Out of Time|Outlander.

6. BONDING.

After the debacle with Colum last night and Claire's drunkenness', Jo found it best to stick with the woman who seemed to be struggling, though she was finding it herself the same way. She was just better at hiding it. So, the redhead woman opted to stay with Claire in her room for the night and Jo found herself unwilling to get up in the late morning/early afternoon even if Claire had made noise and walked around the room. She was used to the early morning and everything, even outside of the military schedule. However, with everything that happened with Claire's mess-ups, it was difficult. "Jo...you can't stay in bed, you and I must blend in as you said." Claire's soft voice spoke up from beside the bed, the older woman already fully clothed. "Mrs. Fitzgibbons has left the clothing she made for you so you will be more comfortable. Perhaps you can teach Ben today, I'm sure Ben will be happy to spend time with you today." She tells the young woman when a small smile appears on Claire's face. "He likes you and enjoy's your company, it seems he doesn't get to speak to many people who are...open-minded I suppose." Claire offhandedly commented, Jo let out a puff of air and her hands fell to her side as she sat up.

"I'm trying to find the effort, but I'm also trying to think of some kind of excuse just in case...you know who starts asking questions again," Jo admitted and Claire nodded understandingly, both women were not trying to show it, but they were on high alert, especially after yesterday. They were just trying to be cautious and safe rather than sorry. Claire held out a hand and Jo took it as Claire half-pulled the older teenager out of the bed.

"Come on, I'll help you dress." Claire bobs her head over to the clothes on the chair nearby. "But Mrs. Fitzgibbons does expect that most of the time you wear a dress." She informs the young woman who nods and walks over to the clothing, it was men's clothing that Mrs. Fitzgibbons had provided her but obviously tailored to Jo's measurements, while minus the height, Jo was 5'11. "According to Mrs. Fitzgibbons, these used to be Jamie's. Should fit you good, you're both very tall." Claire half-joked which made Jo chuckle as she removed her nightgown and Claire began helping her get changed.

"Well, according to my doctor from home...I'm still growing." Jo remarked which stunned Claire for a moment, though she knew what Jo meant when she said home. "My doctor said I'm expected to at least be 6 foot, but honestly...the man could've been wrong, happened before." She shrugged and Claire chuckled but nodded knowingly, she was right. Doctors could be wrong.

"Really? Well, one of your parents must've been tall." Claire hummed as Jo sat down and fitted on her boots before standing. "Well, let's go find Mrs. Fitzgibbons, I need to ask her about Jamie. I don't know where he is." She says to the young woman who nods and the two leave the room to find Mrs. Fitzgibbons. And this is where Jo found herself very amused, you see Jo was grumpy, she was sure she got it from her parents, but...she also found many things funny in a dry or blunt way. So it was hilarious to her when she was walking around with Claire that a few of the young boys and even some of the men thought she was a man. They were stunned when she turned around and faced them, clearly, a woman as her breast poked through the fabric she wore. However, the funniest thing for her was how shocked they were by her height. Again, not many women much less men were of her height, Jamie and Ben clearly being some of the exceptions. "You find this too amusing." Claire shook her head with a chuckle, just as amused when she and Jo entered the kitchen.

"Not my fault they're stunned by everything I do," Jo commented with a hint of sarcasm which Claire noted. She was starting to get better at that as hours passed by and she got to know Jo, hearing and seeing the sarcasm from the young woman. Jo found herself liking and enjoying the smells of food and cooking from the kitchen, though there were a few odd smells from some food she wasn't used to. She missed spices, a lot.

"You missed breakfast." Mrs. Fitzgibbons commented when the two women came upon her in the kitchen kneading away at some dough. Jo merely shrugged as she was unbothered but she'd grab anything that might be left, however, Claire was anxiously and awkwardly silent. "Still some porridge." the older woman said softly, taking some from a pot and placing it on two plates.