Departure by augmentedfourth

Clio stood outside on the porch and looked up at the moon, which was partially obscured by a hazy purple cloud. It had been six months since she had moved into the small house on the hill and she was still getting used to the relative quiet of suburbia. She inhaled on her lit cigarette — a habit she had been trying to break at Jean's request, but when she was especially stressed, there was no substitute for the nerve-calming toxic chemicals. A noise from inside briefly startled her, and, thinking the doctor was finally finished working for the night, she pushed open the door.

Instead of finding Jean, the anxious nurse found Elenor sitting by herself. She was instantly alarmed, as the pink android rarely left Jean's side when he was hard at work. Elenor, is something wrong? she asked.

Um...not really...I don't know. As the shy android was unable to display facial expressions, Clio sometimes had trouble telling what was on her artificial mind. The newman took a seat and silently implored her to voice her concerns.

I...I'm just worried about the doctor. He's always been dedicated to his research, but I've never seen him like this before. He almost seems...distracted by something.

Clio knew she was right, for Elenor had verbalized the thoughts going through her own mind. As the projected launch date for the Pioneer 2 grew closer, she had expected Jean to be very busy, but Elenor was correct in her perceptions — something was different. Normally, the cheerful scientist was always willing to ramble on incessantly about his latest bit of research, regardless of whether she was actually paying attention, but over the past month or so, he had been quieter and more withdrawn.

Getting him out of that damned basement had been increasingly difficult for the women in the house. Clio would never dream of looking through his files without his permission, but several times, she had sat quietly on the stairs watching him work. She hated herself for stooping to what was essentially spying on him, and whatever answers she did get only confused her more.

Video calls had been coming in from members of Coral's military. Clio had known that much of Jean's research was for the government, but she had never seen him be directly involved with military personnel before. There were also calls from a newman woman with short pink hair; thoughts of infidelity only briefly crossed Clio's mind, but based on the tone of Jean's voice when he spoke to the woman, he had no romantic feelings towards her whatsoever. Jean had never discussed any of the calls with her, and she didn't like feeling as if he was keeping something from her.

After briefly telling Elenor that she shared in her concerns, Clio stormed down the stairs and physically pulled Jean away from his cluttered desk. You have been down here for well over seventeen hours, she reprimanded. You need to come upstairs now.

Jean blinked several times behind his glasses. I just need to finish typing up this one part. Clio crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look. I'll be up in five minutes, he promised.

The nurse's stern look didn't disappear. Five minutes, she repeated before turning around and leaving him alone.

Back in the kitchen, Clio contemplated making something to eat for them, but she decided to wait until the doctor was back upstairs. After five minutes had passed, she debated going back downstairs, but she sat down at the table instead. After ten minutes, she noticed that her eyelids were getting heavy and she fought to stay awake. By the time fifteen minutes had passed, she had rested her head on her arms and was fast asleep.

When she opened her eyes next, the morning sun was shining in through the kitchen window. Though the nurse was used to sometimes sleeping strange hours, it took her a moment to figure out where she was. As she felt an ache in her back, she gradually realized that she had never made it to bed the previous night.

Jean was exactly as she'd left him, typing away obliviously. He was so engrossed in whatever it was he was doing, he didn't even hear the angry woman stomping downstairs behind him. As a result, it came as a complete shock to him when someone grabbed him by the hand and forcibly led him out of his laboratory.

You always wanted a child, Clio thought to herself. Maybe this will be good practice. The small newman was surprisingly strong and she was able to get Jean out of the basement and sit him in a chair rather easily. She glared at him, but he was trying his hardest to avoid her gaze.

I don't know how long I can keep doing this, she said, trying to keep her voice even. I've known from the day I met you how devoted you are to your projects, I've always admired that about you. But you were never like this before; something's changed, and I'm not the only one who's noticed. She sat down across from him. I know you've been busy with the Pioneer 2 project, but I can tell that's not it. What's going on?

He still tried desperately to avoid eye contact. I can't tell you, he mumbled.

Clio couldn't have imagined a less satisfactory answer. I think that if I'm going to be sleeping on a table waiting for you to finally drag yourself away from your lab, I have a right to know what you're doing down there.

Jean rubbed his eyes, starting to feel the effects of sleep deprivation. I don't want to get you involved, he told her.

I think that's an ongoing problem, she said softly. The nurse's anger was now tinged with a hint of sadness. Moving here was a big change for me, but it doesn't seem to have affected your daily routine that much. If anything, I've seen you less over the past month than I did when I lived downtown. She reached out and tilted his chin towards her so she was staring directly into those impossibly blue eyes. Tell me what's wrong. Please.

He shook his head just slightly, a movement almost so imperceptible, it was easy to miss. If I could, I would. I don't want to see you get hurt, he said in a voice barely above a whisper.

All the feelings Clio had tried to lock away for the past four weeks rose to the surface and tried to escape all at once. Hurt? Hurt? Do you know what hurts? Moving my life here and barely having it acknowledged hurts. Sitting up night after night wondering when you're actually going to spend time with me hurts. Her voice was much louder now and she was vaguely aware of two androids listening in from the next room. The flow of emotions was unstoppable, though, and she turned away from him, unable to look at him while continuing. Watching my friends move on to the next part of their lives while wondering if my absent boyfriend is ever going to marry me hurts.

The brilliant doctor was unable to come up with a suitable response, but Clio needed the silence after her outburst. After several minutes had passed, he finally spoke. I didn't realize you were so unhappy, he said sadly.

That's because you've been downstairs for a month, she automatically snapped. If you're working on something with classified information, I guess I could have understood that if you had actually been around to tell me that. But it's becoming more clear to me that I just don't play a very big part in your life.

That's not true. We need you here.

We? Elenor and Ult don't need me for anything. Living, breathing children would need me, but I'm afraid they don't count. She knew that remark would sting, but she was too upset to care at the moment. You got along just fine before I came along, and I'm sure you'll be okay when I'm gone. Clio had meant to say "if", not "when", and she hadn't realized she had made a conscious decision until the words came out of her mouth.

Jean looked startled, but the realization that he was losing something important had come too late. Can't I change your mind? he quietly asked.

Clio badly wanted him tell her all sorts of promises that couldn't be kept, but she knew that they would only be prolonging the inevitable. The rage had dissipated, and she was able to speak more calmly. You are a kind and intelligent man, Jean. The people of Coral have a lot to thank you for, because the work you've done for them is invaluable. She'd managed to fight back the tears so far, but she felt them forming at the corners of her eyes. You're always going to do wonderful things in your life, and I thought that maybe I could fit into that life, but I just don't.

She walked over to him and lightly kissed him on the forehead. You need to sleep now...don't even try to argue. I'll be quiet when I gather my belongings, and when you wake up, you'll continue doing the great things you've always done. Same as always.

Had the doctor actually slept sometime in the past forty-eight hours, he may have put up more of a fight, but his lack of energy led to silent acceptance. He gave Clio one last look before trudging to the bedroom, where he collapsed onto the bed and immediately succumbed to slumber. The crying newman waited until she was sure he was out cold before slipping in to pack up her clothing, as she really hadn't brought that much else to the small house.

Upon emerging from the bedroom, Clio felt the metallic eyes of the sisters upon her. She turned to face Elenor, whose inability to form facial expressions belied her artificial feelings. I think he'll be all right, but keep an eye on him just in case, okay? she finally said.

The pink android nodded. Her sister, however, did not seem to understand. Will you be gone long, Ms. Lawrence? Ult asked.

Clio raised an eyebrow at Elenor, who wordlessly accepted her second task. Probably, she eventually answered. I don't know when I'll be back.

As she stood waiting for the bus, Clio pulled out her communication device and started flipping through her list of friends and coworkers, trying to decide who would be most willing to take her in for a few days. Perhaps it had been pessimistic of her to only sublet her apartment, rather than giving it up completely, but she felt a little bit better knowing she could soon return to her home. She hadn't been waiting long when the bus arrived, ready to take her away from the little house on the hill for the last time.

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