Carolyn had left Val in the elevator with a smile on her face and she was glad of that. The truth was, she loved Val a little bit. He was steady and reassuring most of the time, and hell, even being angry... Would he mind that she'd thrown the first punch? Or would he go chasing after Val, angry like he had been with the John lookalike who'd hurt her shoulder. Either way, she didn't look forward to it

She actually woke up with a scream. That had been a different kind of dream. Carolyn sat up, drenched in sweat and heart pounding. She'd pulled the curtains so she could sleep in a little, but it meant...cafe and turned all the lights on that she could find, still disoriented and panicked. It wasn't until she could sit down in the corner, curling her feet up under her and burying her face in her knees

Speirs was still hesitant about his new boss, but the job at the bookstore was solitary enough that he was willing to be called "my child" from time to time. The only other problem was this smoking thing...and play with before sneaking outside to take a break for a minute and slurp thirstily on a cup of cider. [ooc: tag whoever. If it isn't clear who it's for, put the name in the subject line :)]

Toorop was having a good week. Three guesses as to why. He was taking his break in front of the cafe, cigarette hanging between his lips as he slouched comfortably in the chair, book in hand. He would...their strictly employer employee relationship. Her mind was elsewhere anyway, elsewhere meaning on Jack Aubrey and what she'd admitted at Ten Forward. She'd meant it, of course, but it scared her

Excited she could understand. Nervous she couldn't. Carolyn couldn't figure out why her stomach was as fluttery as it was. She bounced a little on the balls of her feet, hands clasped tightly in front...would be very very different things. All she could do was wait. They'd agreed to meet outside Ten Forward and so she waited their now, Shazza tucked carefully in her little bed back at Carolyn's room

She woke up rested, but only sort of. Jack spending the night hadn't actually resulted in a whole lot of sleeping. Not that she was complaining. But as Carolyn blinked awake against the sun that was filtering...even taken the dreamless sleep. Her cheek was still pressed to a warm chest and she closed her eyes again immediately, not wanting to move an inch. [ooc: slightly forward dated to this morning

It said something about her progress that Carolyn could sit outside the cafe with a mug of hot cider, in the dark and not be scared. The business was winding down for the day, only a few people finishing...them and accepted their congratulations on reopening with a nod. They fussed over Shazza, who was sleeping in Carolyn's lap, for a moment before leaving the woman to her rather aimless contemplation

His evening with Maggie had been pleasant. He'd thrown a stick for her, some times into the water, some times along the beach, until she hadn't wanted to anymore and then had walked back to sit outside...beginning to think she was a big fool. So she wasn't in a fantastic mood, but it wasn't bad, either. Just contemplative. [ooc: catch Toorop on the way back to the hotel, or carolyn, if you'd like]

Carolyn was too busy to be nervous. She'd opened the doors to a small group of people waiting, smiling and asking for the coffee they'd been missing since the explosion. It had been an ego boost, to say...hop around. [ooc: gathering post! Tag Carolyn or Toorop if you'd like, or just come in to enjoy the half priced coffee and tea. If you helped rebuild the cafe, expect a wonderful free meal :)]

Carolyn sat in the empty cafe staring at the floor. Her hands were folded carefully in her lap, one arm held gingerly against her chest as though it pained her to move it. Heat still flushed her cheeks...herself out of the way of Reapers practically negating all the healing she'd done over the past few weeks. She was just tired. She was so tired. [ooc: cafe isn't actually open, but the door is]