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[bannion_sight]

She wakes from the dream somewhere in the blackness before dawn, when the stars are darkened in the sky and all the world is hushed to the point where Kim feels that if she stays where she is for one instant longer she'll start screaming just for the sake of the sound.

She snatches her coat from its peg by the door on her way out, without stopping, and shrugs into it as she dashes up the path that leads to the Tor. It's not the quick pace that causes her breath to come rapidly; it's the memory of being chased in the nightmare and the faint echo of the dream-feeling that she's trying to flee from something she can't quite discern that drives her now.

Kim darts through the leaning stone portal and into Milliways, shuts the door behind her, then leans back against it and draws the first long breath since she woke up.

A short time later she's settled in a booth with a cup of black coffee to hand and a magazine lying open on the table in front of her. From her manner, it looks as though she's planning to be here a while.


[ooc: open until it scrolls.]

Comments

[ikissdhimbck]

Part of her wants to come over right away, but she waits. It isn't until that cup of coffee is growing low that she approaches, carrying a fresh cup.

The smile on her face is lopsided, tentative -- unsure.

"Howdy."

[bannion_sight]

She looks up, and smiles warmly back.

"Hi."

[ikissdhimbck]

It's been a good spell since the last time she crossed paths with the young doctor.

"Looked like maybe y'could use a refill," she says, proffering the hot cup of coffee. "I asked Miss Bar what you was drinkin'."

[bannion_sight]

"Oh, Katherine, thank you-- that's really nice of you," Kim says, closing her magazine.

"How have you been?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"Don't mention it."

Hands free, she absently tucks them into her back pockets, and scuffs a boot. She tips her head to the opposing seat. "Y'mind...?

"I've been well 'nough."

[bannion_sight]

"Please do," she says, waving her hand at the seat in an attempt to encourage. "Sorry, I should have said before-- I guess I'm still not quite awake yet."

A beat.

"Well enough is more good than not, right?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"You jus' now wakin' up?"

She settles in the booth, shaking her head at the apology with a tight smile. There was something about the way Kim looked when she came in that pulled Kate over.

"Well 'nough is more good than not," she agrees with a quiet laugh. "And what 'bout you?"

[bannion_sight]

"Sort of," she replies, with a half-laugh of her own that falls a little short of actual humor. "It's ... somewhere before dawn back where I live. I, um, had a bad dream."

"I'm doing okay," Kim adds. "Nightmares aside."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Y'had that look about you."

She winces sympathetically.

"I don't make it through most nights myself without a bad dream or two. Y'sure you're all right?"

[bannion_sight]

"I did?" Kim winces too. "Oh well."

"I'm okay, really -- or I will be," she amends, after a second. "It was just a pretty awful one, so it left me shaken up."

And, of course, there's the nagging feeling that this is only the beginning of something, all over again, but she doesn't want to think about that, not quite yet.

"You're having bad dreams too?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"Always."

She's quick to smile these days, but so often without heart in it. It's like watching a concert pianist play Chopsticks.

"For years, now. They've come an' gone, changed, I've gained new ones... But that look is always the same." Another wan smile. "The kinda anxious skin y'crawl in when y'haven't slept a full night through."

[bannion_sight]

"I'm sorry," Kim says, softly, sincerely. "That's awful."

[ikissdhimbck]

"There are worse things. I get used to 'em after a while. What about you?"

She gives Kim a careful look.

[not_his_pa]

(OOC: Wiggles Millitime.)

William's trying to find the clearest path through the Bar to the fireplace with his hat pulled down.

He almost bumps Kim's table as he dodges a rat and winces as he pressed his bandanna closer to his bleeding lip,

"Pardon me, ma'am."

[bannion_sight]

"It's all right," she assures him, with a quick smile that's followed immediately by a look of concern as she spots his injury.

"Are you okay?"

[not_his_pa]

His hat stays as down as he can manage to hide his black eye,

"Nothin' too bad, ma'am."

[bannion_sight]

"Mm-hm," she says, a little dryly.

"Want me to take a look? I'm a doctor."

[not_his_pa]

She looks sort of stubborn so he takes off his hat, his eye's newly hit and looking bad and his lip's still bleeding,

"Yes, ma'am."

[bannion_sight]

One look's enough, and Kim starts to slide out of her chair.

"Okay, come on. Let's get you patched up."

"I'm Dr. Ford; what's your name?"

[not_his_pa]

"William Evans, ma'am, from outside Bisbee. What are you goin' to do?"

Maybe if its just a piece of steak or something that will be fine. The last doctor he really knew was Doc Potter who was really better with animals before he was shot.

[bannion_sight]

"First we're going to get you a compress to hold over that eye while I see how badly your lip is cut," she tells him, and begins to lead the way toward the infirmary.

"I'm afraid I don't know where Bisbee is," she adds.

[not_his_pa]

"Arizona Territory, ma'am,"

That doesn't sound too bad so he follows her.

[bannion_sight]

"That's in the United States, isn't it?" Kim asks.

It's not far to the infirmary, and she pushes the door open and reaches for 'her' white coat in one motion.

[not_his_pa]

"Yes, ma'am, out West where it gets dry. They're layin' the Southern Pacific railroad not far from our place."

[bannion_sight]

"Laying the--"

It has ever been a Seer's lot to move easily between the loops of time as woven on the Tapestry, and more to look behind the words to the images they bring, all of which explains why Kim finds herself briefly made dizzy by the young man's simple statement.

"I see," she concludes, after a moment, and gestures to either a bed or the chair beside it, it's not clear which.

"Go ahead and have a seat while I get a few things."