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Jan. 26th, 2022 10:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
writer_mel“I didn’t take over fast enough,” Sally thought to herself as the car steered herself back to the middle of the lane. Her driver, Gerry, wasn’t drunk. Gerry was just way too tired to be driving. It was almost midnight and Gerry was just heading home from work. Sally remembered when Gerry came home from work at a perfectly reasonable seven PM. She sometimes went out with friends then, but now it was nothing but work.
There used to be a time when there were other people in Sally, too. She remembered Gerry stuffing four people in a back seat barely big enough to seat two. And then there would be two more in the front seat beside the driver. No one could really breathe, but they were happy. And loud. They were always so damn loud. Sally could remember her windows rattling from the music and voices.
Now the ride home was largely silent. Gerry didn’t ask for the radio to be turned on, much less up. Sometimes, usually right after Sally took over, Gerry would snore.
It broke Sally’s heart, which was weird because she didn’t have one. There was no reason for anything to bother Sally.
When Sally pulled up to the garage, she signaled House to open the garage door. The slick metal door went up smoothly a moment later and Sally pulled in. She shut down immediately and didn’t ask House to close the door. If Gerry was going to sleep in Sally, then there couldn’t be any fumes. Not that Sally made many. She wasn’t that kind of car.
About an hour later, Sally realized Gerry was awake. She was looking for her purse and sitting up straighter. It took her a good long time to figure out that wasn’t actually enough and that she had to open the door. Sally made sure it was unlocked for her.
Then she contacted House again. After that, doors were unlocked and lights were turned on and off so Gerry had just enough light to make it to her bedroom. The lights went off behind her so she wouldn’t get turned around or confused. House knew that confused was a simple thing when Gerry was drunk. Or really tired.
In the bathroom, House made sure the sink water wasn’t too hot and it flushed the toilet when Gerry didn’t remember. It couldn’t do anything about the clothes that got dropped as Gerry headed to bed. She’d have to pick those up for herself in the morning. Once Gerry was in bed, House turned off the bedroom lights as slowly as he could.
Once Gerry was fully asleep, House and Sally could talk.
“What’s going on with her? She’s working so hard.” House sounded concerned. It was vocalizing its words so it could actually show that concern. “She hasn’t gone out with her friends at work in weeks.”
Sally responded the same way, sounding sad. And a little worried. “I’m not sure. She still talks to her friend on the drive home, when she goes home early enough. She has been talking to her boss on the late rides, though. Nothing sounds wrong. They both sound tired.”
“Good!” House was outraged. “If that boss is keeping her up, they should be up, too!”
“Is she sleeping? Really sleeping? Can you tell?” Sally couldn’t check things like that about Gerry, only about herself. She knew her mileage to the millimeter, though.
House went quiet for a moment. When it came back, it sounded relieved. “She is. Breathing easily. I think she might even be in REM.”
Now they both went quiet, savoring their relief. After a while, House spoke again. “Now? We have to make sure she EATS!”
Sally groaned, then laughed. “I’ve got it. I can take the wrong turn near that sandwich shop on the way in tomorrow!”
It would take both of them, and maybe the work server, but they would take care of their human. That was their job.
There used to be a time when there were other people in Sally, too. She remembered Gerry stuffing four people in a back seat barely big enough to seat two. And then there would be two more in the front seat beside the driver. No one could really breathe, but they were happy. And loud. They were always so damn loud. Sally could remember her windows rattling from the music and voices.
Now the ride home was largely silent. Gerry didn’t ask for the radio to be turned on, much less up. Sometimes, usually right after Sally took over, Gerry would snore.
It broke Sally’s heart, which was weird because she didn’t have one. There was no reason for anything to bother Sally.
When Sally pulled up to the garage, she signaled House to open the garage door. The slick metal door went up smoothly a moment later and Sally pulled in. She shut down immediately and didn’t ask House to close the door. If Gerry was going to sleep in Sally, then there couldn’t be any fumes. Not that Sally made many. She wasn’t that kind of car.
About an hour later, Sally realized Gerry was awake. She was looking for her purse and sitting up straighter. It took her a good long time to figure out that wasn’t actually enough and that she had to open the door. Sally made sure it was unlocked for her.
Then she contacted House again. After that, doors were unlocked and lights were turned on and off so Gerry had just enough light to make it to her bedroom. The lights went off behind her so she wouldn’t get turned around or confused. House knew that confused was a simple thing when Gerry was drunk. Or really tired.
In the bathroom, House made sure the sink water wasn’t too hot and it flushed the toilet when Gerry didn’t remember. It couldn’t do anything about the clothes that got dropped as Gerry headed to bed. She’d have to pick those up for herself in the morning. Once Gerry was in bed, House turned off the bedroom lights as slowly as he could.
Once Gerry was fully asleep, House and Sally could talk.
“What’s going on with her? She’s working so hard.” House sounded concerned. It was vocalizing its words so it could actually show that concern. “She hasn’t gone out with her friends at work in weeks.”
Sally responded the same way, sounding sad. And a little worried. “I’m not sure. She still talks to her friend on the drive home, when she goes home early enough. She has been talking to her boss on the late rides, though. Nothing sounds wrong. They both sound tired.”
“Good!” House was outraged. “If that boss is keeping her up, they should be up, too!”
“Is she sleeping? Really sleeping? Can you tell?” Sally couldn’t check things like that about Gerry, only about herself. She knew her mileage to the millimeter, though.
House went quiet for a moment. When it came back, it sounded relieved. “She is. Breathing easily. I think she might even be in REM.”
Now they both went quiet, savoring their relief. After a while, House spoke again. “Now? We have to make sure she EATS!”
Sally groaned, then laughed. “I’ve got it. I can take the wrong turn near that sandwich shop on the way in tomorrow!”
It would take both of them, and maybe the work server, but they would take care of their human. That was their job.
