Arcane Sequence: 1987 (WLW)

December 9th, 1987: Home at Last

This novella contains mature language.

"Just let me get your shit settled and--"

"Kev, if you don't let me just enjoy being home finally, I'll rip you a new one, bud." She settled down into her bed and Kevin shot her a smirk. "What?"

"Want me to grab Yua from her office?"

"No. She doesn't like being interrupted during her sessions with patients." Jaime didn't like the mention of that name and just wanted to change the subject. At the moment, it only served to upset her. Maybe I should... "I should just go to your place."

Kevin shot her a glare and sat down on the edge of the bed as he propped her leg up on a pillow. He sighed and began to set her medications onto the nightstand as she glanced over her room. It felt even more sterile than the hospital room she'd gladly left, but now would've paid to return to once again.

How had things gotten so fucked?

Not only had Yua never come back to visit her in the time that she was in the hospital aside from that first day, but instead Kevin, Jess and Abby were her only other visitors. Jess was the last person she wanted to see at her bedside and she wanted to ream Kevin a new one for not telling the captain about their separation. In the end, however, she blamed herself for that chaos. Still, she couldn't blame herself for the mess called Yua.

What the hell was going on with her? Not one visit. Not one damn call. No-fucking-thing.

"Just talk to her. She was scared and probably--"

"Too busy to even call my room?" Jaime shook her head and knocked the shit off of her nightstand. Her alarm clock and medications went flying to the floor and she sent him a scowl. "The hell do you even know? If you don't want me over, then just say so and get the fuck out!"

"Don't take it out on me, Schmidt." He said in a steady voice as pain washed over his face. "Just talk to someone or you're going to--"

"What the hell did I just say? Get! Out!"

He stood and walked to the door, then turned back to her, shaking with rage. "If you keep up like this you're going to end up just like before when Jess first left you on your ass with nothing but a box of shit! Except this time, it'll be more than just one box! Your whole life will be complete shit! You're cutting everyone off again and we all care about you!"

"Not the person I want! She doesn't and that's partially your damn fault!"

"How is it my--"

"You let Jess stay! She probably scared her off!" Jaime sat forward with a grumble under her breath. "You said yourself she said some shitty things to her and now you want to throw it in my face? Make it my fault?"

"You haven't exactly tried to reach out either, Jay." He tucked his hands into his pockets and looked away, his chin trembling. "I can't see you like this. Not again."

"Then why are you still standing there?" She roared and grabbed one of her pillows, hurling it at him. He caught it and jutted out his chin, about to take her on again. "You can't see me like this, then do as I said and leave! It's what everyone does, so why not you, too?"

Kevin threw the pillow back at her and left the room. She heard the front door slam and covered her eyes with the pads of her hands as tears threatened to spill over. She was benched. Couldn't get around without aid. Couldn't even take a piss without someone helping her to the bathroom because she refused to use those damn crutches. None of it was her fault, though.

Why were humans so goddamned predictable? Times got hard, they ran. Story of her life. She covered her face with a pillow and rolled over, but heard the front door open again and the sound of footsteps approaching. Something hit the floor hard and she peeked over the top of the pillow.

Kevin stood next to her bed. Jaime peeked over it and found her crutches, then tried to turn away.

"No way, Schmidt! Not this time!"

Kevin pulled her back around and put his arms underneath her body. He lifted her and she struggled to get free as pain shot through her leg, but he didn't drop her. He began to walk them toward the hallway.

"Let go, you bastard!" Kevin ignored her and carried her into the bathroom, then settled her on the floor of the tub. He turned on the shower and she batted at the water as if it would have any effect. "What the fuck?"

"That's what I keep asking myself. What the fuck is wrong with you? People come in and out of your life to try and help you and you always push them away." He grabbed the shower head and knelt down beside the tub, aiming it directly at her torso. "You need to cool off."

"The hell!" Jaime lunged forward, but winced at the pain in her leg and he easily dodged her. "Stop that!"

"Not until you get your damn senses back! Cry if you want! Yell!" He sprayed the water at her and she went for it once again. As she pounced, more crippling aches rocketed through her leg and she cried out. Kevin immediately shut off the water and looked at her leg. "Shit. You're bleeding a bit."

"No shit, Sherlock." She sighed and let her head fall back against the back of the tub. "Dammit..."

"Sorry, that's not what I meant to do." The panic on Kevin's face was palpable and Jaime tried to swallow back her tears, but it was to no avail. She shook her head and let out a wry laugh as they came streaming down her cheeks full force. "What... Why the hell are you laughing?"

"'Cause you're a dumbass." She ground her teeth and closed her eyes. "And so am I, I guess."

"You said it, not me."

That earned Kevin a more eased chuckle. "Did you mean that?"

"What?"

"That I push people away." She glanced at him through her tears and he nodded, looking away. "Look at me, Kev." After a few moments, he hesitantly turned his head back toward her and searched her eyes. "Do you think I would do that to you someday?"

"Honestly...yes, I do. You've done it with everyone but me and Care. And now you're doing it to the doc."

Jaime rubbed her eyes and cried for a bit, then finally said through her sobs, "I never meant to make you feel that way, Kev. You're my brother. You know that."

"Kinda. I just don't know for sure lately." She moved her hands away from her face and waited for him to say more, her sobs dying down to mere sniffles as she listened. "And I don't mean just after you getting hurt, Jay. You've been pretty distant. Ever since we took on that case, you've been keeping everything to yourself. That kinda shit makes me worry. Especially when you, Care and Lily are all I've got in the world."

Jaime knew that. She knew how hard life had been on Kevin since he lost his wife and she hadn't thought of it. Not for a moment. Instead, she'd been biting his head off for weeks and kept him at arm's length. He deserved better.

"Come on. I'll help you get into some of those shitty boxers and tanks you like and get you settled in bed, partner." Kevin said, breaking the silence. He always knew how to read when she couldn't speak any more.

He bent down to help her up and she pulled him into a hug. Something they rarely did, but both needed. Kevin hadn't ever left her. He was always there for her no matter how bitchy she was toward him and she needed to somehow work through her own mess so as not to hurt him any longer. That may take time, alone time, but it was time she definitely had on her hands now that she had time off from work and no one occupying what little she had left afterward.

Kevin eventually lifted her back into his arms and made his way to her room. After helping her to change and getting her settled in bed, he finally spoke again. "You want me to at least leave a note for Yua when I leave. I can just push it under her office--"

"No."

"You sure, Jay?"

"I just...need some time, Kev."

He slowly nodded and pulled her covers up, then put a glass of water on her bedside table. "Don't forget the meds, okay? And if it opens up at all again, call me. All I've got is paperwork today. I can be over real quick."

"Okay."

He ruffled her hair and gave her a sideways grin. "Get some rest, sport."

Once Kevin was gone, she took some of her medications and laid back, thinking of what her life had become. What was she meant to do with herself now?