Disclaimer: Sadly I still don't own Tin Man.
He came awake with a start, confused and disoriented. It was dark and his mind flew to the worst place it could. For a brief moment he thought he was back in the suit until he realized something warm was trembling against his side and a soft murmur made its way to his ears. He relaxed and curled his arm around her shoulders as he tried to share his body heat. Deeg whimpered slightly in distress and pressed her face into the crook of his elbow before going still. Wincing he let his eyes close as the slight movement he'd made traveled down his body and to his leg. The throbbing started almost immediately.
Trying not to move he fought to get the pain under control. He hadn't been hurt this badly in a long time and there wasn't a healer anywhere close. Not that Deeg hadn't done exactly what she had to. He owed his life to her and he knew it. Not only had she dragged him in here while on the verge of her own collapse she had dressed his leg like she had years of field training as an army medic. He would love to know where she had learned to do that and how he hadn't known she could. Regardless of his lack of knowledge in that area of her education he realized they had been damn lucky with the twister.
Even once the kid's magic rebounded he knew she didn't have the proper control to get them back to Central City. It was a miracle she'd managed to get them anywhere safe at all. Not that it was her fault. He knew she'd been busting a gut trying to get her magic in line; she simply hadn't made it as far as travel storms yet. He didn't even know how she had managed to call one in the first place. He had heard Tutor telling her more than once that some spells were far beyond her current capabilities. Travel storms fell in that category. They were among the most complex spells in existence. The only explanation was desperation. They hadn't had any other way out. He would have been killed and he was sure those men would have dragged her through ten types of hell before allowing her to pass to the next life.
The thought of that happening to his girl had him dragging her closer. He had all but walked them into an ambush. He should have known better. He did know better. Now they were as good as trapped here until he healed. At least he was. Deeg could make her way back to the city while he stayed here. He found he liked that plan even less than staying. Not knowing where she was sent his anxiety shooting up to nearly unbearable levels. He needed to keep her safe. He needed to keep her with him. Only problem with staying was a lack of supplies. He had no idea what was here. They could starve to death. They'd have to see what there was to work with.
The kid twitched once and then she jerked awake all at once. Head snapping up she gazed around the dark room blindly, her voice pitched low with panic. "Cain?"
"It's alright, Kiddo. I'm right here."
She levered herself up and felt for him. "How's your leg?"
"It hurts but that's probably a good thing."
"How is that good?" He felt her get off the bed and heard her search around until she found the lamp with her hands. Yellow light filled the room and her troubled blue eyes found his.
"Means the nerves are still workin'."
"Right. I knew that." Going to the med kit she opened it and pulled out a new needle. "I need to clean your leg but you need to shower first if you can. Dirt, sweat, and a wound don't mix well. I can clean your clothes while you're in there too. Nothing in the trunk will fit you and I can't sew."
"Alright." The kid sat next to him as he heaved himself upright and pulled the blanket down. Sticking him quickly she administered the drug and set the needle in the kit. Deeg was showing an odd combination of worry and competence. Wanting to calm her down he gripped her shoulder. "It's ok, Deeg." She nodded and he rubbed her arm reassuringly. "You patched me up right. It's goin' to take me a while to heal up is all."
"Shower then?" Her eyes were still dark with guilt and he sighed. Knowing the only thing that would help sooth her was helping her get him well he moved to the edge of the mattress. Without having to ask she had put his arm over her shoulders and waited for him to stand. Together they stood and he balance carefully. The shot of tarnin was already helping and he thought that as long as he didn't slam his leg into anything or fall on it he would be fine.
She helped him to the bathroom then left to retrieve the lamp. Setting it on the floor next to the small stall that had been built into the wall let them both see that the shower should at least work. He doubted there was going to be hot water however. He had a sneaking suspicion the water fed in from the lake. It wasn't going to be hot. At least he'd be clean when it was over. While he contemplated that Deeg was hunting around the small room. She managed to scrounge up soap and a ratty old towel.
Handing them to him she shifted. "Ok, awkward." He raised an eyebrow. "Do you need help?"
His lip twitched like crazy. "No."
Her shoulders relaxed slightly. "Not that I wouldn't have but I feel our relationship would change once I'd seen you naked."
He barked out a laugh. "Wouldn't have been a fair look either seeing as your clothes would have stayed on."
Her eyes twinkled at him. They both enjoyed the easy banter that had developed between them and the tension suddenly drained away. He may be hurt and she might be drained, and they might both be stuck here, but at least they were alive. And now they were back to normal. "I didn't realize the O.Z. had the same principals as my world."
"Which would be?"
"I'll show you mine if you show me yours."
He shook his head. "Kid, I don't want to know."
She grinned and pointed to his clothes as she turned. "I'm sure you don't. Now fork over the pants. I promise not to peek."
Doing as she asked he undressed and tossed his clothes over her outstretched arm. He noticed her opposite shoulder had started to bleed sluggishly and frowned. He wasn't the only one that needed to be patched up. When his pants fell on top the pile she questioned him. "Is that it?"
"Yup." He started the water and she stepped out of the room leaving the door open. As he predicted the water was like ice and he scrubbed the grime of the last thirty-six hours off of him. Even with the water feeling like ice pelting him he took his time in order to prevent further injury. Once he was done he turned off the shower and reached for the towel. He saw the kid's arm sneak in and place his neatly folded clothes on the edge of the old stone sink.
"They're clean but I left your pants ripped. I'll need to get to you bandages."
"Thanks, Kid." Her arm disappeared and he heard her lean against the wall outside. "Are you goin' to be fussin' over me the whole time we're here?"
"Cain, you got shot in the leg and I had to burn the damn holes closed after I knocked you out with a tornado. Do you really need to ask me that question?"
"I guess not." He picked up his pants and began to dress carefully.
"That's what I thought. I don't want to hear any of your grumping about me fussing over you. It's going to happen and you're going to like it."
"I'm goin' to like it?"
"Fine, you're going to pretend to like it."
Chuckling he slid his arms into his shirt and buttoned it up. Searching the sink he raised an eyebrow. "Where'd you put my socks?"
"Bedroom. You think I don't know you'd try to put them on? You'll fall over and die." Rolling his eyes he hobbled to the doorway. The kid looked over and gave him a small smile. "Do you feel better?"
After ten years slowly getting coated in rust any time he was clean he felt good. He had the feeling the girl knew that. "Other than the frostbite from the water."
"Let's get you fixed up then." Then she was dragging him back to the bed and he tried not to grumble over his handicap. This was going to get old fast. When he was settled she gazed down at his now soaked bandages and then to her hands. They were bruised, filthy, and she had dirt and blood crusted under her nails. "Gross. I think I need to shower before I touch you again."
"Off you go then. I'm not leavin'. And I need to look at your shoulder when you're done."
The girl twisted her neck around and an annoyed noise came out of her before she lifted the lid on the trunk. She dragged out a long sleeved brown shirt, tossed it to the edge of the bed, and retreated to clean herself up. He heard the water start then a muffled shriek. Apparently she hadn't believed him when he told her the water was cold. She started cursing like the most foul mouthed foot soldier he'd ever met and he couldn't keep the small grin off his face. That was his DG. Sweet as sugar one second and feisty as a wildcat the next. He'd never met anyone like her.
When she came back in patting her hair dry she was still in the shear white top she'd been wearing yesterday. Except now it was clean instead of blood splattered. It hugged her small curves and he could easily see the outline of her tiny pink corset under it. Memorizing the picture she made he stored it away in his mind with only the slightest hint of guilt. It was becoming less frequent, the shame over finding her beautiful when his wife was gone, and he had begun to slowly realize that there was more between them than simple friendship. Truth be told it had gone well beyond that for him. At some point, he wasn't entirely sure when, he'd found he'd fallen in love with her. It had been an unexpected twist in the road but hardly an unpleasant one.
He had the feeling the kid had picked up on their connection as well but she wasn't acknowledging it. He had a hunch that was his fault. He'd made no secret of the fact that he had grieved for his wife. Hell, the girl had been with him through the worst of it. At Adora's grave, during the nights he couldn't sleep, shaking him out of his nightmares when they traveled. He didn't blame her for keeping silent. Ozma knew if their roles had been reversed he would have made no move to tell her of his interest no matter how much he wanted her. If he expected anything to happen he knew he would have to be the one to bring the subject up.
As his mind busily turned that thought over yet again the girl sat down and crossed her legs under her. Tossing the bandages she had cleaned while he was in the shower next to them she pulled his leg over her lap. He watched her brow furrow in concentration as she unwrapped his leg. Setting the old wrappings in the lid of the med kit she picked up the alcohol and dabbed his burns. He grimaced but made no verbal protest. They had to keep the burn clean and she was being as gentle as she could. If he got an infection it was pretty likely that it could kill him out here without any antibiotics. When the girl was done she studied his leg before wrapping it up again.
"I'll let it air out later in the day but for now I want to be sure it doesn't start to bleed again." Finished, she set his leg carefully down on the mattress.
"You're turn."
The girl pushed the kit to him before scooting up so he could reach her. Pushing her hair over her shoulder he traced the outline of her cut. It wasn't deep, though the bruise that surrounded it was covering a rather large portion of her skin. All it needed was a bandage. Using what they had he used a thin strip of fabric over a bundle of cloth and wrapped her shoulder up after cleaning it. When he was done he rubbed her neck briefly to try to get the goosebumbs that had formed over her body to settle down. She was shaking. The water had chilled her to the bone. "All set."
"Thanks." She got up and started her cleaning again. He gave her a few minutes then shook his head.
"Kid, enough, you're goin' to freeze or collapse if you keep that up."
Deeg never stopped fluttering around the small room. "I feel funny. Like I can't sit still."
He frowned as he watched her move. "Grab that shirts and sit down." The girl balked at the request and he pushed her a little harder. "Come on, Kiddo. Sit with me. I want to be sure you're ok too." Hesitantly she picked up the shirt and put it on as she sat next to him again. He tugged her closer and buttoned the shirt up for her as he questioned her. "Has your magic bounced back yet?"
"A little bit." She gazed at him apologetically. "But I've been using it all morning. I don't have very much. Why? What do you need me to do?"
"Nothin'. Are you feeling' this way because you're drained?"
"I don't… I don't know. I was only drained one other time, after I fought the witch, but it wasn't this bad. I didn't have to use my magic for a few days after either."
Finished with the shirt he reached for the blanket and tossed it around her shoulders. Securing it he watched her shiver. "Are you cold too? Or just jittery?"
She began playing with the cuffs of the shirt nervously. "Cold too."
The girl was getting antsy for no reason. It seemed that now that she had done what she needed to do she was unraveling. He reached out and caught her jaw. Tilting her head up he grunted softly. "Look up." The kid did what he asked and he saw how dilated her eyes were. They had a glassy quality to them. It was as if she were revved up on drugs. He clicked his tongue and let her go.
Only one thing happened after you went up. You came crashing down. He didn't think it mattered that this was caused by magic and not a narcotic, he had a feeling her body would react the same way. Thinking back to the night before he remembered she had been shaking then too. Had she ever stopped?
"Deeg, I want you to lay down with me. I know you're buzzin' but I'm afraid you might collapse and I'm not goin' to be able to pick you up if you fall."
"I'll try." He could tell from her tone she was only agreeing to make him feel better. He doubted sitting still was what her body was asking her to do at the moment.
"Good girl." Laying down he settled her so she could use his shoulder as a pillow. Deeg tossed a side of the blanket over him as he relaxed. The kid stayed down but she was vibrating against him as her fingers continued to play with the cuffs of her shirt. He stroked her hair as he wondered how long this would affect her. They'd been up for well over an hour now but he wasn't sure how long they'd slept.
His calculations and comparisons to other drugs that made people react in a similar way were interrupted by a soft apology. "Sorry, Cain."
Reaching out he took her wrist and held it lightly. Her pulse was beating fast and hard even though they were lying still on the bed. "You haven't done anything."
"You shouldn't have to deal with this when you're hurt."
"Maybe you shouldn't be worried about me when you're drained." He was thinking adding anxiety to this episode wasn't helping in the slightest.
"That isn't even funny." Her legs curled up slightly.
"It wasn't a joke."
"Cain, you worry about me entirely too much."
He moved his hand to her neck to check her pulse there. "Right at this moment I don't think I am. Kid, take a few deep breaths for me."
"Why?"
"You're drain did something to you. You're heart is beatin' too fast and you've been shakin' since we got here. I need you to calm down." Her blue eyes flashed and he crooned at her. He needed to get her to relax not frighten her more. "You're ok, Darlin'." He caught her face and tilted it up so they were staring at one another. "I'm ok. I can barely even feel any pain with the tarnin. We're safe here and the fire'll keep us warm. Just breathe for me."
She nodded and took a large lungful of air. Stroking her cheek he prompted her to continue in a soft voice. A minute later and he checked her pulse again. It was slower if only slightly. "Much better." He returned to stroking her skin. "Keep goin'."
He didn't know how long they lay there before the challenge of drawing in such large breaths wore her out. She started to go limp as her eyes drooped. Checking her heartbeat he kissed her forehead when he found it had slowed to normal levels. "That's my girl." He hugged her against his side and put his chin on the top of her head. "We both need to rest. You go ahead and sleep."
Deeg closed her eyes and turned her face into his shoulder. "I really am sorry."
"Kid, none of this is your fault. You relax." She nodded and he stroked her hair. "We can worry about everything else after we've rested but right now that's what we need to do."
"Alright, Cain."
"Wyatt."
Her eyes opened as she turned her head to look at him. "What?"
"It's been nearly two years. Can you call me by my first name?"
She watched him with startled eyes. "That's alright?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" He had heard her call him that last night when she was trying to get him up. It had been the only time she had used his first name that he knew of.
"I didn't… I didn't think you would like that."
He turned his head so they were nearly nose to nose. "Why?"
The kid shrugged. "I just didn't."
That made everything much more clear. "I would like that."
"Ok-" She hesitated briefly. "Wyatt."
Smiling softly he stroked her hair. That was much better. Tucking her head under his chin he closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. Deeg cuddled against him uncertainly. Then she went still and he felt her warm breath on the skin of his neck. Rolling his eyes downward he saw she was out and let himself follow her. He had a feeling the next few days were going to be filled with more sleeping than he'd done in ages.
Author Note: Loved the reviews! I would love some more and so would Fred! Go ahead and leave them by the door.