Primeval fic: Breakdown

[knitekat]

Title: Breakdown

Author: knitekat

Word Count: 515

Characters: James Lester, Jenny Lewis.

Rating: 15

Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.

Warning: Hurt/comfort, angst

A/N: Part 12 of the Claiming series, sequel to Beautiful And Dangerous and continues in Safe In Your Arms. Thanks to go to Fred for the beta.

After Lester's earlier breakdown at work, Jenny feels drawn to check in on him. She begins to worry when there is no response to her knock. Jenny smiles as she remembered that she had a set of keys to the flat.

Upon entering the flat, Jenny gasps before she rushes towards Lester. Dropping to her knees, Jenny forces Lester to drop the piece of glass.

Lifting his wrist, Jenny sighs in relief. She is in time to stop him doing any damage to himself. She has never been happier for the slip of her memory in returning Lester's keys.

As tears silently track down Lester's face, Jenny carefully pulls him into her arms. She rubs his back as she rocks him, murmuring soothingly in his ear.

Lester's voice is broken as he repeats, “I'm sorry. I'm sorry.”

Continuing to rock and comfort Lester, Jenny's own face is tear-streaked. She realises how close they had came to disaster tonight. Her instinct that James shouldn't be left alone might have been all that had saved him.

Jenny sighs softly as she considers Lester. He needs to talk to someone, he's not coping on his own; the drinking, and his even worst attitude at work, has been proof enough of that.

Jenny knows he wants to handle what happened by himself, their earlier conversation had shown her that. But, in good conscience, Jenny can no longer leave James to struggle alone. This drunken attempt at ... Jenny forced herself to think the word ... suicide was the final straw. She has to help him, even if he doesn't want that help. She just has to get James to see that ... somehow.

Stroking her fingers gently through James' hair as he lies sobbing against her, Jenny sighs softly. She is not an expert on how to handle someone suffering from post-traumatic stress. Oh, she knows how to handle people, but not ... her mind baulks at the thought. She has read the reports, as second in command at the ARC it is her responsibility. It has been the hardest thing she has ever had to read in her life, the list of injures, the conjecture over the cause of some of them. It almost broke her heart to read about what Leek had done to James. The anger she feels ... she knows that if James hadn't already killed Leek, that she would have happily done so. No matter the consequences to herself.

Jenny takes a deep calming breath, getting angry at Leek wouldn't help James. She needs to be calm, collected, in control. She has to be ready for what ever James says or does in response to her help. He might be broken at the moment, but he was and still is a proud man. But Jenny promises herself, and him, that he will not stay broken. Not if she has anything to say about it.

Jenny knows she needs to carefully plan how she will convince James to talk to her. But for now, she just holds James in her arms and rocks him.

Comments

[fififolle]

*meep*
What a good installment. *hugs them both*

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Joins you in hugging them.
See, the consequences weren't that bad (eg)

[lukadreaming.livejournal.com]

Waah! *Sniffs delicately*

This is a really harrowing installment. And Jenny is awesome -- I like the way you show her as being scared, but determined to help Lester.

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Passes a tissue.

Glad you think Jenny's awesome, she's about the only one with a chance of getting through to James.

[fredbassett]

Thank goodness Jenny decided to go and check on him.

Poor, poor James.

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I think his earlier breakdown got her worried.

Thanks again for the beta.

[bella-farfalla.livejournal.com]

Lester! *wibbles*

Thank goodness Jenny got there in time to stop him.

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Thanks, James is in a bad place right now.

Yay for Jenny, though I'm not sure how long James knelt there...

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

This is very moving and heart-breaking. I'm a total sucker for h/c, so I found it very touching to see Jenny comfort Lester the way she did. I'm glad Jenny made it to Lester's flat in time and is now determined to get Lester to open up to her and get some much-needed help. I'm really looking forward to the next installment! :-)

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your knd comment. Glad you liked it.
Meep, now I have to do some more research to figure out the next bit.. once RL calms down.

[talliw.livejournal.com]

*takes a deep breath*
That was rescue in the last minutes. Fortunately Jenny still had the key to his flat.
I hope Lester can overcome his pride and let Jenny take care of him.

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Well, I couldn't kill James off... If anyone can get James to talk, it will be Jenny.

[szychogirl.livejournal.com]

*sniff*

So glad Jenny made it in time. Now to see how Jenny handles Lester... very interesting rolling this around in my head.

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Passes tissues.

Thanks, glad you liked it.

Meep, now I need to think about that.

[auntypam.livejournal.com]

Yay! Jenny to the rescue:) James needed a non-threatening cuddle.

Love this Au looking forward to next installment.

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading. James is definitely in need of a non-threatening cuddle.

Meep over more. Now I'll have to think where its going next...

[eriah211.livejournal.com]

*sobs*
Poor Lester, good that Jenny went to his rescue.
*joins the hug*

[knitekat.livejournal.com]

Passes a tissue.
Don't worry, Jenny's got him.
*joins the hug too*