Post-Ptolemy's Gate AU 1

By theanonymouslibrarians

Note: I do not own the Bartimaeus series or any of its characters

The body that was dug out of the ruins in the glass palace scarcely resembled a human. Any white skin was concealed by blood and grime. The wounds themselves were caked in shards of glass. The clean-up crew would have laid the body next to that of the other victims awaiting a burial if it hadn't, by some miracle, been breathing faintly. As it was, they gingerly placed the body on the stretcher and carried it to one of the few remaining hospitals.

…..

It was after midnight when Kitty stormed into the hospital waiting room, having been woken from her sleep with a call from Rebecca Piper.

"Where is he?" She demanded, walking up to Nathaniel's assistant. "Is he okay? How is he-"

"Kitty." Mrs. Piper interrupted in a tremulous voice. "You need to understand...need to be patient..."

"Patient?" Kitty gave a disdainful laugh. "It's been three days! He said he would come back and it's been-"

"Kitty! We're not even sure it's him."

This made the commoner blink. "What do you mean? You said-"

"I said they found someone in the rubble. We think it's Mr. Mandrake, because who else would it be? But we can't...we can't...identify him." The last two words were almost whispered.

"You can't...I don't understand! You're his assistant can't you..." And then it hit Kitty, and she collapsed weakly onto one of the chairs.

"He's still in surgery." Mrs. Piper continued. "I only found out an hour ago myself. They're not...not even sure, he'll..."

But Kitty didn't hear much after that. All she could think of was how Jakob had looked after being hit by the Black Tumbler, and wonder what someone would look like after a dome of glass shards fell on him.

…..

Bartimaeus stared unblinkingly at the form lying prone on the bed in front of him, as he had for the better part of six weeks. It had been sheer luck that Kitty had summoned him. She had been of the opinion that Bartimaeus had been trapped in Nathaniel's comatose body. When a month had passed, Kitty had hoped that there was some chance that, if Nathaniel wouldn't wake up, perhaps she could at least free Bartimaeus. When he had first appeared in a crudely drawn pentacle, ready to smite whichever mortal had interrupted his mourning, Kitty had thought she'd succeeded in separating Bartimaeus from Nathaniel. It took them each the better part of a half hour to bring one another up to date on what had really happened at the Glass Palace, and part of it (how a certain magician had managed to survive, even if barely) was still a mystery to the both of them.

"You know what I hate?" Bartimaeus asked quietly. Of course Nathaniel didn't reply. He never did, whether Bartimaeus was telling him some thrilling tale of Bartimaeus and Gilgamesh or trying to have a nice heart-to-heart. "I hate that you turned out to be so...so noble. You're not like Ptolemy, you know? He was always kind and curious. He never held me on Earth longer than I wanted to remain. Never threatened me with imprisonment in a tin. You, on the other hand, were simply a brat. And holding me on Earth for two whole years? So long I could barely form a frog?" The djinn whistled. "I don't forgive you for that, by the way. You'll need to apologize for that. But if you wake up now I'll graciously allow you to grovel at my feet and then we can put all of that in the past."

The boy slept on. Well, Bartimaeus hadn't been foolish enough to think that would actually wake Nathaniel up. "Honestly, I've killed humans for less. It was your damned conscience that did me in. That and your...well, you were never exactly selfless, were you? Not by the time we first met. But you still had a moral code and you still cared about others. When most of your masters are arrogant pricks who care for nothing and no one but themselves, one with any redeeming qualities is refreshing. I'll admit it I...I grew...fond of you. Alright? You'll never hear me say it again, but I did. And by the time those qualities were driven out of you, or at least buried deep, it was too late; I couldn't bring myself to harm you. Or the boy you'd been. I'll deny I said this if you ever wake up, but I imagine you know it anyway."

Bartimaeus paused. "I hate that you never trusted me until that last night. No, don't deny it!" The boy didn't. "After everything I did for you...and I never let your name slip to anyone...then you go blabbing it to Kitty! Not that you can't trust her, but you barely knew her! And let me tell you, it was tempting those last two years! You were such a prat! But I never let it drop. It would have been so easy during those nice little group summonings you had. I bet Ascobol would have loved it! Although, I never liked him. Maybe Cormocodran or Mwamba? I hated them slightly less. But, no! I never even let the first letter slip! Not that it did me much good. You just drifted farther and farther away. And then, just when I'd all but given up on you, you pull that little stunt and decide to go and die for me! Honestly, Nat! Who does that?" The djinni sighed. "But I'll forgive you for all of that if you just wake up, okay?"

Bartimaeus really didn't expect anything to come from that speech. He'd made similar ones during previous nights' vigils. Why not? No one was around to hear him. Besides, Bartimaeus had never said everything he had wanted to say to Ptolemy. If there was even a chance Nathaniel could hear him, Bartimaeus would suck up his pride and say his piece.

What he didn't expect, was to see blue eyes flicker open. A frown creased Nathaniel's face. Bartimaeus didn't dare to move. He'd been hoping for this for so long...but it had been months! Could he be-

Then, Nathaniel's expression changed to one of understanding. "H-h..." The boy coughed. "Hello, Ptol...ptolemy." His voice quavered. "B-bartimaeus says...hell-hello." And then, looking extremely pleased with himself for getting this out, he closed his eyes again.