OMG! so much ANGST lately! Sorry… it will get less angsty I promise. Here is the sixth chapter of "Legally Binding"… Review pwease :D
Disclaimer: I own nothing. For more detail, feel free to read disclaimer in Chapter 1.
"I don't care about your damn protocol!"
Remus sat on the worn couch, his hands twined tightly together. He fidgeted awkwardly, staring into space. Sirius paced in front of him, gesticulating wildly. Remus watched with faraway eyes, barely keeping a hold on himself. He could feel consciousness and sanity slowly slipping away from him, panic and devastation rising like a flood. His hands slid into his lap, anxiously gripping his pant legs.
"No! I want to see him now! Not tomorrow! NOW!"
Sirius was practically growling at the man across the desk from him. His hands were gripped tight on the thin desk, and he leaned menacingly across the small space. The other man looked on in pity, calmly taking everything Sirius said in stride. It was apparent that he had witnessed many people in this office dealing with their loss in ways similar to both Remus and Sirius. He ran his hand through his sparse hair and sighed.
"I can't let you see him until the morning Mr. Black."
Sirius opened his mouth as if to talk, but the man raised a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
"Mr. Black, I would like nothing more to let you see Mr. Potter. But right now, he needs to stay here where we can look after him. Go home Mr. Black."
Sirius glared daggers at the man, his fingers digging into the cheap wood of the desk. He pushed away in frustration, a slight growl forming in his throat.
"I'm calling my lawyers."
The man smiled slightly, shaking his head.
"I mean it. Go home Mr. Black. I can tell you are a man of action, but for tonight the best you can do is take care of Mr. Lupin and get some rest. Harry will be here in the morning."
Sirius turned to look at Remus, for the first time really registering the other mans presence. Remus sat, nearly comatose, hands bunched in the fabric of his jeans. He rocked slightly back and forth, broken sounding whimpers breaking through every few seconds. Remus could distantly feel the wolf howling within him at the loss of his pack. His heart ached, being squeezed in his chest. The prickling pressure of tears was sharp in his throat and his eyes but refused to spill. The wolf was mourning, but his human body was too in shock to react, shutting down all unnecessary functions. Remus felt hands on his shoulders pressing down gently. His head was so heavy, he couldn't even lift it. One of the hands left his shoulder, tilting his head up gently. His eyes refused to focus on the face in front of him, but he heard the familiar voice calling out to him.
"Remus. Come on Remus. Focus."
His eyes started to flicker in an out of focus, slowly sliding back into full focus.
"That's it. Come on Rem."
Sirius watched Remus carefully for signs of functionality, sighing when he finally started to respond. Sirius grabbed him lightly by the shoulders, pulling him onto his feet. Reus swayed slightly and Sirius reached out and grabbed his hand.
"I'm taking you home."
Remus nodded slowly, holding tightly to Sirius's arm. Sirius slowly untangled himself, instead wrapping an arm around Remus's thin shoulders. Remus leant heavily on him, needing the physical comfort to quiet the wolf and calm his pounding heart. Sirius led him towards the floo, giving his address and tossing a handful of the gritty powder into the hearth. In a swirl of greenish flames and a slightly uncomfortable pressure they were in Sirius's flat.
It was sparsely decorated and plain, typical of a bachelor pad. There were clothes all over the floor, and dishes piled high in the sink. He unraveled himself from Remus's desperate clinging and shoved some of the dirty laundry onto the floor. He then moved to a closet, where he rummaged around for a few minutes before producing a worn, but clean looking blanket and pillow. He tossed them onto the couch, before grabbing Remus by the wrist and leading him into the bedroom.
Leaving remus in the doorway, he pulled down the sheets and blanket and fluffed up the pillow. He gestured at Remus. Remus was rather unresponsive, staring into space.
"Remus?" Sirius waved his arms back and forth. "Earth to Remus?"
Remus blinked and turned his head to stare at Sirius.
"Hm?"
A small smile slid into place on Sirius's face.
"Get over here you git."
Remus reluctantly walked over to the bed. He sat down and Sirius moved to give him his space. Remus hesitantly lay down and pulled the blankets up. Sirius looked down on him, pity and sadness swimming in his eyes. He sat down on the edge of the bed, watching as Remus tiredly closed his eyes. Remus drifted off almost instantly, his blank mind claiming his body and dragging it into unconsciousness. Sirius watched him as he laid perfectly still, chest barely rising with his breath. Sirius almost unconsciously brushed a few strands of hair off Remus's forehead before he stood and left the room.
He closed the door gently and walked to the window to call his owl. Sirius Black did not make empty promises - he wrote a hastily worded letter to his lawyer. Sirius then settled himself on the couch for a long, uneasy night of unrest, filled with horrific dreams and cold sweats. He would not rest easy until Harry was home.