YOU'RE NOT INVINCIBLE...
By: michi-mercer
A/N: Co-written by jeanosauryehet27
Upper West Side, Renalia building, Alex Mercer's Apartment
It was 6:30 in the morning, the sun was already shining through his apartment's window and every living being in this world was having a blissful morning.
Except for Alex Mercer. He got out of work at two and since taxis are limited and usually full at this time, the young scientist had to run back home in the rain.
Walking back there would have taken him two hours, running there would take him about half the time. Nevertheless, he'll still be under the rain. Taking off his coat, he wrapped it around his briefcase as an extra precaution.
He arrived back in his apartment, severely drenched in the rain and he was so damn tired that he just kicked off his shoes and plopped down on his bed... instantly falling asleep as his head hit the pillow.
And now here he was, inside his room preparing for work; with a shitty headache.
Fuck... I really should stop agreeing to work overtime. Alex scolded himself, rubbing each of his temples. Looking at the mirror, he noticed the effects of stress and lack of sleep on his face.
Sighing, he made his way to his desk when suddenly he felt intense pain coming from his head. He bent over to his desk, gripping the sides for support as he waited for the pain to ebb away.
After a few moments stuck like that, he slowly walked over to his seat and sat down. Closing his tired eyes, he almost fell asleep; but was woken up by someone knocking on his door. Sitting up straighter, he cleared his throat and fixed his glasses.
"Come in..." he called, although it sounded more like a rasp.
Opening the door, young Dana Mercer poked her head inside before entering. "Good morning, Alex. I was just about to go to school and I figured that I wanted to see you before I go, since I haven't even seen your shadow last night."
Rubbing the back of his head, Alex focused his attention to his little sister and forced a smile.
"I'm sorry about that, it's just that... I need to earn money for your college and they need me back there and I-" but was cut off when he started coughing.
Worried, Dana ran towards her older brother and rubbed circles on his back. Moaning in relief, Alex slumped on his seat and yawned tiredly.
"Are you okay Alex? You look kinda' pale..." she asked, worriedly.
Shaking his head, the young adult faced his sister. "I'm fine, lil' sis. Now... take this and go you little rascal." He answered, smiling. Reaching into his pocket, he took out his wallet and grabbed a couple of dollars.
"Okay... I'll be going then, see you later!" Dana said, waving goodbye as she stepped out of the room.
Left alone inside his room, Alex Mercer decided to finally go to work. But before he did, he took a small container from his desk and poured its contents to his palm and popped them in his mouth.
Let's just see if I can make it through the day without passing out... he whispered to himself and went outside.
GENTEK Facility, Gramercy, 8:00 a.m.
Entering the facililty, Alex was already bombarded by the press and co-wokers.
"Dr. Mercer! How does it feel to be the youngest Head Researcher of Gentek?"
"What are your plans for becoming Head Researcher?"
"Dr. Mercer, what do you plan to contribute to Gentek?"
"Dr. Mercer! Why are you so hot?"
"Dr. Mercer! Can I have a kiss?"
"Dr. Mercer! Can I have some of that!"
Shit, Alex growled in his mind as he tried to slip away from the bombarding press. His head throbbed painfully that his vision was already becoming blurred on the spot.
"Aacckk!" He yelped when someone pulled him to the side. Not even bothering to check who it was, he let himself be dragged away from the pestering crowd and into the break room.
"You really got to watch your back nowadays, Mercer. Or you might end up on a silver platter." A man's voice teased.
"Oh, leave him be Travis... Just be glad that you managed to save him from those piranhas." A female voice nagged.
"I WUV ICE CWEAM!" Another female voice shouted.
Blinking a few times, Alex's blurred sight reverted back to normal and he saw three figures inside the break room.
"You 'kay, Lexie?" The second female asked, placing a hand gently on his back.
"Unngghh..." Alex groaned as the pain in his head increased as each second passed.
"Shit! He's burning up!" The other female yelled, running across the room.
The man-Travis, grabbed Alex by his shoulders and led him to a nearby chair. "Sit." He ordered and moved away.
"Yow Angela! Where's the ice?" Travis barked.
"Coming!" She called and ran towards Alex's side, "Jean get a cloth or something." Angela said.
"Yep!" She answered and took a towel from one of the cabinets. "Here you go!" Jean chirped and tossed the towel to Angela.
"Thanks!" Angela said and grabbed a handful of ice from the pack and placed it at the center of the towel, wrapping it tightly and gently dabbed it on his forehead.
Travis came back holding a small container, opening it he took a small amount of the substance, rolling up Alex's sleeve and spread it across the young scientist's wrist and arm.
"Oi Jean! Massage him!" Travis barked.
Jean shot the man a glare and then proceeded to sit beside Alex and took his arm, rubbing and masaging it expertly and gently with her small hands.
Cracking one eye open, Alex saw little of what was going on around him. But he knew that his friends were taking care of him, so he closed his eyes again.
"Enjoying youself, Mercer?" Angela asked. "You could've just stayed at home if you weren't feeling well."
Shaking his head, Alex lazily opened his eyes and opened his mouth to talk.
"Can't..." he rasped. "Need to... work." But burst out into a coughing fit, which worried the trio even more.
"You sure Mercer? I'm sure you need to go home and rest. If somebody was suffering with whatever you have right now, they'll already be a puddle of goo on the floor." Travis told him, crossing his arms on his chest.
"No," Alex shook his head in response and drifted back to subconsciousness.
"Typical Alexander J. Mercer," Angela muttered under her breath as she rolled her eyes.
"Someone's gotta worry about him. He's been independent ever since his mother went cuckoo..." Jean added.
"Maybe we should call his sister then," Angela suggested.
"No!" The trio jumped slightly at Alex's sudden outburst. "No..." he moaned and drifted again to subconsciousness.
"Maybe not..." Travis remarked. Sighing, he started pacing around the room and began whispering things the two couldn't understand.
"Shit. Why does Alex have to be so difficult?" Angela whined and Jean nodded in agreement.
"Maybe it's the Mercer genes," Jean noted. "He's been like that since he first worked here. Always drowned himself with work."
"We should really call his sister y'know," Travis nagged, eyeing at Alex who was slumped on the chair, eyes closed and his breathing ragged. "What's her name again? Diana... Daniella? Danica-"
"It's Dana, jackhole," Angela snapped. "And I'm 100% sure that Alex will shove the 8" blade down our throats if he finds out that we brought his sister to GENTEK, disrupting her classes."
"Yeah right," Travis scoffed. "There was this one time when he left the very important board meeting to pick up his little princess from school, just because she had a tiny gash on her palm."
"You're just jealous 'cause Alex has a very pretty sister," Jean retorted. "And you couldn't ask her to date you 'cause her brother is a part of the higher ups named Alex fucking Mercer."
"Holy shit! You like Dana?! You better start digging your own grave, junior." Angela chuckled. "Or Alex will be the one to dig it with your fucking corpse."
Travis snarled and continued pacing about the room. As the three scientists continued to think of another plan to convince the very stubborn Alex to go home and rest, they suddenly heard a large groan.
Running over to his side, Angela almost placed the back of her hand on his forehead; if it weren't for the scalding heat that emanated from him.
"Somebody grab a pack of ice from Antartica, 'cause this person is about to become the next Darth fucking Vader!" Angela yelled.
"We should get it from Hoth, not Antartica," Jean corrected and Angela nodded in agreement.
"Well enough with the Star Wars fuck!" Travis boomed. "I'll get the ice from the underworld-I mean, freezer... damn it!"
"Then get it or I'll shove your freaking ass to hell!" Angela barked.
Travis didn't answer and simply ran off towards the freezer in the break room.
"Gods, What the hell happened to you Alex?" Travis mumbled as he handed the ice pack to Angela.
"I'm guessing he took the overnight shift." Jean slurred.
"And I say he ran back home in the rain after he finished his overtime shift." Angela added.
"Idiot," Travis muttered and rolled his eyes. "Only 24 and he's already working himself to death..."
"Try raising a kid on your own and see what happens," Angela shot back. "And if you want to have Dana's hand in marriage then be nice to your future brother-in-law..." she added with a smirk.
"Don't mind me," Travis growled.
"Are you two done bickering like two-year olds... or are you going to help me with this crap." Jean's voice boomed. Making Travis and Angela flinch, and Alex stir.
"Uunnngghh..." Alex moaned and moved his head to one side that was beaded with sweat. "Work..." he mumbled.
"Seriously? Even when he's like this, he's still thinking about work." Angela facepalmed.
"We should really call Dana-"
"ENOUGH WITH THE 'SHOULD CALL CRAP'! JUST GET IT DONE!" Travis boomed, making the two females glare at him.
"You ordering your seniors, Travis?" Angela growled.
"Not very nice of you..." Jean added, with a hint of malice in her tone.
Shaking, Travis took one tentative step backwards and raised his arms in defense.
"N-No! Of course not!" He said in defense, "I'll do it." And took his phone out of his pocket.
But a hand grabbed him and took the phone away from him. Turning around, he saw Alex with his phone swaying slightly as he struggled to keep himself upright.
"I... thought I told you... No!" Alex shouted as he threw Travis' phone on the ground, possibly breaking it.
"My phone!" Travis whined as he gathered it up on his hands. "And I just paid it off..."
"Alex!" Angela shrieked. "Sit down and I'll call a cab to take you home." And bolted out of the room.
Staggering slightly, Alex made his way outside... ushering away the help of his two other friends.
"Just promise us you'll go home..." Jean pleaded as she took his arm. Looking at her and back at Travis... Alex nodded and left the room.
Once outside, he tried to act casual as different set of people greeted him and him greeted them back.
Unconsciously, he straightened his posture and walked out the facility. Angela saw him and immediately moved to his side, supporting him and hiding his face from the world.
"We don't want the press to see your sick face..." Angela whispered. "Now... I'm going to wait with you out here until you get inside a taxi." She added.
"No... I can do that myself." Alex persuaded her and removed her hand on his shoulder, "Go back inside. Your team probably needs you by now." As if on cue, Angela's phone rang and she muttered a curse underneath her breath.
"Are you prophetic or something?" Angela called as she answered her phone and ran back inside. "Go home!" She yelled one last time, before she was out of sight.
Squinting as bright light shone directly on his tired eyes, he moved to the edge of the sidewalk to hail a cab. But a cab parked itself in front of him and he was about to open the door, when it opened and a man stepped out.
"Mercer... How's my favourite scientist?" The man greeted and patted Alex on his shoulder, roughly.
Trying his best to act normal around the man, Alex forced a smile to his lips and greeted the man half-heartedly.
"Dr. McMullen... It's always a great pleasure to see you." Although I want to go home and sleep this damn thing off... he thought to himself, as he was found being led inside the facility once more and into his office where McMullen gestured Alex to sit as he sat on his own chair.
"What brings you to the facility, sir?" The younger man asked.
Smiling, McMullen took out a pile of documents, folders, flashdrives and stacked them in front of the confused scientist.
"This is quite urgent matter, my dear lad." Clasping his hands together, McMullen became serious and stared directly into Alex's steely-blue eyes.
"You see, there was a slight disarray back in the reasearch laboratory on Russia and they need me to help Dr. Parker to stabilize the faciltity. But I have a lot of things to finish here too, and so..." And he started rambling on and on about all the stuff that he needed to do, that would've taken Alex a day.
But he has his own problems to deal with right now and he sure as hell wasn't going to start listening to McMullen's useless ramblings. And the fact that he was talking about his ex-girlfriend...
"-that could allow us to alter the genes of different kinds of species and re-arrange their DNA's." Alex heard McMullen as he decided to finally decided to listen. "Now the question is... are you willing to work even past overtime?"
Choices... made to confuse and mess up the human brain even more. "I would be honoured to..." he lied and took the stuff out and into his office.
"I'm counting on you Mercer!" McMulled called as he prepared to leave for Russia. "I'll be back next week if I can manage and I expect it to be done by then."
"What am I doing with my life..." Alex whispered to himself.
Setting down the pile of paperwork on his desk, he sat down and opened the first folder. This is going to be a pain in the ass...
GENTEK Facility, 2:59 a.m.
"Fucking Hell!" Alex cursed as he continously banged his head on his desk. If I don't finish this... I'll go fucking crazy!! He was almost done scanning and writing reports about the files, McMullen gave him and he was just one step away from collapsing at this moment.
Meow-meow-meow-meow-meow-meow-meow~
Meow-meow-meow-meow-meow-meow-meow~
Crap. Groaning, Alex fished his phone out of his pocket and answered the call.
"This is Alex Mercer," he slurred. "Whatever bullshit you have to throw at me this time, can you keep it in your pants for one day... as I am currently preoccupied at the moment."
"Oh... if you're preoccupied I guess I'll call later."
Oh shit! Alex cursed to himself. "Wa-wa-wait! Dana?"
"Hey Alex! Are you sure that I'm not disturbing you? I was going to hang up since I disrupted whatever it is you're working on." She said.
"No! Not at all..." Alex chirped and mentally slapped himself for that one. "Why aren't you asleep right now?"
"I was wondering if you're available later," she replied. "I bought two tickets for the showing of the movie Frankenstein and since we never hang out lately..."
"Of course Dana," This is my sister after all. "I'd be glad to spend time with you." He told her and started packing all the files.
"Really! Gosh, thanks Alex! Love you!" Dana chirped and Alex swore he knew that she was happily jumping around right about now.
"Love you too..." he whispered and hanged up.
Leaning on his seat with a sigh, Alex rubbed his temples, wondering how he can survive much longer in his condition.
"What the hell Alex?! What are you still doing here?!" Jean's voice boomed when she met Alex in the hallway with a briefcase in hand.
"What are you doing here?" Alex quipped.
"I'm on my nightshift bucko," Jean snapped, hands settled on her hips. "I thought you were back home."
"McMullen gave me another task," He said. "But don't worry, I'm on my way home now."
"Well that's good," Jean breathed. "Because we wouldn't want another body to be delivered to the morgue. Now shoo, go home or I'll call your sis to drag you."
Alex shot her a threatening look before waving goodbye.
This time, I'm really going home.
"Taxi!" He called. Stopping, the cab driver opened the door from the inside and Alex entered graciously.
Setting the briefcase down, he leaned back in the seat and closed the door. "Upper westside, Renalia building please."
The cab driver nodded and began to drive towards his passenger's destination. Not even after five minutes has passed, the taxi was hailed by another passenger.
"Oh sorry... I thought it was empty, you take it." The man apologized and closed the door.
Blinking in confusion, Alex stopped the taxi and called the man. "Nah... you take it sir. I can take the next one."
Shaking his head, the man thanked him and gave him 10 dollars as compromise.
Once the cab left, Alex shivered as the cold air blew against him... making him pull his coat tighter around his shivering body.
Crap, I'm going to die before I could even reach home. Rubbing his tired eyes, Alex began walking towards the direction of his house; when he unciousciously took a wrong turn due to his pounding head.
"Oh sorry sir," Alex apologized. "I wasn't looking on my way-" But his sentence was cut off when he felt something cold, pressed up against his jaw.
"Don't move," the stranger snarled. "Or I'll slice your head off. Give me your wallet and that briefcase and I'll spare your life."
"I won't give you my suitcase," He shot back. "Get the fuck off my way or you'll be a sorry ass."
The man growled. "You're a tough guy aren't you?" He challenged. "Now do as what I say or I'll slit your goddamn throat."
Growling, Alex raised his briefcase higher and slammed it against the man's jaw. In return, the mugger decided to charge at him with knife in hand... screaming as he charged.
Alex smirked and took the oppurtunity to step sideways, the knife missing its target and the attacker stumbled forward.
"You know... I don't appreciate being in audience with scum like you." Alex hissed and punched the man in the face. With his free hand, the mugger jabbed at Alex and he was taken aback. Clenching his fists, Alex returned a punch and kicked the man square in the chest... sending him slamming against the wall, breath ragged.
"I think you should go home now." Alex suggested and turned around.
Hearing the man's footsteps, Alex groaned and turned back around. At the right moment, Alex grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it... making his attacker scream in pain as he dropped the knife and clutched his injured wrist.
"That'll teach you not to mess with me." Alex growled as he walked away from the man, stopping as he took the knife and smiled. "I'll be taking this."
Once he was out of sight, Alex threw the knife in the trash bin and continued his stroll. Thinking that the fight cured his illness, Alex leisurely walked away. But after a minute of happiness, his knees gave out under his weight and he was sent crashing down the sidewalk.
"Adrenaline... should have seen that coming." Alex breathed as he picked himself off of the sidewalk.
"Are you okay, mister?" A small voice spoke while tugging his coat. Alex turned his head down and saw a little girl around eight. She stared at him with her wide blue eyes and her brunette hair was tied into pigtails. Alex swore that the girl reminded him of his little Dana when she was younger.
"I'm okay," He assured the child. "I'm just... tired." Yeah. Tired. Even if he was sick for two freaking days.
"Oh. Mommy says when you'te tired, go to sleep so that you'll grow stronger and taller," the girl told him and pulled him closer to her. She leaned down and planted a small kiss on his forehead. "Get rest mister. You're sick." She smiled and placed her small hand on his cheek.
"Okay, kid. Now run along home to your mom. I'm sure she's worried about you." And ruffled her hair.
Smiling, the little girl bounced away and left. "Bye mister!" She called over her shoulder as she waved goodbye to the scientist.
What time is it... 3:45! I have to make a run for it! And thus ending with Alex running back home.
"Made it..." Alex gasped as he opened the door to his apartment. "Dana?" He called.
"Alex? You're back!" Dana squealed as she ran towards him. "Alex nasty! Go take a shower!" She barked as she saw her brother beaded with sweat.
Looking at himself, Alex nodded and plodded towards the bathroom upstairs.
Once he was finished showering and clothing himself, he went downstairs and entered the living room where he saw Dana handing him a piece of clothing.
"I figured we should wear matching clothes," Dana said and shoved the material into Alex's arms.
Alex took the material and examined it with both of his hands. It was a hoodie jacket, navy blue in color and a letter A imprinted on the upper left side of the jacket. Dana's jacket is light pink in color and a letter D imprinted on it.
"We're siblings Dana, not couples," he reminded her.
Dana rolled her eyes. "Do you think couples are the only ones who can wear matching clothes? Geez Alex... Besides it's cute."
"Fine," he grumbled and put it on. He heard Dana squealing and a loud click resonated fron her phone, followed by a flash.
"Stop that!" He whined.
Dana put her phone away and pouted. "What a whiny baby..."
"Let's just go." Alex pressed and dragged Dana outside. While he was dragging her, Dana became confused at the thought of Alex's hand being cold when the rest of his body is warm.
Alex noticed this and let Dana's hand go, "So... what are your plans?"
Forgetting about the confusing thought for the moment, Dana smiled and flashed the tickets in front of him.
They first went to the movies, making fun of the other people there who were screaming. In Alex's case... he resisted the urge to sleep there and possibly arouse Dana's suspicion.
Once they had arrived at the skating rink, the two siblings each rented their ice skates and went out on the ice.
"Woohoo! Isn't this fun!" Dana called over her shoulder as she raced around the rink. "Come on, slowpoke!"
Alex gripped the wall for support as he tried to catch up with his sister. He wasn't a bad skater and he'd gone skating several times, especially in winter. But in his condition, he'll surely collapse.
Picking up his speed, Alex raced after Dana and pushed himself. As he was growing nearer, his shitty headache acted up again and his vision blurred.
"Watch out!" Dana yelled, but she was too late.
Alex collapsed to the ground as he collided with another skater, "Watch it you motherfucker!" The man yelled as he didn't even help the fallen scientist.
People started gathering around him and he knew he was cornered. Alex was panicking, not something that he would normally do... but he was feeling vulnerable right now and that wasn't a good sign.
"Get out of the way!" He heard his sister yell. "Make some room people! Don't you know anything about these kinds of situations?!" Alex saw Dana shoving a few people aside and before he knew it... he was being held upright by Dana.
Leading him away from the breaking crowd, Dana opened the gate and helped him outside the rink and pulled up a chair.
"Sit," she ordered. Alex obeyed and slumped down on the chair with a sigh.
Dana pulled out her bag and took a small bottle of water from inside then gave it to Alex, who was breathing rather heavily.
Alex took the bottle and drank it in a one large gulp. No one of them spoke for a minute until Dana broke the silence.
"Why didn't you tell me?" At this point, Alex was both confused and nervous at the same time.
"Alex... please don't bottle-up. Please tell me what you're going through." Dana begged, with her hand on his cheek; she turned his face gently towards her and looked into his blue eyes.
"I want to help you... But I can't do it if you don't tell me! Please Alex! Please don't shut me out." Dana sobbed into his chest, tightening her hold on his jacket. "Please... what happened to 'No secrets from each other'?"
Alex remained silent, he was tempted to tell her and get it over with. But if he were to tell her... Dana would sure to worry about him to death.
"You know what? I don't care at this moment!" Dana snapped. "You don't want to talk to me? Fine! Have it your way!" And stomped away, returning her rented skates and continued walking away.
"Dana..." Alex breathed.
In the distance, one couple gossiped loudly.
"That's going to leave a nasty mark." The girl told her boyfriend. "Other people just can't stay in love like us, right honey?"
"Of course, sweetie." He agreed and kissed his girlfriend on the lips.
Growling as he stood up, Alex made his way towards the couple and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'm sorry to interupt your make out session out in the public," he started. Catching the couples attention, they faced him with hatred in their eyes.
"But what right do you have to say those things to us? You don't even think with those brain of yours." He snapped. "We're not couples a'right! We're siblings! Did it ever occur to you two knuckleheads, that by not talking to her at that moment... I saved her from a truckload of stress."
"Sorry man... just let it go." The man said and turned away. The man's girlfriend glanced back at him and mouthed 'jackass' before flouncing away with her boyfriend.
As annoyed as he was Alex decided to leave her be and returned his skates, he went outside and sighed as he remembered Dana going home without him.
Coughing as the cold and bitter air entered his pained lungs, he hailed a cab and was silent the entire time.
Upper Westside, Renalia building, Alex Mercer's apartment, 4:25 a.m.
Opening the door as quiet as he could be, the young scientist tiptoed into the apartment and closed the door behind him.
As soon as he did, he fell to his knees and stayed like that for a few minutes. When he finally decided to stand up, Alex leaned against the wall and used it for support. Slowly walking towards the stairs, Alex's mind swam as he swallowed down bile.
He had to keep his hand on the wall to restrain himself from sinking to the floor, his head throbbing madly as he tried to even his breathing.
Cold... so cold... Alex thought to himself as he climbed up the first step.
He should have know playing unaffected was a bad idea. Now it amplified to another degree... Inside, his head ached in a way that he was sure that it would split in the middle, along with nauseating knots churning within his stomach. His body felt extremely cold as well, like there was something clawing up and down on his spine.
Despite feeling nauseated and dizzy, Alex finally made it up the stairs. But as soon as his feet touched the floor, his surroundings started to spin around him and he closed his eyes shut... desperate to make it stop.
Entering his room, he didn't even dare to switch the lights on-though he couldn't see a single thing right now. The splitting headache only got worse and Alex found himself leaning against his bedroom wall, the pressure against his aching head easing the pain for a moment.
But then the pain came back with full force, sending him staggering backwards. It was over the point where playing unaffected was useless, hiding his pain and stress.
Oh god! Wha-what if Dana saw me? What if they all find out! I need to... I need to- but his thoughts were completely stopped by another new feeling. The young adult couldn't exactly pinpoint what was this new feeling so he shrugged it off and closed in on his bed. But then the feeling came back, only it was stronger this time; and before he knew it, he fell uncionscious before his body even hit the mattress.
6:15 a.m. He never sleeps this late...
Ever since coming home earlier this morning, Dana was becoming worried for her brother. She knew he came home last night, that would explain the door opening.
Anyway, she felt terrible after having said all those things to him and she cried herself to sleep. Alex was the one who raised her since she was a baby, he was the one who struggled to earn money for the both of them and he was the one who pushed himself every single day to work and to spend time with her... despite the effects of stress and exhuastion.
Stopping in front of his door, Dana almost hesitated to knock... almost. Taking in a deep breath, Dana knocked on his door and waited.
When he didn't answer, she thought that he was still asleep and knocked harder.
No response...
Panicking, Dana pounded her fists on the door relentlessly. "Alex? Alex!" Unable to stop herself anymore, she opened the door roughly.
"Alex-" If it was a normal day, Dana would've thought that Alex was only pulling a prank on her... and she hoped that was just it.
Moving closer, Dana saw Alex's still form underneath the covers. Mentally preparing herself, she reached for the edge of the blanket and pulled it down.
Dana leaned in closer to her brother's face, wanted to check if he was just sleeping... wanted to check if he was still breathing... She felt instant relief when she knew he was sleeping, but for him to sleep this late... it was kind of unnerving.
She made a move to place her hand on his forehead, but then his hand suddenly grabbed her and Dana found herself staring right at him.
"D-Dana?" He stuttered. "Why are you... here?" He managed to say.
Taking his hand and clasping it with her own, Dana lowered her head down and kissed his hand gently.
"I'm sorry about last night... I was irrational and ignorant and stupid and I-" but she was interrupted when Alex placed his free hand on her cheek.
"You're not those things, Dana..." Alex comforted her. "If anyone should be those things..." and he turned his head to one side, not wanting to show a moment of weakness.
"It should be me..." he breathed. Blinking his eyes tiredly, Alex began to sit himself upright and faced his little sister with a smile on his face.
"Are you sure you're alright? You can take it easy for today and I can miss school for once." Dana suggested.
Shaking his head, Alex yawned and rubbed his tired eyes. "No, you can't..." another yawn. "Need to go to school and I need to go back to work."
"No!" Dana yelled and stood up. "You can't! I know you're not feeling well and I don't want to go away for a whole day, knowing that you're sick!"
"I... don't want...you to worry," Alex rasped, swaying slightly as he stood up. "I need to go... You need to go." He started limping towards his desk, grabbing a small container he was about to pour its contents... when Dana snatched it away from his hand.
"What is this?" She pressed. Reading the label on it, she was quite unhappy with what he was taking. "Grade-A Painkillers? Why were you taking these?"
Without saying a word, Alex staggered towards the door and lazily opened it. He barely made it outside, when he was grabbed by Dana.
"Where do you think you're going?" Dana snapped. "I can't let you go..."
Shaking his head, the young scientist roughly removed his sister's hold on him and clamped his hand over his mouth as he tried to swallow down bile.
"Alex? You have to rest..." Dana suggested once more and tried to push Alex back inside his room.
"No!" Alex yelled and accidentally shoved Dana so hard, that she fell on her bottom. Shocked, both Alex and Dana stared at each other... neither of them saying a word.
Dana started to pick herself up and all Alex could do was watch, "I'm sorry..." he whispered. "I'm... sorry..." he repeated once more and backed away slowly.
"Alex," Dana's eyes widened as she saw Alex backing away. "Alex... don't. I'm fine!" She desperately reassured him, waving her hands as a sign of well-being.
"No... no, no, no..." Alex shook his head in denial, still backing away from her; unaware of the danger he was putting himself into. "No, I hurt you! I promised that I wouldn't!" He wailed as tears flowed from his bloodshot eyes.
"No, Alex! You didn't hurt me!" She tried again.
Alex laced his hand through his bed-raggled hair. Then he pressed his other fist to his lips and then to his hips, looking like a man who was lost. He started pacing in front of Dana as he lost his cool.
"I...I... I need to go." He managed to say and ran down the stairs in a hurry.
"Wait- Where are you going?!" Dana called as she ran after him.
"Anywhere but here!" Alex hissed and dashed outside the building, closely followed by Dana. "Don't follow me!" He barked.
Outside, he looked around his surroundings nervously as people crossed his path. Unable to face his sister, he decided that he wanted to be left alone and that he needed some time to think.
"Alex!" He heard Dana call. Muttering a curse underneath his breath, Alex tried crossing the street with his pounding headache.
Come on! Dana shouted within her mind. "Alex come back!" Keeping her eyes on Alex and to the passing cars that was barely missing him, she decided to cross the street as well.
"Alex!" She called again, louder this time. "Alex, wait-" but she was cut off, when she saw a speeding car careening towards her. Not wanting to see it, Dana closed her eyes so she can have deniability.
"Watch out!"
And before she knew it, a large mass collided against her small frame... sending her flying backwards and slammed against a parked car of sorts.
The loud ringing in her ears disappated after a while and once she opened her eyes, she saw a crowd grouped in front of her. Groaning as she tried to push herself upright, she was stopped by a pair of hands. At first she thought it was Alex, but after she looked up... she saw that it was an EMT and was already preparing to load her into a stretcher.
Concentrating, Dana tried to recall what had happened earlier. Blinking her eyes a few times, she was almost on the stretcher; when she remembered something.
"Watch out!"
Someone had called out to her. It was fairly obvious that she wasn't the one that got directly hit by the car, that would explain the minor gashes and bruises all over her body... but she felt that she wanted-no... needed to see who saved her. Whipping her head around... she slipped past the EMT and the crowd and found herself in another situation.
Blood... There was blood everywhere. Dana looked in front of her and saw another crowd, blocking her view. Groaning in annoyance, she pushed herself into the crowd and she came out just in time to see her saviour.
Just in time to see that her saviour... was actually her brother.
Shaking her head and tears welling up in her eyes, she covered her mouth with both of her hands as she staggered towards Alex. His face showed that he was in pain... a lot of pain. His breathing was coming in between gasps, followed by the sound of wheezing and she wanted to turn away, so she can't see her brother's pained expression. His entire frame was covered in blood and the ones that had not been entirely covered, showed deep lacerations; that oozed out more blood. She didn't know if it was the shock or her tears, but Dana found herself kneeling to the ground and placed one hand on Alex's bloody one.
"A-Alex..." she rasped.
But she didn't received any signs of response from her brother.
"Alex..." she repeated, shaking his shoulders slightly. "Alex, this isn't funny anymore!"
When he didn't stir nor twitch, Dana's sobs increased as she gingerly pulled Alex closer to him. With her free hand, Dana tried to apply much needed pressure on his wound... but that wasn't enough. She could already tell the paling of his skin and the large amount of blood, that was pooling around them.
Dana cared no less that her clothes were being soiled, she cared no less as the EMT's tried to remove Alex from her hold. All she could think of... all she cared about right now...
"I need you..." she sobbed, burying her head on his shoulder. Her hand moved down to his chest, pulling him closer. "You bastard... if you had told me that you were sick, I would've taken care of you just fine."
But then she felt something change, he was now moaning in pain and with each breath he took; he gagged as if he was not able to breathe.
Panicking, Dana looked down upon him and shook him gently. "Alex? Are you o-"
And then he stopped breathing.
A/N: Hey guys! This is the first part of my two – shot entitled: You're Not Invincible.
Just a little cliffhanger for you guys before you proceed to the second and final part.
Let me know about what you guys think.