A/N: Pardon the delay! Please enjoy! And remember, review! :D
Abraham sighed heavily as he tried to ignore all of Hellboy's snide comments and arrogant babbling as he wrapped Rogue's wrist in what soon would harden to be a cast. He still couldn't believe Hellboy purposely broke it. Poor fragile Rogue.
"Hellboy, please be quiet. I'm trying to concentrate here." Abe said, sounding irritated. Hellboy noted his tone and shut his mouth for a second, peering over his partners shoulder to check up on his work.
"What's taking so long?" Hellboy whined.
Abe closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "I had to replace her bones as best I could before putting this on." He explained. "Her wrist was terribly shattered, thanks to you." He stated.
"Hey! I had no other choice." Hellboy defended angrily.
"I'm sure of that." Abe nearly mumbled.
"Are you accusing me of doing this on purpose?! Like I wanted to hurt her? Is that it, fish boy?" Hellboy growled.
"I'm not accusing anyone of anything, Hellboy." Abe said firmly.
"Sure seems like it." Hellboy insisted, getting into Abe's personal space. Something that upset Abe very much when he was working.
"I am not! Now please leave the room so I can finish this." Abe said, raising his voice. He clenched his jaw and his gills flared on his neck as he silently waited for Hellboy to disappear.
Hellboy stood his ground, staring down at Abe with a defiant look on his face. His tail flicked from left to right and his own jaw clenched, "I'm waitin' 'til the girl wakes up. I'll be quiet." He mumbled. He turned on his heel and sat down on a plastic chair in a corner to glare holes into the Ichthyo sapien's back.
His oath to be quiet only lasted so long before he spoke up again. "How long do you think it'll be before she wakes up?" He asked.
Abe sighed, putting down the wet piece he had been handling and turned to face Hellboy with sympathetic eyes. Abe was just as worried about her as he was. He wondered too how long she would be unconscious. "It could be hours from now, maybe even days. It could also be right now. I don't know." He said.
"You done with the cast?" Hellboy asked, straining his neck to look at her bandaged arm.
"I believe so." Abe said, stepping aside to look at Rogue's pale face. She looked distressed even in her sleep. His hand twitched, wanting to touch her face, know what bothered her but he knew better than that. He put his hands on the bed rail and squeezed instead.
"She'll be fine, right?" Hellboy asked as he walked up to the bed across from Abe.
"She should be as long as she didn't suffer any major injuries. I checked her earlier. There is no internal bleeding, no concussion, nothing too serious." He explained.
"She wasn't even supposed to be there, Abe." Hellboy mumbled. "She got into this to save my sorry ass. All because I couldn't concentrate. One slip up and she gets this." He said through clenched teeth.
"Don't blame yourself, Red. She would have gone out to help even if you didn't need it. She's headstrong like you. Wouldn't you have done the same?" Abe tried to console his large red partner and friend.
Hellboy remained silent but Abe knew he had agreed. They both watched silently, listening to her steady breathing. Abe cocked his head, watching carefully as her eyes darted under her eyelids. He was worried by this and looked down at her chest. He noticed how her breathing picked up, growing faster and uneven.
"Rogue." He called out, placing his hand gently on her arm.
"Hey, hey, let her rest-"
"I don't think she's alright." Abe explained quickly before he gave her a soft shake. "Rogue, can you wake up?" He cooed as he continued to move her gently.
"What do you mean she's not alright? What's wrong with her?" Hellboy asked, alarmed now. He leaned in to get a closer look at her. He heard her breathing unevenly and she started to wheeze.
"I'm not sure." He admitted. He grew nervous and impatient and planted his hand on her forehead, closing his eyes.
Abe watched in terror at what unfolded before him. A room, no bigger than the medical room he stood in, entirely consumed by roaring fire. Of course he could not feel the heat or the lack of oxygen but subconsciously he felt out of breath.
He flinched when an ear-splitting scream echoed through the room. He was suddenly taken into another scene, just outside the room and down the corridor. Abe carefully walked forward toward the screaming that subdued instead of increasing.
As he entered the room he was guided to, he saw exactly what he'd feared that be there. Rogue was on her knees and against the far wall, staring at a flaming corpse in fear. Suddenly her gaze flashed up, looking straight at him. Abe shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, so utterly sure that she couldn't be possibly seeing him.
Then something walked through him and into the room. The figure was big and didn't look very human. It's clothing was dark and Abe couldn't see any features that he could identify. He heard a low rumbling laugh come from it.
"No, please don't! Don't hurt anyone else, please! Leave me alone!" Rogue screamed in terror.
"Rogue!" Abe gasped as the figure threw himself at her, going through the roaring flames as if it were nothing. Then it stopped just over her. It just froze. Abe tensed. It's as if it'd heard him. But he knew it wasn't possible. The figure slowly turned as it let out a booming laugh. It sounded sadistic. Abe's eyes widened as the person's eyes landed right on him, looking right into his own eyes. There was a toothy smile given to him.
"Abraham, so nice to meet you." It growled with a dark chuckle.
"ABE!"
Hellboy wrapped an arm around his dazed friend's waist, snatching him away from the convulsing girl wrapped in flames. Once Abe's hand was removed from Rogue's forehead, his eyes flew open and he gasped for all he was worth. He grunted when he was slammed against a wall.
Hellboy pinned the amphibious man against the wall and watched worriedly as he panted and struggled to breathe, his eyes wider than saucers. His chest heaved unevenly. Abe pressed himself against the wall and stared past him as if he was looking at a ghost.
"Abe, wake up!" Hellboy shouted, slamming him into the wall again.
"It was him!" Abe gasped. Hellboy cringed at the sound of pure fear in his voice. "Her father! He's back, in her dream." He said frantically. "He saw me, Red." He whispered, now looking into his friend's yellow eyes. "He saw me there with her, in her thoughts." He choked out.
"That's not possible." Hellboy mumbled, loosening his grip on his unsteady friend.
"I thought the same but he has proven us wrong." Abe said worriedly, now beginning to recompose himself.
"How'd he pull that off?" Hellboy asked incredulously.
"I don't know what it takes to be able to do such a thing. It's unsettling."
"Whatever this guys' doin', I don't like it." Hellboy said, letting go of Abe and storming into the medical room that was being consumed in flames. He walked up to the bed, picked Rogue out of the flaming bed and walked out. He struggled against her convulsing body as he hurriedly walked her down the corridor with Abe on his heels.
"Where are you going?" Abe asked.
"Somewhere that won't catch fire." Hellboy said darkly.
Abe tensed, "There's only one other room..."
"I know." He said as he turned the corner, picking up his pace into a jog. "Get the door." He ordered.
Abe ran ahead and pulled the caution tape off the steel door before prying it open and stepping aside for Hellboy to get in. Hellboy set her down on the floor gently and shook her, "Rogue, wake up." He said firmly.
"You shouldn't shake her. If she is startled, who knows what may happen." Abe warned.
"Abe, you shouldn't even be in here." Hellboy said dismissively.
Abe ignored his words and walked closer, "Take a more gentle approach."
"Damn it, Abe, haven't you ever heard the expression fight fire with fire?!" Hellboy shouted irritated.
"Perhaps it-"
"Are you gonna help or what, fish stick?" Hellboy growled.
Abe sighed and approached Rogue carefully. "Rogue..." He cooed.
Rogue stiffened under Hellboy's hold. She gasped and shot up into a sitting position. She would have landed on her feet if it weren't for Hellboy's hold on her.
"Hey, hey, calm down! It's us! Abe and Red." Hellboy cooed, laying her back on the ground.
"Where am I? Is he here?" She asked frantically, her eyes darting around the dark room.
"You are in the Bureau. You just had another nightmare, nothing to worry about, love." Abe whispered to her. Hellboy felt something rise inside of him with hearing the tone he used with her. He raised an eyebrow.
"You were there! Why were you there?! How…?" Rogue said in panic.
Abraham held her and softly shushed her, "It's alright now." He cooed.
"The hell it is!" Hellboy exclaimed, standing to his feet.
"Red!" Abraham hissed.
"No! Quiet down, fish stick, alright? I'm sick of this shit already. That bastard is gonna turn Rogue's whole life into a living nightmare! We gotta get out there and find him, ending this once and for all." He said sternly, pacing the room, his eyes on the floor.
Rogue braved herself and stood to her feet with little difficulty, "He's right, we can't just sit here and- Wait, what happened to my hand?" She asked in shock, staring down at the cast on her arm.
"Red broke it." Abraham confessed coolly, earning himself a glare from Hellboy.
"A cast?" She asked with a giggle. "Watch this." She said with a smirk. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back. Abraham and Hellboy watched in awe as her injured arm started to glow that strange black/purple light. There was a loud crack and they both winced. The cast fell onto the ground, leaving the two amazed. Rogue grinned and rotated her wrist, another cracking sound. She sighed in relief and moved her hand. "Much better."
"How?" Abraham asked in awe.
Rogue giggled and waved her fingers, "Magic." She said. "I learned that trick when I was about eight. I fell out of a tree." She explained.
Hellboy shook his head and focused on the subject at matter. "Yeah, nice trick but that won't help us take this son of a bitch down." He said seriously.
Abraham sighed heavily, pressing fingers against his temple. When would his partner drop that habit of cursing every chance he had?
Rogue pursed her lips and nodded, "True." She agreed, taking on his serious demeanor. "I think the question at hand here is why he keeps targeting Abe." She suggested.
"Yeah, what's with that?" Hellboy wondered as he began analyzing the situation.
Abraham sighed, "Perhaps because I am the one always present?" He suggested carefully. Rogue and Hellboy raised their gazes at him, exchanged curious looks, then turned back to face Abraham with the same expressions. Abraham raised his hand and waved his fingers.
Hellboy was first to catch on. He put his hand against his chin as he thought about it. "Yeah... but how does that explain the first incident?" He asked in defeat.
Rogue shuddered at the memory and ran a nervous hand through her hair, hugging herself around the waist as if to keep herself together. She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat and nodded, "I have no idea how he's doing all of this." She mumbled, pulling at the ends of her hair nervously.
"Can you... recall anything important he had told you?" Abraham asked, forcing curiosity. He glanced at Hellboy, hoping he would catch on. "Have you any idea why he is doing this?" He asked.
Hellboy tensed, suddenly remember their first real incident, when Rogue had first arrived. It still disturbed him and he could tell it had the same effect on Abraham. He caught on to his questions, knowing that Rogue had no knowledge of their knowledge of her terrible dream.
Rogue stiffened and looked at the ground, her breathing stopping for a moment. She didn't even know where to begin. Maybe they don't need any details. "I'm the heir to his throne. Now, what throne he was talking about, I don't know. Something tells me he lives in another dimension. Somewhere hot where these demons live." She explained. "He explained how I'm a half-breed, how he murdered my mother..." She trailed off before tears welled into her eyes. She took a steadying breath and continued, "My mother had cursed him, trapping him somewhere where he was powerless for nineteen years. When she died, he was free and now he wants my power. And there's only one way to get that..."
"He won't touch you." Hellboy growled, clenching his jaw.
"That still does not explain how he is able to control your dreams, his connection to you." Abraham said thoughtfully.
Rogue nodded, scowling as she scanned her thoughts a mile a minute. They all fell silent, wracking their brains for any kind of explanation. Then, like a sack of bricks, an idea hit Rogue, causing her to gasp in realization.
"What? You got somethin'?" Hellboy asked, rushing to her side.
"Think about it! If he's able to "absorb" my powers, who's to say he can't absorb my mothers?" She explained. "I mean, what if he's using the magic he acquired from her to connect to me?" She added.
Hellboy and Abraham were at a total loss for words. How could they have missed that? It makes so much sense! Hellboy was the first to speak up. "Well, if he's got both powers, why the hell is he after you?" He asked.
Abraham nodded as he seemingly came to a mental conclusion. "Think about it, Red. If he is a ruler somewhere, has a throne to his name, there must be some sort of..." He searched for the correct word.
Hellboy raised an eyebrow, "Democracy?" He suggested.
Rogue shook her head, "Monarchy." She said sheepishly.
"Exactly! So, if the citizens are aware of the heir, they will begin to wonder. That is never good for a monarch." Abraham explained.
Rogue scowled, "I feel it in my gut that he's a terrible ruler..." She mumbled.
"If that is the case, perhaps they will riot. They will ask for the heir." Abraham explained.
Hellboy shook his head and made a T with his hands, calling time on their brainstorming. "Hold up, we're not talkin' about the Queen of England here. This can be an entirely different dimension we're talkin' about." He pointed out.
Abraham agreed with a nod and sighed, "It's all we have to hope for now." He reminded.
Rogue grimaced, "Hold on a second, I don't wanna be the heir of some place!"
"Don't worry, dear, you won't need to be." Abraham reassured her.
"Seems like this guy isn't to his full power yet." Hellboy said, deep in thought.
"What? The man nearly killed Rogue in simply her dreams." Abraham whispered.
"Nearly. One interruption and he was gone." He reminded. "I think the bastard is capable of a little more than mind tricks. Or maybe he didn't get enough power from the witch." He suggested. Rogue sent him a cold glare and he scowled, "Her mom." He corrected reluctantly.
"It is possible..." Abraham admitted, turning to ponder on it himself.
"We can't wait until he is strong enough. We have to be one step ahead of the game." Rogue said sternly.
"How the hell are we supposed to reach the guy if he's sitting cozy in another dimension?" Hellboy grumbled, feeling once again defeated. It was all dead ends.
"Well, if he's making these connections via magic then maybe... No, I can't possibly..." Rogue trailed off, staring at her hands sheepishly.
Abraham gently raised her head so she'd look at him, "Please, do tell..." He said softly.
"Yeah, spill. We'll do anything to bring this SOB down." Hellboy added.
Rogue sighed, "Well if he's doing this via magic... maybe it's not a one way thing. He's not the only one with magic." She mumbled, thinking her idea was rather silly.
"That could work." Hellboy said with a smile, impressed by her idea.
"I-I don't think I'm strong enough..." Rogue hugged herself awkwardly.
Hellboy scoffed and threw his arm over her shoulders, hugging her to his side. "The man is doing the impossible to get ya! Ya must have somethin' worth all that effort." He chuckled.
Rogue blushed and smiled, feeling flattered somewhat. "Even if I do... I don't know what it is." She pointed out.
"Perhaps we can sort things out tomorrow. Rogue could use some rest as of now." Abraham said as he started his way out of the vacant room.
"Yeah, I'm beat." Hellboy said, walking out of the room, Rogue under his arm. "We've been standing there longer than we should have." He chuckled. "My feet are killin' me."
Rogue giggled and wrapped her arm around his waist casually, "Honestly, the last thing I want to do is have another encounter with the old man." She mumbled.
Hellboy gave her a reassuring squeeze, "Don't worry, I think I have a dream catcher in my room somewhere." He chuckled.
"Great." Rogue chuckled as well, rolling her eyes.
"Here we go." Hellboy grunted as he opened his heavy door. "Ladies first." He said jokingly, stepping aside for her to walk in.
"Thank you." She said with a bow of her head. She walked straight to the bed and fell into it face first. "Oh, bed, I'll never leave you again." She groaned. She sighed, enjoying the smell the bed had. Smelled just like him. She smiled and buried her head into the sheets.
"Incoming." Hellboy said as he sat on the bed, waiting for her to roll over.
Rogue groaned and pushed herself up. Her eyes widened, "Oh, geez!" She gasped, looking away from Hellboy's torso absentmindedly.
Hellboy laughed, "What? Can't handle it?" He asked, putting his hand hand on his abdomen and putting his stone hand behind his head, making sure to flex his bicep.
Rogue scoffed when she looked at him. He looked ridiculous yet incredibly attractive. She felt a blush crawl up her face but didn't look away. He'd think she was defeated. Instead she rolled her eyes, "I'm not impressed." She said jokingly. "I'll be back." She said with a malicious grin, rolling out of the bed. She bit her lip and scurried her way into the bathroom, careful not to step on any cat tails. She caught sight of one of Hellboy's t-shirts and grabbed it before walking into the bathroom.
"Can't handle it?" She mumbled, imitating Hellboy's voice. "We'll see who can't handle it." She said to her reflection in the mirror. She quickly started stripping from her clothes, tossing them into the nearly full hamper. She kicked her boots aside and then slipped into Hellboy's black t-shirt. It was two sizes too big, fitting like a loose gown. She grimaced at how short it was, barely covering half her thigh but she was determined about this. She had about enough of Hellboy's teasing.
She grabbed a random hair brush and passed it over her hair quickly and then made a sloppy braid that came over her shoulder, resting near her bellybutton. She steeled herself and grabbed the door's handle, turning it before she could think. She stepped out, forcing a casual look on her face as she made her way back to the bed.
"Hey." She said, a bit of malice in her voice.
Hellboy raised his head from the headboard and opened his eyes to look at her. He nearly choked on his own saliva at the sight of her. "What the hell are you wearing?" He mocked, a grin on his face as he looked her up and down quickly.
"Something a little more comfortable." She said simply before carefully climbing into the bed. "Why? Does it bother you?" She asked teasingly.
"Bother me?" He scoffed. "No. If you had scaly legs or something, maybe." He joked.
Rogue raised a playful eyebrow, "Is that your way of saying I have nice legs?" She teased.
Hellboy chuckled and gave her an innocent shrug. He reached over to her belly and grabbed the end of her hair, "I like this thing. Looks cool." He said, giving his a playful tug.
"It's called a braid, Red." She mocked, plucking it from his hand. "Thanks." She added with a smile.
"Get the light, will ya?" Hellboy chuckled as he laid into the bed.
"Sure." Rogue said reluctantly. She grabbed a random object off the shelves next to her and chucked it to the light switch, flawlessly hitting her target, the light turning off.
"Lucky shot." Hellboy mumbled. Rogue couldn't help but laugh. She sighed happily and got comfortable in the bed. "'Night." Hellboy muttered.
"Goodnight, Red." Rogue said before slipping into sleep.
A/N: Proof that I have not given up on this story! I hope you fluffy fans enjoyed the end! :) Hopefully the trio will be able to figure out a way to put a stop to Zaar soon before he gets his clawed hands on Rogue! Pardon the misspellings and grammatical errors, I've been a little out of it lately and I've been updating a lot of stories, lots of work!