Bane of His Existence
Chapter Twenty-Six
Back at Roni's bar…
Henry continued to help Kelly to care for their friend, while the younger man kept wiping Rogers' upper body down as his fever raged on. Meanwhile, they hardly spoke more than a few words to one another while they worked. Finally, Zelena reached down to pick up the bowl of soiled water and walked back upstairs to the main room so she could dump it and get more fresh hot water again. While he waited for her to return, Henry turned his eyes down on his friend's prosthetic and realized this was the first time he had ever seen the fake plastic hand Rogers always kept hidden beneath the black glove he wore. It was the first time he'd ever seen anyone wearing a fake hand aside from those he'd seen on television or in movies.
When Henry heard Zelena coming back down, he quickly lowered it back down against the bed again. But as he did so, he accidentally knocked off the blanket that had been covering Rogers' body from the chest down and he quickly reached down to pick it back up in order to drape it back over him, it was then that he suddenly saw the ugly black striations slowly clawing their way up dangerously close to Rogers' heart. He couldn't stop himself from letting out his expression of shock and fear.
"Oh my God…" he uttered worryingly, as Zelena rushed over despite the bowl of clean water in her hands, which spilled over a little as she did so, then set I back down on the floor before quickly pulling the blanket back up over the wounded man's chest. "What the hell kind of poison makes dark striations like that? And he wasn't just beaten… Rogers was stabbed too. He needs to be in a hospital!"
"The knife wound isn't as bad as it might have looked," she whispered in concern, then pulled some clean bandages from her pocket as well in order to change the bloodied ones covering the wound now and began to minister to him again, pulling up the blanket over his stomach just enough so she could. "As for the striations, we were trying to keep you from seeing them. Only the antidote my sister and Weaver have gone to collect… hopefully, can help him now. He's here with us because right now he's among the few people who care for him, and whom we can trust to take care of him. Who knows who else might be helping Eloise and her coven of witches."
The young man nodded in understanding, then asked again, "All right, but what kind of poison does this? I've never seen anything like it."
Zelena let out a quiet sigh and then responded sadly, "From the looks of it… a very deadly kind. Why else would he be so sick? However, these show just how strong Rogers really is. You're right he should be in the hospital, but with Eloise and her friends still out there, we just can't take the risk that they won't try to hurt him again. Weaver said that one of the security officers there was already one of the witch's minions. Anyone else could be too. That… and Rogers doesn't deserve to be arrested like a criminal either. He doesn't need that added pain and humiliation. He's going to be alright, Henry. You'll see. My sister, Weaver, and Tilly will return soon with the antidote very soon now."
"I hope so," he stated worryingly, then together they continued their ministrations like before.
"I do too," she whispered as well.
At last, Regina suddenly came running into her bar when she returned a short time later and ran down the stairs to where her sister and son were sitting with the man she loved, then carefully pulled the vial she had gotten from Tilly out of her pocket in order to examine it before glancing over at Zelena worryingly.
Henry saw the worry in their eyes, then cleared his throat before he spoke up saying, "Is that the antidote? That liquid will cure those ugly striations covering his chest?"
When Regina looked at him strangely, hoping he hadn't have seen them, Zelena replied nervously, "He did see them. It was an accident. You'd better hurry, Roni. He doesn't have much time left."
"Yes… this is the antidote that will save Rogers' life," Roni answered quietly, as she then sat down on the floor next to where Rogers was lying, pulled the stopper from the top end of the small bottle in her hands, then gently caressed his cheek again before she finally lifted the vial to his lips and carefully poured the liquid past them down his throat. "At least I hope so."
At first, nothing seemed to happen for several minutes. Not that any of them really expected him to suddenly jump up off the bed and begin to dance like he was suddenly healed in a second, like he could have been were it not for the curse that kept the heroes trapped in a new land without magic.
However, Regina pulled away the blanket so they could see his chest and observe the striations that spread widely within his bloodstream and they could see that they had slowly begun to diminish at last. Tears of relief fell from Regina's eyes until she struggled to wipe them away with her hand, then Henry bent down to hug her from behind like he had done often before when he remembered she was his mother to comfort her. Tilly and Weaver both finally returned as well in time to see that the antidote had worked as it was meant to, then walked back up the stairs along with Zelena in order to leave Regina and Henry alone with Detective Rogers.
"You really care about him… don't you?" he asked quietly when he came around and sat down on the floor in front of Roni so he could see her better while they spoke. "I don't mean as just a friend anymore. I mean…"
Regina cut him off as she interrupted, "I know what you mean, Henry. And the answer is yes. Somehow, I think I've fallen in love with him. I couldn't admit that before… until now. I think because I didn't really understand that I had. I'm not sure when it happened either. We haven't really been here… I mean, we have really known one another all that long. But I feel like I've known him for years. I don't think I could have ever admitted that were it not for him being hurt and it kills me it took almost losing him to do so."
Henry smiled sadly as he looked over at his friend who had yet to awaken, then responded, "Love is funny how it works. Most people don't seem to fully understand they're in love with someone, until something like this happens. Rogers will be alright now, Roni. For what it's worth, I'm happy for you. I don't doubt he feels the same way about you. Even with all that Eloise has done to him."
"What I wouldn't give if that were true, Henry," she whispered as she looked over into her son's eyes and smiled as well, then turned back to Rogers before finally continuing to minister to him in silence while she used the clean water to wipe away the sweat covering his face and chest.
Three mornings later…
Rogers was finally well again and returned to his apartment without hardly saying much to Roni or to anyone else after he awoke other than to thank them all for helping him through all that he'd suffered within the last week. It wasn't hard for anyone to see he was blaming himself more than even Eloise for what she had put him through, just as it was clear that he wasn't ready to really talk about it with anyone either. And no one pressed him into doing so, except for Weaver when he had to talk with his partner about the crimes for the sake of their case against Eloise Gardener, Maggie Dawson, Diana Levinson, Officer Gabriel Burke, and the Stabbington brothers.
When he finished packing some of his things into a duffle bag after yet another restless sleep and slung it over his back, then left his apartment, Rogers walked into downtown Hyperion Heights since he no longer had his car that he'd been told had been blown up, and walked into Roni's bar at last since he had left there two days before so he could say goodbye. Tilly, his partner, Henry and Kelly were already inside as Roni stood behind the bar as she washed the glasses she hadn't gotten around to cleaning from the night before.
"So… you're certain you have everything you need then?" Weaver asked first as he walked over to his partner, who had told him the night before that he was going to take some time to himself for awhile in order to sort some things out. "One bag?"
Rogers smiled and reached out to shake his hand, then replied, "I've never been one for carrying around too many personal possessions. I never needed much space. I want to thank you again, Weaver. Not just for all you've done to clear my name, but for believing in me enough in the first place to make me your partner. It means a lot that you see me differently than how most everyone else do."
He then looked between Kelly, Tilly, Henry… until his eyes stopped on Roni's while he whispered, "All of you."
"When you do find yourself again, you will always have a place as my partner no matter how long it takes, detective," Gold answered, as Regina finally walked out from behind the bar to stand between her sister and her son. "And I will be sure to let you know what comes next for Eloise and the others as soon as I learn anything myself. They can't hide forever. Although, I suspect they won't want to either."
"Thank you," Rogers said again.
Tilly simply waved her hand at the younger detective when he turned to her and started to thank her as well until she quickly stated, "You don't have to thank me for anything. I didn't do anything you haven't done for me already. I'm just glad you're alright."
Knowing the young woman wouldn't appreciate any words of gratitude even then, he just smiled and nodded his head towards her, then she smiled until she finally ran off, while both Kelly and Henry reached out to pull their friend into a hug, which Rogers tensed up at, yet didn't push them away.
Henry patted Rogers' shoulder and then spoke up saying, "Don't stay away too long. And stay safe. Remember… we have those books to write once we bring down all who's corrupt and that's wrong with this town. But we can't do it without you. We're in this together."
"I'll be back, I promise," the younger detective responded assuredly. "Take care of Lucy and Jacinda. I'm certain that little girl will be just fine. She's strong."
"Thank you… I will," Henry replied, then walked back to the bar along with Zelena and Detective Weaver so that Roni and Rogers could talk more alone.
She was the first one to speak as she asked quietly, "So… you're certain you have to leave then?"
He looked at her sadly as he nodded and then answered, "I'm afraid so. Just for a little while. Until I can try to get my head back on straight. I can't do that here… so long as she's still out there somewhere. Physically I feel fine, but mentally… I'm not so sure. Eloise's betrayal was… quite a shock. She used me in… in unthinkable ways and made me believe that I was the monster. That I am a monster. I may be cleared of any wrongdoing thanks to Weaver, you, Tilly, and the others, but I still killed that doctor even if I was drugged. I can't just return to being a detective again right now and pretend like none of this has happened. Despite all that I went through because of Eloise, I still can't disconnect from the feelings I've felt for her completely as much as I want to. That makes me dangerous. I have to figure out how to fix that, though I have no idea how. I just know I can't risk any more lives, especially any of yours should I fall like that again."
"You won't," Regina responded more emotionally than she intended to allow herself to show in front of him, then pulled him in close in an embrace much to Rogers' surprise. "You won't because whether or not you want us to be, we'll all always be here for you. You're stronger than you think you are, Rogers. You can't give up."
"I ah… I suppose I did tell you about the dreams… I have been having then?" Rogers questioned awkwardly after he gently pulled back from her so he could see into her eyes. "A part of me feared I might have. I'm sorry. I was just… out of my mind because I was so sick."
She looked at him strangely as she asked, "Why are you apologizing for that? I'm grateful you told me. I'm glad that despite all of these nightmares and sleepless nights you've suffered through, that there is at least one good dream that's given you some comfort. I hope it continues. And that you find her. The woman you've been seeing in them."
He finally leaned in close and kissed her on her cheek, then whispered, "Those things I dreamt… they're only a dream. One of the best I've ever had, but a dream nonetheless. I doubt this woman is real. But I want to thank you, Roni. For somehow… saving my life and helping me to see how foolish I've been for becoming so obsessed with a woman who isn't who I thought she was, as Weaver had tried to do too. My obsession almost killed me. Were it not for you… all of you, I know I would have died and I would still be wanted for murder. If there's anything you ever need…"
"I'll know who to ask," Regina quickly replied before he could finish. "I'm just grateful that you're going to be alright. Like Henry said… come back soon. We need you to bring the evils here in Hyperion Heights down. Don't forget, you're a good man."
"I'll try not to," Rogers finally answered and then waved to the others before he finally turned to leave the bar for however long he would be away for, with no more than a single bag on his back.
What no one expected was that the next time they would see him, would be when Rogers came through the door of Roni's bar disheveled and bleeding once again as he suddenly collapsed in front of those inside, including Regina as she immediately rushed out from behind her bar to help him. But that's a story for another time.
For now, Eloise Gardener whose true identity was that a witch who calls herself Mother Gothel, was still out in hiding along with three of her sister witches while they continued to search for the rest of their sisters to complete their coven of eight. However, Gothel still continued to hold onto her own obsession for the man she had yet to destroy.
The End
