(no subject)

[wheelsy_sheriff]

["I gotta have him get word to Mrs. Pardy an' Kate, let 'em know what's goin' on."]


He hates this.

Pulling into Bill's driveway, Rudy gets out of the car and puts on his hat, takes it off, then puts it back on again, all while eying the front door.

He really, really hates this.

Why's he gotta be the bearer of bad news all the time?

He knows why, because Dave's with Bill, and Kelly is with Mrs. Freeda (who Rudy also hates), and Nancy has to watch the station, so that leaves just him.

It's not fair.

Approaching the house, Rudy stops in front of the porch and paces back and forth a few times. He knows he needs to tell Kate what happened to Bill so they can get going, but wants to take a moment to prepare himself.

Be calm, explain the situation, don't worry her or get flustered your ownself.

Heading up the porch, he knocks on the front door, putting his hat back on at the last moment.

"C'mon, Rudy, do this right."

God, he hates this.

Comments

[justdidntseeit]

Spotting the sign for Bishopville, her heart beats faster.

"Romeo in a football jersey?"

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Nah, the girls liked him, but he was pretty much focused on-- "

He pauses, and thinks maybe he shouldn't finish what he was saying.

Trying to cover himself by taking the moment to change lanes, he shakes his head.

"Bill was too much've a dork t'be Romeo. I was Romeo. In uh, the school play."

[justdidntseeit]

He doesn't have to finish; she knows who he isn't naming.

She shifts slightly in her seat, glancing out the windshield, then back to Rudy.

"Drama club?"

(Bill was right.)

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Yeah, see my geography teacher Mrs. Current ran it, an' she had trouble gettin' guys t'join, so she gave me extra credit for it."

He shakes his head at himself.

"You can probably guess that I really needed it."

After a beat, he glances around, suddenly embarrassed, and admits to her, "I kinda liked it, though. It was fun."

[justdidntseeit]

She offers him an encouraging half-smile.

"Hey, there's no shame in that -- I always wished I had the courage to get onstage in front of a crowd."

Her expression falters when she sees they've nearly reached the hospital.

Let him be okay, please.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

"Well, I wasn't no Brad Pitt or nothin', but I guess I weren't too bad, neither."

He sees her expression shift and looks ahead, seeing the green steeple ontop of the hospital. Working his throat he turns, and navigates the parking lot.

After they've stopped he looks over at her.

"S'gonna be alright, Kate. Bill's good at takin' knocks an' comin' back from 'em. He'll be just fine."

[justdidntseeit]

She nods, smoothing her clammy palms down her thighs.

"Yeah. He -- yeah."

Another nod, and she tries to smile for both their sakes.

[wheelsy_sheriff]

He nods, giving his own small smile, then gets out of the car.

Coming around quickly to get her door, he then hurries to the trunk to grab her bag.

"Dave outta still be here I think, we c'n find him and see what's what."