Authors note: Chapter 2 is here. If you enjoy please leave a review, as they do really encourage me to keep writing. Thank you.
"Silver! Silver!" Jim felt his heart freeze at the sight of the blood. W...what do I do? What do I do? He thought frantically as he looked over the large man's body, trying to find the wound. His white shirt was soaked in blood, but the injury wasn't on his front, so Jim pushed him over, using all the muscle in his slight frame to turn the man over and start pulling off the heavy duster coat. Once the coat was off, Jim saw it. A nasty chunk of splintered wood was sticking out of Silver's back, just below his left shoulder blade.
"Okay Jim think...think." He huffed to himself as he rubbed his hands over his face in a panicked gesture. "D..did it hit his heart? Or...or lung? Wait, he's not human, do Ursine's have their heart on their left or their right? Damn it!"
Jim dug his nails into his own hair as he tried to breathe out of the panic, his whole body trembling with shock and fear. When he heard the soft, pained chuckle and saw the large form shift slightly, he held his breath, moving to help Silver turn and sit up.
"It's alright Jimbo. Luckily most of me vitals are lower in the chest." He grunted out, falling back slightly into the snow. Jim placed a tentative hand on Silver's back.
"D...don't move. You're hurt bad." Jim said, his voice quaking. Silver turned to him, his eye whirring as it focused on Jim's face.
"Aye, I am Lad. But it will be okay." Silver grunted as he shifted again, and for the first time, Jim noticed the cybernetic arm hanging limp at Silver's side.
"Is the boat still intact at all Jim?" Silver asked, supporting himself against a nearby tree. Jim turned his head and saw the boat a few meters off.
"Yeah, yeah it is. But I don't think it can fly anymore."
"That's okay. Go and check the storage compartment for medical supplies. They usually keep some in there."
Jim nodded and got up, wincing as his ribs groaned, and ran over to the boat. It was flipped over, but it wasn't too hard for Jim to turn it over and get into the storage compartment towards the back of the boat. Inside were some small rations and a single kit of first-aid supplies.
Knowing it wouldn't do much for this particular injury he took what he could and carried it back over to Silver, skidding to his knees in the snow as he popped open the kit. Some bandages, and antiseptic, and a stitching kit. Not much. He glanced up at the chunk of wood in Silver's torso, and the amount of blood soaking out of it. Silver leaned over to look at the supplies and gave Jim a small, comforting smile.
"Okay Jimbo, its not ideal, but we can work with this, at least enough until we can get ourselves in some shelter, ey?" Silver chuckled and nudged Jims shoulder. He's trying to make me feel better… Jim smiled back, forced but at least he was trying, and nodded.
"I, ah...don't know much first aid. Your gonna have to tell me what to do." Jim said as he looked at the wound.
"Well first thing first. You got a knife Jim? Or any scissors in that kit?" Silver sighed out, leaning against the tree again with a pained expression. Jim looked through the kit and sighed, shaking his head.
"No, nothing." He looked back up at the cyborg, who pinched the bridge of his nose with his original thumb and forefinger.
"Blast me fer a- Okay Jim." He sighed. "Me arm is all busted anyways. I need ya to get in there and take out the scissors in there. Just be careful, they're sharp."
Jim blinked and looked at the cybernetic arm and swallowed, nodding before reaching over to it, pulling the heavy piece of machinery into his lap so that he could look at it better. This thing has to weigh a hundred pounds. He thought as he carefully looked into the Swis Army Knife-like apparatus that made up Silver's right forearm. The amount of different tools inside was fascinating, and terrifying. He saw something that could be a sword, and a gun! Those certainly were not permitted on the Legacy. But eventually he was able to find the sharp pair of, well not scissors, they looked more like sheers, they were so large and sharp.
"Um, how do I take them out?" He asked as he managed to pull the tools out into the slot that replaced the hand. This is a seriously intimate thing to be doing...isn't it? Jim asked himself as he looked up at him. SIlver was grimacing and turned to look at the gadget himself, his large hand moving amazingly dexterously as he pulled on a small section of metal that caused the tool to extend, revealing a simple bolt hinge that secured it into the arm.
"Blighter, where's Morph when you need him?" Silver sighed as they both looked at the bolt. A small trilling alerted both of them to the small shapeshifter's presence as he sped out of the pocket of Silver's coat a few feet away, looking a bit discolored.
"Morphy!" Silver smiled that soft, goofy smile he only ever had for his pet. "There ye are! Were you hurt in that whole mess?"
Morph shook his blobby head and sped up to nuzzle Silver's cheek before swooping down to the bolt hinge and shifting into a small wrench, the perfect size.
"Thank you Morphy." Silver chuckled as Jim smiled and used the wrench to unhook the bolt and take out the sheers. Once done with his job, Morph gave Jim a lick on the cheek and then fluttered over to rest on Silver's shoulder. Silver nodded and sighed.
"Alright, small distraction passed now." He chuckled. "Jim, yeh need to cut off me shirt so you can see the injury better, okay?"
Jim nodded and shifted so that he was at Silver's back, and he pulled the neck of the shirt back to get the sheers in, before he started to cut.
The shirt cut away easily enough, the hardest part was cutting away around the injury without aggravating it, but soon Silver was sitting in the snow, shirtless and bleeding. Jim was hit by a bizarre mixture of shame and lust as he pulled the cloth away from Silver's back, revealing the tightly roped muscle of his shoulders, and the scars that covered them. Jim swallowed and tried to push the feelings away as he looked at the wound. It was rough and nasty, the splinter had not gone in smoothly, and likely would not come out so either.
"How's it look back there Jimbo?" Silver asked, shivering.
"Not great." Jim said simply. "It's a mess."
"Do ye need to wash it off to see it better?" Silver asked, turning to get his cybernetic eye to look at Jim. Jim shook his head.
"Your back's wet enough from the tumble in the snow it's making most of the blood trickle off, but it's a ragged wound."
"Any tellin how deep it is?"
Jim squinted and looked closer, using his hand to gently press on the skin to try and get a better look. He felt Silver wince, but the seasoned spacer didn't make a sound.
"I can't say. Pretty deep, I would guess."
"Shit...okay." Silver sighed. "Get them sheers again, son. Now, you ain't gonna like this, but we gotta get that thing out. Yer gonna use the nose of those sheers to help get it, yeh understand? It'll be like deboning a Turian Fessant, like I showed ya."
Jim felt the blood leave his face as he nodded slowly, grabbing the shears again and looking at the wound. Okay Jim...you can do this you can do this…. Jim was about to start when Silver shifted again and he heard a clanking sound. Jim tilted to look around the large form to see silver taking off his belt.
"Um...what are you-" Jim started to say as silver folded the leather and placed it in his mouth.
"This is gonna hurt. Don't want to have to get a mechanical tongue next time I'm in port because I bit it off." Silver explained through clenched teeth. "Once it's out, clean it and bandage it, it's gonna bleed like a blighter."
"Okay." Jim nodded and pulled the small first aid kit closer to have it at the ready as he put one hand on Silver's back, and prepared the shears with the other. "Okay...here we go."
Silver nodded, and Jim plunged. The sharp, pointed metal went into the wound, following alongside the chunk of wood, acting as a guide to find the end of the splinter. Silver tensed and grunted in pain as Jim shifted the tool and the wood at the same time, until the tip of the metal found no more hard resistance along its side, only soft flesh.
"There." Jim muttered as he used the tool to help pull out the chunk, moving slowly, and trying to keep one ear on Silver's ragged breathing. Though it felt like hours to both of them, the wood was out in a matter of seconds after the procedure started, and once it was Jim dropped it on to the snowy floor and doused the nasty wound in antiseptic and started to pile bandages on over the bleeding hole in Silver's back. Silver was breathing hard and ragged, his eyes closed tight with his forehead pressed against the trunk of the tree. Once the last of the bandages was on securely, Jim let out a breath and wiped the sweat off of his forehead before moving back around to look at Silver.
The Ursian was in bad shape. His teeth were clamped down so hard on his belt, Jim could hear the leather creaking under the strain. His one good fist was clenched so hard, blood was dripping from the palm. Jim blinked and swallowed, putting his hand on top of Silver's. He's so cold. Jim thought as he put his other hand on Silvers face, trying to calm him.
"It's okay. It's done now...relax, breathe. Come on now." Jim spoke as calmly as he could, despite his own frayed nerves. After a short while of coaxing, Silver's hand relaxed, and the small claws on his fingers pulled out of the fleshy palm of his hand. His organic eye blinked open and looked at Jim with pure exhaustion and the belt fell out of his mouth as he took a few deep breaths.
"Thanks Lad." Silver smiled and put his hand on Jim's shoulder. "Are you okay? You took a tumble yerself."
"I'm fine." Jim let out a sigh of a smile. "Just some bruising."
"Good." Silver chuckled and leaned back against the tree, still breathing hard.
"We need to find a place so you can rest. You can't stay out here like that, you'll freeze."
Jim's eyes roamed over the Ursians bare chest for the first time. Despite his rather hefty gut, Silver was mostly muscle in the chest and arms. His tan, velvet like skin was poked with scars, and a string of tattoos went up his right side and to his upper right arm, curing on to his chest. The tattoos were old, and faded, so Jim couldn't really make them out unless he got closer. The thick brown hair that curled on Silver's chest was damp with a sheen of sweat and melting snow.
Jim got up and grabbed Silver's coat, putting it over the cooks shoulders as he looked around, trying to gauge what they had to work with in terms of shelter.
"Don't be goin too far away from the boat, Jimbo." Silver grunted, using the tree to push himself up to his feet. Jim was back at his side in an instant to support him.
"You shouldn't be-"
"I gotta Jim. If I just sit there, I'll freeze up, and then I won't be able to move at all." Silver grunted, using Jim's arm as a sort of pseudo crutch. "Besides, I know more about findin a reasonable shelter than you do, Lad. More years of experience."
Jim sighed and nodded, not really in the mood to be offended or start a fight. He helped Silver walk a bit as the soft hum of his eye indicated it scanning about, looking for his specific target.
"Jim, there." Silver motioned with his head in a direction. Jim squinted and saw, about thirty feet off, a small cave. It was dark, and there was no telling how deep it went, but it looked like their best option for getting out of the snow. Jim nodded and led Silver to a tree to lean on.
"Wait here. I'm just gonna make sure there are no animals in there or anything." Silver braced himself against the tree and looked at Jim with concern, his one ear sinking slightly.
"Be careful Jim." He said, his mechanical eye zooming to look at the cave from a distance..
"I will." Jim smiled. "If anything happens, I'll run. I'm pretty fast."
Silver chuckled and nodded.
"Alright. I'll be here." Silver sighed and winced as he leaned on the tree, pulling his coat tighter around himself. Jim nodded and turned to go into the cave, crouching low and moving as quietly as he could. Please be empty. He thought as he entered the darkness. Silver needs to rest, he shouldn't be walking around…
Inside the cave was dark and humid, the light from the outside was shining in just enough to let Jim see, once his eyes adjusted. It wasn't a very large cave, maybe ten by thirty feet in width and depth. The ceiling was only about six or so feet high, Silver would have to crouch to walk inside.
No animals… Jim thought as he looked around, seeking any sign of recent activity inside, in case whatever did live there was out hunting for the time. But there was nothing, the floor was smooth and slick, a sort of black rock that almost looked like marble. The inside was dry, at least, so Jim decided it was the best they could do. He turned and went back out to Silver, who was still leaned against the tree, nuzzling Morph, who had come back up to show his worry and affection. Jim couldn't help but smile, despite the situation, at the sight of the two. It was truly amazing how someone so big could be so gentle with a little blubber head like Morph.
"Hey." Jim said as he approached, drawing their attention. "It's clear. Let's get you inside, then I'll work on getting a fire going."
"Heh, look at you Jimbo, takin charge and makin plans." Silver chuckled as he pushed himself off the tree and limped towards him, accepting Jim's arm for support. "Why, it almost makes this old Cyborg proud."
"Ah get off it." Jim chuckled. "If you weren't so clumsy and had gotten yourself hurt, I wouldn't have to take charge and make plans."
Silver laughed loud at that, his whole body shaking with the laugh as it is prone to doing. The sound was like music for Jim. It was the first, real laugh Jim had heard from him since the crash, and it put him at ease.
The two of them made their way into the cave, Silver ducking low to not bang his head, the very tip of his bandanna grazing the stone ceiling. Jim helped Silver sit down against a far wall and did what he could to cover him up, and keep him warm.
"Now you just wait here and rest, okay?" Jim said as Silver adjusted his seat, bending his peg leg for support. "I'm gonna go get some wood from the boat, it should still be dry enough to burn, and I'll see what else I can scavenge.
"Aye, sounds good Lad." Silver sighed. "While yer at the boat, look for a small contraption, it would be a small box with a hinge in the middle, bright red. That would be our way to contact the ship."
"Okay, I'll make sure to bring it back." Jim said as he stood up, looking towards the small little blob hovering between the two of them "Morph, stay here and try to help Silver best you can, okay?"
"Okay!" The small thing mimicked and spun around, shifting into a red scarf that draped around Silver's thick neck. Silver chuckled.
"Oh, thank you Morphy." Silver smiled and gave the scarf a small scratch before raising one eyebrow at Jim. "You be quick now. No idea what could be out there."
"I know." He smiled. "I'll be right back, won't take me half an hour to get all I need." And he was gone, out the entrance again to trudge through the snow.
Perfect day to choose not to wear my coat. Jim huffed quietly, folding his arms around himself as the icy wind bit through his thin tunic. The boat wreck wasn't very far, thankfully, but it was a mess. He picked through the rubble, setting things on top of the boat that he thought would be useful. What was left of the sail, nothing more than a tattered sheet at this point, but enough to maybe help keep them warm. A couple more rations that had fallen out into the snow that he had missed earlier. A small knife looked like a standard issue for survival, and the small, red box Silver had mentioned. Jim gathered all of the small things into the tattered sail and bound it up into a sack. Then he started to gather all of the dry wood he could find. Allot of the boat he could just pry off with his hands, some time he had to kick with his boot, but it was worth it, as soon he had enough wood for a fire, for a while at least.
I'll have to get more later, but this will work for now. Jim nodded to himself as he looked over his haul, before flinging the make-shift sack over his neck to carry it, and picking up all the wood into his arms, stopping, and reaching down to grab Silver's hat before starting to walk back. Jim trudged back to the cave and flopped everything down at Silver's feet.
"Here." Jim said as he pushed a ration and the small red box into Silver's hand. "Eat that and see what you can do with that thing. I'll get the fire going."
"I can wait on the food. And hold up, I need ya to open the box fet me anyhow, I only got one arm right now." Silver handed Jim the box back, and he opened it easily. Inside was a small screen and a few buttons, but not much. There was a small flashing light in one corner.
"Well that's good news. Means the tracker's still on." Silver chuckled as he held the box in his lap, pressing a few buttons.
Jim left Silver to work as he worked on starting a fire. He gathered the wood into a small pile nearby Silver, and used his knife and a stone that looked kinda like flint, to try and catch a spark on a small bit of cotton from Silver's old shirt. Luckily it caught, after a few tries, and in a matter of minutes, a small fire was warming up the interior of the cave. It was around that time when a hissing, buzzing sound caught Jim's attention, and he turned, seeing a white light shining on to Silver's face from the small screen.
"Captain! Captain can ye hear me? It's Silver." Silver said, squinting his eyes.
"Yes Silver! We hear you loud and clear!" Captain Amelia's voice sliced through the cold air. "What is your status and location!?"
"Location is a no go, Captain." Silver sighed. "We were forced to just get out as fast as we could. We've crashed on some tundra planet."
"We?" The captain asked. "Is Hawkins with you?"
"I'm here Captain!" Jim said, running over and sitting next to Silver, practically in his lap in order to see the screen where Amelia's face was showing. She looked pale and haggard. "How's the ship? Is everyone okay? How about the Doc?"
"Doctor Dobbler is just fine." Amelia said with a small smile. "We have some damages but no casualties, thank the heavens."
"Aye, fer small favors." Silver heaved a heavy sigh.
"You lot have no idea where you landed?"
"I know Captain!" Jim said before Silver could answer. "It was the green planet we had passed earlier today! Maybe four or five hours before the nova."
"You went that far?! Are you sure?!" Amelia asked, blinking her large feline eyes in surprise.
"Positive. We moved fast, the waves of energy pushed us pretty hard." Jim smiled, and a large, warm hand fell on his back as Silver chuckled.
"They boy's got a good head on them shoulders, even if he don't always use it." Silver chortled. "I'd believe him Captain."
"Very well. We were blasted horribly off course ourselves, and the repairs we do have to make will take some time. I suspect we can be there in two days time, at the earliest."
"Two days!?" Jim gaped. "But Silver's hurt!"
Amelia's face went hard and her eyes turned on the cook.
"How bad is it?" Amelia asked. Silver sighed and gave Jim a sideways glance before shrugging.
"Puncture wound in the back, missed all the organs but it's nasty, according to Mr. Hawkins. And me right arm is out of commission until I can get the tools to repair it."
"Well the arm is a hindrance, but not life threatening. The puncture worries me. If we are able to get there any faster, we will, but we are currently unable to move, due to the damage to our energy cells." Amelia sighed.
"You do what you gotta do Captain." Silver said with a smile. "Jim's been takin care of me injuries, and I aint to frail I'm gonna fall apart in a couple o'days."
The Captain gave an approving smile and a nod.
"Understood Silver. Thank you. Just hang in there, and stay safe. We will be around to get you both as soon as we are able."
"Aye Captain." The two men said at the same time before the screen went black. Silver closed the little box and leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes.
"How you feeling?" Jim asked, pulling the torn sail up onto Silver's chest, like a blanket. Silver smiled and put an arm around Jim, pulling him in tight against his large body.
"Tired and cold, Jimbo. And my back hurts like a blighter. But I'll hang in there." Silver sighed and looked down at him. "You okay? I know ye said you only had some bruisin but…"
"I'm fine, really." Jim said, his face turning red at the sudden closeness of Silver. "You...you protected me from the worst of it. Thank you."
Silver laughed and shrugged, before wincing. Morph gave a worried trill as eyes appeared on the scarf to look up at him.
"Ah, its me job, Jimbo. Captain put yeh in my care, after all." Jim smiled at this and sighed, resting his head on Silver's belly, closing his eyes.
"For a moment I thought you were dead…" Jim admitted, feeling a burning in his eyes as it all finally started to hit, now that shock had worn off some.
"Oh, Jim." Silver's voice was soft as his paw-like fingers brushed Jim's hair. "It's alright now…"
That did it. Jim gave one small sniff before burying his face into Silvers stomach and letting the tears just pour.
Jim cried long and hard, everything that had happened that day rushing back to him, the fear, for both his own life and Silvers, the uncertainty, his embarrassment from earlier, it all hit him at once. The entire time Silver just sat with him, gently petting Jim's hair and back, making small soothing sounds and words as eventually, Jim drifted off to sleep while weeping.
When Jim woke up it was dark outside, and the fire was at embers. I'm warm… He thought as he turned over and looked at Silver, who was also asleep. They were both laying down now, Silver curled up against Jim's back, with his good arm draped over him, the old sail covering them both. It was surprisingly warm and comfortable.
Jim turned over completely so that he was facing Silver, and just examined the sleeping face. He looks older when he's asleep. He thought. More serious. I wonder if he has bad dreams? Jim raised one hand up and cupped Silver's face, something he would never have dared to do if he had been awake.
"Don't scare me like that again, old man." He said quietly, despite knowing Silver couldn't hear. Or perhaps it was BECAUSE Silver couldn't hear. "Even if it is foolish, I do love you. So don't leave me alone…"
Jim sighed and curled up closer against the broad chest, savoring the warmth as the arm around him tightened, and he fell back into his uneasy sleep.