Title: Hellfire 2/2
Author: ShadoutCarver
Rating: Some iffy language, violence
Book or TV verse: TV verse
Disclaimer: Dresden Files belongs to Jim Butcher and Scifi Channel
Summary: Things go terribly wrong
Warnings: some days are bad, and produce fic that is neither funny nor fluffy
Beta'd by anysia
II
Morgan barged his way into Harry's apartment, heedless of the wards that stripped him of his power as he crossed the threshold. He had Dresden slung over his shoulder in a fireman's carry, and staggered under the load.
He dumped Dresden unceremoniously unto the couch. He placed Dresden's hockey stick, shield bracelet and pentacle on a nearby table and sat down to wait.
He didn't have to wait long. Dresden woke with a start. His confusion quickly dissipated as he remembered.
"What are you waiting for, Morgan?" he asked tonelessly.
"I didn't come to kill you, Dresden."
"Why not?" the sudden note of desperate pleading in Dresden's voice startled Morgan. "You know what I did to that man." He was looking at his hockey stick. "I'm just another Morningway, right? Finish it, finish us."
"Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden!" the bellow startled Morgan so badly he jumped in his chair. Dresden froze.
"You will be silent!" It was Hrothbert of Bainbridge, out of his skull, furious and looking larger than normal.
He looked at Morgan. "Warden. Would you please tell me what's happened?"
Dresden opened his mouth to say something but was silenced by a stern glance from his ghost. The response was almost childlike, Morgan mused.
He recounted the events in the alley leaving out nothing, including Harry's accusations against him.
The ghost closed his eyes briefly. He knelt beside the couch.
"Look at me, Harry." He ordered sternly.
"Bob?" a small voice.
"Listen to me, Harry. You are not a Morningway. You have never been, are not, and never will be anything like the Morningways. Trust me, son, I know what a Morningway is like."
Morgan was startled by the gentle intimacy with which ghost treated the wizard.
" Tell me what you did."
Dresden would not look up, and spoke to a spot on the floor. "A man shot Murph. I thought she was dead. She looked dead. " Dresden explained in an anguished voice. "I destroyed him. Bob, I used.." his voice trailed off. "I used hellfire" he whispered, guilt and pain in every line of his body.
"You did what every single officer of the Chicago Police Department would have done, if they could have, but it is you who will have to live with this. Now shush, Harry, close your eyes now. Sleep. I'm here."
Much to Morgans surprise, Dresden fell off in a deep sleep almost immediately. Hypnotism? Probably. Voice was the only power left to the cursed ghost, after all.
Bainbridge signaled to Morgan. The two walked through the hallway to Dresden's storefront office.
"Do you plan to kill Harry?" The ghost asked Morgan bluntly.
"No, why, are you worried about yourself?" Morgan snapped.
Bainbridge stiffened.
"No, Warden. I will be passed to someone else when Harry dies, no matter when that is. I have no illusions about that." he closed his eyes briefly. "I serve Harry willingly. It has been a long time since I could say that.' He paused, trying to gather control. "If you are going to kill him I wish to … ease it for him, if you will permit it."
"I have no plans to kill Dresden." Morgan relented. " Nor will there be a trial. Mai left the decision to me."
The ghost seemed to deflate a bit as relief flooded him. Morgan thought he saw tears beginning to form, but Bainbridge lowered his head and looked at the floor.
"Thank You." He said simply
Morgan returned through the short hallway to the living area, giving the ghost time to regain his composure.
Bainbridge followed in a few minutes.
"He truly isn't a Morningway." Bob gestured to the sleeping wizard.
"I know."
"I know you won't believe me, Warden, but I do love the boy." He looked evenly at Morgan.
Morgan realized with some surprise that he believed the ghost's uncharacteristic confession. He wondered at the trust Bainbridge was showing him.
He nodded, turned, he needed to find out how his wardens were faring in their assignments. He left the two behind him in peace.