(no subject)

[gabriel_tam]

After receiving Simon's wave, Gabriel had immediately arranged with Mark to not only reschedule the previously-planned dinner engagement but also to clear the last meeting of the day from his calendar.

As a result, he's able to arrive at Milliways early.

(He's not worried. Not exactly. Still, requests like this from Simon are rare enough to make him wonder.)

Gabriel takes a seat in the armchair by the fireplace and requests a cup of coffee while he waits.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

It's not too long before the front door slides open and Simon comes in. (He's also early.)

A quick look around the room, and he catches sight of his father by the fireplace.

[gabriel_tam]

He's got the fingers of both hands loosely laced together, cradling the cup between them, but on spotting his son Gabriel shifts the coffee cup into one hand and raises the other in a half-wave.

"Simon."

He's pleased to see the younger man, and his expression shows it, even if there's something searching about the glance Simon receives.

"Nĭ hăo."

[simon_doctor]

"Ni hao," Simon returns, and his smile is no less pleased.

And oh, he knows that look of old; it's his father trying to find out what's wrong before asking the question outright.

"How have you been?" he asks, settling into the next armchair.

[gabriel_tam]

"Fairly well," Gabriel tells him. "If at some risk of being bored to sleep by some of the bills under consideration this session."

He signals to a waitrat, indicating Simon with a gesture.

"How about yourself? Kaylee and River?"

[simon_doctor]

"We're doing well," he says, "xiexie." There's news, but -- this isn't the time. Maybe after they've talked about the other matter.

He orders coffee for himself too, and turns back to his father as the waitrat scampers off.

[gabriel_tam]

"I'm glad to hear it."

Gabriel settles more comfortably in the chair, and gives Simon a crooked smile.

"Although I confess that now I'm even more curious as to why you wanted to meet tonight." A beat, and he adds, with wry amusement, "Unless you just wanted to have coffee and catch up with your old dad."

[simon_doctor]

For a moment he wishes he could say yes, that's all, isn't that enough of a reason?

"It would be nice," he says, as much in response to that wish as to what's been said aloud, "but no. I ... wanted to talk to you about a wave I got the other day."

[gabriel_tam]

"It would, wouldn't it."

It's clear Gabriel likes the thought, even as he sets it aside for the moment to focus on the matter at hand.

"A wave?"

[simon_doctor]

"Yes."

He reaches down to take the coffee mug from the returning waitrat, with a murmur of thanks, and waits until it's gone again.

"It was a somewhat irregular request for consultation."

Half a beat, steeling himself.

"From Dr. Navarro."

[gabriel_tam]

"Dr. Navarro? Vincent Navarro?"

For a moment, surprise is openly written on his face, followed by a sudden wariness which is just as clearly visible in the instants before Gabriel retreats behind the shield of pleasant neutrality.

"A consultation request, you said."

[simon_doctor]

He nods. "Specifically a request that I speak to a particular patient of his."

A beat, and a very small sigh, and he abandons any further circumlocution. "It's what you're thinking."

[gabriel_tam]

"I see."

He makes himself take a sip of coffee, covering any other reaction and buying himself a second or two. Gabriel lowers the cup and offers Simon a slanted, sympathetic smile.

"I'm sorry that you were unnecessarily disturbed. I'm sure it won't happen again."

Especially once Gabriel gets through with Navarro, although in a way he can't help but admire Vincent's determination.

[simon_doctor]

"Unnecessarily," he repeats. "Well. I'm very glad to hear that."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

At a table nearby sits Mary. She's intent on her homework - intent to the point of frustration, it seems.

[gabriel_tam]

"Mary?"

Although Gabriel's seen Mary frustrated on more than one occasion, something about her seems different.

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary looks up at the sound of his voice - and then quickly glances to one side, then another, to make sure that no witch is in sight.

As far as she knows, Gabriel Tam has never had a run-in with Blodwen, and Mary would much like to keep it that way.

But it seems the coast is clear. "Hullo," she says, gravely.

[gabriel_tam]

"Hello," he replies.

Gabriel is studying her very carefully now, after that quick, wary glance.

"Ni meí shì -- er, is everything all right?"

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

Mary doesn't prevaricate; the answer's direct. "No. But it should not be a trouble to you - there is someone wicked here, but there is no reason she should know you that I can think."

[gabriel_tam]

"I'm glad of that last," he says, dryly. For some reason, Gabriel does not look at all reassured.

"Does she know you?"

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"Yes - from a long time ago. But," Mary says, helpfully, "I have protections, so it is all right."

By which she means that her home and the greenhouse are protected, not Mary herself - but that is the important thing, of course, isn't it?

[gabriel_tam]

He looks even less reassured at this.

"Really."

A pause.

"Mary, as I remember, I've promised to believe you when you tell me things. You wouldn't take advantage of that by attempting to convince me of something that wasn't true, would you?"

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"I would not!" Mary says, offended and looking it.

Telling part of the truth is not at all the same thing as telling an untruth.

"Galadan has set protections on our house - and you may ask him yourself, if you do not believe me!"

[gabriel_tam]

"I believe you," Gabriel says, quietly. "I don't need to ask him, and I'm glad your house is safe."

Another pause.

"But more importantly, I want you to be safe, too."

[mistressmaryquitecontrary]

"I know."

Mary wants herself to be safe, too; that is why Blodwen needs to be dead.

"I have no intention," she tells him, solemn and serious, "of making myself unsafe. I have seen her once; I don't wish to again."

Unless she has a foolproof way of defeating her, obviously.

[gabriel_tam]

"All right. I'm glad to hear it."

He smiles at her, but there's still concern in his glance.

"Is everything else all right? You seemed to be having some trouble with what you were studying, before."