Fitting Back Together

A Lack of Certainty

A/N:

For those of you who haven't read my other fics, Yumiko's father died of cancer when she was finishing Law school and her mother is presumed to have died when the apocolypse started. She took both deaths incredibly hard.

also I forgot to say in the last chapter but Tomi mentions that Yumiko is small. She's actually not. She's actually pretty tall. But she's shorter than him so I have it as like a running joke between them that he's constantly teasing her for being too small.

. . .

After a few more minutes of minor squabbling, in which Tomi tried - and failed - to wheedle a glass or two of wine out of her, they continued their path towards the door. So close within reach now.

Yumiko chewed the inside of her cheek, deliberating. If she said nothing, this could all be over. The interrogations. The arguments. The exhaustion.

If she stayed quiet, they could leave.

But Tomi had been probing her all evening and it was time that she got a question or two in herself. Turned the tables. Yumiko thought she'd rather earned that.

Besides, the alcohol had made him relatively loose-lipped. And given how much she'd paid for that tonight, might as well use it to her advantage.

Yumiko slowed to a halt. "Can I ask you something?"

Tomi turned, folding his arms. "Depends what it is."

Fair.

(though it didn't exactly bode well for her chances)

"My friend, Ezekiel. . . I know he's on the waiting list to receive surgery. But I also know how waiting lists work." They both did. "Just how likely is it that he'll actually get any help?"

Tomi sighed, all earlier joviality fading from his expression. "You know I can't tell you that, Miko."

She swallowed. "That bad, huh?"

His mouth pressed into a grim line and Yumiko felt a band wrap around her chest, squeeze tight.

She didn't want to have this conversation.

Didn't want to think about this at all.

But she cared about Ezekiel.

She cared about him and so she had to have this conversation.

She had to know.

"Is there anything I can do?"

She had to know if she could fix this.

Tomi leant sideways against the wall, gaze unreadable - though oddly sober. Yumiko resisted the urge to shift under it, had the distinct feeling he was picking her apart, piece by piece. Searching through the cracks.

(quickly, she checked herself, sealing all that she could find)

"Possibly. You do have the necessary connections. I suppose it depends on what you'd be willing to offer. Although. . . given how pleased Hornsby was over tonight's wine and a little visit I had earlier from my successor, that might already be taken care of."

Carol?

Yumiko decided not to ask. Better she didn't know. Easier to deny that way.

She released a breath. "Okay."

If Tomi was right, if Ezekiel would be okay, would receive the help he required, that was all she needed to know.

All she'd wanted to know.