The CBB :: View topic - The "Lunchbreak Drabbles" Series

#1: The "Lunchbreak Drabbles" Series Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:24 pm

I've got several ideas for drabbles at the moment... but since I have River (which I WILL try and update more often Embarassed

) I've decided to turn them into one post drabbles. They'll all be posted in here, but there won't be any continuity between the drabbles. Chances are I'll write a FCS at some point, in which case another thread will be started in St Clares - I will, however, post in this thread saying if I've updated it in there. BTW title is purely because I couldn't think of anything else, and it seemed to fit! If anyone comes up with something better, please let me know! Very Happy

Thanks to lots of people for beta-ing this one - and a big hug to Ally cos I didn't let her read it before. Also a Kiss

to Kat for my new bunny Festus, who is in charge of this drabble Wink

Lunchbreak Drabble #1

She stands, silent, alone. The sun brings out the red flecks in her hair – a light I’d never noticed before. She’s always been dark to me.

A sudden breeze touches her; she turns around, sees me standing there. Or perhaps she doesn’t. There’s no recognition in her face, no falsified smile. Nothing except the tears striking a porcelain face.

Her grief haunts the riverside. I see a few friends pass by her, glancing cautiously, wanting to help but at the same time fearful, just as I am. This isn’t the woman we know and love.

When did I start thinking of her as a woman? She’s always been a girl to me, just my sister’s pupil. Yet the woman stood before me is unmistakably just that; she holds herself stronger now, something of her childhood lost in the terror which strikes her dark eyes. I want to move forward and take her in my arms, soothe the hurt away and promise that, so long as I’m here, she’ll never hurt again. And I am shocked by the intensity of my feelings. I never want to see that look again. I never want to be so close to her that her agony engulfs me, it almost brings tears to my eyes because I cannot stand being so close whilst so far away.

I’m next to her now, so close I can feel her shivering beside me. Silently, I take my coat off, and wrap it around her shoulders. She has her own on, but she’s in shock. The doctor in me sees the pallid cheeks, the shadows under her eyes. The man in me sees only the tears and that look in her eyes.

Her voice is barely a whisper. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I bite back the words which try to follow, fearful. They might help, or they might hurt. As much as I want to make all her pain go away, part of me still fears a weeping woman. It’s ridiculous, and something that, as a doctor, I need to deal with. When women cry, I turn into a bumbling, awkward man – and I don’t want her to see me like that. They escape, though, and I can’t take them back. “I’m sorry, Jo. I’m so sorry.”

“Do you think it’s true?” She turns to me, abruptly, desperate. “Is she ill, Jack?”

My breath catches in my throat. For a moment, I consider pretending not to hear, but her look is inescapable. Our eyes meet; her gaze intensive. It sounds cliché – and it is – to say that she knows all I’m thinking, just by that one look. That platitude was invented for Joey Bettany, for those all-pervasive black eyes.

I can’t escape, I can’t lie to her. Not when she’s looking at me like that.

“Jo, she’s ill. I can’t deny that. It may be that it’s just because she’s growing too quickly. Or it may be…” I choke on my own words. Joey isn’t the only one who’s hurt by this. Oh, I know my pain is nothing in comparison – but it’s still there.

A hand slips into mine, briefly, a gentle squeeze. It’s withdrawn just as quickly; but for some reason I don’t mind. I can continue, now. “It may very well be what we fear, Jo. We’ll know more in time.”

She inhales sharply, and turns away from me, her gaze fierce. Her tears are long gone now, her fear and grief replaced temporarily by anger. “How could He do this?” she asks me, quietly, and I cannot answer her.

My arm wraps around her, almost unconsciously, and she leans against me. She’s heavier than I thought she’d be – she’s always been so fragile, so ill, that I forget she’s a grown woman now. “If anything happens to her…” her voice trails off briefly. “I’ll never forgive Eustacia.”

“It’s hardly her fault, Jo,” I begin to protest, but am silenced by her glare.

“I’ll never forgive her,” she repeats angrily, and for a moment she’s no longer the woman I have come to love, simply the stubborn schoolgirl who intrigued me so. I know she’s not ready, not yet.

She pulls away from me, wiping away angry tears. “Thank you, Jack,” she says quietly, almost a whisper. She’s backing away now, but I am content to let her leave. She needs time alone, I can understand that, almost more than anyone. Now I have my hope, I can let her go.

And I will wait.

Last edited by Gem on Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:02 pm; edited 1 time in total

#2: Author: pim, Location: Helmel Hampster

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:55 pm

Love the bunny's name Wink

I tried to convince Kitty it needed a different one, but she wasn't buying, alas.

Anyway, as I have said before Gemmy, lovely drabble - still gives me goosebumps on read number, um... severalth?

#3: Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!!

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 6:55 pm

That was lovely Gemmy! Thank you hun!

#4: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:08 pm

Very powerful, thank you Gem.

#5: Author: nikkie, Location: Cumbria

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:24 pm

That was very good Gem lovely insight into Jack& Jo

#6: Author: Cath, Location: Coventry

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:41 pm

That was lovely, Gem! Thank you. Kiss

#7: Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:42 pm

Thankyou Gem, that's lovely. Looking forward to the others.

#8: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:11 pm

that was beautiful Gem. Thanks.

#9: Author: Alice, Location: London, England

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 8:46 pm

Thank you Gem, that was lovely.

#10: Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:50 pm

Thank you Gem, that was really powerful.

#11: Author: Amanda M, Location: Wakefield

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:32 am

That was lovely Gem. Thank you.

Star Wars

#12: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:53 am

Lovely, Gem. I need no salt on my sandwich! A lunchtime drabble is a great idea.

#13: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:44 pm

That was beautiful Gem

Thank you

Liz

#14: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 12:53 pm

Lovely Gem. What a great idea too Very Happy

#15: Lunchtime Drabbles Author: janetbrown23, Location: Colchester moving to Mid Wales as soon as I can

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:03 pm

Thanks for this great idea Gem. Loved the first one.

Jan

#16: Author: Kat, Location: Swansea

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:09 pm

Already said it, but still! Love seeing Jack's thoughts and emotions about Jo and Robin, brings his mature side out alot more Smile

And his name is Fester, not Festus! Evil or Very Mad

#17: Author: Nell, Location: London, England

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:23 am

Lovely Gem, thank you. And lunchtime drabbles sounds great - looking forward to today's!

#18: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:41 am

Erp! *looks worried* I didn't say they'd be EVERY lunchtime - or even be posted at lunchtime... they're just the kind of drabbles which can be read in a lunchbreak... *hastily backtracks* Wink

#19: Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:19 pm

*Sobs*

#20: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:52 pm

And to think some of us logged on this lunchtime just to catch today's drabble! *pouts*

*quickly builds wall behind Gem so she can't backtrack Wink

*

Liz

#21: Author: Gem, Location: Saltash/Aberystwyth

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:01 pm

Okay, here is the next Lunchbreak Drabble - in St. Hilds:

http://www.chaletian.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=175924#175924

I'm VERY uncertain about posting this drabble, so please, people of a sensitive nature, avoid! Thanks Very Happy

Last edited by Gem on Wed Mar 30, 2005 1:36 pm; edited 1 time in total

#22: Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!!

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 4:16 pm

Thanks Gem it was lovely and of course we expect one every lunchtime Rolling Eyes

#23: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:43 pm

That was so good Gem. Brought a definite lump to my throat.

#24: Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 10:00 am

Thanks Gem that was really lovely. I am so ashames it has taken me this long to get round to reading it.

#25: Author: Nicci, Location: UK

Posted: Thu May 19, 2005 1:12 pm

Gem, I've read both. And they are equally moving. Love the insight into Jack and Jo's developing understandings of each other.

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