Nocturne
by wordsthatfail
Rating: G
Characters: Kim; mentions of Jack
Spoilers: Honestly? None, though this vignette is
set about four years post-Day Six.
Summary: Kim evades an unexpected question.
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine; the words
are. Please don't take legal action, as lowly copy
editors aren't worth suing, anyway.
A/N: Apparently I'm never not thinking
about 24 these days, even when I'm on vacation. *g*
This happened during a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon spent
indoors with a stack of books I've been meaning to read
since, oh, forever. It's unbeta'd, so all mistakes are my
own. Point and laugh at will. No, really — be brutal.
I welcome comments and criticism of all kinds.
"Oh, the places you'll
— "
His small hand touches her wrist. "Mommy, do I got a
Grampa Bauer?"
Kim pauses for a moment and sets the Dr. Seuss book aside.
"You did, sweetie." She cocks her head slightly
and reaches to brush the three-year-old's blond hair from
his forehead. "Where'd that question come from?"
"Princess Bride," he says with an
impatient giggle, as if his mom should already know the
answer.
"Oh, that's right." Kim's smile is tinged with
sadness. "Yes, you had a Grandpa Bauer."
Her son peers around the bedroom, his eyes scanning the
cornflower-blue walls, the model airplanes and the toy
helicopter strewn along his mahogany bookshelf, and then
the hallway beyond his open door.
"Where's he at?"
Kim swallows. "He's in heaven," she answers,
keeping her voice steady and bright.
"Huh." He draws his brows together, mulling
over this new piece of information. His gaze rests on the
book between them. "Tell me his story!"
he exclaims, his blue eyes wide with excitement.
Kim shakes her head. "Not tonight, sweetheart,"
she says gently. She stands and then bends to smooth the
soft cotton comforter over his chest. "Maybe
tomorrow, okay? It's bedtime."
"But — "
"Nope, no 'buts,' mister. It's already past eight-thirty."
"'Kay," he concedes with a yawn. He wiggles
deeper into the sheets. "'Night, Mommy."
Kim lifts Oh, the Places You'll Go! from the bed
and presses a kiss to his forehead. "Good night,
Jack."
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