(no subject)

[notinthebook]

When she wakes up, mouth fuzzy and head aching, and stumbles past the linen closet on her way to the shower, she can't help pausing as she grabs a towel.

She could say the words, grab a cup of coffee and something greasy at the bar, wait out this hangover, head to work once her head's cleared a little.  It would be easy.  No one would miss her.

She stares at the closed closet door, then heads to the bathroom without opening it again.






That all just means that she's a little surly when she gets to the office.  Graham's as affable as ever, and if he notices the redness of her eyes or the way she digs into a breakfast burrito at her desk or the fact that she keeps refilling her coffee, he doesn't mention it.

He does tell her that she's on her own for lunch -- her turn to man the phonelines, but she waves him away -- after a day like yesterday, after a night like last night, she's more than happy to just hang out here and not think about a single damn thing.

Comments

[stillsmallvoice]

He nods more emphatically, only nibbling at the pastry.

"She will try," and he knows all too well, he's spent too long under her foot to not know; "but I'm glad that you're here. Henry needs you."

[notinthebook]

She thinks that over for a second, lips pressed into a wry, barely there curve.

"I guarantee you're the first person who's said that about me, ever."

No one's ever needed her, to the best of her knowledge. No one's wanted her around. She's never been someone's best friend, and even when she was a girlfriend -- well, there was usually something else going on.

"He's a good kid. He deserves better than what he's got." Shoulders and chest rise and fall with a silent sigh. "I just want to do right by him."

[stillsmallvoice]

Almost on word, Archie's smile returns with a nearly full force.

"You will. You have a very strong sense of what's right and necessary." He chuckles dryly once more; "You give him something that Regina never could."

[notinthebook]

She gives him a tiny, amused smile.

"What, hope that I'll break the curse?"

[stillsmallvoice]

"That too." He takes another small bite, rather pleased with the amused smile - it certainly beats the from from before.

"But also someone he can trust completely, a true friend."

[notinthebook]

"I hope so."

Her gaze turns inward and thoughtful again, but there's affection in the tiny smile that tucks at the corners of her lips.

"Thanks. I'm glad you think so. And...I'm glad to have you on Henry's side."

[stillsmallvoice]

"He's a good boy, we can't let her take that from him."

Archie lets another lull fall between them - comfortable with the quiet.

[notinthebook]

She nods, cupping both hands around her hot chocolate, like the warmth could seep through her skin and soothe away the aches and anxieties she's carrying around with her.

Stupid, stupid. She knows better than to try and drink away whatever's weighing her down.

And she should have known better than to flirt with Michael to make herself feel better. Even knowing she actually likes him doesn't make her feel less guilty -- that just makes everything that much more complicated.

"Well, he's stubborn." She gives Archie a crooked smile.

"Must get that from me."

[stillsmallvoice]

Letting a soft laugh slip, Archie shrugged.

"That's a pretty safe hypothesis, if it were possible."

[notinthebook]

Of course, Regina's pretty stubborn, too, but Emma likes her theory better.

She's successfully deflected the conversation back to Henry again, but she's not sure where to go with it now. The truth is, she doesn't really know Archie well, though he seems like a nice guy.

It's just that she's not used to spending enough time with people to get to know them, and it's not really a strong suit of hers.

"What did you come here to talk about, Archie? I know you'll go the extra mile for your patients, but I don't think you're here just to give me an update on Henry's well-being or to comment on my hangover."

[stillsmallvoice]

He's not entirely comfortable himself, but it's important for him to step as far as he can to be a shoulder when needed - someone that people know they can trust.

"Not just, no." He's not fond of corners, nor being forced into them... but he's pretty sure it's one of Emma's specialties.

Quietly, glancing up at her, he admits; "I thought you could use a friend in Storybrooke, someone you can talk to that doesn't have a vested interest."

[notinthebook]

She feels a little bad about the way Archie shifts, looking uncomfortable: he's not an antagonist, not an enemy, just a guy trying to lend her a helping hand, which she's biting right off.

There's a sensible reaction for you.

Giving her hot chocolate a chagrined look, she shrugs, feeling sort of guilty for pushing at him. It might be her instinct, but even she knows that's not the right one to have.

(Probably when he says 'friend' she shouldn't think 'ally', but that's just another kneejerk reaction.)

"Thanks," she says, awkward. "I think I can use all the friends I can get. But I, uh, I'm pretty used to working alone. This is all kind of a new thing for me."

[stillsmallvoice]

'Ally' wouldn't be wrong in the least.

"I understand," he shifts again, slowly getting up to his feet and wiping his hands together after throwing away the remainder of his pastry. "Believe it or not."

With a soft smile, he picks up his umbrella and taps gently against the side of the desk.

"Tell the sheriff I said 'hello'."

[notinthebook]

"You got it."

She gets up, too, thumbs slipping into her back pockets as she gives him a lopsided little smile.

"Thanks for the goodies. I'll try to save some for Graham."

She lifts her hand as he turns to go, watches as he wanders away, that ever-present umbrella swinging easily by his side, and for a second a thoughtful look crosses her face before she shakes her head and sits back down at her desk, bearclaw in one hand and file in the other.

She even saves the rest of the box for Graham.

(Not that she isn't tempted.)