Chapter Three:

Ashes to Ashes

Things at Dr. Zed's office was at the very least, hectic. Brick did what he could to focus on what was happening. Lilith lay back on the bed. If she was in pain, it was hard to tell. Whatever drugs Dr. Zed had given her, were working in full force. Tannis, who was decked out in full medical attire, was positioned up by Lilith's head, feeding her ice chips that Moxxi had brought. Moxxi was also wearing medical attire that had been crudely altered. It barely contained her heaving chest. The thought of it made Brick smirk. An inappropriate time and place for him to think about it, but it reminded him of an on running joke that he and Mordecai had going. If boobs were weapons than Moxxi's would be a Torgue Legendary.

A firm kick to the side of his head, from a very soft foot brought him back around. Lilith's soulful yellow eyes locked with his. Brick felt the sick feeling moving back in. It wasn't enough to feel guilty about what she and Mordecai were doing. Now he felt guilty for letting himself laugh a little. The longer he looked into her eyes the more he couldn't look away. Something held his gaze. There was an odd glint in her eyes, that calmed him for whatever reason.

"Brick...oh Brick! I'm so utterly fucking glad you're here." Lilith said all too casually.

The F word had never cut a conversation so sharply. Tiny Tina, who was standing against the wall, giggled and murmured something to Mordecai. He was pushing away from the wall. After a long moment, Brick finally nodded to Lilith. A hot blush sat heavy on his cheeks, from the power behind her gaze.

"We fucking missed you Brick. God the last nine months have been such a fucking blur. I can't remember sitting down and seeing that shit eating grin of your. I missed it" The slew of profanity poured from Lilith's lips, like foam from an irritated champagne bottle.

Mordecai stepped up next to her and kissed her temple. "Shh Lil. That's enough now."

"No, no. It's not fucking enough Mordy. We love this guy." A fumbling finger pointed to Brick. "All of this!" She made a grand gesture with her hands, one of them slapping Tannis across the face as it went around.

"Now see here, Lilith, you need to settle down." Tannis blurted out aggrievedly as she wiped the sweat smear from her cheek with a sanitary cloth.

"Oh sorry." Lilith whispered. "I didn't see you there." Lilith giggled, a forced out uneven giggle.

Mordecai shook his head slowly and looked at Brick through foggy lenses. "Did you end up giving her too much of that stuff, you quack?"

Zed, who had been bopping around the room at his own pace, turned his gaze to Mordecai. "Now quit your bitchin' I gave her exactly the right amount. I may not have..."

Moxxi interjected. "A med school degree...we know! Good god do we know."

"Oh, so I must have mentioned that before then?" Zed came back to the bedside with a sleek looking leather bag. "Isn't this a beauty. I ordered these medical tools from Dahl, especially for this. Thought I could use some precision instruments."

"What are you talking about?" Brick cocked an eyebrow at the good doctor.

"The baby is being born through caesarian, Brick" Mordecai said softly, there was gritty undertone to his voice, the kind of tone that revealed he hadn't been getting much sleep.

"What's caesarian?" Brick straightened up as his trembling gaze drifted from Mordecai's to Zed's.

"It means that Zed is gonna cut her open, like slash!..." Tina burst into a wide array of colorful animations. "Then he's gonna pull the baby out with his bare hands. There's going to be blood everywhere, like oh my god..."

"Tina!" Tannis spat harshly. "Anymore of that, you little gargoyle and I'll remove you from this operating room."

Lilith was hazily giggling. "...blood everywhere. She is just a treat. I hope we have a girl."

"Zed's gonna cut her open. No! No way Mordy. You can't let him cut her open. What if he hurts the baby?" Brick felt a panic rush through him.

"Now, I will have you know. I've done this sorta thing hundreds of times..." Dr. Zed undid the clasp on the glossy bag. "...in simulation of course, but there ain't no difference."

"What!?" Brick found his words catching in his throat.

"Mr. Brick, options are very limited. Dr. Zed is the only one who is capable enough to do this kind of surgery. Have a little faith in him, if you please." Tannis lightly dabbed a towel along Lilith's sweaty brow.

"Mordy!" Brick's gaze was stone against Mordecai's tired features.

Mordecai didn't respond, he just slid his hand slowly along Lilith's clammy arm, to hold her hand. Brick flexed, his stomach lurching tightly. The need too run away was growing inside of him like a flood of anxiety. Moxxi looked up at Brick and smiled at him. The smile would have come across as soothing, if it had not been for Moxxi's predatory demeanor.

"Sugar, you need to relax. You're as white as s sheet."

Brick was grateful for her words and wished more than anything that he could relax. But every time he looked at his Mordecai's feminine hand intertwined with Lilith's, it made him more and more uneasy. He knew now that it was a mistake for him to have come. An ice cold hand rested against his arm, bringing his gaze around to see Mordecai looking at him.

"I'm glad you're here with me." He whispered in a sultry voice, his two toned eyes meeting Brick's gaze.

Brick had not even noticed that Mordecai had pushed his goggles up. When did he have a chance to do it? Why had he done it in the first place? There was a warmth surging through Brick now. The thought of Mordecai pushing up his goggles to just see him, made him feel special. If Brick was a dog, his tail would be wagging uncontrollably. Threatening to break off at the base. It had been the first time in six long months that he had felt any kind of connection to Mordecai. He was rattled from this beautiful feeling by the sound of Zed grumbling.

"Of all the god damned things. How could they get the order so wrong!?" Everyone turned their gaze to Zed, who was brandishing a shiny new ripper blade.

It wasn't far off from the type of weapon the psychos used, except newer and shinier. "I guess we'll have to make do with this."

"Fuck no!" Brick growled, feeling the muscle tense in his neck, his arm muscles rippled.

"Brick, if you don't calm down, they're going to have to remove you." Mordecai leaned closed and whispered to him. "I need you right here with me."

Brick's heart started pounding in his chest. The tension that had so fiercely set it, dissipated just as quickly. Being so close to Mordecai was a beautiful feeling. His coffee and whiskey heavy breath was like a million memories washing over Brick all at once. It took so much effort to not embrace him and give him the sloppiest of kisses. No matter how much he wanted to, Brick reminded himself that this thing was bigger than just he and Mordecai. It was about the baby's safety. It was about the future of the towns folk finally being able to have babies.

"Oh, I see." Zed murmured again as he reach into the bag and pulled out a small wooden box. "Here's all the nice tools I ordered. The ripper was just a free gift for ordering over Echonet. Isn't that something?" The slow southern drawl made it sound much more impressive then it was, barring the circumstances.

"Ooooh! Can I have it Zedadiah?" Tina pranced around the room excitedly.

"Well I don't see why..." Zed turned to get the weapon, feeling a firm slap against his forearm.

"No!" Moxxi glared at him.

"Uh...I guess that's a no. Sorry darlin'." Dr. Zed was stoic as always, not a fleck of emotion was spared.

"Ugh this blows. I wanna a ripper to complete my psycho threads." Tina leaned against the wall pouting, not so quietly to herself.

"Alright. I hope everyone's ready for this." Dr. Zed opened the box, the pale light in the room shimmered off the beautiful looking tools.

That was the last thing Brick remembered clearly. Much of the surgery was spent with his hands covering his eyes. Not that he couldn't stomach the sight of blood. Usually he embraced the crimson sheen. It was one of the things that told him, he was winning. But there was something about seeing the blood of his friends, that left him reeling. So it was the sounds of the room that let him know what was going on. From the cutting of the flesh, to the soft thrum of the cauterizing laser, he listened in.

Out of all the sounds in the room. None could have left such a strong mark on him as the sound of the baby's first cries. That was the sound that brought his impossibly large hands away from his eyes. Brick found the source of the sound. A small baby lying wrapped in a towel. Moxxi worked to delicately clean it off. Each time Moxxi moved, the baby would cry harder. A big powerful cry that urged Brick to jump in. It poked his inner animal into action. Protect the baby! The animal called, but what stayed his hand was the sight of big tears running down Moxxi's face. A smile on her colored lips was so wide. As if she were looking at an angel, after a long night of being chased by demons. The tears were on Brick's face as well. Everyone around the room was gawping and crying. Even Tannis, who had no interest in emotions of feelings, teared up.

When Moxxi lay the baby on Lilith's belly, a wave of excitement washed over Brick. A giddy feeling that made him want to bound around like a giant dog, excited to go out. The baby's skin was dark and beautiful, just like Mordecai. There was no denying that the baby was his now. All of Brick's fears had been realized. Mordecai and Lilith were the proud parents of this beautiful miracle. There was no room for him anymore. The thought was further cemented in his mind, by the soft kisses Mordecai rained down upon Lilith's forehead. The wide smile on his face, as he looked down at the beautiful baby. When he looked up at Brick, he reached for him. Run! The animal yelled. Brick turn on his heels and charged out of the room without so much of a word.