Chapter 3: Out of Memory
Disclaimer: While I am borrowing many of the characters created by J.K. Rowling, all rights to those characters remain solely with her. I am neither receiving nor soliciting any monetary recompense for this story.
The next time Severus became conscious, he was immediately aware of three things. First, he was cold. Not just chilled but teeth chattering cold. Second, he still had a splitting headache though the sun must have gone down as it was dark. Third, he still hurt, though the pain had dulled somewhat. He felt a heavy weight on his body and managed to open his eyes a bit, trying to determine what was sitting on his chest. He saw a thick blanket covering him and relaxed a bit into the new warmth. He realized he was in a very comfortable bed, in a darkened room that was lit by only two small oil lamps, whose flames were flickering gently, throwing dancing shadows on the ceiling.
Blinking a few times to clear his blurred vision, he started a little when a young woman bent over him into his line of sight.
"Easy now," she said gently "you're safe. You were suffering from a near case of heat stroke. We managed to get your body temperature down by covering you in ice, which is probably why you feel so cold now. We just took off the ice and got you dried off, but you still need to rest. How's your head feeling...still hurt?"
Severus tried to form words but his throat was very dry. Seeing his problem, Sara poured some water into a cup from a pitcher sitting on a side table, and putting her arm behind his head to support him, she tipped the cup and allowed him to drink, giggling slightly at his grimace. Gently easing him back down, she said
"I should have warned you. Doc Sam created this concoction especially for fighting heat stress and heat stroke. He says it is supposed to get your body back in 'chemical alignment,'" here she rolled her eyes "personally, I think it's his revenge for anyone who should know better than to get overheated. Still, I can't deny it works. How does your head feel?" she repeated.
"Like someone is trying to bury an axe in my brain" Severus said, his voice rough. "where am I?"
"Well, you are in Nevada on my ranch, the Misty Range. I found you about 6 miles out in an area we only check a couple of times a month. It isn't a good area for grazing cattle and is almost desert like. You're lucky I found you. Another few hours and you would have been in pretty grave condition."
"Nevada," Severus murmured. "That's in the states."
"That's right," Sara said puzzled. "Didn't you know where you were? I didn't see a horse or vehicle anywhere..what is your name anyway? Do you know how you got out there..it isn't a well known spot and not easily accessed. The property is fenced, and the gates are locked, how did you get in?"
Trying to follow her questions, irritated that she was speaking so fast, he waited for her to take a breath.
"Will you slow down woman," he said irritably, nodding, slightly, in satisfaction as she dropped her eyes, blushing.
"In answer to the last questions, I have no idea how I came to be on your property. As for my name, it is," here Severus paused, his brow wrinkling a bit in confusion. "It is," he started again.
Sara looked at him, watching as a myriad of emotions went across his face, worry and confusion the most prominent.
"Are you OK?" she asked.
"It seems that not only can I not remember how I came to be on your property, I also cannot remember my name" Severus finally admitted.
"Oh boy," Sara said unhelpfully. "Doc Sam said you had a minor concussion but that you shouldn't have any problems from it and amnesia isn't a normal symptom of heat stress. Can you remember anything?"
Closing his eyes for a minute, Severus thought. "Some lights, multiple colors, voices and heat," Severus finally said, opening his eyes again to see Sara looking at him.
"Not too helpful," Sara grumbled. "Doc Sam said to call him if complications set in. I better get a hold of him," Sara said, as she got up from the chair she had been occupying and made to leave the room.
"Wait," Severus said, putting his hand out and catching her wrist, "what is your name?" he asked.
"Sara," she replied, "Sara Hunter."
"I thank you for your help Mrs Hunter," Severus said.
"Miss," Sara responded, "I'm not married. And call me Sara, we are pretty informal around here. Take it easy for a bit, I'll be right back."
Severus watched as Sara left the room and he heard Sara give instructions to whomever she was speaking with to call this Doc Sam. A few minutes later she walked back in.
"Carmen, my cook and general conscience," he saw Sara smile "is going to call Doc Sam. Depending on where he is it might take him a bit to get here. I didn't make it an emergency as you seem fine other than your memory. Do you feel sick at all?" she asked him.
"No, just chilled though the blanket is helping. My head is still splitting and other than being a little sore, I am OK."
Sara went over to a closet and pulled out another blanket, draping it gently over Severus.
"Doc and his ice. First heat stress and then hypothermia. That man is the devil incarnate," Sara mumbled to herself.
"How badly am I injured?" Severus asked, distracting Sara from her muttering.
"Well, Doc said you have three broken ribs, a mild concussion and a lot of nasty bruises. He figures you were in a fight of some sort rather than a fall," she looked at him questioningly.
"Afraid I cannot help you there as I cannot remember a thing," Severus said in response.
"He taped up your ribs but as for the rest, time and rest is about the only cure," she told him. "Speaking of rest, why don't you close your eyes and relax for a while, it should help with the headache. As I said, it could take a while before Doc gets here. Doc is going to get sickeningly protective when he gets here, so you need your strength to keep from killing him," she said grinning.
Smiling at her teasing, Severus, feeling suddenly tired, closed his eyes and drifted off.
