Okay here is chapter 3. I hope you all enjoy it and please remember to review and thank you to all those that have reviewed. This part picks up in the present and then returns to the flashback….. you'll be able to tell whereg.
Darryl came back to himself as he heard Cam come running down the hallway. He called out to her as she passed by the couch he had finally sat himself down on and watched her hit the brakes, chuckling a little at the sight she made. She looked 16 years old max but she was in reality more like 100 years old, which he had come to find out in demon time frames makes you still pretty much a kid. Darryl quickly sobered though as he felt a jab in his right hip and Cole's image flashed through his mind's eye. An unconscious Cole had been the one who had just gotten stuck with a needle in the hip but Darryl still felt the pain from it, the Bond between the two men having become very strong over time. He glared at the door as he absently rubbed his hip, the very door that was standing between him and his friend. His eyes darted to the clock above said door, noting with impatience as the clock told him that it had only been twenty minutes since a he had allowed a Charmed One to freeze his friend. He felt his guilt rise up but he also found his anger rising up as well, anger at the girls for their actions. Cam's voice brought his head back around to face her.
"Hey Darryl, and do I even need to say it." Cam smirked at Darryl as he turned what Cole had come to call 'the death glare' on her. This look could easily place one six feet under the daisies, assuming one was actually afraid of Darryl. Now since Cam had no reason to fear him, after all she wasn't even near Cole, she simply shook her head and smiled as she sat down next to him. "Darryl, holster the look because I am not afraid of you and you know it." She watched as Darryl scowled at her before returning his eyes to the door, his face quickly becoming worried filled once again. Cam rolled her eyes and looked around as she realized that Anita and Julianna weren't anywhere to be seen. Since Anita was Darryl's fiancé and Julianna was Cole's fiancé she found it odd that they weren't there. "Hey Darryl, where are the twins? I would have thought that they would have been here by now."
"They would have been except they don't trust the Charmed Ones." He couldn't help but smile as he thought about their fiancé's. Cam's next question actual made him chuckle a little.
"I thought Simmons was keeping an eye on the Charmed Ones?" The question was innocent enough she simply forget of whom she was speaking.
"He is." Darryl knew the twins trusted Simmons but he also knew how livid they were right now and since they knew that there was nothing they could do here at the hospital, here and now only Darryl was physically needed at the moment, they decided to keep on eye on the enemy. He shook his head as he realized what he had just thought but somehow he knew it was the truth and he knew that that truth also hurt his partner and he couldn't help but feel that it was just simply one more thing in Cole's life that was unfair. He found himself scowling as he turned his attention back to the doors.
Cam hated seeing Darryl like this but she also knew that there was nothing she could do about it. The only person who could help Darryl right now was on the other side of the very door that he was trying to burn a hole through with his glare. Sighing she decided to give it a try anyway. "Darryl, he's going to be fine, you know that so please stop trying to burn a hole through the door. It is just a door." The look she got stopped her cold. She knew Darryl would be sensitive after having come face to face with the Charmed Ones a mere half hour ago but she hadn't realized to what extent until this very moment. His eyes held a mixture of pain, worry, and hatred. She knew the pain and worry were for his partner but the depth of hatred she saw for the Charmed Ones was somewhat unexpected. The girls had once been his friends, very good friends but right now they were the enemy to him. They had hurt Cole tonight, again and apparently this time he wasn't simply planning on letting it go. "Darryl." Her voice held a warning but she knew he wouldn't heed it anyway. Only Cole would be able to get through to him now. Unfortunately Cole wouldn't be able to help Darryl for at least another seven hours and sitting here knowing that she couldn't help him was simply making her angry. As she didn't want her anger to get the better of her, lest the Charmed Ones meet with an accident, she decided to go and help the one person she could help right now, that being Cole.
"I know this isn't going to go over very well but try and relax." Cam looked down at Darryl as she stood up, preparing to head through the very doors that had been earning Darryl's glares.
Darryl looked up and offered her a small smile. He knew Cam was only trying to help and he simply couldn't find fault with her for that, but when it came to the Bond he shared with Cole there were things that no one except Cole, Dr. B, and himself knew about. It wasn't that they didn't trust Cam or Simmons, both of whom were excellent watch-dogs and friends, but there were those that would do anything to gain knowledge about the Bond and the less people that knew the safer everyone was. Knowing that Cam also needed to feel useful in helping Cole he shooed her towards the door.
"Go on Cam. I'll be all right, really. Cole is the one that needs you now and after all you are Dr. B's number one medical assistant and I know I would feel better with you in there with them so please, just go to him." Darryl watched her watch him for a few beats before finally turning and disappearing through the doors. He really did feel better with Cam helping Dr. B work on stabilizing his partner. Letting out a deep breath he collapsed back on the couch and closed his eyes, looking inward for his friend. He had felt the Bond flare up as the wall Cole had put up in his attempt to protect him had come crumbling down. Absently he noted that the wall barely lasted 25 minutes this time and a chuckle found it's way past his lips as he realized that the Bond was growing stronger, shortening greatly the length of time the wall could last. Soon he knew, as well as Cole did, that they wouldn't be able to call forth a wall at all… soon the Bond would be complete and in this both he and Cole were content.
After looking for only a few seconds he easily found him. He wanted to be upset with him but he just couldn't. When he had seen Piper about to freeze Cole he felt Cole throw up the wall between them, dampening the Bond. He knew why Cole had done it, if he hadn't Darryl might very well have found himself frozen as well and Gods only knew what would have happened then. As much as he was Cole's Guardian so Cole was his Guardian as well, much to the amusement of Dr. B. She knew this wasn't how it was supposed to be but she also seemed to understand that there would be no changing this fact.
As he approached Cole on the Dreamscape he could feel Cole's fear coming at him in waves. It was moments like this that he wished that things could be different for Cole and himself, that they could simply be two friends sharing their life and having some fun, but that was not to be so they simply had to make the best of what they had. He sat down next to Cole and wasn't surprised in the least when his friend failed to acknowledge his presence, he knew Cole was concentrating all of himself on remaining calm. Well as calm as he could be given the loss of control he was experiencing. Whenever there was bleeding from Cole's ear, Darryl knew that there was swelling around the bullet and that the swelling effectively cut off his friends motor functions such as breathing. Right now, in the outside world Dr. B was taking steps to reduce the swelling, hence the shot in the hip he had felt earlier. However, until the swelling was reduced Cole wouldn't even be able to breath on his own so for the next six hours at least he would be placed on a ventilator that would do his breathing for him. Darryl also knew that Dr. B would keep Cole heavily sedated until he could once again breath on his own, only waking him when it was time to remove the ET tube. Cole's nightmarish experience in the operating room the night he was shot was always in the forefront of her mind during these episodes and for that Darryl was grateful.
When Darryl put his arm around his friends shoulders Cole immediately sought the comfort and safety he knew was being offered to him. Darryl leaned against the wall that Cole had been leaning on, having stopped bothering a long time ago trying to figure out how walls appeared out of no where on the Dreamscape, he simply accepted the wall he now leaned against as fact. After stretching his legs out in front of him, he gently guided Cole's head down to rest on his lap, and as always the image of a puppy burrowing for warmth popped into his mind as Cole snuggled down against his right leg. He gently began to rub circles on Cole's back, knowing that this simple gesture meant the world to his frightened friend. As he did this he let his mind wander back to the events of eleven months ago, safe in the knowledge that he would return to himself when he heard Dr. B come to fetch him. He would briefly leave his friend on the Dreamscape then, but only long enough to join Cole's physical body in their regular room. Once there he would immediately return as he was unwilling to leave his friend alone for long.
A smile formed on his lips as his next clear memory of the events of eleven months ago came into focus for him.
Flashback
Darryl woke to sunlight streaming across his face, sunlight that hadn't been there a moment ago. Opening his eyes he saw Dr. Blackwell pulling the curtains back from the window across the room, effectively making it morning.
"Hello Darryl." Her voice was light and she had a smile on her lips as she walked back over to the bed.
"Good morning Dr. Blackwell."
"Please Darryl, just call me Dr. B. Dr. Blackwell sounds too formal and is too long anyway and for your information it is not morning it is afternoon. Both of you boys have slept through breakfast but I can't let you sleep through lunch as well, especially this one here. He needs to eat to get his strength back." Dr. B gently brushed the hair from Cole's forehead as she spoke while leaning on the guardrail that was still locked in place.
"Dr. B it is then and just what time is it because I am so not believing that clock this time." He had looked to the clock on the wall while she spoke but he just couldn't see how he could have slept till 2 in the afternoon. The fact that Cole hadn't woken up once, though he did remember some whimpering occasionally, could easily be explained by the second sedative she had given his friend in the wee hours of the morning. How he had slept this late was another story because he never slept this late, ever. Her voice brought him up short though.
"Believe it because it is telling you the truth." She had to laugh at the look on his face. "Darryl, you suffered an emotional trauma last night… now just wait and listen," she said, holding up her hand to forestall his comments from his now open mouth. "You nearly lost your friend here last night to a bullet, a bullet that was aimed at you and don't ask how I know that just yet because I shall explain all shortly. Now add to this Cole's nightmares and what I told you last night, or should I say early this morning about what happened to him the operating room… well is it any wonder that you were exhausted." She simply stood there watching him as he took stock of what she had just told him.
Darryl knew that she knew things that she shouldn't but he just couldn't bring himself to be worried about it, instead he found himself looking at her, really looking at her. He took in her slightly longer than shoulder length raven black hair, her taller than average height, her facial bone structure, and finally her intense and brilliant blue eyes. What he saw made him freeze on the spot and pull Cole even closer to him if that were possible. When she smiled though he found himself relaxing a little and he didn't even know why. When she spoke he also took close note of her voice and her rather slightly bizarre accent, an accent he had only ever heard once before and that was from the man that was asleep in his arms.
"I see you have made some form of connection already Darryl and I can assure you that you have nothing to fear from me and Cole is perfectly safe as well. Now as for who I am I think I'll let this little guy right here tell you, as soon as I wake him up of course." Dr. B knew that Darryl was a little uneasy at the moment but she also found this to be comforting because that meant that the time had come, Cole's time had come because he had finally found his true Guardian. Now all she had to do was convince Cole and Darryl of their joined Destiny. She found a heavy sigh on her lips at this prospect for she knew that easy it was not going to be.
Shaking herself a little she bent down over the guardrail, putting her lips close to Cole's ear. "Hey sleepyhead, time to wake up. Time to get up now little one." The mantra was repeated a few times before she got any reaction at all, when she finally did get a reaction though she found herself having to clamp down on her laughter, which threatened to explode. The look on Darryl's face was priceless.
"Don't wanna go ta training today Grams." Cole hadn't woken up really but he still responded to the familiar voice, one that, if he had thought about it for a moment he would have realized that it shouldn't have been there in the first place. Instead however, he simply snuggled down against Darryl again and stayed asleep.
"Grams?" was all Darryl could utter as he watched Dr. B fight with her own laughter at Cole's words.
"I'm sorry Darryl but I figured it would be more believable coming from him than from me. From the look on your face I made the right choice too." Dr. B laughed as she watched Darryl's eyes turn into huge saucers and his mouth do an impersonation of a fish out of water. "Now before you have a fit I am his paternal Grandmother. Benjamin Turner was my son." As she watched him digest this new piece of information she carefully began to shake Cole a little, trying to wake him. "Come on Cole, it's time to get up so let's rise and shine." Since she didn't want to alarm Cole she was being very careful in how she went about trying to wake him. When she could see that this wasn't going to work she did the only thing that she knew would do the trick. "Hey little kitten time to get up." This time she got a response.
"I'm up, I'm up." Cole sat straight up in bed as he instinctively reacted to the phrase 'little kitten'. He knew only one person who called him that; it was one of their secret ways of identifying each other to each other. He was barely upright when a wave of dizziness hit him and he swayed, collapsing backwards and right into Darryl's waiting arms. "Whoa, head rush." He mumbled as he tried to get his bearings. When he looked up and found himself face to face with someone he hadn't seen in the flesh for longer then he cared to remember, he shook his head as if to see if the image before him would simply disappear and quickly realized that that was a bad move. "Ow and not a smart move." He jumped a little when heard a voice near his ear.
"You can say that again my friend." Darryl couldn't help but smile as he said it. He knew that there really wasn't much to smile about right now but he had learned long ago to smile whenever you got the chance because you never knew when you'd get another, or if you'd get another. As Cole turned in his arms his friend brought his eyes up to meet his. Darryl saw first confusion and then worry enter the blue eyes that were now focused on him.
"Darryl? What are you… why are you here?" Cole hadn't meant it the way it sounded but he was still a bit confused as to what exactly was going on. His mind was slowly filling in the blanks though. He remembered the call they had received, arriving at the scene, and Darryl being upset when they found out that the suspect had escaped. He remembered seeing the suspect raise the gun and aim at Darryl and his own mad dash to push Darryl out of the way. The sound of the shot splitting the night air and then pain, an exploding pain inside his skull right before the darkness found him. He concentrated though on the split second before he had fallen into the darkness, on the look he remembered seeing on his friend's face. Worry was what he had seen, and what he was seeing right now as he looked into Darryl's eyes. Suddenly he felt even worse about what he had just said. "I'm sorry Darryl, I didn't mean to sound… I mean I didn't…" Cole's voice simply trailed off as a wave of resignation passed over him. Looking down he tried to push himself upright, push himself away from Darryl whom he had been leaning on. His emotions made him feel like he was on a roller coaster, as his happiness at seeing Darryl became worry for Darryl and then to confusion as he wondered why Darryl was even still there and then finally to regret as he realized how his words had probably sounded to his friend, his only friend. "Sorry." He said again, never looking Darryl in the eye. He knew it was cowardly but he just couldn't bring himself to do it, suddenly very afraid of what he might see there like rejection. Assuming his friend was going to want to leave immediately, especially after what he had just said, he found himself surprised when Darryl's arm came across his chest, pulling him back so he was once again resting against him. It wasn't until he heard Darryl's words though that he began to relax.
Cole's first words were exactly what Darryl had expected. He smiled inwardly as he realized how well he had come to know his friend, how he came to be able to read the look in his eyes as well as his body language. Right now he could sense Cole's worry that he had said something wrong, something that would cause him to leave. He knew his friend's fear of being left alone would follow quickly and his fear of rejection as well. As he felt Cole begin to try and force himself into a sitting position, trying to push away from him he knew it was because Cole thought he was simply going to want to get up and leave now that he was awake. Once again he reacted instinctively and carefully wrapped his arm around his friend's upper chest and pulled him back to once again lean comfortably up against him. "Hey there my friend did I say I was going anywhere? No because I'm not and I'm here because I want to be. I am your friend and just for the record I plan on being here for the whole ride. I meant what I said last night about not going anywhere. You are no longer alone Cole and you never will be again, not as long as I'm alive anyway." He could feel it as Cole began to accept what he was saying, as he began to lean into him all on his own. He knew Cole's mind was continuing to replay the events that he could remember from last night, it was only natural as he tried to put all of the pieces back together. He felt Cole tense once again; only this time he simply stopped breathing as well. Before he could even begin to panic though Dr. B reached over and grabbed either side of Cole's face forcing his head up bringing his eyes level with hers.
"Cole. Cole." When she got no response from him she decided to switch to another language, one that she was sure would get through to him but just to be on the safe side she flared up the link she had with him as well.
Darryl watched as Dr. B tried to get through to Cole but got no reaction. Just as he was beginning to panic her eyes turned a solid deep purple and just as they began to softly glow he felt a tickling inside his head. Not knowing exactly what was going on he simply continued to hold his friend as if he could somehow just call him back from where ever he had run to.
As she was about to call to Cole he suddenly started breathing again. She knew she hadn't done it and as she withdrew from their shared link she felt something, or rather someone. Quickly she looked over Cole's shoulder at Darryl and what she saw surprised her. She hadn't changed her eyes back so she was still looking through their magic, what she saw was a connection, one between Darryl and Cole. Briefly she wondered where it had come from knowing it shouldn't even exist, not yet anyway. When she stood up, letting go of Cole's face, she just continued to watch. What she witnessed was nothing short of amazing and when she considered her age and past that was saying something.
Darryl could have sworn he heard Cole call his name but he couldn't have, he hadn't even started breathing again yet. Not bothering to question this he responded to his friend's plea, calling out to Cole. When he did he realized he hadn't made a sound, but somehow he sensed Cole, felt him moving closer to him. He had been around magic long enough to know when something magic like was going on and since his friend was a magical creature, as he liked to think of Cole, he simply decided to go with it. As he continued to call to his friend, Cole continued to move closer to him until all of a sudden he felt the body in his arms give a start and Cole took his first breath. He was so relieved that he didn't notice the look Dr. B was giving him as she stood up, his attention entirely focused on Cole as his friend started to shake as well as breath. He suddenly had a feeling he knew what memory had triggered Cole's reaction and he knew what he had to do. Pushing himself into a more stable upright position he pulled Cole towards himself and practically into his lap at the same time. He didn't care if they looked silly or not like this, all that mattered was that he was in a better position to offer his friend comfort.
As he started to gently rub Cole's arm, his back being inaccessible at the moment, he also began to speak gently to him, keeping his voice calm and even.
"Take it easy. You're safe, you're in you're room and you're safe. Just relax. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. That's it just relax and breath. You're safe." Darryl simply kept repeating the words as he rubbed Cole's arm in a soothing motion. Cole finally began to settle down, his shaking beginning to subside and as he relaxed he leaned into Darryl just a little bit more as if seeking the comfort that his friend was offering to him. Darryl smiled at this and began to relax himself, his own fear ebbing away with Cole's. He heaved an exasperated sigh though as Cole finally was calm enough to speak. What came out of his mouth though was a word that Darryl was already tired of hearing from Cole and he was going to start to do something about it right now.
"Sorry." Cole said, even though he never even tried to move away from Darryl this time. Darryl apparently however took exception to his choice of word for the next thing he knew he was getting a stern albeit short little lecture.
"Okay. Since we will now be living under the same roof I am setting the first ground rule. Think of it as a future argument preventative. The use of the word 'sorry' will henceforth be limited to such times as when someone has actually done something wrong. It shall not be used for any other reason or at any other time. Failure to comply with this ground rule will result in the offender receiving two weeks of double household chores. Is this ground rule understood?" Darryl had meant for Cole to both understand that he had nothing to be sorry for and to relax. When he felt Cole chuckle he found himself smiling as well. "Understood?" he repeated wanting Cole to realize that he was serious as well about this ground rule.
"Understood." Cole chuckled again as he found himself relaxing even more. It didn't matter that he was using Darryl as a pillow, it only mattered that his friend was offering him comfort, comfort that he willingly sought and accepted. He was afraid and the appearance of his Grams did not necessarily bode well. Oh he loved his Grams, no question, it was just that sometimes she brought bad news with her. When he looked up at her face he noticed that her eyes hadn't changed back yet and she was looking at them with a rather intense look. "Grams?"
Dr. B shook herself a little and quickly changed her eyes back as a nurse chose that moment to come in. The look on the nurse's face as she stopped in her tracks halfway across the room had her biting the inside of her lip to hold back her laughter. The nurse simply stood there staring at the boys who hadn't bothered to move in the least. Okay, they did turn their heads in her direction but that was the extent of their movement, other than that they simply laid there. The nurse opened and closed her mouth a few times but made no sound. Just as Dr. B was about to move towards her the door opened again and this time Officer Simmons strode in. When he saw the nurse he looked to Dr. B.
"Uhm, boss. Never mind I can tell." Simmons walked up to the nurse and took her by the elbow, pointing her back towards the door. "This way Nurse… Cratchett." He almost didn't believe it when he read it on her name badge. "You are obviously in the wrong room so why don't you just run along now." Just as he was about to get her out of the room she seemed to shake herself out of her shock, much to Simmons' dismay.
"Remove your hand now Officer." The look that accompanied these words would have feld a lesser man but Simmons simply removed his hand, he never moved back. "Now as for you Dr. Blackwell. I don't know what you are doing in here but Dr. Stevenson is going to hear about it. Mr. Turner is Dr. Stevenson's patient and his condition is delicate, too delicate for you to be jeopardizing it with your games. I don't know who the other gentleman is but Dr. Stevenson will quickly see to his removal from this room as well as yours. As for you Mr. Turner I shall be back momentarily to give you your medication." With these words she swept out of the room, her nose turned up as if in response to a bad smell.
Darryl was caught between laughter and fear. Nurse Cratchett was right out of a bad movie and he had found himself beginning to smile at her prim and oh so proper attitude, until she spoke of having him removed from the room, then his smile died as he unconsciously tightened his hold on Cole. He turned his gaze back to Dr. B just as Cole did when they heard her moaning.
"That… person is just so lucky that I don't just… oh but I would just like to." Dr. B scowled at Simmons who stood there snickering. "And you just shut it my friend."
"Grams?" Cole wasn't sure what was going on but he didn't like the idea of this Dr. Stevenson and he most certainly did not like the idea of Nurse Cratchett. He felt Darryl's arm tighten its hold on him and he knew his friend felt the same way as he did. "Grams, please tell me that she is NOT my nurse. Please." He shuddered at the mere thought.
"Yes Dr. B, please tell me I am NOT going to have to deal with the Wicked Nurse Of The North. Please." Darryl felt Cole shaking against him and almost started to worry again until Cole laid his dark head back against his shoulder and Darryl saw the smile on his lips.
"Wicked Nurse Of The North?" Cole continued to snicker and soon Darryl joined him, as did Simmons and Dr. B. They were still at it when the door opened again and in walked said Wicked Nurse Of The North. Their laughter died soon there after though.
"All right now. Mr. Whoever you are please remove yourself from the bed and Mr. Turner would you please lay down and roll on to your right side. It is time for your medication." Nurse Cratchett had placed a metal tray that she had brought with her onto the rolling food tray that was by the door. By the time she had finished issuing her orders she had moved it to within a few feet of the bed, leaving enough room for Darryl to get off the bed. She picked up the syringe she planned on using and turned to face the boys. "Now sir. Move. I have to give Mr. Turner his medication."
Both boys took one look at the needle and all one could hear were two little 'eeep' sounds coming from them as Cole scrambled off Darryl only to try and hide behind him.
"That….. that…… is not a needle. That is a torture device and you, Wicked Nurse Of The North, are not coming near me with it so get lost." Cole stayed behind Darryl, keeping his friend between him and the needle, one that had to be at least a good 3 inches long.
"Mr. Turner, I have a schedule to keep so stop acting like a child and take your medicine." Nurse Cratchett stood with her hand on her hip, waiting for Darryl to move. When he didn't she simply started to walk around the bed. Darryl turned to keep her in his line of sight but thankfully Simmons moved to intercept her as well as Dr. B.
"Mr. Turner does not need." Dr. B never finished as the door opened once again and this time an older gentleman entered.
"Nurse Cratchett. May I see you for a moment." Dr. Stevenson was an older gentleman with white hair and a white mustache with a lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck.
"Yes Dr. Stevenson." Nurse Cratchett complied after giving both boys one more very stern look. As she walked over to where Dr. Stevenson was waiting for her all eyes followed her.
They couldn't hear what was being said but it was clear the she wasn't liking it at all. After about 3 minutes she huffed her way over to pick up her tray and with one last disdainful glance she left the room. Cole rested his forehead on Darryl's back as he sighed with relief.
"Thank Gods she is finally gone." The relief was plain to hear in Cole's voice as he stretched his leg out, a cramp having begun to form in his calf. He felt his Grams move up behind him but he didn't even give it a thought. The next thing he knew he felt a serious jab in his rear end making him jump as he did he pushed Darryl forward and he had to grab the guardrail so he didn't hit it face first. "Grams." Cole whined as he rubbed his offended anatomy. He slapped Darryl on the back as he heard him snickering.
"Hey it could have been worse. It could have been." Darryl barely got it out past his chuckles.
"Don't even think it." Cole shuddered at the mere thought. "Don't ever think it."
"You are not the first patient to hide from her son. Heck, most of us Doctors tend to run in the other direction when we see her coming our way." Dr. Stevenson chuckled as he walked over to Darryl's side of the bed. "Wicked Witch Of The North. I shall have to remember that one Inspector."
"As long as she doesn't find out where it originated from." Darryl's embarrassment was plain to hear in his voice. "Then again," he said, turning a mischievous grin behind him, "I'm not the one who called her that just a minute ago." His grin never left his face as Cole groaned, resting his forehead against Darryl's back once again. Darryl was enjoying watching his friend relax because he was positive it wasn't going to last.
"Don't worry son, I'm sure Raven will make sure that you are safe from her. After all she could just turn her into Stuart Little again. Oh and here is the card key and don't worry I have already destroyed all others, this is the only one left." As he passed the card key to her over the bed he took a good look at Cole. He hadn't seen him in years, not since he was a child himself but where as he had white hair now Cole remained just as he looked when he had addressed him as Uncle Cole. He saw Darryl watching him as he studied Cole and what he saw in Darryl's eyes put his mind a little more at ease. The Inspector's eyes plainly said 'I don't know you so keep your distance from him'. Dr. B's voice brought his gaze back to her.
"Thank you Tim. I owe you one." Her knowing smile told him that she had also been watching him watch Cole.
"You owe me a dance for that one and a song for the password."
"Which is?" She knew he was a prankster, after all he had learned from one of the best, his Uncle Cole. She could tell he hadn't recognized Tim yet but eventually he would, she just hoped that it wasn't until after she had explained everything to him and Darryl as it would be much easier for Darryl to understand later on.
"Stuart Little." He waited for the reaction he wanted and he got it. He heard Simmons snickering behind him as Raven growled in front of him and the boys in the bed simply looked at each other and then to Raven.
"Stuart Little? As in the movie mouse Stuart Little?" Darryl asked no one in particular but his answer came from Dr. Stevenson.
"Yes as in the mouse in the movie. The little white mouse in the movie." The smile on his lips was also in his voice and it made the snickering behind him grow louder.
"I am never going to here the end of that am I? One little mouse spell and I'm branded for life is that it?" Dr. B's heavy sigh was met with stares from the boys and more snickers from Simmons. "Oh and you just shush."
"Okay this one I have to hear. What did you do and to whom did you do it?" There was a smile on Cole's lips as he asked his Grams about the mouse spell and he felt all right for the moment. He knew it wouldn't last, he knew the fear would return but as long as he kept his mind busy he could hold off the fear…… at least for a little while anyway. As his Grams simply grumbled and crossed her arms he turned to Dr. Stevenson instead. As he looked up at the Doctor's face he thought he recognized something about his eyes but he just couldn't put his finger on it. He gave up trying as Dr. Stevenson explained.
"Nurse Cratchett doesn't like Raven and would like nothing more than to have her privileges here revoked. The feeling is mutual in case you hadn't guessed and Raven… well she annoyed Raven one day so Raven changed her into Stuart Little and dropped her off at one of the testing labs for the day. The result was… unique to say the least."
"You can say that again, Doc." Simmons had passed snickering and moved to straightforward laughter by now.
"Hey how was I supposed to know that they were going to be testing that new fertility drug that day or that the side effect was increased sex drive in the test subject for a 7 day period. I mean even the lab didn't know about that at the time." Dr. B tried to look wounded and offended at the same time, then switched to innocent but that worked even less. "Well I didn't."
Simmons had walked over to the little group and the look on his face told them that there was a little more to the story and since Cole was already having so much fun he asked again. "Uhm… increased sex drive? You can't just say that and not explain it Grams so spill."
Both boys had their eyes glued to her and she decided that if it kept Cole's mind away from his fear for the moment she had no problem embarrassing herself. After all it was for the best cause, her grandson's health.
"Apparently the fertility drug would increase the sex drive as a side effect and when I changed her back she…… well she went after anything male for the next 7 days." Her try for innocent was again met with non-belief. She noted, however, the gleam come into her grandson's eyes, as well as Darryl's, when they caught Simmons brief, yet very noticeable shudder.
"Um, Officer Simmons, pray tell do we have first hand knowledge of this incident?" Cole had easily slipped into his ADA voice as he asked the question he knew was also on Darryl's mind.
Dr. Stevenson watched as Cole made Simmons squirm and Darryl laugh, he was relieved to see the tension drain away from Darryl as he laughed along with Cole. Looking over he noticed Raven also relaxing as she too smiled at their antics. After taking a moment to simply enjoy the boys laughter he knew it was time to leave.
"Well, as much as I am enjoying myself here, I have rounds to finish." He had started to turn, heading for the door when Raven called to him.
"Tim." She quickly and magically made a duplicate of the card key that he had handed her and tossed it to him. "This one is yours. We may need you at some point and this way you can check up on him on your own." As she spoke she noticed Cole once again looking at Tim and she saw the exact moment he made the connection. He quickly spun around to look at her and she saw his eyes start to close. "Cole." As she called out his name Darryl once again grabbed him from behind and pulled him back just before his head would have connected with the metal guardrail. She looked back to Tim as she placed her hand on Cole's forehead and frowned when she felt how hot he had become.
"Raven, I suggest that you get them to their room quickly and you do it the normal way. Nurse Cratchett will be lurking around here somewhere and if you disappear with them she will raise questions. Are you going to need help or?"
"Thank you but no. Darryl, Simmons, and I will be able to handle it. You had better get back to your rounds though; we wouldn't want you to get in trouble with her as well. And thank you again Tim." She could tell that Tim was worried about Cole but she also knew that they couldn't risk anyone finding out about Tim and his connection to them. "He'll be all right Tim, I promise." She smiled as finally turned to leave but not before carefully placing the card key she had given him on a chain that hung around his neck using the ready made hole in the card to secure it to the chain. Tim had barely left the room before she turned all of her attention back to her grandson.
"Dr. B, what's wrong? My God he's burning up." Darryl had begun to feel the heat radiating from Cole right through his friends PJ top. The worry was plain to hear in his voice as he carefully laid Cole's head back down on his pillow. His worry wasn't eased at all when Cole opened his eyes, they were glazed and unfocused, they were fever eyes and he found himself looking to Dr. B for answers. "Dr. B?"
"Simmons get a."
"Got it boss."
Darryl watched as Simmons practically ran out of the room before returning his attention to Dr. B. He watched as she quickly checked Cole's vitals; pulse, BP, respiration rate, temperature, and pupil reaction this time. He grabbed Cole's wrist as his friend whimpered and tried to bat her hand away when she shined the light into his eyes. "Dr. B?"
"Don't worry Darryl. He's always been naturally light sensitive. He's always had heightened senses and being raised and living underground for a century just made it worse." She explained in response to his puzzled stare. Noticing Cole was beginning to shake she waved her hand and the guardrail behind Darryl unlocked and lowered itself. "Darryl get me a blanket from the closet would you please?"
"I'm c….. c….. cold Grams." He said starting to curl into a small ball on the bed, his fear coming back. As Darryl covered him with the blanket he pulled it tight around himself and tried to stop his body from shaking. When he looked up at Darryl as his friend moved off the bed he knew there was fear in his eyes but he just couldn't bring himself to care at the moment, he only wanted his friend to not leave which is exactly what he thought he was about to do. He quickly looked away though as his mind told him he was asking too much of Darryl and if he didn't stop he'd lose Darryl too.
Darryl wasn't sure what was medically wrong with Cole but he did know that he was afraid again, that was coming through loud and clear in the shy look that Cole had just sent his way before quickly averting his gaze. Since he knew he couldn't do anything about his friend's physical condition he stuck with the emotional condition, that one he knew he could help with. He reached across the short distance separating them and, wrapping his arm around Cole's midsection, he pulled the curled form to him, resting Cole's back against himself. Immediately he felt some of the tension leave his friend. He was about to ask Dr. B again what was happening when the door behind him opened and Simmons entered, the gurney he was pushing answering the question of where he had been.
"Simmons will you help Darryl move Cole please." She had already disconnected the heart monitor and had started moving the IV pole around the end of the bed when she heard Darryl, the protectiveness she heard in his voice would have made her smile if the situation weren't so dangerous.
"That's fine Simmons. I have him." Darryl didn't know why he had even said it except that he felt he had to. As soon as Dr. B had reached his side of the bed with the IV pole he reached down and simply lifted Cole up where he rested securely in his arms. When he turned and gently laid Cole down on the gurney that Simmons had placed behind him he looked up to see Dr. B eyeing him curiously, looking like she had a secret that they didn't know. Before he had the chance to question it though she shoved the pole towards him and called for Simmons to lock the door open and then grab the other end of the gurney.
"Darryl will you please just stay where you are and keep a hold of him. If she is out there she will not like the idea that I didn't use these." She indicated the strap that was resting against Darryl's legs. "Which I have no intention of using so don't worry. But she will report me again and I don't have time for her or for that right now." She waited for Darryl to get a better grip on her grandson. Once she was sure that Cole wouldn't be able to accidentally roll off no matter what she motioned for Simmons to let her lead. She had to hold back a smile as she saw her grandson wrap himself around Darryl's arm as he felt them begin to move.
The group quickly made it's way down the corridor, turning right at the end of the hall and continuing down about 100 feet before stopping in front of a set of lift doors. Darryl had kept almost all of his attention on Cole who continued to shake despite the heavy blanket he had laid over him, but when they stopped he looked to the lift doors and noticed that they were heavy security doors. He watched as Dr. B used the key card that Dr. Stevenson had just given her and then punched in the password on the panel that appeared. The doors opened and they moved quickly into the relative safety the lift provided them. Just as the doors closed they saw Nurse Cratchett heading their way and she did not look happy in the least. The lift occupants, save Cole, happily smiled at her as the doors closed in her face. The fact that they each took some form of perverse pleasure in pissing her off did not go unnoticed they simply choose to ignore it.
"Okay Darryl. You don't have to worry about anyone or anything getting to Cole down here. The security is both state of the art high tech and powerful high magic and before you ask the magic is mine. The only thing that can reach him down here are his own nightmares, those I can not protect him from but by the look of things you can." She had kept her voice calm, even, and low since she didn't want to upset Cole. As she spoke she noticed Darryl begun to rub small circles on Cole's back as he moved his hand off of the IV pole she had given him back in the room.
"I'll do what ever it takes Dr. B. He's my friend." Darryl spoke the words as if they were a solemn vow and anyone who had been looking into his eyes at that moment would have realized that to him that is exactly what they were, a vow. They would have also seen a spark in those eyes, one that Darryl didn't even seem to be aware of…… yet.
Dr. B smiled because she had seen the spark and she knew what it meant. Her smile however faded quickly as she ran her hand over her grandson's dark head, the magical probe bouncing off the bullet, Cole's whimpering causing her to quickly withdraw her hand.
"What is it?" Darryl was trying very hard to keep his voice even but the longer Cole continued to shake the harder it became, hearing him whimpering only made it worse. He needed some answers and he needed them soon.
"The bullet has magic attached to it, it's coated with it. I had wanted to place a shield of my own around it so it might move less but this…… this magic has a dark taste to it. Simmons, who was the shooter?"
"One Reginald Slater." Simmons answered as they moved out of the lift and down a hallway. There were no windows as they were 2 stories under the hospital proper now but there were other hallways. He knew that there was, aside from the boy's room, a fully stocked lab, pharmacy, and apothecary. There was also a continuously manned nurses station in their room as well as rooms for his boss and himself. "And before you ask he is 100 percent human and before you ask Inspector…… no I am not. I am a half-blood."
"Like Cole?" Darryl had decided last night to simply go with whatever happened. He didn't know why but he felt he could trust Dr. B implicitly, he knew it had something to do with Cole but he had already let his friend down one time too many, walking away was not an option.
"No Inspector, not like Cole. Even amongst us half-bloods this little guy is unique, a one of a kind." Simmons noticed the still confused look on Darryl's face so after looking to his boss for the okay and getting it he continued. "Inspector."
"Just call me Darryl, all right Simmons?"
"Fine by me."
"Turn in here guys." Dr. B had brought them into what looked like an exam room and once the gurney was stopped she moved to the left wall, which was covered in cabinets and began collecting things, placing the items on a rolling metal tray.
"Okay, as I said even amongst us he is unique. He is the only human/demon half-blood in existence. Even coming back from the Wasteland couldn't change his DNA, which is sort of a good thing since he wouldn't be able to survive the demonic powers he gathered in the Wasteland in order to get out without it."
"You mean he is the only one still alive?" Darryl knew where this was heading and he didn't really want to go there but he knew he needed to know, to know the truth.
"No Darryl, I mean the only one to have ever existed period. He is the only one to have survived his own birth, no other human/demon child ever did or has since him." Simmons watched as Darryl digested what he had just told him and he felt sorry for him for his entrance to the truth was only just beginning.
Darryl didn't know what to say. Gods knew he understood what it was like to be different, but to be so unique that you truly are all alone. No one to talk to, no one to understand what you are feeling or what you are going through. He found himself holding Cole even tighter as his mind wrapped itself around this harsh new fact. He realized that lonely was how Cole had been all of his life… until now. Now he had him and Darryl had no intentions of ever letting his friend suffer those feelings of loneliness ever again. Suddenly he felt that something was wrong. "Dr. B."
Dr. B, hearing the panic in Darryl's voice, quickly returned bringing with her the loaded metal tray. By the look on Darryl's face she knew he understood what some of the items were for. "I'm sorry Darryl but I have to. I need to see what is interacting with his DNA and this is the only way. Believe me if there was another I'd use it." She had kept her voice low hoping Cole wouldn't understand what she was saying. Once she moved to stand in front of him though she realized he probably wouldn't have understood her even if she hadn't whispered. "Guys against the wall. Now." She ordered as she moved to the wall in question where she undid the oxygen mask, quickly regulating it to the proper flow. By the time she finished the gurney was up against the requested wall. Turning to her grandson she tried to place the mask on him, his blue lips causing a few more questions to run through her head. Unfortunately, even with his eyes at half-mast, he brought his hand up and pushed her hand away while trying to back away at the same time. "Hey kitten come on I need to put this in you, please. I promise it won't hurt." When her words failed to get through to him she turned to Darryl. "Darryl, please. I know you don't want to but could you just hold onto him for me, please?" He hesitated though. "Darryl, you're the one who told me something was wrong. His lips are blue I need to get this on him now. Please."
He didn't want to and he only hoped that Cole would forgive him later but she was right, he could feel something was wrong. He remembered the promise that he had made to Cole, the promise to keep him safe; he simply never thought he'd have to keep him safe from himself. "Sorry partner." He whispered into Cole's ear and as he lifted Cole up enough he reached around him and grabbed both wrists, careful not to interfere with the IV line in Cole's right hand. With his back pressed up against him he knew his partner couldn't go anywhere but he was still glad that the blanket was covering Cole's legs all the same.
Quickly Dr. B placed the oxygen mask on him and tightened the strap a little to make sure that it wouldn't dislodge in the event of Cole panicking. Once that was done she held out her hand and one of the full syringes from the tray flew into it. Popping the cap off she used the nearest port to his hand again and quickly injected the contents. "That Darryl, in case you are wondering, was for the fever. We have to get it down." The smile in her voice was plain to hear as she tried to keep him calm as well. As she watched Cole's feeble struggles ceased completely as he finally went limp in Darryl's grasp. "Don't worry Darryl, he's just exhausted that's all. The constant state of fear he has been living in has finally caught up with him." She gave Darryl a knowing smile. "And his lips are no longer blue which is always a good sign. Now, I really hate to do this to you but can you come around this side so that you can hold him still incase he wakes up while I do the test." She wasn't happy about the test anymore than he was but it was the only way.
Darryl knew what was involved and the last thing he wanted to do was cause Cole more pain or scare him again if he wakes up before she was through. "Are you sure that you absolutely have to do this test Dr. B? I mean there isn't."
"No there isn't any other way. I need to know what is running through his system and the only way to find out is to do a spinal tap. It's the only fluid in his system that will tell me and no his blood won't because it is protected magically from revealing anything except perfect results should someone actually get close enough to him to take a sample." She sighed as she saw Darryl's torn expression. "Darryl I know you promised him that he wouldn't be hurt but this time it's to keep him from getting even more hurt than he already is. There is something magical about this bullet and since it was meant for you not him he is reacting differently to it. My guess is that his demonic DNA signature is reacting to it. If that is the case I can stop it, I still won't be able to remove the bullet but I will be able to stop whatever poison it is that has apparently invaded his system." She watched as Darryl simply starred into her eyes, judging the truth of her words. When he walked around the gurney, never taking his hand off of Cole she knew that he had finally understood; this was their only option.
Darryl saw in her eyes that there was no choice so he carefully moved to stand in front of Cole. He was already curled up, his knees close to his chest so at least he didn't have to try and move him. He almost jumped when he felt a chair touch the back of his legs.
"You'll be more comfortable sitting down." Was all Simmons said.
"Thanks." Darryl smiled as he say down in the chair but then realized that Dr. B was going to need some more space behind Cole in which to work. He quickly stood up and pulled Cole closer to him, leaving his arm under Cole's head as a pillow for his still unconscious friend. When he moved him Dr. B had also pulled his PJ top up, baring Cole's back for the procedure.
"Are you ready Darryl?" Dr. B wanted to make sure that her grandson wouldn't move accidentally during the test so she told Darryl to place his other hand behind Cole's knees. This would prevent him from being able to either stretch out or roll over at the wrong time. All three people in the room had hoped that Cole would remain out for the duration of the test. Their hopes fell quickly though as he woke up when Dr. B administered the local anesthetic, deadening the area she was going to use.
"Mmmm…… ow." Darryl saw Cole's eyes open and look directly at him and he would have smiled except the eyes were filled with tears and fear. He realized after a second that Cole again didn't recognize him; thankfully he didn't try and move. He watched as the tears rolled down and onto the arm he had under Cole's head and once again the tears were silent.
By the time Dr. B grabbed the larger needle she would be using Cole's eyes were still unfocused and wet. Darryl just hoped that he would remain still, however as Dr. B began to push the needle into the deadened area of Cole's back he saw the fear in the blue eyes replaced by terror. Feeling the body laying in his arms tense he tensed in return, making sure his hold on Cole remained secure. Darryl heard Cole speaking and he thought it had to be the oxygen mask that was distorting what he was saying. He tried to convince himself what he was hearing wasn't what his friend was saying but he could tell by the tears gathering in Dr. B's eyes across from him that he was simply kidding himself. The voice was again that of a child, no more than 6 years old. It was the voice he had heard during Cole's first nightmare. This time however it was begging someone to stop, to get away. He couldn't make out everything that was being said but that was clear enough.
"It's all right your safe. No one here is going to hurt you. You are safe, just relax." Darryl kept his voice calm and even hoping to calm Cole down before something happened.
"No…… the…… knife…… please don't…… hurts…… please not…… again." Cole's tears were flowing freely as he remained unaware of his true surroundings; his mind locked in a nightmare from his past.
Darryl found his own tears gathering as he started making sense of his friend's frightened words and understanding what they meant. When Cole was a child someone had tortured him using a knife. The images he now had running through his mind's eye were terrifying and he didn't know where they were coming from because they seemed so real to him.
"What's the matter Darryl?" Dr. B was a little concerned by the expression on his face.
"I'm not sure. I have never seen him as a child but I can in my head right now. He's scared and someone is…… is…… well with a knife." Darryl could barely get the words out as his throat began to tighten up.
"Those images are coming from Cole's mind, his memory. He's accidentally sending them to you. He doesn't mean to scare you but the fever doesn't have him thinking clearly at the moment. If you stop looking into his eyes the images should fade." Dr. B wasn't at all surprised at his response though.
"If I do that then he'll just get even more scared. I won't do that to him." Darryl kept his eyes focused on the blue ones in front of him; if Cole could survive it than so could he. Cole's whimpers were growing again when his voice once again became loud enough for Darryl to hear. Along with his broken words though, he saw images in his mind he knew would forever haunt him.
"Please…… no…… burn…… burns…… fire hot…… please not…… again." Cole never knew he was sending his own memories to his friend, memories that were best left buried from the light. He would have stopped them if he had known but he didn't. Instead he unknowingly trapped his friend in his past right along with him.
Okay that is the end of this chapter and it was a long one but then again so is this story. I hope that you will stick around with me till the end because it will be quite the surpriseg.