa was really the best place to leave Cayli if her parents couldn't accept what she had become. Today's efforts nudged her from death's path, but being a channeler brought its own obstacles. And dangers.
Jay's mother finally bustled in, apparently having won the brief dispute. Her gaze washed over Natalie like a complication she chose not to acknowledge, pressing her palm to Cayli's head just as the doctor had done. "The preacher is a nice man," she was saying to her husband. "I've asked him to pray for our Cayli." Jay's dad only grunted as he followed her in, but she ploughed on regardless. "He's from the television, David. If God listens to anyone, it's Jensen James."
"And who are you?" The words fired cold and abrupt. Jay's dad stared the question down, perhaps expecting Natalie to wilt beneath the crush. She did not take offence, though she was aware in her peripheral that Jay's mother's lips pursed tight -- discomfort or disapproval. Her pale gaze steadied the accusation in his. She considered the best answer to give.
But it was Cayli who spoke first.
"This is Natalie. She's a teacher. In Africa, dad."
His eyes swerved to his daughter, but the thick lines of his face remained rigid. His arms lay folded. Outside of the Custody was clearly what she meant, but it did not seem to sway him. "Thought you said you were leaving."
"But they only just got here!"
"Cay, you should be resting, sweetie," her mother interjected. She smoothed the hair from Cayli's face, still slick from sweat. Cayli pulled her hand away.
"But mom, I feel okay right now. Shouldn't we make the most of that? Please, daddy, I really want them to stay. I haven't seen Jay in more than a year!"
Rubbing her daughter's fingers, Jay's mother peered up a curious gaze then. Her tears had dried around red rimmed eyes, slightly swollen. She was the kind of thin that spoke of long vigils; of a life carved to a standstill around her daughter's illness. Perhaps she studied the shadows beneath Natalie's own eyes in turn, for her gaze suddenly jumped up in alarm.
"Sweet mercy, did you all come here straight from the airport? Pastor James, can we get you anything? You must think us so rude!"
"It's a hospital not a damn party, Caroline."
"Which is no excuse for bad manners."
In her bed Cayli grinned and patted Natalie's hand.
[[Not sure if Jensen followed in; if he didn't I'll amend accordingly]]
Jay flashed her a look before he belted after him, his parents left reeling in the doorway. His dad's angry voice rang after him, demanding to know what he thought he was doing, while his mother's softer tones tried to placate. They began to argue the virtues of hurrying after and halting whatever foolish thing their son planned to do next.
Natalie's expression stilled carefully as she realised she'd been left to the mercies of Jay's family; a stranger not entirely welcome amongst them.
Cayli seemed unperturbed, though. "So are you dating my brother?"
She turned. Brief surprise registered at the question. Cayli's cheeks were still gaunt, her pallor still pale, but the life burst brilliant in her expression. Warm curiosity overspilled as, beneath the rough hospital blankets, her knee began to bounce with familiar restlessness. Natalie smirked as she pressed a hand to still it. She chose to answer the question she assumed Cayli was actually asking. "We worked together in Africa while I was teaching in a school outside Freetown. I'm here as an ambassador of sorts, to keep your brother out of trouble. Or try to."
Cayli leaned in, one eye on her bickering parents. "See, Anna Marie works here now. She was his old girlfriend, and I know he was looking at rings before he left 'cus I.. uh.. well, anyway. And I just thought. You know, that maybe." Her bright blue eyes widened with the implication, until her earnestness faltered like a lead balloon. Realisation crowded her brows together in disappointment. "But... but he won't stay, will he. Not even if she forgave him."
Natalie softened as Cayli's shoulders slumped, though the set of her gaze spoke more of determined frustration than defeat. It seemed Jay's little sister was a fierce one.
"He can't stay, Cay," she said gently. "It doesn't mean he doesn't want to. But we have some time, I promise." Obligations waited back home; Brandon had made that crystal clear. But Jay deserved this small sliver of happiness, and Natalie meant to ensure he took it -- personal cost to her or no. More to the point, she wondered if Iowa was really the best place to leave Cayli if her parents couldn't accept what she had become. Today's efforts nudged her from death's path, but being a channeler brought its own obstacles. And dangers.
Jay's mother finally bustled in, apparently having won the brief dispute. Her gaze washed over Natalie like a complication she chose not to acknowledge, pressing her palm to Cayli's head just as the doctor had done. "The preacher is a nice man," she was saying to her husband. "I've asked him to pray for our Cayli." Jay's dad only grunted as he followed her in, but she ploughed on regardless. "He's from the television, David. If God listens to anyone, it's Jensen James."
"And who are you?" The words fired cold and abrupt. Jay's dad stared the question down, perhaps expecting Natalie to wilt beneath the crush. She did not take offence, though she was aware in her peripheral that Jay's mother's lips pursed tight -- discomfort or disapproval. Her pale gaze steadied the accusation in his. She considered the best answer to give.
But it was Cayli who spoke first.
"This is Natalie. She's a teacher. In Africa, dad."
His eyes swerved to his daughter, but the thick lines of his face remained rigid. His arms lay folded. Outside of the Custody was clearly what she meant, but it did not seem to sway him. "Thought you said you were leaving."
"But they only just got here!"
"Cay, you should be resting, sweetie," her mother interjected. She smoothed the hair from Cayli's face, still slick from sweat. Cayli pulled her hand away.
"But mom, I feel okay right now. Shouldn't we make the most of that? Please, daddy, I really want them to stay. I haven't seen Jay in more than a year!"
Rubbing her daughter's fingers, Jay's mother peered up a curious gaze then. Her tears had dried around red rimmed eyes, slightly swollen. She was the kind of thin that spoke of long vigils; of a life carved to a standstill around her daughter's illness. Perhaps she studied the shadows beneath Natalie's own eyes in turn, for her gaze suddenly jumped up in alarm.
"Sweet mercy, did you all come here straight from the airport? Pastor James, can we get you anything? You must think us so rude!"
"It's a hospital not a damn party, Caroline."
"Which is no excuse for bad manners."
In her bed Cayli grinned and patted Natalie's hand.
[[Not sure if Jensen followed in; if he didn't I'll amend accordingly]]