Author: Regency
Title: European Express
Rating: PG
Pairing: Tracy/Nora Harper (OFC) friendship,UST; LuNacy (eventually)
Spoilers: Just the stuff to do with Laura vaguely.
Summary: Tracy does what feels right, even though it hurts.
Disclaimer: I don't own it or them. I think those that do are dead. At least, where writing skills are concerned.
AN: No, this isn't a parody or spoof of the entertaining Agatha Christie novel. I should only be so bold.
~~~

-- “Let It Roll” by Train

~~~

Tracy’s mind was elsewhere as the train chugged placidly across the European countryside. Specifically, it was in a Spanish hotel room where she’d left a half-written letter to her soon-to-be ex-husband, Luke. She’d abandoned it in a rush, feeling, realizing that if she stayed there too long she’d seriously consider going back.

Movement was the answer. Motion kept her competent and reasonable; it kept her from thinking of what was going on in Port Charles. It kept her from thinking of Dillon, who was struggling valiantly to adjust himself to the business world. They’d spoken more than a few times since her departure two weeks ago. Traveling also kept her mind off Lulu, who was more confused than ever now that her mother was conscious. There was record of a call from that number on her cell, yesterday, no call duration.

After Spain, she made it a point not to consider him at all. Any thoughts that led even indirectly to the name Luke Spencer were terminated and discarded. For her own good, she told herself. Her rationale didn’t fill the emptiness but it was something to hold onto.

She hadn’t been able to do it. She couldn’t spill her feelings onto a piece of paper, send it in the post and let the chips fall where they would. She couldn’t give any more of herself away than she had. Beyond that, she couldn’t foist her emotions onto another woman’s husband. Though, by law, Luke belonged to her, Laura had a firm hold on him and she wouldn’t interfere with that. She was a lot of things--some of them despicable-- but she wasn’t evil. She knew what it was to lose a man to his wife. This was simply a reminder.

In spite of her inner turmoil, Tracy wasn’t oblivious to the lush landscape rushing past her picture windows. It was beautiful, full of life and she was somewhat envious of its natural order and grace. Everything came together perfectly to form the view that was painting itself, stroke by stroke, onto her memory. It was the comfort Port Charles didn’t have to offer.

The passenger car’s warm atmosphere and soft lights made it impossible to ever stray far from drowsiness and before long Tracy felt herself begin to nod off. She wasn’t sharing her compartment with anyone and the journey had just begun--there’d be time for contemplation and regretting and sightseeing later. She settled deep into the cushions of the seat and fell asleep. Surprisingly, she didn’t dream.

Some time later, she was awoken by the jerk of the train as it lunged to towards the next leg of their journey. As the distance grew between them and the last train station, she saw yellow-white pin pricks in the evening sky. There were so many and they all took turns winking, one by one, at her. She smiled and shivered all at once, stunned silent and inspired by the sense of being so significant and yet so alone. She missed Lila then.

While she admired the faraway silhouettes of sleepy hamlets and villages, the doorway to the compartment opened to admit a baggage carrier and another passenger. Tracy groaned mentally. She was hoping to have the place to herself. Nonetheless, she turned in mild interest to see who she’d be sharing this space with for the next day and a half.

Though the carrier was fairly indifferent towards her, the woman who’d followed appeared to share a different opinion. She met Tracy’s scrutiny with her own of equal intensity before extending her hand.

“It appears we’re going to be spending quite a bit of time together.”

Despite not wanting to be bothered with company, Tracy was compelled to be pleasant. She smiled politely and accepted the hand in introduction.

“It appears that way.” Not rude or unkind, but she wasn’t promising a slumber party.

“Nora Harper.”

“Tracy,” she answered and ignored her new companion’s raised eyebrow at the omission of her surname.

Whenever she told anyone her last name, they either had a story to tell about ELQ or they had questions. According to most strangers she‘d met, the name Quartermaine oozed wealth and privilege. She didn’t think so, but there was a chance she was biased.

Nora occupied the place across from Tracy and seemed more than content to sit there and do nothing. Nothing except watch Tracy, anyway. More than once, she’d turned to find herself to subject of intense study. She would send Nora a speculative look and the marginally younger woman would shift her gaze elsewhere, not chastised but distracted.

The steady weight of her observation began to wear on Tracy. Finally, she turned to stare at her new acquaintance intently. She didn’t meet her eyes but stared at the individual features of her face, just as had been done to her. To her dismay, Nora didn’t react with nearly the same discomfort. Instead, she endured it and used it as further excuse to examine Tracy.

“Do you stare at all people you meet this way?” Tracy asked, no longer up to this not-staring contest.

Nora cracked an eccentric smile, crossing her incredibly long legs twice before seeming to find comfort in their awkward length.

“Only those I meet on trains.”

A shadow stopped before the door to their compartment. There was a polite, audible knock on the frosted glass. At Tracy’s behest, the head of a young man appeared.

“Ladies, please forgive the interruption, but dinner is about to be served in the dining car, if you’re interested.”

Tracy nodded.

“Thank you.”

Nora smiled, or rather, continued smiling and nodded as well.

“Thank you. We’ll be right there.”

The young man took his leave and left behind a vacuum of words with the slide of the door.

“So,” Nora laced her fingers together on her knee, “dinner?”

Tracy couldn’t see why not. She had no place else to go.

~~~

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