gimmethemap

Then what? What would you like to have addressed, Major West? Or are you going to just stand there and tell me you're "fine" again? If you want me to be direct with you, then it goes both ways. You don't wanna open up, then I can go right back to handling my business with you all quiet-like and discreet.

Maybe I want you to notice when something's wrong, instead of being so thick as to take everything at face value! You didn't even talk to me about how that 'therapy session' with him might have affected me; you just went right back to whatever the hell it is you've been doing lately! As for my not seeing certain entries in the journals-- I already knew you did that, because you did it against my will, and I don't see how that helped at all. And you should have followed orders at Port in the first place!

[He's dimly aware of the kettle whistling now. He turns his back on her now and goes back to the kitchen to turn the stove off.]

I think I'm well enough now to move on. You can have fun with the others. Just tell the Admiral whatever it is you need to.

[She rolls her eyes at the very idea.]

Would you have followed orders if our situations had been reversed back there, Major? Did you? You still came for me.

[He snatches a cup and sets it down on the counter, then looks at Morgan like he's not really sure if he wants to get one for her, too.]

I was placed in charge of everybody's welfare. I made the orders. Were I in your position, I would have followed them. Not doing so needlessly and recklessly endangered others.

[Yup, he's turning this around on her, out of spite and hurt, mainly. He's still upset with himself, for doing the very thing he's accused her of. But, since he's a master at not dealing with his own problems, and he really can't stand it when people get too close to his more vulnerable side...]

I want to be reassigned. Preferably with a Warden who won't ignore me the moment they become infatuated with somebody else. [And this is what he always does, really, cut himself off, become cold, and shut down so that he doesn't have to feel upset]

Edited 2008-11-07 06:26 (UTC)

That sounds a lot like the things you were saying about yourself when we first got back, Major.

[She watched him; he was stubborn, and so was she, but she didn't want to take all that he said here at face value. She was looking for a place where he'd begin to crumble. ...And then he asks to be reassigned.]

You want a Warden who won't ignore you, or you want one that won't make you talk to them? [raises an eyebrow]

I want a Warden who won't actively seek out to help somebody else while only going so far as to tell me to 'Ignore him and he'll go away' for my own problems!

[Snaps] Heaven forbid I expect you to have learned to act like an adult when it comes to your confrontations on the barge!

[And now he's lost his temper, and his voice raises] You are being deliberately obtuse! I'm talking about the energy you expend to take care of an Inmate who's not even your responsibility! I'm talking about the half-arsed effort you put into helping me with my problems as compared to how much you chase after Rube and Charlie's coattails!

I'm not being -- obtuse. My point is I happen to expect more of you than I do other people. [damn geometrical terms -- she tilts her head] And are you the Marquis' Warden? You run to his quarters every time someone turns around and decks him for something stupid he's done.

Would you like to know the difference between me and you? [Shouting now!] I DON'T HAVE AN INMATE! And his Warden hardly does anything-- can you say the same for Charlie's?

Do you seriously do everything for him simply because his Warden won't?

Are you having sex with Charlie?

Is that where your relationship begins and ends with him, or do you care about him?

I don't help him out at the expense of my own responsibilities. Would you like to know something? Billy, an Inmate, has shown more interest in my welfare than you have.

Have you spent half as many words on Billy explaining you don't want to be coddled?

[She's going in the wrong direction, here, and she knows it, immediately relenting and holding up a hand as though to stop herself.]

I hear you, I swear I do. Until recently, I haven't considered myself to be remiss in my responsibilities toward you. Clearly I was wrong in doing this, and I admit that. [She stands up to face him.] Whether I meant for it to happen or not, you keep getting put off, and I want to promise you that it won't happen any longer.

[Morgan bit her lip.] This place is about second chances, Major. Sometimes even Wardens need them.

It isn't about being coddled. Why can't you get it through your thick skull that CHARLIE IS NOT YOUR INMATE, I AM--

[And then, he stops shouting as Morgan changes tactics, holding her hand up to continue. He doesn't say anything for a while, just stares at her. Finally, though, he speaks again]

I see.

[And turns around to pour some of the hot water into his cup. He reaches for another, then stops and speaks in a neutral tone] Tea?

[What he was essentially saying, then, was that her speaking as little to him as possible wouldn't have mattered if she'd just not engaged anyone else. Or perhaps each of their points just kept glancing the other's and are never going to meet. She's not going to press the issue. He offers her tea, then, and she blinks, a little surprised by the question and answers lamely, in a tone almost like that of a kid asked to try brussel sprouts]

Would you believe I've never had tea before?

[That wasn't what he was saying.]

I find it hard to believe. [He shrugs.] Would you like some or not?

Thank you. [lame smile] I'd appreciate it.

Mm-hm. [He grabs another cup and pours the water, then begins steeping the tea] There's sugar. I don't have any cream. [He takes his own cup and walks out, back to the living room, sitting down on the couch.]

[Morgan, looking just a bit clueless just attempts to do what he's doing, as far as steeping goes, and decides she likes the smell of the drink well enough to go without sugar. She sits next to him, careful to place some distance between them so it's not awkward -- not moreso than it already is, anyway.]

I had noticed that you'd been spending a lot of time around Billy, and he always speaks up for you whenever something's wrong. [sip, burns tongue, decides to wait and let it cool for a second] I think it's -- [tries to word it without sounding like she's gushing or talking down to him] very significant that you've made friends like him on the barge.

[West's a little surprised by this turn of subject, but it doesn't register on his face for very long. While Morgan tries to sip the tea, he just holds onto his cup, feeling the warmth in his hands] Thank you. It's probably the only good thing to ever come out of a flood here.

Some Inmates don't make friends. It's always easier on the people here who make connections of some sort. [She looks down at the liquid in her cup and pokes at the teabag with her finger] The kinder faces around you, the more it'll start to feel like -- [frowns, not sure if she should use the word] -- like a home.

[He looks down at his own drink, not quite sure how to process those words, that thought... He doesn't say anything for a few minutes, doesn't even look at her. Then, he takes a sip]

But they're all quite... transient. When they finish-- not everybody stays here.

I hate to break it to you, Major, but I think in life -- even when you're not in crazy places like this -- nobody stays. [she frowns to herself] I think people like you and Billy could do a lot of good if you set your minds to it. [a sip] I'm sorry it bothers you that you only had him to go to sometimes. But I'm glad it means you do go to somebody. You only tell me your problems when I make you tell me, and even if that's my job -- a friend's better than a caretaker. You can count on one but you have to depend on the other.

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