Wreck
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Michael/Daphne
Characters: Michael Corner and Daphne Greengrass
Summary: There's been a car accident...
Notes: Character Death. Salutations, Because I Care, and Wreck are all somewhat interrelated. They are published here in order.

"Izzit all right yet?"

...She wasn't even there anymore.

"Are you there?"

I don't remember the specifics. But I took her hand anyway. At least we'd made it to the hospital.

"...Doesn't hurt anymore."

There wasn't much anyone could do, though. This wasn't a wizarding hospital. No one was just going to make up a potion and make it all better.

"Turn the lights on, Michael."

We hadn't fled the war, but everyone needed a break. Who could have known that we'd be in more danger simply by leaving the field? Daphne hadn't ever liked Muggles. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to listen to her. I wished desperately that I was a healer.

"There was a lot of noise."

She couldn't hear anything now. That's what the doctors said. Couldn't see anything, either. Daphne had hit her head pretty hard, I suppose. I don't know. The only thing I did know was that there wasn't a lot of time. I don't know how Muggle technology works and all. Well, besides the basics. But they told me she was bleeding badly internally. I squeezed her hand, but I didn't know if she could feel that, either. Her hands were already cold.

"...Did you know that?"

"Know what?" I couldn't help asking, loud enough so that just I could hear it. There wasn't anyone else in the room. She didn't even have any identification, and so as far as the hospital was concerned, she was a Jane Doe. I told them I was her brother. Maybe I would have said something else, but that was the first thing that came to my mind.

"Are you there? I'm scared."

Her voice was fading. She didn't know I was holding her hand, and so I touched her face instead. She jumped a little. "I'm here."

"What was that? Michael, where are you?"

She knew I'd been with her. She remembered that. She'd been so terrified, and I told her it would be okay. Maybe I shouldn't have learned to drive. But it was just something fun. Still, it didn't seem fair that I'd make it out okay and she'd... Well, she wasn't in pain. Her whole body was in shock. She didn't know what was happening. And she still didn't know I was there.

She stared at the ceiling. Even though she moved her lips a little, the sound wasn't coming anymore. I leaned back, removing my hand from her cheek and returning it to her hand. She turned her eyes toward me, even though I knew they couldn't see. Did she sense someone there? Could she still feel the touch of magic? I glanced toward the door. There was still no one there, so I chanced retrieving my wand from my pocket. It was a spell both of us knew really well. Back at Hogwarts... Well, it was a favorite for both of us. We'd cast it on each other a couple times, even in the years after. I hoped she didn't mind that I cast the silencing charm on her. It was the only way I could tell her.

She couldn't say anything else, of course, and I'd regret that in years to come. But the serene look on her face as she realized that she wasn't alone...

I gave her hand another squeeze as she quietly slipped away.