< [EMAIL PROTECTED] and [EMAIL PROTECTED]> Derek: Derek had not slept well, he had too much on his mind and even in his room and his study, he suddenly felt as though he could not get any privacy. He knew this was ridiculous, but still it was there nonetheless. Perhaps...he should take Kat to San Diego to visit Ingrid. It might be safer for her there and he felt a sudden urge to see his sister. Calling her just wouldn't do. Derek rose early the next morning and went down to the kitchen. The house was silent. At this hour you'd never know how many people lived there now. He busied himself with making coffee and then took a large mug of it up to the control room. He decided that he would read the paper, but since it hadn't been delivered yet, he had to go online to do it. It might distract him some. Hopefully. Julia; Julia had stayed up the rest of the night to finish the upload to the computer system for the security upgrades and figured that if she were quiet, she could sneak upstairs without being found out - found out because she had a feeling staying up all night after what had happened the last time she had pushed herself wouldn't exactly go over too well with Derek. Especially considering she was supposed to meet Milo in a couple of hours to go over to Reese's Aunt's house. Derek: Derek stopped outside the control waiting for the scanner to recognize him. Just as the hologram released to allow him entrance, Julia slipped out. His mouth dropped open with surprise. He was going to ask what she was doing up so early, when he realized she was wearing the same clothes she'd had on the evening before. Granted she only had a few outfits so far, but he had a sneaking suspicion his hunch was right. "What have you been up to," he asked instead of greeting her with a good morning. Julia: A very unlady-like word popped into her head and she was sure that if the powers that be in the other realm could hear her now they'd be blinking in shock.... but then again, considering it was Julia, maybe not. She pointed a thumb at the Control Room, answering somewhat evasively "Working..." She looked up at him and met his gaze and knew she had been busted. So she straightened her shoulders and answered in more detail "I was working on the security upgrades. It should be ready by nightfall." Derek: "Really? And who will be working on it all day?" He'd be damned if she was going to stay up all night and continue working all day as well. She'd kill herself at this rate. It was one thing when they were in the throws of a major emergency, but they didn't even know what they were dealing with right now The thought that kept bouncing through his head was what Michael had said. What will you do when she is taken away again? If he had to lock her in her room to make her rest, he'd do it. He wasn't going to watch her destroy herself. Julia: "Ria and Lani," she answered easily enough "I have to get shower and changed and catch up with Milo to......" That was definitely the wrong thing to say, she thought, seeing the change in Derek's gaze and sighing inwardly as she raised her chin a notch - the same she always had when about to go toe to toe with him about a subject, even if a part of her did react to the quick flash of.... something that showed in his eyes before he met her with the usual gaze he wore during the same time. To be honest, Julia wasn't really sure why she was about to but heads with him again and half suspected..... no, more than half suspected it was because of these new feelings she was feeling toward him and the frustration they brought. She wasn't going to admit to him but it was one of the reasons she couldn't sleep last night. Every time she did she remembered..... So she stood there waiting for his next comment, having to fight not to remember the literal head knocking from yesterday or how she must have embarrissed herself with him. Derek "Absolutely not," Derek replied in his most authoritarian voices. Milo didn't really want company any and he was equipped to talk with Reese. Derek had no intention of allowing this to happen. "That can wait until another day." The fact was there were a lot more pressing things going on around the here and at Rachel's, though important Reese's problem ranked farily low on his priority list. Julia; 'Absolutely not...?' Julia blinked at him for a moment, only to shake her head and, with hands on her hips, asked him in a tone that clearly said she must have heard him wrong "Excuse me?" Her blue gaze snapped and she instincfully straightened and looked him straight in the eyes "What do you mean 'absolutely not'?" Derek: He knew she understood him the first time and felt a bit perturbed by her query. "I mean you are not going anywhere with Milo. Not today at any rate." Julia: "So," Julia asked with a lift of her dark eyebrow "I'm supposed to ignore my duty why? Because I'm the only one in this house that could name every demon and other-worldly being and stayed up for a few hours to make sure they were all in the system? Half of the damn things on the list weren't even in the computer to begin with." Then, remembering how her reaction to him had made him 'run' the way he had yesterday and she half turned and stuck her hands in her pockets. She made a noise that was supposed to be a half laugh, directed at herself as she commented "I would have thought you'd be glad to get rid of me for a few hours." Derek: Derek stared at her for a moment. "What are you taking about," he said finally in exasperation. Why was she saying such a thing? He'd never said a word about not wanting her around. "Of course I'm glad that you are working on the up grade, but you've been ill and had no business staying up all night to do it. We've gotten by with the security we have and we could continue to get by with it for a few more days!" His hand tightened on the coffee mug he held, to the point that his knuckles turned white. What on earth had gotten into her? Did she have a death wish all of a sudden? Julia: His answer, she had to admit, took her off guard. He was worried she'd get as bad as she did the other night. He was still being bullheaded, but he was concerned. And he was either ignoring her screw up yesterday in the yard or he had already dismissed it. Julia didn't know why but this brought a thoughtful frown to her brow. So, she thought, her shoulders lowering a little before she caught herself and straightened them back up, refusing to show her real reaction, it really was all her. He hadn't felt a thing and so why bother remembering it. Her gaze drifted down and to his mug and without thinking - or rather her mind still on the thought it was entertaining now as it also realized he could break the mug if he squeezed much tighter, she put her hands over his and gently took the mug away and looked over her shoulder and spotting the window embrasure that would give them more privacy. "Come on." she said, reaching out and taking one of his hands and motioning with her head toward where she was headed "I'd rather butt heads with you in private." Derek: Derek saw no reason to move, he didn't much care if anyone over heard them or not, however he acquiesced to her wishes. Probably because of the feelings he'd been struggling with. In the back of his mind, he knew he would not be doing this if it were Nick or anyone else. However, he was still highly agitated. He allowed Julia to lead him by the hand, stopping just as they slipped into the area. "I am not changing my mind," he informed her. Julia: Julia sat down in one of the little benches in the embrasure when they reached it, tempted to take a drink of the coffee as she looked over and regarded him and then replaced her hand with his mug "Don't worry, I didn't expect you to." She then leaned her head back, still watching him as he looked right back at him. Damn stubborn man..... ..... with the accent, the thought popped into her mind from the other day, making her close her eyes and almost moan/sigh before opening her eyes back up and asking "Now.. why exactly did you start yelling at me this morning? Oh yeah... working all night, something you've done a few times yourself, even when you were sick while doing it. I'm just a little tired, not sick anymore." "And," she added, answering his question "What are you taking about" from a few minutes ago "I'm talking about me making an ass of myself yesterday and you having to rush off instead of pointing it out to me." Oh good lord she actually said it, she mentally groaned and closed her eyes. She wondered if she could get away with suddenly disappearing and, after a second's hesitation, knew she wouldn't have done it even if the option was open to her. She wasn't the kind of person to run and, like now, she actually thought it was a possibly stupid trait to have. Her gaze had drifted down back to his hand and the mug and it came back up, seeming to pin him where he sat practically glaring at her. Derek: "What I have or have not done is irrevelivent. We are not discussing MY actions," Derek reminded her. That was a totally different matter. He was the Precept, sometimes he had to work even when he was ill. That was part of his job. It was also his job to make sure everyone around him was in good shape and Julia was going to run herself into the ground again, while trying to sound perfectly logical about. As if, destroying yourself in such a manner was perfectly normal behavior. "This about you and your propensity for self destructive behavior. How can you sit there and say you are just tired after what happened yesterday and the day before? You're body can't take this sort of exhaustion, but for some reason you can't see it." He had taken a seat across from her at this point, though he did not have a death grip on the mug at this point, the tone in his voice none to pleasant. "So, it's incombant on me to take charge of things." When she spoke of the events yesterday he just stared at her blankly. He was the one who'd made of fool of himself not her? Was she delusional now too? He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it, trying to figure out the proper thing to say. He felt his own face getting warm as he recalled exactly what had transpired. In an attempt to distract her, he handed the coffee back to her and ran his hands across his face, shove the incredible embarrassment away. "You did nothing wrong, it was an accident," he said finally. What else could he say. He really wanted to apologize for his own, albiet completely unintentional and uncotrollable, behavior, but just the thought made him feel slightly dizzy. Julia: She looked at the mug and then took a sip of the warm liquid, only to half laugh at herself with his 'accident' answer. What went through her wasn't an accident, the falling part was. Maybe she should just save herself any further explaination and stick with the literal accident of falling. "I must have taken your coffee one too many times," she half commented as she took another drink "I'm actually getting a taste for how you fix it." Then she turned back to the topic at hand, lowering her tone even though she had a feeling she might be borrowing trouble "It's only going to take a couple of hours by the way Reese was talking, four at the most. Any more and she'll split it up to two days." She looked back at him and held the mug on her knee, one hand loosly around it "Is that how you see me now, Derek? A kid that needs to be told when to go to bed because she doesn't know any better herself?" That would hurt if he did.. more than she was willing to admit, and there was something in her gaze that hinted at it but she waited for his answer. Derek: "I didn't really want it," he told her about the coffee with a small shrug. At least not anymore, he had when he made it, but that had passed by this point. He smiled slightly when she said she liked it, that was high praise from the coffee expert. Then, she asked if he thought of her as a child. "No of course not," he said earnestly. "But it is obvious to me that you are used to the new situation and yu don't know when to stop or you don't think it will harm you for some reason. I do not know why Julia, that's something only you can know, but I've seen the results of you pushing yourself too far. You've let it happen twice in two days. What am I supposed to think about that?" He was getting frustrated. It was almost ont he tip of his tongue to tell her that he's stop treating her like a child when she stopped acting like one, but he didn't do it. He knew that would hurt her and he wasn't going to do that. "You just do not seem to know when to stop and I would think that has to do with the new circumstances not you being a child." Julia: She let her gaze drop back to the mug. What was she supposed to say without sending him running for cover thinking... well it didn't matter. She sat back and regarded him for a moment and doing something that was bound to surprise him and actually did surprise her to a degree. "Okay, I'll let Milo know that I'll catch up with them and take a nap." she conceeded "But that's all I can promise Derek. You and I both know there's something out there and we don't know who or what its target is, but it's definitely out there. I was given Marrissa as an assignment for a reason and I couldn't live with myself if it ended up being her and that I could have prevented something by helping her control her gift. I can take the bike or something and catch up." Derek: Derek sighed with resignation, he knew this was the best he was going to get and was frankly shocked that she'd given in so easily. "All right," he agreed. "You can take my car," he added though feeling a bit reluctant about that. However he didn't want her riding that damned motercycle. That thing was going to injure someone one day. He regarded her closely for a moment trying to accertain if she had another fever. This just wasn't like her. he wanted to ask her why, but wasn't in the mood to push his luck. He was just glad she was being so agreeable. And relieved, at least some what. Julia: Julia chuckled slightly at his expression as she sat forward and handed him his mug, coffee almost gone "I could pinch you to make sure you're not dreaming if you'd like but don't get comfortable too soon. I'm sure to butt heads with you and go another round. I just..." Her smile softened as she admitted with a shrug that was part sheepish part accepting "I just don't want to fight right now. I don't want us running off like we've been doing lately.... I just want....." She lowered her gaze and shrugged again, standing up and, before she could think about what she was doing she kissed the top of his head and headed out, her response trailing behind her "Thanks for the concern....." the rest was mumbled/murmured as she headed toward her room. Derek: "Neither do I," Derek admitted. Fighting was the last thing he wanted at the moment, in fact. Derek was completely caught off guard by the kiss and he stared after her completely speechless. What was that about? Did she...? No, why would she? It had to be something completely innocent, but he wasn't so sure. He just sat there gaping watching her as she left. Ingrid and Julia: Ingrid had watched Julia walk off, had in fact come out of her room to hear her brother's demand as well as his claim that it was up to him to take charge. She couldn't help it and chuckled softly to herself. She hadn't had much of an opprotunity to get to know Julia on a personal level.. but from Derek had told her of the woman, as well as what he hadn't told her, Ingrid knew that it took more than just a verbal demand to get Julia to back down from most things. Julia went up the stairs, not having seen Ingrid and Derek's sister looked on in interest before walking over to where Derek still sat. She had heard the mumbled words Derek obviously hadn't - obvious because he was still sitting and not reacting to them. "Good morning Derek." Ingrid spoke quietly, coming up on him and seeing his expression before sitting where Julia had just vacated. Her expression was calm, like most times, and her gaze gentle. Derek: Derek looked over at her slightly startled. "Good morning," he replied with a slight smile. The mostly empty coffee mug still held in his hand. He didn't ask what she was doing up at this hour. Her profession required early rising, fortunately his did not and had circumstances been different he would have been in bed for hours yet. "Did you sleep well?" Ingrid: She smiled at him before nodding at the mug "Of course. Were you planning on having more or.... shall we talk?" She looked in the direction Julia had taken and then looked back at her brother "I thought she was supposed to go to someone's house for some.. antiquity work I believe." Derek: Derek shook his head about the coffe, he wasn't in the mood at this point. The sleepy fog had left him a while ago. "She was....her plans have changed," he told her as he leaned back against the window and ran a hand through his hair. Ingrid: Ingrid sat back and regarded him for a moment. She had learned long ago to be patient with him. He would say what was on his mind in his own time and he knew she would wait until he did so. "It's a blessing," she spoke, deciding to voice her own opinions and thoughts - at least some of them "For someone to come back, to be given another chance. So very rare... " She studied his profile and smiled gently "What is it, Derek?" Derek: "Yes, I suppose it is," Derek mused in a distracted manner. He gazed thoughtfully at his sister, what would he tell her? He certainly did not want to shock her, but he did not like keeping things from her either, particularly when she came right out and asked. It was one thing, if she didn't notice, or behaved as though she didn't. However, when she brought something he never could bring himself to gloss over things. The few times he had tried, he'd ended up feeling miserably guilty. "I have been...." he started and then stopped rubbing his temples for a moment. "I've been having some...." this was much harder than he thought. "...in appropriate feelings of late." He turned his eyes towards the window, willing the heat in his face to disipate. "It's just something I must work through," he continued clearing his throat. Ingrid: Ingrid reached over and put her hand over her brothers, asking quietly "Are you sure, Derek?" At his curious look she made herself more clear "Are you sure you've been having these feelings as of late?" She remembered how he had felt at her death, the guilt he had carried around. "And why, preytell, do you consider it 'inappropriate'?" she couldn't help but ask, curious and a little confused. Derek: Derek moved his gaze back to Ingrid's face, "Perhaps not," he conceded. Her other question was the easier one. "I am nearly twice her age," he said simply, "and the Precept of this house." Ingrid: Having spoken to Julia at length both during the ride to the house and afterwards, when most thought they had gone to bed for the night, Ingrid could only shake her head and even chuckle at her brother. Not the kind of chuckle that was teasing or making fun, but the kind that was empathetic and yet in knowledge of something he obviously wasn't. "Derek," She spoke quietly, raising her hand to touch her brother's cheek "Why must you deny yourself from what you feel because of your position? Others have had been able to follow their heart and find a balance. "And," she added frankly, her gentle smile easing whatever edge her words may bring up "I seriously doubt she even thinks of the age difference. Especially considering her own family background. And I'm sorry to break this to you, little brother... but love doesn't recognize age and you, my willful sibling, need to get over it. You have so much to give... stop denying yourself." She patted his cheek once, lightly, and sat back, putting her hands in her lap "I remember still how you were after she had died, the burden her death put on you. It pained me to see you like that. With what we've seen.. in what we've encountered, you of all people should realize how precious time and chances are." "Are you willing to let both go over one issue?" Derek: "It is not only one issue," Derek insisted. "Ingrid, she came back for a purpose, she's human, but not entirely. Part angel perhaps or spirit. It just seems wrong," at least the old alter boy in him kept telling him that. Though that position had been thrust upon him rather than desired, it had nonetheless had some effect on his life. Though he'd never thought much of Confessing your sins, particularly when it came to impure thoughts. They were after all just thoughts. "And you speak as if she shares my feelings, when we have no way of knowing." That word "love sitting right out there made him feel rather uncomfortable. He'd never voiced that, not even in his journal, at least not so boldly. Though it would have been obvious to anyone who read it. It was almost...frightening to here it spoken out loud, when he'd barely been able to write it.
