[Blake Warren]

2224
Infirmary
Vedas Base

"Oops, sorry. It used to be the threat of death if me and my sissy Jane woke Dan-boy when he was a baby, but I guess it's a little different when they ain't born yet."

Blake managed to stand, or at least do a close approximation of it. With both standing, Blake was reminded of just how, little, Isabelle was. "Did anybody ever tell you you're really small? Not even height, you're just, delicate."

It took him a minute as she pushed her pole. "Oh, no, no, no. You should be resting and stuff like that, I will get myself home. I can totally walk back to my quarters."

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[Isabelle Cooper]

2224
Infirmary
Vedas Base


"Did anybody ever tell you you're really small? Not even height, you're just, delicate."

Isabelle gave him a look as she looked up at him. Like his partner, and just about every other male on the base, he was much taller than her. In Blakes case, he was almost a foot taller than her. "Now I think peanut might just need one god parent." she said as she elbowed him in the side, "Oh, no, no, no. You should be resting and stuff like that, I will get myself home. I can totally walk back to my quarters."

"No, I am walking you back, though after that delicate comment I might let you wander the base alone." one hand gripping the pole she used the other to grab his elbow as best she could, "Come on, this delicate lady is walking you home." Iz said as she pulled him out of the room. 

TAG: Blake Warren

[Blake Warren]

2225
Infirmary to Hallway
Vedas Base

"I don't mean to offend, really. But I was just saying," Blake yelped when Izzy elbowed him and wobbled slightly as they left, the automatic doors sliding open when approached. "You're, elegant, that's the word. Like back, not here, I bet you're all Milan fashionable back on Earth."

"I can get myself back to my quarters, really. I'm not really drunk, just a little bit drunk. I will be okay." He pinched his fingers together to show how 'little bit' drunk he was. And wobbled again. "On the, on the other hand, maybe I oughta not, oh, I'm going to hurt in the morning, and this doesn't look good, does it? Because, and you'll really learn this if we ever get back to Earth, everything y'all and me do, and it odn't, but it reflects on our husbands, you know. Maggie Boudain taught me that, after Steve was able to come out and all and I was doin' things with Family Readiness."

He walked something that was mostly a straight line as they headed for the section where most of the civilian science staff had set up quarters. "I'd head for Steve's quarters, but I don't think he want to talk to me tonight, Izzy. In the morning, maybe."


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[Isabelle Cooper]

2226
Hallway outside of Infirmary
Vedas Base


"You're, elegant, that's the word. Like back, not here, I bet you're all Milan fashionable back on Earth."

Isabelle could not help but smile, he was right about that, "I own a few pieces here and there, though non are practical for this type of work. I do miss my heels sometimes. My favorite pair had a some red bottoms." honestly heels were more comfortable than the boots she was given when she joined the expedition. She could go all day just fine, and even run in them if needed. 

Blake kept talking, rambling on in the way several drinks made one do; "On the, on the other hand, maybe I oughta not, oh, I'm going to hurt in the morning, and this doesn't look good, does it? Because, and you'll really learn this if we ever get back to Earth, everything y'all and me do, and it odn't, but it reflects on our husbands, you know. Maggie Boudain taught me that, after Steve was able to come out and all and I was doin' things with Family Readiness."

"I am aware of that and believe me, I am doing really well on the reflecting on my husband bit." getting pregnant then getting married was a great way to reflect on both of them, it really showed that they could have a professional relationship and that was it.

 "I'd head for Steve's quarters, but I don't think he want to talk to me tonight, Izzy. In the morning, maybe."

She paused in their walk and looked to him, "If I learned anything tonight is that you need to discuss things, even if it might be awkward. Do not avoid things, it only makes it worse." she resumed walking, "That being said, you tell me where you want to go." 


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[Blake Warren]

2226
Hallway, Civilian Quarters Wing to Dr. Warren's quarters
Vedas Base

Blake weaved a bit. "Louboutin's or Jimmy Choo's?"

He laughed/giggled when she answered about reflecting on Oxford. "Just don't be me, I got a speeding ticket on my sport bike on base at MWTC. Steve heard about it."

Blake pointed down the hall toward the stretch where the science staff had put themselves. "We'll talk but considering what you told me, tonight's a bad idea. My quarters and I'll sleep it off alone."

He had a slight blush as they reached the hallway where social sciences and botany had clustered together for their rooms, and once outside his own, more drunken ramble came out. "When I said I spooked him. I put him on his back, and I was unbuckling my belt, and he panicked."

Blake swiped the door control and the room wasn't empty. Steve was curled up asleep on the narrow bed in PT uniform sweatpants and a holey USC sweatshirt.

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[Isabelle Cooper]

2227
Hallway, Civilian Quarters Wing to Dr. Warren's quarters
Vedas Base

"Louboutin's or Jimmy Choo's?"

"Louboutins, simple black heel. Goes with everything and lets me look taller than I really am."

Blake was not walking in a straight line, Isabelle did her best to make sure he did not trip and fall. Last thing they needed was him hitting his head. "When I said I spooked him. I put him on his back, and I was unbuckling my belt, and he panicked." they now stood in front of the door to Blakes quarters, Isabelle looked at the door and to him. "Bobby tucked some hair behind my ear one day, I do not know why but next thing I know I was screaming." something so simple. She did not want to be touched yet she also wanted the comfort. 

Blake opened the door to his quarters and both of them paused a moment, looking at the sleeping man who dwarfed the bed he was curled up on. A faint smile danced across her lips, "He needs to retire that shirt.." she whispered.  

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[Blake Warren]

2227
Dr. Warren's quarters
Vedas Base

Blake took an awkward step in and whispered back in a drunk whisper that defeated the concept. "I can't, can't even pretend I understand what you two went through, and I won't tell the Captain anything because this is just us, but it'll help to tell him."

Of course Izzy had way less ability to physically hurt the Coast Guard captain then the Marine laying, no longer asleep, on the bed had to hurt him, Blake knew. "If I picked that battle I'd have to get rid of my own worn out GSU sweatshirts first."

Steve sat up, eyes very blue in the dark. And the room was small enough he could smell the liquor on his boyfriend's breath as he rolled off the bed and walked to the door.

Blake yelped. "You were asleep."

Steve looked at Izzy. There were too many things that needed said and he would avoid all of them until they all died of old age. "And you are not quiet. Thanks for bringing his drunk ass home, Isabelle. I'm sorry you had to put up with him, it won't happen again."

He didn't make eye contact with her as he pulled Blake in the room and sat him down at the small desk.

<<Isabelle Cooper>>

[Isabelle Cooper]

22278
Dr. Warren's quarters

Vedas Base


"I can't, can't even pretend I understand what you two went through, and I won't tell the Captain anything because this is just us, but it'll help to tell him."

Isabelle just nodded, she did not want to lie to him and say she would talk to her husband when she knew she probably would not end up doing so. She noticed movement behind Blake, glancing around his arm she saw Steve now sitting up on the bed. Blake turned and noticed his boyfriend now moving towards the door, "You were asleep." Iz thought Blake was about to jump out of his skin, she released her grip on his arm and let her hand rest against her side while the other one still rested on the pole holding her iv bags. 


"And you are not quiet. Thanks for bringing his drunk ass home, Isabelle. I'm sorry you had to put up with him, it won't happen again."

Iz looked to Blake and smiled, "It wasn't a problem, the conversation was needed and it was better than nothing." she replied as she looked back to Steve, the smile quickly vanishing from her face. "Good to see you on your feet again. Blake, drink some water and take some asprin. I am going to attempt to get some sleep now." she wanted to say more to Steve, it was right on the tip of her tongue but at the same time she didn't want to. It would only open up still healing wounds, so she turned and started back down the hall. 

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[Steve Hamrick]

2228
Dr. Warren's Quarters
Vedas Base

Steve rubbed the back of his neck as Blake rested his drunk head on the desk and loudly whispered. "Talk to her!"

Not that Steve was going to take input from his very drunk partner. But he reluctantly stepped out the door. "Isabelle, I, I mean, we-"

The memory was still too clear, the humiliation, the threat, 'She watches while I wreck whatever scrap of respect she has left for you.' He shook slightly as the cut behind his ear itched, the implied threat to cut his own throat if he didn't talk.

He saw her expression change. Even if Sadren hadn't gotten the chance to, to r**e him in front of her, or Collins or Andre. She thought less of him for it, the threat and the lead up.

And hell only knew what a drunken Blake had said to lower Izzy's opinion of him as a man worse than watching Sadren paw at him.

"You, you too, Isabelle. I hope that, anything, that happened, or he said, didn't, I mean-" Steve brushed at his hair, angry at himself and what he knew was his own baggage.

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[Isabelle Cooper]

2229
Dr. Warren's Quarters
Vedas Base

"Isabelle, I, I mean, we-"

She was not far down the hall when she heard Steve's voice speaking to her, Isabelle stopped walking and turned to look back at him. Based on his expression he seemed to be struggling with what to say and for a moment she saw a flash of fear in his eyes, was she scared of her? Or was he afraid to acknowledge what happened to them because as much as she herself wanted to pretend it did not happen, it was hard to ignore the physical scars. 

"You, you too, Isabelle. I hope that, anything, that happened, or he said, didn't, I mean-"

He was fumbling for words, "Steve look..." she wanted to tell him that he had nothing to worry about, Sadren had not achieved his goal of forcing her to loose respect for him, she respected him more now and if anything she actually feared him some. "He did not say anything that I did not need to hear, and the conversation was appreciated." it was bad enough he seemed to be forcing himself to talk to her, "Go take care of Blake, he was a good friend tonight." 

TAG: Steve Hamrick