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Riley comes padding in quietly. His reason for wandering in is fairly obvious, he's covered in some gray substance, ash or the mother of all dust bunnies one.
Clara is stretched out on the couch reading, still in uniform but at least having lost her lab coat and boots to the closet. She cranes her neck as the door opens and blinks in astonishment. "Good gracious, love! You're spawning dust bunnies!"
"Nope," Riley answers in an amused fashion as he unbuttons his jacket. "I am the Dustbunny King. And it is, it is a glorious thing, to be a dustbunny king." He shoves the jacket into the laundry chute. "Actually I got to inspect another ship. It was quick, and obviously, dirty."
"Hoorah for the Dustbunny King, hoorah for the Dustbunny King," Clara responds cheerfully, cautiously levering herself up from the couch to cross over and offer to take the jacket. "I think the shower calleth your name. Find any evil on the ship?"
Riley shakes his head, gesturing for you to go lie back down. "Just some attempted imported animals. Heck, I almost tried to sneak one in myself. Adorable little beasties. Lie back down love, you look like you hurt like hell. Spoken to Julie yet?"
Clara shrugs dismissively, instead making her way to the kitchen slowly to put on water to boil. "It really isn't that bad. I made it through most of my shift today, then came home just a little early. Cute little critters, then? What kind?"
"Love, now don't -even- try that," is Riley's muffled reply from the bathroom as he goes about tugging off filth encrusted clothes. "If -I- said what you just said, you would read me the riot act."
"In both the languages I speak, probably," Clara responds rather amiably, not bothering to hide a wince since you're out of visual range as she reaches for a cup. "Did you want any tea?"
"No but thanks, I'll be out in a second. Lie back down. And get somebody to look at your back today, or I'll...I'll call Niles." Riley is running out of threats obviously.
"Hey!" Clara all but yelps. It seems we have hit upon an effective threat. "Niles is all the way on Earth! And he's so busy, there's no need to go calling, him, honest! I'm okay!" She takes her tea obediently back to the couch and sinks down to sit in one corner of it.
"Like I'm going to complain about him looking at my back?" Clara mutters with a faint grin over a sip of tea, reaching for her datareader again while listening contentedly to the sounds of the water running.
Riley returns after a while, dampish, and in a fresh uniform, albeit one that's obviously a bit older, as it's a bit oversized and not as crisp of color. "Please love, I'm not kidding." Riley murmurs as he sinks onto the couch as well. "I don't want you to be hurting."
Clara leans forward with only the merest hint of hesitation to set both cup and book on the table before shifting to regard you with a fond smile. "Riley, I'm -fine-, I promise. This isn't exactly a novel sensation to me. If it doesn't quirk back down after a while, I'll get one of the other docs to check it out."
Riley looks rather altogether saddened at this, "Clara, love, -please-... I'll beg?"
Clara exhales a soft sigh and reaches her hand towards yours, nodding resignedly. "If it'll keep you from begging and/or groveling, I'll do it," she replies quietly. "It's just annoying is all. I really dislike therapy."
Riley shifts his hand to yours, squeezing your fingers gently. "Thank you love, I'd really appreciate it. I just...I don't want you to have to hurt."
Clara's brows lift slightly at that as she gently runs her thumb over the back of your hand. "That's how I feel about you most of the time, darling," she explains quietly. "It's why I'm so worried about those bizarre dreams."
"But we know what we can do about this, love." Riley murmurs, settling back against the couch. He squeezes your hand gently again.
Clara starts to lean against your shoulder, and manages to do so after a slight pause. "Hook me up to electrodes and zap my lower back for a half hour, three times a week, for the next six months. I know the routine very well," she sighs.
Riley carefully shifts an arm around you, almost hesitantly gentle. "Nothing worth having is ever easy, love. And, well, it'll be easier to snuggle up if your back's not hurting you."
Clara considers that for a long moment, then grins faintly as her eyes close in contentment at the unexpected embrace. "You have a point. I would endure regular regeneration if it'd make that easier. At least...I think I would. Never actually had it done."
"Never broken a bone before?" Riley questions in soft curiosity as he leans down to kiss the top of your head gently.
Clara attempts to tilt her head back so that the kiss lands where it can be returned, then grins up wryly. "Never, believe it or not. Been beaten up, shot, and knifed, but never broken a bone. Nor am I a duck."
Riley looks decidedly pleased at the returned kiss, "Bone breaking's not a lot of fun. Nor is being beaten up, shot, or knifed. A duck?"
"Mm-hmm," Clara replies, rather pleased herself as she lifts a hand to idly toy with the collar of your jacket. "You and Niko are ducks. I'm not a duck." Doesn't that just explain it all?
"Quack?" Riley murmurs almost drowsily as he sinks back further into the couch. "Should I be yellow?"
Clara glances at her wrist briefly to note the time, but can't stifle a laugh that ends in a quiet gasp, although she does continue to lean against you. "Sure. We'll find some paint this evening. Tired, love?"
"Little, yeah," Riley stifles a yawn, although he gives you a worried look at the gasp. "Maybe take a bit of a break before I head back downstairs."
Clara lifts a hand to your face, perhaps just as worried although for entirely different reasons. "Maybe a nap, then?" she murmurs quietly. "I'll even leave so you can actually sleep," she promises.
"No need for you to leave," Riley replies quietly, "Though I think I will snag a quick nap. Sure can't hurt."
Clara gestures at the bed still folded up into the wall. "Why don't you go stretch out for a bit. Either that or you're more than welcome to stay here and use me as a pillow. I'll just be reading," she explains around stealing a brief kiss. "Poor love."
Riley looks altogether torn for a moment, but then shifts to climb to his feet, "Don't want to hurt you though, and your back's hurting. I'll go for the bed."
Clara gives you a rather amused look, shaking her head. "Riley Addison, you can't hurt me, love. It'd take lots more than just random cuddling. But the bed is bigger," she agrees.
"Your back's hurting," Riley re-iterates as he tugs down the bed. "Don't want to jostle ya' any." He sinks to sit on the side of said bed, tugging off his boots before climbing under the covers, still otherwise in full uniform.
Clara shakes her head again as she cautiously reaches for both book and tea. "Thank goodness you don't have to deal with me pregnant," she murmurs, finding vast amounts of humor in this.
Riley murmurs something vague by way of reply, curling down beneath the blankets to seek sleep.
Clara glances up approvingly at the sleep, staying silent so as not to interrupt the process, and resumes reading.
[Some time later...]
After a time, Clara makes her way up off the couch again and deposits her teacup in the kitchen before quietly collecting her keys from the table. She ventures a fond smile back at the bed, then slips out the door to let it shut with a quiet click.