Left behind

[random_xtras]

Kurt is rubbing Celeste's back as he and Sal bring the babies in from their checkup. The tiny girl is in full blown fuss fit, and even Stephen peeking over Kurt's shoulder and crooning to her isn't soothing her ruffled feathers.

He looks up as they come into the living room, automatically checking to see if there's a free place to sit, then stops and frowns at the scene that meets his eyes. The usual couch is inhabited by a sleeping Atin and Vanya, curled together with faint smiles on their faces. But now the other couch holds Darman and Marda, passed out contentedly on either end of it and covered by Sal's favorite old afghan. And sitting in the chair between the couches, his frown not hiding the lost look in his eyes, is Niner.

Kurt draws in a silent breath, shaken by the impression that the younger man is unconsciously guarding his brothers even as they move away from what he understands.

Comments

[fire-in-flight.livejournal.com]

Sal tilts her head, surveying the scene.

"Niner?" she whispers. "You okay?"

Clearly he wasn't, but it was her Inner Mother complex that was forcing her to ask.

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"I'll be upstairs." Kurt takes Wolfen and gives Sal a quick kiss, then teleports away.

Niner blinks and looks up, his expression going quizzical. "Sure, Sarge. Why?"

[fire-in-flight.livejournal.com]

"You seem bothered by something." She puts her hands in her pockets and rocks on her feet a little bit.

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"Yeah, what passed for conversation here for the past three hours." He pulls a slight face.

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Sal chuckles. "Given your present company, are you really surprised?" She stops rocking and deals him a serious look. "But I don't think it's really the conversation, is it?"

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"They usually make at least a semblance of sense... but half of what Atin and Vanya say isn't out loud, and Darman and Marda...." He shakes his head. "And they're not even drunk, this time."

Then he frowns again, thinking about her last question. He's not totally sure how to answer it.

Wait, yes he is.

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Sal folds her arms and waits.

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He sighs and gestures toward the couches, then says quietly, "Where's mine?"

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Sal sighs as well. "Is that what you really want for yourself?"

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"My brothers are happy," he says, still quiet. "So are you."

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Sal shakes her head. "It's not always the secret to happiness, Niner. It doesn't make things go away... But if it's something you want, you're going to have to pursue it."

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"The squad's breaking up. I was trained to work in a team." He grins slightly, but then goes serious and thoughtful again.

-Sal, is your emergency room available?- comes a Charlie poke in her mind.

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"Yes, well -" Sal stops talking and touches her temple.

-Why?-

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-Because there's a need for it. A young woman of Ang's race needs a safe place to stay.-

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She purses her lips, but then sighs. "Yeah, okay."

Then she turns to Niner. "Charlie's bringing someone."

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He's on his feet, frowning as he nods and walks over to stand beside her.

-Sending her, actually,- says Charlie. -She's in the room.- Then he adds a little background information and cuts the link with a click.

[fire-in-flight.livejournal.com]

Sal sighs. "There's a woman in room seven. She's..." A sigh. "Have you met Ang?"

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"Yes." He brightens.

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"Someone like her." Another sigh. "It would seem we have our work cut out for us."

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"What do you mean?" His face drops back into a frown. "Ang isn't hard to get along with."

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"This one - says Charlie - is not used to people. Very afraid of everything."

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His eyes show his understanding and concern. "What do you want me to do?"

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"Whatever is necessary," Sal says, motioning for him to follow. "I'm not familiar with what people like this can be like."

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"Kalbuir handled Falen," he says quietly, dodging a pounce from Not-Atin and sending him to tackle Darman with a gentle word and push.

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Suddenly Sal looks uncomfortable. "Well, I'm not Kal, by any means. I leave it to you, because you've done it before."

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He's not sure that he has. But he's ready to do what she wants him to.

[87884.livejournal.com]

The door opens and she cowers away from it; trying to escape the punishment she expects. She's a rather unassuming brown-haired girl with a thin scar across her forehead, and right now she looks like fear personified.

She tried to get away, and now they've brought her here to kill her. Or worse.

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Niner takes her in at a glance and speaks over his built in com, forgetting whether Sal has one or not. "Don't get too close, Sarge. She looks like she's going to have a heart attack just from being here."

[87884.livejournal.com]

He looked at her.

He looked.

She curls up even smaller and lets out a loud scream.

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He backpeddles at that, eyes widening slightly. "Yeah.... I was right."

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Sal closes the door behind them, so as to drown out the noise. "Well, now what?"

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"Kalbuir let Falen hide." He frowns. "But that doesn't feel right for this."

"What was that?" Marda looks down the hall, frowning blearily.