The Not Quite Justice League in... The Bee's Pleas!!!

[stands_for_hope]

[continued from here]

Finishing his article, clearing everything with Keith, those things took time. That was why it took a few hours before Clark was ready to make his usual call to Lois that night. He had worried that he might not make the time window that she cleared every day to talk to him and the others, but he was proud to say that he'd left himself an even half an hour as long as everything was to schedule.

After the fifth time she didn't pick up (didn't so much as text or ping him), it became clear that things were very much off schedule.

Clark made his way back to the main floor where everyone seemed to congregate and headed straight for Tony, holding up the phone to him.

"I know we're all tired and we've certainly had a long day, but... can you find out where Lois's phone is from the number here?"

In all the madness of the day, all the fighting and the close calls and the weakness brought on by the proximity of kryptonite, he'd lost track of her heartbeat. Usually, it was simple enough to pick up over the phone once again, a steady pulse that he could find his way back to once the phonecall had ended.

He couldn't hear her. He couldn't tell where she was. And she wasn't answering her phone. She always answered her phone. He didn't want to think anything was wrong, but he wasn't naive enough to discount something like this. Not after today. Not after they'd pulled out kryptonite weapons.

Comments

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Glad to see you too," he answered, picking up a chair and very carefully putting it down beside Jim.

"You're both looking better."

When she slept, he couldn't see the pain in her that she was trying to hard to hide. It might have worked on others (well, other than Jim), but Steve knew what it looked like from the inside.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I'll be okay," he exhaled. "And she will, too. She... might need her own Miss Brahms for a while, though."

He was still working with the therapist, still getting his feet back under him, for all it was improving. But now, Lois had gone through... some of the worst that humanity could dish out. The kind of thing that defined inhumane.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"She also might need it to be... a Miss Brahms," Steve admitted gently, knowing his niece (and her grandfather) well enough to know that she wouldn't admit to needing anything. Lois, for all that she could be greedy and conniving and playful on the surface, was incredibly independent. When it came to taking care of the necessities, she needed to pull her own weight and she did things on her own. It would be hard for her to admit she needed something like a psychologist or a councilor, especially given the two men who were discussing the matter right there.

"Sam's... Sam's a little busy right this moment," and far be it from Steve to interrupt the man finally getting a love life, "but I know Diana's already calling some of her friends from the women's circles to see if she can scrounge someone up to help with this. Apparently, she works with a lot of girls who've been through something... rough."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim nodded with Steve's words, agreeing without hesitation. "We'll... we'll do anything we can to help, even if it means talking her into things."

And that was one thing he was almost counting on. That she'd have to be talked into talking things out with a counselor. Somebody who had experience helping people in ways that he and Steve and Clark and Diana didn't. They were great for beating the crap out of people, but when it came to real mental help, that wasn't something any of them had been to school for. The best they did - which wasn't to be discounted - was offer a shoulder or caring arms.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Diana and I thought it might be best if Diana invited her over as a 'friend' and perhaps see if it could happen organically."

Steve's smile was warm and a little sad.

"She's craftier than she looks."

[kolodnoykovki]

"She's a soldier just like me and you," Jim answered, reaching over to take his hand. "We all learn to be crafty whether we want to or not."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve took his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. Then he breathed in and out and closed his eyes.

"These kids don't deserve this."

And he shouldn't think of them as kids. Lois was, when it came to lived experience, older than he was. But he couldn't help but think of them as kids in a way. Lois, and Clark.

[kolodnoykovki]

"I know," Jim sighed. "Believe me. I know. They... I halfway feel like I'm a parent."

And it terrified him. Being responsible that way. But then... He'd been responsible for Steve for a long time. The difference was his feelings for Steve had been anything but parental. Even if in hindsight.

[stands_for_hope]

Steve looked down at Lois and smiled just a little.

"I asked her if she wanted me to try and get a hold of her father, get him here. Lord knows I've got enough people in the military who'd be willing to help Captain America.

"She said no. But lookit who she's got here."

The answer was pretty obvious since Lois was curled up against Jim in sleep.

"I'd say we're a little more than halfway."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim smiled. Kissed her forehead. And then he whispered, "I promised her I'd wash her hair for her, like I used to do yours."

More than halfway a parent. Well... at least this skipped the awkward diapering stage.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Lucky her," Steve said with a warm smile.

Steve squeezed his hand again.

"Lucky us."

[kolodnoykovki]

He brought Steve's hand to his lips. "Don't worry. I'll wash your hair anytime you want."

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Jerk," because Jim knew what he meant. Both then and now. "And only if I get to wash yours, prettyboy."

[kolodnoykovki]

"You can put these beautiful hands on me anytime you want, too," he agreed with a teasing look in his eyes.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve leaned over and kissed his cheek before quietly settling beside him again.

"I talked with Tony, and had a phonecall with Sam, who's apparently heading up the cross-team communication efforts. We're still strictly on the, uh, reserve list, but this should mean we'll have a better idea of what might be coming down the pike."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Sounds good to me. I'm going to enjoy more news of Hydra chasing their own tails. Hell... I kind of want to go watch," he admitted, but rubbed his thumb over Steve's. Right now, he was happy being right here.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Maybe if we ask nice, Tony'll give us a satellite feed of it. A whole channel of HYDRA getting eaten by alligators and crocodiles."

[kolodnoykovki]

"We'll put it on for entertainment between shows on Lois's Netflix queue." He wasn't sure what a queue was on Netflix, for all he'd gotten to like the program, but he could parrot the words back.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

"Sounds like an excellent plan."

He leaned over to give Bucky another kiss before pulling back a little.

"I'm gonna get us all packed up, see if I can settle Clark a little more, and talk to her doctor, make sure we have everything we need to take care of her."

[kolodnoykovki]

Jim nodded. "Thanks, sweetheart. Love you."

And, really, he was looking forward to going home. To the place that was theirs.

[justakidfrombrklyn]

Steve leaned in again to plant a kiss gently against his lips.

"Love you too."

Then he was standing again, moving with surprising quiet out of the room, closing the door behind him.

[kolodnoykovki]

When Steve left, Motya leaned her head on the bed and Jim threaded his fingers into her fur. Comfort in dog form.

[stands_for_hope]

A few minutes later, Lois's eyes fluttered open again.

"Okay, that... was not what I was going for. I wanted to wake up and go home."

[kolodnoykovki]

"Morning, sleepyhead," Jim greeted gently. "Somebody came to say hi."

A soft murmur, and Motya hopped up onto the bed, her weight on Jim for all she sniffed at Lois gently. Service dog training at work.

[stands_for_hope]

"...I swear, she grows more poof when you don't look at her for a second," Lois said fondly before reaching over and using the three fingers on her hand that were working properly to scritch the top of the dog's head.