Not Fine But You Will Be

"You okay?" DG's voice is feather soft and full of innocence he has long since lost himself. When he looks up, his lips drawn in a thin line, she's looking at him with wide blue eyes. Her arms are wrapped around her middle, creasing the leather of her jacket. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips.

He lets out a short laugh. After everything they've faced, after all that has happened to her, she's asking him if he's okay? He shakes his head. "I'm fine. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she retorts, "and don't sidestep my question."

"I said 'I'm fine'."

"I don't believe you."

His eyes lock onto hers and a bitterness crawls through his body, from the tips of his toes to nestle in his stomach. Abruptly, he turns away.

"See? You're not fine."

He flinches when she presses a hand to his shoulder.

"It's okay," she adds. "You should feel like crap after what you've been through."

"Really, I'm fine. You should sleep." Behind her, he can see Raw curled up, eyes closed and nose twitching as he dreams. Glitch lies a little further away, one of his arms strewn over a fallen log and hugging it possessively. A cricket chirps. Leaves rustle in the wind.

Rather than leave him be, she lowers herself to the ground next to him. She crosses her legs and clasps her hands, her fingers entwining. "I'll sleep when you sleep."

He aims a glare in her direction to no effect. She merely sits there and watches him. A sigh escapes his lips. "Lie down at least. Rest. You'll be needing it." The smile that tugs at her lips catches him off-guard. "What?"

She shakes her head. "Nothing. Just... you'll be okay. You may not be now, but you will be."

"So will you."

fin.