VOICEMAIL

[ten_sans_chips]

Hello.
You've reached my voicemail. If you have this number, it's for a reason, so leave a message and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible. Ta.

Comments

[brambless]

"Ten? Um... hi. It's Tara. I... I, um, saw CJ tonight. And she was... really not like herself. Ten, she was rude to me. And drinking whiskey, and coming onto a girl younger than I am, and... she didn't seem like herself. Have you... have you noticed anything? Is she, um... is anything wrong? Give me a call. Please."

[lis_rouge]

Very, very late Monday night, she dials his number in the dark of her bedroom.

"Ten. *pause* I'm sorry. *pause* I don't think that about you...but if, you know, you think that about me...I...I'm sorry. *longer pause* I'm not supposed to go anywhere but work and home for a while. Just until I get...better. If I don't see you, I guess I know why. It's ok. Really. I'll just...I just...

She chokes back a sob and tries not to cry...and fails.

"I just want to come home, Ten. I'm sure she won't even let me in, so I promise I won't try...but it's the only place they can't talk to me.

I'll see you in a while. Maybe. If you want. I love you, even if you...I love you."

[ten_sans_chips]

In the TARDIS, Ten's asleep, finally. Anger, frustration, sadness...they'd all run their course, leading to him not wanting anything at all except to collapse. Crowley had helped, at least, though he'd probably hate to know it.

The bed's too large, and it was cold, and it took too long to make it not cold...and then sleep, thank god.

And then the faint, vaguely tinny sound of Snow Patrol on a mobile ringer comes from the floor, where his phone is still in the pocket of his jeans. Ten moans and reaches one long arm out of bed to scrabble for his trousers, but he's unable to answer in time. Finally waking up a bit more, he listens to the message and looks up at the ceiling in the dark. The TARDIS has turned it a dark shade of rose, and he closes his eyes, trying to make a decision. Finally, he pushes a button on the phone.

"She'll always let you in. I'll be here," he says, and hangs up.

With a sigh, he falls back into his pillow and stares up at the ceiling again, rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands.

"Shit."

[deadly_animator]

Joh, it's Anita. Coffee or you would be great, and i'm pretty sure I can hold up my end of the deal, at least this once. I have classes today, do you want to meet on campus? If not, I can make the Planet. I have a break between 9:30 and 1, let me know."

[ten_sans_chips]

"Meet me at Osmosis, say, 2:45? I try not to get up too early on days I don't have to teach... Yes, I know, I'm a lazy bum. Hope to see you."

Sunday Night

[deadly_animator]

Anita sits staring at the phone for a bit before she finally picks it up and dials the number. She breathes a sigh of relief as the machine picks up, and her voice is quiet and controlled when she leaves her message.

"John, it's Anita. I was hoping, maybe sometime this week, we could.." she pauses, she's always been bad at anything that might force her to deal with things emotional, "Anyway, you mentioned a talk, and friends, and I was hoping we could do that. Call me and let me know."

She hung the phone up and leaned back in her bed, eyes closed, trying not to think about anything.

Wednesday Afternoon, 2:30 pm

[deadly_animator]

"Hi John, just Anita harassing you. Seems like you've been having a fun week really." Amusement rings through her voice as she speaks, "Seriously though, the press, it sucks. Having been the partner of a Master Vampire of a city, well... I know where you are right now. They follow you around, try to get pictures, tear apart every little thing you do. Anyway, if you wanted to go for a very wholesome jogging excursion, or possibly an equally as wholesome coffee, give me a call. Not as wholesome events can also be organised with discretion of course. What are friends and all of those equally as stupid platitudes."