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Post by Jordanna on Jun 30, 2008 22:42:47 GMT -5
"Daws!" Alex almost yelped. "What happened? Where's Miriam--where's Sid?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 30, 2008 22:56:02 GMT -5
Daws sighed. "Things . . . didn't go very well, Alex. Sid's with the others -- they're still en-route from West Virginia. Miriam and me came back with Roger Latimore by helicopter."
She hesitated for a moment, then plunged forward. "We're at Caddy's, Alex. Miriam's . . . Miriam's not good. She took some kind of psychic shock at Mount Bliss -- and she's been unconscious ever since."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 30, 2008 23:04:10 GMT -5
There was a long moment of silence on the other end of the line. Then Alex answered, quickly and tersely, "I'm coming over there."
He hung up before Daws could reply.
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Post by skybright on Jun 30, 2008 23:14:46 GMT -5
Daws sighed and reached up to replace the phone on its cradle without bothering to rise. She remained seated for a moment before Caddy poked his head out of the examining room and then ambled down the hallway.
"Alex is coming here, I assume?" The doctor buried his hands in the pockets of his bathrobe.
Daws nodded dully. "As worried as he sounded, he'll probably speed the whole way here."
Caddy nodded and sank down onto the bench next to her. "Well, Miriam's waves are all steady -- that's a good sign." He glanced sideways at her. "You should get some rest -- it's about the only thing I can prescribe to make your eyes heal up faster. I can talk to Alex when he shows up."
Daws shook her head. "Not yet. Alex deserves to hear what happened firsthand -- I owe him that much."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 1, 2008 22:13:13 GMT -5
In a very short time, Alex was knocking on the door. His anxious knocking caused Roger to jerk upright on the sofa and rub his eyes confusedly. "Huh?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 1, 2008 22:20:24 GMT -5
"Relax, Roger." Caddy said as he passed by the living room on the way to the front door. "It's just Alex, I'm sure."
He moved to the door and -- after briefly glancing through the peephole to make sure it was Alex -- swung it open.
"Hi, Alex." He greeted the other man soberly.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 1, 2008 22:31:11 GMT -5
Alex stepped in quickly, a bundle of nervous tension. He gripped Caddy's arm.
"Where's Miriam? What's wrong with her? Is she gonna be alright?" he babbled.
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Post by skybright on Jul 1, 2008 22:44:28 GMT -5
"Alright, slow it down a little." Caddy gently but firmly took hold of Alex's shoulder with his free hand and spoke soothingly. "I know you're worried about her, but she's not in any immediate danger.
"Miriam's experience a severe shock to her psyche. It happens sometimes, with people who have receptive psychic abilities. Her body responded by putting her into a deep state of unconsciousness -- to protect her and give her some time to bounce back.
"So physically she's not hurt, okay? But she's in a coma," Caddy held up one hand in a quick reassuring gesture, "Which is not necessarily as worrisome as the TV med shows want you to think. Her vital signs are strong and steady, and she's not showing any signs of distress in her brainwaves."
Caddy gave the information a moment to sink in, then gestured down the hallway behind him. "She's in the examination room -- Daws is with her. Come on back."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 1, 2008 22:55:16 GMT -5
Alex dumbly followed Caddy back into the exam room. When they went in, he didn't even notice Daws; he was conscious only of Miriam lying on the table. She looked to be only asleep--but in a worn and tense way, rather than peacefully.
"Miriam," he breathed softly, and took her hand in his, bowing his head over it.
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Post by skybright on Jul 1, 2008 23:02:31 GMT -5
Daws had been seated at Miriam's side; but as Alex approached, she stood and took a few steps back. Caddy also stood at a remove, crossing his arms, and for the moment, both he and Daws simply stood by and allowed Alex some space.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 1, 2008 23:11:11 GMT -5
After a long moment, Alex finally glanced up just long enough to give Daws an acknowledging glance. His blue eyes were dark in that moment before he lowered his gaze to Miriam's face again.
"How did all of this happen?" he asked quietly.
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Post by skybright on Jul 1, 2008 23:19:42 GMT -5
Daws sighed and ran one hand through her hair. "We got into the tunnels and found Ashley, but the things they did to him . . ." She made a slightly helpless gesture. "He had so much power, power he could barely reign in, much less control . . . and Tiernan's people showed up when we were trying to get out.
"Ashley . . . he . . ." She swallowed painfully, "He made us leave him behind. And then he pulled Mount Bliss in on top of himself and everyone else left inside."
Daws lowered her gaze. "Some of the power Ashley was putting off was psychic . . . like a kind of static, from what Roger and Vance said. Near as we can tell, he threw off more of it -- a lot more -- when he detonated the place . . . and Miriam caught the feedback."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 1, 2008 23:32:08 GMT -5
Alex grimaced and swore under his breath, shaking his head.
"I told her. I told her she couldn't--couldn't go. Couldn't put herself through that any more." He squeezed her hand tighter. "And I'll never let her do it again... if she'll only be alright."
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Post by skybright on Jul 1, 2008 23:36:24 GMT -5
"I don't have any medical reason to think that she won't be." Caddy broke in quietly. "So long as things hold steady as they are . . ." He let his voice trail off -- and pointedly avoided the subject of what might happen if things didn't hold steady.
Daws sighed and shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Alex. I can't help thinking I could've done something to talk her out of going in there."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 1, 2008 23:44:33 GMT -5
"Everybody tried," Alex murmured gloomily. "She wouldn't listen to anyone. Not even me. Not even when I asked her..."
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Post by skybright on Jul 1, 2008 23:49:46 GMT -5
"I know." Daws replied quietly. "She . . . told me. Before we went in there."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 2, 2008 22:38:18 GMT -5
Alex sighed brokenly, and looked up at Ollivard. "Can I stay with her?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 2, 2008 22:44:07 GMT -5
Caddy nodded. "Of course you can. It's true what they say, about talking to people who are in this state. Especially at this level of coma, patients can still discern stimulus -- uh," He broke off with a sheepish expression. "Which is to say -- she's still aware at some level that you're here."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 3, 2008 21:40:28 GMT -5
"Thank you, Doctor," Alex said, very quietly. He glanced up at Daws again. "You said Sid is coming with Major Vance's people?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 3, 2008 21:44:51 GMT -5
"Yeah." Daws replied quietly. "They'll be bringing the other wounded here when they get back, and I'm sure Sid'll come with 'em. He'll want to see about Miriam."
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