Title: Collateral Damage
Author: M.Edison
Archive: Ask First
Rating: PG
Feedback: Yes please, keep it polite! But send to medison@thezone.net
Keywords: Missing Scene for Betrayed. Helm/Queen UST
Spoilers: Betrayed.
Author's Note: Thanks to Jo and MnD for the beta!
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em.
"Collateral Damage"
by Medie
-------------
It was near midnight when he went to check on Señora Hidalgo before going to
bed. The room was dark save for the soft light cast by the small candle in
his hand. Helm set the candle down nearby before moving closer to the comatose
woman, and slipping his stethoscope into his ears before bending over to check
her heart rate.
The sound of a foot scraping on the floor caused the doctor to bolt upright,
pivoting in the same motion, to discover a black-garbed figure standing there.
"You shouldn't be here."
The Queen of Swords smirked lightly. "Why?" Before he could answer, she
nodded. "Ah yes, how could I forget the good Captain's accusation...Don't
worry Doctor, no one knows I'm here save you and Señora Hidalgo, and I am
sure she won't tell." Humor and sarcasm faded as one gloved hand reached out
to touch Vera's golden hair. "How is she?"
Her genuine concern didn't surprise him - the Queen was not a vicious woman,
no matter what Montoya or Grisham said - but the worry in her eyes did. It
was not the general worry one would have about a stranger. Far from it. It
was the concern of a woman worrying about a friend.
Yet another piece was added to his growing collection of the puzzle that was
the Queen's true identity.
"No change." He said, watching her face. "But I guess you knew that."
"I'd hoped differently." She replied with a rueful sigh. "Vera's the only
one who can tell the truth. Grisham's not likely to have an attack of
conscience any time soon." Again she brushed a hand across Vera's hair. "Do
you think...if she wakes up...she'll be the same?"
Her hesitant concern niggled at him. Again she seemed to be so familiar, yet
he was still unable to place who she was. To make that final connection. "I
see no reason why she wouldn't. The mind can be a tricky thing however, so I
cannot be entirely sure until she does wake."
The Queen's eyes dropped again and she stared at the comatose woman. "She
didn't deserve this. She was just trying to protect Grisham..."
"Don't." He reached out to rest a hand on hers. "Don't take this on yourself.
If anyone is to blame, it is the Captain for bringing her into the middle of
it. Trying to use her against you."
"I know that....I do," She replied with a faint smile. "But I still can't
escape blaming myself. If I hadn't tried to take the gold, she wouldn't have
been injured. No matter how hard I try, it seems I can't keep innocents from
being caught in the middle."
"Collateral damage."
"Excuse me, doctor?"
"Collateral damage. A term used in war when civilians are caught in the middle."
Helm's expression was vaguely mocking as he recalled the situations where that
term had been bandied about. "A polite term for an ugly concept."
"Very polite," The Queen agreed, not lifting her eyes from Vera's face. "I
chose to be the way I am. I chose this life. She didn't."
The statement made him wonder. What could possibly have happened to this
woman that had necessitated the wearing of that mask and costume? What would
be so bad as to push a seemingly noble woman into taking up arms against her
government?
Against his wishes, his mind presented possibility after possibility and all
of them turned his stomach. All were quite possible, given the men she'd
declared her enemies. Nevertheless, the idea of this woman being harmed in
any way...Rage bubbled up at the very thought.
"Neither did you," he argued. "It chose you."
Her gaze met his and he knew. He wasn't looking into the eyes of the Queen
anymore. He was looking into the eyes of the woman behind the mask. A woman
he no doubt regularly saw on the streets of Santa Helena.
"You're right." She replied sadly. "It did."
Watching her, Helm sensed he was about to find out more about the Queen of
Swords than he ever had before in all their meetings.
He wasn't wrong.
"There was a time when all I wanted was a life like Vera's," The dark woman's
smirk returned. "Without the Capitan, of course."
"Of course," he murmured in agreement with a smile of his own.
"That life was my goal in life. To marry well, make my Papa happy, and have
many children." Her smirk turned sardonic. "Can you imagine that now? With
me like this?" She gestured to her costume and watched his expression intently.
For the first time, Helm considered it, truly considered what being the Queen
of Swords could mean for a woman's life. The effect that it would have on
her view of the world she would be expected to bring children into. He
compared it to his own view - forever tarnished by his experience in war - and
understood. "Children are our hope. Through them we have a better future."
"And for as many children as I have...what of the Grishams and Montoyas of
the world?" She shot back in irritation. "It means an unending conflict.
Will I have to raise my daughters to be as I am? To fight their sons?" She
waved a hand and turned to go.
"Wait!" He lunged forward and caught her arm. "It won't always be this way."
Though he spoke about one thing, they both knew what he truly meant. That
there wouldn't always be this wall between them: the mask.
"Won't it?" The Queen replied smoothly, "The world doesn't change, Doctor,
just the details."
And then she was gone.
FINIS
Author: M.Edison
Archive: Ask First
Rating: PG
Feedback: Yes please, keep it polite! But send to medison@thezone.net
Keywords: Missing Scene for Betrayed. Helm/Queen UST
Spoilers: Betrayed.
Author's Note: Thanks to Jo and MnD for the beta!
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em.
"Collateral Damage"
by Medie
-------------
It was near midnight when he went to check on Señora Hidalgo before going to
bed. The room was dark save for the soft light cast by the small candle in
his hand. Helm set the candle down nearby before moving closer to the comatose
woman, and slipping his stethoscope into his ears before bending over to check
her heart rate.
The sound of a foot scraping on the floor caused the doctor to bolt upright,
pivoting in the same motion, to discover a black-garbed figure standing there.
"You shouldn't be here."
The Queen of Swords smirked lightly. "Why?" Before he could answer, she
nodded. "Ah yes, how could I forget the good Captain's accusation...Don't
worry Doctor, no one knows I'm here save you and Señora Hidalgo, and I am
sure she won't tell." Humor and sarcasm faded as one gloved hand reached out
to touch Vera's golden hair. "How is she?"
Her genuine concern didn't surprise him - the Queen was not a vicious woman,
no matter what Montoya or Grisham said - but the worry in her eyes did. It
was not the general worry one would have about a stranger. Far from it. It
was the concern of a woman worrying about a friend.
Yet another piece was added to his growing collection of the puzzle that was
the Queen's true identity.
"No change." He said, watching her face. "But I guess you knew that."
"I'd hoped differently." She replied with a rueful sigh. "Vera's the only
one who can tell the truth. Grisham's not likely to have an attack of
conscience any time soon." Again she brushed a hand across Vera's hair. "Do
you think...if she wakes up...she'll be the same?"
Her hesitant concern niggled at him. Again she seemed to be so familiar, yet
he was still unable to place who she was. To make that final connection. "I
see no reason why she wouldn't. The mind can be a tricky thing however, so I
cannot be entirely sure until she does wake."
The Queen's eyes dropped again and she stared at the comatose woman. "She
didn't deserve this. She was just trying to protect Grisham..."
"Don't." He reached out to rest a hand on hers. "Don't take this on yourself.
If anyone is to blame, it is the Captain for bringing her into the middle of
it. Trying to use her against you."
"I know that....I do," She replied with a faint smile. "But I still can't
escape blaming myself. If I hadn't tried to take the gold, she wouldn't have
been injured. No matter how hard I try, it seems I can't keep innocents from
being caught in the middle."
"Collateral damage."
"Excuse me, doctor?"
"Collateral damage. A term used in war when civilians are caught in the middle."
Helm's expression was vaguely mocking as he recalled the situations where that
term had been bandied about. "A polite term for an ugly concept."
"Very polite," The Queen agreed, not lifting her eyes from Vera's face. "I
chose to be the way I am. I chose this life. She didn't."
The statement made him wonder. What could possibly have happened to this
woman that had necessitated the wearing of that mask and costume? What would
be so bad as to push a seemingly noble woman into taking up arms against her
government?
Against his wishes, his mind presented possibility after possibility and all
of them turned his stomach. All were quite possible, given the men she'd
declared her enemies. Nevertheless, the idea of this woman being harmed in
any way...Rage bubbled up at the very thought.
"Neither did you," he argued. "It chose you."
Her gaze met his and he knew. He wasn't looking into the eyes of the Queen
anymore. He was looking into the eyes of the woman behind the mask. A woman
he no doubt regularly saw on the streets of Santa Helena.
"You're right." She replied sadly. "It did."
Watching her, Helm sensed he was about to find out more about the Queen of
Swords than he ever had before in all their meetings.
He wasn't wrong.
"There was a time when all I wanted was a life like Vera's," The dark woman's
smirk returned. "Without the Capitan, of course."
"Of course," he murmured in agreement with a smile of his own.
"That life was my goal in life. To marry well, make my Papa happy, and have
many children." Her smirk turned sardonic. "Can you imagine that now? With
me like this?" She gestured to her costume and watched his expression intently.
For the first time, Helm considered it, truly considered what being the Queen
of Swords could mean for a woman's life. The effect that it would have on
her view of the world she would be expected to bring children into. He
compared it to his own view - forever tarnished by his experience in war - and
understood. "Children are our hope. Through them we have a better future."
"And for as many children as I have...what of the Grishams and Montoyas of
the world?" She shot back in irritation. "It means an unending conflict.
Will I have to raise my daughters to be as I am? To fight their sons?" She
waved a hand and turned to go.
"Wait!" He lunged forward and caught her arm. "It won't always be this way."
Though he spoke about one thing, they both knew what he truly meant. That
there wouldn't always be this wall between them: the mask.
"Won't it?" The Queen replied smoothly, "The world doesn't change, Doctor,
just the details."
And then she was gone.
FINIS