Finding Sleep
Chapter 11
Disclaimer: I own nothing save for Dr. Orellana, Miss Corra, David, and Logan. They belong to me.
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Harry wasn't sure how long he had been staring at the chair in front of him, but it felt like a lifetime. After coming back from the cafeteria, he had hoped to get a bit of sleep, but of course, sleep was the last thing that was on his mind.
The weight of the gun was still in his pocket and it would be a long time before he forgot how he had nearly shot those two policemen with it. He had to be careful with that gun; not to mention his temper. It would get him into a great heap of trouble; something he and Marv were currently trying to dig themselves out of.
At the thought of Marv Harry took in a deep breath and repositioned himself in his chair. Thinking of Marv only reminded him that he was currently in surgery. He was in surgery on Christmas Day, easily known as Marv's favorite day of the year. He tried to push that out of his mind. He remembered how shocked Marv had sounded after telling him what day it was and he supposed he couldn't blame him for having forgotten. After running into the McCalister kid, time seemed to have vanished. They had been so intent on getting that kid that they had completely lost track of time. Then before either of them knew it they were running from the police and now in the hospital.
Harry glanced over at the clock on the wall and saw that it was now six o'clock in the morning. He really did wish he would be able to fall asleep.
He slumped down further into the chair he was sitting in, trying once again to get comfortable enough to attempt sleep. He pulled his coat closer to him, crossing his arms in the meantime. He propped his feet up on another nearby chair and closed his eyes, his thoughts on Marv and the current predicament they were in.
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Harry groaned a bit in his chair when he felt someone shaking him on the shoulder. He had finally managed to fall asleep; waking up was the last thing he wanted to do right now. He tried ignoring the shaking yet whoever was shaking him was persistent and refused to leave him be.
With a huff, Harry opened his steely gray eyes and looked up to see who was bothering him. It was Miss Corra. Harry sat up a bit better in his chair and stretched. "How's Marv?"
"He just woke up from surgery. You've been asleep for a while, Mr. Lyme" Miss Corra replied sternly. Harry blinked up at her. She had used his real name and not his fake one. How had she found out about them? He looked up at her again, noting that the soft friendly smile on her warm face was gone and replaced with cold hard features.
"How do you-?" he began but she cut him off.
"No time for questions, Mr. Lyme. Mr. Merchants wishes to see you" she informed him, turning on her heel and heading for the operating room. Harry watched after her with shock, his eyes wide as he woke completely from his sleep. Something was not right here. Miss Corra had been so sweet and kind to him earlier. What could have possibly made her turn so cold? And why was she suddenly calling them by their real names? How did she find out about them?
Harry didn't have a chance to answer the millions of questions going on his head for Miss Corra was already through the doors. He quickly stood up and followed her. He managed to catch up with her and walked several paces behind her.
The clicking of her high heels were the only sound that could be heard in the white walled hallway as they walked towards Marv's room. Harry frowned as he watched her from behind. He didn't care for what was going on; this whole thing didn't seem right. Perhaps the police had managed to find their car and managed to trace them back inside the hospital. Perhaps they had heard about Mr. Murphy and Mr. Rinehart and found it suspicious that they were there with those types of injuries. Harry figured anything was possible as Miss Corra stepped into Marv's room.
Harry pushed away all his thoughts and worries for the moment and focused on seeing Marv. He must have been asleep a long time because it seemed Marv had just gone into surgery minutes ago. Yet as he walked through the door, he could see the silhouette of Marv resting on the bed in the dimly lit room. He took a moment to glance around the room and saw that both Miss Corra and Dr. Orellana were standing in the corner of the room, watching intently.
Harry glared at them. "What are you starin' at, huh?" he growled at them. Neither nurse or doctor replied or even moved a muscle, just continued to stare. Harry felt a shiver go down his spine. He had heard of people being observant, but this was ridiculous. He turned his attention to Marv, who was resting on the bed.
At least Marv looked alright. Unlike Miss Corra and Dr. Orellana, who were officially on Harry's 'freak list', Marv seemed to be perfectly normal. Or at least, as normal as one could be after just having brain surgery. He smiled fondly at the taller man and leaned down to him. "Marv!" he whispered softly. "Marvin! Marvin, wake up! It's me! Harry!"
Harry watched as Marv's eye lids slowly opened to reveal chocolate eyes. He frowned when he noted that Marv's eye was still exploded.
Marv turned to Harry, looking at him through heavy eyes. "Harry?"
"That's me" smiled Harry, trying his best to ignore the odd feeling in his gut. Something still didn't feel quite right about all this. He knew the feeling too; it was the feeling he felt just before the cops were about to find them. The feeling he got whenever he knew the police were hot on their trail. Perhaps he was right; Miss Corra had called them by their real names after all. Perhaps they had learned the truth somehow.
"Harry? My head hurts…." Sighed Marv, shifting a bit on the bed.
Harry nodded. "I know. It's gonna be a bit tender. But at least ya made it out of surgery…" The shorter man brushed his hand over Marv's head, which was swathed in bandages. He could see the short fine hairs that once were Marv's curls and he desperately wished they hadn't been cut off, for both Marv's sake and his own.
Marv groaned a bit and closed his eyes. "Yeah…..No thanks to you…."
Harry flinched at his words, his hand retracting from Marv's head. "What did you say?"
Marv moaned a bit and winced from the soreness of his head. "You're the reason I'm in here to begin with, Harry." Marv's voice sounded so light and innocent, just as always, yet his words felt like venom to Harry.
"Marv…" Harry said unsurely, his voice cracking ever so slightly. He didn't like where this was headed. He knew he was the reason for Marv's surgery, he knew he was the reason for their current predicament, he knew it was his fault they nearly went to jail to begin with, but to hear these words from Marv….
"I'm in pain, Harry. I had the surgery, but I still hurt a lot. Doctor said I will never be the same again. Says I won't be able to think straight. My eyesight is bad too. Which is why my eyes are still funny…" Marv continued on. Harry could feel his body going numb. "I lost all my hair….now I'm losing my eyesight….All because of you, Harry…"
Harry recoiled from Marv and took a step back. He glanced up at Miss Corra and Dr. Orellana only to see that they were no longer there. In replacement stood two police officers, one who was holding hand cuffs and ready to arrest him. Harry took another step back. He scowled, refusing to let Marv's words get to him. If he was going to be arrested, then he was going to be arrested with what little pride and dignity he had left; therefore not falling to pieces after Marv's words.
"Fine! Let's get this over with! But DON'T touch the head!" He balled his hands into fists after running a hand over his burnt head. In all the fuss over Marv he had practically forgotten that he was in pain as well from the fresh burns he had received.
As the two policemen started stepping towards Harry to arrest him, Marv spoke. "Harry…" The shorter Bandit turned to his lover. "All I wanted was for you to like me. All I wanted was for you to notice me and to be happy with me. But thanks to you, I'll never be happy again…."
Just as Marv spoke those words, Harry flinched as the police handcuffed him. "Marv!" he shouted, not entirely sure what was going on anymore. It seemed his world was falling apart around him and all his crimes and misdeeds were finally catching up to him; because for the first time ever, he was seeing just how badly his actions had affected Marv. Now he was being taken to jail; the one place he belonged after all his crimes. With one last desperate shout, he was taken away. "Marv!"
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Harry gave a shout as someone touched him on the shoulder, his eyes going wide with fear and shock. He panted a bit and struggled in the handcuffs he was in, his hands forced together. He wasn't sure where he was now; all he knew was that he had been taken away from his Marvin.
Harry flinched when someone began speaking to him.
"Mr. Murphy? Are you alright?"
Harry looked up to see the concerned face of Miss Corra, who was leaning over slightly; her hand still on his shoulder. He looked down at the hand on his shoulder, then down to his hands that were no longer handcuffed. He moved his hands almost nervously, stuffing them into his pants pockets. "Oh, Miss Corra…."
"I didn't mean to frighten you, Mr. Murphy, but you seemed to have been having a nightmare. You were shouting in your sleep and worrying everyone else" she told him, looking up to glance at the few other family members in the lobby waiting for their loved ones.
"Nightmare?" echoed Harry.
"Yes. But anyways, I simply wanted to let you know that Marvin is still in surgery and everything is going well. His body is coping well under the anesthetic and the swelling is going down. It could still be a while longer, but I know how worried you've been and I wanted to let you know" she explained to him.
"Marvin is doing okay?" inquired Harry, still a little dazed from the nightmare. He looked up at Miss Corra and couldn't shake off the unnerving feeling he had gotten when speaking to her in the dream. She had been so cold to him; the complete opposite of how she was being to him now.
"Yes" she replied warmly.
Harry sighed and sat up straighter in his chair, feeling his back protest after being in the same position for so long. "What time is it?"
"It's nearly ten o'clock" Miss Corra answered.
"Ten? I've been asleep that long?" he yawned. "I don't even remember falling asleep." Miss Corra nodded, her eyes looking troubled. Harry caught the look in her eyes and frowned, memories from the dream haunting him. "What?"
"Mr. Murphy, if I may be so bold as to ask, how exactly did Marvin come to hurting his head? You said he fell. How did he fall?" her question pierced through Harry like a knife simply because it brought back memories of the day before and all the traps he and Marv had had to endure thanks to the spoiled little brat, Kevin.
"I told you. He fell on some ice" he answered curtly.
"How did Marvin falling on the ice cause you to receive the burns on your head?" was her next question. She took this time to move one of the many chairs around them to sit in front of him. Harry gave her the best blank look he could manage given the situation.
"Oh…You noticed those….huh?"
"Yes, I did. Those are second degree burns. I could understand if they were on your hands or possibly or arms, but on your head? How did that happen?"
Harry sighed. He couldn't tell her the truth without uncovering their secret. He needed to come up with something and fast. "I…..had an accident. I was trying to clean out our….storage room. I thought it had been water that was spilling from the bucket above, so I didn't think much of it. I was reaching up to light a candle. Lost my grip on the match. It fell on my head. It was kerosene that was in the bucket. Not water. The kerosene dripped onto my head and when I dropped the match, it caught fire…." He looked away from her, knowing she wouldn't believe his cover story. He doubted even Marv would believe that. He looked up at her and decided it would be best to be blunt. "You don't believe me, do ya?"
Miss Corra gave him a hard look, studying his face. Her lips formed a straight line before saying, "You really should be more careful then, Mr. Murphy. I won't question you on how you got those burns, just tell me that you'll be more careful from now on and neither of you will do anything…illegal…"
Harry nodded, grateful that she wasn't going to press the matter. "Yes, Ma'am."
"I can have someone take a look at those burns for you. Perhaps you can get a medication to put on it to help" she suggested.
"That would be helpful" Harry told her honestly.
Miss Corra straightened and nodded. "Alright. I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, I wanted to ask you: Are you in need of a job?"
Harry blinked at her, wondering where she would get an idea like that from. She didn't know him, yet she knew he didn't have a job? "Yes, how did ya know that?"
Miss Corra almost blushed. "Well, you're friend Marvin was a bit talkative during his x-rays."
Harry's eyes widened as he felt his stomach plummet down to his stomach. He didn't even want to think of some of the stuff Marv might have told the nurse and doctor was he was alone with them. He cleared his throat and said, "Oh, yeah?" he tried to act nonchalant. "What did he say?"
"Not too much. Just said the two of you were new in town and that you both needed jobs" she replied.
Harry was once again caught off guard for what seemed like the hundredth time. He was impressed Marv had said such a good lie, instead of saying something along the lines of them being convicts on the run from the police after having just stolen money from a toy store on Christmas Eve. "Yeah, that's true. I am looking for a job. We both are, but I don't think Marv will be able to have a job for a while until he recovers."
Miss Corra nodded. "Yes. Well….And this may be a bit forward of me since we don't really know each other, but I know of a place you might be able to get a job. You see, my nephew is a sophomore in college and he just got a job working at the local Performing Arts Center. It's about three blocks from here. They just opened last year and are constantly looking for hands to help with the shows."
Harry nodded, taking all of this in. He had not expected to be able to find a job so quickly but he was far from complaining. Back in Chicago, he and Marv had been plumbers while they stole from private homes. Harry doubted they would be lucky enough to get a job like that here in the city, so he hadn't been sure where he would be able to find work. "What kind of work is it? Theatre?" he made a face. "I can't really see myself in the theater. Foldin' costumes, doin' make-up. No thanks."
The blond nurse shook her head. "Oh, no! It's more than that! Besides, you wouldn't be the one doing that anyways! No, the job is actually a lot more hard work than you think. My nephew had had the same impression you did when he first heard about it."
"Then what kind of stuff would I be doin'?" Harry had never had a whole lot of experience in theater, if any, so he had a hard time picturing what all there was to do in a theater. He couldn't imagine there being any kind of work that he would be interested in. yet he wasn't about to let a job opportunity go by, especially with Marv in the hospital. Sure, they had the money they had stolen from the toy store, but that wouldn't last them forever.
"Well, it's a large theater. Big shows and bands come in. You would probably start off a Loader. You would be helping load and unload the show's semi-trucks. As you can imagine, all those large sets they have, it's heavy work. My nephew Logan says most of it is heavy work. You would help build and take down sets. You would be changing and adjusting the lighting and working on the loading desks and low bridge. It's all heavier stuff than you think."
Harry nodded, truly liking the sound of it. "So, no ironing?" he teased.
Miss Corra giggled. "No. No, ironing for you, Mr. Murphy."
"Call me Harry" he told her.
"Is it something you would be interested in, Harry?" she smiled.
"I'll think about it" he sighed. "I'll wait until after Marv is out of surgery before I decide anything…"
"Well, if you would like, my nephew is coming back at noon to bring me some lunch and visit. How about afterwards he takes you over to the Performing Arts Center and the two of you can discuss things?"
"Sure. It's not like I'm doin' much else. But I don';t want to be gone long. I want to be here when Marv wakes up from the surgery." He saw that Miss Corra was about to speak but he beat her to it. "I know! He's not even out of surgery yet. But you said you're nephew isn't coming until noon. That's two hours away. Then we'll be gone a while longer. I just don't want him to be alone when he wakes up."
Miss Corra smiled warmly at him and nodded. "I understand. I don't blame you. I would want to be there when my lover woke up too." She blushed the moment she finished speaking.
Harry stared at her. "What did you say?"
"I'm sorry, was that not right? I shouldn't have assumed, it's just—" she stuttered, unsure of what to say. "I shouldn't have said anything."
Harry watched her as she made her apologies. He had kissed Marv right in front of her and Dr. Orellana, so he couldn't really blame her for saying something. It would have been hard not to notice anyways. "No. It's okay. You're right. Marv and I are together."
"How sweet" she cooed. "Anyways, I'll let you know when my nephew is here. He can take you over to the Performing Arts Center and you can take a look around."
"Thanks, Miss Corra. For everything" sighed Harry. He watched as Miss Corra left the lobby walked back through the thick metal doors. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, hoping to shake off the headache that was forming in his temples. He still couldn't believed all that had happened in the last twenty four hours.
Standing, Harry felt his back groan in protest to the movement. He knew he was going to have to back to the cafeteria and get himself some more food. That yogurt didn't last long, especially since he hadn't even eaten it all. With that final resolute, Harry found himself walking towards the cafeteria for something to eat.
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It had been about two hours since Harry had last seen Miss Corra and her ideas of having her nephew meet up with him and take him to the Performing Arts Center. He had gotten himself something to eat, making sure it would last him several hours in case Marv woke up and he didn't get the chance to go back down to the cafeteria. The grilled turkey sandwich he had eaten had tasted wonderful. It had been the first time he had eaten since the night before and after all that running around chasing after the kid, he had worked up an appetite.
Harry was studying the back of his left hand out of boredom when a shadow fell over him as he sat in the lobby. He glanced up to see that it was Miss Corra and a tall teenager.
"Hello, Harry" greeted Miss Corra. The teen to her left gave a small, shy wave.
Harry nodded to them both before he asked the question that was burning on his tongue. "How's Marv?"
Miss Corra gave him a patient smile. "He just came out of surgery about twenty minutes ago. Everything went as planned and now we just wait to see if he comes out of the sedation."
"'If" he comes out of the sedation?" demanded Harry incredulously. "You mean he may not?"
Miss Corra rose a hand to keep him from panicking, though Harry still felt his anxiety levels hit the ceiling. "Relax! He's been doing very well throughout the whole surgery. There is no reason for us not to believe he will come out of the sedation just fine."
"Then why did ya make it sound as though there was a chance he wouldn't?" insisted Harry, standing up. His legs groaned in protest from lack of use.
"Because there IS a chance he won't. But Harry, you must understand, we have to tell it that way because that is the truth. There will always be the possibility that someone doesn't awaken from the sedation that is given to them. The chances are very unlikely and rarely does it happen; but it HAS happened…..It is said only as a precaution…" she explained gently to him.
"I want to see him" claimed Harry, no longer able to wait. He wanted to see his Marvin. Now that he was out of surgery he wanted to see Marvin in person. He wanted to see him with his own eyes and not just from the words Miss Corra says to him. It had been almost five hours since the last time he had seen Marv and the shorter bandit simply couldn't take it anymore.
It was at that moment that the nightmare from earlier that morning came reeling back to him. He remembered how Marv had acted in the dream and it made Harry frown to think that there was a chance he would act like that in real life. Marv had blamed everything on him and had told him that he would never be able to live a normal life again because his life had been screwed up. All because of Harry and his plans to steal money. Harry took in a deep breath as he ran a nervous hand over his head and stuffed his free hand inside his pocket. His heart gave a jump as he did this though for his hand touched the small gun that was still hiding in his pocket.
"Harry?" called Miss Corra, glancing at Harry with concern. Harry snapped out of his thoughts.
"I want to see him" he repeated gruffly, his frown deepening. He was no longer playing around. He wanted to see his Marvin. He was tired of wearing his emotions on his sleeves and allowing those around him to see him breaking. That was not Harry Lyme. Harry Lyme didn't show this kind of emotion; he was a cold hearted old bastard on the outside, someone who was feared as a stranger and a riot as a friend. Harry Lyme was not some emotional mess and he wasn't going to start being one now.
"Alright, I'll take you to see him" she told him. She was about to start walking when she glanced at her nephew, having forgotten he was there. Harry held back a growl when she turned back to him and said, "Oh, sorry! This is my nephew, Logan. The one I was talking to you about earlier. If you still want to, he can take you over to the Performing Arts Center and let you have a look around." She turned to Logan. "Logan, this is Mr. Harry Murphy. Harry, this is Logan."
Harry shook the teen's hand, still trying to get used to his fake name. He said nothing, for his mind was currently too focused on Marv.
"It's nice to meet you, sir" said Logan in an attempt to be friendly. Harry could tell the teen was nervous. Logan was about 5'9 with reddish hair that was cut short like Marv's hair currently was. He had blue eyes and a strong square jaw. He seemed like he was the athletic type simply due to his build.
"Likewise" Harry managed to grunt out. He turned to Miss Corra expectantly.
Miss Corra nodded. "Alright, this way. Logan, just wait here. We'll be back in a few minutes."
Harry's frown deepened. Who did this lady think she was, saying how long he was going to be in there with Marv. Who had even said he WANTED to go with the teenaged brat? No one. Nobody told Harry what to do and he hated the idea that she thought she could.
"You seem pretty sure I want to go with your nephew" he heard himself say gruffly.
Miss Corra's eyes widened in apology. "Oh, I'm sorry! I don't mean to be rude. You certainly don't have to go if you don't want to. I just thought it would give you a chance to get out of the hospital for a bit and possibly get a job. I was only trying to help you, Harry."
At her words, Harry suddenly felt a bit guilty for snapping at her, though he wasn't about to admit that to her. The two of them were silent the rest of the way to Marv's room in the ICU. He couldn't help but remember the dream from before and remembered how this had been pretty much the same as then. But he noted that this time Dr. Orellana was nowhere to be seen. Possibly off helping another patient; doctors were not known to stick around long.
Harry reached Marv's side in seconds, taking in the sight before him. Marv was resting on the bed, a large fluffy white pillow propping his head up slightly. His eyes were firmly shut, showing that he was still in a deep sleep from the drugs. His face was pale and emotionless, which didn't make Harry feel any better. He didn't like seeing Marv so pale and unresponsive. As much as they annoyed him, Harry badly wanted to hear Marv's silly comments about Arizona or how he believed that six equaled a dozen.
Harry gently grabbed onto Marv's left hand, which was above the covers of the bed. Just like in his nightmare, there were white bandages swathed around his head, hiding most of the short fine hairs on his head. Harry slowly raised Marv's hand and gently kissed it. "Hey, Marv…." He said awkwardly. He looked behind him to see that there was a chair. He quickly scooted it towards him without letting go of Marv's hand.
Harry sat down, but not before taking off his coat for the first time since he'd been in the hospital. Ever since he had gotten there he had felt cold and therefore never felt the need to take it off. Yet here, sitting in Marv's room after his surgery, Harry was feeling a little hot and bothered. "Hey Marv…." He said again quietly. He looked to make sure Miss Corra was gone and to his relief, she was. He turned back to Marv. "Merry Christmas….."
Silence met him.
Harry took in a long deep breath, not knowing what to do next. He ran his free hand over his burnt heard, remembering faintly that Miss Corra had promised to have someone look at his burns for him. She was being truly sweet to him. She was doing things for him that she didn't need to and he wondered why that was.
"Well, Marv…..we may have escaped jail…..but we still managed to have another lousy Christmas, eh?" he chuckled a bit in a weak attempt to lighten the mood. He didn't know why he was trying, seeing as how one of them was unconscious. "Christmas just isn't our holiday it would seem. Which is a shame, seein' as how it's your favorite. Rotten luck, I guess."
More silence as Marv slept on, blissfully unaware.
"I can assure ya, you're not missin' much here. Cafeteria food ain't bad, but it's nothin' compared to the food we've been eatin' the last couple nights" he said, referring to the restaurants he and Marv had eaten at while using the stolen credit card. "I mean, they don't even have butter. They have that margarine crap!" Harry shook his head, no longer aware that was rambling about the most random of things. He felt calmer now that he was near Marv and holding his hand. The rest of the world seemed to disappear.
"And I gotta tell ya, I sure could use a bed right about now! Those chairs out in the lobby are no place for a guy ta sleep! I have trouble sleepin' in 'em, I couldn't even imagine the trouble you would have, with your long legs!"
Marv's long nose twitched in his sleep.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I know what you're thinkin', "Not more 'tall' jokes. It's not my fault you're so damn tall!" Harry smirked as though he was remembering an old fond memory. Yet he changed to topic. "So, get this, Marv. I might be getting' a job. Me! No more plumbin' jobs for us, pal! Looks like a might be workin' in a theater, of all places!"
Harry waited a moment, almost hoping that Marv would wake up and start laughing at him. He never did like being laughed at, but he never minded it as much when Marv was the one laughing at him.
"Maybe once your better you can work there too" He said this more quietly. He sighed, bundling up his coat in his lap. He mind was going down a track of thoughts he would prefer not to think about but he could no longer ignore them. "Assumin', of course, that you DO get better…..That you don't….wake up and we learn that you're blind….or can't speak…..or deaf…" He stopped, choking a bit on his words as his emotions began to overpower him. His shoulders began to shake as he looked down into his lap, tears stinging his eyes. After a few minutes, he managed to pull himself together enough to continue talking to his unconscious lover.
"Things are gonna be different this time, Marv. I mean it, this time. I know I've said that before, but this time it's really goin' to happen. No more crimes. It's temptin', sure. But….it's just not worth it…..I…..learned that the hard way…..and….at your expense…."
Marv sighed softly in his sleep, prompting Harry to nod as though he had said something.
"I'm gonna get a job….and start earnin' money the old fashioned way. The legal way…..The right way…" he finished. He let go of Marv's hand and pulled his coat closer to him, feeling the gun in the pocket. He frowned at it, remembering that he had to get rid of it as soon as he could. He didn't notice Marv's hand twitch the moment he let go, nor did he notice the hand feebly try to reach for him. Instead Harry was too busy wrapped in his own thoughts.
Getting rid of the gun would not be an easy task. He couldn't just throw away anywhere. He would have to make sure there were no cameras around, not to mention any people. Perhaps he could find an alley with the trash carts.
Marv gave a soft moan which brought Harry out of his thoughts. He shot up from his chair and was inches away from Marv a moment later. For a moment Harry thought that Marv might be waking up. He certainly hoped he would. He watched intently at Marv's expressionless face, waiting to see if anything would happen.
Slowly, Marv's chocolate brown eyes slid open, blearily looking up at Harry. His eyes landed on Harry yet there was no recognition, which scared Harry to pieces. Marv blinked up at Harry, though the blank look on his face made it seem as though Marv didn't know who he was. Harry could feel his heart start to race; he hadn't even thought of the possibility of memory loss for he was so busy worrying about other things Marv could suffer from.
"Marv? Marv, it's me, Harry" he spoke to him. A wave of déjà vu came over Harry as he once again remembered his dream. Those were the exact same words he had spoken in the dream. He certainly hoped Marv wouldn't say the same words too.
Though it seemed Marv wasn't going to say any words this time, for his eyes were slowly sliding back shut before sleep claimed him once again. The balding man was glad Marv hadn't repeated the words from his dream, but he still felt uneasy. Marv hadn't said anything at all, nor did he even appear to recognize him.
Harry waited there for several minutes in case Marv opened his eyes again, yet when nothing happened he leaned back took in a deep sigh. He fidgeted with his coat, glancing at the door. He supposed there was no point sitting there waiting for the next time Marv would open his eyes, especially if he wasn't even going to be recognized. He had already told Marv he was going to get a job and he wasn't about to start lying to him. He knew Marv probably hadn't even heard him but he didn't care. Pulling on his coat, Harry walked through the door, leaving the sleeping Marv in peace.
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"Okay, so what is this place called again?" asked Harry as he sat in the passenger's seat of Logan's black truck.
"It's the Performing Arts Center" Logan informed him. "It's only been around for about a year or so now, so its brand new. I got the job because they're hiring people to be part of the crew."
"The crew?"
"Yeah. You'll be working backstage. Assuming you get the job."
"Sure" nodded Harry understandingly.
Within the past twenty minutes he had Logan had become quick friends. It turned out that Logan reminded Harry a great deal of himself when he was a teenager, though without nearly as much trouble. The two of them hit if off the moment they had gotten into the car, immediately talking about trucks, since they were in one, then turning to motorcycles, then eventually getting to plumbing. Harry had learned that Logan's father, Miss Corra's brother, had been a plumber once and therefore knew quite a bit about the profession himself.
Logan had a deep voice for a kid his age and seemed to be into a lot of the same stuff Harry was into. Save for liquor. Logan refused to drink, which Harry congratulated him on. Assured him he was missing nothing despite what some people would say. Though Harry did enjoy his drinking, he would never encourage a young man like Logan to start up the habit.
"You'll like it. It's more work than you think. It's more than just wardrobe and make-up."
"I wouldn't know. I know nothin' about the theater" admitted Harry.
Logan nodded as he turned left at a light. "Can you lift heavy stuff?"
"Of course!" chuckled Harry.
"Can you use a wrench?"
"I'm a plumber!" Harry reminded him.
"Then you'll be perfect for the job" laughed Logan.
It was then that a thought came to Harry. "Wait a minute! It's Christmas day! There are actually people working today?"
Logan frowned, his eyes never leaving the road. "Sadly so. There is a big show coming in before New Year's and I guess this was the only time David could get people to show up."
"David?"
"Oh, right! David Acklow. He's the stage manager and possibly your future boss."
"Oh…" Harry paused before asking, "So what kind of stuff is going on today?"
"Today is what is known as an All Call. It's optional, meaning anyone can work it. If you show up, great. If not, no problem."
"That's convenient" remarked the older man.
"Very. But David sometimes gets mad when not enough workers come for a Call. But, not a whole lot that can be done about it. All we're gonna be doing is prepping the stage for the next show."
Harry's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "How do you prep a stage?"
"Well, every show has a different lighting layout. Some shows want lots of lights, some want very few. Some want green lights, some want colorless. Some want follow spots, some don't. Some want curtains, some don't. Some want microphones while others might want speakers. Some shows may even have projectors we have to set up. Anything that is not theirs, we have to set up with our own equipment. It'll be easier to explain once we're there."
Harry nodded, completely baffled by all Logan was trying to tell him. He had never imagined he would be in a place like this, about to go work on a stage. At least it was all backstage work. He didn't picture himself being a good actor.
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It had taken Logan and Harry about twenty minutes to get the theater and Harry couldn't help but stare at the building in awe. The front of the building was oval shaped with glass windows. In the back it rose higher where the theater was clearly held. Though Harry didn't get a very good chance to look at the building for Logan was already heading for the front doors.
"Just follow me" he advised his new friend. Harry did as he was told and followed Logan, glancing around the ritzy looking place. The type of people who came in here to watch shows were the same kind of people Harry used to steal from on a daily basis.
Logan led him through a hallway through the right, ignoring the main lobby which led into the theater. They walked past several offices before walking through a door. After following a long white brick hallway, they turned left. "This is behind the stage" Logan announced proudly. "This is where the magic takes place."
Harry continued to follow him without question. He could see where there was a closed metal garage door, which he guessed was for the loading dock. Logan opened the door beside it, swiping his ID card through a machine. The machine beeped happily. He came back through the door and showed the card to Harry. "This is my ID card. You have to swipe in so that you on the clock and you're getting paid. You'll be doing that too once your hired."
Harry nodded.
Logan then took him through the Stage Right door and it was then that Harry could hear the sounds of people working. They walked through the door and Harry stepped out onto the large black floored stage. The stage was large and spacious and out further down stage he could see out in the house where all the seats sat. It was a beautiful theater.
The stage was currently filled with about a dozen different people, all busy bustling around getting work done. Several long thin pipes that took up the width of the stage were hanging down from the high ceilings above.
"Those are the line sets" Logan was quick to explain to him. "That's what they are working on. They are brought in and out by the Low Bridge." Logan then pointed over to the far left wall where long white ropes were hanging down, some showing the bricks they were holding and others not. "The bricks and are what keep the line sets in balance. Whenever we add or remove lights, the weights have to change, otherwise the line sets won't stay up."
Harry nodded, taking all of this in. It all seemed fairly simple to him. He had never been in an environment like the theater but it was easy for him to get the grasp of things. "Alright. Makes sense." He followed Logan over to the front of the stage where Harry could see the Orchestra shell was. The Orchestra shell was currently up but even a man who was not familiar with theater knew it was down below their feet.
They walked over to where a tall man with long dark hair pulled back into a thin ponytail was talking to several of the workers, clearly telling them what to do next. Logan turned back to Harry, "That's David. He's the guy you're gonna want to talk to about getting a job here."
Harry nodded. He looked David up and down, trying to get a feel for what the guy was like. David was tall and skinny; though it was clear he had years of the theater behind him due to his build. Compared to some of the men he's had to deal with in jail; who were easily twice David's size, this was nothing.
The two stopped just before David, who was still oblivious to their presence. After waiting several moments for David to finish up they finally had his attention. "Logan! Hi!" David greeted in a friendly voice.
"Hi, David. This is Harry. I brought him in today because he's interested in working here" Logan explained.
David turned his attention to Harry, glancing down at the shorter man, the smile on his face fading slightly. "Oh, hello, Harry. Nice to meet you." The two of them shook hands.
"Likewise. So, I'm to understand you're lookin' for workers?" Harry was never the type to beat around the bush with small talk.
David nodded. "Yes. Yes, we are. Do you have any experience in the theater?"
Harry shook his head. "None. I've been a plumber the last few years. But I'm new in town and I need some work."
David nodded. "Great! Well, see, here's the thing. Here, you don't need resumes. No experience is needed, which is perfect for you. The reason for this is because we try to hire a lot of college students that are going to some of the local colleges. When you first start here, you'll be in training. You'll be working with someone and will never be working alone until….well, until you show us that you won't break things, catch the stage on fire….that sort of thing." The taller man laughed as he tried to bring some comedy into the mix.
Harry chuckled. "I can promise ya, I won't be catching the stage on fire."
David nodded. "Good. Now, you can technically start today if you wish, but until we get some paperwork in and get you set up with an ID card, we won't be able to pay you. But it'll help you get some experience in, get to know the place, get comfortable." David's eyes landed on Logan. "If you want, you can shadow Logan for your training."
"Shadow him?"
Logan stepped in and answered before David could. "Follow me around and work with me for a while until you're good on your own. I can show you how things are done." Harry nodded.
"Exactly" agreed David. "Now you will be expected to take a Safety Test. Don't worry, it's very basic. There are a few videos I'll have you watch and then you'll be tested on them." He raised his hands almost apologetically. "It's not my decision; the board makes me give everyone the test. Federal regulations. I do not have the test available right now, but I will let you know as soon as I do."
"Sounds like a plan" claimed Harry.
David gave him a large grin. "Alright. Welcome aboard, Harry—What's your last name?"
"Murphy."
"Harry Murphy. Well, it's a pleasure to have you with us. Stay if you want, but you don't have to. It is Christmas. I certainly wish I wasn't here…." David then turned his attention to one of the workers who waiting to ask him something, leaving Harry and Logan by themselves.
Logan shrugged. "So, what do you think?"
Harry nodded, glancing around the place that would soon be his new job. As he looked around at the students working, some teenagers while others in their older forties; it suddenly occurred to him that this was the first time he had been away from Marv for over a year. They had been in prison together, and before that they lived together, then they were staying at the hotel, then the hospital. He had gone into that store by himself, but Marv had been just outside. Marv wasn't waiting for outside this time.
Harry glanced up at Logan who was saying hello to one of his friends. This was the first time he'd been away from Marv and it made him feel unsettled. While he liked the idea of staying there with Logan to get a feel for the job he was about to start, he wanted to be back at the hospital with Marv; who could easily wake up at any moment.
At this revelation, Harry knew he had to go back. "Hey, Logan!" He said. "Kid!" He tapped Logan on the shoulder to grab his attention. Logan turned to him expectantly. "I know you probably want to get some work in, but would you mind takin' me back to the hospital. If you want I can grab a taxi—"
Logan shook his head, cutting him off. "No, that's cool. I can't stay anyways. I have to get back to my folks. I just did this as a favor for my Aunt Corra. Plus, I wanted to help you out."
Harry smiled at him. "Thanks, kid. That means a lot to me."
Logan shrugged him off. " No big deal, man. Gotta help each other out. Let me swipe out and we'll leave."
Harry waited for Logan to go swipe out, standing there looking around him. He could see himself working there. Several guys were leading a large cart of big black lightning lamps up onto the stage from the storage room on Stage Right. They looked heavy and he watched as several younger girls, who were clearly in the early twenties, talk up to the cart searching for the right light lamp to use.
A blonde girl with glasses pulled two lights off the cart, nearly bumping into Harry as she turned around. "Oh, excuse me sir!" she apologized briskly, quickly turning to get out of Harry's way. Harry sidestepped her, feeling bad he had gotten in her way; those lights looked heavy with the way she was carrying them.
"Ready to go?" came Logan's voice from behind him.
"Yeah, let's go."
The two of them walked back out to Logan's truck, both looking up at the sky when they realized it was snowing. Harry watched the snow fall down around them, taking in the large flakes. The snow only made him want to see Marv all the more. He knew how much Marv liked the snow and it reminded once more that Marv couldn't enjoy it.
Glancing out at the road before them, Harry took in a deep sigh, knowing he wouldn't feel content until he was back at Marv's bedside.
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Author's Note: Well, chapter 11 is finally up. It was difficult. I ended up changing a lot of stuff from my original plans for it. I wrote most of this chapter at 1:00 in the morning, believe it or not. But when inspiration hits, you have to write it! Took longer than I expected too, but I'm pleased with how it turned out. Please let me know what you all think! -EricaX