julia hoffman x elizabeth collins one shots

my girlfriend, she's at the end, she is starting to cry

Julia goes to Elizabeth's office after a fight. (tw for substance abuse-not explicit)

'Lizzie.'

She's paler than usual, eyes red and teary, and Liz doesn't need to ask what's happened. She guides Julia, unsteady on her feet, to the couch, pulls a throw around her shoulders.

'Do you want to talk about it?' She asks, resting a hand on Julia's knee.

She shakes her head. 'Not yet.' Her voice is barely a whisper, hoarse and frightened.

They got in a fight after dinner. Liz retired to her office, distracting herself with work. She was about to go to bed when Julia hammered on her door. Their fights always ended this way. Julia thinks the solution to her problems will be at the bottom of a bottle, but she always ends up finding Liz to fix her instead.

When the trembling seems to have subsided and Julia's breath evens out Liz stands, pulling the throw tighter around Julia, then pours them each a glass of water. They'll talk soon; Julia will make her excuse and promise not to do it again, but in a month or two they'll be back in this position, another sleepless night, Liz worried sick as Julia comes down from whatever she's taken.

'Maybe I should keep hold of your medication,' Liz tries.

Julia looks hurt, not meeting her eyes.

'It'll stop this happening so often. If you need it, you know I'll give it to you.'

Julia nods. Anything to stop Liz from looking so concerned.

'Are you ready to talk it out yet?'

Julia shakes her head. 'In the morning.'

Liz rolls her eyes. They won't mention this in the morning.

'I just want to break this cycle. We get mad, you get wasted, I fix you up, and then we forget about it. And then you do it again.' She knows it's pointless, she won't get through to Julia like this, but it's for her own state of mind. 'Just go to sleep.'

Julia curls up on the couch, Liz takes the one opposite. She picks up a half finished macrame project to keep her busy. Until Julia wakes up, she's not taking her eyes off of her.

Julia groans as she opens her eyes to see Liz staring back at her, concerned but starting to look annoyed. She'd taken off her shoes in the night and let her hair down, normally one of Julia's favourite sights. 'I'm sorry.' She mumbles.

She looks at Liz with big eyes, she wants so badly to say more but words fail her. Liz joins her on the couch, tucking herself under the throw.

'I love you, Julia. But you have to stop doing this.'

Tears threaten to fall from Julia's eyes as she nods.