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For the moment her smile refused to fade. "Of course I missed you! You were gone way to long! And not that I'm complaining but why are you back early?"
His eyes flickered confused although the twinkle didn't disappear. "I'm a day late Princess. I thought you'd be pummeling me by this point."
Well shit. She was more messed up then she thought she was. How had she lost track of time that badly? She could work that out later, right now she needed a lie and fast. Using what acting ability she had, which wasn't much, she forced a blush to her cheeks and scratched the back of her neck. "Sorry, I guess Glitch's surgery threw me off." What was that, the third time she's used Glitch as an out today? She was such a bad person.
And she was only half sure Cain bought it. He was eyeing her up and down for the first time since he got back. What conclusion he came to in those few seconds he didn't share his eyes unreadable but he nodded before jerking his thumb toward her mother. "Best go sit with them for now. We can talk tonight after you know Glitch no longer resembles a piece of luggage."
She moved back a little and winked as cheekily as possible at him. "Sure thing Tin Man. I want to hear all about your exciting adventures outside these grey walls of dullness." With that she trotted past him toward her parents to wait. She felt Cain's eyes follow her and did her best to act normally. Fortunately Toto proved to be an excellent distraction and started a quiet conversation with him.
Avoiding Cain's piercing gaze she caught sight of her sister trying not to huddle into herself farther along the hall. Changing course she made a beeline for Az breezing past the royal couple. Her mother smiled serenely as she passed and her father twined his fingers with hers. They were so cute it was almost sickening. Good thing she liked to see them so content or she might have to go throw up.
She plopped down next to Az on the floor effectively using her sister's body as a shield from prying blue eyes. Az blinked down at her obviously wondering why she was using the floor instead of a chair. "What's up, sister mine?"
Az's eyebrows came together. "What?"
Her lip twitched, god she loved her sister. "Are you alright?"
Az's dark eyes were sad. She reached her hand up and latched on to Az's. Her sister leaned down and whispered to her. "It was my fault his brain was out in the first place."
Her head reared back and she stood up pulling Az to her feet and dragging her down the hallway and around a corner. She ignored the questioning glances she was receiving. This was not their problem. Once they were out of earshot she turned to her taller sibling.
"Az none of this was your fault. We've been over this. You were possessed by a crazy psycho witch that I let loose ok?"
Az turned to look down the hallway guiltily. "I know Deege… but I didn't even try to stop her from hurting Ambrose… and I knew him, he was so nice to me when we were younger."
Her heart twisted. "Az, Glitch never blamed you for this. By the time the witch captured him you'd been under her control for years. You were tired and hurt and scared. Your not to blame."
Her sister nodded reluctantly. "I know but-"
"No buts! Besides, he'll be awake soon and back to being Ambrose. If you absolutely must apologize, and you have no reason too, wait until he's lucid enough to tell you your being silly." She squeezed her hand. "Promise?"
Az fidgeted nervously. "Alright Deege I promise."
She smiled smugly at her sister. Az was getting better about the guilt thing but it was taking time. Sometimes she just needed a bit of a push. "Good. Are you ready to go back or do you need a minute?"
Az straightened her shoulders looking all the world like the Princess she was in her soft green gown. They were solar opposites when it came to dressing but she didn't mind. It was easier for her to go unnoticed when her pretty sister walked by. Not that she thought she was ugly but fading into the background at the moment was kind of a high priority for her. "I'm fine. I want to be there when he wakes up."
They walked back to the others in comfortable silence. They made it in time to avoid all kinds of pesky questions as the doors to the recovery room opened and an Alchemist stepped out. Unlike the men under the witch's command he was dressed in plain black slacks and a white shirt rolled up at the sleeves. He was an older man who looked to be in his seventies, although she learned that aging was vastly different in the O.Z. He was balding slightly and appeared to be very pleased with himself.
His voice was very low pitched. "Advisor Ambrose is awake. You may see him but please only two at a time, he's very tired."
The tension in the hallway drained away as the group relaxed. Her mother gave her a soft smile and waved a hand at the door. "Go on my Angel. I know you've been worried."
She didn't wait for a second invitation. Dashing past the old man she rushed down a short sterile hallway and turned left into the last room. She had been told where he would be several hours before. She opened the door quietly and approached Glitch's softly breathing form. Reaching his bed she touched his hand lightly.
"Glitch? Are you awake?" She whispered the words not wanting to disturb him if he had dozed back off.
His toffee colored eyes opened slowly and he grinned at her. "Hey there Cupcake. How's it look?"
Relieved that he recognized her she moved toward the top of his bed to inspect his head critically. The zipper was gone replaced with a large pink scare just as the Alchemist said it would be. He also said in a few weeks his hair would begin to grow back. "Hate to tell you but you'll never gleam in the early morning sun again Glitch."
He gave a genuine but weak laugh his fingers wrapping gently around hers. She moved back to see him. She tilted her head at him when she met his eyes. They were still warm and caring but they were no longer blank. "Do you remember who you are Ambrose?"
His eyes closed for a heart beat then refocused on her in wonder. "Yes. I remember everything."
She grinned at him goofily. "That's awesome! I'm so glad. Everyone else will be too." She went to turn still talking. "I'll go get them! They want to see you too."
His fingers tightened on hers and she paused turning back to him. His eyes were suddenly very serious. "DG, are you alright?"
Her heart sank faster than a Munchkin dropping out of a tree. He really did remember everything and she had no way of explaining this to him. Her eyes begged him to understand and then she froze in horror when she heard Cain behind her.
"Why wouldn't the Kid be alright?" His voice was calmly curious. As if he were asking about the weather. How the hell had he managed to sneak up on them like this? She could tell from Glitch's expression that he had not intended to be overheard, especially by a man he didn't know was in the tower. Glitch saw the look of horror on her face.
"She's just been a bit tired lately Cain. Nothing for you to worry about. When did you get back?" She thanked him silently when his eyes returned to hers. His hand squeezed hers once more before he let her go.
Cain gave him a half smile. "Did you think I was going to miss the big brain transplant? Feel mighty bad about that after I threatened to shoot it. Besides, I figured you wouldn't mind a friend coming to see you."
Glitch grinned up at him eyes twinkling. "That may be the nicest thing you've ever said to me Cain."
He raised an eyebrow at the advisor. "Don't let it go to your head. Now get some rest we'll be back to see you tomorrow." Cain placed a gentle hand on her side and guided her backwards toward the door.
"Get some rest brainiach, no doubt mother will be after you to solve all the O.Z.'s problems soon."
He smiled at her and she waved farewell as Cain guided her out the door. When they were back out in the hall her parents went in. Az and Toto decided to stay and wait for their turn while Cain went to unpack. She figured he wanted company since he continued to guide her along next to him.
Once he seemed sure she wasn't going to pull a Houdini his hand dropped to his side. While to a novice running seemed to be the better plan she wasn't fooled. Running was a sure sign of guilt. She needed to appear completely innocent for as long as possible. She might be able to last another ten minutes or so.
Glancing at him she figured she needed to throw him off the trail as soon as possible. "How's Jeb, oh stoic one?"
His lip twitched as they walked up a flight of stairs toward their rooms. "He's fine Princess. Been turned into a Captain in the royal army but I figure you already knew that."
She stared straight ahead so he couldn't see her face. He was fishing. Of course she knew that, she was the one that insisted he get the position in the first place. "Yeah, I may have heard a rumor about that. I actually wanted to know how you two were doing."
She risked another glance at his face and was relieved to see that his eyes had softened. She wasn't the only one that had changed in the last few months. Cain seemed to have let go of some of his stress. She wondered how far the change went, she was willing to put money on the fact that she was going to find out pretty fast.
"We're catching up. It's nice getting to know the man he's become." Sadness flashed in his eyes for the briefest moment. She had to focus so she wouldn't flinch. She gave Az a lecture about not being responsible for the last fifteen annuals at least once a week and yet she couldn't seem to apply the same logic to her own past. She sometimes worried that her friends and family would realize what she had done and take off; especially when she caught emotions like that flit across their faces.
They walked one door past her room and Cain pulled a key from the inside of his duster. Unlocking the door he stepped in and scanned the room before allowing her to follow him. She rolled her eyes but allowed it. Once he was sure the room was clear she slid past him and settled into one of the chairs next to his cold fireplace. She eyed it critically and with a flick of her fingers ignited the wood that was resting in the hearth. He jumped slightly before raising an eyebrow at her. She just smirked at him crossing her legs under her and leaning sideways in the chair so she could face him.
He crossed the room to the door that connect their suites. She found this arrangement both comforting and annoying. She would have to start being positively silent at night when she wasn't sleeping or he was going to hear her. She supposed a silencing spell would work, but then she had to worry about light leaking in under the door. She suppressed a huff of irritation.
Opening the door with the same key he walked into her room doing a quick sweep. When he returned she had her head resting on her fist, which she had propped on the arm of her chair. "What? None of my dust bunnies attacked you? I think you may get bored here Tin Man."
He walked over to the other chair and sat with a sigh. He removed his hat tossing it to the floor next to his feet. His head came up to regard her and his eyes were suddenly boring into her. She tried not to fidget as she met his ice blue gaze. "I doubt you'll let me get bored Kid. Now do you want to tell me what the Headcase was really talking about back there?"
Six minutes. Damn his Tin Man senses.
