Geralt startled awake, not sure what had caused his sudden return to consciousness. The answer came when he registered the change in Jaskier's heartbeat. Jaskier was starting to wake up. Geralt shifted, straightening up in the chair he'd fallen asleep in, and glanced at Jaskier. He hadn't moved since Geralt had finally let himself fall asleep, but there was the occasional hitch in Jaskier's breathing, one that confirmed Geralt's suspicions. Jaskier was beginning to wake up, and he was in pain.

Geralt looked around, spotting the basin of cool water that had been left on the bedside table, and a clean cloth. He grabbed the cloth and dipped it lightly into the water, before he wiped the now damp cloth over Jaskier's brow, checking Jaskier's temperature as he went. Humans were so fragile, if Jaskier developed an infection he might still die from his wounds.

Jaskier's temperature, was normal, and Geralt belatedly reminded himself that it appeared that Jaskier wasn't human, not entirely anyway. It was the only reason he was still alive, Jaskier's non-human healing saving his life.

His Witcher healing, apparently.

Jaskier let out a soft moan and Geralt gently hushed him.

"You're ok, Jaskier, you're safe."

"Geralt?" Jaskier whimpered, his blue eyes fluttering open.

"I'm here," Geralt reassured taking Jaskier's hand in his own, "You're ok."

"Ciri?"

"She's safe downstairs with Yen, we're at Kaer Morhen."

Jaskier's brow furrowed at the mention of Yennefer's name, but was otherwise quiet.

"How do you feel?"

"Tired…heavy. My head's all…foggy."

"You were badly hurt, you lost a lot of blood," Geralt told him, using his free hand not holding Jaskier's to push Jaskier down when he tried to move. Jaskier gave up his attempt to sit up very quickly, his already pale face losing what little colour he had. Geralt debated emptying the basin of water out onto the floor just in case Jaskier threw up, but as the seconds passed it didn't seem like it was needed. Jaskier breathed deeply, sucking in air through clenched teeth, and Geralt could only imagine how much it had hurt when Jaskier had tried to sit up, his abused chest and stomach no-where near healed enough for that kind of movement, even with Yen's intervention, and Jaskier's own healing ability.

"You ok?" Jaskier asked once the pain had begun to ease.

"I am now," Geralt nodded.

"You weren't?"

"Got hit with the tail," Geralt admitted, "And my supply of Golden Oriole was in the Saddlebags on Roach. I was…not well by the time that Eskel found us."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Jaskier mumbled, lowering his gaze. Geralt frowned and hooked his finger beneath Jaskier's chin, lifting it up again.

"If you hadn't been there, it would have killed me, it had me trapped, and you distracted it and gave me the chance I needed to kill it. I would be dead if you hadn't done what you did. You saved my life."

"Really?"

"Yes. I…Thank you Jaskier"

Jaskier smiled, although he was still obviously too tired and weak from his injuries to do anything more.

"In the future, though," Geralt added, "try to avoid getting hurt. We were lucky that Ciri was able to contact Yennefer to come and help save you. I don't think there was much we could have done for you."

"Was it bad?"

"You nearly died Jaskier, you lost so much blood…you were so pale, your heartbeat was so weak I…I didn't think you would ever wake up. Your injuries…I'd never seen anyone that badly hurt and live."

Jaskier's eyes widened, "but…but I'm going to be ok, right?"

"Yen seemed to think so. She healed you up as best she could, fixed up the internal injuries and sped up the healing process of the others. The thing is…" Geralt faded off, not sure how he was going to reveal Yennefer's theory to Jaskier.

"What?" Jaskier sounded uncertain…even scared. Geralt tightened his grip on Jaskier's hand reassuringly, but still gently.

"Yennefer…she thinks that there is no way that a human could have survived as long as you did without proper medical aid. Your injuries…some of them were even beginning to heal after only a few hours."

"What, so I'm…not human?"

"Yennefer doesn't seem to think so, and after what I've seen…I think I agree with her. There is no way you could have survived the Wyvern if you hadn't had something…non-human in your blood. You…you were so badly hurt…there was blood everywhere, so much blood, your blood. I thought you were going to die."

"What am I then?" Jaskier whispered, his eyes shining with tears. Geralt cursed under his breath. He was no good with words, and this was such a delicate conversation. Everyone else was off doing other things, leaving Geralt alone to try and navigate his way through without causing Jaskier distress. He was still so vulnerable.

"Yennefer has a theory she came up with while healing you, but we need more information before we know for sure. We…we might need to ask you some questions."

"Are…are you going to kill me? Am I some sort of monster?"

"WHAT" Geralt yelled, jerking back in horror at the idea and falling off the side of the bed, landing on his ass with a thud. It would have been quite comical, had the situation been different, and Geralt knew that Eskel and Lambert would have both laughed hysterically at him, Yennefer as well. Jaskier would too, if he was not currently in the middle of what Geralt assumed was a immense identity crisis.

Geralt clambered back to his feet and sat back on the bed, reaching out and taking Jaskier's hand again.

"Jaskier, I want you to listen to me. I would never deliberately try to hurt you, do you understand? I wouldn't kill you either, no-one in this castle would ever hurt you. Even if you aren't human, we wouldn't hurt you. You're not a monster, you aren't something to be hunted, you're Jaskier…a talented bard and someone who I am very proud to think of as my friend."

A tear rolled down Jaskier's cheek as the bard visibly relaxed, "didn't think you knew how to say that word," Jaskier teased. Geralt gently pushed Jaskier more firmly against the pillows he leaned against.

"Hmmm,"

"Ah, there's the normal Geralt," Jaskier smiled, wiping at his eyes with the hand that Geralt wasn't still holding onto.

Geralt rolled his eyes, and reached for the small vial that Yennefer had left on the bedside table. It was filled with a potion she had brewed, one very safe for humans.

"Here you should drink this, it will help with the pain,"

Jaskier made no protest as Geralt carefully poured the potion down his throat. Instead, he relaxed against the pillows, blinking heavily, fighting to stay awake.

Geralt smiled fondly, the gesture reminding him of Ciri, "Go to sleep, Jaskier. I'll be here when you wake up."

Jaskier pouted, but he was unable to disguise the fact he was obviously still fatigued. Geralt reached out and combed his fingers through his hair…something he remembered seeing Vesemir do to the boys as they were going through the trials, often continuing to do it long after the boys had finally lost consciousness, or even long after they had finally died.

It didn't take long for Jaskier to succumb to his own exhaustion, his body relaxing as he fell asleep, his breathing now even and deep, his heart no longer racing to try and pump what little blood was left around Jaskier's body, instead beating a more regular rhythm. The next time Jaskier woke up he would need to try and drink something, some water at least, and preferably some broth as well, to try and replenish his fluids, and to get some energy back too, but he needed rest too, and Geralt hadn't wanted to leave Jaskier alone to go and fetch some water or broth.

Even now, when Jaskier was sleeping soundly, Geralt didn't want to leave him alone. He didn't want to put too much thought into it, but the memory of Jaskier in his arms, covered in blood, his breaths coming in weak gasps and wheezes, his heartbeat racing as more and more blood seeped from Jaskier's injuries, was already deeply engraved in Geralt's mind, haunting him and making him more fearful than Geralt remembered ever being before.

No…Geralt would stay right where he was until he knew that Jaskier was going to make a full recovery.