[for Meredith]

[missingthekeep]

It's long past late by the time Sean weaves his way around Doc and pulls himself through the front door, battered and sore but feeling on top of the world in spite of it all. A few drinks to calm his nerves had unfortunately had something of the opposite effect, making him more jumped up and energetic than ever and turning into a few more, which wound up costing him half the evening. Either way, he's home now, no matter the shape he's in. And anyway, he hadn't meant to get in a fight, he'd been more curious than anything when he turned up to the little gathering, but then he wasn't exactly given a choice and that had been that. He certainly can't regret it, at any rate, not when coming home to Meredith has been the perfect ending to far worse days than this one.

Hopefully she's still awake.

Comments

[drownondryland]

"So lucky," Meredith says, brow raising for emphasis, though she feels herself relaxing in spite of herself. "So, so very lucky, and yes, you are. I don't know what to do about it yet, but you are. You can't do these things to me."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

Sean's still not convinced that he did anything to her, per se. He did something to himself that unfortunately affected her as well. Still, even he can tell that that isn't the point. The point is how lucky he is. "Mmm, 'm sure ye'll think o' somethin'," he says, stealing another kiss.

[drownondryland]

"You can count on that," Meredith says. Right now, though, it's an empty threat, her imagination blank of possibilities beyond lecturing him again. She's undermining herself, leaning up to kiss him, but that doesn't seem to matter. "But it can keep until tomorrow. As long as you're alright."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"'S long as ye're here, I am," Sean says, not concerned in the slightest. Not about whatever he's got coming to him in the morning, anyway. "Did I say that a'ready? Feels like I said that a'ready."

[drownondryland]

"Something like it," Meredith says, brushing her fingers through his hair, "and it's stupid, me being here isn't going to heal your bruises or your lip." She appreciates the sentiment all the same, but she's not about to say so. He doesn't need the encouragement.

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Why nae?" Sean asks, closing his eyes contentedly at the feel of her fingers in his hair. "Ye're the doctor."

[drownondryland]

"Smartass." Meredith lies back, shaking her head, though it comes out fond. Her medical expertise does no good here. "We'll see how much my mere presence helps tomorrow when you're really feeling this."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Tomorrow's a very long way off, lass," Sean says as he positions himself over her with a smirk, predatory and playful, although biting his lip proves to be a brutally bad idea.

[drownondryland]

"Careful," Meredith says, hands sliding along his arms. He's promised, after all, though she hardly means to hold him to it on anything so trivial. "It's not that far off."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

Sean hums low in his throat, recovering quickly as he puts his mouth to a far more satisfying use in kissing her neck again, one hand sliding down her body. "Mmm, then I guess we'll jus' have ta make the most o' tonight."

[drownondryland]

It's frustrating, though Meredith finds that's mostly directed at herself for giving in, for the way she reacts to him even when she knows she should be annoyed. Lecturing him further now would just be going in circles, though, and she can't help it if she presses toward him automatically, sighing. "You did say you'd make it up to me," she says, though she's still unsure about this.

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

It just comes as a comfort to Sean, to be able to know that no matter how badly he screws everything else up, no matter what stupid things he goes and does, there's always at least one thing he can do right for her. "I did," he echoes, drawing back just long enough to pull his t-shirt over his head and toss it over the side of the bed.

[drownondryland]

Meredith sits up a little, shaking her head as her hands move to his shoulders. "Sean," she says, glancing back up at him, somewhere between disapproving and resigned. It's difficult to get especially upset when he seems so unconcerned and, in the grand scheme of things, he really isn't that badly banged up, but she's still unsure about this. "Seriously?"

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

Sean rolls his eyes impatiently as he drops his hands to his sides. He should have expected that. "This is nothin'."

[drownondryland]

"Not to me." Meredith sighs and drops back again, looking away. He let her decide when she was ready when she was far worse off than this, but that doesn't make her feel any better about his being hurt. "I don't see why you think this shouldn't bother me."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"'Cause it's a few lousy bruises, Meredith" Sean protests stubbornly, shaking his head. "So I'll be sore f'r a few days, what's the big deal?"

[drownondryland]

Meredith looks back up at him, petulant but uncertain. She can't put her finger on just why this bothers her so much, let alone put words to it other than the ones she's already used. "I don't know," she says and shakes her head. "I — whatever. Nevermind. I said I'd let it go for now."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Ye did," Sean says, a little more snidely than he intends to, his expression softening apologetically a moment later. "Are ye actually goin' to, though? Or should I jus' quit while 'm behind?"

[drownondryland]

Meredith lifts her hands and lets them fall, looking up and away from him for a moment. "I don't know," she says, impatient because it's the truth. "I am not trying to annoy you here, Sean. I just care and I can't — I can't see you hurt and not react to that." Looking back, she reaches for his cheek again, not sure she can hold her tongue the way he'd like, but maybe there's no harm in declaring peace for a night. He wanted to come home to her. She never promised not to say it all again tomorrow. "I'll try, I will try. Don't be mad at me for caring about you."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

When she puts it like that, there's not much Sean can say that won't make him seem like the bad guy here, so he makes a face and bows his head. "'M nae mad at ye," he mutters, shaking his head. A little annoyed, sure, but far from mad. "An' I- I want ye ta care 'bout me. 'M glad ye do."

[drownondryland]

"You don't seem that thrilled," Meredith says wryly, but she pushes herself back up again, ready to kiss him and hesitating at the last. Just because she's trying not to say anything doesn't mean she's not still unsure. "I do care. Always. If you say you're okay, you're okay. I'll leave it."

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

"Good. Then leave it," Sean says, closing the gap between them to kiss her again, no hesitation on his part until he wonders if he should maybe elaborate more. "'Cause I am. Okay, I mean."

Nope, that probably wasn't necessary.

[drownondryland]

"Okay," Meredith says, slipping her arms around his neck. "You know I'd believe it more if you stopped saying it, right?" She does that all the time, she's always fine. She knows better than to take it at face value, especially from him.

[missingthekeep.livejournal.com]

Sean makes a slightly confused face at that, although he catches her meaning quickly enough. She does it to him all the time, after all. "I guess," he says, wrapping his arms around her as he sits back to pull her into his lap despite the protests of aching muscles.

[drownondryland]

In spite of her reservations, Meredith laughs, settling against him and kissing his neck. "I thought maybe you were gonna quit while you were behind," she says lightly. Given the state he's in, she almost wishes he would; she doesn't have it in her to push him away, not for long. "Call it a night."