A/N: Let me please begin by profusely apologizing for the ridiculous delay in updating…
I ask for feedback, receive an INSANE AMOUNT! and then don't update .
The only thing I can say is that I work in IT and can't bring myself to sit at a PC afterwards lol
I've also been wishy-washy about where to take this story…A weird pressure built to not disappoint any reader..O.o I know, somethings better than nothing I hope?
Also, thank you to each and every one of you who read and reviewed! I've been working offline via phone G-Docs and each time I got a review email I updated. An especial thanks to Oddments and Tweaks who had a great grammar correction and tojes 32321, lol your last review was the kick I needed to just publish this!
Ok enough ramblings =P I don't own annnyyything related to the NATM, its story or characters. Also, I'd love anyone who'd wanna beta these chaps! I'd really help me best them out! Please lemme know what you think and if you have any suggestions!
7 Days & 7 Nights: Mission-Bound Sacagawea and Conversation by Fire
Ch 5
Sacagawea had been with the group, ready to assist in any way possible up until the first moment when the Prince had been physically, and violently ill. That's when she'd known she needed to leave.
She'd had complete faith that Lawrence would be able to convince the Jackals to let them help, but she also knew they'd need medicine. With a heavy heart she turned from the scene and the youngest, most traumatized members of the museum.
Her bare feet and agile form carried her silently and swiftly through the museum towards one of her destinations.
Sacagawea had been watching the museum residents for a long time now and in her 50 odd years of doing so she'd seen many of the civil war members get gravely injured, along with others, only to be healed by the tablet while they slept the next day. She herself had even been cut badly during a particularly nasty fight between Lewis and Clark. The next morning she'd woken up cut free and only a faint tingling sensation where it'd been.
With this knowledge she was almost completely sure that if they could simply ease the youths pain and manage his symptoms until the morning that the tablet would do the rest and heal its owner fully. If they weren't able to and he passed away in the night….She wasn't sure if the Tablet would be able to heal that….
With this knowledge she intended to ease his pain, soothe his stomach and she knew that drinking charcoal would help absorb anything his stomach was attempting to reject.
Stopping by her own exhibit she gathered some dried specimens of flowers, poppies, that the boys had collected, and a bag which she used to hold pieces of charcoal she picked from Lewis and Clarks fire pit.
She then took the stairs to the lobby, they were quicker that way, and across to the gift shop thankful for the signs covering the windows. Once inside she darted over the smooth counter of the baristas area.
She'd seen many people with steaming cups that originated from this place, and once when she'd asked Larry about them he'd brought her something called a "Carmel Macchiato" that although very sweet, had utterly delighted her.
Getting back to the task at hand, her eyes finally landed on a large white bag with a red + sign that she knew meant first aid. She'd come here specifically for its first aid kit, hoping it contained equipment more specified towards the treatment of burns. A quick glance inside confirmed this suspicion.
She glanced around and spotted a ginger root tea mix which she snatched up as well before hopping over the counter again.
She was just about to make her way up the stairs again when the form of the Former President exited the stairway himself with the Roman General perched on his shoulder. The two men's faces instantly shifted from determined and stressed to relief. She rushed forward to hug Teddy, mindful of the miniature on his shoulder who blushed at their display of affection.
When she pulled back she smiled before quickly she explained her plan to gather medicine and return. She listened to the two men as they filled her in on the events she'd missed before the three took off in the direction of the security office.
Meanwhile, after Teddy and Oct had left in search of Sacagawea, Larry and Jed had returned to caring for Ahk from their positions beside the young man.
As they watched the teenager and waited his face seemed to shift between pained, scared and exhausted. At times he would go so still that the Guard and Cowboy would lean forward on the verge of action as they waited for the young King to breathe again. He would eventually, but every time it gave them both a heart attack. As the duo sat and cared for Ahk, switching the cloth on his forhead in an attempt to make him more comfortable as well as lower his fever.
Larry couldn't stop his mind from wandering as it kept circling back to the Miniatures reactions to his anger earlier…as well as the story they'd told him regarding Ahk's cat and the previous Guard's etiquette.
"Jedediah?" He spoke finally, they'd been silent for a bit. "How often, and how badly did the previous Guards abuse you guys?"
He made sure he kept his anger out of his tone and instead kept it flat as he asked the Cowboy.
The reaction in the small Man was immediate anyway, his skin turned ash white and his posture stiffened. 'So it wasn't just my demeanor...'
Jed ducked his head down and averted his eyes from Larry.
"Not all tha' time…Jus' when we was deservin' o' bein' treat'd like that…or if we wasn't fast 'nough ta geta away..." The words tumbled out quietly before he could stop himself, his thickening accent a total 'tell' that he was very upset.
Larry signed as he struggle to prevent rage from filling his mind. This was a landmine of a subject, Larry couldn't even mention the previous guards without sending either of the miniatures into a fit of anxiety, with almost PTSD like behavior.
"That wasn't right Jed, on any level…We're going to table this again for now. Not because it isn't worth talking about, but because it's too important and you're too important to cause you to get upset without Oct here. I mean I can't even give you a hug man…"
Jed responded by nodding but he also ducked his head even more and pulled his hat lower, not even denying the Oct comment or the need to be comforted.
"Jed…Jed? Jedediah Smith." Larry paused long enough for the startled Western man to raise his embarrassed and tear stained face to meet Larry's.
"I mean that with every fiber of my being Jedediah. You could never do anything that would cause you, or anyone to be verbally or physically punished by those Guards. Or anyone including myself…I may get angry, but I wouldn't, and never will intentionally harm you in anyway." Larry finished firmly.
Jedediah roughly wiped at his face and nodded adamantly, not trusting his voice.
Larry reached out and gently patted the Cowboy on the back, the closest thing he could manage to a hug considering their size difference. The cowboy turned and awkwardly 'hugged' Larry's palm before wiping his face again and nodding towards Ahk who had begun to weakly toss and turn as he slept.
"Help me get closer ta Ahk Gigantor?" Larry smiled as he gently maneuvered the miniature into place and listened as he successfully managed to soothe the youth.
It had been about 40 minutes since the duo had left in search of the Indian woman, and about 20 since their conversation when the Pharaoh began to gasp in pain and writhe in pain.
Ahkmenrah had been fighting off a particularly bad wave of pain as he clenched his fists weakly and arched off the bed when a spike traveled up his spine only to explode into pain throughout his limbs.
The Egyptian sobbed shallow breaths when he could as Jedediah tried to verbally and unsuccessfully to calm the teen while Larry gently held his shoulders to prevent him from hurting himself.
The two were caught completely off guard themselves when they realized the sobs had turned into broken Egyptian words, spoken instead on sobbed and heaving breaths.
"What in tarnation is he sayin' Boss?" Jed asked helplessly, wishing for the millionth time that night that he was not a miniature replica and also spoke Egypian.
"I have no idea Jed, I..I don't know…He's saying Ra atleast which is his God, and….I think that I heard the word for fire…" His mind drifted to a night a few weeks ago when a fire had erupted, caused by the cavemen of course, and Ahk had yelled in Egyptian in shock. I had taken a moment for the smell, and context to dawn on Larry and for him to realize the words Ahkmenrah were yelling meant "Fire! Fire! Help!".
That was definitely the same word he was mumbling now, maybe the fever was making him think he was on fire. Very likely consider the teen's temperature. As the Pharaoh's little reserve of strength gave out Larry released his shoulders and retrieved the fallen cloth that had been on his forehead then stood to rewet it. Jed moved forward to be able to reach the teen's forhead himself and pulled a stray lock of wild black hair aside before stepping back. When Larry returned with the cloth ice cold he smiled to Jed while turning to sit on the edge of the mattress.
Larry was placing it on Ahk's forhead and just about to address Jed when Ahk groaned and his eyes slowly opened. They were clouded and beyond confused, the pain Larry saw reflected in their hazel depths was unfathomable.
Jed came around and Larry reached out to place the Cowboy on his shoulder for a better vantage as he addressed the teen.
"Ahk, you with us? Its Larry and Jedediah."
"Can you hear us partner?"
The hazel eyes drifted shut again before they cracked and slowly drug their way across the room until they landed on the Cowboy and Guard.
The Pharaoh weakly licked his lips before whispering something in Egyptian, his gaze wavered before locking onto Jed's and a flicker of recognition was seen in their depth.
"Hey Partner..We've got you ok?" Jed spoke softly to the teen that in turn closed his eyes for a moment. There was the faintest movement that might've been an attempt at a nod from the King, but they were unsure. When they opened again they landed on Larry who was struck by how unguarded they seemed. For a brief moment Larry saw a scared and lost 18 year old, looking for a familiar face while he drowned in pain and terrible confusion induced fear. Larry felt sick to his stomach as he reached to help the boy by gently wiping the Egyptians lips, cringing at their cracked state before exchanging the cloths on his forehead. Ahk's eyes sharpened for a moment and he reached for Larry's hand as soon as the new cloth was in place. Larry gasped his hand, mindful of burns and leaned closer.
"…..G..guardian of Brooklyn…Jed..de..diah Sm'th…"
It was whispered almost silently, but both Jed and Larry heard the words and it had relief flooding their bodies. These small moments of recognition from Ahk meant that even if he was in pain, that he was still with them. It didn't make it any easier for anyone, but atleast it gave them something to hold onto.
They spoke gently and quietly to him, reassuring him that they were caring for him and it would be over soon. In their minds, they were both praying for Sacagawea to return with Teddy and Ocativius as soon as possible.
It had been about an hour when the trio entered the Security Office having been held up by other museum exhibits.
Larry couldn't have expressed his gratitude in words towards the beautiful woman who held the supplies she'd gathered, even if he spent the remainder of his life attempting to do so. Overwhelmed with relief he bent his head and allowed her warm arms to enfold him gently into a reassuring, ever the mother, hug. Larry tucked his face into her shoulder and hid his wet eyes.
He felt a warm and firm hand land on his shoulder, without looking he knew it was Teddy.
"It'll be alright Lawrence, with Sacagawea's wiseness in the ways of medicine, as well as this museum, we'll be able to help His Highness and end this nightmare." He finished the speech with a confident bid and smile leaving Larry feeling more confident that they'd get pass this than he had all night.
Pulling back from Sacagawea Larry met her wide brown eyes with conviction.
"What's the plan Sacagawea?"
She perused her lips and frowned before heading over to Ahkmenrah.
"How has he been? As soon as I saw him get I'll the first time I knew we'd need supplies. But please, tell me his symptoms now." She asked quietly, watching the caramel toned teen grimace in pain as he slept fitfully.
Meanwhile, Jedediah had stepped forward from his post at the arm of the couch to meet Oct who had been placed there by Sacagawea.
There was a brief moment between the two that featured Jedediah's forlorn look and Octavius to grasping the blondes forearm to pull him in closer. Jedediah leaned in and whispered something into Octs ear. Whatever it was caused Octs spine to stiffen, and his frame to still until Jed pulled back to meet his equally wet eyes. The two nodded, each casting a glance towards Larry before exchanging another mumbled conversation and separating. Larry caught the whole exchange from the corner of his eye and could only assume it was related to the emotional conversation he'd had with the western leader.
Afterwards the two miniatures parted ways and the Cowboy continued forward to meet Sacagawea, Oct close behind.
He removed his hat, ever the gentleman, before he spoke.
"Greeting Miss Sacagawea, I reckon I cannot say how grateful and whatnot we are you're ok and apologize for not sendin' someone ta look for ya soon'r. His Highness has been wracked with pain spells somethin' fierce since Teddy and Oct left. Muscle spasms, internal organs hurt, his eyes, hearing and head ache and his burns...He was almost with himself for a moment, but he only recognised Gigantor an' myself barely before passin' out again." He paused to bit his lip and steal a glance towards the youth, "We're thinkin' he's havin' nightmares though..."
Larry cleared his throat to interrupt. "But Jedediah's voice seems to pull him back enough to calm him." The pride in his voice was evident to everyone in the room leaving Jed blushing and nodding modestly. Months ago he would never had expected the Cowboy to be so...unsure of himself under that gruff and prideful exterior.
"That's great Jedediah, I think that hearing your voice really does help tether him here and not in his dreams. Please continue to soothe him as it will ease his body and mind. This tea I'm going to make him will smother his pain, intensely so. Please be aware that anything said to you by his Highness may be an unwilling confession and should be treated with care."
They all nodded solemnly before she continued.
"It sounds like if we can do that then he'll be able to sleep comfortably through the night and the tablet should do the rest. He may have another night following this one where he suffers a bit from the leftover effects of this illness however. If that is the case we will reassess then."
The three men nodded again and started helping her by boiling water, creating a makeshift mortar and pestal, and providing her with the utensils she required.
While they worked Jedediah and Octavius made sure Ahk stayed calm, knowing they'd have to wake him soon and get him to drink whatever concoction Sacagawea was creating in order to help him.
Sacagawea scrapped the dried Poppy flower pods before steeping them in the boiling water. As Larry measured the drink mix out into a mug, Teddy and the figurines were crushing and shifting the bits of charcoal into a fine powder. After about 15 minutes she pulled the Poppy pods from the water and added the powered charcoal. The water turned black instantly and thickened a bit. She took that mix and poured it into the mug which Larry stirred gently.
"The Poppy flower has high amounts of a substance that inhibits pain receptors. It will also have an intense sedative effect and should put him out for the night. So deeply in fact he won't even dream, he may even sleep right through tomorrow. Not a terrible prospect honestly, it would give his body more time to heal. The charcoal will absorb anything ill in his system and the ginger should help ease his stomach. Please remember what I mentioned earlier…guard his words well. And Lawrence…He may not be willing to drink that…he must."
Larry nodded solemnly as he removed the spoon and smelled the drink.
"What about dosage? Do we give him a whole mug" He asked.
"The charcoal will be aborbing the effects of the Poppy too so I've created quite a heavy dose, he'll need atleast half of the mug."
Larry nodded in relief that it wouldn't be multiple mugs like he feared and smelled the drink again. Thanks to the ginger tea mix it didn't smell too terrible at all. Under normal circumstances, Larry would've been excited to watch the young King experience a new flavor, much like he did with the rest of the residents.
Now however as he approached the bed he felt guilty at the idea of potentially having to force the youth into drinking the substance. Teddy came up to the bed on the other side with Sacagawea.
Larry gently lowered himself into a sitting position onto the bed next to Ahkmenrah, mindful of the injured youth. He handed Sacagawea the cup before reaching forward to help Teddy pull the Pharaoh up into a semi sitting position as well.
Ahkmehrah groaned pitifully as the change but didn't struggle against them, however weak it would've been.
Pulling Ahk against his chest again in a flash back to their position an hour ago, Larry nodded to Teddy and Sacagawea once the teen was settled. Teddy took the cup and leaned forward, resting a hand on the injured Pharaoh's chest gently to ground him.
"Your Highness? We've got some medicine for you, but you'll need to drink it. Can you do that for us Ahk? Son?"
The teen hadn't opened his eyes during the whole commotion, or even at Teddy's words or touch. However, when the former President had intoned 'Son?' a certain way it had struck a cord in the boy and he managed to crack his eyes enough to seek out the President.
"'Eddy?…med..cn'?" Ahk asked whisper quiet.
Teddy teared up, unable to respond. Sacagawea was the first to get over her shock and responded kindly "Yes Ahk, then you can sleep. You just need to drink this then you can sleep, real sleep."
Either her soothing tone, or the mention of sleep gave Ahk the strength to nod minusculely at her words.
Teddy didn't hesitate to lean forward and gently tip the mug to the Pharaoh's cracked and parched lips.
Surprisingly the Pharaoh didn't need any encouragement to consume the drink, let alone finish it. He weakly but determinedly sipped the beverage. Larry did have to support his frame, and did feel the tremors wrack it as the King struggled to drink the beverage however. Once it was down to a fourth of the mug Sacagawea motioned to Teddy to withdraw the mug and he did so. Larry in turn leaned back a bit and the Egyptian sagged against him.
Within moment his labored breathing was eased and his muscles started to relax as the waves of painful spasms lessened until they ceased. Everyone but Sacagawea was almost concerned at its effectiveness but she remained calm and looked exceptionally pleased with the results. She looked…happy, and relieved for the first time that night, openly smiling.
"It worked perfectly, look at his limbs the muscle contractions have ceased and his diaphragm is no longer spasming either. His mind should also be slipping into a very relaxed state which will end in slumber hopefully immediately." The others relaxed at her words, feeling reassured. Not knowing anything about Medicine killed Larry, he should have thought to learn about some first aid if he was going to Guard these guys…
Larry was struck from his revine by a small voice stating "…'Sbetter.."
He looked down and cocked his head to the side to see the Pharaoh's eyes.
His pupils were blown wide open but he face was finally the relaxed one they were so usued to seeing.
Ahk took a weak breath and said "….w's so…'ared..'lone…"