taxonomites | 005 ☢ [location: ncis forensics lab, then sanctuary (for all)]

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005 ☢ [location: ncis forensics lab, then sanctuary (for all)]

Most times after he's woken up from an episode (episode is the best word he can think of to describe it - like a seizure, only instead of biting your tongue there's immeasurable collateral damage), Bruce slept for a few days straight. Even though he couldn't remember most of what had happened and he never had a mark on him afterward, it was still an enormous physical strain. He was still tired even now, and this was after four days of constant sleep.

When he'd woken up in the infirmary of the Sanctuary for All, there had been a fresh set of clothes and his tablet next to his bed. He had spent the first few moments wondering just what had happened, then everything came rushing back - the party, Ross and Blonsky's sudden appearance, then nothing but vague flashes until someone had woken him up in the middle of a wrecked house. He did remember something about a pipe in someone's chest, but that had to be some kind of weird, post-monster dream. After that, it was a simple matter of figuring out what he had to do.

Run. Not that there were many places to run to while in this city, but he could at least get out of the Sanctuary and find some other place to crash. Bruce grabbed the clothes and ran through the network as he pulled them on. When he saw Abby's post, he knew what had happened - and who knew how many other people who weren't able to make such calls for help - and felt horribly guilty for it.

So, even though he was determined to leave the Sanctuary and avoid anyone who knew him as 'David', he still felt badly enough to be compelled into leaving a note at Abby's lab. It took him a few tries to actually write it (Hallmark really needed some 'Sorry I turned into a monster and hurt you' cards), but eventually settled on a simple 'Sorry'. Bruce taped it to the door and walked away. Maybe he'd leave a similar note at the Sanctuary later.

[ooc: Locked to Abby Sciuto first, then whomever wants to grab Bruce sneaking back in to the Sanctuary for All to leave the note for Magnus. Hee, silly hobouncle.]

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"No, I didn't think that at all!" He flailed right back at her. He'd just been trying to help things, not make things worse. Par for the course, though. "I was just. It's okay, it's okay. ...Really. ...Sorry." Bruce fidgeted for a moment, then quickly reached out a hand to pat hers.

"Well. General Ross, and Betty. That's it, and only because they were there at the beginning. I don't know if Ross told anyone else, seeing as he put all kinds of high-security redaction on the project after the fact. And Betty just wouldn't have. ...Haven't ever actually told anyone though. I mean. Before now."

Abby felt her cheeks warm when he patted her hand. She glanced away and pulled her hand back slowly, muttering her thanks before she returned to her meal. So she was number three. Abby knew that it was a huge thing for Bruce to tell her everything, even when it was out of guilt. She ate quietly for awhile, just thinking it all over.

"I appreciate you, you know, letting me know." She said finally. "And I hope it's not just out of obligation. I mean, I know that it's a natural reaction, and I don't mind if it's part of the reason, but I hope it's not the only reason." Hello, rambling mess. Goodbye, sensible trains of thought.

Bruce withdrew his hand as quickly as he had put it out there. Maybe it'd been a bad idea, but he couldn't really take it back now. He finished his food while waiting for Abby to speak next.

"No, I. Well, it's partly out of. I can't even begin to say how horribly sorry I am that you got caught up with the monster, yeah, but. You're also a friend. And." Yes, those rambling messes were contagious like that. He shrugged awkwardly, somewhat wishing he still had some food on the plate that he could push around just to have something to do.

Abby hid a small smile. She realized that he sounded a lot like she imagined herself. It was a little comforting, but it also made it seem so silly to be nervous. He was right. They were friends, and there was no reason for friends to be so awkward around each other. Abby took a last bite before standing up from her seat quickly. No more silly awkward behavior (for now). She grabbed the small remote to her sound system and turned it on, flicking down the volume to a more reasonable level.

"Alright, so here's my idea. Tell me if you think it's crazy. From now on, we're completely honest with each other. One hundred percent, no secrets." She paused, "And maybe you let me see if I can help with the whole. Problem." Not her specialty, but Abby couldn't just not help. She walked around to his side of the table and put a hand on his shoulder. She smiled down at him.

"We can't change what happened, Bruce, and if you weren't beating yourself up about it, I'd be a lot more worried about you, but I know you wouldn't have done anything to hurt me if you could have helped it."

He was a little startled by her sudden popping up, but she seemed happy enough that he quickly calmed down. Bruce did quirk an eyebrow at the music, because Abby's taste in music was really different from his own, but at least it wasn't blaring like last time he was here.

"Doesn't sound too nuts to me," Bruce said with a small smile of his own. As for the offer, he couldn't help but duck his head. Even though this probable wasn't her specialty, she wanted to help him out. It meant more to him than she could ever really know.

When he spoke, he looked up at Abby with a definite, genuine simle. "...Thanks. A lot."

Abby was aware of her shoulder, so her hug was a little less rapid this time, but as quickly as she could, she bent down and wrapped her arms around Bruce's neck. She had been worried of his reaction, wondering if he'd slink back into himself and run out of her lab. She was worried he was going to guilt himself into hiding. She wouldn't put it past him, after all of his twitchy habits thus far.

"I'm so happy you said that." She mumbled as she buried her face into the crook of his neck and shoulder. "I was worried." She pulled away slowly, a big smile on her face. Her hands rest on his shoulders. "So, anything else I should know? Now that we're being honest?" She didn't really have anything in mind, but figured it was best to give him the chance to just lay it out on the table right now.

It was then that she noticed his smile. A real smile. A very handsome smile that she had not expected. A knot twisted in Abby's stomach. She'd noticed that Bruce was attractive before - in a shy, geeky way, but something about seeing the reality behind everything paired with a rare, genuine smile. Well, it just made her feel a little funny (in a good way).

Well, he was still planning on hiding once he left. But he could amend that plan to still hide yet continue seeing Abby. This plan could work. ...Sure. Yes.

Bruce hugged her back gently, still worried about that shoulder. When she pulled back to look him in the face, he gave a small, wry smile. "No, that's pretty much it. Only turn into the one monster, so." Okay, so that wasn't really a funny joke, and it made Bruce kind of sad when said out loud, but. Oh, well. "No more pineapple-conversation killers, though."

As for being completely honest, well. There was other stuff, but that was regular issue-fodder and nothing really life-threatening. So it was okay not to share on that front (or at least, this was what Bruce told himself). "I do have a doctorate in nuclear physics, and master's degrees in pretty much... Everything else. Well, everything else science-wise."

Abby managed a laugh, "Well, that's good. If I see any others around Taxon, I'll know not to assume." Again, not a very funny joke, and it was even more awkward when she tried to make it lighthearted. She told herself that this would probably be the way things were for awhile. They were making the best of a very unique situation, though. She was determined to see it through until things could be normal again (whatever 'normal' meant in Taxon).

"Wow, really?" She'd known he was into science-like things when they first found her lab. No one else geeked out over her toys like another fellow of the field, but she hadn't expected anything nuclear, or multiple degrees. "I've really just got the one field. It kind of covers a few, in it's own way." There wasn't a competition here. Abby knew she was damn good at what she did. Besides, her masters in forensic science and criminology had carried her far, and the bachelors degrees in sociology and psychology had really helped. Mostly, she was just impressed that Bruce had found the time. She knew how hard it was to get done the bits she had. She couldn't imagine tackling the load he was describing.

"Show off." She teased, a little smile forming into a larger grin as she spoke, "At least I know I don't have to overexplain anything." As much as she loved everyone back home (and wished she could get back to them), Abby always hated the way that she couldn't explain things as they truly were. Big, sciencey words just confused the team.

Bruce blinked once in surprise, realizing that yeah, it was probably best not to assume anything about people brought here. After all, he was here, and... Wait. Right. They were joking. ...Mostly. He smiled a little, but it was a little strained. At least they realized this kind of awkward needed to be muddled through, so they'd get over it. Eventually.

"Uh, yeah," he said, scratching the back of his neck shyly. "I kind of. Well, I didn't really do much else in school, except. Read and hog up a corner of whatever lab I was in at the moment." Yes, it definitely helped not to have a social life when it came to these things.

Abby knew the type. Hell, she'd been friends with the type for years. She wasn't shy or antisocial (in fact, quite the opposite), but she had surrounded herself with the sort of people that Bruce was describing. Maybe that was why she fell into a friendship with him so easily. She was comfortable with quiet, geeky guys who understood at least half of what she was rambling on about.

"So somewhere in the world, you've got a box full of degrees, huh?" She assumed he wasn't the type to display them. That would mean they could be conversation starters, and wasn't that part of the point - to not converse? "That's actually kind of cool." She flashed another smile, but felt her gaze drop. Somehow, his shyness pulled some of her own out to mirror it. It made her feel odd, since she wasn't normally shy about. Well, anything.

"I guess. Probably got tossed by now, though." He shrugged. "Haven't exactly kept up on my rent since being on the run, and I try to pack light. Bring what you need, you know." Bruce really didn't mind - after all, they were just papers, and they couldn't really help him now.

Besides, all they went to prove was that his brain held a little more than most. And he could prove that on his own.

Abby didn't know, but she pretended to (or tried her best to) while nodding along as he spoke. She had a lot of questions, and for a second, she felt bad about even thinking to ask them, but they had said honesty was okay. No more pineapple conversations. She debated internally for a moment before just blurting it out.

"Can I test a sample of your DNA?" It all came out in a rush, so fast that it may not have been easily understood. She paused for a minute, then continued, nearly just as fast. "I just think that if we can isolate the components that maybe we can work on reversing it. I mean, you've probably thought of that. Of course you've thought of that, but maybe an extra set of eyes could see something new?"

Well, very few did, to be fair, and Bruce knew that. It was just one of his many verbal tic-things. He didn't meant to make her nervous or awkward, but he couldn't help i-

Wait, what? He looked up at her quizzically, debating the question. "Well. I guess so," he answered carefully, but he held up a hand to slow her down a bit. "Just, just promise that you're going to be really, really careful about it. However I'm still living with this stuff aside, my blood and everything else is still loaded."

She put her hands on her hips for a minute, cocking her head to one side. There was a playful expression on her face, despite her annoyed posture.

"I'm the queen of careful, Bruce. You just don't know better yet." She turned on her heels and went to gather a few supplies for drawing various samples and storing them for testing. She figured blood would be the best, since she could take a significant sample of it and separate it for separate tests. She held out a syringe.

"You want to do the honors, or should I?" She used her other hand to hold up a boyscout-pledge. "And I solemnly swear to be extra careful whenever handling it."

"Okay, I'm just. You know, making sure." Sighing, he pulled up a sleeve past his elbow. The newly re-hatched black monitor on his wrist was a definite contrast to the slight tan that had paled since coming to Taxon. "Gamma poisoning is a ton of not fun. And I've hurt you enough already."

Bruce took the syringe carefully, bunching the sleeve around his elbow in lieu of a tourniquet. He easily found a vein and began drawing blood. "Mm. No matter how many times I do this, can never get used to that first prick." Once the plunger was full, he withdrew the needle, bending his elbow and flexing his fist. After he put down the syringe, he grabbed a tube of liquid bandage out of his pocket and quickly applied it to the track. He tried not to go anywhere without a tube.

Abby took the syringe (very carefully) and walked it over to the storage area for safe keeping. She didn't plan on launching a full work up right now, but figured if she could snag it now, she could work on whenever she had the chance. Turning around, Abby flashed him another smile.

"Thanks. It'll make me feel better to actually work on something." She crossed the room and stood in front of him again. "Alright, so, confession time?" Abby twisted her face as she worked up the nerve to say it. "I've been kind of terrified to leave the lab lately. It's been like. I don't even know. Three, maybe four days? Basically since the party. But I'm trying to get over that." She paused and looked at her shoes briefly before realizing how silly that was.

"Do you want to get out of her." She gestured towards the door. "I don't even know what I'd want to do. Bowling? Does even Taxon have bowling?"

Bruce breathed easy again once the blood was safely put away. Careful or not, accidents still happened.

"No problem," he replied easily. Meeting Abby's eyes, he stiffened himself at the mention of confessions, bracing himself for the worst. When she came out with it, he relaxed - only not. He knew it was his fault she was so scared and damn it.

"Whatever you want to do, Abby." It was the least he could do considering he was to blame. "I don't know if there's bowling, but. I don't mind looking."

Abby pulled out her tablet and flipped it onto the mapped screen. She poked and prodded around at it for a minute, mumbling to herself about how if they didn't have bowling, she was going straight to the mayor. A joke, of course, but she was getting a little frustrated.

"Aha!" She exclaimed finally. "I think we might have struck oil." She looked up at him before turning the screen for him to see. "Taxon Bowling. So creative, but I'll be damned if this place doesn't know how to work around the necessities." She grabbed a coat, twisting it in her hands while she eyed the door.

This was silly. Bruce had admitted to turning into the creature that had chased after her. He was in the lab and somehow she felt safer? Going outside with him didn't change anything. So why wasn't she moving. She glanced at him, offering a weak smile while she tried to laugh it off. Abby slipped on her coat and took a deep breath, willing her feet to move to the door.

Bruce put his cap back on, standing up as he pulled the sleeve of his sweatshirt down. He waited for her to take the lead (it was always easier to follow). When she didn't, he wondered what was wrong, and then it clicked.

When Abby tried to shrug it off, he stepped up beside her, slipping his arm around hers, giving her a little tug toward the door.

"You better go easy on me, huh? Haven't really done this in a while." He gave her a small smile, trying to coax her on.

Abby took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly before stepping towards her door. She reached across her body and gave Bruce's arm a soft squeeze.

"Thank you." She said very quietly. Another breath and she was opening the door and finally venturing back out into Taxon. A pit formed in her stomach, but she reminded herself that Bruce wouldn't harm her. He'd come all this way to apologize, to make amends - and she was doing her damndest to show him that she wasn't afraid of him. It was really too bad that she was, to a point - or rather, afraid of what he could become.

"Sorry, I don't go easy on anyone. You go bowling with me and you better expect to watch me wipe the lanes with you." She tried to smile, and succeeded in part. Abby looked back at her tablet and then at the streets. "I think it's this way." She pointed to her left, "Just a few blocks, then another few south."

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005 ☢ [location: ncis forensics lab, then sanctuary (for all)]

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