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Claire woke up early the next morning and her entire being ached. Her legs and back were stiff, and when she sat up her head pounded. She stood up slowly and limped out of the room quietly. JJ was still fast asleep on the couch so she just stood there watching him for a moment; the way his hair sat untidily from his hat, yet still looked so attractive. The way his stomach rose and fell with every breath, and the way his mouth hung slightly open as he snored softly. Seeing him so calm and vulnerable was just another painful reminder of their fight the night before.
Claire had been ready to open her heart up to him for so long now, and when he kissed her, she felt as if finally something in her life would go the way she wanted. But JJ clearly didn't think about her in the same way, and if he did, he wasn't going to admit it. Claire knew more than anyone that he had a hard time opening up to people, and always kept his feelings private, but she just wished for once he would trust her enough to let her in and let himself be open. She wasn't going to force the topic on him, however, she wanted him to realise that whatever doubts he had about himself not being good enough for her or about their relationship–because Claire knew that JJ would be thinking about that stuff–she wanted him to realise that he was more than good enough. She wanted to tell him that she loved every bit of him, the funny side, the cocky side, the scared, vulnerable side–all of it.
But Claire needed JJ to realise that for himself. She couldn't make him, no matter how much she wished she could. And if he didn't realise it, she wasn't sure what would happen between them after that.
Claire tore her eyes away from JJ and walked to the sink to grab a glass of water. Except, there were no clean glasses since John B had clearly not done any cleaning up whatsoever. She sighed and limped over to the coffee table and grabbed some clean bandages along with the tissues and rubbing alcohol. She went back into John B's room and sat down, unwrapping the bandage and gagging at the hole in her thigh. It wasn't a massive hole, but it was big enough. She applied the rubbing alcohol, dabbing gently–while trying not to cry over the stinging–and wrapping a clean bandage around it. Claire stood and returned the rubbing alcohol and tissues to the table, but accidentally stubbed her toe and woke JJ with a start.
His eyes blinked a few times until they focused on her.
"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." Claire said.
JJ shook his head. "It's fine. How's your leg?"
"Sore." She said, looking down at the floor. An uncomfortable silence followed and it made her want to rip her hair out.
She hated how awkward things were now.
"Would you mind taking me home so I can change and freshen up?"
