[ caitlin's own smile fades away. she shakes her head, a rapid burst of movement, eyes scanning lorna's face for some clue why she'd pretend the kids aren't around and coming away with nothing but pained sincerity.
she doesn't yank away from lorna's comforting touch, but a fine trembling starts up in her hand. ]
Lorna, you were there. It just happened, I don't— [ as much as in times of great stress she tends to tell herself versions of the truth that leave out inconvenient details like the difference between 'taken' and 'left', caitlin's no fool. she takes in lorna's appearance, finally taking stock of the differences between the woman she expects to see and the one actually standing in front of her. ] I don't understand.
[ understand it or not, it's happening. caitlin's face tightens and goes white, throat bobbing on a swallow.
the kids aren't here—or if they are, it's no different than andy and the inner circle. finally, she exhales, accepting the immediate circumstances and equally immediately beginning to low-key nurture the dangerous idea that lauren and andy are 100% here and 100% waiting for her to find and save them. ]
Marcos is here? [ refuge in the practical is an old standby, and she clings to it once again to keep from crumbling. ] Then we should find him. You guys can explain together—or you can explain on the way, but we should get moving again.
why this oh fuck what now why this MORE THAN EVER: the caitlin strucker story at least lorna's here
[ caitlin's own smile fades away. she shakes her head, a rapid burst of movement, eyes scanning lorna's face for some clue why she'd pretend the kids aren't around and coming away with nothing but pained sincerity.
she doesn't yank away from lorna's comforting touch, but a fine trembling starts up in her hand. ]
Lorna, you were there. It just happened, I don't— [ as much as in times of great stress she tends to tell herself versions of the truth that leave out inconvenient details like the difference between 'taken' and 'left', caitlin's no fool. she takes in lorna's appearance, finally taking stock of the differences between the woman she expects to see and the one actually standing in front of her. ] I don't understand.
[ understand it or not, it's happening. caitlin's face tightens and goes white, throat bobbing on a swallow.
the kids aren't here—or if they are, it's no different than andy and the inner circle. finally, she exhales, accepting the immediate circumstances and equally immediately beginning to low-key nurture the dangerous idea that lauren and andy are 100% here and 100% waiting for her to find and save them. ]
Marcos is here? [ refuge in the practical is an old standby, and she clings to it once again to keep from crumbling. ] Then we should find him. You guys can explain together—or you can explain on the way, but we should get moving again.
[ said the newbie. ]