Well… I appear to be almost over the cold from hell. The scratchy throat from last week lasted about three days and then it all went to my chest. Those mucus busting tablets work wonders for clearing out the crud and getting lots of sleep helped a ton. I think I'm on the road to recovery, so yay!
I'm still behind on my regular viewing shows but I did catch the episode "The Icicle Cometh" on The Flash. Actually quite enjoyed that one.
Caught another episode of The Sarah Conner Chronicles. My Crackle app started misbehaving and I finally got it back to usable form. I'm about halfway through the second season now.
I have one episode left of series thirteen of Midsomer Murders. Looking forward to starting the next one. Also caught episode nine of Babylon 5. I'd forgotten how truly remarkable the first season of B5 ended up being.
Watched another episode of Birds of Prey. I think I have five left. That show was a little ahead of its time. If they shot it now, it would probably be well-received. Also started a rewatch of Roswell. If the new reboot gets picked up, I want to have the memory of the original in my mind. Not sure they'll be able to pull off a decent new show.
Caught episodes of Pensacola Wings of Gold and Lexx. I've discovered I'm not as fond of Lexx on my rewatch. The episodes are very hit and miss.
Caught a few more episodes of Classic Who and started the fifth episode of Doctor Who's new season.
That's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Understanding Truth, a novella that started with a writing community prompt of writing a story that involves a lie. I put a bit of a different spin on it, but I'm hoping it works well.
Here's the mini-blurb:
Perdix Plane and Brock Halliwell are soldiers who finally understand a few simple truths. They're not normal people, they don’t follow standard operating procedure, and they'll never have a conventional relationship—and maybe that's perfectly okay.
And a sneaky peek…
Perdix hovered outside the Brock's alcove. She paced. Back and forth. Back and forth.
Heaving a sigh, she paused. "Why can't anyone give me a simple update?" At least let her know if he might be awake.
She could grill him about his wound and fill him in on Jonesett's condition. The asshole would live. Unfortunately.
Dammit. Her frustration warred with the knowledge of what seeing Brock down and bleeding did to her. The very idea she could've lost him hit hard. Way harder than it should have.
She started pacing again. "We're not a couple anymore." Her fault because she let past failed relationships guide her current ones.
But, dammit, she cared about him so much more than she realized.
The medic that brought him in rounded the corner and stopped short. "TS Plane? What are you still doing here?" She grabbed a clipboard off the side of the wall.
Perdix almost pounced on the woman. "What's his status? Is he awake?" She stopped talking, dragging in a deep breath.
She'd get answers if she gave the medic, Jess Able—according to her name tag—time to respond.
Jess's eyebrow quirked. "Are you family?"
Perdix rolled her eyes. "You know I'm not. He's a colleague and I'm the one who shot him. Cut me a break here, will you."
Jess put the chart back and folded her arms over her chest. "He's not awake and won't be for at least an hour. We're getting ready to move him for a procedure but he'll be back in his alcove as soon as we're done." She relaxed a little, unfolded her arms, and placed a palm on Perdix's shoulder. "Why don't you get cleaned up, grab a shower or something, then come back?" Her gaze swept over Perdix when she spoke.
Perdix didn't want to leave but caught the medic's meaning. She had Brock's blood on her and probably looked like a wreck.
Nodding, she accepted the advice. A shower actually sounded damned good.
Once home and under the water, Perdix replayed every moment of the fizzle out end with Brock. He accused her of letting her demons haunt her. The demons being the shitty guys she'd spent time with before meeting Brock on the job.
"You're always caught up with your ghosts, Perdix. There's no room for anything else." He'd shaken his head in disgust. "You exhaust yourself in the past because it's easier than dealing with the present or looking toward the future."
She'd refused to believe he might be onto something. But she had to admit he nailed her modus operandi.
Man, Brock has it right. I do better with my ghosts, always playing the would've, could've, should've game.
A truth she finally understood. "Living in the here and now is so much harder."
She thought about the hard fact all the way back to the hospital. Maybe the time had come to start facing life and stop living moment to moment. And she wanted to move forward with Brock.
Another truth that took her way too long to admit.
While approaching his alcove, voices carried in low tones out to the hallway. She peeked around the corner, not wanting to disturb the doctors if they were examining him. But doctors didn't greet her. Instead, Dionne McNair, a perky little dispatcher, sat at Brock's bedside, pretty much hanging on his every word. She'd heard whispers about Brock going out with her. And, dammit, they'd be great together.
Perdix ducked back, slumping against the wall outside his space. "Shit." Another truth slammed into her.
He's gonna move on. Without me.
The bit of truth followed right behind.
It's better this way. I'm not good for him.
Hadn't she proven that by shooting him?
And the idea Dionne would be perfect for Brock, being there for him, taking care of him after he got home, blah, blah, blah… really smacked Perdix in the face.
And she faced the first truth of living in the present.
It hurt to let him go.
And admitting to the pain might be the hardest thing she did.
Squaring her shoulders, she stepped away from the wall and started to head right back out the way she came in. Luck not being on her side, she knocked a rolling stool in the corridor. Shit. Glancing up, she got pinned by Brock's gaze before she made a hasty retreat.
He called her name. "Perdix. Hey, wait."
Dammit. No quietly getting out of life.
Drawing in a deep breath, she entered his alcove and nodded toward Dionne.
Brock shifted his position, rubbing directly below the wound area. "Did you need something?"
What to do? She definitely couldn't be honest. She didn't have the balls to own the reason she truly came. So… big lie time.
She shook her head. "Nah. I stopped in to check on Jonesett and figured I'd come down on my way out." How lame did that sound? "Looks like you're in good hands, so I'm gonna head out." Turning, she waved over her shoulder. "Take care, Brock."
Once outside the hospital, she let out the breath she'd been holding and made the short trek across the parking lot to make a hasty retreat. Blindly merging into traffic, she drove on autopilot and ended up at her favorite watering hole, The Pissing Pig.
Her lips curved and she snorted. "Perfect. Best place on Mars to get over myself."
I'm pretty excited to see where this one goes. I like having an established couple go through something like a breakup then find their way back to each other.
That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.
ML Skye
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