Chapter Two: Dreams?
Axel walks through the portal carrying an unconscious Demyx. He looks at Vexen for directions. Vexen says," Lay him on the cot." Axel does that while Vexen follows him. Once he is settles Axel looks at Marly and sees he's asleep. "A lot of help he is." Vexen is walking away then comes back with surgical scissors. He says," Axel, help me with him." Warily Axel questions," What do you mean?" Vexen unzips Demyx's coat and slices the sleeves. "Help lift him up so I can get these off him." He cuts down the front of the teen's black t-shirt then its sleeves. He sets down the scissors then motions for Axel to lift him up. Axel does and Demyx groans in his sleep. Vexen pulls the coat and shirt out from under him. Axel sets him back down," Sorry Dem." Vexen says," Just sit with him for now, Axel." Axel sits in the chair so that he won't get in Vexen's way.
Vexen pulls off the sitarist's gloves then his boots and socks. "Axel, take everything of his except the boots and gloves and dispose of them." He gathers the clothes then walks out of the room. Vexen picks up the scissors again now that the redhead is gone. He cuts from the bottom of Demyx's pant legs to the very top. He is careful not to cut Demyx's boxers with them. He drops the pants in the floor beside the bed. He reaches for the thin sheet that is lying at the foot of the cot. He covers up the blonde to his waist then quickly makes a cold compress for his forehead. Dem still has a fever and his sunburn is more than hot to the touch. Vexen takes the IV next and gently puts it in the back of Demyx's hand. He opens a drawer in the bedside table and pulls out medical tape. He secures the IV then walks away to check on his other patient.
Vexen sees that Marluxia is still asleep. He removes the icepack and towel and takes note that his ankle is still red but the swelling has gone down some. He moves away and gets a wrap for it. He winds it tightly around Marluxia's ankle then throws away the ice. He puts the towels in a basket then throws out Demyx's pants as Axel returns. Vexen watches as he looks at both Demyx and Marluxia then says," Go on to bed, Axel. I'll tell you if either wakes up." Axel asks," What'd Marluxia do?" Vexen tells him," Only a sprained ankle. He'll be fine." Axel nods and gives Demyx one last glance then opens a portal to his room and leaves. Vexen checks on Demyx one last time then retires to his own room.
A few hours later in the dead of night, screams wake the castle. Marluxia jumps awake and falls of the table. He tries to get up as Vexen runs in the room. "Stay there, Marluxia!" Next, Axel comes running through a portal into the lab. Suddenly, another portal opens behind Axel and Zexion walks through. He winces as Demyx screams again. Vexen shouts," Axel, help Marluxia back onto the table. Zexion, since you're here help me with Demyx." Axel begins his task and Zexion follows Vexen over to the cot. Vexen says," Make sure he doesn't pull out that IV." Vexen gets a syringe and injects it into the IV. In a minute Demyx's screaming stops and he relaxes. Vexen gets rid of the syringe and the abandoned washcloth that was on Demyx's forehead as Zexion sits down by the cot and Axel sits beside Marluxia on the metal operating table. Vexen puts the sheet back over Demyx since it was dislodged by the boy's thrashing. Axel asks," What was that about?" Vexen replies," I have a theory. One moment." He walks out and Marluxia asks," So why are you here Zexion?" He tells him," It's hard to sleep through screams like his. I came to see if I could help." Vexen walks back in with a book in hand. Axel asks," Well?" Vexen replies," Dreams. Hallucinations to be more precise."