9. Unexpected emergencies and realisations

It was one of these evenings when Utterson was out and about. Ever since he had found out that Jekyll was shielding Edward Hyde, a man who had almost murdered someone, his nightmares had returned. He couldn't do his work like this, not when he couldn't think about anything else than Jekyll and … Hyde.

It made the lawyer sick.

What did Jekyll see in that creature?! Why was he so invested in him, why did he fancy a man like that, despite knowing that Hyde was a violent madman?! What dark secrets did Hyde know that obliged Jekyll to keep that little devil close to himself? Why did Jekyll shield a bastard like that? And why had Lady Summers, who had clearly seen what the man was capable of, defended him and dissuaded Mr. Utterson and Sir Carew not to sue the young man for the assault? And why did Lanyon, who clearly knew the truth (why else would he have ended his friendship with Jekyll for good, just when they had been so close to reconciliation? What else could have given him the shock he almost died from?), not tell him?

Mr. Utterson was sick of all this secrecy. He would confront Mr. Hyde himself and press the truth out of him, if it was the last thing he did!

He loathed the man with a burning passion.

He knew that was irrational, they had only met once and perhaps there was more to the young man than he let on, but he couldn't help himself! All the terrible things he had done, that the lawyer knew about, and God knew what he had done, that the lawyer DIDN'T know! Had he killed someone before? Hyde was capable of everything, that much Utterson knew.

But it wasn't just concern for his friend that drove the lawyer, as much as he tried to delude himself. Deep down, he knew that he was acting out of jealousy, because Hyde was closer to Jekyll than Utterson himself could ever be. And he hated himself for it.

Lady Summers often insisted that he accept himself for who he was, for his own good. How was that for his own good? She probably had referred to his peace of mind, but he was convinced that in this case he was wrong. His feelings for his best friend were unacceptable. They were disgusting, wrong, unnatural and, since the new laws had been established a few months ago, illegal.

The lawyer was pretty sure, that Hyde had similar … tendencies, and it made him nauseous, that he and that demon should have something in common. But he would not allow Edward Hyde to drag Jekyll to hell as well, ever!

But if Utterson wanted to confront and question the source of his nightmares for good, he had to find him first. He was convinced that it wouldn't be as easy as last time. So this time he would try the address that Hyde had given him. He knew that the young man was usually out and about at night.

So here he was, on his way to Soho of all places, hoping that no one would recognise him and question, why a respectable gentleman should be out at this hour.

It was November, which meant that it was particularly cold. The good thing about this was the lightness of the fog. It remained close to the ground, which made him feel safer while going through the dark streets. When he entered the district, he was forced to go through one of the darker streets, where two lone street lamps were flickering. The lawyer wondered briefly, why the city administration couldn't be bothered to install more street lamps.

And then both of them went out and the street turned dark, safe for the full moon shining above.

"Oh bother", the lawyer muttered and clutched his cane closer to himself.

"Feels a lot more dangerous to be out at night, once the lights go out, doesn't it?", a foreign, yet familiar voice suddenly spoke from behind him. He gasped and whirled around.

There stood the very man he had been searching, wearing an expression that was an odd mixture between boredom and curiosity.

Utterson regained his composure and put up his emotionless, professional facade, even though he was pretty certain, that it wasn't convincing at any rate.

"Mister Hyde", he said calmly, looking down at the younger man standing in front of him.

"Mister Utterson", the other mirrored the greeting, in a manner that was almost mocking.

"What is a respectable gentleman doing out at this ungodly hour and in this part of the city? This is usually the time for shadier people to go on with their improper business."

Utterson felt his blood boil, but remained calm.

He is just as audacious as the last time.

Hyde looked even more inhuman than the last time they had met. The moon light seemed to intensify the deathly pallor of that face and those bilious green eyes seemed to gleam eerily in the darkness of the night.

And then there was that smirk, that unsettling, cruel smirk. Hyde didn't seem to be surprised to see him, not in the slightest. And that put him even more on edge.

He has the upper hand, Utterson realised, Last time I caught him by surprise, but now … it's as if he has expected me!

"I've been looking for you", the lawyer explained as calmly as possible. "And since you gave me your address, I thought–"

"Oh! You wanted to visit me, how endearing! And why so late at night? I could have been in bed already, you know."

That would have been a good point, had it not come from Edward Hyde.

"I knew you wouldn't be."

"Did you now?" Hyde lifted an eyebrow. "And how? Oh, never mind", he added, when Utterson opened his mouth to speak. "What is it that makes you come to Soho at this hour? It's not exactly a safe district and everyone knows that. The most dangerous people roam the streets at night."

The small man took a step forward, stood on his tip toes and pulled the lawyer down to his eye-level.

"People like me", Hyde cooed with false sweetness and the older man suppressed a shudder. His tone was dangerously low and close to a growl.

Then he suddenly let go, making the lawyer stumble backwards a few steps.

Utterson balanced and straightened himself, glaring at the younger man, who just giggled in misplaced amusement.

"Well", Hyde said all of the sudden in a businesslike manner, "What is it, that makes you want to see me so badly?"

Utterson took a deep breath and finally answered: "You almost murdered two people."

"Technically, it would be …", Hyde began to object, but Utterson interrupted him:

"And yet, you get away with it. Why? Why do people defend and shield you, after all the terrible things you have done?"

The thought made it harder and harder to hide his anger.

For the split of a second, Hyde looked confused, then his eyes widened in realisation: "Ah, you mean Lady Summers and Dr. Jekyll? Well, to be honest, I don't know what her reason was. I don't know why she made that bargain with me."

"What bargain?!"

Hyde raised a scolding finger. "Not telling! That's for me to know and for you to find out, dear Sir", he replied sweetly. "But let's just say, that it has to do with you. As for the good Doctor … well, he and I share a quite … intimate relationship."

That was too much. Utterson lost his composure, grabbed the younger man by the shoulders and looked right into the bright green eyes that were wide with shock.

"Enough of your games, Mr. Hyde", he snarled. "What are you doing to Henry?! What do you want from him? Is it his fortune?! Of course, what else would it be! Why does he keep you around, even though he knows, what you are?! What does he see in you!? I swear, if you hurt him …"

But Hyde covered his mouth with his index finger, before he could continue.

"Mr. Utterson! I'm not doing anything to Jekyll, I couldn't harm him, if I tried! And now, do compose yourself. Before you say something you might regret!", he tutted the other man mockingly. Then he stopped grinning and looked at him with a strange expression that Utterson had never seen on his face before.

Is that … pity?!

"Just as I thought", Hyde whispered and grabbed the hand that was still holding his collar, slowly removing it with his own spidery fingers.

"It isn't very gentleman-like to stalk people out of petty jealousy, Mr. Utterson. You just exposed yourself."

He knows! Oh my god, he knows, I'm doomed, what have I done, I–

The lawyer blushed bright scarlet and began to stutter, which seemed to immensely amuse the other man.

"Ho-how dare you! H-how can you say that – exposed myself?! I just – h-how dare you accuse me of such a vile–! I-I'm not – you – you …"

Hyde shushed him: "Shhh! I won't tell anyone. Not even Jekyll. But you need to stop deluding yourself. You're acting just like Jekyll. It's not healthy."

Now he talks just like Lady Summers …

Hyde turned away to leave.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me", he said nonchalantly without turning to face the older man. "That's the least I can do. Besides, telling someone would be hypocritical of me. And unlike a certain Dr. Henry Jekyll …" he said the name so bitterly, that it sent shudders down Utterson's back, "… I'm not a hypocrite. Nor do I care to ever become one."

Then he left, turned around the street corner and disappeared, without so much as a goodbye, just like last time.

Suddenly a lot a tension seemed to fall off Utterson's shoulders and he collapsed against the nearest brick wall.

Oh my god … it couldn't be any worse … now he knows – maybe he even knew before … and then he's telling me not to delude myself … just how much does he know about me … how much does he know about Henry …

Tiredly he rubbed his eyes. He was just so exhausted and done with everything, with the world, with this life, with the entirety of mankind, with the laws, with all the secrets his friends were keeping from him … everything.

Suddenly he was torn out of his thoughts, when he heard voices coming from around the corner, discussing heatedly, and went to see what the matter was. However, before he reached the corner, a gunshot tore through the night and a shrill scream was heard, then steps hurrying away.

When he reached the corner, he was met with an unexpected sight.

Just as he came into the alley, he caught sight of a tall man (at least it looked like a man) in a wide coat and hat, running into a side street. Just as he was about to pursue him, a pained whimper caught his attention.

There, huddled against the wall close to the pavement, lay Edward Hyde, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain.

"Mister Hyde! Oh my god!"

Utterson dropped his cane and hurried to Hyde's side, crouching down next to him. Now he could see that Hyde's gloved hands and the lower sleeves of his coat were covered in blood.

What happened? Why did he do that?, Utterson wanted to ask, but instead he said: "Let me see that."

"What is there to show?", Hyde snarled, gritting his teeth, "It's a freaking bullet wound!"

But the lawyer, thoroughly done with the other's refusal to cooperate, tore his right arm to the side and revealed a dark splotch of blood, pooling from a hole, where Utterson knew the guts to be.

Blood … as a lawyer he was used to the sight of it, but it still horrified him after all these years–

"What are you staring at?", Hyde hissed, "Is watching me bleed out so fascinating?"

That pulled the lawyer out of his horrified trance. He couldn't let anyone die on him, but–

There is no but! Pull yourself together! What kind of person are you, if you even think about letting him bleed to death here in the dirt?!

His conscience decided and he listened to the inner voice that had never failed him so far. He cradled the smaller man in his arms and lifted him up.

Hyde yelped in protest and probably would have squirmed too, if he hadn't been in such enormous pain.

"What the hell are you – put me down immediately – I don't need your bloody – AAHHHH!"

His rambling ended in a scream of pain, when his carrier began to run and his body bumped up and down in the lawyer's arms.

"Shut up!", Utterson growled agitatedly, "You need medical attention fastest possible. Or would you rather bleed to death here, Mr. Hyde?"

At once the smaller man grew silent, safe for the pained whimpers that came with every bump.

First the lawyer was grateful for that, carrying Hyde was hard enough in itself, for several reasons.

But then he noticed that Hyde was beginning to pass out.

"Mister Hyde! You need to stay awake!", he cried loudly.

The wounded man glowered up at him. "I know that!", he growled weakly, "But you try that, when you're shot and bleeding out!"

Then a strong shudder racked his body and Hyde began to quiver violently. Utterson stopped to gasp for breath and set the man in his arms down for a moment. The sight was disturbing. The blood loss was becoming apparent on Hyde's face, the deathly pallor was increasing and his skin was ice cold. Without a second thought, the lawyer took off his coat and wrapped it around the small man.

Hyde asked weakly: "What are you …?"

"Obviously I have no medical skills", Utterson explained, panting, "But I do know, that keeping up the body temperature is important."

As soon as Hyde was safely tugged into the far too big, but warm coat, the lawyer scooped him up again and proceeded running through the streets, ignoring the icy air that crept under his shirt and waistcoat.

"Where is a damn cab, when you need one", he couldn't help but curse under his breath, which the other heard of course.

Hyde chuckled faintly: "I'm surprised you even managed to get this far, with such baggage in your arms. You're rather fit for your age."

Utterson shook his head. "No, Mr. Hyde, you're just that light."

It was true, Hyde was too light, even for his small frame, but now was not the time to ponder on that. Or on why Hyde had no issues with referring to himself as "such baggage".

He had to hurry. It was late, most surgeries would be closed, and if he didn't find a doctor in time, Hyde would die.

And, just as if to remind him of that, the man suddenly clutched the dark grey fabric of his waistcoat with his bloodied hands and began to shiver again. His breathing was speeding up, it was dangerously close to hyperventilation. Hyde was panicking.

"Mr. Utterson …"

The older man looked down to find the younger one staring up at him with watery eyes.

"W-we're not going to make it, a-are we? I – I'm going to die! I – I'll bleed to death, before we–!", Hyde choked, his eyes wide with fear. He was biting his lip, obviously trying to hold back a sob.

"No, you won't", the lawyer growled, full of determination. "You will not die, do you hear me? I'm not carrying you through London all by myself, just for you to die on me!"

Right in the middle of his last sentence, the clapping of hooves sounded through the street and the next second, a hansom came around the corner.

Utterson almost sighed in relief. But then he remembered, that he had no money on him.

Who cares! I'll pay, when we have found a doctor!

"Cab!", he shouted and the coach halted next to them on the road. The cab driver, a young man, assessed the situation in one glance and gruffly asked: "Where to?"

"Cavendish Square!", Utterson cried and gave him a pleading look.

"Ge' in an' 'urry", the cab driver grumbled, "'S free."

"Thank you, Sir", the lawyer sighed in relief, climbing into the hansom with the living burden in his arms.

The cab drove through the streets as fast as possible, but it was a rough ride and Hyde groaned in pain with every bump. Utterson was starting to lose his confidence, that he would get the younger man to a doctor in time.

He was loosing more and more blood and growing paler by the minute. He was shivering even worse than before, huddled up in the lawyer's lap, clinging to him like a lifeline.

Suddenly he burst into tears and began to sob, startling the older man.

"Mr. Utterson … I'm sorry … for that earlier … I never hurt Jekyll, I swear … just help me … please, help me … it hurts … it hurts so much … I don't want to die … I don't want to die … please!", Hyde sobbed and pleadingly looked up to him, his face overflowing with tears.

All the disgust and hatred Utterson had felt earlier, was gone. He always had seen Edward Hyde as a monster, a demon, a bane and shadow over Jekyll's life.

But now the very man was crouched in his lap, seriously injured, bleeding, panicking, sobbing like a frightened child, and he realised:

He's only human. Horrible, yes, but still only human.

"Shhhh", Utterson mumbled and ran a hand through the other's shoulder-long dark hair to calm him down, "You won't die. It will be fine. You will be fine, I promise."

"I'm so cold", the other whimpered, "So cold … and dizzy … it hurts …"

The lawyer pulled Hyde closer to himself. He was cold himself, after all Hyde was wrapped in his coat, but unlike him, he wasn't bleeding out and still had some heat left from the running earlier. He was still warmer than the other.

"Feeling a bit better?", he asked.

Hyde hummed faintly in affirmation. "You're so warm", he breathed, barely audible over the rumpling of the coach. "How? I'm much warmer dressed than you, I'm even wearing your coat and yet …" He rested his head against the older man's chest and began to mumble almost incoherently: "Your heart beat … so calm and steady … like you … Jekyll 'ways talks 'bout you, y' know … I jus' drop yer name … an' 'e goes on for hours … showering you with praise."

Utterson fought off the blush that was threatening to colour his face. He also fought off the sense of exhilaration he felt at Hyde's words. This was not a time to be happy or excited.

Suddenly the grip on his waistcoat tightened and he looked down at Hyde's face. To his horror, he saw the eyelids flutter closed. Hyde was on the verge of passing out.

Just how long is this cab ride … when are we finally there?!

"Mister Hyde!", he cried and the sunken-in eyelids slowly opened to reveal hazy, bilious green orbs.

"I'm tired", Hyde slurred drowsily. "An' it really 'urts …"

"I know, but you must stay awake! Your life depends on it! Listen … uh, what's your favourite colour?"

Hyde blinked. "My fav'rite colour?"

Then he thought for a moment, only for his pensive expression to turn into a helpless one.

"I … I dunno. N'ver thought 'bout it, I guess."

"Surely, you must have one!", Utterson urged. "Just try to dig a little deeper."

"I can 'ardly think at all", Hyde objected, "Talkin' is ge'in 'arder too."

"I hear that, but–"

Suddenly Hyde weakly raised a hand to touch his face. The lawyer almost jumped at the contact with these freezing, spidery fingers.

The younger man's eyes were full of awe. "Tha' look … in yer eyes. N-no one 'as e'er … looked at me like tha' b'fore. Not even Jekyll …" he didn't finish that sentence, but broke into a weak, bitter giggle. "Nice t' know … someone act'lly … gives a damn … if I die …"

Oh my god, he's delirious!

"We're 'ere", the cab driver spoke up from behind, interrupting the conversation.

Utterson looked up and saw that the cab had stopped in front of Lady Summers' house. But before he could ask the cab driver, why he was stopping here of all places, the door opened and out came Lady Summers and (much to his surprise) Dr. Lanyon.

Wasting no time, he jumped out of the cab and ran up to the door.

" … you for coming, Doctor. It's always nice to have you", Lady Summers was just saying to Lanyon, who was shaking her hand, replying: "The pleasure was all mine …", when the sound of Utterson's hurried steps drove their attention to him.

"Help!", the lawyer cried in panic, as right in that moment, Hyde went limb in his arms.

"Mr. Utterson", Lady Summers cried, "What are y – ach, du meine Güte!*"

She paled, when she saw the unconscious man in his arms.

Lanyon's mismatched eyes widened at the sight, then grew hard, when he saw the face of the wounded man.

They know each other?

But then the doctor put on a professional mask that Utterson knew only too well – from himself – and calmly said: "We must not waste any time. Let's get him inside. We need to stop the bleeding and he needs a transfusion at once, before he bleeds to death."

"Come in, come in!", the Lady cried and held the door open, while Lanyon helped the exhausted lawyer to carry Hyde inside. Lady Summers led them to the sickroom and the two man placed the smaller one on a cot, while she ran into the hallway, bellowing orders in German at her servants.

The next moment, her Japanese lady-in-waiting, her Austrian nurse and her Indian butler came in with band aids, alcohol, ether and whatever Dr. Lanyon might need to save the bleeding man on the cot. The older doctor mumbled a thank you and went to work.

Utterson couldn't help but admire the efficiency his friend operated with under the dim light of the petrol lamp.

Meanwhile Lady Summers handed something to her nurse and the young woman hurried away with a glass full of dark red liquid.

When did she manage to take blood from Hyde?!, Utterson couldn't help but wonder.

Within a few minutes, Dr. Lanyon had stilled the bleeding and turned to the other two.

"Done. Now he needs the transfusion. He lost at least two litres of blood, so we need at least four blood donors."

"There are enough people in this house", Lady Summers stated, "But there is a problem–"

Suddenly, the Austrian returned and informed her mistress: "His blood is fits wiz type 4-."

"Oh! The rarest! And yet it's so convenient! We have enough donors!", the Lady exclaimed in exhilaration.

Dr. Lanyon blinked in confusion. "What is the meaning of this?", he demanded to know.

The Prussian noblewoman hushed him: "I'll explain another time. Conveniently, you two and I have the same blood type as Mr. Hyde. So we all can donate. I'll go first."

Lanyon sighed, cleaned his equipment and adjusted his pince-nez: "Whatever. Lay down on the next to him, Milady, we'll insert the blood from your jugular into his, so the blood can spread quicker. Be sure to remain on top of him and tell me, when you start to feel dizzy or drowsy."

"I know", she muttered and complied, squeezing her eyes shut.

She gritted her teeth and inhaled sharply, when he inserted the injection needle into her neck.

"Does it hurt?", Lanyon asked worriedly.

She cracked an ice blue eye open and assured him: "Not really. I just have a phobia of injection needles, but for Mr. Hyde's sake, I will suck it up."

"If you say so", the other said doubting and injected the other end of the tube into Hyde's jugular.

The unconscious man whimpered a little, apparently still feeling the sensation.

Lanyon turned to Utterson: "Utterson, drench one of the tissues with ether and give it to me."

The lawyer nodded, drenched one of the white cloths in ether and handed it to his old friend.

In that moment, the Indian butler came in with a big tablet full of sandwiches and jugs with water.

Carefully, Lanyon removed the needle from the Lady's jugular, patched up her wound, cleaned the needle and called Utterson over.

"Help her over first. With that blood loss, her knees are probably …"

But the Prussian just stood up and went over to the cot next to the one Hyde was lying on, even though her steps were a bit wobbly and unsure.

Utterson stared at her, then he took her place at Hyde's side. It felt uncomfortable indeed, the needle in his jugular, that was draining his precious blood.

But Hyde's breathing was growing less laboured, calmer and more even than before, and even though his skin was still cool to the touch, the shaking had subsided.

From the corner of his eye, Utterson observed that Lady Summers was slowly sitting up.

"Will you be going to bed, Madam?", Lanyon asked, but she shook her head.

"Not yet", she said calmly, taking one of the remaining sandwiches. "You're going to need help, when it's your turn, and I'm an involuntary expert in that area."

"If you say so", Lanyon sighed, "Now would you have the courtesy to explain to me what you meant earlier with the blood types?"

"Tomorrow", the widow said calmly, "When we all have recovered enough to think clearly. By the way, you're spending the night here. I will not have either of you go home in that state. Besides, there is an errant I have to tell one of my servants to make."

Lanyon stared at her in horror. "Please tell me that you're not referring to what I think you're referring to."

"Sorry. I am."

"Are you serious?!"

"Yes."

"What are you two-", Utterson began, but Lanyon glowered down at him. "What did I say about talking, unless you're feeling dizzy?!", he spat.

"Actually, I am starting to feel a little …"

Lanyon huffed. "You're hopeless. Hold still." He removed the tube and patched up the wound to prevent it from bleeding.

Lady Summers stood and helped the older man inject the needle in his own jugular, then focussed closely on Lanyon and Hyde. When she and Utterson observed, that the older man was beginning to blink, she said: "It's enough."

She carefully removed the tube and patched up the pierced veins, first on Lanyon's neck, then on Hyde's, cleaning them meticulously.

"Like a professional doctor", Lanyon stated in approval, which made her smile.

Slowly, he crawled off the cot and examined the unconscious man for anything he might have missed. Finally he nodded in satisfaction.

"It's done now", he noted with an exhausted smile. Then he passed out.

"Doctor Lanyon!"

Hyde gets shot and barely escapes death, because Utterson is a good person.

Translations:

*Ach du meine Güte! - Oh my goodness!