Sea Glass (WAYHAUGHT)

Since When?

Alice wriggled free of her mother's arms, poking out her tongue. "I hate you."

Wynonna's world, the last piece she'd tried to keep intact, crumbled before her eyes. She stared at Alice who looked equally shocked. "I'm sorry," Wynonna whispered. "I'm sorry."

She heard Doc scolding Alice as she fled the room. Staring at the water, it took all her reserve not to plunge right in and let it take her wherever it wanted.

Doc was behind her. "She didn't mean it. She's just playing up."

Wynonna shook her head. "She...I can't do this anymore. I've let everyone down."

She felt his hands on her arms. "It's me," he said. "I'm the one who let you down."

She didn't believe him. He'd been so distant these past years, so far from her, she couldn't hear what he was admitting, without filtering it through all the shittiness of a failing relationship.

She resisted his attempt to turn her to face him. "She doesn't hate you. She's just scared, and confused, and reacting to us."

"When did you become a fucking shrink?" she hissed.

"Since I started seeing one," he replied.

His revelation was not expected. She forced herself to face the person who had driven her into the arms of another. "Since when?"

His eyes sparkled, just as she remembered from their early days. "Three days after I left. I've not been happy for a while."

"No shit. What about me?"

He sought her eyes. "Reckon that's what did it. Reckon it rubbed off on you, made you do what you did."

"I'm not happy," she said. "I'm dying inside, and now Alice hates me."

He used his right hand to rub her arm. "We both were hanging on. We don't have to do that anymore."

She didn't like this new Doc, this clear thinking, clear speaking Doc. She hated the old Doc, the I don't-give-a-damn Doc. But this Doc, this version terrified her, by giving her a glimmer of hope, something she didn't want right now, if it meant it would be yanked away when the old Doc returned.

"I don't need this," she replied. "I don't need what this is." She pulled free of his hands. "You're not having her, you hear. I won't give her up without a fight."

She stormed off towards the pub, letting herself in, closing the door behind her. Only then could she let the tears come. They rose from the very core of her being as she let every drop of sadness out. She could hardly see the letters as she typed a text to Waverly.

She knew Waverly had her own life, probably off enjoying her new relationship with Joe. Yet, more than ever she needed her sister, even if it was only to hold her, to stop herself from going under completely.

...

Waverly was in a light sleep when her phone pinged. She lazily reached over to check it, sitting bolt upright in bed. She typed a short message to her sister asking what was up. The response had her out of bed, running to the bathroom.

When she returned to the bedroom, Nicole was sitting up, staring at her. "What's wrong?"

"It's Wyn. That bastard is taking Alice."

"Err...bastard. As in Doc."

Waverly was busy rummaging in her bag for clean underwear. "He's over there now. I need to go."

"Where?"

Waverly paused, typing quickly on her phone. She stared at it waiting for Wyn's reply. "The pub. Hurry, we need to go."