you're capable of putting back a few when you have to

[confidenceman]

In the first few months after Clementine arrived in the city, Sawyer hated leaving her side for even a moment. It wasn't any sort of romantic parental instinct at play — far from it, it was nervousness that kept him attached to her at practically all hours for which he was home. Afraid that she'd fall, or break something, or otherwise be hurt beyond repair.

Ironically, now that she's been walking and making her own way around the apartment more, Sawyer feels at ease leaving her for longer days with her nanny. Something about the fact that Clementine can now point at a place on her body if it hurts, or offer different words when she needs help getting things, puts him at ease. He's been able to communicate with his child now in ways he never could before.

Which is why, when the nanny offers to add on another hour to her time with Clementine without charge, Sawyer takes it. Adds on the extra wage she'd be paid normally despite her protests, reaches in his fridge for a couple of beers, and makes his way to the roof of the building to watch the sun set.

It's not a bad way to close out the day.

When he spots a familiar face also emerging from the stairwell, Sawyer grins, holding up his second bottle of beer. It's too cold outside for there to be much condensation on the glass, but in spite of the way the goosebumps rise on his skin, Sawyer can't help but think that he feels more like himself right now than he has in months.

"Join me for a beer?"

Comments

[refusedtocall]

It's more than a little chilly out here, but the view is nice. For Carla Jean, that has been one of the few things about life in a city that's appealed to her — getting to look out and admire it from a distance, a step removed from its usual chaos. Up here, she likes it a lot better, enough so that it's worth having to put a coat on to go up to the roof for a little while. Enough so, too, that it doesn't really surprise her that someone else might have had the same idea. She wasn't expecting company, but she isn't going to say no to it, either, smiling as she reaches out to take the beer Sawyer offers her.

"Hard to turn down an offer like that," she says with a tilt of her head. "'less you were waitin' for someone else."