h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*Iwan brought E through the door and offered her a seat near the recovering Leibe...*

*E looks at Liebe...how hard had Bond hit him...? She didn't know...*

How's your head...?

Liebe makes an effort to turn around and look at her, he seems to be in pain.

*slowly, he recognizes E... Not at once... Gradually... THe eyes first... then the hair... and then all of her... He wonders why he keeps seeing hings bit by bit...*

L: Arhrhhhh...

*he says, putting his head back down onto the sofa he's lying on...*

L: Not very well...

*He wonders what E will do...*

*E suddenly feels very sorry for him...was it _really_ his fault that he was standing in the wrong place when the grating came down...*

*E goes over to him...*

Is there anything I can do...?

*Liebe blushes a little...*

L: Well... Could you please cool my forehead? You should find all you need on that table over there...

*The sharp pain caused him to wince a little... He felt a little unprotected... After all, he could do nothing to stop E from doing anything she wanted... At least not now...*

*E goes over to the table and returns with a damp-ish, cool cloth... As tenderly as possible she places it on Liebes forehead...*

Is that better...?

*Liebe feels very much better... The pain seems to have nearly gone now... He wonders briefly if it was the cloth that took it away...*

*Finally, he is able to look at E and see all of her, and not just bits... He wonders if this is a good thing, as he blushes even more and doesn't know what to say...*

L: Thank you... Do you want something to drink? YOu can find almost everything on the table...

*the cloth is definitely doing him good, he's able to think more clearly now...*

*E is relieved to hear the Liebe was feeling better...she doesn't quite no why...but she is relieved...*

Would you like a drink, then...? I can go and get you one..

*E smiles*

L: Oh, thank you... I'd like a nice bourbon...

*He smiles weakly at her... While she goes to fetch it, he feels strong enough to sit up, and does... After all, he had been told that you shouldn't be lying in the presence of guests... And E was a guest... In some way or other...*

*E isn't sure that alcohol was the right thing to give someone who'd had a really bad knock on the head...she got him a glass of water instead...just for now...*

It's probably better that you have this for now...I'll get you a bourbon in a little while...I'd just rather make sure that you're OK, first...

*L downs the water quickly...*

L: Wow... That sure was strong stuff... You don't want to make me drunk, do you?

*The effects of the blow seem to be more serious than he had expected... He didn't notice anything wrong, though...*

L: Er... E...

*He looks at her... She looks at him... Their eyes meet, causing L to stop in mid-word... He just doesn't know what to say... Yet he knows that he has to say something...*

L: But do sit down... You're still standing...

*E sits down next to Liebe... She's very worried about him...*

Are you OK...?

*E looks at Liebe, but looks away again as soon as she caught his eye... She blushes...*

I think I'd better get you another glass of water...

*E goes to the table & returns with another glass of water which she hands to Liebe... Then she sits down next to him again...*

*L takes the water, thanks E and sips at it... "Hm... It isn't as strong as the first she gave me...", he thinks.*

L: Do you know why you are here? I wonder if Seriy... er... Mr Volk has told you...

*He tries to avoid E's eye, which is a little difficult sitting next to her, with her being the only other person in the room...*

As far as I'm aware, I'm here because I came with James... If I hadn't have come with him I wouldn't have been here now...

*For some reason E was grateful that she'd come with JB...she got to meet Liebe... She was even more grateful that the water was doing him some good...*

Is there something I should know about...?

*E wishes that Liebe would look at her again...*

*L swears at his slip of tongue... He shouldn't be talking about Volk's plans to his prisoner, even if she was his daughter...*

*He notices E looking at him and looks back... He feels lost... After a pause that is just 3 milliseconds too long, he answers...*

L: No, not really... Nothing I can tell you, that is...

*Tries to turn his head away but just can't do it... He can't help feeling a little sheepish... ... looking at her saying nothing...*

*E has a horrible feeling that something was going to happen that she didn't like... Volk had _promised_ that he wouldn't harm Bond, but she was suddenly doubting him...*

Please, if there is something I should know...tell me...

*E looks sadly at Liebe...*

*L can't stand E looking sadly at him... He quickly looks away... The dilemma he's in is quite obvious...*

L: Tell me... What do you think of Bond...

*He looks at her sadly...*

*E wonders what this really has to do with anything...*

Bond? What do I think of him...? He's a friend...who's saved me from trouble far more than he needed to...

*E looks at Liebe...she doesn't like it when he looks sad...*

Why?

*L looks a little relieved, but that might be because of the pain... or rather, the lack of pain...*

L: Well... He doesn't seem to fit into Seriy... I mean, Mr Volk's plans... He keeps making a nuisance of himself... Mr Volk said he couldn't guarantee for his well-being...

*L wonders if this wasn't a stupid thing to say to someone who is, after all, your enemy...*