Author's note : This one-shot is taking place about two years and a half after the end of Scorpia Rising. In the meantime Alex had gone through difficult trials. This is about exploring some of the effects these experiences had on Alex and how he is coping.


He was lucky. He was alone in the bathroom and his phone wasn't broken despite its three-feet fall. He slid against the nearest wall, still feeling dizzy. He closed his eyes, his back throbbing in time with his head. He knew that if he didn't get his pills soon, he wouldn't be able to get back up.

Only four minutes until the end of lunch.

He needed to hurry. He took the time to readjust the straps of his leg braces before putting his backpack on and painstakingly pushing himself off the floor.

Only two minutes until the end of lunch.

Every step hurt, but he made it in time for his History class right next to the boys' bathroom. Today was a bad day. He couldn't concentrate on what the teacher said.

Suddenly, the lights weren't on anymore and some music was blaring from the speakers. That's when he realized a movie was beginning. He sat up, his instincts telling him to get away as rapidly as possible. When the first gunshots echoed through the room, phantom pain awakened in his spine. He gripped his desk, willing himself not to spiral into unwelcomed memories. Despite his best intentions, images were flashing before his eyes. He desperately needed air. After what could have been minutes but felt like hours, he was able to open his eyes, which he hadn't realized he had closed. Hence, he was surprised -when he was eventually able to focus- to notice a pair of concerned eyes hovering in front of him. He appreciated the fact that they showed no pity. However, they reminded him of dire times when nobody could tell whether he could grasp their presence.

"Is everything OK?"

The words startled him and, even though he was far from being alright, he nodded weakly -pain shooting through his damaged brain- before he took a deep breath.

"I_ I'm just feeling a bit sick today." he managed to respond. "Maybe I could go to the bathroom?", he asked, feeling more confident.

"Go ahead. Just let me get you a hall pass." He watched the teacher go get the needed piece of paper before coming back his way. A few students were looking at him questioningly but he ignored them.

All of a sudden, his teacher was eyeing him up expectantly, the hand holding his pass slightly stretched toward him-as though he had just told him to take it. A feeling of dread settled deep in his stomach. It must have been his fifth absence seizure -that he was aware of- today. He took the pass and stood up slowly, making a valiant effort to show as little discomfort as he could. He was able to feel his teacher's eyes piercing his back as he made his way in the dimness of the room. The flashes of light caused by the movie -which was still running- weren't helping his already muddled brain. He had to catch himself twice on desks he had failed to avoid. By now, all of the students were observing him. It was unnerving. When he finally reached the door, he turned around to give his worried teacher what he hoped would be a reassuring smile before leaving the classroom.

By the time he reached the bathroom, he was feeling even more exhausted. He guessed this was to expected a few days before the winter break. His doctors had warned him : long months of school after a lengthy recovery were bound to drain him. And today was a particularly bad day. Maybe, he really ought to go home and rest. He sighed. He needed to make the trek back to the classroom in order to collect his backpack.

He was back to square one. But this time he was in no hurry.