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Teddy Altman ; APPOINTMENTS
Feel free to use this post for random threads, backtagging/forwardtagging or whatever. It can be Written, Action, Voice, or just a quick call on the journal system for whatever reason.
When you tag, please put a [Style, Date] in the subject line to start it out, for example:
[Action, January 1st]
Thank you!
[action, May 29]
[Teddy lets out a small sigh as he wraps an arm around her shoulder to pull her to him again. It's definitely okay for her to lean on him; in fact, he's encouraging it. It's tempting to relate, to say that people died on his watch too... but he knows she'd try to turn it around and talk him through it instead, and right now, this isn't about him.]
It's okay to cry. God knows I'm bad at remembering it, too. Doctors can cry, healers can cry. It's a good way to let everyone else know they're not... desensitized or whatever to it. And themselves, too.
Most of all? It's okay to cry in front of me. I'm not gonna think less of you just because you showed me something that makes you feel... I don't know, inadequate. Because you're definitely adequate, and more than that, to me.
[action, May 29]
We're not supposed to cry in front of people, because they depend on us to believe everything will be all right. To not worry and not be afraid. When that bomb went off- [In her mind, one hand reaches to grasp someone's shirt, tight, while she whispers how sorry she is and holds her breath; in the present, that breath hitches, and the echo of nothingness makes her shiver.] I didn't know what to do afterward. I have never been so afraid, even when we were going to face Alex.
[Her voice catches on a dry and worn throat, but after a solid cough she shakes her head.] Maybe I have forgotten...how to be a friend, like this.
[action, May 29]
... He'll ask her later. He puts a smile on instead, small yet warm, and gently places her palm against the top of her head.]
I think you've just been stuck in healer mode all this time. We're not in on the battlefield anymore... It's okay to be in friend mode now.
[action, May 29]
There are still so many people hurting, Teddy. I can't let them go any more than I can stop caring about you. [Mia pushes away enough to really look at him, finally considering what she must look like and trying to wipe her face enough with one hand.] Am I allowed to say I'm proud of you now?
[action, May 29]
Yeah... sorry. Wasn't trying to deny you permission or anything. [He tilts his head a little, one eyebrow raised.] I'm proud of you too, you know.
[action, May 29]
[Look at me, she seems to say, look at her and the state she's in and how awful she is being to herself.]
[action, May 29]
[He gives her hair a ruffle, though he knows that her hair isn't exactly the ruffling kind.] Took me a while to get that doing that can actually make you feel a little better.
[action, May 29]
I already know it makes you feel better and it's still quite hard to actually do it. [Pushing a piece of said disheveled hair out of her face, Mia looks at her hands and their gentle tremor, then the door.] I should go, before I wake Billy or- or take up too much of your time, but I think you'll argue with me about that one.