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[lastgunslinger]

Simon lets them into the Tam suite.

Roland already has the bullet in his hand.

They settle -- same positions as before, Roland across from River, and Simon and Ted at either side.

Roland looks at River. "Ready?"

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[lastgunslinger]

He catches her wrist and brings her hand away from his face, holding tightly enough so that she can't break his hold, but not tightly enough to hurt.

She could be faking, after all.

Blood wells in the scratches on his face. His gut hurts. His knee screams.

"River."

It's a question and a statement both.

[simon_doctor]

Bracing against the wall and he's on his feet, and takes a shaking step towards her, one hand extended in a gesture that's half soothing and half supplication.

"Meimei..."

[mr-brautigan.livejournal.com]

Ted squeezes her hand, and lets go.

He's smiling. Tiredly.

Soft: "Well done, sweetheart."

He looks up at Roland and Simon and says, still softly, "Shouldn't happen again. She took care of it."

[river_meimei]

"Roland--"

She's glancing from one to another, increasingly agitated and confused.

"Simon--"

And then her glance flicks to Roland's knee, and back to his face, and dawning horror mingles with the bewilderment, and her breath comes faster and faster.

[lastgunslinger]

"No."

Because Ted had been transmitting, and Roland had seen what she was seeing. Had felt the block, as Ted had.

"It's all right, River."

He lets go of her wrist, and wipes the blood from his face, wincing a little as he does.

And he sits down on the couch, now, bad leg held straight out in front of him, barely smiling as he pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head, a little.

His knee hurts like a motherfucker.

[simon_doctor]

"...River?"

He's beside her by now, reaching out to her in the old habitual gesture of comfort and worry and love.

[river_meimei]

"Simon--"

She's scanning him, looking for injuries, even as he reaches out to her and then rests his hands lightly on her shoulders.

"No, Simon, I-- I don't--"

[simon_doctor]

"It's okay."

Hands on her shoulders, he searches her face. "Meimei, you did it. You made it stop. It's okay."

[river_meimei]

She crumples, burying her face in his shoulder, shaking her head.

"Not okay. Don't lie to her."

Her voice is choked, high with tension and tears.

[lastgunslinger]

"It's not a lie."

Roland is watching her.

"I pushed you. You reacted. And then you made it stop. It's fine."

[river_meimei]

Gulping back a sob, she pulls away from Simon enough to stare at him.

The bewildered horror is still there, under the tears. She doesn't think it's fine.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland looks back, and smiles.
boxing is an unnatural act
And nods.

[river_meimei]

She's still staring at him.

And then she pulls away from Simon more fully, and drops into a huddle on the couch next to Roland, carefully avoiding his injuries, and rests her head against his shoulder, and keeps crying.

[lastgunslinger]

His face darkens, then, and he puts his arms around her.

"No need for tears. Part of everyone's training -- lashing out so. Eddie and Susannah both did it, and I forced them into it. Just like this. No lasting harm done then, and none done now." Smoothing her hair away from her face. "It's fine, and you're fine. And it won't happen again. You saw to that. You did well, my dear, and I'm proud of you. Say true."

More than breaking through the block.

To see how she moved...a gunslinger at her best. It's what she's capable of. And it does Roland's heart good to see it, even now.

[simon_doctor]

Simon hasn't moved since River pulled away from him.
If her daddy ever saw her fly
Roland can help her, clearly. Roland's the one she needs right now.
If her daddy ever saw her fly
It shouldn't hurt like this
Wouldn't he be proud of her?
(don't be absurd)
Oh, wouldn't he, wouldn't he be proud?
that River's gone to Roland for comfort.

[mr-brautigan.livejournal.com]

Ted maybe has a little knowledge about Roland that Simon doesn't.

When Roland leaves -- and he will leave Milliways, has to, otherwise Calla Bryn Sturgis wouldn't be standing as it was when Ted left this afternoon -- when Roland leaves, Simon will still be there.

He watches Simon, and compassion is in his eyes -- and Ted stands, and moves next to Simon, ostensibly to give River and Roland space...but he says quietly in Simon's ear, "At the end of it, she's your sister. She hasn't forgotten that, and she won't."

[simon_doctor]

Simon throws Ted a quick look.

But says nothing.

[lastgunslinger]

And River gradually calms, and the tears cease...but she's still distressed, still quiet.

Roland releases her, and looks up at Simon and Ted, and says quietly, "Either of you hurt?"

Ted shakes his head.

[simon_doctor]

Simon shakes his head likewise.

His eyes sharpen somewhat. "You're injured."

[lastgunslinger]

Roland nods. "I'll ask Moiraine to take care of it."

Because nobody needs to ask Roland what happened to him. Another secret to be kept quiet. And Moiraine is discreet.

[simon_doctor]

"Good." He's seen Moiraine work, and even though he doesn't understand her methods, his mind automatically classifies her as a doctor.

[river_meimei]

River's quiet, still in an untidy huddle on the couch. Next to Roland, but not leaning against him now. She's listening, presumably, but withdrawn into herself. She stares at the floor.

Roland's blood is crusted deep under the nails of one hand.