coltavett

[coltavett]

Colt almost regretted what he'd said. He knew it was harsh. He knew that she'd been through a lot and he couldn't really rush her to feel better. But he missed her, he cared about her. He had some time ago resolved himself to the fact that she never may feel the same way about him as he did about her, and that she may never be ready to even know how he felt about her, but laid up in a hospital bed, watching her exhaust herself and take on so much of what had happened. He'd snapped.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and gestured with the other hand to direct Reese where to leave the drinks before meeting her gaze again. "I apologize," he said simply. "I won't keep you any longer, I'm sure you have things you'd rather be doing." He glanced at Reese before picking up his Blackberry, "I'd like your assistant to help schedule a few of my conference calls tomorrow, one with the staff of each show. Anyone here at the hospital that can possibly sit in on it should do so, even if they have to come into my room to participate. That includes Jensen, Bergen and Travers."

A Visit | Colt and Lauren

[coltavett]

He almost smirked, but figured she wouldn't appreciate that very much. But as she spoke, he felt his own frustration build.

"We'll get better, this hospital is one of the best. You're no doctor, Lauren. And you're not God. You can't speed along this process even though I know you want to." He sat up slightly and looked at her. "You're upset, you feel helpless, I get it. Okay? And right now I'm probably making you angry, right?"

He ticked an eyebrow up and met her gaze. "So get angry at me, yell at me. Stop blaming yourself and trying to take on my burdens. Throw something at me, talk to me. For fuck's sake, smile, Lauren," he looked at her helplessly. "If there's one thing I miss, it's seeing that. If there's one thing I was thinking about, it was you - so just take care of yourself, dammit."

Reese chose that moment to return with several bottles of assorted drinks.

A Visit | Colt and Lauren

[coltavett]

Colt grinned at her and shook his head, "You don't have to do that, interview anyone. Lee and Becca can have Samantha do it, or do it themselves, hell I can make Reese give me his assistant," he teased and looked at her. "You should eat something and rest though, Lauren. I mean it. You're under strict orders from me." He winked at her before gesturing to what was left of his previous meal. "I have pudding, it's chocolate."

A Visit | Colt and Lauren

[coltavett]

Colt looked at Lauren and shook his head at her. "You always take on a little too much responsibility, you know that? It makes you a fantastic employee but a very worrisome person to care about," he pointed out. "And yes, I worry, because I care about you immensely and you can't stop me."

He shrugged off the question about his assistant. "I fired Devon months ago for not adhering to my confidentiality agreements. And then haven't found anyone else suitable to replace him."

He smiled at her, "You know, I know that you're here for your friends, and I think that's wonderful. But you need to take care of yourself too, you know." He shook his head, "And I am getting better and I have a few nifty tricks up my sleeve too, watch this," he winked before calling out into the hall. "Reese, I'm thirsty."

"I'll go grab you some water."

"Soda," he called out.

"Soda it is."

"And water. And orange juice. Just bring whatever you can carry, really. I'd like options."

"You've got it."

As footsteps faded down the hallway, he grinned at Lauren. "I've been hoping to train him to do that for me since we were twelve."

A Visit | Colt and Lauren

[coltavett]

Colt chuckled and tried not to wince when it caused a slight twinge of pain. He was glad to see her and gestured for her to sit. "I've been fine, though apparently it's true what they say - the world stops for no one. My blackberry has been going off even more often than usual since I've been stuck here," he shook his head. "I should really hire a new assistant to take care of all of this."

"I was wondering how you've been doing," he asked gently, eying her. "With all due respect, because I do truly believe you are beautiful, but you look like you haven't slept or had a proper meal in days," he ticked an eyebrow up with concern.

"Tell me what's going on in the real world, Lauren Sykes," he asked good naturedly.

A Visit | Colt and Lauren

[coltavett]

A Visit | Colt and Lauren

Relaxation. Recuperation. Proper medical and psychological attention.

These were all things that Colt was emphasizing as he reached out to members of the ACN staff - from his hospital bed. Who said he wasn't a hypocrite? But work needed to be done and ratings had slipped in his absence. 

So he was working, much to Reese's chagrin. When he could, he was requesting the presence of staff members in the hospital who were mobile. And, as Reese liked to point out between meetings, Colt got a little too much enjoyment out of asking sympathetic staff members to go off and do his bidding.

But there was someone he wanted to see who wasn't on his list of people to talk shop with. And, eventually, he buckled and requested Reese find Lauren and ask her to come in. What he didn't expect was to find that she wasn't far at all, in fact she was just outside his door. He couldn't help but like the idea of that, though he felt awful that she'd been there and hadn't even come in. Couldn't have been comfortable or pleasant.

When she did appear in the doorway, though, he smiled at her, setting the contracts he'd been going over aside. "Hey beautiful."

[coltavett]

Text {to: Samantha Scott}

Colt: A D.C correspondent will be flying in on Sunday evening to take over for the Capitol Report.

Colt: Erica Travers will likely be released from the hospital on Monday, but in the mean time the L.A. branch can use their correspondents and our production team in New York to film Hollywood Wrap-Up next week.

Colt: The final contract renegotiations for Ashley Wilton, on my terms, are being messengered to you as we speak.

Colt:After conferring with Reese and Leona, the injured will be receiving paid time off and only permitted to come back to work with official medical clearance.

Colt: Two therapists will be meeting with the staff starting on Monday morning and will remain on premises for two weeks.

Colt: Did I miss anything?

[coltavett]

Hmmm...

[coltavett]

Unpleasant But Necessary

Reese calls him a bastard, Colt laughs and tells him that he'll help him plan his proposal to the Rockette. It doesn't seem to matter that Colt thinks she's dumb as a post, Reese is happy, Reese is alive. Colt's okay with it.

He calls in Rebecca Halliday, they exchange some witty and inappropriate banter about how great she looks after sitting in a hospital for so long and barely sleeping and how they now have proof that his hair isn't always perfect. He's aware that it's flat and falling in his eyes, and shakes it away, groaning. There are a few more surgeries, and should the worst happen - he has specific instructions.

The Lansings are going to help provide for the medical expenses of those impacted by the shootings, Colt makes sure a good chunk of his own money is going to the same cause - whether he survives or not. He wants money going to a charity his father always supported. 

He considers the fact that he'd like to leave something to Lauren but has a feeling if he does, she'll find a way to resurrect him just so she can throw it at his head. He chuckles at the thought and tells Rebecca to get him a piece of paper and a pen so he can write her a letter instead. Rebecca calls him a softy.

He writes a letter to Ashley. Rebecca calls him a bastard.

He leaves a considerable amount of his most important possessions to Reese and Leona.

He still has three engagement rings, beautiful ones. Rebecca asks him what to do with them, he tells her to have his friends throw them in the East River.

"Keep my ashes in the office of the man who replaces me, so he knows he will never live up to my standards or my haircut."

"You know you're going to be fine, don't you, Colt?" Rebecca asks, eyes sparkling with amusement, pleased to see an old friend in good spirits despite his injury.

"I do. The doctors here are great. But just in case...I never told a lot of things to my father, barely said a word to my damn mother. I would hate to exit early and never tell people how I felt about them."

"And when you do survive, these letters?"

"Maybe send Ashley hers and make her think I've died, burn the one to Lauren before she finds it and yells at me."

"Are you sure?"

"As cute as she is when she's angry, yes. Can't imagine doing that to her."

"What a prince."

"Jealous," he winked and with that, Rebecca stood to draft everything in her official capacity as his attorney.

"You know, you pay me just to listen to you talk about a girl you haven't asked out yet," she called over her shoulder.

[coltavett]

Reese nodded, pleased with that response. "Colt would want you there, it's a bit of a tradition and I know he would," he said simply before he ran a hand through his hair and took a sip of his coffee, grimacing at the burnt taste. "If you need anything between then and now, please let me know. And I'll let you know when he's up for visitors."

Difficult Topics [Reese and Lauren]

[coltavett]

Reese sat down and offered her out a cup of coffee. "Things are all right, just making the rounds, I suppose." He coughs, awkwardly and is suddenly unsure of what to do with his hands and overly aware of it. "I'm not quite sure what I'm..." he shook his head.

"I wanted to see how you were holding up. I know that Colt would be yelling at me for not doing it sooner. I know he'll want to see you the next time he wakes up and is up for visitors, if you're up for it." His words are strained, stuck between informal and professional. Because he has spent time with Lauren but doesn't know her very well - just through Colt. But, after a moment, Reese realized that that connection was enough, letting his guard down - a guard he'd kept up in front of everyone but his own mother.

"Colt pushed me into a closet and locked me in there. He knew that we were...he protected me. I think he was ready to die for me. And he asked me to apologize to you, because he apparently promised he wouldn't leave." He looked down, then at Lauren. "He's going to be fine, you know, the insanely stubborn brave bastard he is will make all of our lives hell again soon. But I wanted to let you know, and to invite you to join my mother, Rebecca, Jackie and I tomorrow for dinner. If you don't have plans, that is."

Difficult Topics [Reese and Lauren]

[coltavett]

Difficult Topics [Reese and Lauren]

Reese Lansing is not the best when it comes to dealing with employees of ACN. Though, no Lansing is. No executive really is. Maybe Charlie, but Reese hardly thought he counted and liked to block out the man's existence and ignore the looks Charlie and his mother shared. That's neither here nor there. He set off in search of Lauren Sykes. Colt had awoken earlier in the day, disoriented and in pain and they'd given him something to help him rest again. Reese had made dutiful rounds to the others and made a mental note to send Rebecca to Hadley Jensen for legal advice after overhearing a conversation.

But he knew Lauren was still in the hospital, from chatter he heard, and went off in search of her, finding two cups of coffee along the way.

"Miss. Sy -- Lauren. I was hoping to find you here."

[coltavett]

"Mr. Lansing," Reese is already rising out of his chair in the hospital waiting room, reluctantly letting go of his mother's hand and allowing her to stay seated. 

"How is he?"

"He made it out of surgery just fine, but we're not out of the woods yet. If you'd like, you can go in to see him, but we're going to ask that it be kept brief and that you don't talk while inside of the room."

Reese nods, he takes his mother's hand and leads her into the hospital room. Jackie and Rebecca understand and stay put in the waiting area.

It takes less than fifteen seconds for the strongest woman he knows to go weak at his side, she doesn't cry, but she can't be strong either. He holds his mother, trying to be comforting as he stares at Colt, pale and attached to wires and tubes. 

When the two step back into the hallway, he looks at his mother. "He saved my life."

"On multiple occasions," she agrees. 

The two share a brief moment of understanding before Leona is speaking to the doctor, almost angrily. "That is my son in there, you do whatever you need to do."

Reese doesn't return to his girlfriend. Instead he slumps down in the hallway, not caring that he's in his good suit. He texts his assistant to bring him a pair of jeans and something more suitable and then pockets his phone. His back against the wall that separates Colt's room from the hallway listening to the steady beep of the machine monitoring his vitals, taking whatever comfort he can in the fact that he seems to be okay, for now.

[coltavett]

Acceptance

He was on the ground. He wasn't quite sure how he'd gotten there. He was proud of Reese for staying quiet and as the blood seeped onto his shirt and he looked up at the shooter - he remembered him, remembered his name and the day he'd been let go. Colt winced, glaring up at him, he coughed, breath coming with difficulty. "You don't think you're getting out of here alive, do you?"

"Shut up." The other man said, his voice hollow and cold.

Out of the corner of Colt's eye, he saw someone in the area just outside of his office. Their eyes met, and he knew that she was there to help. 

"Make me," Colt said defiantly, eyes staring down the barrel of his gun as the man standing before him began to lift his arm again...

[coltavett]

Brothers, of course.

Colt had intended on going away for a few days, but after a discussion with Lauren Sykes and carefully reweighing his options, he remembered who he was. He was no longer some lovesick brokenhearted boy. He was the senior marketing manager fro ACN, and that carried some weight. So after his meeting with some of the ACN staff, he told Reese they would be discussing Ashley Wilton's contract. As a new anchor with limited experience, he planned to demand that she have a probationary period where her ratings would determine her permanent employment status. He was about to call down to H.R. when there was another call, security from the main lobby.

Reese entered his office just as the call came through and seemed to understand immediately upon seeing the color drain from Colt's face. All animosity between them dwindled away. Reese walked, almost too calmly, to the drink cart Colt kept in his office and poured two glasses of scotch while Colt called Leona's phone and confirmed that she was still out of the office for a meeting downtown. The two relax at that knowledge.

"You know if this is a disgruntled employee that they're disgruntled with us, don't you?" Colt asked hollowly before taking a sip of his scotch.

Reese nodded, "The elevators would have been shut off by now, if he's coming up by the stairwell, we could very well have enough time for another drink."

"You assume it's a 'he' like we haven't pissed off our fair share of women."

"I was going to propose on Valentine's Day," Reese said thoughtfully. Colt thought of Lauren in that moment and about how he would have liked to ask her on a real date, although he knew he couldn't while she was still trying to piece her own life back together. Still, he wanted to be there to help her however he could.

Colt's phone chimed, a text message from Leona with a very simple request. 'Get Reese out safely.'

His brow furrowed, "I keep good cigars hidden in the closet, might as well," he gestured, the lie slipping out easily as Reese resolutely walked to the closet where Colt kept a spare suit, his coat, and some other things he'd collected over the years. 

"Where are they?" Reese asked just before Colt closed the door between them and locked it easily from the outside. The door rattled as Reese banged and cursed through it.

Colt leaned against it, eyes closing for a moment. "Reese, shut up," he practically pleaded. "You're my brother, do you understand that? I need you to understand that and to shut the fuck up no matter what you hear." Reese knew better than to think he'd be let out and seemed to quiet down instantly. He thought, if he strained his ears, he could hear the metal door to the stairwell swinging open and slamming closed. "And just...tell Lauren I'm sorry. I promised her I wouldn't leave," he added.

He texted Leona back. 'I promise he'll be safe.'

He sat back down at his desk, taking a sip of scotch as his eyes focused on his door, the handle twisting as someone tried to enter from the outside.

"I poured you a drink, won't you join me," Colt said dryly, knowing Reese was silently cursing him for being a constantly smug bastard from behind the closet door.

[coltavett]

Colt turned and looked at Lauren before shaking her head. "Don't be sorry. It all would have ended much more miserably if we'd gone through with it. It just wasn't..." he broke off and shrugged. "I don't know." He reached into another box, finding a few more knick knacks and tossing them into the fire from where he sat. "You know, I know you weren't happy with me when you came over, but I'm glad you're here," he admitted.

What am I supposed to do with this? // Colt + Lauren

[coltavett]

Colt chuckled at her question, dipping her head in embarrassment. "Yes, three. First there was Ashley - we...it was...I cared about her a lot more than she cared about me. She cheated on me with an ACN anchor and I took her back and proposed and she left me for a better job." He shifted his gaze, looking at the fireplace instead. "Then there was Sasha, who ran in the same social circles and was fun to be around, but she just wanted someone to keep her living comfortably and didn't want the work that went into a real relationship and I did - so she left. Jenny was a waitress, sweet girl from the Midwest and she...well she disliked the giftbags and the necklaces even more than you seemed to," he offered with a wink and a shake of his head. "I was younger and I thought that..." he shrugged. "I was in love with the idea of love and I believed that I could create something better in my life than the examples I grew up with."

What am I supposed to do with this? // Colt + Lauren