justgo | IC CONTACT.

That's right. She ain't too keen on it. Heard there's a swim club of sorts here, figure I might help her learn.

You interested any?

Surprised you thought you had to ask. You wanna talk about it more when I'm back, or do you already have a plan?

I say we just dump her in the shallow end, pray she knows to doggie paddle at the very least.

[ Joel pauses. ]

Where did you bug off to now?

At least she can stand up and kick you in the ass if we go with that. [He has such a way with the opposite gender.]

What, you miss me already? I just saw you a few hours ago.

Not if she don't want a nose full of water, she won't. [ He sure does. ]

[ How many times are they going to go over this? He missed her so much okay.]

Just makin' sure you're still there, that you didn't disappear yet.

Reckon they got any pallets layin' around this place?

You sure are something else, you know that? [Tess knows, but between you and me, she just likes hearing it.]

I'm not goin' anywhere, Joel. Still need to pay you back for the other day. [Thinking on it.] Doesn't hurt to ask some of the shops.

That supposed to be a compliment? [ He didn't call her to be playful with her but here they are. ]

[Serious mode now. Good job. ] You don't know that, and I ain't about to tempt fate. Or whoever the bastards are that brought us here.

[No immediate reply - it's silence as if the call dropped or she somehow forgot it was still going (impossible) or something but then:]

Then open the damn door and help me with this thing so I can remind you where we are.

[ The hell--? ]

--yes ma'am.

[ Joel keeps the tablet on as he goes just in case she needs to holler at him through it or something silly like that. He's at the door and got it open for her within less than thirty seconds, his broad frame filling the doorway. ]

You won't believe the things some of these folk leave right outside. [ See exhibit a: the pallet she's got tucked under one arm, leaning against her side. ]

Now you gonna help me or are you gonna stare a lil' more.

Where the hell did you find that?

[ Immediately he's stepping forward to ease it out of her hold, getting a good grip on the board covered pallet to get it inside and out of the way. ]

Didn't I tell you back in Boston? You gotta look hard. [She passes it off with no complaint, closes the door after her as Joel goes to put it somewhere else. ] So what'd I miss?

You told me quite a bit back in Boston, and before that lots more.

[ Brushes his hands off on his pants, throws a look around the room. Looks the same since she'd left it hours ago. He shrugs a shoulder. ]

You ain't missin' much. [ Gestures to the far tables. ] Moved one of them flowerpots outta the way. [ They had come with the territory, drab little things that they are. ] Probably my biggest achievement yet in years.

Hope you haven't forgotten any of it. There'll be a test next week. [Looking in that direction, she makes her way across the room, head shaking as she goes.] Well, I'll be. Someone's gettin' into decorating.

[Glance over her shoulder at him.] And the actual plan, for swimmin'?

I'd prefer to call it nestin'.

[ He folds his arms over his chest, which is puffed out in mock pride. ]

Your part in all of this is to find her a proper bathing suit. She might be used to goin' through the water in her clothes but this is a real swimming pool. Reckon shorts and a t-shirt might not work out so well.

Anything else I should know then, before I start throwin' round anymore lingo?

[Bracing herself against the table, raising a brow at him with an amused look.] You got it. You want one too, or did you go on and get on without me?

No ma'am.

[ Joel waves a hand off to where his room is located, shrugs a shoulder. ]

Got something in there. Somewhere.

Somewhere, he says. [She makes a motion for him to come over, smiling.] Plans for the rest of the day?

Going over my supplies- [ For probably the millionth time since he's arrived. Can never be too sure! He sees her smile, catches the motion. Slowly his arms unfold and he's making his way over bit by bit, curious and cautious and comfortable all mixed into one broad shouldered package. ]

And yourself?

Thinkin' on how much you need a trim. [Soon as he's close enough, she reaches out a hand for the back of his head, runs fingers through his hair. A wry smile.]

You're gettin' scruffy.

[ There's a sensation slowly filling him that he hasn't felt in a while, not since almost a year ago, as her fingers brush over his scalp, sift through his hair. He's missed this, and the realization of it leaves a dull ache in his chest.

His hands reach out to brace on the edge of the table at either side of her, his head tilting slightly to give her more hair to work her fingers through if she so chooses to. Joel glances at her, his words quiet: ]

Thought you liked it that way.

[She keeps her words short, tone even just in case she needs to back off for his sake or her own. When he's braced against the table though, she relaxes a little, head tilting to the side as she moves her free hand over one of his, fingers playing against the knuckles.]

Me, you sure bout that? [It's a tease as she plays with the ends a little more, tugging light to see how long it's gotten.] You must be thinkin' about something else.

[ His knuckles might feel rough beneath her fingers, scarred from various fights in the past, from harsh weather and poor choice of protective gear against it. But Joel can feel the way her callused finger pads brush over them, eyes darting down to watch.

It's the teasing in her voice and words, the tug on his hair that gets him to lift his gaze again. ]

Maybe I'm thinkin' about someone else, not something else.

[ He can tease her back. ]

[It hasn't changed much. Maybe he's feeling a little rougher than she remembers, with some more cuts and marks she doesn't know about because she wasn't there, but her touches slow, stop as Tess taps twice against the back of his hand, looking up for the comment.

Maybe he's expecting a snort or another noise of disbelief but the best she does is take in a short breath, raise a brow.] That so.

You seein' anyone?

[ Well that response wasn't what he was expecting. Joel takes a moment to look down at her, trying to read the expression she's wearing, trying to match it to what she replied with and the way she had asked that question.

There's some tension at the back of his neck and he shifts his weight, fingers unconsciously pressing into the hard top of the table behind her. ]

What kind of question is that?

[ Who is there for him to see here in this place? He just got here at the beginning of the month. Hardly enough time for him to find himself attracted to anyone, especially not with the feelings he still carries for her, that have lingered for months and months since her death. ]

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