[Audio] Backdated to when the darkness ebbs
[The cold--the darkness--all faded away and Chloe gasped when wide eyes took in the third floor of Marigold's Tower. She was in the place where her candle first sputtered out, and she was fumbling for her journal seconds after she processed that fact.]
D-Derek? Derek! I--I'm back!
...I'm back.
D-Derek? Derek! I--I'm back!
...I'm back.
[His reply comes almost immediately after her post, the word a rushed, hurried growl.]
Where?
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And yes, Derek is a huge hypocrite with that. No, that doesn't occur to him.
He lets her push away from him, though, and keeps his eyes on her for any sign of - what she just did. Sorry, Chloe. He's already worried, senses on over-drive paying attention to her, so he can pick up everything behind that little gasp.
But he does manage a bit of a smile at the joke.]
I can just threaten to eat it all myself if you fall asleep.
[And then he's leaning down, moving to scoop her up into his arms.]
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Only that required too much energy. Energy Chloe didn't have.]
You would... wouldn't you...
[The room started to dip and sway beneath her once more, and Chloe closed her eyes against her blurred vision. Saliva gathered in her mouth, and it was an effort to swallow it back down. She would not start dry-heaving again. She wasn't about to tell Derek about that, either.]
Food... water first. Don't--don't let me eat too much, too fast.
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[He definitely would. At least, he'd definitely threaten it. Derek probably wouldn't actually eat it all if she fell asleep. But only because he'd be too worried that she'd actually passed out, or something.
When she closed her eyes, he held her a bit closer, leaning down to kiss her forehead without really meaning to.]
I know. You'll be okay, Chloe. We'll get water and food in you, and then you can sleep as long as you want.
[And that's pretty much all she's going to be doing for the next few days, as far as Derek's concerned. With her still in his arms, Derek turns to start for the kitchen.]
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Completely shutting down and making Derek think and be strong for the both of them wasn't fair, however. It was too much of a burden to carry alone, and Chloe didn't want to worry him or drain his strength, so she clung to consciousness even as sleep continuously tried to overpower her.
She smiled tiredly when Derek kissed her forehead.]
Love you.
[Her mind barely registered that she said it. She felt so safe and cared for in his arms, though, and wanted to thank him. Tried to thank him.
She smiled. She meant it, anyway. And it's not like he hadn't told her the same, before.]
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After that, he'd be more than happy to let her sleep. See above re: exactly what Chloe will be doing for the next few days. Sleeping and eating, without Derek leaving her side.
He held her close as he carried her to the kitchen, nuzzling occasionally at her hair, breathing her scent in. Just having her near him is all the comfort he needs.
When she tells him she loves him, there's no hesitation before his reply.]
Love you, too.
[It is soft, though, a whisper meant for her alone.]
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It took her a moment, but Chloe grudgingly accepted that the words needed to be said. It was her fault Derek went through all this worry, after all.]
I'm sorry.
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There's a long moment of silence after she apologizes.]
You didn't know.
[None of them had. Yeah, they knew to always suspect something could happen, but she hadn't done anything more than gone out for a walk with a candle. He couldn't hold that against her.]
You should te-
[He cuts off.]
We should tell each other when we're leaving our rooms. Just in case.
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We're a team.
[Her body gave a light jerk and strong shudder. Shivering slightly, Chloe curled closer and tighter to Derek's embrace.]
I'll come get you next time. And the time after that. And the time after that.
[Pressing her cold nose to the side of Derek's neck, Chloe weakly placed a tired kiss there.]
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[That shudder worries him. He hugs her closer, and picks up his pace to the kitchen. At the moment, he doesn't care if anyone sees him carrying Chloe like she weighs nothing and moving much quicker than a human could.]
I'll wait for you, then.
[He's humoring her now, a little, because he doesn't think she really knows what she's saying. Still, he tilts his neck slightly to give Chloe access to it.
It's a huge relief when they get to the kitchen, and Derek carefully - and somewhat reluctantly - sets Chloe down on the chair before getting her a glass of water.]
Drink it slowly.
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Always.
[Then he's holding her closer, and she shivers once more before sighing against him. He was warm. Derek had always been the warm one, but right now it felt like he was the only heat that could warm her and she nuzzled into his neck like a moth drawn to flame.]
Okay.
[Her mind was too muddled and foggy. Chloe's brows furrowed as she tried to remember what they were talking about. Why did he have to wait for her? Were they going somewhere? Maybe they had a date, and she was late? But Chloe was rarely late. And they lived together--in the same house.]
Am I late?
[Maybe she was sick, and their date would have to be cancelled. She drooped in his arms.]
Sorry.
[Then she was sitting on something cold, and Chloe forced herself to open her eyes--release her hold on Derek. She looked around fuzzily, then focused on an object held before her. Hands lifting mechanically, Chloe attempted to hold the glass of water Derek offered to her, hands settling over ( ... )
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But he's keeping himself awake long enough to get some food and water into Chloe, since one of them has to be awake enough to do that.]
What? No, Chloe, you're not late. You're right where you need to be.
[Yeah, he'd been right, she has no idea what she's saying. Which means it's with great reluctance that he sets her down, but he has to do it to get her water.
He waits until she's had about half of it, then very carefully pulls his hands away from hers. He moves about the kitchen, grabbing food - meat, bread, and fruit - and putting most of it into a container.
Then he moves back to her side, handing her a piece of bread and a small green apple.]
Eat this, then we can go up to your room.
[Derek stands behind her, wrapping his arms loosely around her waist and hugging her back close to ( ... )
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Thank you, Derek. I can always count on you.
[She ate as much of the bread as she could stomach, along with two thirds of the apple. She held it up to Derek when she was done, eyebrows lifting in case he wanted the rest.]
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Yeah. You can.
[He does want it, and he takes it from her and munches on it as he moves to get the gathered food, which he hands to Chloe.]
Hold on to this?
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Are we going to your room or mine?
[If it even mattered anymore...]
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Whatever you want.
[If she didn't have a preference, he'd just pick, but since she'd been the one gone for nearly a week, she gets to choose.]
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