Moving quickly, Arcane had to struggle to keep up, and by the time they reached the Complex his breath was coming in rapid pants. It was with relief he led the way to the lifts, the journey down to his lab allowing him to regain control over his breathing. Keeping his thoughts firmly on what he had to do, he was able to ignore Graham's still and silent form.
Stepping out into the lab Arcane gestured for Holland to lay his assistant on a nearby table as he hurriedly retrieved a small silver case.
"Exactly what is it you think you can do for him," Alec asked, laying his passenger down carefully, the man's only movement coming from the slight cold shivers shaking his still form.
"I think I can reach him so that you can heal him," Arcane replied with a confidence he wasn't entirely sure he felt. Ignoring Hollands stare of disbelief he explained, "Joint studies led by a British-Canadian team of scientists have proven subjects in a deep coma respond to people and objects they are intimately acquainted with. Tests in remote regions with sparse populations and harsh conditions illustrates their theory beautifully," pausing briefly, he took a deep breath, "Isolated individuals naturally form deeper and stronger bonds with each other. Experimentation has shown that these people often develop a sort of mental resonance with each other." stopping, he was abruptly aware that he was going on a tad bit too enthusiastically. "Er, their theory also collaborates with what is known about certain regions of the brain. The part of the mind that controls the thin line between the conscious and sub-conscious is located right in the middle of a person's long term memories. Fascinating really..." Arcane raised an eyebrow, "if a trifle under developed."
"I'll agree, it's interesting," Alec nodded towards Graham, a faint suspicion already forming, "But what does it have to do with your assistant?"
"Well," Arcane couldn't resist a gloating pause, "I have designed and built a device to tap into and interact with that area of the brain. Essentially it allows a person to become part of another's consciousness. It was an attempt at reaching my wife but well ... I never had the opportunity to test it." Blinking away past memories, he focused in on the present problems. "It should allow me to reach the root of the damage ... from there you can access the area through me and heal him."
"I'm impressed," Holland reluctantly admitted, intrigued despite himself at the possibilities offered up by such a machine. "Why are you accessing Graham's mind, it would be simpler for me to heal directly."
"Really, Holland, you've tried before. Do you honestly believe that you won't be fighting every step of the way, and losing valuable time."
"And you won't," Alec resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"I know you may find this hard to believe but Graham trusts me," Arcane glared, daring Holland to say anything, "I know my assistant. He will let me close enough."
"Alright, Arcane," Holland reluctantly agreed, "What is it you need me to do."
"Well, there is one little problem with the device," Arcane admitted, "Nothing what-so-ever to do with my design, of course," he hastened to add, ignoring Hollands muttered 'of course', "But it seems the power needed to sustain any kind of contact is too great for it to handle. It needs your unique abilities to boost its input so I can reach Graham."
"You want me to act as a battery?" Alec seriously considered telling Arcane what he could do with his device.
"Think of it more as ..." Arcane re-considered his words, "Well, yes actually. I do need you to act as a 'battery'." he grinned at Hollands disgruntled glare. "Shall we get started then?"
"Very well," Holland moved out of the way as Arcane hurried around, getting things ready.
"I've started the initiation sequence," Arcane indicated a console to his right, "Special electrodes must be placed on both Graham and myself. Then it's a simple matter of you pressing that silver button and standing back and boosting the input." Handing one set of disks to Holland he placed the others on his assistants temple, making a silent note to grab a blanket first chance he got ... Graham was colder than he'd like. It was obvious not much effort had been made to ensure his health.
Arcane wheeled another table close to his assistant, climbing up and holding still as Holland placed the electrodes in the exact same position on his temple. "Are you ready?" Alec paused to ask, stepping over to the console.
"I'm certainly not laying here for my health ... of course I'm bloody ready," Arcane snapped irritably, "Just get on with it." Certainly he wasn't going to admit to the slight twinge of apprehension that struck him. Everything would work, he designed it ... therefore nothing could go wrong!
Sighing, Alec pressed the button, frowning in concern as Graham's body immediately began to convulse, "his mind is trying to reject the connection," he shouted to Arcane, who showed the strain of trying to force the tentative connection. The Doctor slowly managed to drag his hand over to the other table, fingers just grazing the man's arm. At the touch, Graham's convulsions slowed and then stopped altogether as his mind gradually accepted another's presence.
"This had better work," Alec laid a hand on Graham's head, focusing his powers at strengthening the tenuous bond. Connecting to the Swamp he just hoped his energy remained strong enough to allow Arcane the chance to finish his task.
Eyes opening painfully, Arcane shook his head to clear the lingering dullness from his mind. The process was a trifle more painful then anticipated, still, details like that could be worked out later. This invention could prove very lucrative.
Looking around his surroundings, he was surprised to find he was in what was someone's backyard, complete with an ancient old climbing tree. The sun shone down on the tangled lawn, wild flowers growing in clumps, obviously gardening wasn't a concern wherever he was. A small white house provided the background, peeling paint and grungy windows adding to its decrepit appearance. The back door creaked open, three children piling out of the house in silence. It wasn't until they had gained the shade of the tree that Arcane heard them speak.
"Is the birds nest still there?" the smallest asked, curious brown eyes staring up at the branches.
"Let's see," red hair gleaming, the second child started climbing, swarming up the limbs with an ease that spoke of much practice.
The one who had asked followed quickly behind, looking down he called to the last boy, "Come on Teddy, its fun."
"He won't climb Ben," the first taunted, having now reached the top, "He's too much of a fraidy-cat."
"Am not," Teddy protested hotly, "I'll show you." At the child's voice Arcane started, taking a closer look he found himself staring into his assistant's familiar blue eyes.
"Teddy Graham?!" Arcane repeated, watching young Graham's progress up the tree, "No wonder you don't use your first name." smirking, he couldn't help muse on how entertaining it would be to call Graham Teddy from now on.
"See Alex," Graham smiled jubilantly up at his brother, "I can do it. I'm not ..." He was interrupted by a loud bellow.
"If I catch you kids in that tree again, I'll take the belt to lot of ye!" the snarling voice shouted, the sound growing ominously closer.
"It's father," Ben whimpered, small body trembling.
"Quick," Alex started down as Graham lowered their youngest brother to the ground, "We have to hide." Smiling reassuringly at Ben, Graham wasn't careful where he put his feet. Arcane could see what was about to happen, his warning shout was unheard as the thin limb cracked and sent his assistant crashing painfully to the grass.
"Teddy," Alex jumped the last few feet, landing near, "Are you okay?" he gasped, looking fearfully up at the house, red hair standing out in stark relief against his white face.
"I think I broke my ankle," Graham bit his lip against the pain. He gestured for his brothers to move away, "You two hide, quick ... there isn't any time."
"We can't leave you," Ben whimpered, clinging to Alex's hand, "You can make it Teddy, I'll help you."
"I can't," Graham smiled bravely through a veil of unshed tears, "I'll be okay. Go with Alex and hide." Meeting his brother's eyes he silently pleaded for him to do what he said.
Alex nodded reluctantly, they'd both made a promise to protect Ben, he couldn't break that. Tears filled his eyes as he pulled his brother away, "Teddy's right Ben, we can't all get caught. There'd be no one to look after mom."
Ben stopped struggling, allowing himself to be dragged behind the safety of several nearby bushes. Crouching down, they waited fearfully for their father.
Still muttering obscenities, a tall man burst from around the corner. Arcane, who had moved to stand next to the young version of his assistant, grimaced at his first sight. "What a brute," he glared disdainfully at the man's filthy appearance. Grease and food stains covered his dingy shirt, and what was left of his stringy black hair was slicked down to his head. A half empty vodka bottle was clutched in his hand. Whoever Graham learned hygiene from, it certainly wasn't this slob, Arcane's mouth curled in disgust, watching as the man strode over to his assistant.
"There you are you little maggot," the man spate vehemently, towering over his much smaller son, who futilely cowered against the tree, "Where's the rest of your faggot brothers? Off playing with each other?"
"N ..not here, th .. they - they're ..." His father viciously backhanded him, choking off his words.
"I warned you about that fucking stuttering," the man yelled, spittle flying from his mouth. He callously yanked his son to his feet, unheeding of Graham's short scream as his weight came down on his broken ankle. Arcane stepped forward, trying to grab his assistant's other arm, anything to get him away from this monster, but his hand went through and the man continued to spew foul words as he dragged Graham behind him. "Don't be such a wimp. I'll teach you to be a real man, you little prick." Graham struggled to keep up, biting his lip until it bled.
Arcane let out the breath he'd been unaware he was holding, *I never knew,* dazed he stumbled over the broken tree branch, *all this time and I never knew. How could you keep something like this from me, Graham?* The more haunting question was how could he have not known. Looking back, the signs of previous abuse in his assistant was obvious to see. Signs he'd either ignored or dismissed, secure in the knowledge that there was nothing he didn't know about Graham. These thoughts served to distract his mind from any unpleasant associations it wanted to focus on. His attention was scattered as his surroundings gave an abrupt lurch, time slipping past in seconds as the backyard was replaced by another scene.
A small gathering stood clustered around a small coffin, and with a sickening flash Arcane knew what must have happened. The day was dark and overcast, the threat of rain fragrant in the air. Graham and his red-headed brother stood in front of a delicate and beautiful woman, their father possessively holding onto her waist.
"We are gathered here today to honour the memory of our missing loved ones," a priest stepped forward, nodding to the group, "To mourn the passing of such a young soul is not an easy task. Ten year old Benton Graham now rests in peace in the loving embrace of our Lord," the priest smiled encouragingly at Graham, "Theodore, I believe you wanted to say a few words."
Glancing up at his mother Graham hesitantly stepped forward, "Ben was more than just my brother, he was one of my bestest friends. I know he's in peace, and I'm happy for him," tears ran down his face, and he hastily scrubbed a hand over his face, "But, but I'll miss you. I love you, Ben."
Arcane swallowed the unnatural impulse to comfort this child, his assistant who'd already seen death at such a young age. A death that happened by his own father's hand if he was any judge.
With another gut-churning wrench the scene in front him shifted once again, colours blurring into a nauseating kaleidoscope. Stomach heaving he slowly opened his eyes, looking around in puzzlement. *What the hell am I doing in a bathroom? This had better not be a 'fun-filled' memory involving Graham and the shower.* The door was pushed open quickly, and then shut again.
"It's going to be okay, Teddy," his mother soothed, carefully holding his hand up she reached for the medicine cabinet and grabbed the first aid kit.
Graham was whimpering softly, holding himself carefully and trying not to look at all the blood that was still pouring from the wound. Wetting a face cloth, his mother knelt down by him.
"I need to clean the wound, Ted, hold still. It'll all be over soon," gently she ran the cloth over his hand, cleaning away the blood, revealing a jagged wound.
Arcane winced, that must have hurt a lot. Anger raged through him at the sight, Graham's muffled cries getting to him more than he would like. He could kill the man that did this to his assistant, this child ... fist slamming onto the bathroom counter he watched in impotent rage as Graham's mother wrapped a clean white bandage around the wound.
"There all done," she smiled bravely at her son, who looked back with such a haunted expression in his eyes. How could she have let this happen. Wiping away his tears, she comforted him as much as possible.
"Why," Graham asked plaintively, blinking away tears, "Why does he do this?"
"Oh, Teddy," she pulled him into a hug, rocking him back and forth, "He's a broken man, honey. He isn't even aware of what he does," she whispered, pushing a copper strand of hair behind her ear and attempting to explain why his father had deliberately cut his twelve year old's hand with a broken vodka bottle. "He used to be a physicist, brilliant beyond his time. There was lab accident, someone died. That's when he started drinking." she choked back a sob, "He wasn't always like this, Ted. He loved us once. And I will always love you, remember that."
"I'll remember," Graham whispered, cuddling into his mother's arms he sleepily closed his eyes.
"I want you to promise me something now Ted," she had to shake him lightly to gain his attention, "I want you to promise that you won't ever interfere again, and that you won't let Alex interfere either. I couldn't bear it if you got hurt because of me again." she clung tighter to her eldest son.
"I can't mom," Graham patted her on the back, smiling gently, "Me and Alex, we have to protect you."
"I can protect myself," she kissed him lightly in the forehead, "You let me worry about your father."
"Can't," Graham whispered, snuggling back into his mother's embrace. He started to slip into an exhausted sleep, warm and safe, "Love you. Have to protect. That's the way it works," the words slurred together as unconsciousness claimed him.
"Oh Ted," she cried, cradling her son closer, "Oh my baby, what have I done. How could I let this happen?!"
The scene faded with a gentle breeze, and Arcane was startled to feel moisture on his face. Scrubbing a hand across his cheeks he furiously scowled, *I am not crying! I am not!* Blinking rapidly he looked around his new surroundings, anything to get his mind off of the startling insight he'd just received into Graham's mind. There was something there, a fact that his subconscious was screaming at him to recognize and deal with. Time was not on his side here, however, he'd have to think on it later.
He was in a dingy old room, dust covering just about every surface and empty McDonald's containers and vodka bottles littered the floor. Sudden shouting from the hallway attracted his attention and with no small amount of trepidation he moved towards the noise. Graham's mother stood defiantly near the door, her two remaining sons clutched close. Suitcases stood by her feet. Her husband was pointing a gun at her, shouting drunkenly.
"What do you think you're doing bitch," he swayed, glaring spitefully at his wife.
"Please, Anton," she pleaded desperately, pushing Alex and Teddy further behind her, "You don't need us ... just let us go." Arcane's eyes widened at hearing the man's name, that coincidence was almost as disturbing as the scene unfolding in front of him.
"Never YOU WHORE! Fucking ungrateful BITCH!" screaming in rage, his face reddened dangerously. "After all I've done for you and those BASTARD kids YOU dare to try and leave!" his black eyes reflected unreasoning madness, finger twitching on the trigger guard.
"All you've done!?" snorting, she found herself glaring back, "All you've done is beat and torture us since that horrible accident. I may have loved you one Anton Graham, but no more!" blinking back tears she stood resolute in the face of her husband's fury. "We are leaving, and you can't stop us."
"You'll never leave me!" two shots rang out, everyone froze in shock for a long moment until Graham's mother stumbled, hands pressing against her stomach. Time unfroze with a crack as she slipped and fell, collapsing onto the filthy floor, blood staining the wood red. Her eyes settled on Arcane, a small smile gracing her lips as she breathed her last.
For a moment Arcane could have sworn the woman had seen him, her eyes so alike Graham's that it was as if he was staring into his assistant's dead eyes all over again. He had to look away then.
With a wild cry young Graham flew at his father, pounding on him with small fists, "YOU KILLED HER!" screaming, tears streaming down he didn't see the fist coming towards him ... stumbling back from the blow he fell down near his mother.
"Listen closely you two," his father hissed, stepping forward, ignoring the body of his wife, "If you breath a FUCKING word of this, I will track you down wherever you are and KILL you!" Reaching over he grabbed a white-faced Alex by the arm, pulling his son towards the basement, "Stay here until I come back!" Stomping out, he left his eldest son alone with his mother's corpse.
"Come back mommy," Graham sobbed, clutching her bloody hand, "Please mommy, I promise to be good so daddy never hurts you again!" rocking back and forth he pleaded in vain, violent shudders wracking his small frame, "Please mommy, please!"
The view mercifully ended before Arcane had to watch the child's grief anymore. Even his hard-fought aura of indifference was shaken by the agony and torment Graham must have suffered growing up.
All that was left was a overwhelming blackness, so cold it was like standing in the middle of a ice storm. This then must be the centre of the damage, this place that was so stripped of all warmth and life he despaired of ever finding his assistant.
Low sobbing reached his ears, a howling wind striking up as soon as he started towards the sound. Struggling against the piercing air Arcane fought his way nearer, and nearer, stumbling over a crouched figure at the same time the wind died down.
"Graham?" Arcane whispered, having to grab a hold of the figure to prevent the man from bolting.
"Please, please don't hurt me," Graham whimpered, curling in on himself, "I promise to be good." his throat closed up, aching with the urge to continue pleading. If they knew how afraid he was they'd just hurt him more.
"Graham, it's me," Arcane pulled his assistant closer, appalled at how terrified the man was, "Shh, now ... no one is going to hurt you anymore."
"No, no," Graham didn't dare open his eyes, didn't dare believe ... it was all a trick, "You're not real!"
"I am real Graham," Arcane insisted gently, soothing stroking the man's hair, "I came for you. Nothing is going to hurt you now."
"Don't believe, don't believe," repeating desperately Graham blocked his ears, he'd thought he was safe in the darkness, he'd been alone for so long.
"I am bloody real!" Arcane finally snapped, gentle tone gone as he fell back into his old pattern of dealing with his assistant. It was only when Graham whimpered fearfully and tried to shrink away that he was aware of what he sounded like ... of who he sounded like. Biting his knuckle, ignoring the tightness in his throat, "I am here Graham. You don't have to believe me, you just need to hold on. Holland is going to heal you and everything will be okay again. I promise you."
"Doctor?" hardly daring to breath Graham tentatively reached out, almost sobbing in relief when the comforting arms holding him didn't disappear like they had so many times before.
"I'm here, Graham, I'm here," he was nearly knocked backwards when his assistant flung himself at him, hanging on fiercely. "It's okay now," keeping up a stream of soothing words Arcane just hoped Holland had managed to follow him this far ... and that it wasn't too late. That this wasn't his last chance to have Graham by his side again.
With a violent wrench the darkness was split apart, breaking up into large pieces that flew up around them. Arcane frantically tried to maintain his grip on Graham, but something was pulling them apart, forcing him to let go no matter how hard he fought ...
... and then he was gasping for breath, staring up at the ceiling of his lab in one surreal moment of not knowing what world he was in. Striving to get to his feet Arcane staggered to Graham's side.
"He's going into cardiac arrest," Holland didn't even spare him a glance, almost drained it took all his energy to try and summon up enough healing power to prevent what was happening.
"No," Arcane whispered, grabbing the man's nearest hand, "Come on Graham, you have to try."
It was several long moments before Alec stepped back, meeting Arcane's worried gaze with a faint smile. "He's going to be fine."
Arcane sagged against the table, struggling to force back the wave of relief and simple happiness that threatened to overwhelm him.
"Dr. Arcane?" Graham's voice came out weak and rough, "What?"
"It's okay, Graham," Arcane straightened up, pinning on his mask of casual indifference he spoke collectedly "You just rest for now." Turning he observed Holland watching him carefully. Too carefully. With a glare he remarked coldly, "You can leave now Holland. I won't be requiring your services anymore."
Returning the glare, but not bothering with a reply Alec headed for the elevator. He'd done what he'd come for, Graham was healed and back where he belonged. If nothing else that was enough of a thank you. Still he couldn't help but wonder why he'd ever bothered to assist his enemy. Catching one last look as the elevator doors slid shut he saw Arcane almost tenderly help Graham to sit up. A peaceful smile graced his face as he felt the Swamp's soft agreement. That was why ... to defeat the darkness, if only for a little while.