2020-11-19 - An Overdue Visit

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : How many showers is too many?

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : Oh fuck. Sorry. Wrong person. But I'll take your input too.

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : I'm still not entirely convinced I'm not dying.

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : (dots, then nothing, then more dots)

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : If you're dying from too many showers, you're doing it wrong, querida

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : That....is fair. But...Not from the shower.

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : Not even from the weed. Or the bad tacos. There's no real way to walk to the doc and be like 'I literally got shit on'

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : I fucking hate this town. Why do I stay here again?

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : You what? start over from the fucking beginning, what's going on?

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : Ate tacos. Tacos didn't sit well. Toilet ate me. Dream Poop Monsters? Ask Alexander. Or Roen.

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : They liked me too much. But August healed...some of me.

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : Joey was there too. And...another chick. I don't know her. I don't think I know her at least

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : Dream.. poop monsters? the fuck.

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : I take that back. I don't think I want to know.

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : Are you all right? You need anything?

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : Nope. Not even a little bit. I was there and I don't wanna know. Sobered me up really fucking quick.

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : And uh [robably an ER visit but. I think I'll be okay...just need to take it easy and hope I don't have any internal bleeding.

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : Pretty sure I don't. I'd be coughing up blood and stuff right? That's how that works?

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : Wait, you haven't made it to the hospital yet?

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : the fuck do I need to text your fucking boyfriend and tell him to drive you there myself?

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : Uhm. No. August healed me a little and I made it back home. No. Don't do that. It's fine. I'll be fine.

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : Don't make ME drive the fuck over there, Dahl

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : (dots, then nothing for a minute, then more dots)

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : ....I'll call an Uber.

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : But it would be nice to see you. When you're not being irritated at me for being a bad adult. I'll let you know if they keep me. Maybe you can visit.

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : I'm not

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : I'm not irritated at you for being a bad adult

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : I'll check back in with you tomorrow, though. keep me updated, yeah?

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : 👍on way now. Will text you tomorrow if you don't text me first

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : Good luck and talk soon.

Of course they had kept Dahlia overnight. Her story had been along the lines of getting mugged on her way home from work. She didn't know if they believed her or not but they insisted she stay for observation. They put her on some kind of IV drip - likely just fluids and some painkillers - so she was more or less comfortable. Justin and Declan had probably been around after they were contacted and maybe she she was worry-scolded by at least one of them for not telling them as soon as things were over. Especially because during the summer there'd been a particularly bad Dream instance that nearly killed her too.

Nonetheless, she's here in the hospital now. Stuck here until they decide to let her go and mildly annoyed that she's stuck here when she is clearly fine aside it hurting to walk and occasionally hurting to breathe. No biggie! She reached for her phone, skimming through the text conversation last night with Ruiz and sighed softly before finally texting back.

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : I know you weren't irritated. I don't even know why I said that. They kept me. Dunno when they're gonna let me out. But I hope you can swing by at some point.

(TXT to Dahlia) Ruiz : Precinct's been a nuthouse today. I'll stop by once my shift's done, yeah? You doing okay?

(TXT to Ruiz) Dahlia : Sounds good. I'm okay. Sore. A little drowsy. Want to walk around but they insist bed rest.

He does not, in fact, swing by at some point. Not the hospital, anyway. Maybe Javier's just pulling his same old shit. Maybe he never had any intention of coming to see her.

A couple of days after she's back home with Declan, there's the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside. The familiar rumble of a truck's engine; it idles for a half minute, then cuts out, followed by the slam of a door and the crunch of booted feet. Thump, thump, thump, the side of a fist, police-style, against the door. "Dahl, you in?" Voice is familiar, too; a smoke-roughened scrawl drenched in that accent.

Dahlia, ultimately, hadn't been surprised when he didn't show up. More disappointed than she thought she would be, but maybe he just got busy. He was always busy. She'd sent a text or two just to see if he was okay but didn't get a response. Which annoyed her, but what could she do? Currently, she was sitting on couch working on some of her crocheting. The unkittens were tumbling around and playing in their pen with some new toys that they, by some miracle, hadn't shredded to pieces yet.

Her brow furrows, hearing that truck. Declan was working and she certainly wasn't expecting anyone. Least of all Javier, when she hears his voice. A strange surge of relief and annoyance run over her. At least he was alive? He would hear some shuffling around and foot steps. She opened the door and just stared at him for a moment or two before clearing her throat. "Uh, hi." She looked past him a moment towards his truck and then back to him. "...Is everything okay?"

She does step aside after another moment for him to come in if he wants. She never really knows how to act around him anymore and especially in the moment doesn't know if she should just be glad for the confirmation that he's still breathing or furious that he blew her off. So for now? Just tries to go with a more neutral approach.

It's raining, of course, when she opens the door to greet him. When is it not, in this godforsaken town? He's huddled there on the porch in a baseball cap and that battered leather jacket he tends to favour, paired with a ratty black tee shirt and snug jeans shoved into scuffed boots. In short, pretty much his standard look, when not in uniform. Which is most days, lately.

"Hey," he returns, scratching at his nose with his thumb. "Uh.. yeah. I'm sorry I didn't stop by to see you in the hospital." The is everything okay is neatly dodged. "Can I come in?"

The dodged question isn't missed, but Dahlia doesn't push it. Yet. "It's fine." When he apologize for not coming to see her. And it was, really. It was the ignored texts that weren't as fine. "Yeah. Come in." She waves him in out of the rain. Her own attire is simple and not quite appropriate for the November weather since she was inside where it was cozy and warm. A pair of blue flannel pants and a black tank top.

The house was a fairly open concept. Like if one wanted a studio apartment that was house sized. The living area bled into where a bed and dresser was set up, which bled in to where the kitchen was, on the left of the bedroom area. There was an addition build on that led to her craft room and then of course a bathroom now a little nook-like hallway. It was simple, nice and plenty of room for just the two of them, three when Justin was over.

She closed the door once he was inside. "Do you want some coffee or something?" Already starting to walk towards the kitchen. The unkittens had paused in their play to briefly examine the strange newcomer. Their Glimmer still far too strong. But then they fell back into playing after another moment or two.

He remembers them, those strange, saw-toothed felines. He even dimly recalls a Dream where he was one of them. A little white ball of fur.. the details escape him at the moment. He shoulders his way inside, gaze tracking from the kittens, back to Dahlia as she moves toward the kitchen.

"Coffee would be great. Yeah." Should she glance back at him, he hasn't quite eased out of the entryway yet. Like he's not entirely sure of his welcome. Hands jammed into the pockets of his jacket, shoulders hiked up to his ears, the big cop looks like he doesn't belong here.

Dahlia had been expecting him to just follow her, perhaps taking for granted that they might as well be strangers these days. So when she turns around and he's still at the door she looks confused for a second or two. "Well, come on." She waved him over. "I'm not going to walk it all the way back over to you." She offers up a touch of a smile. There are some stools set up at the counter which is what substitutes a dining table. Then she rummages around for a moment before setting up the Keurig to make him a cup of coffee.

She turns back, relaxing against the counter as those green eyes study him closely. "So...how was your holiday?"

The smile, however slight, seems to embolden him a touch. And after a brief glance about the entryway, and a hand reached out to steady something he'd nearly knocked off a shelf in passing, he eases out of the doorway and toward the kitchen with that ambling, prowlish gait he has. Like a lethargic old wolf with half an eye for something that might be good eating and low effort.

"My, uh.." His holiday? "Didn't do too much this year," he murmurs, taking a lean against the counter and watching her work absently. "Stayed in." It's sort of true. "You and uh, Declan do anything?"

Dahlia shook her head. "Nothing particular. The three of us, us and Justin, just stayed in too. Though I did help with some of the cooking and the house is still standing. " Dahlia sounded a little proud of that. "This year has been...not so great. So I'm hoping 2021 is better." She retrieves the mug and slides it over to him, taking up a lean of her own on the opposite side of the counter.

There was a moment or two of silence as she studied him. Nothing critical there, just curious. As if rediscovering something lost after an extended time. Then her lips quirked into a smile again. "Everything going well with your people?" Itzhak and Joseph, though she has no idea of the latter's name.

The three of them. There's a question lurking on the tip of his tongue, and his eyes crease with some amusement as he asks it, "You three a thing now, then?" Followed by a sip of the coffee, once it's handed over. The study is returned evenly, unabashedly. He's nothing like her usual house guests; there's that energy about him, like a predator circling for a kill. As to his people, "They're fine. Rosencrantz is going to be headed out on the race circuit again soon. Might take a trip somewhere with Joe, haven't, uh. Haven't decided yet."

Dahlia's expression blossomed into a grin at his question, something she couldn't quite stop even if she tried. "Yeah, we are. It just felt...natural. Is the best way to put it I guess. We were on a first date and...some bad shit happened. Dream wise...and we just kinda came out stronger together for it. You know." She shrugged a touch, not entirely open to speaking about whatever Dream scenario had happened. But her smile remained. "I'm glad to here it. And you should go." She moved off to grab a bottle of water from the fridge before coming back to settle in her original spot. "You always get so wrapped up in your work. You need to take a break sometime, Javier. Get out of Gray Harbor for a bit. Hell - get out of Washington."

Of all the people to judge her for such a thing, it's not going to be Javier. He actually smiles slightly when she admits to it, and leans in a little to nudge her with his elbow. "Didn't know you had it in you," he murmurs, with a sip of his coffee. "And.. yeah. I guess that's the idea. The psych is mandating some time off, after.." He falters, smile fading slightly. "Anyway. I'll let you know how it goes. He wants to drive down to the Grand Canyon." They'd talked, once or twice, about going. Back in the day.

Dahlia chuckled softly, "No? Didn't strike you as a multi man kind of woman?" That light tease still in her tone. And she wasn't, not really. This kind of situation she had currently going was a special exception. A touch of worry crossed her face as he left off his own issues. "Bad shit happening all around, hm?" She gave his arm a light squeeze before drinking some of her water. "Grand Canyon sounds like it could be pretty cool. I'm looking forward to hearing about it. Might try and drag the boys off somewhere myself. It's always good to get out sometimes. Of here you know? Recharge."

"Mm, what the fuck do I know," Javier grunts, downing another gulp of coffee. "I never thought I'd be dating one man, let alone two." As for bad shit, he doesn't seem inclined to elaborate. But it's almost certainly connected to why he didn't turn up at the hospital to see her. And why he's sporting a few cuts and bruises, and some suspiciously raw marks around his wrists. "Got somewhere in mind?" he wonders, glancing up at her briefly at the squeeze.

"Guess we both didn't know ourselves real well, yeah?" Dahlia had noted the bruises, the marks, but she wasn't entirely certain she wanted to know. He was here, alive. That was the important thing, wasn't it? "I don't know really. I know I talked to Justin about wanting to do some overseas travel. I've never been out of the country, it could be fun to do the tourist thing. Or his family has a cabin in Canada. I don't know. I just think getting out of here for a bit would be good." She shrugs and smiles. "But otherwise I've just been keeping my head down, working and stuff. More or less staying out of trouble."

"You should.." Hesitation, and he watches the dregs of his coffee, then the younger woman leaned next to him for a long moment. Sniffs, and rubs at his nose with his knuckles. "You should go. And you shouldn't come back." He tries to smile, as if to soften those harsh words with something like kindness. But it comes off a little melancholy.

Then his coffee's finished off, and the cup slid back onto the counter. "I, uh. Shouldn't take up any more of your time, though. I'm glad you're happy." That does seem sincere.

Dahlia turned to face him, the bright green eyes studying him for an intent moment. "Believe me, I've thought about it. But I'm just going to keep getting sucked in. I could say the same to you. Take your boys and don't look back. " Her lips quirked in a smile for a moment.

"You should let yourself be happy too, Javier." Dahlia leaned up to kiss his cheek. "I loved you, so it sounds corny but I still want to see you happy and... taken care of. " Even the people who took care of everyone needed some TLC.

Then she nodded, leading him back towards the front door. "I'm glad you came by... we should try to stop being strangers. "

The kiss to his weathered cheek is accepted with a rumbled chuckle; and the stilted, almost bashful smile lingers as they study one another in that moment. Then he eases away, a brief glance around the place she's made her own before he follows her back to the door. His hands are jammed into his pockets with a creak and rustle of leather, and he pauses on his way out to let her know that,

"I loved you too, you know." It's been like prying blood out of a stone, trying to get him to confess those words to her in the past. But there they are. Maybe they're easier now, for whatever reason. "And uh, yeah. We should. Stop being strangers." He lingers a moment more, gives her a nod, and then nudges the door open and ducks back out into the rain.