Before The Worst
Chapter Twenty Six
The fall took a strangely long time and it seemed odd to DG that with so many people around there was so much silence.
And then she hit the ground with a sickening thud, the pain exploding in her shoulder as blood spurted down her arm in thick rivers. Fighting the urge to pass out, black dots swirled in the corners of DG's vision and the only thing she could concentrate on was Cain's voice shouting her name.
~*~
Cain had leapt from the carriage before DG had even hit the ground. Everybody stared in horror and then noise exploded as the crowd started to scream and the soldiers began to rush forward. Cain cradled DG to his chest, pressing down hard on the spurting wound and she let out a cry of agony.
And then emerald light shot from the pendant around her neck, twisting and spiking as it shone brightly on a bearded man standing on the rooftop of a nearby building. He was wielding a gun and he froze as the emerald light struck him. In a second the CCP officers began to race into the building as the man leapt to the next building. However there were two young men on the next rooftop and they jumped on the assassin, wrestling him to the ground.
Cain didn't notice, he had lifted DG up, cradling her in his arms. There was a cry and he turned to see Azkadellia rushing towards him.
"DG! My sister, my sister…" She was almost screaming as she saw her little sister lying barely conscious with a steady river of blood dripping to the floor. Raw had appeared by Cain's side and he lay his hands over the wound, but shook his head.
"Too deep. Need help."
"The infirmary isn't far from here, the route goes right past it." Glitch said, but a woman had already fought her way past the guards, waving a medipack. Azkadellia took it from her, pressing layers of gauze to the wound. DG whimpered weakly and the Emerald glowed fiercely.
"Get in the car." Cain shouted and Glitch dove into the driver's seat as Cain carried DG into the back. She had stopped moving now, her face pale and her breathing shallow as she finally gave in to unconsciousness.
~*~
The emergency room of the Central City infirmary was fairly empty, so it was something of a shock when the two princesses, the future consort, royal advisor and the ambassador of the Viewers burst in. The nurses leapt into action when they saw DG, letting Cain lower her onto a trolley, hand still clamped over the sodden gauze.
"What happened?" A nurse asked, measuring the DG's sluggish pulse.
"She was shot." Cain muttered, but the nurse was unfazed as a doctor rushed over, inspecting the wound. The top of DG's shoulder had been blown away, leaving two inch crater in the flesh. Muscle and bone glistened through the spouting blood.
"The bullet is still lodged in her shoulder. We need to get her into the OR." He said and the bed was whisked away, leaving them standing there staring after it.
Azkadellia sank to her knees, shaking. Glitch lowered himself, wrapping her arms around her as she sobbed, clinging him to desperately.
"My DG…" She cried heavily, body wracked with sobs and chest constricted. "My sister!"
Raw was trembling, the emotions of his friends sweeping over him in painful waves and he shrank away from them. A nurse approached Azkadellia, whose hands were sticky with drying blood, and offered her a shallow bowl of soapy water. As Azkadellia scrubbed frantically as the bloods, Glitch turned to Cain, who hadn't moved since DG had been taken away.
"Cain, we need to contact the palace."
"Already done." Said a CCP officer who had followed them in. Several more officers and guards were posted around the room and on the doors. "The Queen and Consort have been informed of the incident and await news of the princesses."
Cain ignored the whole proceeding, staring through the doors that DG had disappeared through. Glitch touched his shoulder tentatively.
"Cain, it's alright."
"It is not alright." Cain said, his voice so quiet it made Glitch step back. "DG was almost killed. How the hell is it alright?"
"She's still alive!" Glitch shot back angrily, tempter flaring. "For Ozma's sake, can't you just be glad that she is alive?"
"It's not good enough, Glitch! This was supposed to safe, she was supposed to be safe!" Cain turned swiftly and shouted into Glitch's face, but the advisor glared back at him.
"Don't yell at me, Cain! The security was gone over a hundred times and-"
"She got shot! What the hell kinda security is that?" Cain said, finger pointing angrily into Glitch's chest, prodding him. Glitch knocked it away and Cain seized the collar of his jacket. Within a second, Glitch's fist had connected with Cain's face. Azkadellia gasped and the nurses looked terrified as Glitch pushed Cain into the desk, knocking files to the ground and spilling a mug of coffee.
"Don't you dare yell at me, Cain! DG's my best friend! You think you're the only one who cares about her?" Glitch shouted, his face twisted in anger.
Cain was silent, face still turned away from his friend. Glitch swallowed his anger and then turned away, walking out of the room, Raw following him. Azkadellia watched him go and then moved over to Cain, turning his head to face her. His eye was already starting to swell, red and sore. He looked at her and she saw the shame, the utter disintegration of his soul as he tried to lower his gaze from hers. She placed her hands on his cheeks, forcing him to look at her.
"Wyatt, I need you to be strong." She whispered, her voice breaking. "Please be strong."
"I can't lose her, Az." He said quietly, voice trembling with emotion. "I can't lose her…"
And then they were hugging, clinging to each other like lifelines whilst the world revolved around them and somewhere in the building the girl both of them loved lay unaware of their anguish.
~*~
DG came out of surgery two hours later. The man who had operated, Doctor Lennox, found Cain, Glitch and Azkadellia in the waiting room, Raw having returned to the palace to recover from the emotional turmoil. They looked up as he appeared, but he sat with them, talking quietly.
"We removed the bullet. She's fortunate, the shot missed the bone. It'll scar, badly I should think, and it'll be very painful for a time. There's a chance of nerve damage in the arm and some limited movement, but all in all… it could have been a lot worse."
"Can we see her?" Azkadellia asked, eyes red from crying, and he nodded.
"She won't wake for some time, probably not until tomorrow morning. But seeing who it is, I'll authorise for someone to stay with her." Doctor Lennox said, standing. He led them to the third floor and into a private room. A CCP officer followed them and was ordered to stand guard at the door.
DG looked so frail, so vulnerable in the large white bed. The room was utterly sterile and featureless and it made Cain feel ill on sight. The regular beeping from the heart monitor did nothing to reassure him as Azkadellia went to the bed and caressed the hair back from her sister's face. DG was pale, her shoulder padded heavily in gauze beneath the limp nightgown she'd been dressed in. Azkadellia turned to the two men.
"We should take turns to stay with her. So she's not alone when she wakes up."
"You should get back to the palace, Azkadellia." Cain said quietly. Azkadellia looked ready to argue but he held up his hands. "Somebody just tried to assassinate the first heir – you're even more of a target. Until we question the assassin, it's not safe for you to be out."
"He's right, Azkadellia." Glitch said quietly. "I'll take you home and I'll come back this evening."
"I don't plan on leaving her." Cain said quietly. Glitch didn't look at him, touching Azkadellia's hand and guiding her from the room. Cain sat in the chair by the side of the bed, noticing that someone had removed the Emerald from around DG's neck and put it on the small table. Cain eyed it for a moment before slipping it into the inside pocket of his jacket.
~*~
Lavender and Ahamo were waiting when Glitch and Azkadellia returned. Lavender let out a quiet cry and went to embrace her daughter.
"Azkadellia…" Ahamo put his arms around both of them and Glitch stood back, a lump in his throat as he observed the family in pain.
"How was she when you left?" Ahamo asked Glitch.
"Still unconscious, but she was out of surgery. The doctor said that there may be some nerve damage, but the bone was intact." He didn't want to say that it could have been worse, because the mere circumstances in which the injury had taken place negated any comfort that the phrase could have brought.
Ahamo turned back to his wife and daughter.
"I'm going to the hospital."
"Cain is there and the room is guarded." Azkadellia said, voice hoarse from sobbing as she looked to her father. "We're safer here."
"We need to find out if that man was sent by someone or if he acted independently." Lavender agreed but Ahamo didn't agree.
"It can wait. Once DG is awake, we can think about that. Besides, I'm sure Cain will want to question him personally."
~*~
It was a long night. DG didn't move, the gentle rise and fall of her chest the only sign that she lived. Cain sat back in the chair by the bed, watching constantly for any sign of consciousness, his swollen eye throbbing. He dared not touch her, his arms folded over his chest as he watched her breathing, the beeping of the heart monitor the only sound in the room. Once or twice a nurse came in to check her vitals, offering him refreshments, which he refused.
He thought back to that moment. She'd been facing away from him, laughing delightedly at the colourful streamers that had been raining down, half raised out of her chair as she leant over the back of the carriage. It had happened so suddenly, the sound of the shot muffled by the noise of the crowd. She'd jerked around as the force of the bullet knocked her, eyes wide in confusion as the fountain of blood had sprayed up the side of her face and she fell backwards.
He hadn't reacted, hadn't realised what had happened and then utter fear rushed through him like a bolt of electricity.
But it wasn't enough to help then. He should have known, should have been watching for danger. Cain ground his teeth angrily, angry with the guards, angry with the police and raging at himself.
He should have saved her.
It was Adora all over again. Only this time he had been here but was equally useless. It seemed that he was never able to save the people he loved.
The first sun was starting to rise, but Cain barely noticed, not even caring that he hadn't slept. He leant forward in his chair, his head in his hands as he groaned heavily. He had not felt pain like this since he'd discovered Adora's grave, the terrible ache in his chest like a heavy weight on his ribs. He felt like he couldn't breathe, like the room was closing on him, like being trapped in that goddamn suit all over again.
"Not her." He muttered. He had never been a religious man but now he prayed desperately. "Please not her."
He couldn't face losing another woman he loved.
A soft noise made him look up. DG's peaceful face has creased into a frown. He reached forward, grasping her hand.
"DG? Can you hear me?" After a moment her eyes opened, peering through half closed lids as though the light was too much. Cain gazed at her, heart in his throat. She squeezed his fingers, closing her eyes again.
"Cain…" Her voice was so quiet that he wasn't sure if he'd imagined it, but then she opened her eyes again, looking at him. "Don't cry."
He hadn't realised that he was but he was suddenly aware of the bittersweet tears in his eyes. He brushed them away swiftly, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it over and over.
"Hey…" She moved the hand to his cheek, frowning as her eyes searched his face. "What happened to your eye?"
Cain let out a half-choked laugh.
"You're lying in an infirmary bed with a bullet wound in the shoulder and you want to know why I have a black eye? Priorities, sweetheart."
She smiled and shifted, wincing as pain blossomed in her shoulder. She let out a moan and Cain grimaced.
"I'll find a doctor."
"Wait." She shook her head and reached for his hand again, clinging to his fingers. Cain froze and felt the damn tears swelling again. DG looked on the edge of tears herself.
"Cain, what's wrong?"
"… I thought I lost you." He croaked, his fingers twitching around hers. With a pained moan, DG forced herself into a sitting position and Cain leant into her, his face pressed against her neck. DG put her mobile arm around him, pressing her lips to his head as he breathed heavily. Even in her dazed state she knew what he was thinking, how he must have felt watching her fall.
Adora…
"I'm not leaving you." She whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I'll never leave you."
He lifted his head, his face pushed against hers, the damp of their tears mingling.
"I'll never leave you." She said again, kissing his wet cheek, the roughness of his stubble reassuringly solid beneath her touch.
After a few minutes the door opened and Doctor Lennox came in. To Cain's relief, he pretended to examine DG's chart as Cain wiped his face and DG lowered herself back onto to the bed.
"Princess, I'm Doctor Lennox." The medic said kindly. "How are you feeling?"
"I got shot, doc. I'm not feeling great." She said dryly and Cain forced back a smile. Doctor Lennox smiled, replacing her chart in the rack at the end of the bed.
"I'll send a nurse in to change the bandages. The wound is deep and it's going to be a painful recovery." He said, "You'll have limited use in your right arm for the next few weeks and even then you'll have difficulty."
"Believe me, Doctor, this is not the worst thing that's happened to me." DG said, closing her eyes. She felt drained and Cain clasped her hand again, running his thumb over the top of her fingers. Doctor Lennox smiled at her again as a nurse came in with a syringe of painkillers.
"We'd like to keep you in for a few more days. I understand that you have Viewer in your company, if he agrees to assist the healing process, we could have you out of here by the weekend."
"He'll do it." Cain confirmed. DG was half asleep again, the injection working quickly.
"You should go and sleep." She mumbled tiredly. Cain shook his head.
"Not leaving you, sweetheart."
"Go and sleep." She insisted as the door opened and Glitch appeared. "Hey Glitchy."
"Glitchy?" He looked confused and Doctor Lennox chuckled.
"The medication she's on can lower inhibitions a tad, she's probably not aware that she's even talking."
"I see." Glitch said, turning to the bed and smiling at the semi-conscious princess.
"How are you doing, Sweetpea?"
"My arm kinda hurts." DG yawned and Glitch kissed her forehead briefly.
"I know. Don't worry, you'll be home soon enough. Azkadellia's missing you."
"Better be looking after her, Glitchy. She loves you." DG slurred, burying her face in the sheets. Glitch flushed as Cain smirked at him.
"I, uh… yes. Cain, if you want to go back to the palace and get some rest…"
"I'm not leaving."
"Yes he is." DG interrupted. Cain squeezed her hand but she frowned. "I'm fine, sweetie… go be sleeped."
"Ahamo wants you to interrogate the assassin." Glitch said quietly as the doctor left. Cain's expression tightened.
"Go yell at him, Cain." DG said quietly. "You like yellin' at people."
"She's got a point." Glitch said and DG yawned again, consciousness finally slipping away.
"Go yell, baby. Son of a bitch shot me. He deserves to be yelled at." She murmured before falling into slumber.
~*~
Ahamo was in his study when Cain got back to the palace, fighting his way through a crowd of reporters who wanted the latest news on DG. Cain had ignored them. Ahamo looked up anxiously but Cain nodded.
"She woke up just after sunrise."
"How is she?"
"In pain, not that she'd admit it. Eager to come home. The doc wants Raw to head to the hospital and see what he can do."
"I'll ask him." Ahamo said, pacing around his desk to stand opposite the Tin Man. "I'm assuming Ambrose asked you about the interrogation?"
"Where is he?"
"In the Spire prison."
"I'll go now." Cain said and when Ahamo made to object, he raised a hand. "Consort, I want to find out why that bastard shot your daughter, shot my fiancée. Nothing you say is going to stop me."
Ahamo merely looked at him and then gave a single nod.
"Take Raw with you. He may able to read him, find out the truth."
~*~
Raw was nervous as he sat in the interrogation room. Cain's tenseness was seeping into him, making him anxious. He eyed the Tin Man.
"Cain should be calm." He said and Cain looked ready to argue. But when he saw the pressure he was placing on the Viewer he took a deep breathe.
"Sorry, furball. I just want to get my hands on this guy…"
"Must not attack. Not until we know everything."
"I know, I…" Cain pursed his lips, his face tightening. Raw tapped his hands on the table.
"Sad DG is hurt. All sad."
Cain knew what he meant. He was by no means the only person suffering because of DG's attack. He hadn't seen Azkadellia yet, but she was closer to DG than anyone else in the world. Glitch had been DG's first friend in the O.Z. and she was so attached to Raw, not to mention her parents.
The door opened and a dark haired, bearded man was led in, handcuffed and accompanied by two guards as well as Jeb, who looked bitterly at the man.
"He's all yours, Dad." Jeb said, leaning against the wall. Clearly he had no intention of leaving, as the assassin was handcuffed to the chair opposite Raw. The man barely reacted to being treated this way, his gaze coolly on Cain. The guards left, standing outside the door as the three men turned to the assassin. Cain looked down at him from the other side of the table.
"Why did you try to kill the princess?"
The man smirked, settling back in the uncomfortable chair. He didn't reply. A nerve twitched in Cain's jaw.
"Did somebody send you or are you acting alone?" He asked, his voice surprisingly calm.
Still no reply. What little patience Cain had was wearing thin. He pulled his gun from its holster and held it to the man's forehead, but he didn't react.
"Listen to me, you fucking son of a bitch." Cain hissed, leaning towards the man, resisting the urge to pull the trigger. "All I want to do is blow your goddamn brains out and I wouldn't think twice about doing it. Unless you want that to happen, I suggest you start talking."
He flipped the gun and whacked the handle against the man's temple. The assassin grunted in pain as blood smeared across his face, glaring up at the Tin Man. Jeb put a hand on his father's arm.
"Let Raw do his work. You want to kill him after that… I don't think there's a soul in the Zone that would have a problem with it."
The assassin finally seemed to take notice as Raw moved behind him. He sat up and twisted around.
"What are you-" He started but jolted as Raw's hands held his head firmly in place. Both men shook violently as Raw tentatively entered his mind, sifting through layers of thoughts and memories until he found the relevant ones.
After a moment Raw ripped his hands from the assassin's head, hissing as though he had been burned by what he had found there. Cain and Jeb both looked at him in concern.
"You alright, Raw?" Jeb asked, but the Viewer was staring down at the assassin as though he had never seen anything so repulsive in his life. Cain folded his arms across his chest, the gun still tight in his hand and he tried not to start as he felt the Emerald in his pocket shiver slightly.
Raw stepped back from the assassin and looked straight at Cain.
"McKinnon."
A/N: Some language in this one. Don't usually do naughty words, but when the occasion calls! Angry Cain is awesome. Plus, I like the moment between him and Azkadellia. It's an interesting relationship, since the only common factor that they really have is DG, so I figured their dependence on each other in this chapter would be a likely result.
I've never had serious surgery, but I've had friends/family that have occasionally gone a bit babbly under anaesthetic. Personally, antihistamines drive me bonkers. I have a tendency to turn into a zombie and sent some very odd text messages that I don't recall writing. My sister finds it hilarious.
Thank you for all the lovely reviews! I love getting reactions like that! Cliffhangers are great for making people go "OMG, what the hell?!" which I find very amusing!
Lots of Love
Katie