milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

For the first time in a while there's a Michelle in the bar. She's got her laptop open and is looking for ideas.

Be careful, you might just wind up in her article.

But anyway, she's also got chips and salsa and is willing to share.

"Hey Jack," she smiles a little at him. She knows a little of what's been happening. "The apartment's good. Tony's still a little sick. Care to join me?"

"Sure. What are you up to?" he says, nodding at the laptop as he takes a seat.

"Trying to think of article ideas. I'm part of the newspaper, now."

"I heard about the newspaper. I'm sure your interrogation skills will come in handy if you're an investigative reporter," he says with a wry smile.

"Oh, I fear anyone who tries to hide things from me," she says, saving her work. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," he says, his face going to that neutral default expression.

There's a short pause before he adds, "I'm assuming you've heard about Ryan."

She nods, "I feel so terrible for Elaine and Chris."

"Yeah. I don't know if you know Chris headed home for a while. And Elaine...well she's not handling it well, but that's to be expected."

"No, I didn't hear that but I did see Elaine earlier." She closes her laptop to look at him, "Did Chris say when she'd be back?"

He shrugs. "Kind of hard for her to say, considering it's more the bar's decision than hers. She just said she would be."

"At least things turn out okay for her," she says after a moment. "I know she was worried when she came in."

"Yeah, at least this way she knows that things won't exactly get worse from the time she left. Or at least the threats are taken care of."

"Hopefully the bar allows her back in before too much time passes." She gives him a searching look. "You sure you're alright?"

He glances away from that look. Michelle's lucky; tonight he's too tired to keep the mask firmly in place for too long, and the facade is starting to slip a little.

"I'm just tired. A lot's been going on recently."

"You're still not sleeping?"

He gives her a wry look. "Do I ever?"

"I thought you did sometimes."

"Well I do sleep. It just varies how much and for how long at one stretch."

"And how much and how long have you been sleeping lately?"

He sighs, knowing she's just going to hammer away until he tells her. "About five hours a night. A little less, maybe. And I usually wake up a couple times during the night."

"You're waking up a couple of times? Jack...that's not good."

He sighs. "Michelle, I think the last time I got more than eight hours of unbrokwn sleep was when I got back here after April 25th."

"You were sleeping okay back in DC?"

"Sleeping better. Not sure you'd call it 'okay'."

"Are you still tired when you wake up?"