#and maggie and simon sitting and chatting and laughing

[the-hinky-panda]

The Preacher's Wife Series: Big Bear Lake (Part III)

TW: Mentions of domestic abuse.

Maggie isn’t used to having dinners like this. She is used to expensive food, plated like it’s from a five star restaurant even if it’s in her own home. She’s used to sitting across from her husband, Simon, as he extols whatever dinner guests they happen to have with his Biblical insight and wisdom. She tries to drown him out by concentrating on chewing her food. She is watched like an animal in the zoo, making sure she uses the right utensil, takes small bites, sips her wine. There is no warmth, no laughter, no relaxation.  

That is not the experience with Hank. 

They’ve gone through half the bottle of Monkey’s Shoulder, the warmth from the whiskey making the heat lamp overly efficient. Maggie’s face is hurting from smiling, her stomach from laughing. She eats her burger with her hands, uses her fries to catch the Thousand Island dressing that’s dripped onto her plate. It’s the best time she’s had in a very long time. 

“Did they ever find the other chicken?” she asks, tears spilling down her face from laughing so hard. 

Hank is laughing just as hard. “No! We searched the clubhouse for four fucking days!” 

There’s a lightness she hasn’t felt in years and she doesn’t want it to end. Hank is everything Simon isn’t: warm, funny, kind. She wants to hear all about him, how he became involved in the motorcycle club, what other hobbies does his mother have other than reading her books, what does he like to do in his spare time? But it’s two a.m. and the bar is closing down. This small blip of joy that has occurred in her life is coming to an end. The disappointment feels tangible. She pulls out her phone reluctantly and brings up the Uber app. 

“I, uh,” Hank glances over at her phone, “I could take you back to your place. If you want.” 

It’s a welcome extension to the time that they can spend together and she jumps at the offer. “I’d like that very much.” 

Maggie had asked her sister, Morgan, about Hank after her first visit to Santo Padre. Morgan had told her that Hank was quiet, even-tempered, and one of the nicest human beings she had ever met. He was protective as the day was long and this was all high praise coming from Morgan who saw the worst of humanity in the ER. Her sister could spot a bullshitter from five miles away. She certainly had nailed Simon for being the over-controlling, narcissistic asshole that he was. So knowing that Morgan had the utmost respect for him assured Maggie that she was in good hands with Hank. 

She follows him out of the restaurant, their arms bumping against each other as they continue to chat about the chilly weather and surrounding woods. When he opens the passenger side door and helps her up into the truck, it’s the first time she’s felt like a lady in years. Her hand feels so small when it’s laying in his large one. But his palm is warm, his fingers gently squeezing her hand as she climbs into the passenger seat. 

Everything was for show with Simon. He would hold her hand when making a public appearance. Guide her across stages with a hand against the small of her back. But they were all expected gestures. When they were at home, he never held doors open for her, helped her into the car, or carried things into the house. She couldn’t remember the last time any man had helped her into the car. She gently squeezes his hand in return, in this empty parking lot with no witnesses. 

“Thank you.” 

He gives her a small, shy smile before closing the door and going over to the driver’s side. When he starts the truck, he positions the heat vents towards her and that small act brings tears to her eyes. It’s so small but speaks volumes of the kind of person that he is: thoughtful, caring, selfless. It’s such a stupid thing to get emotional over. Maybe she’s just too tired, or stressed, or drunk-

“Hey, you alright?” 

She laughs and wipes at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Yeah, I’m just…I don’t know. I’m not used to having someone look out for me, I guess. I’m sorry.” 

Hank reaches over to her and takes her hand. “You have your sister.” 

“I know.”

“But she’s not there with you everyday,” he acknowledges with a small nod. “Has that been hard, her moving down to Santo Padre?” 

Maggie knows that Morgan had her own cages that she was escaping when she left La Jolla. She admired her for escaping and finding her happiness in the border town. Yes, it had gotten worse since Morgan left but Maggie wasn’t ever going to fault her for that. But she knows her silence is answering the question at the moment. 

“Mo is so happy where she is right now. I wouldn’t want anything else for her. She loves Coco so much, loves all of you actually. Besides, she’s only a phone call away.” 

He pulls out a slip of paper and hands it to her. “And so am I.” 

Maggie takes the phone number, running her thumb over the numbers. This could be her ticket out of hell, her’s and the kids. “Thank you, Hank. This means a lot.” 

“I don’t know what your marriage is like but if you need any help, anything at all, call me.” 

“I’ve been planning on leaving for four years now.” The words leave her mouth and she can’t believe she voiced them. 

“Four years?” 

Well, there is no unhearing those words. “Did my sister ever tell you who my husband is?” 

Hank shakes his head. “I think she mentioned he was a church pastor. And an asshole.” 

A sudden chill runs through her body. Guilt perhaps, but that doesn’t stop her from sliding closer to Hank, seeking out his warmth. “Have you heard of Morning Light Ministries? The megachurch in La Jolla?” 

“Yeah, that’s the ex-surfer guy on TV every Sunday morning.” Hank laughs. “My mom tried watching him one morning. Said he had too many teeth in his mouth.” 

Maggie laughs. “Well, she’s not wrong. But that’s my husband. Figuring out how to leave someone is tricky enough. Trying to do it when thousands of pairs of eyes are watching makes it next to impossible. And then trying to get the kids out safely…” 

“Safely?” Hank’s eyes narrow slightly. “Does he hurt you and the kids?” 

“Not the kids. He’s never raised a hand to the kids. In fact, he leaves them alone most of the time.” 

“But you?” 

Maggie flexes her toes, the cold bringing a familiar ache to her foot. “It’s never anything bad enough to go see or tell anyone about. I only ever had to go to the ER once for a broken foot but that was just an accident. That’s the worst of it.” She sees Hank’s grip tighten on the steering wheel, his knuckles going snow white. She reaches over and lays a hand over them. “It’s not like some women who are in and out of the ER with black eyes and broken bones. It could be worse.” 

He releases the death grip on the steering wheel and instead takes her hand back into his. His thumb drags over her knuckles and her skin erupts in goosebumps. There’s such a gentleness to the touch but an earnestness in it as well. She knows at that moment that if she were ever to call him in a moment of need, he would rescue her. Protect her. And God, how she needed that. 

“The club,” he says after a moment, “we’re actually quite good at moving contraband.” 

She squeezes his hand and moves even closer to him, leaning against his shoulder. She understands why Morgan speaks so kindly about him. It’s the safest she’s felt in six years. “I’ll keep that in mind.” 

“I want you to.” He says it with sincere earnestness. “You don’t deserve to be treated like that.” 

She knows it’s true. She knows that one day Simon will cross the line with her, and she will need to take Lydia and Asher and leave. She knows that Morgan will help her when the time comes. And now, staring into Hank’s warm, earth brown eyes, she knows he will protect her as well. She leans forward and rests her head against his shoulder. 

Who would have thought that salvation would come in clad in a leather kutte?

#hank loza x ofc #hank loza fic #hank 'tranq' loza #Hank loza

[thedoctordonnas]

leif’s top 20 zoey’s extraordinary playlist songs → [16/20] → we can work it out

#zoey's extraordinary playlist #zoeys extraordinary playlist #zep #zepedit #mo zep #perry haskins #alex newell #david st louis #zeptop20 #marylook #userayelet #userannette #userleilaorgana #userruta #* #this song is just. so good on so many levels #the surface level of mo and perry killing it #and i love watching the background #like leif with his arm around kane #and maggie and simon sitting and chatting and laughing #and later you can see rose is also chatting with them and AH

[ofstormsandwolves]

Send My Love

Teen

Zoey x Joan

Follow-up to I’ll Stand By You and Hot for Teacher (first two installments of ‘what the heart wants (or, Zoey’s Extraordinary Gaylist)’)

Canon divergence, canonical character death (Mitch), angst, emotional hurt/ comfort.

Synopsis: Zoey and Joan have admitted their feelings, but now they have to navigate Mitch's final hours, a funeral, and two (potentially) jealous men...

Read on AO3

Zoey Clarke felt sick. One moment she and Joan had been at her apartment, laughing and chatting, and the next she was scrambling to find her shoes and dash out the door.

The day had come.

One fateful phone call from Howie, and the entirety of Zoey’s life had been tipped upside down. To Joan’s credit, she had grabbed her car keys and steered the redhead down the stairs and into her car, plopping her in the passenger seat before calmly sliding behind the wheel.

They talked very little on the drive to the Clarke house, a stark contrast to the giggling conversations they’d been having barely half hour before, and Joan only spoke to ask Zoey for directions. There was surprisingly little traffic, but the sky was already dark when they pulled up outside Mitch and Maggie’s house, but Zoey barely seemed to notice.

“Zoey?” Joan prompted gently. “We’re here.”

Zoey startled, and blinked at her parents’ house. “Oh.” She unclipped her seatbelt and slid from Joan’s car. She was still feeling somewhat nauseous, and as she stood at the end of the path leading to the front door, she found she couldn’t quite bring herself to move.

Joan’s hand slipped into hers, warm and soft and reassuring. Oh yeah, Zoey thought, I’m not alone. She looked across to her partner- and didn’t that still feel odd?- and saw Joan smiling gently at her. Taking a breath, Zoey squared her shoulders and led the other woman towards the house.

It was Howie who let them in, smiling at Zoey and quietly introducing himself to Joan with a handshake. When Maggie called for Zoey to join them in the kitchen, the redhead turned to look at her partner with a small frown.

“Go on, I’ll wait here,” Joan promised quietly.

Joan waited until Howie and Zoey had disappeared into the kitchen to pull out her phone. Dialling a number, she spared a glance into the sitting room where Mitch was, waiting for the caller to pick up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Max, it’s Joan,” she said, trying to keep her voice quiet enough that she wouldn’t disturb Zoey or her family.

“Oh, uh, hi Joan. Listen, if this is about Ava firing me-”

“Uh, no. No, it’s not. Although- I am sorry about that, Max. I can see if I can pull a few strings, hire you back-”

“I’m not sure,” Max admitted. “I mean, unless you could offer me a leadership position. I don’t think I want to go back to being just a coder. I’ve actually been looking at other jobs-”

Joan saw a dark-haired man- presumably Zoey’s brother- walk out of the kitchen then, visibly upset, and she remembered just why she’d called Max. “Um, Max, I was actually calling about Zoey. Well, uh, Zoey’s dad. He’s not doing well, and I think Zoey would want you to know. I know you and she are close.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the phone then, and for a moment Joan thought Max had hung up.

“Oh god,” Max muttered after a long while. “Uh, thanks for letting me know, Joan. I have to go.”

And then Max hung up. Pursing her lips, Joan slipped her phone back into her pocket, turning to see Zoey walking towards her.

“How are you?” she asked quietly.

Zoey shrugged, her eyes a little damp. “David and Emily are gonna go talk with Dad. I told them I could wait.” She spared a glance towards the sitting room, watching as her brother and sister-in-law approached Mitch. Then she looked back to Joan, eyes bright with unshed tears. “I don’t know if I can bear it, Joan. I mean, what am I meant to say to him?”

Joan let out a sigh then. “I know it’s difficult. And... I get why you maybe don’t want to talk to him. It’s a huge thing. Emotional. But Zoey, remember what I told you about when my mom died?”

“You were at work,” Zoey recalled. Joan had mentioned her mom before, when Zoey had told her about Mitch’s illness, but only a few days ago she had also revealed that she hadn’t been there when her mom had passed because she was busy at work.

“I never got to say goodbye,” Joan reminded her softly. “For weeks afterwards, all I could think was ‘what if I’d left work just half hour earlier?’, ‘what if I’d asked for a day off?’, ‘what if I’d at least called to see how she was?’. I don’t want you to have regrets like that, Zoey. I know it’s terrifying, and I know it’s a huge pressure, but not saying goodbye to your dad is much, much worse in the long run.”

Zoey sniffled at that, and Joan pulled her in for a hug. They stayed like that for several long moments, before Maggie appeared in the doorway. Seeing the other woman, Joan reluctantly pulled back from Zoey.

“Joan,” Maggie greeted, giving the woman a small smile. Zoey flushed, and Joan shifted uncomfortably, and Maggie seemed faintly amused by it. “Good to see you again. I wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Me too,” Joan said. “It’s lovely to see you again, Mrs Clarke.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. It’s Maggie.” She gestured to the kitchen. “Did you want a drink?”

“Oh, I can do that, Mom,” Zoey offered quickly. “Why don’t you-”

“What?” Maggie interrupted quietly. “Sit down? Relax? Watch TV? Zoey, honey, I need to keep busy. This is hard enough as it is. I just... I need to do something.”

Biting her lip, Zoey nodded slowly. “Ok. Coffee would be good, if you’re making it.”

The moment her mom was gone, the redhead turned back to Joan.

“Can I have another hug?” she asked meekly.

Joan gave a sad smile, and Zoey quickly fell into her embrace.

 It was nearly half hour later when there was a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it,” Joan offered quickly as David, Emily, Zoey, and Maggie all looked up in alarm.

She moved quickly towards the door, opening it quietly before stopping dead.

“Uh, Joan. I didn’t realise you were here.”

Max was frowning at her from the doorstep, expression somewhere between confused and surprised.

“Max,” Joan greeted uncomfortably. “Uh, come in.”

The pair of them continued to give each other strange looks as Max stepped into the foyer. He skirted around his boss carefully before moving further into the house.

“Max?”

Zoey had appeared in the kitchen doorway, a look of surprise on her face. Her voice pulled the attention to her, and Max gave her a sympathetic look.

“Hey, Zoey. Uh, Joan called, she told me about your dad.”

He moved to give her a hug then, and Zoey breathed in his familiar scent. Joan shifted a little uncomfortably, not really knowing what to do. After a few moments, Zoey pulled away from Max and gave him a small smile.

“Did you want to see Dad?” she asked quietly. “I’m sure he’d like to see you.”

Max nodded at that, mustering up a small smile. “Yeah. Yeah, I’d like that.” He glanced to Joan briefly then, before looking back to his friend. “I mean, as long as I’m not interrupting anything.”

Zoey shrugged. “David and Emily have already said their goodbyes really, and I’m still trying to work up the courage. But Dad would want to see you.”

Nodding again, Max moved towards the sitting room, leaving Joan and Zoey behind. Only a few moments later, David and Emily exited the room and headed for the stairs.

“We’re going to try and get some rest,” David explained quietly to his sister. “We won’t be long, though. Just... give me a shout if anything happens?”

“Will do,” Zoey said softly.

Once David and Emily had disappeared upstairs, Zoey held her hand out to Joan and the other woman took it wordlessly. Leading her through to the kitchen, the young woman instinctively began making drinks again.

“Thanks for calling Max,” she said as she waited for the water to boil. She wouldn’t look at Joan, but could feel the woman’s concerned eyes on her. “I’m not sure I would have been able to.”

“No problem. I figured you’d probably want him to know. Wasn’t exactly expecting him to rush over, though.” There was a pause then. “He really loves you, doesn’t he?”

At the tone of Joan’s voice, Zoey couldn’t help but look round. The older woman looked resigned, and perhaps a little anxious. They’d never really discussed Zoey’s almost relationships with Simon or Max. Joan knew that Zoey had sung to them the same day she’d sung to her, but there had never been a full conversation.

“I chose you, Joan,” Zoey reminded her gently. “I want to date you, not Max. And yes, Max has feelings for me, and for a while I thought I might possibly feel the same way about him, but...” She trailed off and shook her head. “There’s only one person who has my heart, and she’s standing in this room with me.”

Joan flushed at that, and tried to cover by rolling her eyes. “Flatterer.” She paused. “I know we said we had to keep our relationship quiet, at least at the office, but you can tell your family. And Max.”

Zoey considered that. “Do you want me to? Tell Max, I mean?”

The brunette shrugged and looked away. “I don’t know. It’s up to you. But Zoey, it looks to me like Max still thinks he has a shot with you, and I’m worried that not telling him about us is going to make things worse in the long run.”

“I’ll speak to Max, tell him we’re dating now.” Zoey turned back to finish making the drinks.

Joan pursed her lips, surveying Zoey for a few moments before moving closer. “Zoey, it doesn’t have to be tonight, you know. You have enough going on right now, and it can wait.”

“Not if you’re uncomfortable,” Zoey countered as she stirred the coffee. “I’m not letting my girlfriend feel like that.” She flashed Joan a small smile.

“Ugh, first of all, I’m a grown woman. I can deal with Max having feelings for you for a few more days,” Joan said. “And secondly, we agreed; we’re partners, not girlfriends. I’m too old to be a girlfriend.” She pulled a face.

Zoey smirked then, and pushed a mug of coffee towards Joan. “I beg to disagree,” she said. “But whatever you want, partner.”

 Max didn’t stay long.

“I should really get going,” he told Zoey quietly as the pair of them stood in the foyer. “But you’ll call if you need anything?”

Zoey hesitated at that. She couldn’t help but think back to the conversation with Joan in the kitchen.  As much as the older woman insisted it could wait, she was starting to realise that Max was going to have to know sooner rather than later.

“Uh, sure,” she managed with a tight smile. “I mean, I think we’re all good here, but if I need anything, you’re my first call.”

Max had a slightly odd look on his face at that, and he nodded slowly. “Alright then. I’ll just leave you guys- and, uh, Joan I guess- to it.”

That made Zoey frown for a brief second, but Max was already moving towards to the door. They said their goodbyes quietly, and then she was left staring out into the street as he walked away.

“Zoey? Everything alright?”

Maggie approached her daughter uncertainly, watching as Zoey closed the door and turned back to her with a puzzled expression.

“Just Max,” she said quietly. “He’s acting a little... Uh, off, I guess.”

Maggie sighed, and moved closer to her daughter. “Well, honey, is it possible he just didn’t know how to act around you? Things are different now.”

Zoey frowned. “I suppose so. But he’s known about Dad being ill for ages...”

Giving her daughter a look, Maggie wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I didn’t mean your dad, honey,” she murmured in her ear as she walked them towards the sitting room.

They stopped just outside the doorway, and Zoey’s eyes went wide as she saw Joan sat with Mitch, talking quietly to him.

“-the best coder we have,” Joan was saying, a proud smile on her face. “I mean, I know we’re both biased, but I really believe that. Zoey’s an extraordinary woman, and I hope you’re proud of her. I... I know I am.”

Wide-eyed, Zoey swallowed thickly as she realised Joan was talking with Mitch about her. Maggie rubbed at her daughter’s shoulders.

“For what it’s worth,” Maggie said quietly, “all your father and I have ever wanted is for you to be happy.”

Blinking away tears, Zoey looked to her mom. “I am, Mom. I am happy.”

Maggie smiled back. “Good.”

 Zoey’s talk with Howie about death had helped, at least a little bit. Honestly, Zoey was glad to have Joan there with her. If she’d had to go through it alone she didn’t know what she would have done. The worst part, of course, was the waiting. She was waiting for her dad to die. The thought made her feel sick.

It didn’t make it any easier, though, when her mom came to tell her she needed to speak to her dad sooner rather than later. David and Howie had moved him into his bed, made him more comfortable, and part of Zoey regretted waiting so long. If she’d spoken to him just a little earlier, she could have spoken to him in the sitting room. Now, he was mostly unconscious, drugged up and struggling to breathe. Zoey sat beside him, biting her lip as she considered what to say.

“I’m going to try to go a different way with this,” she admitted slowly. “I’m doing well at work, the guy I had a crush on likes me back, although I’ve finally figured out my love life and it doesn’t involve him. Or Max. Or, well, any guy. But I think you’ve figured that out, huh? I heard a bit of what Joan said to you earlier. I... I really love her, Dad. We’re keeping the relationship quiet for now, though. We’re still trying to work out the logistics, particularly at work, but I think this might be it.” Zoey broke off, smiling to herself for a moment, before continuing. “And those heart songs I keep hearing? I’m starting to think that they’re not all bad. In fact, I’m sort of warming to them. So... I’m doing alright. Nothing’s perfect, and I’m figuring things out as I go, but I thought you’d want to hear that. That your little girl’s doing well.”

As Zoey finished speaking, she felt a calm wash over her. She’d been dreading this moment for weeks- months, even. And while it had been horrible, there was also something peaceful inside of her. She’d spoken to her dad, she hadn’t broken down, she’d been able to finally give him good news about her job, her love life, her powers.

But then Mitch started struggling to breathe, and Howie hurried into the room to drug him up with more morphine. Maggie and David hovered nearby in concern, and Joan paused in the doorway, unsure what to do. Without thinking, Zoey peeled herself away from the bed to move instead into Joan’s embrace. David spared her a glance, but did nothing more than give his younger sister a tight, sympathetic smile before returning his attention to Mitch.

There really wasn’t anything any of them could do, though, beyond wait for the inevitable. David left the room briefly to check on Emily, but other than that the family remained gathered around Mitch. When Zoey returned to her father’s bedside she tugged Joan with her, and the older woman stood behind the redhead’s chair with a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

That was how Joan realised something odd was happening. Zoey stiffened beneath her touch, before looking to the sitting room and standing. Thinking that she perhaps needed space, Joan let her go. The whole thing lasted only a few seconds, and Zoey only got as far as the door before pausing.

That was when it happened. As Maggie let out a sob, Zoey turned back to her family with a smile on her face. It quickly faded, however, and she turned to look over her shoulder again with a concerned look. Blinking, she stared at her dad for a moment before looking to Joan. Without anyone even uttering a word, Joan quickly moved towards Zoey, holding her arms out. The younger woman fell into the embrace with a sob.

Nobody talked for a very long time.

 There was a good turnout for Mitch’s funeral, which surprised nobody. He was a well-loved man, who got on with pretty much everybody he met. Of course lots of people wanted to pay their respects.

It was all a bit overwhelming, though, and Zoey, David, and Emily were all for staying in the car rather than going inside the house. Maggie urged them inside, though, and they were forced to make awkward small-talk with all the guests.

Or, at least, David and Emily were. Zoey was off in her own little world for almost the entirety of the afternoon and into the evening. Joan followed her around the house, making pleasant small-talk with friends of the Clarke family while keeping a close eye on her partner. She knew she was probably raising suspicions, particularly when it came to Max, but she was too concerned about Zoey to care. Although, she did file away Simon’s surprising reaction for future conversation. While the man hadn’t been hostile, he’d been giving Joan sideways glances the whole time, a shadow over his eyes that hinted at jealousy or annoyance.

Oh joy. Not only did Max have feelings for Zoey, but it looked like Simon did too. How were they going to keep Simon off their scent if they wanted to keep their relationship quiet at work?

As she was introduced to yet another old family friend, Joan shook the thought from her head. She was there for Zoey, to remind her to take a break, to eat, to sit down, to step out for some air. They had the rest of their lives to deal with Simon and Max, and anyone else. Right now, she had to get her partner through the rest of the day.

It was a good couple of hours before people finally started filtering out the door. With everyone gone or halfway out the door, Joan was just about to get going when she was stopped by David.

“Are you leaving?”

Joan blinked at him in surprise, looking towards the foyer where Zoey and Mo were saying their goodbyes, before looking back to him. “Uh, yeah. I figured, this was family time...”

David considered that for a moment, before giving the woman a small smile. “I know that you’re dating my sister. I’m pretty certain that makes you family.”

Not really knowing how to respond, Joan stared at him. “So, uh, Zoey told you?”

At that, David laughed a little. “No, no. But she’s my little sister, you know? Besides, I saw the way you two were, the night Dad... Well, let’s just say I could tell.”

Joan folded her arms, a little uncomfortable. “Right. So you’re... Alright with it? I mean, I know Zoey will care, so...”

David shrugged. “We’ve been through hell since Dad was diagnosed. As far as I’m concerned, as long as you make her happy I have no problem with it.” He nodded towards the sitting room, where Emily was already waiting. “So. Are you going to join us?”

Joan glanced towards the foyer again, just in time to see Mo slipping out the door. “If Zoey wants me to, yes.”

David smiled. “Good. Welcome to the family, Joan.”

 Joan eventually left the Clarke residence at just before half ten that night, with Zoey, David, and Emily all staying the night. Unsurprisingly, over the next few days she and Zoey didn’t see each other in person, tied up as they both were. But they did manage some conversation over the phone, which was better than nothing. While Zoey was spending time with her family in the wake of Mitch’s death, Joan was frantically trying to figure out her new role as acting CEO of SPRQ Point while Danny Michael Davis was in prison (still nobody was entirely clear on the charges).

In fact, Joan had resigned herself to not seeing her partner in person for at least a week, and so it was quite a surprise when Zoey showed up on her doorstep five days after the funeral.

“I needed to see you,” Zoey said loudly, pushing her way into Joan’s house before the other woman had chance to fully process what was happening.

Joan shut the door against the orange glow of the evening sun, and turned to her partner with a frown. “Zoey? Is everything alright-”

Joan had barely finished speaking before Zoey’s lips were pressed against hers. The kiss was determined, forceful, and spoke of Zoey’s struggling emotions. Joan allowed herself to lean into the kiss for a moment or two before forcing herself to pull away.

“Zoey, honey, talk to me. Not that it’s not great to see you, but this is a bit sudden...”

Zoey’s shoulders slumped then, and she folded her arms across her chest, avoiding Joan’s gaze. “I just... I missed you. We’ve not seen each other since Dad’s funeral, and even though we’ve talked on the phone, it’s not the same.” She sighed. “I should have called. You’re probably busy. I’m sorry.”

She moved towards the door then, but Joan quickly intercepted.

“It’s fine, honey,” Joan said, taking her arm and instead steering her towards the sitting room. “I could do with a break, anyway. Geez, how Danny Michael Davis was always so chilled out, I’ll never know.”

She gently pushed Zoey down onto the large, plush designer sofa, before sitting down next to her. immediately, the younger woman moved closer, looking for contact.

“I’m sorry I’ve not had much time for you recently,” Zoey said quietly. “And I’m sorry for showing up unannounced.”

“Zoey, you’ve just lost your dad. You’re allowed to be busy, and you’re allowed to be a little out of sorts. Also, you’re allowed here anytime you want.”

Zoey shifted to look at Joan then, a cautiously hopeful look on her face. “Really?”

Joan smiled softly. “Really. Hey, I didn’t demand the house in the divorce just to piss Charlie off.” She considered that for a moment, before shrugging and staring across the room. “Well, that was a big part of it. But I also demanded the house because it’s mine. It’s my home. Charlie was nearly always out, or travelling, or at a hotel after a party. He never really seemed to belong here. But I did. I do, and I want you to belong here too.”

Zoey was unnervingly quiet then, and Joan looked down at her partner with a worried frown. The redhead was staring at her with a look of bewilderment.

“Oh, god,” Joan said, eyes going wide. “Why did I bring my ex-husband up? I’m sorry, Zoey, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable-”

“No, no, it’s not that...” Zoey said quickly, though she didn’t exactly look any more relaxed. “I just... Joan, are you suggesting I move in with you?”

The older woman blinked at that. “Uh... Do you want to?”

“Do you want me to?”

Joan frowned. “So... You do want to?”

“I didn’t say that,” Zoey countered, growing more confused. “Wait... Do you want me to want to?”

“I... Zoey, I don’t even understand the conversation we’re having right now,” Joan admitted, frown deepening as she tried to untangle everything in her head. “I’ve spent most of today figuring out the release schedule for SPRQ Point’s latest products, and I think Danny Michael Davis wrote the whole thing while stoned because none of it makes sense... He’s scheduled floor three’s video chat app for release in Julgust. What does that even mean? Julgust?”

“I- Well, it sounds like he merged July and August,” Zoey pointed out helpfully. “So... Maybe he was hedging his bets?”

“Zoey, it’s Danny Michael Davis we’re talking about!”

“Oh. Yeah. Then he was probably stoned when he wrote the schedule.”

Joan rolled her eyes. “Exactly my point.” Then, she shook her head. “No! No, that’s not my point! My point is that, after dealing with that all day, I’m tired enough that I cannot begin to figure out the conversation we seem to be having. So don’t take this the wrong way, Zoey, but I wasn’t asking you to move in. At least, not yet. We’ve only had one date, the night we called the bake-off off. I haven’t been divorced that long, only a few months. You’re still grieving after losing your dad. I don’t think rushing into this relationship is what either of us need. But I meant what I said; I want you to be comfortable here. You are welcome here any time.”

Zoey nodded slowly, a warm smile spreading across her face as Joan spoke. “That... That sounds good.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I have to admit, I kind of got a little spooked,” Zoey admitted, voice quiet but warm. “I don’t know if I’m ready to move in with you, not on any sort of permanent basis. But I would like to spend more time with you, whether that’s here, or my place, or going out on dates...”

Joan smiled. “That does sound good.”

 After a week and a half off of work in the wake of Mitch’s death, Zoey Clarke surprised everyone by showing back up at SPRQ Point at nine on the dot. And nobody was more baffled than her partner.

Partway through fending off kind words and awkward condolences from her team, including Leif and Tobin, the redhead became aware that she was being watched. Standing in the doorway to her office, arms folded and a neutral expression on her face, was Joan.

“Zoey? Can I speak to you a moment?”

Pursing her lips, Zoey moved towards the office, barely hearing Tobin’s muttered comment to Leif about how she was already in trouble and she hadn’t even been in the office five minutes. Once inside Joan’s office, Zoey reluctantly lowered herself into the chair. Joan sat on the edge of her desk, arms still folded and giving the younger woman an exasperated look.

“Why are you here, Zoey?”

“I work here?” Zoey offered, trying to lighten the situation.

The arched eyebrow from Joan told her that it wasn’t going to work.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming in today?” Joan tried again. “We spoke last night! You never mentioned coming in!”

“I just... Felt like it,” Zoey shrugged. “I mean, Mom’s been getting out the house a little to meet with friends, Emily’s had the baby so that’s keeping my brother busy... I wanted to just come in, and work on some code, and not be treated like a delicate object for a while.”

Pursing her lips, the brunette nodded slowly then. It seemed like she was choosing her next words carefully. “Am I... Am I doing something wrong? Is there something you want me to, to stop doing? Or that I should be doing but I’m not?”

Zoey blinked. “What? No, Joan! Why would you think that?”

“Well, I don’t know,” Joan looked away, clearly uncomfortable and a little embarrassed. It reminded Zoey of how she’d reacted when Charlie had walked out of their SPRQ Watch meeting, and it made her uneasy that she’d upset Joan just like Charlie had. “You’re saying you don’t want to be treated like a delicate object, you’re coming back into work without letting me know... It sounds like this is a me-and-you issue.”

“It’s not, I promise,” the redhead responded gently. She sighed. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Joan, and I really didn’t plan to come back in today, or I’d have spoken to you. I just woke up this morning and realised that I didn’t want to sit around feeling sorry for myself anymore. I know that sounds awful, but it’s the truth. Dad would hate it if he knew what was going on, if he knew I still had my life on hold for him. I just needed to come in, needed to do some work and get my mind off it all. And when I’m here, I’m not Zoey-whose-dad-just-died; I’m Zoey-the-team-leader. I mean, sure, Tobin and Leif and everyone are aware of what I’ve been going through, and they’re being a bit nicer than usual, but they aren’t going to constantly ask me how I’m feeling. When I’m at Mom’s house, and people come round, all they want to know is how I’m holding up. When I’m here, or with you, it’s different.”

It was Joan’s turn to sigh then, her expression softening to one of concern. “Honey, you should have told me. I understand, I get that you need to be doing something. But I don’t like being caught off-guard, you know that. I’m not saying you have to ask my permission, not at all, but if you’d just let me know...” She trailed off, took a breath. “I worried. When I saw you come in, I worried.”

Zoey frowned. “You... Worried?”

Nodding, Joan hesitantly met her eyes again. “Yeah. I mean, I told you that you could take two full weeks off, and you seemed so keen, and so when you showed up today I worried that you were doing something you’d regret. You know, that you were coming back early to prove a point or something, or trying to force yourself to do something you weren’t ready for.” She cleared her throat, glanced out the glass of her office to see Tobin and Leif watching in concern. “I guess I’m just feeling a little overprotective of you right now.” She gave her partner a small smile. “And I’m trying hard not to smother you, but... I don’t like seeing you hurting, Zoey.”

“Well, for what it’s worth, I don’t like seeing you hurting either,” Zoey countered with a soft smile. “And I’m sorry I made you worry.” She too glanced over at Leif and Tobin then, before looking back to her partner. “I should get back to work before Leif and Tobin start coming up with conspiracy theories about what we’re talking about.”

With one final smile between the two women, Zoey left the room.

 By lunchtime, however, Zoey was finding the office a little stifling.

“Hey,” she greeted Joan as she reached the cereal bar.

Joan was glaring at the options available, clearly taken with none of them.  “These choices are awful. Who chose to go back to a cereal bar? Was it Glenn?”

Before she could shout for poor Glenn, who was probably hiding again, Zoey cleared her throat pointedly.

“Uh, actually, I wanted to speak to you about that. I- Well, if you’re not busy, I was wondering if you wanted to go out for lunch? I just... Need to get out of the office for a bit.”

Concern came over Joan’s face, and she nodded quickly. “Yeah. Yeah, of course. Let me grab my purse.”

They headed for the elevators, with a detour through Joan’s office to grab her purse, and soon they were out of the office and walking down the street.

“Where were you thinking?” Joan asked, slipping her hand into Zoey’s. “There’s a sushi place nearby, if you fancy that. Or there’s a good Italian place-”

“I was thinking somewhere a little different,” Zoey interrupted, giving her partner a nervous smile. “I’m more in the mood for... Well, for something sweet.”

Joan gave a small smile at that, and simply nodded for Zoey to lead the way. They made small talk as they walked, talking about anything that came to mind. Joan complained yet again about Danny Michael Davis’s awful management of SPRQ Point, while Zoey shared stories of her brother and Emily embarking on parenthood.

“I don’t think it will be long before Mom offers to babysit,” Zoey laughed. “She’s already been telling David and Emily about how nice it will be for them to be able to go out for a meal just the two of them.”

“Have you had a chance to meet the baby yet?” Joan asked.

At that, Zoey grinned widely, and promptly dove into her purse to retrieve her phone. “I have pictures!”

Moments later, Joan found herself blinking at an entire album on Zoey’s phone dedicated to her newborn nephew. “He’s cute,” she said, accepting the phone to thumb through the photos. “Tiny.”

“I think my sister-in-law would disagree with that,” Zoey said with a grin.

Joan smirked back. “I’m sure she would.” She came across a photo of Zoey holding the baby then, and promptly fell silent. The photo had clearly been snapped without Zoey knowing, as she stared down at the tiny baby in her arms with such love that it made Joan’s heart clench. She quickly covered the sudden flood of fear she felt with a smile and handed the phone back to its owner. “What did they call him again?”

“Sam,” Zoey said as she pocketed the phone. “Well, Samuel Mitch Clarke.”

She was still beaming from ear to ear, and it was clear that she doted on her nephew. Feeling another wave of unease, Joan busied herself with checking her own phone for emails.

 “This is cheesecake,” Joan said, staring at the food in front of her.

“This is cheesequake,” Zoey corrected as she slid into a seat opposite. “It’s good. Try it.”

Still a little baffled that Zoey had wanted cheesecake over sushi or Italian, Joan picked up her spoon and scooped a small amount of the food into her mouth. Zoey watched her with a knowing smile.

“This is good,” Joan said after a few moments. “How did you find out about this place?”

“Simon brought me here,” Zoey admitted. “And then I brought Max here, after he got fired. It’s good comfort food.”

At the mention of the two men in Zoey’s life, Joan felt her smile stiffen a little. First the photo of Zoey and Sam, and now the mention of Max and Simon. Joan was a confident woman while at work, but Charlie’s treatment of her over the years had left her uncertain when it came to personal connections. She couldn’t help but feel like Zoey was already slipping through her fingers.

“Joan?”

Shaking herself, the brunette forced another smile, hoping it looked more natural than it felt.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yeah,” she waved off Zoey’s concern. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Zoey frowned. “Uh, because it doesn’t look alright?”

Joan responded by shrugging. “I’m fine.” She took another bite of food. “Good cheesequake.”

But Zoey pursed her lips, set down her spoon, and leaned forward to take Joan’s hand in hers. “Something’s bothering you. I can tell.”

Brow furrowing, Joan glanced around before leaning forward. “I didn’t... You know? I mean, this isn’t a power thing, is it?”

“What? No, you didn’t sing. Joan, I can just tell. Something’s bothering you. Talk to me.”

Zoey’s thumb was stroking the delicate skin of Joan’s wrist then; a soothing motion that did help to calm the older woman’s racing thoughts even if it didn’t stop them entirely.

“I’m being stupid,” Joan said with a sigh.

“I doubt that,” Zoey said. “You don’t do stupid.”

The brunette’s lips quirked at that, but then she looked away for a moment. “Zoey...” She looked back to her partner, uncertain. “Why are you with me?”

Zoey frowned. “Because I love you.” She thought for a moment. “Is this because I mentioned Max? I’ve already told you, you don’t have to worry about him. I chose you, remember?”

“I remember,” Joan agreed quietly. “But Zoey, you could have Max, or Simon, or anyone else your age. Why did you pick me? That photo of you and your nephew... You do realise that being with me means no kids, right? I mean, I’m not cut out to be a mom! I scare everybody in the office! And even if I didn’t, I’m too old for all that. I’m more than twenty years older than you; in fact I’m closer to your mom’s age than yours!”

Zoey’s frown deepened. “This is really bothering you.” She took in Joan’s pursed lips, her tight posture, her damp eyes. Her heart broke. “Joan, how many times do I have to tell you that I love you? I don’t want Max, or Simon, or anyone else. And as much as I love Sam, I’m not even sure I want kids. And I certainly don’t care how old you are.”

“You might change your mind,” Joan countered, sitting back in her chair and pulling her arm from Zoey’s grip.

The redhead shrugged. “Or I might not. Joan, I never gave any serious thought to ever being with Max, and I never really considered anything serious with Simon either. The only one I want that sort of relationship with is you. And I know that I can’t make you believe this, but I don’t want anybody except you.”

Finally, Joan’s lips quirked into a small smile and some of the tension fell from her shoulders. The pair of them stayed silent for a few moments, no words necessary as they stared into each other’s eyes. But then, Zoey got this strange feeling she was being watched, and reluctantly tore her eyes from Joan. Looking round, her eyes went wide as she saw someone familiar watching them.

With a frown, Joan turned to look too, swallowing when she saw Simon staring back at them with a surprised on his face. As the man approached, Zoey and Joan shared a bewildered look.

“What do we do?” Joan whispered, wide-eyed.

Zoey only just managed a shrug before Simon reached the table.

“Ladies,” he greeted, smiling at the pair of them although it looked strained. “Joan, I see Zoey’s introduced you to cheesequakes.”

“She is,” Joan responded with a tight smile. “They’re good.”

“That they are,” Simon agreed, looking between the two women. “Zoey! I heard you were back at work today. I thought you weren’t back until next Monday?”

“Oh, yeah,” Zoey said uncomfortably. “I, uh, I came back a little early. Wanted to do something, you know. Keep myself busy.”

Simon nodded in understanding, and was about to say something when he was interrupted.

“Uh, hi guys.”

Max was approaching them with a confused look on his face, taking in Zoey and Joan sharing a table, and the awkward expression on Simon’s face.

“Hi, Simon, Joan,” Max greeted with a forced smile. He gave a small nod to his former boss and the man next to him before turning his attention to the younger woman. “Zo, I was about to call you. I didn’t realise you were meeting Joan for lunch. I got cheesequakes.” He held up the two cheesequakes he’d already purchased.

“Oh, well, great minds think alike,” Zoey said, eyes flashing to the two cheesequakes Simon was also holding. “But I went back into work this morning, so I asked Joan to join me for something to eat.” She shifted a little uncomfortably.

Opposite her, Joan was tight-lipped and pale-faced. There was a tense silence for several long moments before, finally, Simon spoke up.

“So, uh, I should get back to work. Lots of stuff to do at the office.”

“Uh, yeah, I should go too,” Max said suddenly, giving the two women a tight smile. “That new job isn’t going to find itself.”

As the two men walked away, Joan’s shoulders sagged.

“Oh, god,” she muttered, giving Zoey a look.

“It’s fine,” Zoey responded quietly as she watched the men leave, “I doubt Simon will say anything, and Max doesn’t even work at SPRQ Point anymore.”

“That doesn’t make it any less awkward,” Joan pointed out. “Both Simon and Max clearly like you, Zoey, and now they’ve seen us together...”

But Zoey couldn’t hear the rest of what Joan was saying, as music started up in her head. She saw both Simon and Max stop walking, turning round to approach her again.

“Oh boy,” she muttered.

It was just Simon who started singing as he approached her, though, and the words surprised Zoey.

“This was all you, none  of it me,

You put your hands on, on my body and told me,

Mmmm,

You told me you were ready

For the big one, for the big jump

I’d be your last love everlasting you and me

Mmmm,

That was what you told me...”

Simon hit the chorus just as he reached Joan and Zoey’s table, Max sliding in neatly beside him and joining in with the lyrics.

“I’m giving you up

I’ve forgiven it all

You set me free.”

The two men started dancing then, Simon moving clockwise round the table while Max went counter-clockwise. Opposite her, Joan was frowning at her.

“Zoey? Zoey, what’s happening?”

“Send my love to your new lover

Treat her better...”

Blinking, Zoey forced herself to look at her partner. “Uh, Max and Simon are singing.”

“We’ve gotta let go of all of our ghosts

We both know we ain’t kids no more...”

Joan’s eyebrows shot up. “Singing? Singing what? Are they going to tell HR about us?”

“I... I don’t think so,” Zoey admitted, watching as the men continued to dance.

“Send my love to your new lover

Treat her better...”

“Well, what are they singing?”

Zoey shrugged. “I don’t know the song. It’s something about... I think it’s called ‘Send my love’?”

At that, Joan’s eyebrow arched. “Oh.”

“We’ve gotta let go of all of our ghosts

We both know we ain’t kids no more...”

Simon’s voice faded out then as Max took over for the next verse.

“I was too strong, you were trembling

You couldn’t handle the hot heat rising

Mmmm,

Baby, I’m still rising

I was running, you were walking

You couldn’t keep up, you were falling down

Mmmm,

There’s only one way down.”

Zoey blinked as she realised the significance of what the two men were singing. Joan gave her a small smile.

“I’m giving you up

I’ve forgiven it all

You set me free, oh...”

Simon came back in for the chorus as the two men came to a stop side by side where they’d started.

“Send my love to your new lover

Treat her better

We’ve gotta let go of all of our ghosts

We both know we ain’t kids no more...”

As they continued to sing, Simon and Max started to back away, moving towards the exit. Their voices faded as they grew further away.

“Send my love to your new lover

Treat her better

We’ve gotta let go of all of our ghosts

We both know we ain’t kids no more...”

And then, it was over. Blinking, Zoey looked to Joan.

“This is a good thing, right?” Joan asked uncertainly, studying Zoey’s face for clues as to how she was feeling.

A smile spread across the younger woman’s face. “Yes. It is.”

And then, just because she could, she stood up, pulled Joan forward, and kissed her across the table.

#zep fic #zoey x joan #zoeys extraordinary playlist #zoey clarke #joan bennett #my fic

[underatedcharactersunite]

"Taking a bath together” - The Walking Dead.

Requested by - @rhyatt-deauxtreve  Also some of these gifs I had to find on google so full credit goes to the owners

Rick Grimes;

Rick would be grateful that someone had managed to make it possible to have enough water so he could enjoy a bath. But he decides to choose his moment to enjoy the new luxury, which so happened to be after a long day dealing with the threats of Negan and Saviours. He doesn’t say a word to you as he leads you upstairs taking his time while you undress before getting into the warm bathtub. With you sitting between his legs, he’s grateful that he does to share this one moment of peace with you. 

Negan;

Being with Negan definitely has its perks. The ability to keep clean was one of them. Yet Negan doesn’t see it that way as such. He sees it as a way to spend intimate moments together, as his hands roam your body while discussing his frustrations about the current situation with the other groups. While Negan won’t admit it, he needs these moments with you in the bath. He needs to feel like someone is actually listening to him for once because they want too. Once Negan has vented he decides it’s time to reward you for listening to him... 

Daryl Dixon;

Daryl likes taking baths with you. He enjoys that you two can spend time together when you're not having somewhere to rush too. There’s something about the feeling of the warm water and the bubbles floating around that soothes Daryl’s tense muscles. Daryl likes to lay between your legs while he plays with your hand occasionally talking about something that had been on his mind that he only trusts you with. Daryl would definitely want to take baths as often as possible. 

Simon;

Simon prefers to take baths with you whenever he’s tired. The thought of having to stand to take a shower makes him grumble. Simon’s long tall frame wouldn’t necessarily fit in the bath, perhaps that’s why he prefers to sit in front of you. Bathing together in this position allows him to be comfortable and he doesn’t have to worry about you being uncomfortable either. Simon’s favourite thing about taking a bath with you is when you begin to give him one of your famous neck massages they just feel so good, to Simon it’s what he envisions Heaven to be like. 

Michonne;

Michonne is ecstatic when you're both given the opportunity to bath together. She’s been waiting to spend some quality time together for a while. She’d do her best to make it a special experience for you both. Days before you both planned the bath together she would have been on a run in an attempt to get some nice wine and candles. When she was successful she’d return home before taking you away from the others so you could finally enjoy the bath together. 

Dwight;

Dwight definitely looks toward to sharing a bath you whenever he gets the occasion decide if your working for the right n. Pre-apocalypse was already complicated, but now it’s politics and trying to decide which side is the correct one. At least when he’s with you in the bath, he doesn’t have to hide intentions or try and not put his foot in his mouth. Dwight would definitely want to sit behind you so he can hold you tightly while you both relax in. Your the only person who’s left to fight for and he is never going to let anyone hurt you. 

King Ezekiel;

Sharing a bath with you is something, King Ezekiel loves to indulge in whenever he gets the opportunity. He makes sure he has something sweet for you both to enjoy, a bottle of wine if he can manage to have any scavenged, rose petals dotted around leading towards the tub. Whenever King Ezekiel plans one of these nights he decides to never inform you of anything. He simply asks you to follow him before surprising you. During your time in the bath, he’d ask about your day, occasionally making you laugh with cheesy chat up lines. It’s one of the few occurrences where Ezekiel is happy and content with hardly any stress on his shoulders. 

Gregory;

One of the luxuries that Gregory loves more than anything is his ability to have a bath since he is very persistent about cleanliness, So whenever your taking a bath with Gregory would be to relax and to make sure your both clean. Gregory would go on about how difficult his day had been while you sit and listen to him while washing his hair for him occasionally adding your own input in an attempt to calm down the very stressed and annoyed man. 

Glenn Rhee;

Bathing together would be Glenn’s favourite way to start the day. Knowing that you two are taking a couple extra minutes with each other before you reunite with the crazy and dangerous world outside of your door. Throughout your time together in the bath, you and Glenn would constantly be muttering sweet things to each other telling the other how much you love the other. Both of you would wash each others back and hair while calmly discussing your morning and what both of you have to get done today. 

Maggie Rhee;

Maggie was beyond stressed out. Running the Hilltop was no easy task, trying to keep track of supply count and attempting to win a war. After a long day of fighting and battling, the thought of being able to bath together for a few minutes relaxed Maggie. Sitting in the bath together alongside the warmth of the water and the beautiful smell of the bubble bath, sitting with you as you slowly bath each other while you speak about issues that are going on at the Hilltop prove to become a way that you both destress from the reality that you face on daily basis. 

Gabriel Stokes;

Gabriel was hesitant to share a bath with you at first. His religion is important to him so he believes seeing you undressed would be a sin. But it occurs to Gabriel that he lives every day in sin. So one night after a day filled with battling Negan and the Saviours, Gabriel asked you and he was more than grateful that you had agreed. Relaxing in the bath with you in front of you as he worshipped your body making sure you were very much clean before asking if you wouldn’t mind washing his back. Taking a bath with Gabriel is definitely a learning process as he discovers what is acceptable and what is not. 

Morgan Jones;

Baths with Morgan are away for you both to de-stress. It’s not just about being able to keep clean, it’s being able to escape from the word outside in the sanctuary of the structure you call home together. No evil can penetrate the walls as long as you both have got each other. Morgan would often play the old tapes that he had discovered so you could sit back and enjoy the warmth of the water and the normality of being able to listen to music. Morgan would talk about the days before the apocalypse and all the things he misses. While making promises to you that he will do everything in his power to make good of the world you currently live in. 

Merle Dixon;

Merle definitely begs for you to take a walk with him. It’s not so he can keep clean. Merle is very handy when it comes to having a bath together. Unfortunately, you don’t get a lot of time together considering Merle’s constant work for the Governor, which is unfortunate yet that doesn’t stop from sneaking away from his duties to take a bath with you. Given the factors that Merle is in his “own home” so to speak, behind closed doors and allowed to have something that was his. Merle doesn’t see why he can’t spend some alone time with you, especially since it’s about hygiene which is just as important as keeping guard. Yet there’s hardly any bathing done... 

Carl Grimes; 

Carl suggested the idea, the two of you had been together for a while and everywhere the two of you had gone there had been some sort of conflict. So Carl came up with the idea of the bathroom and the bath. Carl had managed to find himself some swimming trunks and you a swimsuit/trunks, like a mini pool. Surrounded by bubbles and warm water, the two of you goofed off and spoke about things that had been on your mind without being surrounded by walkers and conflict. 

Rosita Espinosa;

Rosita had been dying to get clean for a long time. Some sort of normality, however, your shared home didn’t have a bath but you didn’t let that stop you from attempting to surprise Rosita. After speaking to some of the builders, you managed to get them to install a bath inside of your home. When she returned home after a particularly long run, you surprised her with it. That night the two you shared a bath, with her laying in front of you, you both talked laughed and enjoyed each others company as if there wasn’t an apocalypse outside. 

The Governor;

The Governor likes to take baths with you after a long day running Woodbury. With a glass of Bourbon in his hand and you in front of him, casually running his fingertips up and down as you rest your head against his chest. The two of you of you talk about your respective days, the Governor leaning down to kiss you every so often. Bathing with the Governor is surprisingly sweet and gentle. 

Milton Mamet;

Having a bath with Milton is always loving and surprisingly giggly. Milton tends to return home stressed out and tired after dealing with the Governor’s requests all day. So when he returns home to see you had prepared a bath for you two to enjoy together, he’s grateful that he managed to find someone like you in his life. After settling in the bath together, you in-front of Milton. The two of you begin to talk about your days, Milton referring to an experiment or something he learned. Knowing how excited Milton is you can’t help but join in his excitement. Milton begins to crack jokes just to see you smile. Bathing with Milton is a very happy affair. 

Paul “Jesus” Rovia 

Both of you tend to prefer a bath whenever you're super tired. After running around all day covered in dirt. Both of cannot stand the thought having to stand under the shower, so you both opt to have a bath instead. The two of you would lazily begin to wash the dirt off each other occasionally giving each other soft kisses and promises to each other. Jesus jokes that perhaps you should do this again sometime. You laugh and agree, perhaps next time you both won’t be exsisted so you can enjoy the bath together. 

Abraham Ford;

Abraham relishes in the ability to take a bath after a long day working on something or gunning on a run with Rick. He enjoys seeing you preparing the bath while he takes off his boots but making sure his gun is within arms reach just as a precaution. Grabbing the bottle of bourbon he had discovered along with a couple of glasses and one of the cigars that he recently with you in-front of him. Both enjoying the peace and quiet of an empty house. Abraham would lean back against the bath and relax. It’s an extra bonus to him if you give him one of your special massages afterwards. 

Jerry;

Jerry loves taking a bath with you. After a long day protecting King Ezekiel. He loves to fill up the bath using your favourite bubble bath, being the sweet man that Jerry is. He’d light a few tea candles while making sure the water is just right before calling you to the bathroom. Throughout your time in the bath, both of you would talk about your days and Jerry would smother you with kisses and compliments. Don’t be surprised if Jerry begins to tickle you in the bath just to hear your laugh. 

Tara Chambers; 

Having a bath with Tara usually gives you both the opportunity to blow off some steam. Bathing together is not particularly serious, just a way for you both to get clean and spending some quality time together before you both have to once again go off and do something. You and Tara would exchange kisses and many bad jokes together both trying to lighten up the mood of the other even if it’s just for a little bit. Getting out of the bath, the two of you would exchange a loving kiss before heading out to make the world a better place. 

Lori Grimes;

You and Lori having a bath together would be a rather quiet time. The two of you would be exhausted and drained after a day doing chores and other things. One of the unique things about you and Lor’s relationship is that you don’t have to exchange words to tell each other how you both feel for each another and while from the outside looking in it would appear odd, the moment between you both is actually far deeper than people realise. 

Noah;

Noah surprises you whenever he wants to take a bath with you. You would already be in the bath, washing when he surprises you by sliding in behind you. Pressing a kiss to your temple, he’d wash your back and hair for you before turning so you can do the same for him. When he begins talking about the future and how he wants to do so many things with you. Perhaps one day you will be able to go on adventures without being in so much danger. Noah likes to think of a better world whenever he’s in the bath with you. 

Spencer Monroe;

Spencer prefers to share a bath with you wherever he’s frustrated. It’s one of the only places that you both can get privacy nowadays, everyone is constantly in and out of each other's houses and Spencer’s not appreciative of that. He’d go on constantly about how he would be a better leader than Rick. While both of you share a bath together, you take time to try and ease Spencer’s horrible mood reassuring him that Rick knows what he’s doing he just needs to adjust after the death of his Mum and Dad. 

Tyreese Williams;

Tyreese hadn’t been around running water for some time. So naturally when he realises he has the ability to have a bath he wants to have one. The moment the two of you had been settled in, Tyreese picks you up and throws you over his shoulder heading towards the bathroom, playfully kicking the door open before settling you on the sink so he can work everything out. Having baths with Tyreese are always so loving and tender because it’s one of the few things that can hopefully become normal for you both again. It also gives you both the perfect time to have some privacy. 

Beth Greene;

Sharing a bath with Beth would be primarily to clean. Both of you would have jobs to do and spending a long time in the bath just wasn’t realistic to you while you both would want to spend a little extra time. It just wasn’t practical the two of you would discuss what both of you would spend the day together even making up plans to meet up for lunch. After the two of you and were dried off the two of you would say goodbye before heading out to do your respective chores.

Axel;

Axel would be grateful for a bath in its entirety. He might even get emotional about the entire thing, after being stuck in the kitchen for so long. He’d be thrilled to know that bathing was now an option. To share it with you tops it all off. Axel would relish in seeping into the warm bath seeing it work his aching and tired muscles. Laying with you, in the bath you both wouldn’t get out until the water goes cold. 

T-Dog;

When you have a bath with T-Dog, expect a lot of cuddles and kisses while your bathing. T-Dog loves it when you lay your head down on his chest. The warmth of the water, the gentle scent of the bubble bath. T-Dog had dreamed of this for such a long time, to escape the walkers, the blood, the violence. Being able to spend time with you in four walls where Walkers weren’t trying to invade the walls .

Eric; 

Having a bath with Eric is certainly a way for you both to relax. After a long day, attending your chores around Alexandria. The two of you would have a romantic dinner together before Eric picks up a bottle of wine, leading you upstairs into the bath. The two of you would converse about your days while casually sipping your wine laughing about the general gossip and ongoings throughout Alexandria.

Bob Stookley;

Bob laughed when he saw the bath. After living in desperate and horrible conditions, being able to use it whenever he pleased. One night Bob gathered some fruit juice, some decent food. Bob had looked forward to this moment all day. After working super hard, he had perfected the mood when he surprises you with a bath set in a romantic setting. Bob would smother you with kisses and affection while the two of you relaxed in the bath. 

Eugene Porter;

Eugene loves to have baths with you. At first, it’s primarily to save water and the fair distribution of water usage. Eugene soon discovered that whilst sharing a bath with you was great to keep track of your shared water usage, it was also used for a time to spend with each other away from the other Saviours. He can talk to you about his experiments and the complicated politics going on with Negan and the Saviours whilst be laying his head on your chest while you gently massage his head. 

Sasha;

You and Sasha bathing together would be a routine thing. At the same time every day, the two of you would have a bath together away from the stresses of the world. It doesn’t matter to either of you where both of you sit nor does it matter where you both have to be in a hours time, what matters in that moment is that your both there together doing something absolutely normal. 

Ceasar;

After a long day running around for the Governor all day, attending to all his dirty work. Ceasar looks forward to heading towards your shared house, kicking off is dirty boots, Ceasar can already hear you running the water. You know him so well, it’s almost scary. Grabbing hold of a beer, Ceasar heads to be bathroom immediately With you resting in-front of him, you discuss your days, while Ceasar promises you that he’s going to be a way to give you a better world knowing what kind of man the Governor really is. 

Denise;

Denise loves baths whenever she’s stressed. After a day dealing with the injured and sick in Alexandria she needed something to refocus herself. There was something euphoric about going home and relaxing in the bath with you in front of her while you discussed your days laughing about how crazy it was or any strange injuries that someone had come in with. You’d always be the one to reassure Denise that she was good enough to be the medic for Alexandria. 

Aaron;

Having a bath with Aaron is certainly a way for you both to relax. After a long day, attending your chores around Alexandria. The two of you would have a  dinner together before Aaron picks up a bottle of wine or some beer, leading you upstairs into the bath. Aaron would smother you in kisses and affection while you talk about your days while you both express your pride for each other and their accomplishments.

  Enid;

You had suggested the idea, the two of you had been together for a while and everywhere the two of you had gone there had been some sort of conflict or argument about you both going somewhere. So you came up with the idea of the bathroom and the bath. After finding some Enid a bathing suit and you a swimsuit/trunks, The two of you enjoyed it like a mini pool Surrounded by bubbles and warm water, the two of you goofed off and spoke about things that had been on your mind without being surrounded by walkers and conflict.

Carol;

You and Carol would bath to keep clean and to share water. With supplies running low, you both decided it would be a good idea to share a bath rather than waste water. While the two of you shared a shared a bath you exchanged your thoughts about what has been doing on around Alexandria and between the other groups. It’s definitely time for you both to talk to each other and have time when you might not get the opportunity too. 

Benjamin;

Benjamin had watched you working away all day in the gardens with some of the others. You were smothered in dirt and sweat by the time you had finished your work. So Benjamin wanted to do something nice for you. So with help from King Ezekiel and Jerry, Benjamin prepares a nice relaxing bath for the two of you to enjoy together. Benjamin enjoys the new experience of having you lay against him while the two of you relax away from all of your responsibilities. For those few moments you away from the world outside and together with no intrusions. 

Tobin;

Whenever you and Tobin have a bath together, it’s Tobin’s attempt to keep something normal. After Rick and the others entered Alexandria, he realised that the world outside was a very dangerous place, so keeping one solitary thing the same was important to him. Every day after a run or his duties at Alexandria, you both return to your home. Tobin kisses you gentle running his hand over your face before taking you to enjoy your bath together providing a sense of normality for the both of you. 

Kal;

Kal loves for you to sit in-front of him. After dealing with Gregory’s nonesense all day it’s the best part of the day to come home and be able to spend time with you. The two of you don’t particuarly say much while your having a bath together. Kal will gladly wash your hair for you while gently masaaging your scalp. He would do anything for you. After all it is you that keeps him balenced in a world full oif crazy. 

#twd headcanon #twd preferences #twd imagine #twd imagines #twd oneshot #twd one shot #the walking dead imagine #the walking dead imagines #the walking dead oneshot #the walking dead one shot

[axelsagewrites]

Straight outta hell Part 3-Magnus Bane

Y/N has revealed were she was. How will the gang react? Is the prince of hell going to do nothing? What will the angels say? And most importantly how many times can Y/N embarrass Magnus

Previous “So Y/N where have you been? Oh and do you have any embarrassing memories of ‘Maggie’?” Simon laughed as he finally got a seat. “Oh loads. And to answer your question I was kidnapped by my ‘father’ to Hell” They all gasped.

Part 1

Part 2

Now “How the hell were you in….eh…...well hell?” Clary asked. Jace had got up and grabbed his seraph blade pointing it at Y/N. “Jace!” “How do we know your not working for a demon? In fact how do we know you arnt a demon?!” Jace exclaimed advancing slightly. Alec got up and grabbed his parabatai    arm. “Alright blondie. Calm it” I said, waving my hand so his blade disappeared, while standing up. “ask your questions, quite pointing this at me!” “Y/N. How? Why? Why would you chose to visit hell?” Magnus whispered confusion clear. “Yeah it doesn't seem like a great vacation” Simon tried to lighten the mood, while Izzy shot a glare “Dang right it isn't. Lucifer kidnapped me while I was distracted,” I paused remembering why. Magnus noticed and looked down, thinking about where he was the night you had disappeared. I put a hand on his shoulder before continuing “I was taken down to ‘train’ to do Lucifer’s bidding, to get revenge on the angels and take over heaven. He named me princess of hell and chained me to a Edom.” “How did you escape if you were chained to Edom?” Jace crossed his arms over his chest. I walked to Magnus’ bar as I got a drink “Simple. I prayed to the angels” I got a (favourite drink) and leaned against the bar. “God I hate that portrait” I said noticing the painting of me, leaning against the wall. Magnus frowned. “What! You prayed?” Alec asked, clearly confused and surprised like the rest. “They don't only hear half angels. They like to know what hell’s planning so when I offered Asroilu, guardian of heaven info about the plans he told me a prayer to say.” “How did you contact an angel?” Izzy asked “even we cant do that.” “Maybe that's because your race can seem a bit self involved sometimes” I say slightly glaring at the hunter, recalling past encounters with shadow hunters “and besides he contacted me. They noticed that some mundies were talking about a ‘princess of hell’ and thought there wasn't one. So he came to me in a vision to ask what the fuck was going on, pardon the language. And we struck a deal.” “How did mundanes know you?” Simon asked confused “Part of my training was to act as a demon, making deals. Thats how I didn't get bored. Id help them in return for books, clothes and sometimes the occasional phone. Only issue is theirs no damn service in hell.” the group chuckled. “ahh blondies not a robot, surprising” I joked as I notice his lips curling up. “Weird. We normally say that about Alec.” Clary joked, Alec shooting a glare while the rest chuckle. “Well if he is a robot im going to have a long uncomfortable talk with Maggie” I said while the rest burst out laughing. Apart from the couple, Alec blushing and the warlock saying, “God you don't change do you?” he asked smiling “and don't worry Alec is very much alive” he sent Alec a wink making him redder than a tomatoes. I slung an arm round the tall ones shoulder dragging him down because of the height difference. “aww your so innocent and adorable, such an opposite from Magnus. Infact now that I think about it Maggie was a dork when we first met,” “Oh really” Alec grinned, thinking about all the embarrassing stories I might have, while I guide him to a couch to sit down. “Oh yes. Gather round children and let me tell you stories of a young Maggie Pie” They sniggering while Magnus puts his head in his hands while shaking it. Clary, Izzy and Simon sat across from Alec, me and Magnus. While Jace sat on an armchair at the end of Clary’s couch. “Please no” Magnus muttered as I rubbed his back. “Yes. I mean you do tease and say I act like a mother and since I don't have your baby pictures I can tell about the time you spilt red wine all over a noble at French court.” “Wait really?” Jace said leaning forward. “Yes, let me think.” I paused “right, so it was around the mid 1500’s when Maggie was quite young but looked 17. When Catherine de' Medici invited me to Mary and Francis’s wedding I decided to take Magnus as my plus one. You see I didn't feel like having suitors coming up to me so I figured id pretend Magnus was my husbane” I looked at Maggie “Stop with the crappy puns already!” He leaned back as Alec shifted in his seat. “So did you and Magnus eh well um you know date?”Magnus sent the boy a glare, knowing what happened last time (book frustrations). “oh no. uh that's gross! Besides I had a girlfriend at the time but you know they were a tad bit homophobic then. I mean they were racist as well but when I said he was unbelievable rich they didn't mind.” Alec looked revealed. “Back to the story. As you might know the French like their drink and he got a bit carried away and was stumbling about the place when he spilt wine all over one of Catherine ladies chest. He was so nervous and started stuttering when he grabbed a cloth and started trying to  dry her chest. Obviously it didn't look right so Catherine kicked us out” by this point we were all laughing as the other warlock sunk back in his seat pouting. “See. Magnus was a dork. I would tell you more but I believe me and Maggie pie have some catching up to do.” After talking to the group for a while they had to leave. Alec decided to stay the night  and the trio were chatting all night. Right before we were about to sleep fate decided I couldn't even have a day of peace. “Night Y/N” Alec chuckled, slightly tipsy. “Nig-” I stopped as black filled my head and demonic screaming surrounded me. I put my hands over my ears and screamed in pain. Then his voice came into my head “Hello daughter”

Would’ve been up sooner but Tumblr wasn’t co-operating

Masterlist

Part 4

#shadowhunters #shadowhunter imagine #shadowhunters one shot #tmi #the mortal instruments #Magnus Bane #magnus x reader #malec #malec imagine #magnus bane one shot #magnus bane imagine #magnus bane x reader #Alec Lightwood #alec lightwood x reader #alec lightwood imagine #alec lightwood x #alec lightwood x magnus bane #alexander lightwood #alexander lightwood imagine #izzy lightwood #izzy lightwood imagine #izzy imagine #Isabelle Lightwood #isabelle lightwood imagine #platonic isabelle #jace wayland #jace herondale #platonic jace #jace lightwood #jace imagine

[gordonwilliamsweb]

‘It is the best medicine’

Like windows into patients’ rooms, iPads are giving families the ability to see and communicate with their loved ones in the intensive care unit at Spectrum Health.

The virtual visits, made possible through donated iPads and technical assistance, have lifted the spirits of family members separated by illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is super touching to see patients able to talk with their families again,” said Maggie Simons, RN, BSN, nursing supervisor for cardiothoracic critical care at the Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. “It is the best medicine to hear them laughing in there.”

Spectrum Health team members began looking for ways to create that virtual connection after a state policy on visitor restrictions took effect March 16. The restrictions, which prohibit hospital visitors except in limited circumstances, are designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect patients and health care workers.

Breaking the news to ICU patients and their families was heartbreaking, Simons said.

The night before the state policy took effect, she and other staff members explained it to family members sitting at the bedsides of patients in the ICU.

“That was a hard day,” Simons said. “A lot of people handled it better than I thought they would.”

Spectrum Health’s Information Services team began working to make virtual visits happen—creating a connection that was secure and complied with health care privacy regulations, said Amanda Plunkett, senior project specialist in Information Services.

Bank of America donated 200 iPads, and Byrne Electrical engineered and donated power adapters to support the virtual iPad stations.

And donations to Spectrum Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund will go toward purchasing iPads and other equipment and services needed during the pandemic.

IS employees then set up Microsoft Teams, a video-conferencing app, on the iPads. They helped the first family members download the app at home on their own devices.

“Most of the people I work with tell me, ‘I’m not technical,'” Plunkett said. “But I’ve never been unsuccessful in getting them set up.”

They then walked the ICU nursing staff through the initial connections. The iPad, mounted on a small tripod, may be moved to get the best view for patients and their families. Team members are also using laptops to connect patients with their families.

For about two hours in the afternoon, family members and patients visit through a live-stream connection.

The reaction from families?

“Joy,” Plunkett said. “It’s been really amazing. I hear a lot of thankfulness and appreciation. Even as people are worried and scared, they have just been appreciative for the opportunity.”

Family members enjoy seeing and speaking to their loved ones even when the patients are unable to communicate, Simons said. The nurses will give updates and explain the machines and medication that help the patient breathe.

“This has been huge for our patients and their families, just to help them feel a part of the care for these patients, so they can have some contact with them,” Simons said.

In some cases, the ICU patients have been able to take part virtually in family events—seeing a new baby or a child’s birthday celebration.

A healing connection

Once the first connections were in place, the staff from the All of Us research project at Spectrum Health took charge of implementing the program—and has brought it to all the intensive care units throughout the health system.

“It’s a good fit for the All of Us team,” said David Chesla, Spectrum Health director of research operations.

The staff members call patients’ family members to offer the service and set up the app. Sometimes they work with an adult child or grandchild to overcome technical hurdles.

As soon as the iPads became available, the nursing staff embraced the opportunity to connect their patients with family members through video chats.

“Our nursing staff has been handling this so phenomenally,” Simons said. “They dove right in. Nobody has complained about extra work. They are doing what they need to do to figure out this technology.”

In fact, the nurses find the virtual visits rewarding—and healing for their patients.

The ICU staff is dedicated to “patient-centered and family-centered” care, Simons said. The nurses and nurse technicians rely on family members to help them understand the patient and to know their likes and dislikes, particularly when the patient cannot communicate. The family might tell them what TV show to put on—or which ones to avoid—for a patient coming out of sedation. They can tell the nursing team the music a patient wants to hear.

“We value our families being here. A lot of times they are incredibly helpful to us,” Simons said.

Without family members present, the nurses can communicate with them on the phone. But seeing them on the iPad creates a more meaningful connection, she said.

The nursing team plays a key role in implementing the virtual visits, Plunkett said.

“I’ve been so impressed to see our busy nurses and nurse techs pause in their crazy schedules to make this happen,” she said. “I see so much empathy coming from the clinical staff.”

‘It is the best medicine’ published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

[michellelinkous]

‘It is the best medicine’

Like windows into patients’ rooms, iPads are giving families the ability to see and communicate with their loved ones in the intensive care unit at Spectrum Health.

The virtual visits, made possible through donated iPads and technical assistance, have lifted the spirits of family members separated by illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is super touching to see patients able to talk with their families again,” said Maggie Simons, RN, BSN, nursing supervisor for cardiothoracic critical care at the Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. “It is the best medicine to hear them laughing in there.”

Spectrum Health team members began looking for ways to create that virtual connection after a state policy on visitor restrictions took effect March 16. The restrictions, which prohibit hospital visitors except in limited circumstances, are designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect patients and health care workers.

Breaking the news to ICU patients and their families was heartbreaking, Simons said.

The night before the state policy took effect, she and other staff members explained it to family members sitting at the bedsides of patients in the ICU.

“That was a hard day,” Simons said. “A lot of people handled it better than I thought they would.”

Spectrum Health’s Information Services team began working to make virtual visits happen—creating a connection that was secure and complied with health care privacy regulations, said Amanda Plunkett, senior project specialist in Information Services.

Bank of America donated 200 iPads, and Byrne Electrical Specialists donated 80 power cords.

And donations to Spectrum Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund will go toward purchasing iPads and other equipment and services needed during the pandemic.

IS employees then set up Microsoft Teams, a video-conferencing app, on the iPads. They helped the first family members download the app at home on their own devices.

“Most of the people I work with tell me, ‘I’m not technical,'” Plunkett said. “But I’ve never been unsuccessful in getting them set up.”

They then walked the ICU nursing staff through the initial connections. The iPad, mounted on a small tripod, may be moved to get the best view for patients and their families. Team members are also using laptops to connect patients with their families.

For about two hours in the afternoon, family members and patients visit through a live-stream connection.

The reaction from families?

“Joy,” Plunkett said. “It’s been really amazing. I hear a lot of thankfulness and appreciation. Even as people are worried and scared, they have just been appreciative for the opportunity.”

Family members enjoy seeing and speaking to their loved ones even when the patients are unable to communicate, Simons said. The nurses will give updates and explain the machines and medication that help the patient breathe.

“This has been huge for our patients and their families, just to help them feel a part of the care for these patients, so they can have some contact with them,” Simons said.

In some cases, the ICU patients have been able to take part virtually in family events—seeing a new baby or a child’s birthday celebration.

A healing connection

Once the first connections were in place, the staff from the All of Us research project at Spectrum Health took charge of implementing the program—and has brought it to all the intensive care units throughout the health system.

“It’s a good fit for the All of Us team,” said David Chesla, Spectrum Health director of research operations.

The staff members call patients’ family members to offer the service and set up the app. Sometimes they work with an adult child or grandchild to overcome technical hurdles.

As soon as the iPads became available, the nursing staff embraced the opportunity to connect their patients with family members through video chats.

“Our nursing staff has been handling this so phenomenally,” Simons said. “They dove right in. Nobody has complained about extra work. They are doing what they need to do to figure out this technology.”

In fact, the nurses find the virtual visits rewarding—and healing for their patients.

The ICU staff is dedicated to “patient-centered and family-centered” care, Simons said. The nurses and nurse technicians rely on family members to help them understand the patient and to know their likes and dislikes, particularly when the patient cannot communicate. The family might tell them what TV show to put on—or which ones to avoid—for a patient coming out of sedation. They can tell the nursing team the music a patient wants to hear.

“We value our families being here. A lot of times they are incredibly helpful to us,” Simons said.

Without family members present, the nurses can communicate with them on the phone. But seeing them on the iPad creates a more meaningful connection, she said.

The nursing team plays a key role in implementing the virtual visits, Plunkett said.

“I’ve been so impressed to see our busy nurses and nurse techs pause in their crazy schedules to make this happen,” she said. “I see so much empathy coming from the clinical staff.”

‘It is the best medicine’ published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.tumblr.com/

[gjgriff736]

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

In the latest episode of The Walking Dead, Father Gabriel finds his purpose.

The last time we saw Father Gabriel, he was stuck in a trailer with Negan after that punk Gregory stole his armored car.  In this episode, we see some of the events leading up to the showdown at the Sanctuary.  Father Gabriel is praying.  He no longer fears death, and asks that if he should die, that it be worth something.  This conversation already has my hackles up because now I’m worried that something may happen to him.

At the Sanctuary, Gregory is in a room napping when Simon walks in with breakfast.  Gregory is understandably leery of anything he gets from that psycho.  The Saviors never give you something for nothing.  Simon wants Gregory to shut down the rebellion before it even begins.  Why the Saviors have any faith in that coward is beyond me.  Later, Gregory meets with Negan, Simon, Dwight and a few others (including that traitor Eugene) to convince them of his worth.  Dwight excuses himself from the meeting (to possibly meet with Daryl).  Gregory tells Negan that he’ll exile anyone from the Hilltop who joins the revolt but Negan doesn’t think he still has the clout.  He thinks he’s a punk.  “You’re a thin dick politician threading the needle with your thin, thin dick.”  Leave it to Negan to point out the obvious in a creative way.

Negan asks Gregory how come he didn’t know about Maggie and the attack at Alexandria.  I burst out laughing when I saw Gregory’s face because he was petrified.  He started stammering and speaking incoherently, causing Simon to calm him down.  Gregory puts on a good front and tells Negan he’ll shut everything down.  Then Simon jumps in and says if the residents of the Hilltop don’t cooperate they’ll just kill everyone.  Negan slams Lucille on the table and says that people are “resources.”  In other words, no one’s killing anyone unless it’s necessary.  Then Negan quietly asks Simon if he forgot who was in charge.  Simon (with a frightened Eugene sitting next to him) backtracks and says that it was “a pronounced event and a fragile moment.”  Negan told the group that Rick, Maggie and King Ezekiel will die in front of everyone in the worst way possible.  And then we hear gunshots.  Rick and Co. have arrived.  Negan tells his group that they’re going out to chat with Rick and they all walk out.

Back to present day, Negan and Father Gabriel are trapped.  Instead of using his gun and blowing Negan’s brains out, Father Gabriel gets slammed to the ground and his gun taken.  Seriously????  You had one job!!  After, the two men start talking (cuz they ain’t going anywhere) and then Father Gabriel says that he knows his purpose:  it’s to hear Negan’s confession?  Okay, huh???  What’s happening??

Inside, Simon and the rest are trying to figure out what to do about fixing their situation.  They try to come up with a solution, which would involve using the workers as bait for the walkers.  They feel like the workers are expendable so who cares?  Eugene speaks up and says that idea won’t work and Dwight agrees.  The workers would revolt and then the Sanctuary would be in chaos.  Which is what almost ends up happening.  The workers come upstairs and start complaining about the lack of air and water.  Simon tries to take charge but the workers aren’t having it.  Then Regina shoots one of the workers right before Negan and Gabriel walk in.  The men found their way back to the Sanctuary, covering themselves in walker guts.  After Negan makes himself known, the workers are controlled and all is back in order again.  Father Gabriel is taken to a room (probably the same one that held Daryl) until further notice.

Outside, Rick and Daryl are trying to get information from the Savior Rick stabbed.  He tells them that all of their people are dead except for Ezekiel, Jerry and Carol.  They go through the overturned jeep to find dynamite.  Daryl starts packing it so they can blow up the Sanctuary.  Rick wants to stick to the plan but Daryl wants to end it all.  Rick knows there are families who work for Negan and wants them to be on their side, but Daryl is like, nah man, let’s get this show on the road.  Rick tries to stop Daryl and gets punched in the face for his trouble.  Then the two friends start fighting!  Daryl puts Rick in a choke hold, bringing Rick down to the ground.  While these two idiots are fighting, the jeep blows up thanks to Rick tossing the dynamite during the fight.  Afterwards, the two men, still salty with each other, continue with the plan, going their separate ways.  While Rick is walking to his destination, he sees of all things a helicopter.  Where the hell did that come from?  He decides to walk the same way the coptor went, and ends up being spotted by one the creepy Scavengers.  He alerts the others, using some sort of whistle.  So weird.

At the Sanctuary, Eugene brings Father Gabriel some items and starts rambling on and on.  But Father doesn’t answer.  When Eugene opens the door, Father Gabriel is sweating profusely.  Dammit, I knew something would happen to him!!

Will Father Gabriel survive?  Will Dwight’s betrayal be revealed?  And will Rick and Daryl make up?

Stay tuned.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.  Photos courtesy of AMC.

The Walking Dead, Season 8 – The Big Scary U In the latest episode of The Walking Dead, Father Gabriel finds his purpose. The last time we saw Father Gabriel, he was stuck in a trailer with Negan after that punk Gregory stole his armored car. 

#Alanna Masterson #AMC #Andrew Lincoln #Austin Amelio #Chandler Riggs #Cooper Andrews #Danai Gurira #James Chen #Jason Douglas #Jeffrey Dean Morgan #Josh McDermitt #Katelyn Nacon #Khary Payton #Lauren Cohan #Lennie James #melissa mcbride #Norman Reedus #Ross Marquand #Seth Gilliam #Steven Ogg #The Walking Dead #Tom Payne #Xander Berkeley

[gordonwilliamsweb]

‘It is the best medicine’

Like windows into patients’ rooms, iPads are giving families the ability to see and communicate with their loved ones in the intensive care unit at Spectrum Health.

The virtual visits, made possible through donated iPads and technical assistance, have lifted the spirits of family members separated by illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is super touching to see patients able to talk with their families again,” said Maggie Simons, RN, BSN, nursing supervisor for cardiothoracic critical care at the Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. “It is the best medicine to hear them laughing in there.”

Spectrum Health team members began looking for ways to create that virtual connection after a state policy on visitor restrictions took effect March 16. The restrictions, which prohibit hospital visitors except in limited circumstances, are designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect patients and health care workers.

Breaking the news to ICU patients and their families was heartbreaking, Simons said.

The night before the state policy took effect, she and other staff members explained it to family members sitting at the bedsides of patients in the ICU.

“That was a hard day,” Simons said. “A lot of people handled it better than I thought they would.”

Spectrum Health’s Information Services team began working to make virtual visits happen—creating a connection that was secure and complied with health care privacy regulations, said Amanda Plunkett, senior project specialist in Information Services.

Bank of America donated 200 iPads, and Byrne Electrical Specialists donated 80 power cords.

And donations to Spectrum Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund will go toward purchasing iPads and other equipment and services needed during the pandemic.

IS employees then set up Microsoft Teams, a video-conferencing app, on the iPads. They helped the first family members download the app at home on their own devices.

“Most of the people I work with tell me, ‘I’m not technical,'” Plunkett said. “But I’ve never been unsuccessful in getting them set up.”

They then walked the ICU nursing staff through the initial connections. The iPad, mounted on a small tripod, may be moved to get the best view for patients and their families. Team members are also using laptops to connect patients with their families.

For about two hours in the afternoon, family members and patients visit through a live-stream connection.

The reaction from families?

“Joy,” Plunkett said. “It’s been really amazing. I hear a lot of thankfulness and appreciation. Even as people are worried and scared, they have just been appreciative for the opportunity.”

Family members enjoy seeing and speaking to their loved ones even when the patients are unable to communicate, Simons said. The nurses will give updates and explain the machines and medication that help the patient breathe.

“This has been huge for our patients and their families, just to help them feel a part of the care for these patients, so they can have some contact with them,” Simons said.

In some cases, the ICU patients have been able to take part virtually in family events—seeing a new baby or a child’s birthday celebration.

A healing connection

Once the first connections were in place, the staff from the All of Us research project at Spectrum Health took charge of implementing the program—and has brought it to all the intensive care units throughout the health system.

“It’s a good fit for the All of Us team,” said David Chesla, Spectrum Health director of research operations.

The staff members call patients’ family members to offer the service and set up the app. Sometimes they work with an adult child or grandchild to overcome technical hurdles.

As soon as the iPads became available, the nursing staff embraced the opportunity to connect their patients with family members through video chats.

“Our nursing staff has been handling this so phenomenally,” Simons said. “They dove right in. Nobody has complained about extra work. They are doing what they need to do to figure out this technology.”

In fact, the nurses find the virtual visits rewarding—and healing for their patients.

The ICU staff is dedicated to “patient-centered and family-centered” care, Simons said. The nurses and nurse technicians rely on family members to help them understand the patient and to know their likes and dislikes, particularly when the patient cannot communicate. The family might tell them what TV show to put on—or which ones to avoid—for a patient coming out of sedation. They can tell the nursing team the music a patient wants to hear.

“We value our families being here. A lot of times they are incredibly helpful to us,” Simons said.

Without family members present, the nurses can communicate with them on the phone. But seeing them on the iPad creates a more meaningful connection, she said.

The nursing team plays a key role in implementing the virtual visits, Plunkett said.

“I’ve been so impressed to see our busy nurses and nurse techs pause in their crazy schedules to make this happen,” she said. “I see so much empathy coming from the clinical staff.”

‘It is the best medicine’ published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

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In the latest episode of The Walking Dead, Father Gabriel finds his purpose.

The last time we saw Father Gabriel, he was stuck in a trailer with Negan after that punk Gregory stole his armored car.  In this episode, we see some of the events leading up to the showdown at the Sanctuary.  Father Gabriel is praying.  He no longer fears death, and asks that if he should die, that it be worth something.  This conversation already has my hackles up because now I’m worried that something may happen to him.

At the Sanctuary, Gregory is in a room napping when Simon walks in with breakfast.  Gregory is understandably leery of anything he gets from that psycho.  The Saviors never give you something for nothing.  Simon wants Gregory to shut down the rebellion before it even begins.  Why the Saviors have any faith in that coward is beyond me.  Later, Gregory meets with Negan, Simon, Dwight and a few others (including that traitor Eugene) to convince them of his worth.  Dwight excuses himself from the meeting (to possibly meet with Daryl).  Gregory tells Negan that he’ll exile anyone from the Hilltop who joins the revolt but Negan doesn’t think he still has the clout.  He thinks he’s a punk.  “You’re a thin dick politician threading the needle with your thin, thin dick.”  Leave it to Negan to point out the obvious in a creative way.

Negan asks Gregory how come he didn’t know about Maggie and the attack at Alexandria.  I burst out laughing when I saw Gregory’s face because he was petrified.  He started stammering and speaking incoherently, causing Simon to calm him down.  Gregory puts on a good front and tells Negan he’ll shut everything down.  Then Simon jumps in and says if the residents of the Hilltop don’t cooperate they’ll just kill everyone.  Negan slams Lucille on the table and says that people are “resources.”  In other words, no one’s killing anyone unless it’s necessary.  Then Negan quietly asks Simon if he forgot who was in charge.  Simon (with a frightened Eugene sitting next to him) backtracks and says that it was “a pronounced event and a fragile moment.”  Negan told the group that Rick, Maggie and King Ezekiel will die in front of everyone in the worst way possible.  And then we hear gunshots.  Rick and Co. have arrived.  Negan tells his group that they’re going out to chat with Rick and they all walk out.

Back to present day, Negan and Father Gabriel are trapped.  Instead of using his gun and blowing Negan’s brains out, Father Gabriel gets slammed to the ground and his gun taken.  Seriously????  You had one job!!  After, the two men start talking (cuz they ain’t going anywhere) and then Father Gabriel says that he knows his purpose:  it’s to hear Negan’s confession?  Okay, huh???  What’s happening??

Inside, Simon and the rest are trying to figure out what to do about fixing their situation.  They try to come up with a solution, which would involve using the workers as bait for the walkers.  They feel like the workers are expendable so who cares?  Eugene speaks up and says that idea won’t work and Dwight agrees.  The workers would revolt and then the Sanctuary would be in chaos.  Which is what almost ends up happening.  The workers come upstairs and start complaining about the lack of air and water.  Simon tries to take charge but the workers aren’t having it.  Then Regina shoots one of the workers right before Negan and Gabriel walk in.  The men found their way back to the Sanctuary, covering themselves in walker guts.  After Negan makes himself known, the workers are controlled and all is back in order again.  Father Gabriel is taken to a room (probably the same one that held Daryl) until further notice.

Outside, Rick and Daryl are trying to get information from the Savior Rick stabbed.  He tells them that all of their people are dead except for Ezekiel, Jerry and Carol.  They go through the overturned jeep to find dynamite.  Daryl starts packing it so they can blow up the Sanctuary.  Rick wants to stick to the plan but Daryl wants to end it all.  Rick knows there are families who work for Negan and wants them to be on their side, but Daryl is like, nah man, let’s get this show on the road.  Rick tries to stop Daryl and gets punched in the face for his trouble.  Then the two friends start fighting!  Daryl puts Rick in a choke hold, bringing Rick down to the ground.  While these two idiots are fighting, the jeep blows up thanks to Rick tossing the dynamite during the fight.  Afterwards, the two men, still salty with each other, continue with the plan, going their separate ways.  While Rick is walking to his destination, he sees of all things a helicopter.  Where the hell did that come from?  He decides to walk the same way the coptor went, and ends up being spotted by one the creepy Scavengers.  He alerts the others, using some sort of whistle.  So weird.

At the Sanctuary, Eugene brings Father Gabriel some items and starts rambling on and on.  But Father doesn’t answer.  When Eugene opens the door, Father Gabriel is sweating profusely.  Dammit, I knew something would happen to him!!

Will Father Gabriel survive?  Will Dwight’s betrayal be revealed?  And will Rick and Daryl make up?

Stay tuned.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.  Photos courtesy of AMC.

The Walking Dead, Season 8 – Some Guy In the latest episode of The Walking Dead, Father Gabriel finds his purpose. The last time we saw Father Gabriel, he was stuck in a trailer with Negan after that punk Gregory stole his armored car. 

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