(no subject)

[gabriel_tam]

It's early afternoon when he opens the door from Milliways into the Tams' New Mayfair home. The tastefully-furnished space of Gabriel's home office lies before them.

"Go on, River," he says, gently. "Go ahead in."

Comments

[river_meimei]

River trails a hand along the bannister, slowly, and lifts it to examine her fingers as though she might see some residue there. Or as if she is seeing something of the sort.

She glances down, and down further; it's a moment before she takes her first step.

[gabriel_tam]

His frown is slight, but clear, as he watches her with growing concern.

[river_meimei]

One step, and then another. She doesn't seem disoriented, or dizzy; she's only moving very, very deliberately. Her face is tired and blank as she glances at the floor, her hand on the bannister, her foot slowly touching down, the middle distance.

[gabriel_tam]

He hesitates only a moment longer before going to her and gently putting an arm around her shoulders.

"Come on, băobèi." It's quiet, and warm, and as supportive as his arm is. "Come with me."

[river_meimei]

River breathes out, and leans just slightly into the circle of his arm, and lets her father guide her.

Down the stairs, slow but steady, and along the short hallway. Gabriel unlocks the door one-handed, cradling River against his side, and pulls it open.

Four men in plain tailored clothes wait by the front gate in a practiced formation, and River freezes.

[gabriel_tam]

"Shhh." His embrace tightens slightly as he seeks to reassure her.

"They're only security. It's all right."

[river_meimei]

"I know."

Her eyes never move from the group of men, and nothing in her posture relaxes.

"Here to watch. Keep it tidy. Standard procedure."

[gabriel_tam]

"I know each one of them personally," he murmurs quietly to her. For the moment, Gabriel doesn't move, and he certainly doesn't try to lead her closer to them.

"They're good men, băobèi. They can be trusted."

[river_meimei]

River breathes in -- just a bit too deeply -- and out, and as her shoulders slump fractionally something in her face ages.

"Always are."

[gabriel_tam]

A couple of the men exchange glances, and one calls over,

"Senator?"

Gabriel raises his voice and calls back, "Just a moment, Li."

"Of course, sir."

As the guards go back to scanning the grounds and the street beyond, Gabriel lifts a hand to River's face. He gently brushes a lock of hair back behind her ear, and says as quietly as before,

"Do you still want to go? We don't have to do anything you don't want to do."

[river_meimei]

River's eyes close -- and immediately open, fixing sidelong on the men again even as she turns an unconscious fraction towards her father.

Whispered, "They're watching."

[gabriel_tam]

"They are-- wait here a moment, River."

Gabriel walks over to the four security guards, and enters into a discussion with them.

It quickly grows animated, as the leader of the team seems rather unhappy with what he's being told.

[river_meimei]

River stands in the doorway, arms wrapped loosely around her torso and hair hanging about her bowed head. It makes her look young and miserable, and somehow defeated.

After a few minutes of increasingly sharp argument between Gabriel and his security guards, River's head lifts. She turns her face to the sky, arms tightening around herself, and closes her eyes.

"Perimeter monitoring based on one point five standard surveillance distance should be adequate for local security. Barring extraordinary levels of background threat expectation, fifteen point three meters is sufficient for interpersonal communication of necessary detail. Distance weapons are unlikely and can be monitored using standard procedures." Her voice is flat -- leaden, and a little distant -- and pitched to carry.

Beat.

"I can see you through the trees."

[gabriel_tam]

The sudden silence is more than a little disconcerted.

It's Gabriel who reacts first, adapting smoothly to the situation.

"As you gentlemen are no doubt aware, my daughter has rather distinctive gifts." His tone is as dry as desert sand, and more than one of the guards finds something to look at.

Bajian Li, who is the head of this particular team, has both the grace and necessary presence to hold Gabriel's gaze with his own.

"Be that as it may, she's still not trained in the same way we are, sir, and it's our job to see you both safe and secure."

[river_meimei]

River's eyes cut to Bajian Li.

She doesn't move otherwise, and she says nothing.

[gabriel_tam]

"Do it at a distance. Given that this is an unplanned trip, the risk should be minimal. Call in extra monitoring and response units if you want, but it'll be remote," Gabriel says flatly.

[river_meimei]

"Gonna be okay," River mutters. To her father, or to the guards; it's hard to say which, with her head tilted down and hair tangling about her face, and her eyes flicking from one thing to the next.

"She'll be careful."

[gabriel_tam]

Li still looks as though he wants to argue, but it's clear he's dealt with such issues before.

"Very well, Senator. We'll establish a perimeter, and monitor from there."

He makes a quick hand-signal to the others, and all four move quickly and quietly through the gates.

Gabriel turns to River.

"Is that better, băobèi?"

[river_meimei]

"Don't tell them I'm listening," she whispers.

A few seconds pass, and then she manages a smile for her father; after a moment, it solidifies more.

"Got sky."

Beat.

Softer, and half as if convincing herself, "I'm okay."

[gabriel_tam]

"You're okay," he agrees quietly, and puts his arm around her shoulders, drawing her into a hug.

"Come on. Let's go. I think you'll like it there."

[river_meimei]

And she does.

She curls into her father's arm, and she casts quick darting glances at the guards hidden behind trees, and she never quite relaxes even in the sunlit grassy park.

But she does.