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 Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:58 pm
"Just.. what happened? Between you two?" She reached forward to rest a hand against his shoulder, smiling softly. Encouragingly.
"You can.. you can trust me, you know th-that, right?" She hoped he did.
"Right, Jerry? I mean.. she kept saying like.. she didn't deserve you and .. I don't know. After.. the flyers, I felt like.. it wasn't a good time to push or bring it up or.. whatever, you know? But.." she paused, clearing her throat.
"After being out here.. after seeing Julie and even before that when I was attacked on th-that mission? It's .. why spend your time.. alone? You know? When there's someone who just... wants you? To be with you?" She shook her head.
"I don't know.. I'm.. I've never been.. I've never had that."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:05 pm
Jerry's face remained flushed, his lips pursing a moment as he stared at the aimless design he had poked into the snow, "Me neither. Before her."
He cleared his throat, glancing up at her with knit eyebrows. She honestly wanted to know and... well.. since she had woken, things had been different. She reminded him so much of himself, it was unsettling and worrying. He swallowed.
"Candace and I sort of... I don't even know how it happened. We met... she... she was... is... very pretty and... and I mean, I'm not.. I mean, even before I got um.." He reached up to gesture to the scars on his cheek a moment, "These, I wasn't much of... of a lady's man if you know what I mean. I just... I was always too busy. Or... or they thought I was too weird or... or I messed things up somehow. It just... never happened. And... I don't know, we started... started talking and... and she kept fawning over me and I drank it up, I loved it, I really did, every moment of it. I... I thought I was in love with her." His eyes had become glassy and he shifted, drawing in a deep breath. "She.. she made a man of me, if you know what I mean. We went through several missions together and it just... I don't know, somehow it happened. And I thought... and I thought that everything would be alright. No matter how terrified I was, no matter how... how grave things looked, it was ok, because we had each other, you know? But..."
He coughed again, getting more and more anxious as he approached the end of the story, his hands moving to twist ahead of him. "Until I found out she was sleeping with the Doctor."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:21 pm
Sasha really couldn't help the loud bark of laughter that burst past her lips an instant before she covered her mouth with her hands. She looked - and felt - utterly horrified. He'd just spilled his heart out, for the most part, and she'd laughed at him. She couldn't help it! The doctor? Sleeping with someone's girlfriend?
"Are.. are you sure? About the doctor, I mean.. I just. He's .. so nice, Jerry. I mean.. he took care of me after Candace bumped my head, and like.. the music player, too. I just.. I'm not saying you're lying! I just."
She cleared her throat loudly. Sasha felt terrible.
"I .. I'm sorry. I just.. maybe.. maybe I could talk? To the doctor? I .." she paled. Oh yes, Sasha. Just.. go give the doctor a stern talking to, as well. "Or.. maybe not. I don't know. I just.. really? The doctor?"
She just couldn't wrap her head around it.
"I.. Candace .. Jerry. I'm sorry. I'm really s-s-sorry." She shook her head. "I didn't m-mean to laugh. I just..." She gave a breathless little laugh, dropping her chin to her chest before she shook her head again.
"She sounded really sorry about it? Didn't she? I mean.." Sasha lifted her gaze to him once more, "she sounded sorry, right?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:24 pm
Jerry did not look pleased about the laughter. In fact, he looked mortified, bringing his knees up to hide his head behind it.
"Sorry enough to be making out with him right before we left on this mission."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:30 pm
Sasha was silent for a long, long time. She was silent as she moved to sit in the snow before Jerry, trying to peer up into his face.
"I'm sorry, Jerry. I.. I didn't mean to laugh. Really. I just."
Sasha fell silent again, wringing her hands in her lap.
"I believe you. I really do, and it was wrong of Candace, okay? I .. I just didn't know. And.. you've been nice to her.. I mean. Right? I just.. I'm sorry. Are you.. if you're mad.. at me. I understand. I shouldn't have laughed. It just.. happened."
Chewing on her lower lip, Sasha narrowed her eyes slightly. Okay, she wasn't going to cry. Nope. If anyone should be crying right now, it should be Jerry. Not her.
She burst into tears.
"I'm so sorrryyyyyyyyy!"
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:33 pm
Jerry stayed sullen and quiet up until the waterworks burst forth.
And then he panicked.
"N-n-no! No I'm not mad at you! You... you didn't know! I... i shouldn't have t-told you, it's n-not... it's n-not really... I mean, I've b-been... trying to k-keep it only C-candace and my business I mean, it's a small island and... " He flailed, sitting up to let his hand hover as though unable to decide whether patting her or hugging her or touching her in any way would get the tears to stop.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:38 pm
Sasha's wails turned into heartfelt sniffles as she rubbed her eyes with her fists. Red-cheeked and bleary-eyed, Sasha stared at Jerry earnestly.
"I really am sorry, Jerry. And.. okay, Candace. Shouldn't have done that. And.. and .. okay, the doctor, did he know you two were.. were.. you know? Together?"
Maybe he didn't. That would make sense. It was hard to believe that Candace was capable of such a thing, too, but.. Jerry wouldn't lie to her. She was certain that he wouldn't lie to her.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:43 pm
This time, it was Jerry's turn to laugh, rocking back into the snow across from her to do so. It was a bitter sound, and he shook his head as he got it out of his system, "Believe me, he knew what he was doing. I wasn't lying in the library. Look... I know... I know you... work under him and... and everything but... I mean, especially because you work under him... but he is a snake in the grass, to put it lightly. A... a snake holding a bowl of honey but just waiting for you to get close so he can bite you for kicks."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:52 pm
She couldn't help the way her expression twisted. It was so hard to believe that her own division leader - a man that had been nothing but kind to her - would do something so.. awful.
It kind of made her chest hurt. Maybe it was a little bit of hero worship. No, it was probably a lot of hero worship. Sasha couldn't help it.
"I just.. you know.. you're not the only one who has said something like that. Even.. even Candace did. I just." She shook her head and fell silent. It didn't matter.
"How are you um. Feeling?" Time for a turn of conversation. "After being all... penguiny?"
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 7:55 pm
He shifted, but was very happy for the change of topic, "I'm.... still... thinking about fish a bit, ahahhaa... but I don't even like fish. But I mean... aside from ah... nearly getting eaten, I'm unscathed I think. Just... incredibly embarrassed," He laughed again, pushing his glasses up his nose. "I hope I was er... a well behaved Penguin at least. I mean... I remember most of it but the er... perspective of the situation was a bit skewed."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:00 pm
Sasha wiped the tears from her cheeks before she gave Jerry a wobbly little smile.
"You.. you were a good p-penguin." She laughed softly, shaking her head as she dabbed at her nose with the end of her scarf. "Don't.. don't be ah, embarrassed, okay?" Sasha shook her head.
"And.. thanks. For um. Helping me. Singing to me, you know? On the mission. It ..helped. Helps." Her wibbly smile grew a little fierce. "You're a good person, Jerry, okay? Just.. don't forget that. I'm glad I met you."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:05 pm
Jerry's blush returned with a vengeance and he returned his attention to the snow, "I... I'm not really. But I do try." He cleared his throat, glancing up, "And... and it was nothing. I... I m-majored in music therapy, ahahaha..." He glanced down again pursing his lips before murmuring, "Sasha...? Um. Thank you. For... for being a good friend. It's been nice.. since... since you woke."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:12 pm
"You are, okay? Just.." she shook her head as her lips twisted. "I'm lucky to know you, Jerry." She gave an abrupt nod. "I've been .. blessed? to have met so many nice people and.. I don't know, Jerry." She shook her head, reaching forward to fuss with his scarf for a brief moment.
"Sometimes you just.. have to forgive. I.. you might just .. be happier that way."
Sasha pulled her hand back and smiled softly at him.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:16 pm
"I... I do... " He looked away, face still flushed hotly as he reached up to touch his own scarf, "I forgive but... it's harder to forget."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:21 pm
"Well. You.. you can never forget."
Sasha clambered back to her feet with a sigh. It looked like she was internally warring with herself for a split second before moving in a quick, sudden motion, leaning forward to press her lips against his freshly-washed hair. She pulled back and smiled; a soft blush pinked the apples of her cheeks.
"Come on. Lets go get some tea."
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