A Promise to be Better 42
Author: Raven Dancer
disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling except for the Drs. Barnes, Beryl and Gibbons. I receive no monetary compensation for these works.
Summary: Awakenings
Streams of yellow light trailed across the bed and floor, contrasting with the deepening shadows in the nooks of the ward. The curtain had been drawn, as much to keep out the gathering night as to preserve the light spilling out from several lamps.
The limp figure of the dog was lolling on the floor, eyes nearly shut. A puddle of drool was forming under the slightly gaping mouth. Front legs were outstretched, as the beast lay flat on its side as though tossed aside. It wasn't a natural sleep.
In a chair next to the animal was sprawled the young Healer. Someone had tucked a blanket around the somnolent wizard, and pulled up to his chin. It rose and fell softly with each breath. One hkand was balanced on his lap, the other had fallen off to the side still holding the leash. The leash was attached to the collar: the collar of the dog lolling on the floor in a widening pool of drool.
Several lit lamps floated above the bed exposing both occupants: a pale face wreathed in long black hair, dark circles around the closed eyes nearly matching. Gaunt cheeks. The figure was unmoving but for the slightest expansion and contraction of the nostrils as he breathed.
Snug against the long, thin body was another. The peppered brown head covering the other's chest as though listening to the heart beat, listening to the lungs fill... arms protectively holding tight... leg even thrown over the other's legs as if to keep him shielded.
No sound but the breathing of four bodies. Until...
"I have to go to the loo," Snape barely whispered.
"I know," Dr. James replied.
"You have to go, too," Snape rejoined, a sly smile playing over his lips.
"I know," Dr. James answered.
"You're hungry, too," Snape pointed out.
"Yep," Dr. James chuckled and shifted in the bed.
"I have to go," Snape reiterated. James turned slightly and grabbed a plastic container off the table. He held it out to his bedmate. Snape curled his lip in a disgusted sneer.
"I will NOT use that thing!" he snarled. James chuckled.
"They wash 'em. You've probably sent students here for detention to wash them," the Healer pointed out.
"I do NOT care if it's been sanitized in dragon's fire, I will not use that thing!" Snape's voice dripped with disgust.
"It is a URINAL, Severus. And it's not as if you have a choice, you're much too weak to walk anywhere, as am I," James told his patient in his most reasonable voice.
"Like hell I am," Snape retorted, and picking up his pillow he flung it sharply at the sleeping wizard in the chair.
"You're good at that," James moved to watch his son jerk upright, flustered.
"I'm a teacher. I'm good at propelling a variety of objects across the room," Snape said snidely.
Jeffrey stumbled to his feet, dropping the leash, and lurched to his father's side.
"Dad?" the worry painted the younger Healer's voice. He reached out and placed hands on his father. Snape felt a rush of love from Dr. James and the echo of Jeffrey's back through the bond. It was a most amazing thing and he watched wide-eyed as the love continued to rebound between the two men. Shifting slightly, Jeffrey stroked the older Healer's face affectionately
"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, old, man," the relieved Healer growled, "you will be grounded for a month!"
"I seem to recall someone here going on a little foray into a war zone a couple years back..." James snapped angrily.
"Don't try to change the subject, Dr. Barnes," sneered the younger wizard.
"Arrogant ass," Dr. James retorted sharply.
"Insufferable know-it-all," shot back Jeffrey.
Snape was confused! The two wizards sounded mad, snarling at each other, but inside the affection and relief was profound. Jeffrey looked over his father at Snape and smiled.
"So, Dad, are you two still bonded?" he asked as he reached out to take the Potions Master's hand and scan him. He kept the bright smile even though he was very alarmed at the low levels.
"Oh, yes. Severus and I are doing famously together, aren't we?" Dr. James gushed happily, wagging the offensive urinal in Snape's face.
"Not bloody likely," Snape grumbled, voice weak and scratc8hy. He turned his attention directly to Jeffrey.
"I want to go to the loo and HE won't let me," the Potions Master tried to growl. Jeffrey released Severus' hand after giving it a parting squeeze and pulled out his wand. He levitated his patient off the bed and moved him toward the washroom.
"We'll be baaack!" the younger man teased. Snape did need a lot of help performing his ablutions, but the Healer assisted and soon a much relieved wizard was floating back to bed. Much relieved, but once he saw his 'bondmate' he curled his lip in disgust.
"For gods sake, don't bandy that thing about!" Snape cursed. Dr. James just smiled at him innocently.
"I know how to use a urinal," he replied serenely. With a chuckle Jeffrey claimed the filled object and headed back to the washroom.
"Don't go anywhere, Severus!" he admonished, leaving the wizard hanging in mid-air. Snape, of course, went nowhere, but hung there filled with his own loathing and Dr. James' warm happiness. He attempted to hold on to his revulsion but lost the struggle as the Healer blatantly upped his cheerfulness.
"Ok, you win 'old man'," Snape conceded with a small smile. He watched the Healer sit up and swing over to the side of the bed,easing down on his feet. Feeling James' weakness, the Potions Master became concerned.
"You sure you should be up?" he asked. Dr. James smiled and moved to his floating patient.
"No," the Healer answered truthfully, "but I don't like leaving you hanging around. I'll just tug you over to a chair and Jeffy can call us up something to eat. In case you haven't figured it out, I'm HUNGRY!"
"Hungry? Your damned stomach's growling woke me up!" Snape complained happily as Dr. James propelled him towards a small table and chairs near the comatose dog. Snape looked in alarm at the creature.
"What...? Why...?" Snape stuttered. James put a protective hand on him as Jeffrey hurried out of the washroom.
"And just what do you think you are doing, James Francis Barnes?" the Healer hissed at his father. The old adage about doctors being the worst patients flitted through Jeffrey's mind as he moved quickly over to support his father.
"Getting ready for you to order up tea," the man so named stated evenly. James kept his emotions in check and tried to help calm Snape down.
Jeffrey brought both his patients to the table and seated them. His father was quite able to sit on his own but the Potions Master was very weak, requiring some help to remain in the chair comfortably. Slightly tilting the chair and snugging a blanket firmly around him helped keep Snape in place.
"Dad, you're going to have to let go soon," the young healer murmured. The older wizard had paled decidedly.
"I know, but he's still so weak," James said quietly. Snape had, in fact, closed his eyes wearily, overwhelmed by the minor exertions and Snuffles' presence.
"Yes, he is. But so are you. Let me get some food ordered and then I can take over for awhile," Jeffrey proposed. James nodded in agreement and watched his son do just that, calling on a house elf to fetch supper and then transfiguring Snape's chair so he could slide in, gathering the wizard snugly against his body.
"You are decidedly cold, Professor Snape," Jeffrey chided, concerned.
"Mmmm?" was the extent of the reply. Curling close, the young Healer began to feed in energy.
"Dad? You can let go now," Jeffrey said quietly as he watched his father. The elder Barnes passed a shaky hand over his eyes, muttering under his breath. As the bond broke Snape went slightly limp and let out a soft whimper. The elder Healer immediately perked up. Jeffrey upped the energy flow slightly and was rewarded with his patient moving sluggishly against him.
"Severus? You with me?" Jeffrey pursued. With a long sigh the Potions Master opened his eyes and stretched into the energy feed.
"Yes, Jeffrey, I'm with you," he replied, barely whispering.
"Good," the Healer whispered into his patient's hair, giving him a slight hug. A variety of plates began to materialize on the table bringing with them the smell of warm bread and curry filled the air. Jeffrey looked a bit dubious but put some on the plate. James filled his own plate and tore a chunk of bread off the loaf. Picking up a fork, the younger Healer nudged a small bite into Snape's mouth.
They ate quietly for a time. Jeffrey kept teasing bite after bite into his patient.
"What's wrong with Black?" Snape managed after swallowing a long sip of juice. Barnes glanced down at the animagus.
"Sleeping," he said shortly. Dr. James glanced over, now noticing the limp figure. Setting his fork down he stood and went to Snuffles.
"Jeffrey..." the older Healer began, a warning in his voice. He fumbled for his wand and touched the animagus, "Ennervate!" he muttered and was rewarded by movement.
"I put him to sleep. I didn't want any trouble," Jeffrey said, a little more angry than he intended. Snuffles whimpered as the elder Healer rolled him to his stomach and rubbed stiff limbs.
"I think you were a little over-eager with your spells, Dr. Barnes," James said carefully. He agreed what Black had done was completely unconscionable, but so was this mistreatment. It wasn't the sort of thing he expected from his son. It surprised him.
Snape watched. A very small part of him felt sorry for the animagus. The larger part was actually scared. He knew Black wished him dead and had done his damnedest make it happen. His anxiety rose as he considered the fact that he was too weak to even stand. That, and Dumbledore was not there to protect him.
The younger healer's attention jerked back to his patient. Anxiety was building rapidly, the upward spiral fueled by fear.
"I'll take Severus upstairs, Dad. Then you can see that Black is taken care of properly. Lupin was going to return after dinner and bring him back to his quarters," Jeffrey explained. Snape was now trembling. The Healer simply pulled him close and whispered soothing words to him.
"Sorry," Snape managed as he burrowed into his security 'blanket'. Once more he was a detriment, unable to even take care of himself. Worthless.
Dinner forgotten, the younger Healer gathered up his patient, wrapped him warmly in a cloak and left the isolation ward.
Dumbledore moved out of the Great Hall, Lupin in tow. To say it was a bad day was a gross understatement. The only 'bright' spot was Harry being cured. Even that was tempered by the boy's obvious anger at his Godfather and Severus' collapse.
The Headmaster was a whirl of emotions, none of them very well shielded. Betrayed by a cherished Gryffindor, betrayed by his own faulty memories. Nearly losing his child once again... Uncertain when the young Healer chased them out of the isolation ward if either Snape or Dr. James were going to survive... He'd been assured they'd be fine, but both men were so pale, so still, that the older wizard had his doubts.
Once again Dumbledore felt lost. What was he going to do? He wanted to protect Severus but couldn't interfere with Dr. James' treatment. Hells, he couldn't do anything at the moment to help Snape at all! And what about Jeffrey's still palatable disappointment in him? How was he going to re-build their relationship especially, gods forbid... Then there was Remus, looking for assurances he'd done all he could have done. How could he reassure Remus when The Headmaster felt they'd all failed Severus? Add to the mix Harry's very real and very understandable anger and confusion. Nearly condemned to death by the avenging Godfather, saved by the 'evil' death eater... And SiriuLs Black. What was he going to do about Sirius?
All this and more caused his shoulders to sag as he dragged himself along. Dumbledore was not a person to give into despair easily, but he was was there now.
"Albus?" Lupin slipped closer. The Headmaster hadn't even noticed him before this. He put a comforting hand on the older man's shoulder.
"Remus. I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," Dumbledore said, looking into the golden brown eyes.
"It's going to be fine, Albus. Everything will work out," Lupin quietly assured the Headmaster.
"I want to believe that, but I don't see how," the older man admitted. Together they finished the long walk to the hospital wing and entered the isolation ward.
The first thing they noticed was Dr. James was sitting in a chair by an occupied bed. He was writing quickly, the quill flying over a piece of parchment. The second thing both noted was the occupant of the bed. Sirius Black was awake, watching the healer closely. Lastly, Dobby stood perched on the bed waiting expectantly, eyes glued to the older Healer.
"Dr. James?" Dumbledore moved to both men, standing. Uncertain.
"A moment," the doctor murmured, writing in a determined manner. After a few more lines were scratched out he read over what had been written and then folded it and picked up the quill once more to write on the outside fold.
"Dobby," Dr James held the paper to the house elf. "Go and send this by an express owl to Geneva. You can read the address?" The elf peered at the doctor's atypical neat cursive and nodded happily.
"Dobby can read. Dobby knows letters. Dobby will send Dr. James' letter to Geneva," the house elf chirruped cheerfully. He bowed a little and disappeared with a *crack*. Letter dispatched, the Healer leaned back in his chair and turned his attention to the Headmaster.
"Now, Albus, what can I do for you?" the doctor's voice rumbled warmly. It immediately put both the Headmaster and the DADA professor at ease and they moved to chairs near the bedded animagus.
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked immediately. The older wizard moved closer, impatient to know if his child was ok. Black shifted uncomfortably.
"He is upstairs. He's very weak, but out of danger. I think he and Jeffy were going to finish dinner and then Jeffy is going to continue to feed him energy until I re-establish the bond for the night," the doctor said confidently.
"You have to bond again?" Lupin asked. "I thought that was just for emergencies."
"Well, Severus is still struggling," James said carefully. "Both Jeffrey and I are tired so just a normal energy feed all night is out of the question," Barnes said, his voice rolling the r's pleasantly.
"With the bond I can sleep all night and still monitor Severus without having to keep up a constant feed. I think we'll give him an energy potion in any event." The Healer glanced over at the subdued animagus.
"Sirius, can you transform now?" he asked not too gently. Black closed his eyes, thinking.
"Yes, sir, I can," said a very cowed Black.
*Sir?* thought Remus. Well, that was a change for the better.
"Then you will go with Remus and sleep. In the morning you will stay with him when he teaches. You will not go anywhere alone," Barnes said very firmly.
Dumbledore realized something had happened, some discussion had taken place between the Healer and Black. Something happened and he, Albus Dumbledore, had missed it. He didn't know what was happening. He hadn't been in on the decision-making. Albus Dumbledore did not like not knowing what was going on nor did he appreciate being left out of the process of deciding what would happen.
But the Headmaster did not have a chance to ask any questions or lodge any protests. James moved back allowing Black to get off the bed and shift into Snuffles. The leash was clicked back onto the leather collar and handed to Lupin.
"He'll need dinner, Remus. Don't push him but don't leave him alone," Dr. James instructed the DADA professor. Nodding, Lupin tugged gently and they made their way out of the isolation ward without another word. Lupin's head was spinning, wondering exactly what the +Healer had done to subdue Black so thoroughly. Dumbledore followed their progress until the door closed then turned back to James full of questions.
His interrogation was nipped in the bud at the sight of the older Healer slumped back pale and exhausted. James had covered his eyes and seemed to have gone limp.
"James?" Dumbledore asked in concern, moving quickly over to the Healer. With a sigh the Healer rubbed his face and looked up at the Headmaster.
"I wanted to smash the bastard. When I first came in to your rooms last night and saw Severus on the ground it took all my professional training NOT to wallop him back across your room," James slowly sat up straighter. "Harder still when I came down here to help Harry. I know Sirius has problems, but gods, Albus, I just can't get rid of that image of Severus lying on that broken table."
Dumbledore stared, trying not to look shocked. James? James would feel so strongly about Snape that he'd harm another wizard? Well, Jeffrey certainly had been tenacious about protecting Snape; it only stood to reason that the younger Healer had learned it from his own father. James shifted and continued.
"Then when I brought Severus up this morning I thought I had gotten it under control. He cured Harry and we 'cocooned' for the bulk of the day. When I finally broke the bond and saw Black on the ground where Jeffy had left him I kicked into Healer mode and went to help," he slowly rose and moved to the table which happened to have a full tea service set up.
"He makes me so angry. I'm not used to anger, Albus. At least not the type of anger that takes away my control." James poured out two mugs and put sugar in his, stirring thoroughly.
"What happened? Sirius seemed quite tractable," Dumbledore asked.
"He started to complain about Jeffy attacking him unfairly. Jeffy put some sleep charms on him to keep him from being troublesome while we were all 'down'. I blew a gasket. Damn him! 'Unfair' my ass," James cursed and took a quick slurp of tea. Again, Dumbledore was amazed at the fury. The normally calm and collected Healer was more angry than Jeffrey had been.
"The end result is I've sent a letter to The sanitarium in Geneva. A college chum of mine heads it. They have a very good psychiatric facility. Sirius has 'agreed' however tenuously, to go into the facility for treatment."
A huge weight seemed to lift off Dumbledore's shoulders. It seemed perfect: Sirius would get help Mand he'd be far away from his child. As much as he liked Black and wanted him to get help, he loved Snape and couldn't bear the thought of any more harm coming to him.
"Will they see him? Does Sirius have a problem that can be treated? I have slowly come to realize he was a spoiled child that never did get to grow up," the Headmaster blurted out.
"I think, Albus, there is more there than just childhood hate built up over the years. Twelve years in Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit... Losing his best friends and knowing he was partially to blame for their deaths," James stopped to take another long sip of tea. "It is safe to say Sirius has some issues that need exploring; especially if he wants to reconcile with Harry."
Dumbledore easily figured out how the Healer got Black to agree to going to the clinic. his love for Harry would motivate him and, hopefully, hold him to the promise.
"Good point, James," the Headmaster said. The Healer smiled ruefully.
"Still wanted to punch him. Damned arrogance. He was actually trying to convince me he was right to beat the crap out of Severus yesterday," the Healer positively snarled out his anger. The animosity shocked Dumbledore. Catching the stunned look on the Headmaster's face, Dr. James breathed deeply and tried to release his anger. The Headmaster didn't need any more stress piled on him right now. He leaned over and patted the older wizard's knee.
"You look tired, Albus. As tired as I am. Let's get upstairs. I need to eat and then get ready for bed," the Healer reached out and plucked the mug from the Headmaster's hand. Together they stood up and moved toward the door.
