For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

(warnings: sexytimes. also, panic attacks, brutal violence, attempted murder, discussion of suicide and actual murder... )

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[formersurgeon]

Joan accepts the hand in the spirit it's given, not as an implication that she's weak but rather a gesture of caring and protection. The time may come when Joan will wish to abandon things like that, but that time is not now.

She kisses Ted and asks him to give her best to the team, then follows Rebecca into her office. Rebecca offers her a cocktail, which Joan declines, considering her medication. She takes a glass of water, though. Sparkling, as she doesn't have Ted's aversion and reflex against bubbles in his water.

Rebecca prepares a gin and tonic for herself, then sits with Joan on the couch and strikes up a conversation. It starts mild, with inquiries about how Joan and Ted are getting on. However, by the time Ted joins them, Joan is deep into explaining the circumstances surrounding the plane crash, and why they're certain Rupert orchestrated it.

[theodorelasso]

Ted picks up on what they're talking about almost immediately as he walks in, before he has a chance to interrupt him. Usually he knocks even when the door's open, but on double crutches that's more hassle than it's worth.

"Oh boy," he comments as he heads over to the couch to sit down next to Joan. "Nothing like a little light post-game gossip," he says, obviously being ironic.

"How are you holding up, boss?" he asks Rebecca.

He can't imagine it's a lot of fun hearing these things about her ex-husband, but at least it's not the first she's hearing of it, and, well, at least it didn't happen while they were married. Another awful hidden thing happening under her nose would probably be a lot. Then again, it means he was already a killer, indirectly, when they got married. His heart really goes out for her.

[formersurgeon]

Joan looks up as Ted enters, giving him a gentle smile, glad to see him. When he sits beside her she lets him settle his crutches, then reaches over to take his hand, giving it a squeeze.

Rebecca exhales, looking a little shell-shocked. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that there was even more that Rupert was hiding," she says. "Nor that he is an even worse person than I already knew him to be. Still." She glances at her drink, downs the rest of it, then sets the glass aside. "I chose him," she says, looking down at her hands for a moment before looking back up at Joan and Ted. "He was a murderer, and I chose him. I chose to marry him."

"You couldn't have known," Joan says softly. "It's pretty clear Rupert is a psychopath. They can be extremely charming."

Rebecca gives a dry laugh. "Yes, he was that," she says wryly.