BGM: Clear Breeze
"Carol?"
She stirred at the voice that woke her up. Oh, Valentine again.
"What do you want?" Her voice had definitely gotten better.
"Brain Drain's dead." That got her attention. She produced a photo of his headless body.
"What!? When? How?"
Valentine looked smug. "Raided his base. You should have seen it." She looked a bit beaten up, but no worse for wear. "Filia's okay in case you were wondering. She's just being patched up." She produced a hypodermic.
Carol's eyes widened, "What's that for!?"
"Oh relax, it's the same cocktail I use. I use it for the physical boost, but I've diluted it for you. Just to give you a lift, see if it can get you get out and about a little bit. Might like the change of scenery. And yes, they know I'm doing this, so I'm not pulling a fast one." Carol did begin to feel a little better as the drugs got to work.
"Come on, let's take a walk." She got a frame and helped Carol to her feet, both nodding at the passing Squigly as they left the room.
Progress was slow; Carol was very out of shape, so had stop regularly for breathers. Val followed behind with the IV stand. But it was a start. It was the first time in a while that Carol got out in the sun. The sunlight and fresh air seemed to lift her spirits more.
But something nagged at her, "Why are you doing this, Valentine?"
Valentine sighed, "Valentine is dead. It's just Valerie from now on, okay?"
"Okay, 'Just Valerie'." Carol smirked
"Heh, left myself wide open to that one. But seriously, maybe now you'll believe me when I say I want to make things right. I know I'll never be your BFF; you've already got Filia for that. But yeah, I'd like to be able to start again." She reached her hand out, "New start?"
Carol turned away, "...N-not yet. I...need to be sure you're not...going to betray me."
Valerie looked glum, "I understand. The offer still stands though."
"Thanks. I'll think about it." Carol mumbled.
Val nearly bumped into Filia as she left, "I've told her. Just make sure she gets back to bed, 'kay?" Filia nodded. Val patted her on the shoulder as she left.
"Hey there." Parasoul had been watching the whole thing. She looked expectant.
"I guess you're right. I did want to make things right." Valentine admitted
"Well, your second chance is right in front of you. Don't waste it." Parasoul smiled and began to leave.
"Heh, am I still on probation?"
"Hmmm, I'll think about it." Val rolled her eyes.
June.
Carol had made considerable progress in the weeks that followed. Maybe knowing that her bogeyman had been removed from the picture entirely had been the good news she needed. Her fitness was sufficient to get out and about, her wounds had healed quite nicely, and in she had regained much of her former cheer. But it was still a shock when those fateful words came from the nurse.
"Here are your discharge papers." Carol looked confused, "You're going home."
Home. How long had it been since she had a place she could call 'home'? A soft bed. A decent meal. Family...
(A/N: Imagine a happy, triumphant version of 'The Lives We Left Behind' for musical accompaniment. 'The Lives We Won Back', perhaps?)
"Ohmigosh..." It seemed too good to be true. She had to be dreaming.
Clearly not; her parents stood in the doorway with a change of clothes. She leapt out of her bed and embraced them.
"Grab a shower and we can be off." Her father said.
That showered lasted about 3 times as long as it should. She just couldn't get enough of the feeling of hot water running over her skin again. Who knew that something so simple could make you feel so good? So alive? Finally, she was able to make herself stop the water and dry off. The pain that often came with physical interaction was long gone too. Excellent.
She finally reappeared in a green t-shirt, blue skirt and sneakers; it felt really kind of odd to be wearing casual clothes again after so long in a hospital gown, and before that that...thing Lab Zero had her wear. Her father smiled, "You took your time. Well then, we best be off." The Lab 8 gang and a few of the Egrets could be seen standing behind them, waving. But someone wasn't among them, "Where's Filia?"
"I'm right here." She too was dressed to leave, in a yellow jumper and purple shorts. Not exactly the height of fashion, but hey.
"Filia'll be staying with us for a few weeks. I understand her family's been in an accident or something." Cover up already, hmm? "Besides, we thought you'd want the company."
"Yeah...thanks. What about you guys?" She asked Ileum and the rest.
"We'll be staying for the immediate future. We've still got to get Peacock back, and who knows how long that'll take."
"How is she?" Filia asked.
Band spoke next, "Nightingale started dedicating time to her once you were on the road to recovery. What she's planning...it sounds good on paper, but I dunno if she'll pull it off."
Despite all the friendly faces, there was someone conspicuous by their absense. Where's Valentine?
"Come on, let's be going." Filia took Carol's hand to lead them out. Her heart skipped a beat, though she couldn't fathom why.
The journey to the car was uneventful. No one was in much of a talking mood on the trip home.
BGM: A Return To Normalcy
It was getting kind of late when the car pulled up; Maplecrest was a good couple of hours drive away from Canopolis. Mrs Bennett, the old lady who lived next door, was out in the porch in her rocking chair.
"Ah, Carol pet! I haven't seen you in ages. Where've you been?"
"I've...not been well. Just got out of hospital."
Even in the fading light, she could tell Carol had seen better days, "Oh, you poor thing. I would have come visit if I'd known."
"He he, thanks. I appreciate it." Carol went inside while her dad carried her things.
Carol steeled herself as she gripped the handle of her bedroom door, opening it slowly. The room hadn't changed since the night before...it happened.
"Finally. I thought I'd never see this room again." Carol flung herself on the bed, and began laughing...maniacally.
"Carol!?"
"Oh, I'm just expecting some kind of reveal that I've been imagining this whole thing and I'm really still stuck in that lab..."
"Stop! Just stop!" Filia started shaking her. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"
"Maybe I've just become...a glutton for punishment and misery." Carol had gone from hyper to melancholy in nary a second; clearly she still needed further therapy "Maybe it's all I can relate to."
"No it isn't! This has been a good day. Why are you trying to turn into some kind of...double-edged sword? I know you're hurting. I know you've been through a lot the past 8 months. We all have. Why can't you just accept this for what it is and enjoy the moment? Please do it...for me."
"...I'll try...but I may need some help."
Filia snuggled up to her, "Hey, what are best friends for?" And she kissed Carol on the cheek, Carol giving a muted giggle.
Mrs Fairweather was carrying some laundry when she passed by Carol's bedroom, door ajar. She chanced a peek inside. Both her and Filia were asleep, snuggled together. They hadn't even bothered getting out of the clothes they came home in.
I'm so sorry Carol...for everything. At least someone believed in you when we didn't. I will make things right. I promise.
If she looked a little closer, she'd have seen Carol's face, twisted, sweating...
"Ah, the hallucinogens have begun to wear off. Operative Painwheel's system is processing it much faster than expected." Back in the lab. Back with...Brain Drain and Valentine!
"Hmmph, do you think this will help with the issues we've had with surges of free will?"
"Oh, certainly. If we keep her mind in an imaginary haze, she will be much less likely to even want to resist. The test proved it."
"Requisition order for 6 months supply. I want it here by the end of the week."
She ticked her clipboard, "Excellent. Test concluded?"
"Yes. Terminate the test." He turned away.
"Of course. 36E-25-40."
"NOOOOOOOOOO! No no no no!"
"Carol! Calm down! You're home. You're safe."
And she was. Safe at home, still in bed. Still with Filia.
"Sorry, just a...nightmare. I thought I was back in the lab. That I'd imagined everything."
"Didn't I say you shouldn't think like that? Just look at what it's caused." Carol's dad appeared at the doorway
"Carol? Filia? I had shouting. Everything okay?".
"Yeah, just a nightmare. All in hand." Filia faked a smile.
"Drink, anyone?" He may as well be useful while he was up here. Both nodded; it was quite hot in here now..
"Just water'll be fine." Once he was out of earshot, Carol finally spoke.
"I don't wanna live like this. Will I ever really be well again?"
"You will be soon, I promise. We're all here with you, and maybe we can replace those memories...with happy ones." Filia cuddled her.
"Thanks Filia...you always find a way to make feel better." Exhausted, she let her head flop back on the pillow.
"Yeah..."
I'm here for you, just...believe in me.
The shadowy figure observed the two sleeping girls from the branch of a tree. There was that slight !ishap an hour ago, but it seemed to be in hand. Looked like Filia could handle everything from here.
I guess my job's done. And now, who knows where the road ahead leads. And with that thought, Valerie disappeared into the night.
Slow Recovery fin
