[ Matt tells her quietly, firmly -- he'd stepped away only for a moment in the hours he'd kept silent vigil, blankets at the ready, and more than willing to take on anyone that tries to keep him away from her. He can hear the tremor in her voice, and he turns up a minute or so after, a towel and a bathrobe in his grip.
He can feel the rapid flutter of her pulse rate, her shivering, and he wraps the towel around her before he holds her tight. He'd been worried; wondering if she would ever come awake again. ]
[How long has she been out of it? Karen's hand trembles as she presses it against her forehead, her damp hair falling like a curtain around her face. She should've thought of things like blankets and bathrobes, but all she could think of was reaching out to him first, and praying that he was still there to reach back.
Like actual praying.
And then he's there, and she's pressing into the warmth of the terrycloth and the warmth of him.]
Thank you. Just, thank you for being here.
[Karen's voice breaks and she presses her face against his neck.]
[ She's trembling to her bones, and he holds her tighter, wrapping the robe around her. He's missed Karen; her laughter, her jokes, her perfume and soap. He's missed everything about her when she went into the ice.
Her hair is still wet, but it doesn't matter, he presses his face against it anyway, quiet regret laced in his words. ]
I'm not going to let anyone put you in there again.
[ Damn straight he can be very compelling. Matt doesn't let go for her, but he figures that she'd want to get out of here as soon as she can. He keeps his arm around her waist, guiding her out of the room. ]
A couple of weeks. What was the last thing you remember?
[ Like hell Matt was going to let them hurt Karen while she sleeps in the tube. He leaves out the rest of the details, and he squeezes her shoulders briefly, reassuringly. ] Don't worry, you're safe now. Are you hungry?
[Hearing it's a relief, even if the fact that they're still alive and talking right now told her that things went in their favor.]
Maybe, once I clean up. I still feel, I don't know, shaky. [But Karen draws strength from him with every passing second.] This is going to sound really weird, but did you...did you talk to me?
[ Matt admits after a pause. He'd read to her after awhile, having gotten himself a braille-based book -- but it wasn't anything interesting, just something to comfort Karen, to tell her that she wasn't alone. ]
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[ Matt tells her quietly, firmly -- he'd stepped away only for a moment in the hours he'd kept silent vigil, blankets at the ready, and more than willing to take on anyone that tries to keep him away from her. He can hear the tremor in her voice, and he turns up a minute or so after, a towel and a bathrobe in his grip.
He can feel the rapid flutter of her pulse rate, her shivering, and he wraps the towel around her before he holds her tight. He'd been worried; wondering if she would ever come awake again. ]
Hey, hey. I've got you.
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Like actual praying.
And then he's there, and she's pressing into the warmth of the terrycloth and the warmth of him.]
Thank you. Just, thank you for being here.
[Karen's voice breaks and she presses her face against his neck.]
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Her hair is still wet, but it doesn't matter, he presses his face against it anyway, quiet regret laced in his words. ]
I'm not going to let anyone put you in there again.
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Comforted by that, she Karen finally sighs and relaxes in his arms, but she doesn't pull away.]
How long was it?
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A couple of weeks. What was the last thing you remember?
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They were going to board the ship! What happened?
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[ Like hell Matt was going to let them hurt Karen while she sleeps in the tube. He leaves out the rest of the details, and he squeezes her shoulders briefly, reassuringly. ] Don't worry, you're safe now. Are you hungry?
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Maybe, once I clean up. I still feel, I don't know, shaky. [But Karen draws strength from him with every passing second.] This is going to sound really weird, but did you...did you talk to me?
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[ Matt admits after a pause. He'd read to her after awhile, having gotten himself a braille-based book -- but it wasn't anything interesting, just something to comfort Karen, to tell her that she wasn't alone. ]
Did you hear all of it?
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[But then why did she ask? Karen's confused herself for a moment.]
Maybe. I remember the sound of your voice and wanting to come back to it. But I don't know when, it could've been right before I did wake up.
[It could've been a dream. But Karen likes the idea now that she knows the truth.]
That means a lot to me. [She smiles.] Admit it, you told me dirty jokes.
[That good Catholic boy image doesn't fool her.]