Title: A Rainy Day In Riverside
Fandom: Star Trek AOS
Rating: G
Length: 353
Content notes: minor character death

Summary: Jim and Leonard return to Riverside to settle Winona's estate.


---

The car ride from the cemetery was a quiet one. Rain pattered on the windows, on the roof, a steady tap-tap-tap that followed them down the road. Yellow lights glowed at intervals along the median, casting watery shadows along Jim's face.

Leonard watched Jim from the corner of his eye, watched the way his throat worked when he swallowed, watched the twitch of his lips, the flare of his nostrils, the curl of his fingers into fists before relaxing them. Curl, relax.

He reached across the space between them, settling a warm palm atop Jim's knee.

Jim remained silent, thoughts distant and heavy. Red-rimmed eyes gazed at the passing scenery as it whipped by.

Minutes passed.

Thunder rumbled, distant and soft, when they finally pulled up in front of Winona's house.

It was just as Leonard remembered it when he stepped inside, umbrella left open on the front porch. He'd spent Christmas here once, and the occasional long weekend during their years at the Academy. White curtains still hung loose over the windows. Holos and artwork decorated the walls, each frame evenly spaced.

A corkboard stood propped against the fridge, papers tacked in place and covered in Winona's looping handwriting, notes and reminders and recipes she wanted to try.

Jim stood in the entryway, a puddle forming beneath the long tail of his coat. His arms hung dead at his sides, shoulders slumped "I should," he began, voice low, hoarse. He licked his lips and said, louder, "I should start going through her things."

Leonard caught Jim's elbow before he could move, hand gentle, firm. "Tomorrow," he said. "We'll start tomorrow." Jim turned blue eyes towards Leonard, sad and watery as the weather outside. "Go get undressed," Leonard continued. "I'll make us some coffee."

Jim swallowed, nodded. Pulling away from Leonard's hold, he shrugged out of his coat as he climbed the stairs, shoes squeaking as he went.

Leonard watched until Jim disappeared into his old room. With a quiet sight, he tugged off his own coat, tossing it over the banister before stepping into the kitchen, wet footprints left in his wake.

---

End.

(Mods, I believe this is my third week in a row to post. Whoo!)