(no subject)

[clumsy_auror]

[OOC: Sometime after this.]

It's getting close to bedtime, and Nymphadora hasn't heard anything from the living room in a while.

She decides to investigate. Padding down the hall, she pauses in the doorway, and sighs.

Asleep already, and snoring softly. He'll be up at all hours.

"Bernard." It's quiet, but firm, and she walks over to smooth her hand through his hair.

Comments

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard inhales sharply, muttering under his breath.

His right hand twitches up to grip her wrist like a lifeline, and his eyes slit open, unseeing.

He's not awake. Not yet.

[clumsy_auror]

His hold on her wrist is surprisingly tight, and her eyebrows knit together.

"Sweetheart? Wake up."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard shivers and wakes with a gasp, sitting up quickly.

He's still got her wrist in his hand.

[clumsy_auror]

She hurries to perch on the edge of the sofa beside him, biting her lip and reaching out to stroke his cheek. "It's okay, love. It's fine."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He nearly flinches away, certain in his sleepy confusion that the touch will hurt like all touches did for the first few weeks after his coma.

Then he takes a breath, looks around, recognizes his surroundings, and pulls his legs up so he can rest his elbows on his knees.

[clumsy_auror]

Nymphadora's quiet for a long moment, her thumb soft on his cheekbone, the weight of her belly warm against his leg.

"I think we ought to talk to Dream, if this keeps on."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"He doesn't make us dream things," he replis, his voice rusty. "He just makes it possible for us to do so."

[clumsy_auror]

"I know," she says. "But I haven't got any other ideas, and he might at least be a place to start."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He nods and turns to her, leaning against her lightly.

"What time is it?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Nearly half eleven," she murmurs, slipping her arm around his waist, now. "Dunno how long you've been out, I've been working in the bedroom."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Bernard groans.

"Sat down on the couch at eight. No idea when I dropped off."

[clumsy_auror]

"Oh, dear." A sigh. "You'll be up half the night. Sorry, I should've checked earlier."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He flops back onto the couch.

"Not your fault. Shoulda just gone in with you."

[clumsy_auror]

'Dora just watches him for a bit.




"Are you getting a better handle of all this?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Pressing his arm to his eyes so he doesn't have to look at his wife, Bernard just lies there for a moment.





"Dunno, really. I think Bar knows who Thom did it for. A-and she's trying really hard to get it out."

[clumsy_auror]

She leans back a little, giving him space.

"And d'you think it's getting clearer? Like you might be able to figure it out, soon?"

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Frustration turns his hands to fists briefly.

"I don't know. I mean, how can you tell something like that?"

[clumsy_auror]

She blinks, and then leaves the couch altogether, settling herself in the armchair.

"I don't know either; it's not something I've ever dealt with. I'm sorry, I'm just trying to help."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

Ashamed, Bernard drops his arm and turns on his side, curling up a little.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you."

[clumsy_auror]

"I know. You've not been yourself lately."

Matter-of-factly.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He seems to sink into the couch a bit.

"How long?"

[clumsy_auror]

"Couple of weeks, now, I think."

A couple of weeks spent trying not to overanalyse or fret or frog-march him straight to Morpheus' table.

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

He shivers again and pulls the afghan off the back of the couch.

"Been longer, I think."

[clumsy_auror]

Nymphadora lifts her hand and murmurs a Heating Charm, warming the blanket.

"I'm sure. I think you've been stewing with this for a while, now."

[the-woodpecker.livejournal.com]

"Not sure how long."

The warming charm helps, but--

"My arm's always cold."