Room 227 [Friday Evening]

[bridge_carson]

Today had been... well, to say it had been hard would have been something of an understatement. Saying goodbye to both Xander and Callisto had *hurt*.

So now Bridge is back in his room. Jeremiah and Cam-Mollusc are sitting on the shelf he'd cleared off for them, pressed up against the glass of their respective tanks and just watching each other.

And Bridge? Bridge is curled up on his bed, gloves off and paging through the scrapbook that Xander had made.

Right now, he doesn't feel up to talking to anyone. Too bad he didn't notice that he hadn't actually shut his door all the way.

[ooc: locked to the two who know who they are.]

Comments

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders was charged with the Sacred and Noble Mission of Making Sure Bridge Is Cheered Up, and he takes his BFF duties seriously, so here he is, knocking on Bridge's door and watching it swing open because oops, ajar. Good thing, too; otherwise he would've had to go around to 225 and try and get in through the adjoining door to ABC-DC HQ.

Seeing Bridge curled up on the bed like that, his stomach drops, because not only is it really disconcerting and upsetting to see Bridge like this, it's bringing back vivid memories of when Bridge had to come cheer him up just a few weeks ago. Thank the Lords of Kobol, it's not the same sort of situation, but still, Anders thinks he has a pretty good idea of how Bridge must feel right now.

"Hey, dude," he says softly, and trails off there.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Hey," Bridge glances up.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders just goes and sits down on the edge of the bed next to Bridge, putting a hand on his shoulder.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"People leaving sucks," Bridge says quietly.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders sighs and rubs his other hand over his eyes. No use in pretending he's not a little teary; in between all the goodbyes of the past week and the sight of his best friend so dejected that even Anders can feel the hurt radiating from him, he can't help but cry a little.

"I know, du -- Bridge. I know. It's the worst frakking feeling ever." Then, thinking about Kara and the way she disappeared without saying anything, he adds, "At least you got to say goodbye. Or, if not goodbye, you got to be there. I think it might hurt less that way, in the long run."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"I guess you've got a point, there," Bridge says, trying not to think about how he'd feel if he'd missed out on saying goodbye.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"It's not much," Anders admits. "But it's something. I suck at this comfort stuff."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"You're here," Bridge says, giving Anders a tiny smile. "That's more than something. That's a lot."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You're my best friend. How could I not? 'sides, you were there for me when . . . yeah."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge nods. "I wasn't sure if I even wanted to talk to, like, anyone at all. But I'm glad you're here."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"It's what best friends do." Anders notices something, and frowns. "Hey, your badge . . ."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"I gave it to Xander," Bridge says, glancing down at the empty spot on his uniform where the badge was normally pinned.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"You . . ." Anders just about melts on the spot. "That is the sweetest thing ever."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"It just- it felt right, for him to have it." Bridge blushes and tries to explain.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"I know what you mean," Anders assures him. "Believe me, I know."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory had been putting it off due to not wanting to admit things to herself, but she found herself walking down the hall to Bridge's room.

After all, she was the only person who was going to understand exactly how he felt. She needed to be there.

So there she was, lightly knocking on Bridge's doorframe. "Hi."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Hi," Bridge says quietly, putting the book aside and slipping his gloves back on, now that there's, well, *people* in the room. "Come in, I guess."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I don't have to, if I'm intruding," she says softly and giving Anders a small wave.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"No, it's okay," Bridge says, and waves her in.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory steps in, and takes a look around the room. "He said he was taking him," she says, gesturing to Jeremiah.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"There was something wrong with the portal," Bridge explains. "If they'd both gone through..."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory nods thoughtfully, biting her lip. "Can I give you a hug?" she asks. "Or do you want to be left alone?"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Hugs are good," Bridge says, smiling a little. "I like hugs." As for whether he wants to be left alone... he does and doesn't, at the same time. But he's not sure how to say that, exactly.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I didn't want to be touched on Tuesday," she admits, crossing over to give Bridge a tight hug.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Part of me doesn't want to be," Bridge admits, finally. "Part of me wants it more than anything."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"And part of you wants to be alone," she guesses softly, not letting up on the hug. "But at the same time, you kind of need to be around other people." She smiles a little, not that Bridge can probably see. "If you're anything like me, that is."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"That's pretty much it exactly," Bridge nods.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory pulls out of the hug a little reluctantly. "Here if you need anything, okay?" she says quietly. "And that's the last you'll hear from me on that until you ask."

She glances around the room again. "Maybe you shouldn't be here," she suggests.

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"What do you mean?" Bridge asks.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"We should do something," she says. She pauses, then says, "Adventure, maybe?"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge thinks about this for a minute. He has to admit, doing something that wouldn't let him dwell on the badness of today could be a good idea.

"Okay," he says finally. "We... could do that, yeah."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Good. Let's go," Rory says. "Like...now."

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge stands up and moves towards the doorway, grabbing his knapsack on the way.

"Wait," he says, pausing as he's halfway between the bed and the door.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory freezes, fearing the worst. "Yes?"

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"I think Peter should come too," Bridge explains. "I mean, he's currently stuck as a tiny horse and living in a stable and that can't be all fun and games."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory blinks slowly, letting out a relieved breath. "That's fine with me, really. As long as he's good with stairs."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Hey, Gilmore," Anders said softly, realizing with a horrible pang of guilt that he hadn't said goodbye to Anakin. "How're you holding up?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"I'm dandy," Rory said with a tiny smile. "Except the part where I'm really not. Sorry for lying to you for the last eight months."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"It's okay, honest. I'm sorry I haven't been around much, that's all." Anders shifted awkwardly, then held out his arms. "Hug?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory went over and gave him a hug. "Yay, hugging. Don't worry about it. I'll be fine." She lowered her voice. "I'm more worried about other people at the moment, honestly."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders gave her a tight hug, and nodded as he pulled back. "We should get him out of here for a little while," he said in equally low tones. "Xander asked me to make sure he was distracted, and I don't think there's a good chance of that here."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory nodded in agreement. "Maybe something silly."

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Definitely. No alcohol, though," Anders added with a wide-eyed, emphatic shake of his head. "So Caritas is out. Where can we get a whole lot of silly?"

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely no alcohol," Rory agreed. Then her eyes went wide, and she pointed up and held up six fingers.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that's perfect," Anders breathed. "Unlimited amounts of wacky to be had there, and he loves that sort of thing."

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory nodded. "And not too many memories," she added softly before crossing over to suggest</> as much to Bridge.