John stood in the hallway across from the healer's cell. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, head down lost in thought.
What kind of son was he?
His father was right, this was his responsibility. The healer admitted his wrong doings, so there could be no more silence this time between them. Not anymore.
He had run from his father years ago, ruining their relationship, getting his brother killed. John squeezed his eyes tightly shut then opened them and glared at the door across from him.
He pretended to be his friend!
And all the while he'd been using him…..drugging him…
John growled softly and slammed his fist against the wall behind him.
Two guards standing by the door looked hesitantly his way.
"Leave." John ordered, still glaring at the door.
"M'lord?" one of them asked.
John turned his head to both guards, the look on his face making them swallow heavily.
"Now." his voice like steel.
The guards looked at each other for a moment and in quiet agreement turned to leave, one of them handing John the key to the cell as they departed.
Once the hallway was clear, John stepped forward, unlocked the door and stepped into the room.
Carson's mind was on fire, full of images of shadows torturing him, ripping his lips off; of crystal palaces being swallowed up by rough seas, of pale monsters with sharp teeth and hunger in their eyes.
He groaned clutching his head and pulling himself into an even tighter fetal position on the too small cot as the images continued. He and Nahkhan were flying through the stars, then running through flames, the blood of dead children raining down on them and it was all his fault…all his fault…
Maybe the Sovereign was right…
A creaking sound swallowed up the images and Carson's eyes snapped open; they had stopped feeding him since the day before and his throat was dry, head cracking apart.
He slowly sat up, his body sore and looked towards the door; a tired look of surprise on his face to see Nahkhan standing inside the room, the closed door behind him.
"M...m'lord." he croaked out, struggling to a standing position. He could feel his mouth moving from a smile to a frown to a tight grin and back…not sure what he should be feeling.
John stared at the man in front of him.
"Why?" he asked, his mossy eyes dark and flat.
Carson's eyes widened, feeling his throat tighten up.
John waited, his face slowly morphing into anger as Carson's silence continued.
"All this time….all this time you lied to me." John's voice was gritty.
"I thought we were friends…but you used me to hurt my father. You manipulated me…" John took a step towards the healer. "Drugged me, to keep me in my delusions so while my father was taking care of his crazy son…you and your people could take over everything he built!"
Carson started wringing his hands, has eyes never leaving John's.
"Nay, that's a lie! I would never do that to ya!" his voice was low, cracking, desperate. "There's something wrong m'lord." Carson took a hesitant step toward John. "We don't…we don't belong … the crystal towers…I-I saw…I…Atlantis, it's..!"
He never had a chance to finish as John rushed forward and punched him hard across the face knocking him to the ground.
The world whited out and sounds became muted, then a large weight landed on him and Carson became instantly alert; the Sovereign's son was straddled over him landing punch after punch across his face.
Words like a far off radio broadcast filtering in and out.
"Liar!"
"Traitor!"
"…trusted you!"
Carson tried to hold his hands up to protect his face, but Nahkhan's legs trapped them against his body, he squirmed trying to get away, but the Sovereign's son was strong and his fists continued their onslaught.
"No n-no!" Carson pleaded, tears streamed down mixing with the blood on his face, one cheek already starting to swell.
Then suddenly through blurred vision, Nahkhan's figure morphed into something dark and monstrous, his fists turning into legs, so many legs…and a feeling of horror slammed into Carson and he screamed…
"STOP TOUCHING ME!"
John gasped and froze, his fist in mid swing; he looked down at the healer beneath him and quickly scampered off, his back slamming up against the side of the small bed.
That was the loudest he had ever heard Arex speak.
He looked down at his shaking hands that were covered in blood then at the writhing man next to him. The emotion in those three shouted words bringing John back to a nightmare of his own. He flinched as the healer dragged himself to the nearby wall and leaned against it breathing heavily and murmuring,
"No…no…"
John's eyes widened and he shook his head quickly, images flashing through his mind too fast to see. "Get out." he whispered.
The healer only stared at him, his face bloodied and bruised.
"Wha?" the man croaked, the Sovereign's son was staring at him with a shell-shocked look on his face.
John stared at Carson the images flying through his mind now tightening their hold on him causing him to cry out gripping his head in pain.
He loved his father…
His father wanted to be proud of him…
But Arex was his friend!
A friend who betrayed and manipulated him…
The towers…
Teyla…
The clicking darkness….the clicking dark…
"GET OUT!" John shouted.
Carson flinched and with the help of the wall, he struggled, pulling himself to his feet.
"C-come….w'me." Carson's voice faltered, more tears slipped down his distraught face.
John could only stare up at his ex-friend; a feeling of despair overtaking him.
"You…you ruined everything." John muttered. "Everything."
A tear dropped from his eye and he turned away as the door to the cell swung open; one of the guards who hadn't gone too far was standing there.
John looked at the guard. "Get him out of here." his voice, an order.
His glare returned to Carson and he continued. "The crippled healer with the speech impediment is no longer welcomed in the manor, do not let him gather his belongings, he is to leave this house exactly how he is… Unwanted and alone."
The abundance of emotions that flashed between the two men confused the guard for a moment leaving him frozen in place. Worry, concern, anger, despair, astonishment, confusion, hatred, sadness, longing.
So strong the emotions the guard's mouth slipped open, a soft gasp leaving his lips.
"Guard!" John growled.
The man startled, then nodded and marched forward grabbing Carson by the arm pulling him from the room, Carson mumbling sadly, "M'sorry m'lord...m'sorry." as they left.
The room was silent for a minute then a soft cry came from John as he clasped his hands to the side of this head and slowly closed his eyes.
-tbc-
Antipodes – the answer to your question is no. But after your second comment, they felt less like reviews and more like something you could PM me about, as was your third comment. I would have explained, but I couldn't respond back as you have a guest account. No offense was meant.