Esmeralda was already engrossed in her work and with her back towards Charisma, it made it easy for Charisma to study her unobserved. Esmeralda didn't seem to be moving any slower than normal, though there was a tired droop in her overall body language. When she shifted enough to glimpse her face, Charisma was pleased not to see the exhaustion she expected to be there.
After a long moment, Esmeralda stiffened, realizing she was no longer alone. She turned slowly, unsurprised to see Charisma's eyes on her, though her sight seemed to be somewhere beyond the room they were standing in or Esmeralda herself. Esmeralda approached Charisma deliberately, recognizing the exact moment she was once again aware of her surroundings.
"Senator Tagherty?" watching Charisma frown and her eyes narrow. "Charisma... are you all right?" feeling a distinct sense of dйjа vu settle over her. Charisma looked her over carefully before offering Esmeralda a wry expression.
"Isn't that supposed to be my line?" she asked drolly. "After all, I'm not the one who was getting attacked in the Metro at oh-my-God-o'clock this morning."
"Well in fairness, neither was I," Esmeralda stated plainly. "But I understand what you mean," she continued when Charisma glowered at her. "We're fine," she continued. "I think Saphira fared the worst of the three of us, and that only because she was nearly buried by the ton of paperwork they shoved at her. And then they wonder why humans are so ad]verse to getting involved when there is trouble - you'd have thought we were the criminals the way they went on there for a while."
"Do you regret it... helping Brianna, I mean?"
"Oh no... of course not. But that was easy - Brianna is our friend. But I'm sure the treatment would have been the same had it been a stranger... maybe even worse. It's very disheartening when you really stop and think about it. I know Saphira was ready to smack some heads together."
Charisma laughed. "I'd have paid to have seen that."
"You wouldn't have needed to - she'd have gladly done it for free. At least it's over with, and with a little luck, we won't have to testify. Brianna's statement combined with ours and the video footage should be enough to put the kid away for a while."
"Did he say anything? Do you know why she was the target?"
Esmeralda shook her head. "By his own admission, he thought she'd be an easy mark. He had no idea she was a Senator, and he never could have predicted Saphira's prowess."
"Well, he should have plenty of time to consider his actions." Charisma paused and cleared her throat. "Listen... are you sure you should even be here tonight? I don't want you having a relapse, Es… none of us do."
"That's sweet, Charisma. But this is my job, and I need to be here." She smiled to take any sting out of her words. "Don't worry - I promise I'm going slow enough to not needlessly tire myself out, and Rick is keeping an eye on me too. I won't overdo and as soon as I'm done, I'm going home and going straight back to bed."
"All right." Charisma nodded. "Fair enough. Help yourself to a chocolate milk or two - I don't want you falling down on my watch either," said in a scolding tone but with a glimmer of a twinkle in her eye.
Esmeralda chuckled. "Aye aye sir... ma'am," she corrected with a grin. "Trust me, Charisma. I have no desire to feel the way I felt before. I'll do what it takes to keep from feeling that way ever again. Oh... and for some reason," rolling her eyes, "I didn't get to talk to Saphira about next weekend last night. I'll try and do it tonight."
"I think I can forgive you the oversight this once," Charisma returned drolly. "Just don't let it happen again, okay?"
"I'll do my best," Esmeralda agreed.
"Good. Let me just pack up and I'll get out of your way for the evening."
Esmeralda nodded and continued on with her work. When she was ready to go, Charisma lifted the phone on her desk and called down to the drivers' room. Then she gazed thoughtfully at Esmeralda.
"I'm headed out for the evening. You get some rest, and I'll see you tomorrow night." She paused and Esmeralda waited. "I'm glad you're all right, Es... you and Saphira both. And thank you... for looking out for Brianna." She took a deep, shuddering breath and dropped her scrutiny to the floor. "I know I don't have any right, but I wouldn't have… well, I can't imagine...."
Esmeralda moved so silently and swiftly that Charisma didn't realize she was there until she turned around and found Esmeralda within her personal space. She stared into green eyes, surprised to find no pity - only compassion - and she let herself relax into the embrace Esmeralda offered. Charisma sighed and soaked up the comfort.
After a long moment, she pulled away in embarrassment. Before Charisma could speak, Esmeralda cupped her cheek and shook her head. "No," she commanded quietly. "Don't apologize for your feelings... especially to me. When you're ready to talk, you know where to find me."
"How did you...?"
Esmeralda chuckled. "Charisma, I know you think I'm a kid compared to you, but trust me when I tell you that I've lived through a lot in my lifetime. And I know what it's like to have an epiphany about yourself that changes everything you ever thought about yourself. I've seen the expression in your eyes before when I've looked in the mirror."
Charisma leaned in for a second and hugged Esmeralda again before totally withdrawing and picking up her briefcase. "Thank you, Es. For so much." Then without another word, she let herself out of the office and closed the door behind her. Esmeralda watched her go, staring at the door for another long moment before she took a deep breath and got back to work.
************
"Wow - she really...?" Saphira set a plate in front of Esmeralda and poured them both a glass of milk before taking a seat beside her at the kitchen table. Ruby had insisted on covering her shift; Saphira had called and Matilda had agreed when she'd heard about the way their previous evening had ended, though she called in the new girl to help Ruby, so Ruby had come home earlier and gone straight to bed. Now it was just the two of them sitting together at the table while Esmeralda indulged in a rare peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
"She did. I dunno, Phira - I don't know what to think about this mission anymore. This has gone so far beyond anything I ever even considered as a possibility. I know we're not done - obviously... He hasn't called us... them... home. But I'm at a loss to know what to do anymore."
"Maybe you're not supposed to do anything at this point." Saphira sighed and wrapped her hands around her glass of milk. "If you're completely honest, this whole project has been one snafu after another. You haven't been able to access the information you need or direct things like you normally would and it's become a complete fubar, correct?"
Esmeralda sighed. "That's probably a little harsher than I would have put it, but it about sums things up, yes."
"Maybe you're... *we're*... just supposed to be here for them. Because Charisma has lived in the closet so long, she's become wallpaper. Her mindset won't change overnight, no matter what happens in her life. Things like last night might help speed her thinking along, but she's going to have to be the one that ultimately changes her life - because that's what this will be for her. Maybe we're just supposed to be there and support them while she comes to the realizations she needs to."
"Maybe," Esmeralda agreed slowly, taking another bite of her sandwich and chewing thoughtfully. "Still, I was amazed by her tonight."
"But what about Brianna?"
"I don't know. I think if Charisma wants, she's gonna have to be willing to risk everything. Brianna won't believe her otherwise." Esmeralda swallowed the last bite of her sandwich and finished her milk before she stood and took her dishes to the sink. "Well, tomorrow is another day. Maybe we'll get a few more baby steps - eventually they might add up to a step forward." She rinsed off her dishes, then did the same with Saphira's glass. "C'mon... it's past my bedtime."