-Maria Solis Carranza-

"Urgence, c'est Kane.."

Those big three words made me quickly scramble out of bed. One quick look at the clock as I grab my bag I had tossed in the corner earlier to find it's one in the morning. He's only been here a month.

A month of facing questions on whether he was going to even recover at all. It's been a long uphill battle of mental hurdles. But this last week, he was making progress. Should have known it would only blow up in our faces.

I swiftly leave my room and quickly make my way down the hall while tying my hair up with my left hand. The rest of the way, I'm rubbing the sleep out of my face. By the time I'm at the door, I can hear Desjardins inside the room we had set aside for the Nome Leader of the Twenty-First Nome.

"Non, pas comme ça! Allez…" The panic in his voice makes me completely ignore knocking and barge in instead.

Michel had just tilted Amos' head back to preform rescue breaths on him in the middle of the room. His chest expands in response, that's a good sign. I close the door behind me and quickly make my way closer.

There's gauze sprawled on top of Kane; Michel having tried to apply pressure to the slices in his wrists. Carajo, I should have known, he had warning signs but had gotten better about hiding it obviously over the weeks. Good thing Michel had decided to check on him.

I quickly grab the gauze and move it off to the side, grabbing further supplies from my bag. Michel is back to compressions. I take a second to watch before I speak up. "Un peu plus de pression."

He nods and quickly adjusts; I watch to approve of the next thrust before continuing to grab things from the bags. Still no response from the thirty compressions done, Michel back to rescue breaths. The second one does it, Amos coughing for air.

"Merci Thot," Michel exasperates as he backs off so I can take over.

I removed the gauze that had been used to apply pressure. I curse under my breath as I take in the damage he had done to himself before quickly closing them with spells. I take a moment after the left arm to make sure he is unconscious like I thought before moving to the right. Only a slice on this one, but there's a scar just below that as well that I make note of after closing the open wound.

I take a moment, noticing the braids are sprawled out rather than under his head. I look around, noticing a pool of blood on the floor beside the bed, enough space that he could have collapsed there but the wall would have made it uncomfortable. Broken lantern shards scattered across the floor. A silver glint of what I assume was the tool he used on the bedside table.

"Il aura besoin d'une transfusion," I face the Chief Lector after making note of how much blood is on the floor.

Michel shakes his head at that, "Nous ne le transférons pas à l'infirmerie."

He's held a special stance on this since Amos walked into the First Nome. Understandably, Michel doesn't want to risk someone taking an opportunity to take Kane out. I take a moment to observe Kane is still breathing on his own before I stand up. "Je reviendrai."

Desjardins nods in understanding as I make my way out, making sure to close the door behind me and hurry towards the infirmary. Having made it there in under three minutes, I quickly grab everything I need and make my way back. Thankfully it's early in the morning, the nome is dead quiet as they sleep before the next day of teaching their initiates or meetings with the Chief Lector. Would draw too much attention to Kane if I was seen carrying all of this equipment.

I can barely open the door with what little grip I can spare with my right hand and use my body to swing the door open. Michel is quick to stand and help close the door, locking it so we can't be interrupted. I quickly set everything on the chair and floor close by carefully before gesturing to the Chief Lector to come help me lift the statuary onto the bed.

"Attendez," Michel darts to the bed and proceeds to rip the linen up from it. I realize it's soaked in blood as well, Michel balling it up and tossing it into the far corner before.

I quickly summon a clean linen that I typically use for the infirmary to toss his way so he can drape it over the mattress for at least a temporary replacement. It won't fit, but it'll help keep the blood-soaked mattress somewhat closer to sanitary for the moment.

Michel then comes back and grabs the younger magician by his shoulders, I help lift him by grabbing his legs. We get him down on the mattress, and Michel makes some quick adjustments to make it more comfortable while I turn to my equipment. I move my IV stand to the right of the bed, quickly handing over the cannula and alcohol wipe to Michel.

I quickly tie the tourniquet at the top of Kane's left bicep, then turn to the IV stand to make sure the blood and saline are in order. Turning back, I see Michel struggling to open the wipe packaging, his hands are shaking until he can finally get it out to unravel. I immediately take back the cannula in response, I don't need shaky hands to mess things up right now. I watch him observe for a moment before verifying with me the spot I want him to clean. I nod in approval and watch him do as much.

I'm reminded this isn't the first incident Desjardins has had with suicide. The war was scarring enough. But he had front-row seating to his friend shooting himself in the head after having just lost his legs. Desjardins had been pulling him to safety, trying to reassure him while he was rambling about his life being over. This is his second brush with this cruel mental demon.

I quickly steel myself; I need to be the one to keep things steady here for both Amos and Michel. Michel turns to find the cannula is not where he had rested it. I take the moment to push him out of the way, plunging the needle into the cephalic vein. Removing the needle, I make sure the tubing is resting comfortably before disposing of it.

"Gracias, María," Desjardins has now flipped into Spanish to address me. A sign to me that he is finally starting to relax some. He'd realized I was speaking his tongue, and out of respect had flipped to mine after calming.

"Por supuesto, es mi trabajo." I move my eyes towards the mess on the floor now. "Deberíamos empezar a limpiar."

Michel nods, quickly speaking divine words to fix the lantern that had been in pieces. Cleaning the blood pools and the smearing that had been a sign that Desjardins had found Kane against the wall originally and had dragged him out to the middle of the room. I disposed of the razor with clear evidence of what I had suspected.

Michel clears the chair I had put things on and moves it behind me as I check Kane's vitals. Check the tubes afterward to ensure nothing is faulty. I finally sit and note Michel has gone to lean against the far wall.

"En realidad no está mejorando, ¿verdad?" The Chief Lector can't even face me, eyes stuck on the floor instead.

I inhale to the question. "La salud mental siempre es complicada, Michel."

He knows this, but that's not the answer he was hoping for. He lifts his head and takes in Kane again. "Las Cruces," He swallows before facing me. "Él lo dejó claro. Se estaba debilitando y me di cuenta de que esperaba que yo pudiera detenerlo."

I rub my face some at that, trying to hide the immediate sting of hearing this. Michel hasn't been wanting to discuss anything about what he had seen of Amos' possession. But it's clear it's put a heavy toll on him as well.

"Zia me detuvo. No estoy seguro de poder comprometerme a hacer lo que él me pidió."

"Es una petición difícil para cualquiera."

"¿Pero qué pasaría si lo hubiera hecho?"

Then we wouldn't be sitting in this room. The Kanes would have lost two family members. Grief would strike worse than it is already. While Desjardins had been blocked from making that decision himself, I am grateful that Rashid had made that call instead, whether she knew or not. Michel would be beside himself if he had, perhaps worse for having to save his fellow magician by killing him.

"Me pregunto si él me desprecia por eso."

"Dudo."

Michel sighs at that, but he knows I will not let him keep prying into these questions of what-ifs. "¿Ponerlo bajo vigilancia de suicidio?"

Sadly, yes. I nod, and Michel decides to busy himself some upon that answer. Removing anything sharp or anything that can be used to stab with. I watch for a few minutes before turning back to Kane. No reaction to the transfusion is a good sign, I up the volume of the fluids in confidence.

"¿No esperas a Vladimir esta mañana? Deberías descansar."

Michel grumbles at that, facing me from the small bathing room. "María, te adoro, pero por favor deja de prestar atención a mi agenda."

I snort at his reaction. "Hablo en serio sobre descansar, Desjardins. Tengo esto."

"No estoy seguro de que pueda."

I nod in understanding to that, getting up to grab from my bag a sleep potion. I enter the small room to find Michel is being thorough in his removal. "Toma esto. Deberías concentrarte más en tu nuevo puesto."

Michel hesitates, but we've known each other long enough for him to know that if he does not take this, I will simply find a way to force it. He takes the bottle, standing straighter as he focuses on me rather than rummaging through the bath. "¿Estás seguro de que no necesitas mi ayuda?"

I nod to the question. "Debo estar presente durante la transfusión. Tengo tiempo para limpiar su espacio yo solo."

He sighs and obliges, leaving the bathroom. Taking in the statuary on the bed for a sad moment before leaving. I lock the door behind him to ensure he cannot come back. I exhale as I face the bed again. "I might have to recruit you to persuade Michel into some sessions at this rate, Amos. The pair of you can clearly use it."

I summon my shabti to keep post by the IV stand. Leaves me to continue with what I forced Michel to stop. Unsurprising, there's really not much in the room, so it only takes me fifteen more minutes to make sure everything that could be considered a weapon is gone.

I am back in my seat, shabti moved closer to the door now. "I'm sure you'd feel better if you would just allow yourself to unpack something personal," I complain, but am aware he more than likely won't hear it. Even if he had, it would be met with a chuckle and dismissed swiftly.

I pull my book out of my bag. It's the third of a series that I've been reading for a year now. It just takes me too long to be able to sit and actually dedicate the time to read, and when I do, it's short. But my patient for the morning is still out, and thankfully not reacting badly to the treatment.

I get through three pages before I hear a groan ahead of me. I plan to finish the page I'm on at least, bookmaker in hand. My patient had started shifting on the bed, and I quickly swatted his reach for the IV out of instinct. Fine, I'll just reread the page, I close the book.

Kane is giving me a look of astonishment, and I laugh a bit at that. "You always reach at IVs, especially after waking up."

He has a look of protest on his face, but is smart enough to know to not start because he knows I'm right. "What is new with Susannah?" He instead asks.

I put the book into my bag. "What was the last thing I updated you on?" I ask.

"Hmm, I think you said she had just left her fiancé at the alter because she pretty much wanted to travel with the other man instead," Amos answers.

Right, I can't help but smirk at the fact that he recalls each time we talk about it. It aids me when patients ask, because sometimes it's been a while since reading it that I don't recall exactly what had happened the last time I had seen those patients. I'm pretty certain its to the point that the initiates of the First Nome are told to ask as it's now tradition.

"Well, she boarded his ship. The first night, she realizes that she's actually on a pirate ship."

"Who could have guessed that?" Amos answers sarcastically.

"So, she's being miserable onboard and wants to go back to her other man. Trey had just taken over another ship and she's annoyed more than ever." I summarize quickly. "You, are in hot water."

Kane takes a moment, probably an attempt to remember. The glance down at his left arm tells me that he's caught up. "Shit, sorry."

"You will be once Michel get's his hands on you. I walked in on him preforming cardiopulmonary resuscitation on you in the middle of the room." I take a moment to process the confused look in his eyes. "CPR, Amos. Also," I flip his right hand over to reveal the fresh scar I had found. "Rookie heal job, Kane. Did your mother not teach you better?"

"I'm not even close to being as good of a rehket as her," Amos' answer is soft.

I inhale to calm down some. "Two days ago?"

He's surprised I know, tells me I hit it on the nose as I pull a salve out of my bag now. "My beginner initiates always leave similar marks on their practices," I explain to the surprised look on his face still.

I apply some on the area and watch in approval as it finishes the heal quickly, appearing as it if doesn't exist anymore. "I would offer this to you, like I offer to my students. However, I'd rather notice when you fuck up again at this rate."

"Sorry."

I exhale turning my head back on straight. While Nadia's second born can be a slightly more irritating patient to deal with, I do recognize that he would do better for the moment with understanding. I peer at the IV stand to see we have about fifteen more minutes left.

"What happened?" I ask, allowing my sympathy to shine through in my tone. "You seemed like you were getting better in our talks. Obviously you were lying, but I suppose one could argue that means you are getting better if you felt up to lying to me."

Silence follows, and I mentally note that he obviously has a long way to go still if he's keeping to himself again. "Okay, you don't have to tell me now. Sometime tomorrow though? You can't keep it to yourself, remember what we talked about? All the progress we were making?"

Silence again, but I know my words landed somewhere at least despite him not saying anything. "I'm keeping a watch on you. Meet Gael," I point behind me to my shabti. "He'll update me if you are doing something you shouldn't be. And don't attempt to manipulate him, I know you statuaries can't help yourselves. He'll let me know if you do so."

"Hello Gael," Amos forces himself to say at least. Despite everything wrong, he can still show respect to shabtis. Statuaries are a weird breed of magician.

"We've removed items from your room. If you need something we removed, you should request Gael send me in. You should stay here until you feel comfortable being under the eyes of the First Nome, I reckon two more days?" No response. "I'll be making trips to check on you and deliver you meals. Desjardins requested I do not move you to the infirmary, so we have a special case on our hands."

"Sorry."

"Stop," I reprimand quickly, sighing as I take in his gaze on me that appears riddled in guilt. "I'm just glad Michel found you. Glad you are still with us. I'd feel worse if we found you dead instead. You scared us is all, but we're here to help you get through it. Remember, I told you as much when you walked in?"

"I'm just not sure I'm worth the effort."

I blink at that, keeping myself steady. "That's okay, because to us, you are. Who else should if you feel you do not?"

"You have up to twenty patients daily-"

"That's what I have initiates for," I respond quickly. "I watch over their shoulders to make sure they do well, and then I focus more on the higher tier patients. Whether you like it or not, that is where you sit at the moment."

"What's the princess up to these days?"

I perk up, putting my bookmarker back into the book before quickly shutting it. "Morning, Sebastian. I'm certainly glad to hear your voice again. I think the last time we met; you had your pet snake bite you."

The Animal Charmer has to think about that for a moment. "Oh yeah, and you were worried about venom but I insisted he was fine."

I smirk at that, the kid had been right too, but I forced him to stay in the infirmary for a day nonetheless. That was when he was sixteen, maybe seventeen? I don't know anymore; kids hardly stay as kids for long.

"Do you even remember the last time I talked about it?" I ask.

Kurtz sits up, and I can tell he feels a bit dizzy from the act, but recovers fast enough. "She was told she had to marry a prince?"

Oof, but hey, at least I know when I had been in the middle of the first book in the series. "Well, let me catch you up then. She ends up enjoying his company, second book she meets Trey, and thinks she might like him even more. Ends up leaving the alter to jump into Trey's boat. Third book, finds out he's a pirate, and she hates him rather quickly for it. She soon realizes she is being held for ransom from the previous man, and manages to escape after they docked for supplies. Now she is paying a man to transport her back home, and this third guy hates her because the whole "women on water is bad news". But she's falling for him."

I'm met with an eyebrow raise to this. "I'm only into the fourth book now, and there's eight."

"I think I'm more concerned that you enjoy reading it still."

"It helps during the breaks I have. I never said I actually enjoyed it." I hesitate a moment. "I've had a lot more time on my hands since the First Nome was swallowed by that Greek God. Been reading more of it than my usual pace."

"Gaea? Isn't that a goddess?"

I shrug at that, "My job is to heal everyone after the encounters. Not know each annoying pest of a deity that is around to cause destruction this time. Gaea could be the name of a circus clown for all I know."

I rest my book on the table. "You already seem much better than yesterday. We should test your motor skills now that you've had some rest after the medication."

Hand flexibility is almost completely back to normal, he just struggles touching his thumb to his pinkies still. I tell him I want to wait for one more day of treatment before considering having him try more extreme movement on his own. Breakfast is served, and then I give him more of the potion I had given him last night. Application of a sleep spell again.

The bruising is virtually gone now, only green-yellow spots on his face remain. But just the fact that he could manage conversation with me today is enough evidence that he might pull through just fine. I'll have to check in later for lunch and see how much progress is made this time.

-Sadie Kane-

The door creaked open, and I sit up quickly only to calm down to see it be my uncle. I relax, which gives him the go-ahead to close the door behind him. I can tell he's uneasy around me, but wants to talk. Only adds more guilt on me at this point.

"Sorry for yelling," I start. "I didn't want that to be the what happened when we finally found you."

"Understandable," is the quick reassurance he supplies, smiling to try and lighten up the mood between us. "You're well within your right to be upset. I lied to you, and told you to lie for me as well when you think about it."

Doesn't make it feel any better. My uncle hesitates but moves to sit at the foot of the bed, but being wary of crossing any personal boundaries I might have still with him. I swallow that down, at this point I would just like a hug.

"I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd get further involved."

"I'm involved now though," I point out in slight frustration.

He nods in agreement, seeming to have guilt on his face at this point. I sigh to break the tense silence between us. "What was your relationship like with Iskandar?"

Zia was close to him, that was obvious when we were dealing with her shabti form. Later to find he had apparently adopted her after the collapse of her village. And now, I remember I had been the one to tell him the news of Iskandar's passing, but he had been currently under Set's ugly thumb.

My uncle takes a moment to study me as if gaging how to answer. "A very relaxed and tired mentor that had more knowledge than he cared to give anyone. Kind of a stunning contrast from what people suspect he was like as Chief Lector, to be honest. He always seemed entertained by that, now that I recall it."

I nod in agreement, the brief time I had gotten to know the old bird, I had seen that side of him myself. "Stark contrast to your dad, right?"

He tenses immediately at that. Carter only briefly mentioned what Dad had told him concerning the whole 'why did Uncle Amos just kill his dad's cousin' thing. But seeing it, there's a very clear reason why my grandfather is a sore subject. Which is why I continue talking, because I know he will otherwise want to shut it down before more can be said.

"Iskandar would have saved you from Friedrich," I speak, trying to be reassuring that he can talk about this. "Grandpa Kane is a jerk; I understand why he hadn't been mentioned before in the past."

"I..." There's a stressed look on his face, eyes seeming far away as if relieving it all again. "He was more about his duty as Chief Lector's advisor."

I give a short exhale to that, making excuses for shitty parenting still. Or maybe just rehearsing what he had been telling himself. "You and Dad made sure that family was above anything else," I point out in a hushed voice. Because their dad couldn't be bothered.

It explains the overall protectiveness he has over the entire Brooklyn Mansion. I can only imagine it extended into Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter if he had been allowed more time there. Because while everyone else is looking to fight over their own stupid reasons, I suspect my uncle saw kids being caught up in less-than-ideal situations. And having been one of those kids, he wasn't going to let that go.

And Set learned that one the hard way, having tried to break him himself. Manipulated him into thinking he would help him fix the situation Dad had put us all in. It might have worked to some degree, but considering he had tried to warn us of his possession, I fear he realized the bold lie in it all. He would have much rather die than be like his father in any degree.

He snapped out of it, eyes on me. "Carter told you what Julius said, didn't he?" He doesn't seem annoyed, just puzzling where this is all coming from.

"Briefly, but from what I saw," I stop myself, afraid my uncle will want to leave if I continue down this route. Right now, I feel better about the fact that we are talking, the last thing I want is for him to retreat away from me for hitting a sensitive spot.

Amos nods in understanding, not needing me to finish that. "I scared the hell out of Julius."

I hesitate to nod, quickly puzzling out that his struggle to breathe was the follow-up to it all. "Dad's been worried about you."

"Not at all surprising," Amos snorts as if it's funny. "I told you; I know how annoying older brothers are, didn't I?"

I guess, but I feel like there's a serious difference between Dad and Carter. Maybe because one is older and someone I look up to as my dad, and the other is my annoying older brother. Probably what Uncle Amos is trying to tell me, but it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth considering he was the host of Set after all.

"Julius was always worried that he was going to be just like him," Amos suddenly admits. "Worried he was going to fuck up as a father to you and your brother. He refused to see that just actively trying meant he wasn't like him. I think he was more scared that he was trained to be like him."

"Dad's never been that cold," I confirm.

"We both know that," Amos places his right hand on my shin, only being able to tell because I can see it and it feels a tad icy. "I need to warn you about Menshikov."

"Vika?" I'm confused further by the nod he gives. "You've been actively working with her? What's the sudden change up?"

He looks over his shoulder to study the door some before facing me again. "It's been, conditional I think is the best way to put it. She, in a sense, is like her brother Vlad… Just promise me you will not dig into her past, and you should be fine."

My eyes narrow at him in response to this. He's nervous, that's concerning. "Is this something to do with Yev by chance?"

He's not happy I asked. "Just know that your grandfather wronged their family. Vika has been generous enough to dismiss it, but you should keep out of it."

Oh, old family drama? I suppose that would explain why Vika always seems up in arms around us. Would also explain the weird tension people have when Vika is mentioned around us. Or the tension within the Per Ankh around Vika as Chief Architect.

"You have to promise me," Uncle Amos continues. "This isn't like breaking into the library when I told you not to. This is a matter of life or death. Tell me you will not dig into it."

I process the plea in his words. "She's killed people for knowing?" I ask after a moment of reading the situation that my uncle doesn't really want to discuss.

He takes a moment before nodding. "Do you remember Muto?"

Yeah, briefly anyway. He had stopped by to be an annoying presence at the Twenty-First in preparation for Uncle Amos having to come back and answer for killing Friedrich after my brother had pardoned him publicly. He made it clear he was for Amos receiving punishment.

"He didn't leave the Twenty-First," Uncle Amos hesitates. "His nome in Tokyo is very aware of what happened. Their newly appointed Nome Leader hasn't been in much of an uproar over it."

"How do you know this?" I ask, looking for validation in what he is saying.

"Bast informed me. Vika Menshikov poisoned him in our library. At first, I was curious why she would do as much. Muto has never liked me, and that's fine. He tried to manipulate Vika. She defaulted to killing him for knowing anything about her past."

I take a moment to process everything. Being a year since there's a reason Uncle Amos is nervous about it. "Okay, I'll keep out," I promise.

Uncle Amos takes a moment to read my facial expression before feeling more at ease on the matter. "We're currently heading back to the Duat."

I nod to that, we should take the collection of bas back to Aaru before doing anything else. "Dad will be happy to see you again," I add.

"We'll see," I blink as I take in my uncle isn't exactly at ease.

I sigh, processing that my uncle seems uneasy about his judgment. "Everything will be fine."

"Sadie," there's a nervous laugh that follows that, "I don't think you really understand the volume of the things I've done. You and Carter have been very forgiving, but I question if you know what you are forgiving."

There's silence between us, another chill down my spine makes me shiver as I recall Set's words again. "You didn't have a choice," I remind.

"I had a choice."

"No, you didn't," I insist, glaring at him as a dare to challenge. "Carter and I didn't have a choice in hosting Isis and Horus, it was forced on us. The only person that had a choice was Dad."

"I had the choice of either fighting Set the whole time or not, and I listened," Amos continues.

"He promised you Caroline back," I give a frustrated exhale to the hurt look on my uncle's face. "Carter would have done exactly what you had for Zia. I'm pretty sure I would have done the same. The only one on my shit list for that is Set."

There's silence between us after that. I can't tell if we're still in disagreement on the matter or not, I just know if I hear anything else about it I might hit him with a silence spell myself. Then I'm quickly reminded that I've been hoping he'd been alive, and he's clearly dead before me. Why am I so mad? I shouldn't be directing my frustrations his way; I missed my uncle damn it.

"Did you at least enjoy your Spring Break?"

I sniff and allow a pained laugh to escape. "It's Spring Break now, Uncle."

Silence again, I can hear the boat creak. "I'm so sorry Sadie."

A tear escapes, and I quickly wipe it away. "I told Gramps I needed to look for you. I'll visit them some other time." I laugh a little as I remember what he had said. "He told me to make sure to slug you good for him. And stop making him regret handing over guardianship."

Amos finds some humor in it. He brings his left hand towards me, and I pretend to tap his hand to only watch it go through. I guess a hug is just out of the question now. Uncle Amos noticed immediately, quickly retracting his hand back.

"You know you and Carter got this without me, right?"

Great, the tears are welling up in both eyes now, threatening to blur my vision if I don't keep blinking them away. "Maybe? Doesn't mean it won't still suck."

"I wasn't going to make it suck less being alive," Amos' face goes sullen to seeing the tears tracing my face. "Promise me you'll keep your brother in check? You can say you have special permission from me, that has to be above him being Pharaoh, I'd assume. He'll need the help to keep his priorities straight, especially with leading the House of Life."

I can respect his ask. I watched Carter get swayed by a certain German's pleas a year ago after all, Uncle Amos was the one to quickly smash the manipulation into pieces. I just hope I don't have to also resort to the means he had.

A chill wraps around me, and I register my uncle is trying to hug me despite us both knowing the physical effect is lacking. But the thought of it? I caved into sobs.