MAH NERM ERS JERMAHS CLERK. THER ERS A MAHN NERMAHD ERLBERT FERSTER SERDERCIN MAH ERN MAH KERTCHERN. SERND HERLP.
“Oh, very funny.” Albert said with a large grin but no laugh. “Yeah, I suppose we make up for our good immune systems by being overly careless. And not in an intelligent sense.”
He walked back over near the washroom, listening to Echo turning on the sink. She must’ve gotten rid of all the food in her system, poor kid. He would have to remind himself to buy some healthy food for her.“I think I should get going, then. She sounds like she’ll be okay, at least until I get her home. We can only hope she lasts the drive.” Albert gave James a look of hopeful disgust, if there ever was such an expression.
“Ready to head out, champ?”
Albert knocked on the bathroom door as he waited for an answer.One more flush, and a quick tidy to make sure the man’s—whoever he was—washroom wasn’t a mess, and Echo was done. She still felt ill, and weak now too from having thrown up her entire lunch, but she was better than before. Now that she had a bit more time to focus on her surroundings and not the inside of the toilet bowl, she recalled the few things she had overheard between heaves. Whoever James was, he was close to her uncle Al. That thought was weird to her, as she was quite convinced her uncle was either a social reject because of the work he threw himself into or some kind of ladies man that most guys would hate (this was judging on his clothes and car alone). That was, of course, unless this James fellow was someone very close to her uncle in a different sort of way.
The sharp knock on the washroom door made her jump, and she threw open the door to glance from her uncle, over to the gentleman who had so kindly let her inside. “Yeah, ready to go. Uh… sorry.” She said to James, then glared at Albert with enough hatred to make even him back up. “I’ll be waiting in the car, uncle Al. Better hope I don’t yak in there, too.”With that said, Echo nodded her head in James’ direction, thankful but embarrassed, and then made her way outside.
James smiled at the girl as she made her way out of the house. Normally he would have given a valediction, but his lack of experience with children left him unsure of what to say. The girl was polite, more polite than he’d expected a child to be, so he managed a nod as she passed. Once she was out the door, James turned to Albert. “She’s very polite,” he offered with a small smile, though he couldn’t quite say so with conviction. She was quite polite to him, but to her uncle … It looked like Albert had a lot on his hands.
“Feel free to come over whenever you’d like. Just … Maybe call first next time, so I might be better prepared for company.” He didn’t want to rush Albert out of the house, but he also didn’t want to get him in more trouble with the sick little girl waiting in the car, and there was the fact that John would be holed up in his room for the better part of the evening that he’d have to deal with … But he was relieved there was one less thing to deal with, now that he and Al had sorted things out.
Albert laughed quietly as he looked from the box of crackers to James. “Thanks, I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.” He walked up to the counter, but didn’t bother picking up the box. Not yet anyways.
“So…ah… we’re good then?” He knew the reason that they hadn’t been ‘good’ before was because Albert had lost his temper—something he felt absolutely justified in doing. Still, James had apologized, and he wanted to move on, even if it meant not discussing anything about their current relationship (or whatever it was they were in).
“…Anyways, I’ll give these to Echo. She should be fine, us Fosters aren’t much for sicknesses.”
“Physical injuries, though, you’ll take all you can get, huh?” He smiled and finished up the last of his coffee before pouring himself another cup. “Yeah, we’re good,” he said, a little relieved. It wasn’t up to him, whether or not they were okay - he was the one needing to be forgiven - but if it was Albert asking him, they must be on good terms. He wasn’t about to push any boundaries, though, so he kept his distance.
James grinned into his mug as a thought occurred to him. “Funny that we should both take on caring for another person when we can hardly take care of ourselves, isn’t it? Though I guess you have a lot more to deal with.” He didn’t have a lot of experience with children himself. His sister had had a son before he left for the war, but he’d only met the boy once. Now Madelaine had another child, a daughter, and his sister made it very well known to him that he ought to visit them. He simply hoped his little niece wouldn’t be inclined to live with him, because he didn’t know the first thing about caring for children, nor did he particularly want to.
“Oh, she’s fine.” Albert murmured, just in time to hear the girl vomit into James’ toilet. He decided to correct himself, “I was just driving her home from school; she’s a bit sick today, figured since I was in the neighbourhood I could just swing by.” Now that he said it out loud, he started to feel guilty. “She’s actually living with me. For a bit. Didn’t even tell me.” At least James was calm about the situation, “sorry, maybe I should’ve… called first. I don’t know.”
At that, Albert walked to James’ kitchen and found himself a glass, filled it with water from the tap before walking back to the washroom and opening the door. He put it beside the toilet for her, then closed the door once more.
“No no, it’s fine. Just … Unexpected.” He shrugged and took a drink of his coffee. The arrival of not one, but two unexpected house guests had shifted things. They hadn’t had a pattern before, but it was flexible. There was no real need to be anywhere except work, in Albert’s case, and no need to care for another person at home. James was certain that John could easily care for himself, but was concerned with his state; sure he would cover the essentials, but he would be a living pigsty on his own, and he was quite certain John was holding composure solely with company. Still, it had changed things for both James and Albert, and for the time being, James wasn’t sure precisely how much had changed. He had to wonder what would happen when John left. How long Albert would have his niece living with him. Where they were in the meantime.
Instead, he put the thoughts out of his mind. Things would go as they went; he didn’t need to have everything labelled and planned, and he knew Albert wasn’t fond of having it like that anyways. “Oh, I have some soda crackers, if that’ll help. I’ve heard they settle the stomach.” He turned away, grabbing the box out of the cupboard and placing it on the table.
The last thing she expected to see was a man. At least, a man that wasn’t her uncle. Echo looked up at James with wide eyes, a bit hunched over with her knees locked together and her arms wrapped around her upset stomach. She was fourteen, but she still had a need—no, desire to be taken care of when she was sick. It made her miss her mother, who would always drive her home and make her soup, or at least put a damp cloth on her head before leaving her to rest. But instead, she was with her uncle who had forgotten his ill niece in his car with the windows rolled up in the heat.
“I need to use your… washroom.” Though she wasn’t painfully shy, Echo’s face was still dark red from asking a complete stranger such a question. The entire situation made her angry, and though Echo couldn’t see him, but she knew her uncle was there. “uncle Al you’re the biggest jerk in the world!” Finally looking James in the eye, Echo tried to sound apologetic, even though her first impression was probably out of the window. “I’m really sir sorry but he’s not going to drive me home i—oh…—if I puke in his car..”
Albert should have known the moment he heard the knocking that Echo would be on the other side. He got up from his seat and abandoned his coffee, getting to the door just in time to hear Echo yell at him.
He was at a loss for words, but knew he had to say something to diffuse the very awkward, very odd situation that had just unfolded in front of James.
Albert slipped past James, resting his hand on top of Echo’s head to lead her to James’ washroom. It was a bit of a step over his boundaries (even for him), but Albert knew James would understand.
“I’m sorry, kid. Honestly I thought you were just playing hooky.”
Blatant lie, didn’t effect the girl at all.Before she could bite his head off, Albert quickly pushed her towards the washroom, and shut the door promptly after she wandered into it.
Albert didn’t even want to turn around. The poor man had enough shit to deal with, now Albert and his newly acquired teenager were just a crowd.
He swallowed his fear, and as he sucked in a short breath, Albert turned to James to assess his anger or confusion. Or both.
James was rather surprised. After muttering a quiet “Of course, of course,” as Albert escorted the girl down the hall and to the washroom. He closed the door but didn’t move from his spot beside it as Albert joined him. “You have a niece,” he commented. “I didn’t even know you had a sibling.” It struck him how little they knew each other, but considering the amount of time, and what had happened during that time — injuries, healing, and work (for Albert, at least) — they really hadn’t had the time to discuss family matters. That was fine for James’ side of things, he wasn’t all that keen to share much anyways, but he was curious about the other man, even if he was even less keen to share.
He walked back to his coffee cup, but didn’t drink from it; he held it between his hands, and looked at the table before looking over at Al with curiosity. He wanted to ask about the girl, about why she was here, if she was a temporary guest or a new house resident, but he held his tongue. There would be time (he hoped) for them to talk about it later. “Is she all right?” he asked, his eyes in the direction of the hall.
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m glad he knows where she is, at least.” Though he wasn’t sure if it was in fact good news, Albert tried to sound positive. It was all he could do.
He heard James mutter something, but whatever it was was lost when the coffee pot beeped and alerted the two that it was ready. He took the cup that James slid over to him, but his gaze quickly shot up when he heard James apologize. Though Albert didn’t expect it, his lips curled into a hint of a smile; it felt like a relief to hear him say that, a weigh off of his chest.
“I was being a bit oversensitive, but thanks. I know you’re under a..” Albert licked his lips as he chose his words carefully. He decided to lower his voice so anyone in a room over couldn’t hear, “a bit of stress.”He took a sip of his coffee, “If you need anything from the store while he’s here, I mean, in case you don’t want to leave him… just let me know. I’ll—-“
A sharp knock on James’ front door made Albert start, and his heart dropped as he remembered his ill niece in the back seat of his car.
He shrugged at Albert’s words. “It’s a start. Now it’s more a question of when he gets around to talking to her. Which,” he added, lowering his voice, “might take a while, but I’m not going to push him. It needs to be done, but I understand his reluctance.” He let out a nearly inaudible sigh and played with the handle of his mug for a moment, moving it from side to side with one long finger. “I just wish I could do something for him.” His stomach clenched as he said that. It was guilt, he knew. Not only could he do little to help John, but he was making it worse by being a better friend to Albert than to John. He bit his cheek and decided to think on it later, when he had no guest and when he wouldn’t have to worry about John.
His eyes glanced up at Albert when he heard a knock at the door, seeing the man jump. “I think I’ll be fine, but thank you,” he said, making his way toward the door. He had suspected that the knock may have been for Albert, but figured it proper fro him to open the door. The other side revealed a girl significantly shorter than himself — though admittedly, that was no difficult feat. He looked down at the girl, an expression of amused curiosity on his face. “Hello,” he greeted politely.
Albert should’ve known James hadn’t gone to his appointments. It wasn’t a shock, but the man still sighed quietly at the answer. Albert decided to take a seat before he changed his mind and settled onto a kitchen stool.
“I’m good, besides a lack of sleep. I’m fine.”
Everything seemed so awkward and stuffy, it almost made Albert wish he hadn’t dropped by. They weren’t teasing one another, catch the other’s little glances or grins. It made Albert all the more suspicious that something had happened, though he knew that ever since John has arrived, things had already changed drastically.
“I was working, but things always come up, as you know. I just wanted to see you before I went home. I’m assuming by that slammed door I heard earlier that you still have company?”
“Yes, he hasn’t seen Rose yet. He knows where she is, though, so that’s a start, but he’s taking his time. It’s a good thing, really, he’s not in very good shape at the moment.” He kept his eyes on the coffee pot as it filled. He remembered seeing John in London, how he’d seemed enthusiastic to have his friend back, and despite the fact that he was upset about Rose, he didn’t show it much. That is, it wasn’t obvious to the immediate eye. His movements, however, were too careful, his words too eager, and his conversation too scripted. This was different, though, so different. He didn’t speak at all, he moved robotically. “I can’t fix him,” James muttered, more to himself and barely audible.
Finally the coffee pot switched off and he took it off the burner before it finished dripping, ignoring the hiss as drops fell and burned away. He poured the two glasses and slid one over to Albert before taking a sip of his own, not bothering to wait for it to cool down. He needed the distraction. “I’m sorry, about last time,” he said quietly, looking down at his cup. He wasn’t quite sure what he’d done wrong, though he had suspicions, but he’d learned early on that asking usually made things worse.
“No, it’s fine. John’s just … It’s fine.” James opened the door wider as Albert walked inside. He knew there was no point in turning the man out, since John would probably stay in his room for a few hours, and he had missed Al. He shrugged as the man asked how he was. “Yeah, no I’m fine, I’m … Yes, I’m good. And you?” Everything seemed so formal now, a little awkward, neither man seeming to know what to say.
He considered informing Al of the news he’d just received, but he was still processing, and it seemed unfair to John for him to simply tell him. It was personal to John, and it had taken him days to speak up about it to one of his closest friends; besides, it didn’t really concern the man, he had no reason to tell him. “I um … You look well,” he offered a small smile. “Did you want something to eat? I was about to put some tea on for John but I could make some coffee if you’d like?”
Without waiting for an answer he turned toward the kitchen, putting on the kettle as well as the coffee machine. He opened the fridge, pulling out a few things for Albert to snack on, knowing that if all else he’d make a tray of the leftovers for John.
Albert opened his mouth to protest, but found himself wandering another few feet into the house. Now he was standing in the kitchen, watching James go to work, quiet as always. The run-in he had with Jess the other day had reminded him to inquire about James’ health, and though he didn’t know if now was the best time, he wasn’t sure when he would see him next. “Have you been attending those appointments with the therapist? I know they mentioned something about them at the hospital…”
Once James started looking for food—obviously for Albert and not himself—he quickly rose his hand. “I can’t stay long. I’ve got to go home.”
He had almost forgotten his little bundle of responsibility. She had probably puked in his car, god bless her. “Just some coffee’s fine.”
“Oh.” He set the tray down on the counter and shrugged. “I should make something for John anyways.” He grabbed two mugs and waited for the coffee to brew. “I was. I mean I was going to, but … Things got in the way.” His eyes trained on the coffee pot as the liquid began trickling down. He knew Albert wasn’t going to take that as an answer, but he refused to go any further into it. “I will, promise,” he muttered quietly,but his words were empty, like he’d said them too many times with no intention to follow through, even though this was the first time they’d been said out loud.
“I would have thought you’d be working,” he noted, glancing at the clock. It was still relatively early, and although Albert had frequently shown up earlier than expected, this had to be a record. “I mean you’re alright, aren’t you? You didn’t … Come by injury again?” he inquired with a glance. “You look in good health.”
With a slight tilt of his head to better see the inside of James’…John’s….Jame’s house, Albert couldn’t help but wince as he listened to one of the many doors within the house slam shut. Obviously John hadn’t left, and the question still remained if he was going to leave. It made Al frown, thinking he might not ever have James to himself again.
Though he wasn’t expecting the invitation inside, not this time, Albert entered without a word. At least until fully inside. “Sorry, did I come at a bad time?” It seemed every time was a bad time now, for Albert and for James. He decided not to bother mentioning Echo, either they would meet soon or not at all… if Albert could help it, not at all. The last thing he needed was word getting back to his brother—then father—then mother about a “maybe”relationship.. he would never hear the end of it.
Albert closed the door behind him and kept his shoes and jacket on, digging his hands into his pant pockets while keeping a thoughtful eye on James. The house had a quiet, tense atmosphere hanging heavily in the air, and though Albert knew James was a guarded man, his expression seemed to speak for him.
“I just… uh… I just wanted to… to see you.”
For a man used to talking so much, Albert was finding himself running out of words. He kept his gaze on James, telling himself not to reach out and touch his face or hair, but it wasn’t easy.
“Are you all right?”
“No, it’s fine. John’s just … It’s fine.” James opened the door wider as Albert walked inside. He knew there was no point in turning the man out, since John would probably stay in his room for a few hours, and he had missed Al. He shrugged as the man asked how he was. “Yeah, no I’m fine, I’m … Yes, I’m good. And you?” Everything seemed so formal now, a little awkward, neither man seeming to know what to say.
He considered informing Al of the news he’d just received, but he was still processing, and it seemed unfair to John for him to simply tell him. It was personal to John, and it had taken him days to speak up about it to one of his closest friends; besides, it didn’t really concern the man, he had no reason to tell him. “I um … You look well,” he offered a small smile. “Did you want something to eat? I was about to put some tea on for John but I could make some coffee if you’d like?”
Without waiting for an answer he turned toward the kitchen, putting on the kettle as well as the coffee machine. He opened the fridge, pulling out a few things for Albert to snack on, knowing that if all else he’d make a tray of the leftovers for John.
Albert wasn’t having the best morning, then again, no one really enjoyed picking up a sick kid from school. Echo hadn’t even finished her first class before she phoned him at work, asking to pick her up. Now she was seated in the car, quiet and unmoving as they drove down the road.
The silence continued until Albert decided to pay James a visit. Echo looked as though she was dozing off, and he really needed to speak to the man, since their last encounter had ended on such a sour note.
“Where are we going?” Echo asked with a small groan, she began to wrap her arms around her midsection, clearly more ill than she was trying to let on but still not enough to tell Albert what was wrong.
“We’re making a pit stop, I’m not going to be long but I need you to stay in the car.”
“Okay, but can you hurry? I need to lie down…”As Albert pulled into James’ driveway, he turned off the ignition and sat in place for a few moments. His eyes were transfixed ahead, though he wasn’t really looking at anything. Echo was quiet for a second, but impatiently piped up, “who lives here?”
“Just a friend of mine.”
He had waited long enough, and with a soft click, undid his seatbelt and opened the door to his car, stepping out and closing it firmly. He tapped his knuckle on the car roof as an odd sort of thanks to Echo for being patient as he approached James’ front steps. Then he knocked again, this time on the wooden exterior of his door.
James sighed, his head in his hands as he sat on the couch, staring at the floor. It had taken him a while to get anything out of John. Once the man had had a decent night’s sleep, it all seemed to hit at once and took him a while to compose himself enough to talk about. The house had been quiet, the only words passed between the two being “Good morning” and “Good night.” Otherwise, there was only the sound of coffee being made, food being cooked, and doors closing. John spend his hours often very angry, occasionally bursting out in anger when he thought his friend couldn’t hear. James spent his time close by, waiting for John to talk to him. The loyal soldier, always standing by.
Today, though, he finally spoke up. John had decided to spend his afternoon in the living room, very unlike the routine they’d developed, and James, sensing the oncoming storm, followed suit. As soon as the words had left his mouth, James stared at his friend in disbelief. He didn’t register the small “No,” that escaped his own lips, only that John’s expression stayed angry, staring at the television. The room was silent once more and James’ head dropped into his hands.
It was only a few minutes later that there was a knock at the door. James stood after a moment and went to see who it was. Finding Albert on the other side, he cast a glance at John before opening the door. “Albert? Sorry, it’s not really the best ti—” He stopped, cringing as he heard a door slam shut behind him. “Er … D’you wanna come in, or …?”
Even though he had been the one to say it, when James spoke, uttering quietly in that way he did that the matter-James’ matter- wasn’t his business, something snapped. He still had his jacket in James’ room, his phone in his pocket and wallet somewhere in the living room. He made a mental note of that as he lightly pushed himself away from the counter, and made quick strides towards the door. He paused, right in front of James as his icy blue eyes stared into his. “Why don’t you call me when you’ve figured it out?”
With that, he opened the door, sliding past James to do so, and stepped out into the painfully early sunlight. He squinted his eyes as he brought his hand up to shield them, it was only when the rays of light tucked themselves behind a cloud was he able to see.
The House stared back at him.
James let the door hang open, staring at the ground. “I’m sorry,” he muttered quietly. He leaned against the door frame, knowing that Albert was waiting for him to speak. Letting out a sigh, he bit his cheek, hard. “I don’t … I wasn’t expecting him to show up like that, it just kinda surprised me.” His hand clenched around the keys in his pocket and he winced, the wound not completely healed and the keys digging into the bandage.
“I didn’t know … How to react. John, he … He needs someone and I don’t … I don’t know how to be that person anymore.”
(Source: ahs-i-believe-in-her)
