Late June 2012: Stokes County, South Dakota, The Warehouse/Leena's B&B

[damncompass]

Joshua has realized two things over the past half-week. First, he loves his new job more than anything ever. He can do all of the science he wants, or he can just sit in the office and watch other people do what they're doing while poking on the internet.

Second, he needs a damn car. The rental's fine for now, but he'd checked the other day, and he'd only officially rented it for two weeks. That goes on a to-do list for the weekend.

This day, however, he's locked himself in his lab to finish setting it up and take stock of what he's going to need to get or order.

Comments

[k39zzz]

"Thank you for that, Helena."

[damncompass]

Joshua just shakes his head and silently goes back to his dinner.

As conversation goes on, he relaxes even more, a huge grin crossing his face. It's been ages since he's been this comfortable and felt this much at home.

[claudiometer]

"Holy relaxation, Batman. I don't think I've seen you that happy in... possibly ever."
Certainly not since before the teleportation incident.

[damncompass]

Joshua shrugs. "Well, I'm comfortable for the first time in a while. It's... a good thing."

Helena reaches over and takes his hand under the table.

[claudiometer]

Dinner progresses from there, quite cheerfully so.

Eventually, Leena pulls Claudia and Helena into the kitchen to start in on doing the dishes and putting the leftovers away.

[k39zzz]

Once they're alone again, Jane grins. "I think having a family again is going to do you more good than you knew."

[damncompass]

"Cause this is the first time since college that I've really had one at all?" It's actually a bit pained, and possibly even a tiny bit bitter. "It will be good to have people around."

[k39zzz]

"I wasn't trying to push buttons." It's gentle, but she's definitely calling him on it. "I know the feeling. If Mrs. Frederic hadn't pulled me back in after Bill died... even with the kids, I don't know what I would have done."
She needs some kind of purpose, more so than she wanted to admit for a while there (or maybe it's that she thought raising a family was enough of a purpose).

[damncompass]

"No, it's not a problem. Generally it doesn't bother me." He runs a hand through his hair and steals a glance to where the girls are giggling in the kitchen over... who knows what. "And I do have Claudia. It's just... I need this kind of thing more than I realize, I think."

[k39zzz]

"The Warehouse does have a way of finding the people who need her."
For whatever reason that may be.

[damncompass]

"From what I know, that is quite true." Joshua grins.