[The annoyance falls away, just like that, in the face of Elena's vulnerability. It's not gone, not all the way, but there are more important things that come in front of it. Concern, a sense of loss, a sense of guilt, too, for having brought up something that needed bringing up but that hurts all the same. She'd think that Elena's deliberately trying to distract her, with all the body language and the nervousness, except that it's Elena, who never does that. Who's never tried to trick Abigail in all the time they've known each other. Not even back when her emotions were off. They were always honest with each other. Always.]
[It's Abigail's job to protect her now, to take care of her. To give her space to tell the story that Abigail needs to hear.]
[She nods, crisply, efficiently, all business-like now that she has something to do, someone to help. Stepping closer, she takes Elena's hand and leads her out of the library.]
You can take your time.
[That's all she says. And then she lets there be silence.]
no subject
[It's Abigail's job to protect her now, to take care of her. To give her space to tell the story that Abigail needs to hear.]
[She nods, crisply, efficiently, all business-like now that she has something to do, someone to help. Stepping closer, she takes Elena's hand and leads her out of the library.]
You can take your time.
[That's all she says. And then she lets there be silence.]