Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)
For some reason this thread was the continuation of one in Riley's room and sort of stayed there. But here is the end of it now!
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She didn’t feel consoled to him. On the contrary she felt angry, the intensity of her emotion radiating out of her like fire. And he was in the fall out zone. Which was ok really Matt told himself. If she needed someone to yell at or beat up on then so be it. Though he had to admit he’d rather she didn’t actually hit him with whatever it was she had just dropped given the shape he was in at the moment. Still better that than go on hurting herself.
But somehow, as he went on talking, her mood changed, descending once more into melancholy and depression as if even the effort of holding on to indignation was too much for her. It wasn’t what he had hoped for. He had wanted to make her realise that she had things still to live for. He was sure she had. There had been a young man and a girl with her when she had been admitted both of them distraught as you only ever really were over the plight of a friend. And if you had friends then you had hope Even if it didn’t always feel like it.
Noise! Suddenly. A door opening! Bare feet making their way across the tiled floor! A heart beating fast, full of fear but coming on all the same! Male! The one they had called agent Thompson then. Woken by their voices or their thoughts! Matt had heard enough of the discussion between Talia and Hank the man had been brought in earlier to know what troubled him. Which did nothing to reassure him!
Whatever else the girls thought were Matt was sure they were far from happy and he wasn’t sure that the man coming towards them now could handle that Or that he could handle the man if he chose to attack. Though that didn’t seem to be what he had in mind Matt could feel the tension ebbing as Thompson came into what would have been sight. For a normal person that was.
Being judged and set aside because of his blank eyes was something Matt was used to in his everyday life. Sometimes he even played upon it in court, if an opponent was stupid enough to equate his blindness with a lack of ability as some seemed ready enough to do. They soon paid the price though. Sight and insight were in no way linked and intelligence was distributed equally between those who walked in the light and those who lived in darkness. Still, being underestimated could be irksome, insulting even. It was something Matt usually resented but somehow, in this difficult situation, being underestimated could mean the difference between life and death And he wasn’t above seizing it.
Still the man didn’t seem hostile. In fact there was nothing but concern in his voice as he asked “is everything okay” He could feel Catherine raise her head, no doubt looking at the newcomer but there was no accompanying surge of fear. Only a sigh and her body slumping as she replied 'Not you again.' He couldn’t hide the fact that he was surprised. Certain parts of this pairs arrival in med lab had taken him unawares his heightened sense of hearing intruding into their lives before he had got it under control But he had backed out long before Thompson had spoken of Cat to the doctor.
I take it you two know each other then he said lightly. Which does kind of make me the odd man out.
Quick glances around the room showed signs that the cupboards had been opened recently and a few things had been disturbed on the table behind her, and a black object lay beside Cat on the floor 'Not you again.' Not the reaction nick had hoped for, though what else could he expect from her as the two agents were only around when bad things had happened, and his pathetic attempt at protecting her in the initiative building had only served to incapacitate himself.
So with these circumstances in mind the reaction gained from his arrival was probably the best possible one, at least she had not attacked him for in his current state the agent would not last long in a tussle. I take it you two know each other then Which does kind of make me the odd man out. Nick’s rather dazed eyes flicked to the other man; through the droning thoughts in his mind he could just about pick up Matt’s every now and again without concentrating. He was worried for the girl in case Nick was dangerous… it seemed that the agent was not the only one who was in a bad state.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to attack you…” he croaked in the most reassuring way possible, his mind searching for the girls thoughts, but he could not find anything solid enough… she was mixed up too it would appear, only not in the same way as Nick. With a minor twitch of his face the agent gave in to the dull aching in his limbs and lowered himself to the floor and their level and slumped opposite them ontot the cold tiles “sorry to intrude, but I could hear…” he paused trying to remember what it was that he had heard “…something” the mans voice displayed his confusion as clearly as his arms displayed bruises , a far awaytone to the dry voice was evident even to him.
It was now becoming a more often occurrence that Nick forgot what was going on, or what he had said, not knowing whether he had said it or just thought it to himself… or indeed if someone else had thought it and he was just remembering their thoughts. Things were so confusing in his current state and it took a great strength of mind to stop himself from slipping into a dazed stupor. “I was worried that something was wrong… I think”
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)I take it you two know each other then Cat thought back to the last time she'd seen the agent... when they'd been escaping from the Initiative. She'd never even thought to wonder what had happened to the other car. Her hands pulled her knees up to her chin, resting her forehead down on her knee caps. She was beginning to wish that she'd never left her room. The thought brought a question into her mind, had Riley replied to her last text. Funny but she'd forgotten all about his messages since she'd left her bed, as if someone had turned off the conscious part of her brain.
Which does kind of make me the odd man out.
Her head tilted onto one side slightly as she took the opportunity to peer up at the older man who was sitting along side her. He wasn't to know she was staring at him, he was blind after all she reminded herself, not knowing that he wasn't so impaired as he seemed. Anyway, she decided, better that she was looking at him than at the man on her other side, there was something about the look in his eyes that put her on edge. She wondered what Riley would have to say if he walked in and saw her sitting with two men, she hoped he'd be upset... because that would mean he still liked her.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to attack you…” Catherine felt her body tense at the words, she hadn't thought he was going to, but now his words had put the idea in her head she felt an awful lot less comfortable about sitting there in the dark with him wearing only her night things. It could have been worse she supposed, she might have been dressed in a medical robe instead of a small pair of shorts and a large t-shirt.
“sorry to intrude, but I could hear… something” There was a slight pause. “I was worried that something was wrong… I think” She played with one of the fingernails on her left hand, hoping that Matt might say something to break the rather pregnant silence, but it seemed he too was waiting for her to say something.
'I was getting a drink.' It was an obvious lie even to her ears, but there was nothing on earth that was going to get her to tell them the truth. They'd just run off and tell Hank and then she'd have to spend even longer in the med bay.
She curled her toes slightly as she thought about the text that Riley had sent which sent her his love.. and kisses.. and sweet dreams. maybe she could have a word with Riley later in the week, perhaps even ask him if he wanted to go and do something over the weekend. They might even be able to go riding together, the idea made her feel a little better, lifting her depressed spirits.
ooc: Ugh sorry it's so bad but I struggled to think what to put.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)“Don’t worry, I’m not going to attack you…” Matt didn’t know if the declaration came as a response to his thoughts or the girls he just knew that it had exactly the opposite effect to the one Nick intended. If Catherine had been tense before it was ten times worse now, apprehension replacing the despair she had shown previously, though Matt suspected the feeling was only masked by the momentary diversion not vanished altogether. Still…..anything was better than self hurt, even fear. Especially if that fear was unfounded, as he strongly suspected it was.
People who were going to strike out didn’t settle down on the floor beside you. Nor did they sound as weary and lost as the newcomer did. There was a world of hurt that you didn’t need enhanced hearing to pick up in the voice that said “sorry to intrude, but I could hear… Matt waited patiently for him to finish the sentence, wondering exactly what it was that the telepath had heard. Noises? Voices? Or the usually silent screaming of the girls soul? Even Nick didn’t seem to be sure. “something” he finished in obvious confusion. “I was worried that something was wrong… I think”
It could have been the medication Matt smelled on him that was clouding his thoughts. After all, from the little the blind man had unwittingly learned about Nick’s condition that would have made perfect sense. Something to take the edge off of the dreadful telepathic assault that everyday life had suddenly become till he got his powers under control. Helpful for getting through the night but not necessarily for maintaining a coherent conversation! *He probably just needs some time to pull his thoughts together* Matt decided, letting the room descend into quiet stillness, trying to give the other man the peace he needed to come around.
'I was getting a drink.' The lie dropped into the tranquillity he was trying to build like a pebble into a lake, casting ripples of tension into the already troubled atmosphere of the room. Matt sighed. Denial was to be expected but it didn’t make things any easier, putting them all in the awkward position of either going along with the all too obvious falsehood or confronting her with it and accepting the inevitable fall out! From where he was sitting neither option seemed like a good one but unfortunately he had to pick one and he had to do it now! So , what to do?
Quickly he checked over Catherine’s vital signs noting the steadying heart rate heart rate, the easing of the muscles, even a slight change in pheromones that marked a lightening of spirit perhaps? *Damn it I need to look into her eyes to be sure* he thought bitterly *and that’s something that’s just not going to happen! So I guess I’ll have to go with my instincts and hope for the best. At least till Hank gets back that is! *
“Yeah Sorry we woke you” Matt said with a disarming smile, deciding finally that Catherine had probably been through enough for one evening without dragging her back into conflict.” I’m not very steady on my feet at the moment. He explained glibly, hoping that if the other man caught the lie in his thoughts he’d also catch the reason behind it “ Shouldn’t really have been out of bed in the first place but what can I say. I got restless. You know how it is. So there I was heading for a tumble when this pretty lady turned up and saved me. Guess we did make rather a racket though! For which I apologise.”
The story was all too plausible and delivered with the same easy charm that made him such a formidable foe in the courtroom. Now it was up to the others what they decided to make of it. “ *And to help them swallow the pill a little change of subject perhaps?* Anyway, now we’re all here on the floor freezing our butts off maybe we could introduce ourselves? he added mischievously I don’t know about you two but I like to know who I’m sitting around in my pyjamas with! Matt Murdock Attorney at law! Pleased to make your acquaintance!”
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)
ooc: sorry it a bit on the short and confusing side but i had the first draft eaten and its really really late right about now... hope this will do
'I was getting a drink.' The lie was all to clar in her voice, you didn’t need to be a mind reader to notice that. But nick was not able to gain much from her mind right now, only a few odd thoughts about riley… and some of those the agent would rather he did not have to see. With a pained expression he forced his mind to try and lock on to the man instead, feeling sure that his thoughts would be much more coherent “Yeah Sorry we woke you” the apology broke the awkward external silence in the room, only there was never any silence in nick’s life since that escape.
.” I’m not very steady on my feet at the moment. Shouldn’t really have been out of bed in the first place but what can I say. I got restless. You know how it is. So there I was heading for a tumble when this pretty lady turned up and saved me. Guess we did make rather a racket though! For which I apologise.”
Nick could tell that It was not all lies, but the reason for the commotion was clearly not true, those had not been restless walking noises he had heard, no, they were looking for something noises… followed by bumping into things and mental screaming noises. But the lie was clearly there for a reason and the man had gone to a lot of effort to go along with the girl, surely he knew that Nick couldn’t be that stupid as to believe what he was saying… or was he hoping for him to go along with it and pretend to believe.
It was all too confusing for him at this time of night and in his current state of mind, he’d go along with it for now at least to save any more confusion. Anyway, now we’re all here on the floor freezing our butts off maybe we could introduce ourselves? The agent stared at him in what could be considered a rather rude manner, but he could not help it, introductions might not be the most sensible thing at the moment. I don’t know about you two but I like to know who I’m sitting around in my pyjamas with! Matt Murdock Attorney at law! Pleased to make your acquaintance!”
“Nick…” he replied quickly, not really able to formulate much more and the tortured man could barely recall his own last name having not heard it for several years. “…Thompson” he added after a second or two’s pause to think it over, his voice was distant as he spoke and then fell silent, glancing down at his feet, his face twisting as he tried to make sense of his mind once more
for a second or two he mumbled to himself barely able to be heard over his heavy breathing “There’s nothing sharp… nothing dangerous… the doc locked it all away” his dry voice not making the situation any less tense, not entirely sure whether he had spoken out loud or not but someone’s thoughts in his mind were considering ways of killing themselves, or had been a while ago. There was little chance the thoughts were his own though, for he had already read in Hank’s mind that he knew the agent was suicidal last time he was in this world and had removed everything that could cause damage so as not to allow any self harming whilst he was away.
But nick was not about to harm himself any more, the agent was too tired and worn down to even stand up from the floor where he had slumped at the moment let alone cause any damage. He glanced around the room for a moment or two before the tiredness slowly took him over and his eyes began to slowly close, the agent’s head gradually drooping as he fell sideways onto the floor. it only lasted till he hit the floor though, the cold tiles waking him as soon as he made contact Nick forced himself to a sitting position again with his arms.
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)
Lies sometimes did help, no matter what they taught you at catechism. That was something Matt had come to terms with years ago. In fact a good part of his life was built on them, all the small necessary ones that kept those he cared for from being dragged into the murky underworld where he hid his face behind a mask rather than a blind mans dark glasses.
The ones he had pulled out to help ease the present situation seemed to have had the desired effect at least as far as the girl was concerned. Matt could feel her ease slightly, another step in the right direction and one he was happy to have been able to help with. Though Nick could ruin all that with just a few words, depending on whether or not he decided to play along.
Matt crossed mental fingers, willing the telepath to accept things as they were. And it seemed to work, for although confusion was clear even in these most simple of words an introduction was what followed. “Nick…”..It would have been easy to believe that only the first name would be offered were it not for the tone of voice, an audible struggle to provide even this most personal piece of information that spoke volumes of the man’s physical and mental condition. But the name was finally there, produced and laid out for examination, not just by those who heard it for the first time but also by its owner, if his subsequent silence was anything to go by.The lawyer hoped that this too could be classed as progress because by the sound of things Nick was in just as much need of a little peace as the girl was. And perhaps less likely to find it. Still the tension had eased and…..
“There’s nothing sharp… nothing dangerous… the doc locked it all away”*Damn! Just when things had been going so well!* It didn’t matter where the words came from, whether they were Nick’s own reflection or had drifted out of his companions minds all that mattered was that the girl heard them and of course interpreted them in her own way. Instantly her heartbeat spiked, and Matt could feel her temperature rise as muscles tensed for flight.
*OK* Matt told himself *Blind man crossing mine field… not easy at the best of times! Which this most certainly is not But here goes*“Thanks for letting me know” he said casually as if the comment were a mere observation following on from his own conversation rather than an emotional bombshell “but don’t worry. I’m not planning on doing any more unaccompanied wandering around so I’ll be safe enough. Provided I don’t take another tumble that is.”
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)
There was a rush of gratitude towards Matt as he lied to Nick, telling him that instead of him finding Cat rummaging around in the med bay that she'd in fact saved him from falling over something. She didn't feel bad about encouraging Matt to lie, Catherine didn't usually have a problem with lying. Sometimes it was better not to tell people the truth... and sometimes it saved her from unpleasant situations, like detention.
Catherine's eyes flicked over towards Matt as he dropped the fact that he thought she was pretty into the conversation. His own eyes stared over towards Nick with a blank and vacant expression. She decided there was no way he could tell that she was pretty, she'd never met him before tonight and he didn't know her name so he couldn't have been told by someone else that she was attractive.
What was this... some sort of self help for the inmates of the medical bay? Did they think she was going to sit around and talk to them about problems that were so private she didn't even tell close friends? Her delicate chin dropping to examine her hands as she played with the bottom of her t-shirt, listening as Matt talked.
An Attorney at law? She wondered what one of those was... Cat had heard of the law of course that was what kept people behaving properly. But what did an attorney at law do? and what was an attorney? Curiosity made her want to ask him, but then she'd look foolish for not knowing. Perhaps Riley might know, he seemed to know everything there was to know about anything.
“Nick…” There was a pause before he spoke again "There’s nothing sharp… nothing dangerous… the doc locked it all away” Her heart rate immediately increased as blood flushed her cheeks pink. How dare he?! Cat felt tears of anger, or so she hoped pricking at the corners of her eyes. He had no idea of anything yet he was sitting there judging her. She was about to spring to her feet when Matt spoke.
“Thanks for letting me know” ... “but don’t worry. I’m not planning on doing any more unaccompanied wandering around so I’ll be safe enough. Provided I don’t take another tumble that is.” She'd been sure Nick's words had been meant for her and the sightless man's answer mentally knocked her off balance. Catherine hesitated, thinking over Matt's quick answer to Nick's question ... perhaps it had been a little to fast? Her tensed muscles relaxed and her eyes blinked to remove the tears which were threatening to fall. She chose to say nothing however, waiting to see what Nick replied to Matt.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)
Sleepily Nick glanced over to matt as his voice broke him from a semi trancelike state “Thanks for letting me know” ... “but don’t worry. I’m not planning on doing any more unaccompanied wandering around so I’ll be safe enough. Provided I don’t take another tumble that is.” Something in the agents head clicked into place suddenly as if his mind had momentarily connected with Matt’s.
“You’ll have to drop by my room beforehand next time you fancy a wander” his voice displaying a faint hint of humour as the agent tried his best to play along with the other man, realising that Cat was probably in denial or something “that way I can make sure you don’t fall over” somehow that statement did not seem right… though the agent would never knowingly admit to being too weak to help someone in need, he clutched his head and moaned quietly…
These thoughts were not his own… rocking back and forth for what seemed like ages he moved his hands away, in his mind he could see himself sitting across the room… only it was not normal, there was no colours to it, nothing… blankness. A confused look on his face the agent shook his head in an attempt to dispel the image he was seeing but it only served to increase the picture. He was slowly becoming more and more awake, and I only took his fragile mind a second or two to calculate that he was connected to one of the two people in the room… and being as the girl was not in the right position to see him in that way he must be seeing through the eye’s of the blind man.
Closing his eye’s nick clutched his whole head again and groaned louder, why could he not control his own mind, why was he being tortured with other people’s memories and thoughts like this… “Ungh… I think someone’s punishing me,” he murmured, not sure if he was thinking or saying it out loud but part of the agent not caring… “Whose mind am I in now?” he said out loud… he looked over at the blind man, his mind slowly descending into a mess of confusion once more “well at least its not hers…” he groaned partially collapsing to the tiled floor as the familiar headache crept back
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)
OOC Discussed this post with Dan so... no god modding!
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Matt hadn’t known what kind of reaction to expect from the man but it certainly hadn’t been humour. Yet there it was, or at least a hint of it, shining through words that suddenly pulled themselves into coherence giving him a glimpse of what Nick must have been like before life and his uncontrolled powers reduced him to this wreck. “You’ll have to drop by my room beforehand next time you fancy a wander” he told the lawyer, thankfully letting the subject of the girl’s attempt at self harm drop, trying even in his own way to lighten the mood . “that way I can make sure you don’t fall over”
A similarly light hearted remark was on the tip of Matt’s tongue when suddenly Nick groaned, pain clear in his voice, changing the atmosphere again with his growing distress. It happened so suddenly, the transition from lucidity back into confusion. “Ungh… I think someone’s punishing me,” the telepath said , his whispered words rendered all to clear by Matt’s heightened senses.
This was one situation no amount of carefully chosen words was going to help with nor was it an enemy who could be fought with courage and a billy club. And so Matt could only sit by helplessly while Nick spiralled back down into the hell of his own mind. Or maybe, the crime fighter suddenly realised as Nick spoke again, someone elses. “Whose mind am I in now?” Nick asked worriedly only to add. “well at least its not hers…” Then he was slipping forward, heading for the floor and Matt was moving to intercept, his training kicking in before he even thought of the possible consequences.
His senses might not have had the cohesion that let him throw himself unquestioningly from rooftop to rooftop but they were still enough to help him keep Nick from harm. Only when he had caught the falling man, gasping with the pain the effort had put on his wounded body, did he fully analyse what had been said. What exactly did that mean? That Nick’s telepathy had locked onto someone that much was clear. But someone far away or all to close at hand? And not the girl from what he had just said Which only left….
Instantly Matt tensed ,feeling the first faint trace of a headache that hadn’t been there seconds before. Was Nick in his head? Sharing his thoughts, his secrets? Or was it just the after effects of head trauma and stress? It could so easily have been the case. After all there had been headaches aplenty when Matt had first awoken until the alien machines had turned their attention from the life threatening internal injuries to concentrate on his fractured skull. But this ah….. this had been to well timed, coinciding exactly with the moment Nick had spoken of entering another’s mind. And Matt had never been a great believer in coincidences.
*Easy* the blind man told himself *this isn’t the first telepath you’ve been in contact with. Talia’s been talking in your mind for days now but still…* This wasn’t the same. There was no control here, no sensitive discretion. That much had been clear from the earlier overheard conversation. And now, with touch, came the feeling of being pulled under, of being stripped to the bone. This was an invasion as intrusive for the victim as it was for the unwilling aggressor. And one that Matt wasn’t willing to accept. Though he had no training, no idea how he would fight it.
No, that wasn’t true! There was one idea that had never failed him, one image that had always prevailed. Even if in the real world his body had sometimes let it down! With a cry Matt threw it at the telepath, a mental image of something he had never seen but which lay at the very core of his being. A legend he had constructed and forged from nothing but his own courage. Daredevil.
The shock was immediate throwing the two men apart leaving Matt dazed against the wall. “Sorry “ he said catching his breath “I guess everyone has their inner demons”Edited by: MattMurdock69 at: 5/22/06 2:46 am
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)“You’ll have to drop by my room beforehand next time you fancy a wander” Having no idea that Nick was merely playing along with Matt Catherine stared gratefully at the floor. The less people who knew things like that about her the better. In fact the less Nick knew about her the better, she'd not really liked him last year and she was discovering that her feelings towards him hadn't altered. “that way I can make sure you don’t fall over” The young woman sneaked a peek at the unseeing eyes of her companion. If he were younger, and there had been no Riley with a prior claim she might have flirted with him. As it was he was far to old for her... not that it couldn't stop her from admiring him...
Glancing over at Nick she frowned, the guy was rocking backwards and forwards. She wasn't at all sure he was in any fit state to be allowed near other people, he seemed more than a little crazy. “Ungh… I think someone’s punishing me,” Catherine didn't feel any sympathy for him, she made a point to not have empathy for people she didn't like, hell most of the time she hardly had it for people she cared about. She was, after all, a very self obsessed person... her pain was always worse than anyone else’s and life always dealt harder by her than it did by anyone else. “Whose mind am I in now?” Now? ... did that mean he'd been in her head!! She felt her skin crawl at the thought, so many private thoughts and feelings that he could have plundered. The idea made her feel suddenly naked and exposed. Before she had a chance to follow up her thoughts with angry words Nick continued speaking.
“well at least its not hers…” She opened her mouth indignantly, feeling her cheeks flush red but something seemed to happen between the two men. Cat didn't really understand what had happened, but suddenly Matt was slumped gasping for breath against the countertop. Matt darted in before her and responded to Nick's words. “Sorry" She supposed Matt had managed to sever the connection between them. The idea made her suddenly wonder what Matt's mutant power was. It wasn't something that was obvious, perhaps he was a telepath like Nick. The idea made her uncomfortable. “I guess everyone has their inner demons” Catherine kept quiet, not really wanting to be drawn further into what was becoming a very odd conversation. Perhaps she should go back to her room and text Riley back, he'd be thinking that she'd gone to sleep on him.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)ooc: ok i kinda sense that nick's presence in this thread is not really helping much and there was no real way of me bringing him back to sanity right now as its far more complicated to post sanity than it is to do confusion XD... just have him stretchered out, leave him there or something, but if this makes it too complicated let me know and i can change it... though not till thursday
The sensation of falling was not one unfamiliar to the agent since he had been severed from his partner, it was a regular occurrence that he had become used to… so much so in fact that the pain from any impact barely registered over the other aches in his weakened body. but this time it was different and he had not contacted the floor, instead the unfamiliar feeling of being caught in someone’s arms.
It was different to anything he had ever felt before to be helped instead of helping, for once he was not the strong arms gathering the distressed person in their protective embrace. But these arms were far from strong at the moment and it would seem that the physical contact of the blind man with Nick’s confused mind reaching out sent him spiralling into the thoughts of the other man and no matter how he fought it the pain in his head grew with every second their bodies remained close.
His tired muscles fought in vain to move him from the other man’s arms, it was not that he was being restrained, no it was that he no longer had any control over his movement. His mind was so entangled in the other man’s thoughts and feelings that he could not distinguish anything out of either of their thoughts; instead his telepathy sought out more and more, the girls disliking of him… everything.
But through the mess and noise one image began to burn stronger than any others in Nick’s fragile mind. A creature looming from the masses upon him, if he had been in a fit state this would not have provoked any reaction from the demon hunter, he would probably have realised that it was from the inner workings of the blind man’s mind, he would have been able to sense the man’s activities as daredevil and guessed that this figure was Matt’s perception of himself. He was however not in a fit state to realise anything.
Fear, it was something else that the agent had not experienced much until his separation, right now it was coursing through his every vein, thundering like a speeding train towards his brain. Though he did not understand what was going on something in his mind told him that the contact had to be severed or they would both be worse off from this experience. Without him knowing it the agent’s mind sent out a small shockwave, like a safety valve going off to let off steam that sent the pair of them flying apart.
Not the best idea with them in their current states but with all the confusion it was the only thing that the wounded man could manage, even if he did not realise that he had done anything. Lying against the wall on the opposite side of the room to Matt Nick’s sight slowly became more and more blurry as he stared over at the blind man, his dark eyes glazing over “Sorry I guess everyone has their inner demons” he could barely make out the man’s form now, passing out was familiar too… it was a good thing though as it helped calm the inner torment and when totally unconscious the thoughts in his head died and gave way to a peaceful nothingness. Matt’s words were low and distorted as everything slowly faded to black and his head drooped gently to the hospital gown at his chest.
However unpleasant the experience had been for Matt it seemed to have been worse for the telepath. Matt could hear his heart racing in fear then a slowing in the beat and his breathing as the man obviously slipped into unconsciousness. Damn. He hadn’t meant to hurt Nick just get him out of his head. Well he had certainly done that all right. And now they were faced with a real dilemma.
Sure, it should have been easily resolved. Call for help. Press one of the many buttons in the rooms that would bring an orderly running. Hell they could even tear Hank away from the one moment of relaxation Matt had seen him take since he had arrived in med lab. After all that would be the sensible thing to do wouldn’t it. Anything else would be pretty damned stupid.
Except……… Then they would have to explain exactly what they were all doing sitting there on the floor like so many school kids on a particularly bad sleepover instead of being safely tucked up in their beds. And Matt really didn’t know if that was what Catherine needed right now. Yes they could lie their way out of it again, especially if it was just the night attendant who came to pick up the pieces. That didn’t change the fact that a report would no doubt be made and Matt was pretty certain that McCoy wouldn’t be fooled for an instant by his tales of nocturnal stumbling.
It was a hard call to make. Part of him said that the doctor should know what had been going through Catherine’s mind if he was going to treat her effectively. Another part said that she had already gone through enough at least for one night and that if he could spare her any more trauma then he should. The blind man sighed, knowing that the decision had already been made, and more by his heart than by his head. If Catherine fell apart again then fine, he’d spill the beans. But until then......
“Oh I am sooo going to regret this” he said softly as he pushed himself to his feet and crossed the short distance that separated him from the fallen telepath. “Right” he crouched down by his side, focused on Nick though his words were aimed at Catherine. “You are now going to see me pull one of the stupidest stunts of my career. Or at least try to, so wish me luck! And be ready to scrape us both off the floor if I screw up. “
Nick was a dead weight but then again Matt had been lifting weights every day for as long as he could remember. It was a question of concentration, determination and balance. Not to mention strength. Though it also helped not to have various bits of your body cracked and broken! There was no way this wasn’t going to hurt but then he had already accepted that, hadn’t he? The trick was to make it hurt less.
Matt went very still, his breath coming slow and steady, slipping his hands under Nick’s body as he readied himself for the lift. Then…… They called it Ki in martial arts. That inner force you could call on when you had to. The blind man summoned his now and rose with a gasp, though his ribs screamed in protest and his leg almost refused to steady under him. Almost! But not quite. For a moment all he could do was stand with the man in his arms, waiting for the pain to pass, or at least as much as it was ever going to. “Ok” he said shakily “Lets get him back to his room. Care to lead the way?”
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)
Oh great! That was all they needed... stupid idiot had gone and passed out now! Why was he even out of bed if he wasn't in a fit state, you couldn't just go around passing out whenever you wanted. How comes Hank wasn't around when you needed him? He could have scraped Nick off the floor and put him back to bed ... and hopefully strapped him down at the same time. For all her negative thoughts it was doubtful that she'd have left Thompson lying on the cold floor until he came around. There were plenty of conveniently placed emergency buttons that would bring the doctor running in minutes.
“Oh I am sooo going to regret this” She glanced up, her dark eyes curious, watching the blind man as he clambered awkwardly to his feet. Cat hadn't appreciated before how impaired his movement was, but he saw now, quite clearly, that even the simple act of standing was an effort for him.
“Right” ... “You are now going to see me pull one of the stupidest stunts of my career. Or at least try to, so wish me luck! And be ready to scrape us both off the floor if I screw up. “ Her attention focused upon the older man, wondering exactly what he was planning on doing... Perhaps he was going to use his powers. She found herself wondering what they were, maybe his blindness was because of his mutant power.
She got to her feet, feeling concerned as she watched Matt lift the other man up off the floor. Why was it men always felt the need to act the hero even when it wasn't required. It would have been just as easy to ring one of the alarms to summon Hank. In fact it would probably have been a better idea, what if there was something really wrong with Nick? “Ok” Letting out an exasperated noise she stared at the pair of them, between them there was probably enough sound flesh and mind to make one whole person.
“Lets get him back to his room. Care to lead the way?” Stomping past him she irritably opened the door to Nick's room. Catherine glanced around the bare room before she looked back at Matt again, not thinking for a second that he'd easily be able to read her mood without the use of his eyes simply by his enhanced senses.
ooc: Sorry it's not longer.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: Self help.(continued from Rileys dorm room)
They made it to the room…..but only just…..and even then Matt wasn’t sure that he was going to be able to do anything other than drop into a heap beside Nick. Ok he had known from the start it was a stupid thing to do but he hadn’t really expected it to have been this hard.
*Yeah sure!* Matt thought to himself as he settled the telepath onto the bed. *Because it’s been what, oh that’s right, nearly a week since Doc Occ used you as a punching bag and left you for dead. So you should be able to do things like this standing on your head, shouldn’t you. Though come to think of it that might have been a better option because standing on my feet hurts like hell!*
In any case it was becoming clear that the girl was just as impressed by his actions as he was himself. While he had actually been carrying the unconscious man he hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything other than putting one foot in front of the other and trying not to pass out as he did so. And to be honest she hadn’t exactly made his task any easier.
He had asked her to lead him and for once he had meant it, pain and effort reducing him almost to the level of a normal blind man. There had been no guiding hand on his arm though …… not even encouraging words to follow. Just an disgusted sigh and then footsteps that thankfully vibrated enough for him to be able to pick up on them even in his weakened state.
Now, belatedly, he recognised her mood. Not the all encompassing sadness that had dragged him from his bed in the first place in an attempt to save her from herself. Not even the defensiveness that had settled upon her when Nick had wandered into their discussion. No this was irritation pure and simple. And all in all he didn’t feel that he deserved it.
He hadn’t expected thanks, that had never been part of his motivation. And after all she hadn’t asked him to intervene. That had been his own decision. But still some basic understanding would have been nice. Because when all was said and done he had covered for her. It would have been much easier to have merely pressed a button when he had first heard her weeping and have one of the orderly’s come in and deal with her anguish. In all probability with a large dose of sedatives! And maybe that’s exactly what he should have done. After all this had never been his problem. It wasn’t down to him to try to find a solution to it.
And yet something in her desperation had called to him, leading him to go to her. Just as it had apparently called to Nick. Both of them trying to help. *Yeah and look where it got us! A blind wreck and a half crazed telepath! Shit maybe she’s has a right to be pissed off. Neither one of us is exactly fit to be playing Prince Charming!*
Matt sighed and concentrated on Nick's unconscious form laying one hand gently on the side of his neck, reading his vital signs as accurately as the most sophisticated of Hank’s machines. Though he well knew that it wasn’t the man’s body that was the problem! Still Matt hadn’t yet called for a doctor and he wanted to be sure that he wasn’t putting Nick in any physical danger by not doing so. He already knew that the heartbeat was strong and steady. Now he could add temperature and blood pressure to his findings.
“Physically he’s fine. He’s just passed out” he told Catherine. “Mentally.. well he wasn’t so great when he came in and I think I put the fear of god into him. Or maybe I should say, the devil. But I don’t sense any stress in him so he doesn’t seem to be suffering that way either.”
Matt sat down beside the bed and raised his empty eyes in her direction. “ Anyway…. I’ll sit with him for a while, make sure he’s ok. It was the least he could do although all he craved was to be back in his own bed with a healthy dose of painkillers to help him through this. And if not well… I’ll just have to yank Hank back from the party”
“You on the other hand… well I can tell you’re not exactly thrilled with how this went down.” he told her frankly. “ So if you’re feeling better maybe you should get back to bed. And don’t worry. I haven’t gone to all this trouble covering your tracks to tell on you now.” They both knew what he was talking about without him going into details. And that was something he was certain she didn’t want him to do. “Just….. don’t make me regret it, all right?
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