There was of course a disappointment when Michael moved for the door, Scott never liked it when he was left alone as well, so there was only a small smile given back as Michael made his farewell. ”Ill be back to see you later Scott”. A meek attempt of curling a little more on his pillow was given as Scott tried to shift himself to better see his friends departure. The good hand managed to lift a little in a tired attempt of a farewell gesture which Scott had seen so many of the students make, a wave of the hand was a little too much of an effort right now however. Although the bizarre weight of outside sensations which Michael radiated, his almost unique bubble of optimism and air of anxiety, reluctance and determination, all the ups and downs which radiated from Michael left with him, or at least faded dramatically in any case… But a new sense of apprehension uneased the air, a hopeful wishful wisp wrapped around a grievance, a terrible feel of burden and longing.
"And you Scott. How are you feeling." Tired, weak, bored… in the mood for sweets. Physically Scott didn’t really hurt any more, aside from the nagging pins and needles which still lingered, the toxins were fading… now if only the symptoms it brought faded just as quickly. “You certainly seem to be on the mend.” Let him believe all is well and perhaps the good doctor would let Scott leave sooner rather then later… of course limping across the room like a rag doll was hardly going to impress the guy but anything was worth a try if there was a chance of leaving here.
“Now is there anything we can do to make you more comfortable. I’m afraid I don’t have much experience treating fairies you know.“ On a side note that was a good thing, it meant Tessa probably never got hurt before… or maybe she was more human then fairy, it seriously did seem that way in her behavior, but Scott could sense her presence just like any other of his own kind. “I’m only sorry I didn’t get the chance to learn more about your people under happier circumstances. So if anything is you need, or any questions you want answered just ask. That’s what I’m there for after all." Questions were plentiful but would Beast answer them all if Scott asked? The fairy twisted himself a little more so he was on his back as he laid. Inquisitive eyes peered at the doctor, a duller shade of blue then normal but not their steely gray which hinted at him feeling extremely negative emotions. Only once in his stay has the Prince’s eyes taken their most vibrant of colors, entering a violet hue which expressed rather strong positive emotions. There was a moment Scott remembered as he thought of what would make him happy, and he was on the island talking with Tessa and Michael. Scott’s eyes seemed to have trailed off towards the door which Michael had disappeared through before looking back towards Hank with a calm, though also an uncertain, stare.
"The things I wish to ask may be things you wish not to share I fear." There was an air of an unheard and unseen sigh which wisped through the very words themselves. "And from what I have seen, most knowledge is sought because of a reason, most of which I am sure is negative in itself. Medicines are after all made because of an illness that has effected another…" The Prince paused with a slightly reluctant look about his expression. "I apologize, your place of healing is so lifeless, so isolated, and I have never been hurt before, not seriously… everyone has such sad and pained spirits, I find my own thoughts fall short of optimism." As if keeping his own mood up in this new and intimidating experience, he had to keep all the other frayed spirits at bay, each and every negative emotion trying hard to drop his own down with them.
"My mother was a Healer once, she still is now even with all her other responsibilities. And later after I was born and grew up enough I went with her often… only in the last three hundred years, but I picked up a lot of her recipes and cures, and we always recover easier with pleasant company." There was a shy look as Scott momentarily stared with a look of a child asking a parent for the puppy who playfully ran about on the other side of the window in the pet store. The hopeful look which dismissed any possible chance of being denied what they desired so greatly at that moment, and if the parent did say no, there was that loss of delight and hope and instead a miserable pout, sometimes so unbelievably cute the parent just wants to take back what they said and feel so terribly guilty.
"Tessa was distressed, perhaps if I spend some time with her then her natural magic will help revitalize my own and I know she would no longer feel so useless, it would give her a sense of control being a part of my recovery." Perhaps there was a trace of affection in his words, but more towards the idea of companionship with another fairy, even if she was half human as well, that caused a spark of hopefulness. Being the age Scott was he was still a little too naive to noticed girls, even pretty ones like Tessa, sure he knew she was nice, and she was a pretty girl, but it wasn’t really something Scott thought deeply about. He didn’t know her a great deal in any case, but all that was about to change, and the Prince wasn’t aware what lay ahead of him in the coming weeks. All that Scott was hopeful for today was the chance to be with a new friend that was also of the same race as him, despite only partly, so Scott didn’t care, he liked Tess, she had a polite, anxious and well rounded personality. Not constantly high and not constantly low, not shifting from one extreme to the other and not random, she got along with him well enough and it would be the first real friend of his own people he would make outside his family or the others working in the palace. "Please?"
Re: That's what friends are for.
Sorry about this. I was rushed!
.................
Hank wasn’t sure what questions his patient thought he might try to avoid. Questions about Micheal’s health perhaps? he wondered following Scotts gaze as his friend made his way across med lab. Certainly that would fall outside the bounds of conversation. Or maybe the remark itself was merely another manifestation of the sadness that had suddenly seemed to settle over the fairy. The doctor wondered if it was a natural melancholy or the by product of other peoples trauma but in any case it was hardly conducive to recovery.
Scott's next words seemed to indicate that he felt the same"I apologize, your place of healing is so lifeless, so isolated, and I have never been hurt before, not seriously… everyone has such sad and pained spirits, I find my own thoughts fall short of optimism." he said miserably.
It was strange to hear med lab and medicine spoken of in such a negative way It was true that it people only stayed in it when they were hurt or ill but still Hank had always considered it a sanctuary, somewhere healing could begin and pain could be eased. Though he had to admit that at the moment there was too much that he was unable to cure. Perhaps what he was hearing was a reflection of his own increasing despair as he watched two people he cared about slipping away without his being able to save them.
"My mother was a Healer once, Scott continued. "she still is now even with all her other responsibilities. And later after I was born and grew up enough I went with her often… only in the last three hundred years, but I picked up a lot of her recipes and cures, and we always recover easier with pleasant company."
Inevitably the casual mention of three centuries caused surprise. *How many years has this boy been alive?* was the question Hank asked himself . rather than the more usual one ‘what age is he?’ No matter how much time had passed since Scott’s birth it was still apparent to the doctor that he was above all a boy and a rather young and naïve one at that. *Will he still be the same when all of us have long since perished* Hank wondered *or will living amongst us force such experiences upon him that he will change as we do? An interesting concept which I hope doesn’t leave him lost, trapped between both worlds fully belonging to neither.*
*Ahhh this pessimism is infectious it would appear*.Hank sighed *Why should his time here not be beneficial both to him and to us. We certainly have lots to learn from each other and it seems that he has people here who care for him . That is surely a good thing for all concerned*.
"Tessa was distressed””,Scott said suddenly, confirming Hank’s deduction that the fairy was integrating well into the institutes rather peculiar social structure by his next request. “Perhaps if I spend some time with her then her natural magic will help revitalize my own and I know she would no longer feel so useless, it would give her a sense of control being a part of my recovery.Please"
Hank couldn’t help but smile. “You would be surprised how many young men feel better in the presence of a pretty girl “ he said mischievously. “Certainly I have no objections to Miss McNeil paying you a visit. And as I previously said you are now out of danger though I have no doubt that the remaining symptoms are awkward to say the least.”
“ With anyone else I would suggest some time on the shiar machines to alleviate them” he explained “ but with your particular physiology I feel it would be safer to let things run their course. It will take longer but in the end be infinitely safer ”
“So yes some cheerful company could be just what the doctor ordered, though sleep is also recommended “he went on looking at Scots sleepy eyes.”Why don’t you take a nap and I will contact Tessa and let her know that she can come down and see you. I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear that.
Re: That's what friends are for.
A smile was returned as Scott finished speaking, which caused the fairy to wonder curiously as to why, after all, it was always nice to know what made someone smile. “You would be surprised how many young men feel better in the presence of a pretty girl “ There was something of an impish quality to the words, a playfulness which Scott took directly aimed towards Tessa’s personality. After all, she was appealing and sweet, but at the moment Scott was still bordering just before that stage where he would find himself noticing them as more then just a friend. The issues others had with females helped decline the interest Scott would have possibly had in his subconscious, he couldn’t really understand what was the point in all those worries. But as far as companionship was, Tessa was perfect, she didn’t even need to speak and he felt like they were communicating. And the Prince was tired so Scott doubted there would be much talking if she did come, even if Scott tried he knew he’d probably end up just mindlessly mumbling along with her at some point.
“Certainly I have no objections to Miss McNeil paying you a visit. And as I previously said you are now out of danger though I have no doubt that the remaining symptoms are awkward to say the least.” A bright smile spread, even if Scott spent a moment to guess the meaning of the word ‘symptoms’ since it wasn’t one he was commonly exposed to. If Riley hadn’t looked so distraught over Connor’s disappearance Scott would have asked if he could come visit again and maybe bring his guitar so they could quickly have some music like they used to last year when Riley became insanely engrossed in different instruments, all of which in the end hadn’t effected his favorite choice; the guitar. Though Scott liked the sounds the violin made when Riley was trying to use it, only it didn’t suit Finn, Riley borrowed the instrument from the school music room, the only instrument that was Riley’s was the guitar itself. Actually, Scott would have loved to try and learn some of the musical tools himself, especially the violin since it looked strange and sounded so beautiful. Riley had said something about Scott looking into a harp if he wanted to find a string instrument that he was more familiar with.
“ With anyone else I would suggest some time on the shiar machines to alleviate them” Again a guess was given as to the meaning of the strange word ‘shi’ar’ assuming it was something like ‘medical beds’ or ‘advanced machines’ or something similar. While Scott didn’t know of aliens, he would act rather casual if told of them, after all, there were multiple words on Earth alone, it would make sense that Earth was just another world amongst a cluster of others. “but with your particular physiology I feel it would be safer to let things run their course. It will take longer but in the end be infinitely safer ” Well, better safe then sorry. Scott bit his lower lip on the inside for a moment, he wasn’t fully aware what exactly the doctor was saying, he knew the beds were special, he had overheard once when Connor and Riley had been talking about them and Heath wanted to know what magic’s where on the beds to make them heal people. Neither Connor or Riley really explained the fact it was alien machines, they just said it was a special machine, which usually helped Heath understand what was science and what was mutant or supernatural powers. Of course for Heath even science was seeming like an act of magic to him.
“So yes some cheerful company could be just what the doctor ordered, though sleep is also recommended“ A slight nod of Scott’s head showed the fairy agreed heartily with that comment. Being tired was never fun, it just dulled the personality when most of the effort was put into keeping ones eyes open, it was also rude if the other was trying to talk and their partner was passing out on them. "Why don’t you take a nap and I will contact Tessa and let her know that she can come down and see you. I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear that.” A moments thought tossed the idea about as he wondered if he could actually sleep here, but then again, did he much choice? His eyes felt like would close on him wanted or not, but it would have been nicer if there was a companion around to know he wasn’t alone… Then again, Hank was around, and Michael too… obviously they wouldn’t sit around keeping Scott company but they weren’t too far off. Michael would probably leave at some point by hopefully Scott would be asleep by then.
"As you wish," The Prince accepted Hank’s request for rest with no retaliation, after all, a healer only did what needed to be done to offer someone else the help they needed. And the fact Beast was allowing Tessa to come, something Scott had half figured wouldn’t be allowed since Riley had also mentioned it was possible Scott would remain in the lab for at least a night or so. "and I am immeasurably appreciative." Gratitude filled the words, a subdued joy that was mostly beaten down by the fatigue and outside sensations. Bright eyes seemed drained of the intense sea color, their still striking gaze staring a moment later at the bland ceiling about, trying to picture the clouds which undoubtedly drifted the heavens above.
Re: That's what friends are for.
Hank closed the door quietly as he left a slight smile still hovering around his mouth as he thought of the fairy’s request. *Now if Max had asked for a beautiful woman to be sent down in order to cheer him up I might have had to think twice before saying yes* the doctor said to himself mischievously. *Somehow I don’t think Scott’s mind works in the same way though.* It was a moment of brightness in an otherwise bleak day, one of the small things Hank had taught himself to hang onto in order to get himself through the hard hours that undoubtedly lay ahead.
He looked over at Michael now sitting patiently beside the office door. Well probably not as patiently as all that the doctor reminded himself.* He must be counting the seconds till his next injection. Not that I blame him. He has already waited long enough* The boys success on the training mission was something else to feel good about even if his presence in the med lab at that particular moment was a mixed blessing. *Deal with his pain. Tell him how proud you are of his achievements.* Hank reiterated as he walked towards the seated youngster. *That is all you can do as a doctor. The rest must be left to fate*
The boy’s eyes lifted as he approached the need in them all to plain to see despite his efforts to hide it.* He looks tired* Hank thought * and there’s worry too in his regard though not for himself, I don’t think.* Michael got to his feet as the doctor drew near, trying not to make too much noise as he manipulated his crutches into place, not wanting to disturb the other patients again as he rose .”Did Scott tell you about Aribeth” he asked softly when Hank reached him“It’s a stuffed toy I think. He’d like to have it with him Doesn’t like being alone when he sleeps apparently. Anyway I reckon I could get it for him once….”
He didn’t have to finish the sentence They both knew what he had been going to say. Once you make the pain go away. He blushed slightly obviously having heard the hint of desperation in his own voice. “And he only eats vegetables. And anything sweet. He loves things like that ” Michael finished awkwardly.
Hank was a little surprised by the hurried words. It was nice though the concern Michael showed for his team mate obviously wanting to make sure he had imparted the information before the imperatives of his condition took wholly over and drove all other thoughts from his mind. “I’ll bear that in mind Michael ,thank you” McCoy replied gently. “It’s good to know Scott has friends who care about him. He’s asked me to contact Miss McNeil. He seems eager to see her again.” There was a trace of answering mischief in Michael’s smile at the doctor’s words. “Ah that’s Scott all over” he said wickedly “A real ladies man.” and they both chuckled at the thought.
The office door was open now, Hank standing aside to let Michael enter and sink gratefully into the waiting chair. McCoy placed the box containing the syringes on the table between them as he too sat at the desk. They were so close Michael could have reached out his hand and touched them but he didn’t, mostly because he didn’t want the doctor to see how badly his hands were shaking.* Its Ok* he told himself *Only one more minute and everything will be all right* He had forgotten Scott and Paige, the questions he had wanted to ask pushed aside by the overriding need that rose up in him. *Come on come on*
It seemed like the doctor was moving in slow motion, the huge hands opening the box, delicately extracting the syringe. "I want to hear all about your mission Micheal he was saying but first things first. If you would just roll up your sleeve.*Oh yes please please please.* McCoy was moving now, the blessed needle glinting enticingly in the light ………..
Suddenly there was a sound intruding into the scene a harsh beeping that made the doctor turn back urgently, his face openly worried as he consulted the array of monitors that surrounded the room. Michael gasped, shock and disappointment, striking him almost like a physical blow. *He can’t do that. He can’t not give it to me now.Hes just like the others teasing me with it Making me beg* He took a ragged breath forcing himself back to rationality* That’s not true* he told himself *This is not like before Something’s wrong that’s all Someone’s in trouble. Scott? Paige?* Now he was worried, no more than that, looking at the doctors face he was scared. “What is it Doctor? he asked "Is Scott in trouble? Or is it Paige??"
*Paige!* Hank looked up startled by Micheal’s question *How does he know Paige is ill?* McCoy was so disconcerted that he almost answered .*Paige is dying and I can’t save her*, the stark conclusion he was forced to draw from the readings that were pouring out of the machine. For a moment he thought he had spoken the words out loud, a breach of ethics, a desperate plea for the help he knew this young man could give but which he couldn’t ask for. Then reality returned and he knew that he had said nothing even if he so badly wanted to do so.
“Everythings all right Micheal” he lied eventually, knowing that he was fooling neither one of them. “I just need to leave you for a moment. I’m sure you can manage the injection by yourself ”
And he was gone, swiftly, almost silently, bounding towards the room where Paige lay. Michael stared after him his thoughts in confusion. The needle waited, every fibre of his being screaming at him to pick it up. His hand was already half way towards it when he pulled it back. Paige. What if she wasn’t wounded? What if she was sick and he could do something?
Part of him didn’t even want to consider the possibility. Part of him wanted to help. All of him wanted the morphine so badly it was almost impossible to take his eyes from it.* She’ll be fine just take it*. he told himself franticlly but his mind wouldn’t let things go *What if she’s not What if I take it and she’s not fine at all. What then?*
No drugs That had been something Brady had always made sure of when he tried out a new disease. There had to be no drugs in Michaels system otherwise they could have interfered with the serum he was supposed to produce. At least that’s what he had said. Micheal didn’t know if it was true or not but if it was……… And if Paige needed him….
* Dr McCoy said he’d be back in a minute. Then I’ll make him tell me what’s wrong. Till then I’ll just leave it there. The morphine I can do that can’t I ? Wait a minute for Paige?* He squeezed his eyes shut, his arms crossed across his stomach, the hands balled into fists as he resisted with all his might the siren song of the drugs. *Hurry up. Hurry up doctor.* he thought as he rocked slowely back and forward.* I don’t know how long I can hang on*
Re: That's what friends are for.
ooc: Not sure how long you'll let him sleep or till Tessa arrives so I'll not mention the duration he's asleep!
There was a long pause in which Scott stared at the door, it was like a terrible black hole which swallowed up everyone who could have offered him company for the moment. It wasn’t fair, but then again, it was also what he wanted, wasn’t it? If Scott was at home he would have people fussing over him and telling him how lucky it was he didn’t die, but then it would go on to be talks on how Scott was too young, he was too vulnerable, too unprotected to roam outside the safety of his family’s home. Here it was just patch’em up, sooth their worries and heal both their physical and emotional injuries and then get them back out there to face their demons. It was something Scott was starting to realize was just as much a positive as it was a negative, the humans determination to succeed where they previously failed or thought impossible to do, their drive to prove themselves and their need to remain strong. With Michael, Scott could see the benefits of his iron will, however Riley’s stubbornness… well Scott sometimes felt that Riley was consumed with a false assumption that everything which crossed his path became his responsibility somehow. Which wasn’t fair for Riley, it was self destructing and when Riley needed help he didn’t always ask for it, even when it was obvious he was breaking apart without it. While on Michael’s hand the determination for independence and struggle for self-fulfillment was inspiring, with Riley it was destructive, stopping him from growing as a person and imprisoning him in a cage of suspicion, guilt and doubt.
A vague thought was offered towards Tess, wondering what she may be like one on one, when all things were stacked against her and she knew she couldn’t take another step without accepting someone’s help. Would she accept his? If for any reason she needed help, would his be acceptable for her to feel she could trust? It wasn’t like home, both a blessing and a curse, people here didn’t just blindly accept a Devark’s help because of who they were, in this land Scott had to earn his respect from scratch. In a way, it’s something Scott actually enjoyed, he didn’t want everything so easy, so empty in a way, he didn’t earn what he was born into, but here, whatever happened, it’s because of who he was as an individual, what he did, how he did it…
Moments after night came quickly in Scott’s dream, a realistic vision of himself laying awake in awkward discomfort as he waited anxiously for sleep, unaware that it had already fallen over him, and that this cruel night was just a dream itself. The shadows screaming silently where they flickered over the walls in a show of agony as their images twisted and entwined, knotting themselves together, long fingers grasping out at each other, tugging and pushing while their warring ways were depicted on the walls as Scott watched the silent battles played amongst the moonlight. Sleep… that’s what he was told to do, to just rest, relax, get some sleep. How on earth was he supposed to sleep? Yes it would come eventually, it could not be fought forever, but he feared its grasp, feared closing his eyes. For a moment the images of his mind blanked out, something partially disturbing him enough, movements, shuffles, songs of birds, the swirls of images soon returned however and his troubled dreams returned.
With the fairy’s body trying to recover from the toxins and the system paralysis that spider venom was known to cause on his kind, Scott’s body was exhausted, not to mention the additional stress beforehand when he was on the island. With all the emotional stress Scott was barely enduring remaining in the medical room, sleep tugged his consciousness and tried to drag the timid youth into the realms of slumber. Each flicker of depiction of his timid thoughts however grew worse, each image more realistic and each reverie all the more real because of it. The prince rarely had slept through such restless nights, and when something did trouble him his mothers soothing voice would lull the fairy back to sleep. Now the only lulling Scott received was that of the anguish flooding the area outside his room, the gentle wind whistling softly outside of the birds still flying back and forth from his window playing eerily with Scott’s dreams, causing the illusion of wind which in turn caused the shadows to dance more eerily across his wall and nothing felt soothing in the dream he was trapped within. Not even the comforts of Arideth whom Scott’s mind portrayed there with him in the dream, his body curled into the scented object in desperate search for the security it usually offered. For a moment everything faded, there was a long stretch of nothingness, a gap which chased away most of Scott’s vivid memories regarding his previous dreams… barely leaving glimpses of them for him to fret over later.
In the dream that soon followed it was so real that when Scott open his eyes he could not tell it was a dream at all. Still there was no sun, which didn’t strike Scott as odd considering in reality it was still daytime, for all the Prince knew he just slept until night, thought’s of Tessa had fled him and all he knew was that he was laying in his room to recover. Soft howling echoes of yelling pulling the prepossessing fairy from his bed, the fairy clumsily moving towards the door, his arm heavy, numb, but the fact it was made of stone seemed not to leave a hint to the world being nothing but a dreamtime illusion. The room was dark, meek light streamed in from outside, a shuffling noise from the bed catching Scott’s attention as his head turned quickly to see Arideth moving towards the edge of the bed, the now living ‘toy’ gliding soundlessly to the ground as Scott signaled for him to be silent. Still no realization occurred that this was just a dream, even as the Prince cautious stepped through the closed door, like stepping through a pool which ripples only not getting wet as Scott emerged on the other side. It seemed strange, Scott looked back at the door a little baffled but the yelling urged him on. The suffering was all around, it was painful, miserable, if Scott could just get to their side then he knew he could make them happy, at least happier then they were, he could take away their misery.
The doors to the other rooms were locked, and he could not pass through them, there was something else outside the medical bay, Scott knew it, he could feel what it was, trying to break its way inside… A giant spider, like those from Kla’nair, monstrous beasts who were far more intelligent then their other kin, deadly and frightening and right outside the door, banging to get in, deep hoarse groans sending chilling shudders across the Prince’s form. All Scott had to do was open the door to get to the others who were hurting, if he made them happy they could get away from the monster trying to hurt them, they could be saved, yet none of the doors would budge, no matter how hard Scott pushed and banged. A cluttering noise startled Scott who gave a short yell from the shock, Arideth’s wings folding apologetically after having knocked over what Scott recognized as Michael’s crutches by one of the other doors. The rush in which Scott headed over to the door was slowed only by the slight stumbles of the numb leg and sheer panic. Across the room the door was being slid open by the creatures on the other side, a scurrying noise was heard only Scott refused to look, still trying to force open the door, the struggle continued until Scott’s body felt as if it was bound, the world around him fading into a darkness that scared the Prince even more; for he could not see what nightmares lurked in the shadows with him.
Of course Scott’s tossing and turning his sleep had gotten him entangled easily enough, his legs crossed and held together by the twisted covers, although not laying on his bad side, Scott’s limp arm was draped across his stomach and tucked away under the side of his body, being pressed into the bed while the Princes good arm curled up over his face, the fairy curled as best he could in the awkward position with part of his head additionally obscured by one of the pillows, the other fell previously off the side of the bed a little earlier. It was instinctive when Scott started calling out, his cries like a ghostly howl of the wind as it was slightly muffled by the pillow and arm, it was like any child facing fear, any person in truth, they all call out in their own way, a baby cries, people yell, take in a sharp intake of breath, gasping and chocking down their scream. Scott didn’t need such a loud call though, and he wasn’t old enough to fight away his fear, or more precisely he hadn’t experienced it enough to cope well. With the ability to influence emotions then there was no need to produce a loud sound in which to call or alert anyone, the emotions within the fairy’s whispery whimpers was enough to alert any parental figure or caretaker that there was a problem. It was really amazing to see the different ways evolution learned to develop in order to solve such common problems.
Re: That's what friends are for.
One small pale hand rested on the crisp white sheets, an unhealthy pink flush settled upon her cheeks, lips slightly open as she struggled to draw breath. Her eyes were closed, her body sunk into an exhausted and unrefreshing sleep.
Megan’s light brown eyes hardly left her daughters face, her hand resting close to her daughters on the bed clothes. Chewing fretfully on her lower lip she wondered why God was allowing this to happen to her youngest child. Was this it? Had she raised Paige for the last sixteen years only for her to be snatched away by some illness which modern medicine should be able to cure? Her hand, slightly tanned from work in the garden moved to press against her daughters forehead, smoothing away the damp hair that clung onto her sweaty forehead. The girl muttered slightly, her head shifting to the side slightly.
The door opened, Megan’s eyes left Paige for a moment to register who was entering the room, a sudden hope lifting in her chest that it might be the doctor with good news. Upon seeing her husband she looked back away again, staring down at her daughter, feeling her heart constrict as she tried to bite back the disappointment that it hadn’t been Hank.
There was a wrenching sensation in his chest, looking down at the coffee instead of at his wife’s face, knowing full well that she’d hoped he might be McCoy. He hated all this waiting, sitting listening to the seconds ticking by on the clock and the gentle beeping of Paige’s monitors. If there was a hell, this must be it.
The heat from the coffee was biting into his hands, yet he seemed almost not to notice it as he stared into the oblivion of his own thoughts. All that was happening seemed unreal… a waking nightmare, which had been lurking just behind his conscious thought since they’d learned Paige’s weakness.
A sudden sharp beeping cut through his thoughts like a blade though flesh. His gaze snapped up from the polystyrene cups to look towards his wife, she was on her feet, face suddenly white her hands reaching out for Paige. His eyes rested upon Paige, frozen in horror as he realised she was fighting to draw in breath. His daughter lifted her hands, her nails scrabbling at her throat in semi conscious effort to somehow allow her to draw breath.
Megan cried out in distress, grabbing hold of Paige’s hands and forcing them away from her throat. Sam didn’t even realise he’d dropped the cups, their now tepid contents slipping over the white floor, his body moving forwards, trying to help his wife restrain Paige who was writing in her grasp. Was it his imagination or did her lips have a tinge of blue to them …
‘HANK!!’ His hand’s pressed down on his daughter’s shoulders, forcing her body back down onto the bed, looking down into her face. Wild, unseeing eyes stared up at him from with a look which sent a shiver running through him.
Cat: How can I tell him the secret yearnings of my hear
Re: That's what friends are for.
One look at Paige was enough to tell him how bad things were even without the incessant beeping of the monitor and the sound of the air struggling to reach her lungs. Swiftly Hank moved to the bedside pushing past Sam to grasp the girls frail body in his strong arms. He had to get her body upright freeing the already belaboured airways , giving her some chance to draw breath.
Fear too was taking its toll on Paige as on all of them, constricting her throat still further as she sank into panic.” Paige, Paige Listen to me” the doctor said gently but firmly. “You have to relax and breathe. It will be all right I promise.” It was even true though it wouldn’t be for much longer he feared.
Swiftly he extracted an oxygen mask from the compartment beside the bed fitting it snugly over Paige’s nose and mouth It seemed to help; He could see some colour coming back into her face and feel some of the tension leaving her body as she gratefully gulped in the air. He eased the head of the bed upwards to support her back settling her carefully into the pillows as he watched the vital signs stabilise. The level wasn’t good that was certain but under the present circumstances it had to be considered acceptable.
Not that anything about this whole situation was acceptable. Paige looked scared and spent, her strength visibly ebbing with every passing hour. “That was well done my dear” he told her fondly reaching out to push a strand o damp hair from her hot forehead. “You were very brave. Now you should try to rest if you can. That will do you the world of good”
The words were reassuring as was his presence but he knew that none of them were deceived. It was clear that Paige was getting worse, all he was doing was delaying the inevitable. But he was determined to delay it for as long as possible. He sat beside her waiting for her breath to come more regularly and the tired eyes to close. The immediate threat was over but although he could see some of the terror leave her parents faces it was replaced by a deeper despair.”
"Sam, Megan I think we can safely leave Paige alone for a few minutes "he said gently We should go to my office and talk. The fear now was back with a vengeance. There could be only one thing they had to talk about and they all knew it. Every parents worst nightmare coming true. And nothing he could do to prevent it.
…………………………………………………
It felt like Michael had been waiting for hours though the impartial clock told him it wasn’t so. Still as he so well knew time was relative. The morphine was rapidly becoming the centre of his universe and he knew if he let it do that then all was lost. *Think of something else* he told himself desperately. *Anything else* But it was so hard when his body demanded that he cater to its needs.
*Tess* he thought suddenly *I could call Tess and tell her about Scott.* It did seem like a good idea. If he could pull it off that was. Already his hands were trembling so badly that he wasn’t sure he could operate the com badge. But he could at least try. * Keep calm. Deep breaths* he told himself unaware that in the other room Hank was telling Paige the same thing but for very different reasons. *See, you can do it if you try*
It was true that he had managed to regain some measure of control concentrating on other peoples problems often did that for him he had noticed. Now all he had to do was to keep his voice steady and he was home and dry. He thought he managed but maybe that was just wishful thinking. Anyway he got the message across, reassuring her that Scott was on the mend and looking forward to seeing her. By the sounds of things she was anxious to see her team mate as well . Them was something sweet about the two of them, they looked right together somehow. Maybe because of their shared blood, though in the end it didn’t really matter why, did it?
The call had helped drag him through another few minutes a major feat in itself but not enough to really make thoings better; The morphine was the only thing that could do that and he was onlt too well aware of that. *I bet Brady was wrong anyway* he told himself trying to make himself believe that it was reason and not desire talking. *I’m sure I could take this and still be of use to Paige if she really does need my help.* But could he afford to take the risk? If it had only been his own life he was playing with he wouldn’t have hesitated. But Paige….
*Please hurry up doctor* he pleaded once again. *You have no idea what this is doing to me.* More minutes passed as Michaels resolve wavered but held. Then finally the door opened revealing not only the doctor but Paiges father and an equally distraught looking woman. *Ok this is not good,* Michael thought as he saw the look in their eyes.
“Michael, I thought you’d have been gone by now” McCoy said with just a hint of irritation in his voice as he looked at the still untouched needles. Why hadn’t the boy taken his medication Hank wondered Did he like being in pain? Surely that was one thing he could have got on with by himself.
Almost immediately the doctor regretted even thinking such a thing. Worry over Paige had made him unreasonable He knew how much Michael needed and wanted the drugs that were lying on the table in front of him. In all honesty he didn’t know he had managed to resist for this long Or why he should have wanted to. But the fact remained that his presence was a reminded off all that the potential he had to save the dying girl and all the reasons that stopped Hank from being able to ask him to do so and at that precise moment in time it was hard to live with.
Then Hank saw the determination in the young mans eyes and knew what was coming. “I’m sorry doctor” Michael said pushing himself to his feet with a visible effort. I should have gone but…..There’s something very wrong with Paige isn’t there? he went on seriously. Please if she’s sick I want to help. You know what I can do. So just tell me. Can my powers help her? Because if they can then …” Images flashed through Michael’s mind. Needles. Restraints. Rough hands and uncaring faces watching hm as he pleaded for release. He turned his back on them though his voice did tremble a little as he said “…then I’m ready to do whatever it takes”
Re: That's what friends are for.
If it was horrible to sit and wait for word on a friend's condition after they had been injured than it was unbearable to have to wait hours before hearing anything, hours during which everyone around you acted completely normal. It seemed that her fellow students were mocking her with their ignorance and the usually cheerful blonde's face was a mask of worry barely held together. Logically some part of her believed that it couldn't be serious to the point where her darkest thoughts took her because surely she wouldn't have been contacted then. However when she tried to calm herself with this thought Tessa's mind flickered to the worst of things, seeing the glass nearly empty as she considered the possibility that perhaps Doctor McCoy wouldn't tell anyone if the condition was that serious. Maybe he would keep it under wraps so as not to worry anyone. With this kind of worry running through her head the chirping beep of her com badge would have been a welcome distraction no matter whose voice was on the other end.
The accented voice belonged to Michael though, something Tessa knew instantly since she had become accustomed to the voices of the other Green Strike Force members while in such close quarters involved in training missions. She froze in the hallway leading to her dorm room, oblivious to the people moving around her and even to those who nearly bumped into her and shot the fairy irritated looks as they haughtily moved past her. She couldn't have cared any less, entirely focused on Michael's news of Scott. What Michael told her in the brief and one-sided conversation revealed little details but it was a crumb and she held on tightly.
The real test came however in the waiting. Michael had said that Scott was sleeping and as much as Tessa wanted to visit she understood that Scott probably needed his rest now more than ever and resigned herself bitterly to waiting. The forty-five minutes she waited seemed among the longest in her life. Far longer than the minute by minute countdown until the end of math class or the wait to an anticipated concert or television show was this period of time to Tessa. She tried reading but though she knew her eyes read the words there was no interaction between what she saw and what she thought and the fairy ended up reading the same short paragraph for twenty minutes before giving up. At long last she left the sanctuary of her room and headed towards the medical bay.
The voices in the halls and the calls to friends were disorienting and violet eyes starred seemingly without comprehension at the rowdy students enjoying their weekend night together. It took another several minutes to navigate the crowd and make her way down to Scott’s present residence. At long last she found herself at the door though and tried to calm a racing mind to no avail. Then came the doubts that the half-fairy, who was prone to worrying, seemed to often get. Does Scott really want to see me or did Michael just assume he might? What if he doesn’t want me there at all? She wondered for despite their immediate friendship based in a similar kinship Tessa and Scott had not really known each other for all that long.
From Michael’s message Tessa did know that Scott was in a private room but seeing as Michael had specifically asked her to come the petite blonde put aside her doubts for the time being and assumed that she would be freely granted access to the room. Even still her hand hesitated on the doorknob to the medical bay before she decisively twisted it and made her way into the room, immediately heading for the room she knew from direction to be Scott’s. Again her hand on the doorknob, the point of no return in some ways. However this time she was closer to Scott with merely one wall between them and she had promised, told Michael that she would do this. Had Michael told Scott? Was she expected or unwelcome? With the lingering fear that her presence would somehow make matters worse Tessa creaked open the door and slipped inside.
While she had no empathic abilities Tessa knew something was wrong from the moment she first walked into the darkened room. “Scott?” she questioned quietly with obvious uncertainty since sure enough the other fairy seemed fast asleep and she was unwilling to wake him. Even under cover of darkness she could tell that Scott was entangled within his sheets however and although Tessa wouldn’t have had a clue about how anyone but she herself slept something told her that this was not right. A whisper of a sound, which she took for a whimper, furthered this suspicion of wrongfulness in the situation and Tessa took a step towards Scott with concern etched into her pale features. “Scott?” she echoed, her question this time asked more forcefully and with clarity.
Re: That's what friends are for.
Ok, I realized Tessa may react so I can’t do any more until I know her reaction… so sorry for shortness!
It came like a whisper on the wind, like someone the fairy had heard in the past and was bound to hear in the future, a delicate call that stirred the shadows of his dreams. “Scott?” The illusion continued to play out though, taking the word into its role, creating the scene around the intrusion of reality. Yet again the sound came, stronger, demanding, pulling away Scott’s attention from the locked door in his dream, “Scott?” the world went black, so quickly he was pulled from his nightmare that as his eyes opened the shaded figure of Tessa brought a sharp intake of break and a pained flinch as the fairy’s dulled eyes opened.
Tension seemed to ease as he recognized Tessa, her aura may be weak compared to a full blooded fairy, or a half blood who was empowered with magical elements, but there was still magic there, and it was like Tessa’s insignia, unique to her for Scott to recognize without confusion. The pain however lingered, his body numb enough not to be distraught over the nagging ache but still finding it uncomfortable enough for a meek attempt of untangling himself, which was fruitless and soon the barely noticeable efforts were ceased.
Instead panicked words flowed out, quiet from his exhaustion but still passionate, the usual melody that carried on Scott’s native tongue was lost to the pain though the same elegance still was heard, their smooth delicate sounds blending together so perfectly that one could listen to the strange tongue for hours without developing the headache people tended to do when listening to different dialects they aren’t accustomed to. The only words that would have made any sense would have been ‘Michael’ and something that sounded reasonably like crutches though with a heavy accent, the male fairy so tired he didn’t even realize he had reverted back to his mother tongue. It wasn’t rare for Scott to slip from English to his Fairy tongue, anyone who spent time with him would know that any English word he wasn’t familiar with would just be replaced with one of his native words so that he didn’t have broken sentences holding him back while talking. Sounding breathless and looking fatigued, the prince still seemed to try and talk, only giving out more foreign words of despair and anguish as he was still caught up in the fright of the nightmares grasp.
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Re: That's what friends are for.
The panic was like an icy pool of black water, pulling her down, submerging her body, closing around her entirety. All intelligence which separated humans from wild animals had fallen away. Her twisting writhing body struck out at her parents who attempted to restrain her, unrecognising of the bodies who had sheltered her since birth. Her slender hands were lined with tension, the fingers claw like as she gasped to draw breath. Her chest felt as if it were about to explode, bright sparks flashing in her eyes as she stared blindly ahead.
Rapidly the bed under her shifted position, forcing her into a sitting position. She felt the pressure in her chest decrease rapidly, allowing her to take a rasping gulp of air followed immediately by another one. Some of the blind panic ebbed away, her eyes bilking as they focused in on the room.
"Paige, Paige Listen to me” Hank she saw was leaning over her, his worried face close to hers, his hands on her shoulders, speaking to her. Her gaze resisted him before flicking away to look for her parents, her mother was standing on her left, mother her hands raised to cover her mouth. Her father she couldn't see but she didn't have enough breath to ask Hank. “You have to relax and breathe. It will be all right I promise.” A little of the tension flowed away from her, watching as Doctor McCoy reached over to pull an oxygen mask out and swiftly fit it over her nose and mouth. The device was uncomfortable and pressed on her face but she found breathing was instantly an easier task.
Megan withdrew her hands from her mouth, lifted there to stop a sob from escaping from between her lips. She knew that no matter what she herself might feel she had to present a calm and confident front for her daughter. She watched as Doctor McCoy bent over Paige to talk reassuringly towards her. Whatever her private misgivings were about the schools choice of doctors she was desperately grateful for any help he could offer Paige.
"Sam, Megan I think we can safely leave Paige alone for a few minutes " She knew it was 'the talk' it could be nothing else, the prepare yourself for the worst talk. When her mother had died the doctor had used exactly the same tone. Watching Paige close her eyes and slip off into a troubled restless sleep she felt a sudden wrenching feeling as she wondered if her youngest child would ever open her beautiful, soft, grey eyes to the world again. There was a strong memory which flashed before her eyes, another medical bay, the ebbing feelings of pain and a sudden flush of joy intermingled with pride as she looked down into the face of her lastborn.
In a kind of daze she followed Hank, only partly conscious of her husbands hands resting upon her shoulders, steering her feet from the room. Megan turned to look back at Paige as they left the room, her eyes hungrily devouring every aspect of her child’s face.
“Michael, I thought you’d have been gone by now” The glance she sent the boy, Hank was talking to was as much filled with pity for herself as for him. He looked scrawny with an unhealthy tinge to the skin of his face and the flesh around his eyes was darkened, giving his eyes a large, staring look about them. He had all the appearance of someone who would have been hansom given the chance. She realised she was staring and looked back off away towards the doctor, but not before she noticed the way his clothes hung off his overly skinny frame. She wondered with an indignant flush what parents would let their child get into this state, but a guilty thought reminded her of her own daughter’s condition.
“There’s something very wrong with Paige isn’t there?” Megan flinched slightly, as if somehow hearing the words spoken out loud made them worse. “Please if she’s sick I want to help. You know what I can do. So just tell me. Can my powers help her? Because if they can then … then I’m ready to do whatever it takes” A sharp intake of breath whistled into her lungs, blood suddenly pounding in her ears. Powers… help… she clutched at the words, holding them in her mind, her eyes suddenly back on Michael again a desperate look radiating from her eyes. She noticed Sam’s fingers were digging tightly into her shoulders as he hurriedly looked from Hank’s eyes to Micheal’s.
Cat: How can I tell him the secret yearnings of my heart
As bright eyes openned in the darkness a pained expression crossed Scott's face and Tessa's brow furrowed, her usual reaction of being upset whenever anyone else was in pain heightened simply because this was Scott, likely the person she felt closest to in the entire school. She had made friends during her time here but several of them had left and while she still spent time with Aisha and some of the other girls in her former group a few days was all it had taken for her to feel more comfortable around Scott. Even in her worry of doing or saying something wrong she felt a kind of belonging when in his company that hadn't been echoed with anyone else.
He seemed to recognise her in the shadows and tension bled from his shoulders. Tessa glanced over at the lightswitch but she knew how difficult it was to be newly awake and to be blinded by bright overhead lights so she left them off for the moment, moving instead closer to Scott's bedside. Tessa said nothing, waiting for Scott but when he made the first move it was not what she had anticipated.
Panicked words came from Scott's mouth, words that she knew were not English. Although all Tessa knew of Scott's native tongue were the few words she had heard from him she could pick up that these words were of the same language from their similarity to others she had heard. He spoke quietly but with obvious passion and the foreign tongue's words blended together until she could no longer pick out when one thought ended and another began. In the fog of words she could not understand only the word "Michael", not picking up on the accented 'crutches' in her own panic.
I don't know what you're saying, Tessa thought, frustration beginning to show on her pale face, combining with the panic and worry already etched there. What if it's important and I'm missing it. What do I do? To that she had no answer except instinct which was to try and comfort the other fairy and to calm him down enough to gently remind him that he was not speaking English. Perhaps then she could coax out of him what was wrong and how she could help, maybe then.
A nightmare she thought, that had to be it. It was the only explanation for why Scott seemed to have woken up in a state of panic, one so intense that he had recognised her but was still speaking in his native tongue. Tessa was not billingual herself but she remembered when a friend of a friend's had woken up after a nightmare at a slumber party. The girl spoke normally english which was near perfect but waking up in a sweat and state of panic had done something to her and she spoke Korean until the other girls had calmed her down enough for her to resume English. Tessa didn't know if that was a onetime case and if it was different with Scott but she didn't know what to do or what to think and she had to think of something. She couldn't just leave him like this!
"Scott, it's okay. It was just a nightmare, you're safe here." Tessa had taken the leap and decided to go with the nightmare and reassurance route. "Whatever it was it won't hurt you here," she continued, voice soft and calming although the panicked worry still etched into her face might have counter-acted her tone had it been clearly visible. In the darkened room it was just her voice though and while she could control that, Tessa didn't think she could control her facial expression, even had she wanted to so she could only hope that a soothing voice would help Scott somehow.
Re: That's what friends are for.
"Scott, it's okay. It was just a nightmare, you're safe here." To be honest Scott’s mind wasn’t really alert enough to translate the foreign tongue, taking more interest in the tone and who it belonged to. "Whatever it was it won't hurt you here," It will, it already has, Scott struggled to move amongst the entangled blankets. Scott asked her something, a breathless whisper but once again it was in the wrong language, this time however Scott noticed his own words and he went silent, closing his eyes and focusing on what he wanted to say. What did he want to say though? That he was scared? That a giant spider tried to break down med labs door? Scott had semi dressed earlier when he went out to talk with Michael but jeans still were only zipped, the button never getting done up since Scott couldn’t do it with one hand and there was no way he was going to ask someone to do it for him. Odd that someone who grew up being dressed by others for centuries was still so shy about it, but that was who Scott was.
It was easy to see the Prince was without a shirt, even if only parts of his shoulder were all that were exposed, something that lapsed the male fairy’s mind until his good hand weakly attempted to unravel his entangled arm and lift his body to try and sit up. First he had to roll more onto his side and then he curled a little and then he paused and then his arm flopped quickly to grab the now wrinkled shirt which had been slipped under his pillow, though it was pushed almost off the edge of the bed at this point. The white t-shirt was held against his chest, when he had been awake it had been difficult to climb into, he didn’t even want to try it now while he was still half asleep and with Tessa hovering nearby. Still tangled legs slide off the edge of the bed, his upper body trying to use the momentum to help roll up into a sitting position, though it looked for a moment as if he may fall right off the edge of the bed with the precarious maneuver.
"Want to leave." The dry whisper returned but now back in English, his voice still shaky and all the more broken as he continued. "People are hurting, they are hurting and I can feel their tears burning within my eyes. The walls are cold and the room is dark and empty, there is no life and no company, there is no magic or music.. there is no warmth here." Metallic eyes lifted, the dim light leaking in from the closed curtains enough to catch a glimmer of moisture, he still seemed breathless and tired, his body slumped without his usual straight posture. It was so alien, being alone, now Tessa was here but it wasn’t the same since if he was troubled his family was always there to support him, humans didn’t seem to be so big on physical contact and it was something Scott thrived so hungrily for at times. There was a slight tremble but it wasn’t because he was cold or because he was hurting, though he was even with the numbness, all the effort and struggle, as little as there had been, tired him extensively. "My body hurts, but their hearts all hurt so much that mine is being crushed.. the air is heavy with their suffering, and I can barely breath it in." The soft voice was dispirited and cracked from the breathless little gasps for air his lungs fought to inhale, tension returning strong as it all overwhelmed him once again. Another few words were muttered in Scott’s native tongue, but seemed to shift to English half way as if he caught the fact he was in the wrong dialect but didn’t bother rephrasing what he had previously said. "-but I can not, not here, please," One leg was so numb he did not think he could walk properly right at this point, he’d need time to kick some life back into it and his arm was dead with the other still weak and timid, he couldn’t imagine Hank letting him leave but Scott feared the thought of staying any longer, and he felt so stupid for that, but he couldn’t take other peoples pain while trying to deal with his own, he wasn’t good with pain, he didn’t know how to handle it, he never really had to before.
Re: That's what friends are for.
They were staring at him now, these strangers. Paige’s parents. Staring as if he had held out a life line they were afraid to grasp. He only hoped that he had. The look in their eyes told of how desperate they were which meant that Paige….. He didn’t want to think about it. Not just for what it meant for the girl he had so recently met but also for what it could mean for himself. If she was injured then he could do nothing and that would be terrible after having given hope where maybe he shouldn’t have. But if she was sick then she was really sick and that meant all sorts of pain ahead for both of them.
Michael looked over at the doctor seeing a desperate struggle taking place in the normally serene feline face. What did that mean? That he had just got these peoples hopes up for nothing or that he could use indeed his powers but that the physician didn’t like what those powers involved? That seemed infinitely possible. After all Michael didn’t like it much himself. “Doctor?” he asked again worriedly.” Can I do something or not?”
McCoy drew a deep breath, trying to think of how to reply to the question. The simple answer of course was yes but then nothing about this situation was simple. It would have been easier if Sam and Megan hadn’t heard the offer, but they had and there was nothing he could do about that now. *Still isn’t this what you wanted* a cynical voice said deep inside him. *To be confronted with a ‘fait accomplie’.* There was no way now he could refuse to at least to consider Michael’s proposal. Not now that it had been freely made. Not when Paige was condemned without it.
In theory he shouldn’t even be discussing Paige’s condition with this boy but one look at her parents faces told him that rules were the last thing on their minds. “ Paige is very ill, Michael” he said finally. “She has pneumonia “ Michael didn’t understand. Pneumonia wasn’t that dangerous It certainly wasn’t something that the sophisticated machines here in med lab couldn’t handle. “But you can cure that, right?" he asked confused. “I mean the machines. They healed me when I was hurt. Why can’t they help Paige?”
It was an obvious thing to ask. This boy wasn’t stupid he has seen the alien technology in action and knew better than most their capabilities. ”Its not that easy I’m afraid” McCoy explained. “Paige’s mutant powers weaken her immune system. Any illness is dangerous to her and this one has spread even faster than I had thought possible.” He stopped then, unwilling to go any further before he had had a chance to talk in private with her parents but everyone in the room knew what he was saying.
McCoy hadn’t thought it was possible for the youth to go any paler but he did as realisation sank in. Then the young Scot took a shaky breath and said “So……. we’d better start making a cure, hadn’t we.” The smile he offered Paige’s parents was sweet, determined and infinitely scared.” I can do that.” he told them simply. "We’ll just have to make sure that I can do it in time”
Re: That's what friends are for.
Tessa watched Scott struggle within the tangled blankets, wondering if she should attempt to untangle him somehow, to remove the blankets from him altogether. Doubt overwhelmed her though as the half-fairy wondered if it might do more harm than good to take the blankets from him. Surely the term security blanket came from somewhere. Momentarily she got sidetracked as the question of whether or not fairies had an equivalent to a security blanket flashed through her mind. This isn't the time, she scolded herself silently. Queries about Scott's life and his world could wait, now was about making sure her friend was alright. He had asked to see her, there was surely a reason and she had to let him know she was here for him and that whatever has startled him in dreams would no longer hurt him.
He spoke to her but the words were in a language she couldn't understand. He broke off, seeming to realize that she was unable to translate the foreign words. Bright eyes were lost behind closed lids for a moment as Scott seemed to be concentrating on something. Without knowing that she was doing so Tessa held her breath.
Scott made an effort to try and raise himself into a sitting position although with one hand it looked a difficult task. She wanted to help but was frozen, fearing that whatever she did would make things worse. Tessa watched with eyes clouded by a haze of sympathy for her friend as he grabbed at a shirt near his bed. She realized as he did so that she hadn't even realized Scott was shirtless. With great effort he managed to roll into a sitting position although a shaky moment had Tess worried he might fall right off the bed's side.
"Want to leave." The first words in a language Tess could understand but they were said in a whisper almost hoarse and Scott's tone was shaky at best. Tessa felt a deep pang of sadness to see the usually cheery Scott so broken as this. What happened to you? What scared you so? she wondered, concern and sadness now clearly playing upon her features.
"People are hurting," he continued, sounding more broken with each word as he went on, "they are hurting and I can feel their tears burning within my eyes. The walls are cold and the room is dark and empty, there is no life and no company, there is no magic or music.. there is no warmth here." She didn't know what to say. How could you? How could you possibly have any clue what would be right to say to such sorrow and pain as this? Tessa just sat there, sympathy sweeping over her. All she could do for the moment it appeared was listen and be there for him, hope that in some way it helped. Yet at the same time there the awful feeling of helplessness was beginning to swell within her. It was the one feeling Tess hated more than all others, that feeling of being useless and having just to look on while the person you love is hurting.
He sat up but now slumped in a way very different from the usual way in which Scott carried himself. Tessa noticed this, the slump almost of giving in to the tiredness. She saw him tremble and felt her heart hurt again. It wasn't right for someone as bright and positive as Scott to be put through such trials. How could it be right? "My body hurts, but their hearts all hurt so much that mine is being crushed.. the air is heavy with their suffering, and I can barely breath it in." Tension seemed to seep from his body and a few more words of the faerie language came forth from his mouth. Tessa wished dearly that she could understand him, that he could speak in his native tongue and that she could comfort him in the same speech but as it were she could not, at least not yet.
When he returned to english it was without rephrasing what he had just said and Tessa only understood the sentiment and emotion behind the words, not exactly what it was Scott was asking. "-but I can not, not here, please." She waited a moment but nothing more spilled out.
What happened to you? How am I supposed to help when I feel so lost? She asked herself. "Scott," Tessa started, hesitating as she tried to think of how to phrase her words and continue on. "We can talk to Dr. McCoy. If you're scared and you want to leave he'd understand I think." She thought but she didn't know. Tessa hadn't really talked much with the X-man known as Beast. "And if not I could stay, if it would help at all. Or we could turn the lights on." She was full of ideas but had no idea what would help or what it was exactly that was the problem.
"Just try and calm down Scott," Tessa said, hoping her gentle tone of sympathy was soothing in some way. I feel like a psychiatrist, she thought, pretty sure that she wasn't helping much try as she might. "I promise we'll make it better". She meant it, she really would try anything within her power, she just hoped that something would make her feel less helpless than she currently did and make Scott feel better.
Re: That's what friends are for."Can I do something or not?” Sam had moved to stand behind Megan, one of his hands clutching her shoulder rather too hard. His wife didn't seem to notice, her own hands were raised over her mouth, her whole body standing stock still, as if afraid if she moved she might somehow affect the outcome of this discussion.
Sam's blue eyed gaze was centered upon the doctor, waiting impatiently with baited breath for judgement to be pronounced. The life of his only daughter was hanging in the balance, he found himself praying to god to spare Paige, she was so young and had expereinced so little life had to offer.
“Paige is very ill, Michael ... She has pneumonia” An unbidden image flitted across his mind, a picture of Paige lying small and pale upon the medical bed. She looked so ill, and there was nothing he could do to help her, a intense feeling of guilt sweapt though him, was this how Paige felt? Was this why she offered to heal people even though it hurt her?
”Its not that easy I’m afraid” Nothing was easy when it came to Paige, Megan knew that. She'd dreaded an illness like this taking hold of Paige since they'd discovered about her weakness. Could this be the end? Could this be it? Her eyes stared beseachingly at Michael, wondering if this small pale skinned boy could really do anything to save Paige.
“So……. we’d better start making a cure, hadn’t we.” Meg blinked slowly, staring at the smile that curved over his features. To her eyes he looked as though he should be wearing a halo. She let out a dry, chocked sob, there could be hope for her daughter after all. "I can do that ... "We’ll just have to make sure that I can do it in time” She stumbled forwards, jerking out of her husbands grip. Her hands reached out, encirlcing Michael and pulling him into a desperate embrace. Megan's head tucked down onto Michael's shoulder, her hot tears dripping onto the exposed skin of his neck. Whispering her thanks over and over, reluctant to let go of this angel of a boy who'd appeared to save Paige.
Sam's strong hands reached down, drawing her away from Michael and into his own embrace. He knew she was probably embaressing the young man who stood infront of him. One of his hands reached out, clasping onto one of Michael's shoulders. 'Thank you.' The words sounded hoarse as he struggled to keep back the tears which threatened to course down his cheeks.
ooc: Dusts off post and arranges it neatly.
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: That's what friends are for.
Now Scott found himself wishing he hadn’t tried to leave earlier, the strange gown Hank had placed on him may have been a little more then just a slight humiliation for the fairy, but it was better then being only semi dressed like this. The now steel grey eyes were still heavy and his emotions still caught up and tangled with the fading dreams, the fright that this was just another nightmare, that Tessa was nothing but a wishful thought and soon he’d blink and she would be gone. Actually now that there was even the vaguest of comfort around Scott’s exhaustion starting take hold again as he had the urge to just sink side ways and lay down, resting his sore eyes again and hopefully not escaping into just another frightful tale.
"Scott," The Prince had closed his eyes and they seemed too heavy to open for the moment, his lightly paled features not masking how he was feeling even in the slightest. "We can talk to Dr. McCoy. If you're scared and you want to leave he'd understand I think." There was always the inkling to deny fear, but Scott was submissive to the fact since it wasn’t worth denying it, not when he felt as torn and lost as he did right now. "And if not I could stay, if it would help at all. Or we could turn the lights on." Stay? The Prince finally opened his eyes and looked at her, still desperate and in need but now finally hope of some kind, no matter how distraught he felt the thought of company brought something of comfort to him. But it still wasn’t so great a thought that he may have to stay here, not when this area made him feel as if he was losing everything, or something particular, whatever it was it was so important he couldn’t bare the thought of either knowing what he was losing or losing something he wasn’t aware of. It was a painful conundrum and right now Scott was hurting too much to care if it was his own emotions or the invading ambience of those outside his room.
"Just try and calm down Scott," Metallic eyes were torn away, shut tightly for a moment as he struggled to shut it all out and just try to take control, though there was so much and he felt so weak that it was a futile effort he soon came to except with little real attempt to keep up the fight. "I promise we'll make it better". It was an unusual promise as far as Scott was concerned, not because no one has ever promised it to him before, but it was the first time someone had promised him such a thing who wasn’t aware of his rank and role in the fairy society. Sometimes people would say things because it was their duty, or it was because they were family, but rare was it for Scott to be assured by someone who was neither of any and was simply a ‘stranger’ showing concern. Because no matter how Scott tried to think of her, she was a stranger, she was just a newly found friend despite the strangely firm bond they seemed to feel forming between each other.
"Mhm.." Came a meek mumble as Scott felt grateful enough to be lifted up but still weak enough to find himself slowly slipping in his posture, his body gradually resting down against the bed without much resistance against the unwilling shift of position. It was uncomfortable now, his legs still hanged over the edge and he didn’t have it in him to pull them back up onto the bed. So tired, despite the awkward posture Scott still found himself easily able to drift off if he merely allowed his eyes to close without forcing them back open. "I would like that…" It wasn’t very helpful in the sense that he wasn’t being specific but Scott didn’t care at this point, leaving, staying in her company, anything had to be better then being alone here, and he wasn’t going to complain if leaving was out of the question. Though he wasn’t aware that humans weren’t aware of the delicate line between fairy’s emotions and their health, granted humans suffered from emotional stress but the enchanted races were often faced with a greater weakness towards it then the mortal brethren.
Re: That's what friends are for.
So it was done. There was certainly no going back now. Not with hope once more kindled in the hearts of Paige’s parents. Hank watched as Megan hugged the boy, clinging to him as if he was the only thing standing between her and despair. Which of course he was, in the most literal of manners. The doctor had no time to tell her to be careful of Michael’s precarious balance but it seemed that at least this once the youth didn’t waver, one hand placed on the desk helping to support himself while the other hesitated at first and then surprisingly returned the woman’s embrace.
Oh there had been embarrassment and confusion on Michael’s face as she had clung to him but then his eyes had closed and he had simply let himself be held taking comfort from the contact The physician wondered how long it had been since someone had simply taken the young mutant in their arms like this and held him, as if he was cherished and cared for. Too long he suspected. Sometimes a hug was as great a force of healing as any medicine It just wasn’t always something that a doctor could give. In any case a bond had been created. One that would perhaps help them all get through these next few days. And that was something to be thankful for, for hard times lay ahead if he had understood things correctly.
As for Michael, well he had understood the importance of what he had offered but still, that hadn’t prepared him for the intensity of the moment. He came from a culture where physical contact with strangers wasn’t the norm. And so there had been a moment of awkwardness as the woman embraced him. A moment of wanting to say ‘stop I don’t deserve this Its nothing really. No more than Paige would do for me.’ Then the inevitably the pain had kicked in, which was only normal given how low the morphine was running in his system. Except that for once it didn’t matter. It was enough just to feel ………loved. Though the knew that was only a stretch of his imagination.
But still, if he closed his eyes he could almost convince himself that it was his mother holding him. Not that she had been a great one for hugs. This was something he had always regretted somehow! Though he only now realised it. And as for his dad…….. There had never been a time when Michael had even imagined his father looking at him as this man was now doing. He had realised that there was love or at least affection between the two of them after the accident. But there had never been understanding or real appreciation. Certainly nothing like the heartfelt recognition of his abilities that he was now receiving as Paige’s father gently eased his wife back out of Michael’s arms and added his own thanks to hers. “You’re welcome” he whispered awkwardly.” I’m just glad I can help”
“Well Michael since you have decided to go through with this perhaps you could explain to me in more detail exactly what must be done” Hank said solemnly hating to ask the question, knowing that it would drag unpleasant memories to the surface but needing as answer all the same. “Sure” Michael answered lowering himself into the waiting chair as he did so.” It’s not that complicated really.” And that was the truth. Not complicated at all But unpleasant in the extreme.
To be honest Michael would have preferred not to discuss the process in front of the Gifford’s but he was intelligent enough to realise that he had very little chance of keeping them in the dark over what was going to happen. Paige however was another matter. He really didn’t want her to know how hard all of this was going to be. *I’ll have to get them to promise not to tell her.* he decided. He was sure they would do that for him if he asked them to It could be their secret, and a nasty one at that.
"The first part is already underway" he went on with a shaky smile.” We need to get all the drugs out of my system.” Hank’s eyes widened in alarm and growing understanding. “That’s why I didn’t….” Michael’s voice tailed off as he motioned towards the untouched syringes still lying on the desk and he dropped his gaze not daring to look at either of the Giffords in case he saw dissaproval in their eyes. look at .
“Do you mean that you can’t take anything at all?”lthe doctor asked concern clear in his voice. Withdrawal! That was what they were talking about and they both knew it. It was a nightmare at the best of times and definitely not something you wanted to go through unaided. Though Hank only had to look at Michael’s face to know that that was exactly what he was going to have to do.
“Well they thought that anything else in my system might interfere with the antidote.” Michael explained quietly.” Don’t know if they were right or not but we can’t really take the chance that they were can we? Not when Paige is so sick.” He was right of course, even Hank had to admit that. But that didn’t mean he had to like the idea. In fact there was no part of the situation that he did like
.” Anyway I should be clean in about an hour by my reckoning.” It sounded matter of fact when he said it like that but Michael had no illusions. In an hour he’d be a shaking wreck but there was no getting round it. Not if they were going to pull this off. “Then all you have to do is
inject me with the pneumonia and wait.” he continued, hurrying on past the worse part, trying to distract Paige’s parents away from the stark details of the process without any real hope of success
"The hardest part is getting the correct disease culture. At least that’s what Dr Brady said. But then he
wasn’t exactly getting his through official channels if you know what I mean”
Hank did, only to well. Once again he felt anger mounting. Anger against the men who had inflicted such suffering on this boy not once but many times. But that was quickly fallowed by shame for after all wasn’t he going to put Michael through the same ordeal himself? The revulsion he felt must have shown in his face for Michael spoke up again.
“It’s Ok doctor really. This isn’t like before. You mustn’t think that it is. This is a first. The first time my power will actually be of use to someone. And that makes all the difference.”
Re: That's what friends are for.“You’re welcome” Sam's eyes looked down into the small, pale face, not missing the strained lines around his mouth, nor the hand that was resting on the table, shakily supporting his weight. A slight sigh escaped the older mans lips, one of his hands stroking over the back of Meg's hair in a comforting manner. Her sobs were smothered somewhat by the thick folds of his shirt. "I’m just glad I can help”
“Well Michael since you have decided to go through with this perhaps you could explain to me in more detail exactly what must be done” His hand paused, resting lightly against his wifes bark coloured hair. He'd expected the doctor to know what he was doing. A flash of worry darted across his face, his eyes moving from the young boy to McCoy. Of course he trusted Hank, he'd know him years, but still this was his youngest child they were discussing....
"It’s not that complicated really.” He watched as Michael eased himself into a chair beside the desk. Sam hadn't realised before how much the young man's leg compromised his movement, but the expression of his face and akward positioning of his limb easily betrayed they fact. There was a look of pity on his face as he glanced away, not wishing to be caught staring. He felt suddenly ashamed as a grateful feeling crept into his head. His children may not be perfect but he was thankful that they hadn't suffered whatever Michael had gone through.
"The first part is already underway" Megan's sobs had subsided into sniffs, her hand reaching into a pocket of her cardigan for a handkerchief. She drew apart from her husband, dabbing at her red eyes with a corner of the cloth. "We need to get all the drugs out of my system.” Megan's eyes widened slightly, her gaze flitting over towards the doctor... drugs?! Her immediate thoughts was of heroine, coccaine, a look of dissaproval settling over her face.
“Do you mean that you can’t take anything at all?” Confused by the concern in the doctors voice she followed the train of Michael's eyes. The syringes that were lying upon the desk looked innocent enough, but there was something of a look of revulsion she could see in the young man's eyes. It took her a moment to realise when Michael said drugs he was probably reffering to some medical drug, her countanace softened looking down at what she could see of Michaels face.
“Well they thought that anything else in my system might interfere with the antidote.... Don’t know if they were right or not but we can’t really take the chance that they were can we? Not when Paige is so sick.” Sam felt his wife slip her hand into his, her fingers closing tightly around his at the boys words. He couldn't help clutching at every word Micheal uttered, trying not to think of what he'd do if this didn't work. It suddenly hit him that this was their last hope, without this Paige would fade away. He had to fight back the desire to leave the room and return to her side, as if his presence could somehow protect her from the inevitable.
“Then all you have to do is inject me with the pneumonia and wait.” There was a gasp from Megan, her eyes flicking from Micheal to Hank, she'd had no idea this would entail making Micheal ill. She couldn't read the look on Hank's face and Micheal still wasn't looking up at them making it hard to see what he was feeling.
Megan missed the rest of what Micheal said as the full enormity of what he was going to do for them hit her. He was going to make himself as ill as Paige was ... all in order to save her. She felt a surge of motherly affection for Micheal, he was going to save her baby. As far she she was concerned they could never thank him enough.
'Thank you.. how can we ever repay you?' Sam's words were low and husky, his eyes fixed on Micheal's face.
ooc: OK finnished
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
Re: That's what friends are for.'Thank you.. how can we ever repay you?' Michael felt suddenly awkward realising just how much he had revealed. Paige’s folks didn’t have to know about his sordid past. They were going to see far too much of his sordid future as it was. So it did take an effort to meet their eyes, dreading to find disapproval or even worse pity in them. But then both were sure to come. There was no way he was going to come through this without them realising he was an addict. That was just something he was going to live with. Even though he hated it.
But still ….There’s nothing to repay. But there are a couple of things you can do for me he said as steadily as he could meeting Sam’s eyes with his own. Firstly you can keep Paige from knowing about this……… or at least from knowing the gory details.” His voice was quiet but earnest, revealing how important this was to him
“We have to tell her of course. Let her know that we’re doing something.” That was only logical. Paige must have been scared. Michael didn’t even want to think of how scared she was lying there as the sickness got worse. It was something he knew about all to well. and there was no way he was just going to leave her thinking she was going to die when there was now a very good chance that she wouldn’t .That didn’t mean he couldn’t try to salvage some of his pride from all of this thought did it?. “But we don’t have to tell her everything.” he continued, the smile gone as he talked about this most personal of subjects.” I know that sounds weird but you’ll understand later. Unfortunately”
“Which sort of brings me to the second thing” This was a biggie, especially for the doctor and Michael knew that. If it hadn’t been then McCoy would have been no different from Brady. But it was also essential, otherwise all of this was going to be for nothing so Michael laid it on the line.
”I need you all to promise me that once we start we won’t stop. No matter what I say or do later on” McCoy knew what he was talking about, he could see it in the yellow eyes but Paige’s parents…….”It's the morphine” Michael told them honestly, feeling he owed them at least that much. ” Stopping it is……..hard…… and I’ll probably be pretty insistent that I want it by this time tomorrow.” He let them fill in the blanks on their own, suspecting all the same that they still wouldn’t come up with an accurate picture of what withdrawal was like. Though they were soon going to find out.
“So it has to be clear. I’m doing this because I want to.' He had to make them understand that otherwise it was all too hard "The only thing that counts is what I say here and now, not what the damned drugs will make me say later. And Im saying that saving Paige is worth whatever it takes.”
Re: That's what friends are for."There’s nothing to repay. But there are a couple of things you can do for me." In Megan's eyes she could almost see the halo which should be resting upon his head. He seemed like an angel, a shiver ran though her, what would have happened if he'd not been in the room, if he'd not known about Paige? "Firstly you can keep Paige from knowing about this……… or at least from knowing the gory details.” Gory details? A slight confusion spread across her face, what did he mean? She pulled away from her husband, still wiping at her damp cheeks with the palms of her hands.
“We have to tell her of course. Let her know that we’re doing something.” There was a curt nodded response from Paige's father, the way he felt at the moment if Michael asked for the moon on a stick he could have it. There was nothing he wouldn't do for someone who was trying to save his only daughters life.
Sam glanced across, trying to work out how the doctor was responding to all this. Did Hank think this might work? Or were they just clutching at straws? He raised the tips of his fingers to his temples, rubbing them against his skin, trying to prevent the dull throbbing behind his eyes from developing into a headache. He needed to be awake and alert, Paige needed him, he couldn't fail her now.
“Which sort of brings me to the second thing” He wasn’t sure he was altogether happy about keeping what Michael was planning to do from Paige, didn’t she have the right to know? For now he decided he’d agree to whatever Michael wanted, when everything was over he could press the issue further.
”I need you all to promise me that once we start we won’t stop. No matter what I say or do later on” Sam could see a confused expression settling on his wife’s face. “It's the morphine” It took a moment to sink in… morphine.. he must mean withdrawals. Sam shifted uncomfortably at the idea of what Michael would be going through. Looking across at Megan he saw she’d crossed her arms, the look on her face now confused her gaze flitting backwards and forwards from Michael to Hank.
“So it has to be clear. I’m doing this because I want to.' He was beginning to feel distinctly uncomfortable about the idea, the more Michael said the worse it sounded. His eyes studied the serious expression on Michaels face, realising for the first how old his eyes looked. He didn’t want to say it, but before he could reconsider he was speaking.
“Is… isn’t there another way? Anything else we can try?.”
Paige:How can I have feelings for someone who's not even real?
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