milliways_bar | (no subject)

It's all Barry can do to stop himself from racing at her, but he wouldn't want to startle her.

So he just jogs towards her, all smiles.

"Sara!"

"Hey!" She stands as he sweeps her into a hug.

He kisses her deeply for a moment, and lets that moment last.

"Welcome here, dearheart," he says as the moment ends and time resumes for him. "Misses you so much."---------

"God, I missed you too." She's content to be held, making no move to back away.

"I have good news to welcome you home with. Delia's alive. Everything is fine." He fishes in his pocket for the crumpled notee Indy left, saying as much. "Things are good." And he kisses her again for good measure.

"So tell me about your trip."

"Oh, thank God. Indy must be so relieved."

They sit down finally. "It was very relaxing--I drove up the California coast. Popped into the smaller towns, things like that. I did meet up with some friends from grad school, which was nice."

"But I'm glad to be back here."

"How long were you away?" He sits next to her and notes all the bags.

"Haven't seen Indy yet since the news. I took it fairly easy. Did get to see some of Ace's fireworks, though."

"Two weeks my time. I'm not sure how long I was gone here. In fact, I was back a couple of days ago--had to leave again to see my brother, before I could find you." She frowns. "He's been getting ill lately."

She laughs. "She was probably in pyro heaven--a sanctified excuse to blow crap up."

And one of the bags is rooted in, before she pulls out a photo album. "Pictures--of Tamales Bay, the bed and breakfast where I used to live. The beaches I stopped in."

"You know, you could have just knocked on my door," he says with a sly grin.

"You weren't gone that long, Bar-time. It's been four days since I saw you. And while that might have felt longer to me..." He smiles again. "I hope your brother is doing okay. And I'm glad you got to see him."

He looks at the photos. "Oooh. Nice. I'd forgotten how nice it can get out there."

"My damned phone rang as soon as I set foot in this place. I ignored it long enough to say hi to Murphy. It rang again, it was him and I was out the door." Slightly petulant tone, before she grins teasingly.

"I think he'll be all right. Sidles are hard to get rid of, when we want to be."

She smiles, seeing his enjoyment. "It really is beautiful in some of those places."

"Oh, yes. Sidles are quite tough, of that I have no doubt." He smiles at her, still taking her presence in.

"You seem calmer. Certainly less tense."

She sighs, her smile growing softer. "I...made peace, with all that's happened. Or will happen."

He smiles back. He thinks he's be smiling a lot today.

"That's good. Anything you want to talk about, or having made peace, are you okay?

"And the dreams are gone too?"

"One of my brothers is dead in my time. If the other is alive, I doubt he will be for long. Twins should never be separated." She sighs, shrugging slightly. "Nothing I can do about that. So I'll cherish the time I have with them now, and cherish their memory when they're gone."

She frowns slightly. "For the most part--yes. But I dreamt of you and that other woman again. And I know I'm not insecure--you're nothing like Hank. It's weird."

It doesn't take much for him to know that she's not only talkng about Murphy and Connor. And he can see that she's at peace with whatever comes for him and her as well.

"Who's Hank?

"I think...I might have an idea who that woman is. If your dreams have some kind of psychic component."

Her expression darkens. "A paramedic I met at a scene several years ago. We dated for almost two years--and I learned I was his mistress and he was involved with someone else."

A curious look. "Really?"

"Jerk. How anyone could do that to anyone - let alone you - is beyond me." Then he pauses and thinks for a moment.

"Her name was Fiona Webb. She had red hair, was a bit lanky, and there was always an air of uncertainty about her.

"And we were engaged. Almost married."

"I don't think I was ever in love with him. But I didn't appreciate being treated like that." A slight smile. "He ended up having to transfer out of Vegas--the other officers gave him hell."

Her eyes widened. "What happened?"