Leave of Absence

Prompt 099: Order

They mentioned very little in the news about the fire in Dave's lab. Only a brief two minute line that stated that some fire at a college's laboratory had mobilized the fire brigade. His professor had called, checking to see if he'd been there at the moment, and Dave was forced to lie, then his mother had called and he had to lie again. They both had asked him to stop the experiments, move to another branch of science or something. Dave turned off the TV wondering why the world couldn't understand that even if it was just an old laboratory he had lost more than just his data. It had been home away from home. Becky seemed to notice his sadness, reason why Dave loved her even more, and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to rest against her collarbone. She rocked him softly, dropping little kissed over his forehead, and whispering sweet reassurances and her love for him.

Nothing could replace his lab, but as long as he had Becky in his arms, and Balthazar close by he could do anything.

Veronica rested on her side of the middle of the bed, her bruised shoulder uncovered by the sheets and her hand resting on the pillow beside her head. Her eyes were closed, and she felt miserable. She hadn't fought in so long that it was hard to believe she almost got killed by Horvath. Suddenly Balthazar opened the door to the bathroom, killing the lights as not to bother her, and moved around the room quietly. Veronica wanted him to know that she was awake, but she hurt everywhere and couldn't even get her lips to form a smile. They had gotten home, to their small apartment, and Balthazar had hurried to take her to their room, in need for privacy. He ran a bath for her, and excused himself to help the others' sleeping arrangements as she soaked on the tub, the water warm and healing.

He soon returned, and methodically but lovingly, bathed her. He sat her on a padded chair, and dried her shivering body, taking care of the cuts or scrapes, apologizing for each and every one of them. She kissed him then, and tried to get up. But Balthazar sat her down, while he fetched her favorite flannel sleeping gown, and then carried her to bed. He then took his own shower, and was currently lifting the duvet around her, lifting her so she could rest over his naked chest. His arms wrapped around her, clumsily lifting the duvet around both of them to create a cocoon of warm that had her anchor at his shore.

His magic with the stormy power of snow wrapped around Veronica, making her shiver. It was powerful, as she remembered but it was also sweet, tender against her skin. Her body feed off the offered power, her body too weak to protest, while Balthazar kissed her head. They laid there, simply content with the feeling of each other, when Veronica realized his magic made love to her skin his very conscious thought of wishing her feel loved by him. Even after leaving for a whole week.

"I'm angry at you." She stated suddenly, voice barely above a whisper. His response was to kiss her hair and arms tighten around her.

"I know."

"And you'll be sleeping in the couch soon."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Well it won't be tonight, I am not leaving your side until you heal properly."

"Then tomorrow."

"Very well." He kissed her again, snuggling on the pillows beneath them, Veronica dropped a kiss against his collarbone, feeling him shiver. There were a few moments of silence. "Nothing will change your mind?"

"No."

"Not even if I promise never to do it again?"

"You must pay Balthazar, you were a bad boy."

"But the couch, Veronica, is not even a pull out couch."

"I'm sure you've slept in worse places." He had to agree. "But I am happy you have a new ring."

"Tomorrow, when you are better, I'll show it to you."

"All I need is you," She whispered, sleepy. And Balthazar allowed her to rest. "And don't try another stunt like that or I'll will be finding you and wringing your neck with my bare hands." And when Veronica promised something she was sure to keep her word.

Dave woke up the next day, and after a while of marveling that he'd actually slept beside Becky he sat up, legs dropping automatically to the side of the bed. It was the first morning in a long time he woke up calm, with no worries and realizing all was well. And turning to the clock he also discovered he'd slept in. Frowning a little and getting up, he hurried out of the small room, listening to the rain fall outside, banging against the glass of the windows, and peeked out the door. The hallway was quiet, but there was light coming from the attic and soft music played; Classical music.

Sorcerers and their music… Dave made his way through the living room; to his surprise their guess for last night were gone, a note open over the center table announcing they had returned home. He nodded and set the note back down, and still quietly padded to the hanging stairs that lead to Balthazar's tiny attic/studio. He climbed, and peeked through the hole: There was Balthazar standing among a mess of books and holding a scanner, thing that made Dave frown.

"You never told me you had a study before."

Balthazar turned to his apprentice, surprised, and upon setting eyes over Dave's form let out a gentle smile. It was rare of him, but yes, Balthazar did grant quiet gentle smiles. And Dave hated to admit it but he missed them. Only one week apart, and he'd thought those days would be glorious…

"Well you never asked, and I am still sort of moving in."

"Where did all of these come from?"

"I got them out of some hidden boxes I had downstairs." Said Balthazar softly, nodding behind Dave, where two large crates were. Dave had seen those crates before, but they had been way smaller. "I… don't want to repeat some mistakes." Mused Balthazar quietly, turning to continue scanning the books he had in a tall pile before him. Dave entered the small attic fully and looked around the books; there were new small paperbacks, some large hard covers, and to his right large leather bound volumes with only drawing over its cover. Dave dare lift several and look them over… There were barcodes, even on the older ones (this ones were in the pages inside, rather than in the covers) and were been organized by date. Balthazar continued to work, apparently undisturbed, as Dave saw the subjects of some of the books. A Complete History of Morganian Disasters, Essays of Merlin, His Apprentices, and the Rise of Morgana, A Thousand Years after Merlin… And so on and so forth.

"I didn't know these sort of books existed."

"These are not actually found in Borders, Dave."

The apprentice could tell the books were older volumes, of themes not usually touched by mainstream authors. "These are great, where did you get them?" it was a silly question, and once it got out Dave almost regret it having blurted it out. Balthazar turned to Dave, knowing smile and blue laughing eyes.

"I sort of traveled around for a while."

"They seem… well taken care of."

"They've been hidden for a while." And Balthazar kept scanning. Dave picked a rather thick volume and turned it over; the engravings over the front formed a castle with several tall towers and surrounded by forests… He frowned, recognizing the place but not sure from where, and opened the flap. A collection of essays by Balthazar Blake.

"You wrote these?" Asked Dave utterly surprised, making Balthazar turn and look at the book in his apprentice's hands. A rich laugh left the master.

"Goodness, I have forgotten about those."

"Essays?"

"Some yes, I wanted to write a solid book but could never really sit down to do it. Essays are faster, and easier to finish." Balthazar scanned the book, handed Dave the sticker to be placed over the back flap and continued. Dave placed the book a few piles away, wishing to shrink it and read it, just to see his master's style of writing (or to see if writing he was as good as teaching) and turned back to Balthazar.

"Do you need help?"

"Yes, thank you." And Balthazar handed Dave the scanner and pointed at a pile of books. So Dave scanned, handed the book and the sticker and Balthazar continued classifying however it was he was classifying. Dave turned to look; and saw Balthazar placing the books in a small bookshelf where the book miniaturized and fitted perfectly. "This way we'll have all the information needed at our fingertips."

Dave nodded, picking up another book and scanning. During his time without a ring Balthazar struggled to find information, the way his studio was messy was proof of it, and now that he had the capacity to use magic he was unlocking a world of magical information in these old books. Dave read several titles, promising himself to find and read them later, and struck small talk with Balthazar, who avoided the subject of his travel to the smithy at all cost. But Dave was a curious soul, Balthazar had said it so one, and whenever possible he tried to divert the subject towards the issue.

"Becky told me about Stonehenge."

"Really?" Murmured Balthazar, looking down at the books he had over the dark red cedar desk and fell quiet. Dave swallowed hard, and lowered both his hands (which held scanner and book) and turned to Balthazar.

"Why didn't you take us?" He asked softly, hoping he didn't sound like a petulant child or an angry teenager; he wanted to sound and be what he was: An annoyed apprentice that got left behind while his master had a grand adventure with Becky. Balthazar remained quiet for a moment, in which Dave thought the master would not answer, and then took a deep breath, pulling the leather chair and sitting. He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I thought it would be too dangerous. Considering the fact that Veronica was – is still in recovery from her time in the Grimhold or that…" He looked up at Dave, who wasn't convinced by the words he was trying to conjure up. As a matter of fact the Prime Merlinian didn't even seem to care about a word he was saying. "Alright, I'm trying to lie, forgive me."

"Thank you. For a moment there I thought you were really insulting me."

Balthazar chuckled. "You really are a good apprentice did you know that?"

"I've been told. Thought I rather have you as master, I tried Veronica and she was heartless."

"Yeah, well. She can be harsh when needed. I'm glad me leaving did not detour you from studying."

"Ha, ha!" Produced Dave sarcastically, and then sat over one of the closed boxes.

"I was disappointed at myself, and honestly didn't want you or Veronica to see me fall into deeper… disappointment if I could not find the smithy. Or meet the price for my new ring." Of course by disappointment he meant depression, which he'd been dragging for two months now, yes he'd snapped at them once, yes he'd been beside himself, but it was only a matter of time before they either found a way to find his ring or he killed someone; but to just suddenly leave without a word and… Forget it, Dave, at least he is back and owns a new ring. Dave looked down at his master's new ring, which looked exactly like his old ring but with that shine only new jewelry had.

"It's a nice looking ring." Balthazar looked down at the ring, and then showed took it off handing it to Dave who checked the craftsmanship.

"Thank you."

"What was the price?" Dave returned the gift, and to Balthazar's ears at least sounded like a father wondering how much his son had spent in trivialities. Balthazar frowned at him.

"Becky didn't tell you?"

"No." Balthazar swallowed hard, what made Dave frown.

"Becky's bracelet."