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.

"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?"

"Depends." Depends on how I wake up. "Sometimes yes, sometimes no."

"Look, Jack, I'm not an expert but it kind of sounds like you might...need to talk to someone."

She inwardly winces.

He sighs. He'd figured the conversation was leading there. "I have, a bit."

Yeah, well, he asked for this, really.

"You and Tony are both really good at getting a little help."

"Well part of it is out of my hands, Michelle," he snaps, "It's not like this guy is on call just for me. And I'm not just going to tell someone everything right off the bat."

"Of course not, that would mean actually confronting what's bothering you."

Sometimes, she wishes her friends were less guarded.

Jack glaaaaares. "I think I missed the part where you got a degree in psychology."

She glares in return, "I don't need any kind of degree to see that."

"Well it's nice to know that when I finally try and start taking your advice it's not good enough for you."

"My advice? I doubt I'm the only person to suggest that you should talk to someone."

"No, you're not, but you've probably mentioned it about as often as anyone else, or more. Nice to know my effort's appreciated," he snaps, starting to slide out of the booth.

"Jack, wait, don't leave."

He pauses as he starts to get up, considering for a moment whether he should just keep going.

In the end, he sighs and sits back down heavily. "Yes?" he asks tersely.

She doesn't really want to apologize but he's right that she should just accept him starting to get help, even if it's a great way to never see results.

"I'm sorry, you're right, it's a good thing that you're starting to talk to someone."

"Apology accepted," he says, though it's clear from his tone that he's still pissed off.

She rubs her eyes, "Just a little worried about you."

He sighs. "Yeah, well, you can stop worrying. I've survived this long."

She tries not to be hurt by his answer, it doesn't quite work and a retort comes to her mind. She luckily has enough of a self preservation instinct that she doesn't say it.

"Maybe it's better if we talk tomorrow because obviously you're in no mood to talk right now."

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action-antihero.livejournal.com - 2005-10-06 01:22 (UTC) - Expand

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chelleuncurled - 2005-10-06 01:26 (UTC) - Expand

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