|
Post by skybright on Dec 30, 2006 23:40:01 GMT -5
Daws crossed her arms, examining the livid bruises across the visible parts of Vance's skin. "Has he been awake any more?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 30, 2006 23:45:28 GMT -5
Proteus shrugged. "A few times. He asked for some water once. There were a couple of times he had a one-sided conversation without actually being awake, though."
"What'd he say?" Handy asked.
Proteus half-smiled, glancing at Daws. "It's not my place to say."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 30, 2006 23:50:56 GMT -5
Daws ducked her head and glanced away. "Well . . . I suppose we oughtta see if he can eat something, anyway." she said quietly.
She crossed over to the side of the bed and gently touched Vance's shoulder. "Vance? Hey, Major -- you feel up to wakin' up for a bit?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 31, 2006 0:19:10 GMT -5
Vance uttered a muffled groan in his throat, and slowly opened his good eye. He squinted and blinked for a moment, then mumbled something that sounded vaguely like, "Morning."
"Yeah, it is," Handy put in helpfully, just in case it was a question. He edged forward with the plate of scrambled eggs. "Think you can eat, Jerod?"
"Starving," Vance murmured. "Dunno if I can keep it down... but I need it alright."
"Anything to help get you off my hands quicker." Proteus stood up, and with some help from Handy, he raised Vance to a half-sitting position. It was clearly a painful process for Vance, but he reacted with little more than a grimace.
"Okay." Handy perched on the edge of the bed, giving every sign that he was about to try spoon-feeding Vance--but the Major shot him a look and reached out for the fork. A bit sheepishly, Handy gave it to him, shifting the plate to Vance's lap. Vance proceeded to eat as heartily as his weak state permitted.
"Bat can't be happy to've lost me," he observed at length. "Any trouble?"
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 31, 2006 0:24:43 GMT -5
"Nothin' I can't handle." Daws replied lightly, leaning one shoulder against the wall. "Don't you worry about any of that -- you just handle getting well, and I'll deal with the bat while you do."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 31, 2006 0:33:11 GMT -5
"Liar," Vance murmured, with a faint smile. "If you tell me about it, I might have some ideas."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 31, 2006 0:42:36 GMT -5
Daws couldn't help but grin lopsidedly. "Yeah -- and if I don't you'll just pester me until I do, right?"
Her grin faded and she sighed. "Tiernan's figured out it's Proteus who got you outta his place. He's threatenin' to take it out on the Spooks if Proteus isn't delivered." She shot the shapeshifter a pointed glance, "Or doesn't give himself up. We're gonna figure a way to avoid both of those things, though."
She made a chiding noise. "And like I said -- you oughtta just focus on getting yourself healed up."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 31, 2006 21:31:11 GMT -5
"Hunh." The Major glanced toward Proteus. "With all that going on... don't tell me you're stayin' around here just to play nursemaid."
Proteus shook his head. "I'd give myself up in a cold minute to protect the Spooks--but the fact is, without me, they'll start to unravel eventually. They need me. That's the only reason I've given Miss Dawson three days to find a way around the whole situation."
"Very generous of you." Vance scowled. "This is no game, Proteus."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 31, 2006 22:51:00 GMT -5
"Hey, Major, I've figured my way out of thornier spots." Daws said quietly. "We'll come up with something."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 1, 2007 0:33:19 GMT -5
"Hmph." Vance closed his eyes and growled to himself. "Wish I could've blown the bat away last night." Then he opened his eyes and looked at Daws. "They gave me some kinda drug to inhibit my powers--so I couldn't, even if I hadn't been spent."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 1, 2007 0:40:04 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Probably cooked it up outta the same stuff that Hubert and Caddy worked theirs up with."
She smiled faintly. "You weren't the only one who wishes you coulda taken the bat out -- I wanted to pretty badly, myself."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 1, 2007 0:51:52 GMT -5
"I can imagine." Vance looked at Handy, then Proteus. "If you think I can last by myself a few minutes without dropping dead... I'd kinda like a private word with the lady."
Proteus frowned. "You'll probably live, but you won't be comfortable." He withdrew his left hand from Vance's arm and stood up. "Let's take these dishes away, Handy."
The two men left the room, and Vance turned his gaze to Daws.
"You shouldn't have gone through all this to spring me, Regina. But... I do appreciate it."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 1, 2007 1:08:05 GMT -5
Daws' eyes widened slightly at Vance's use of her first name. She pushed off from the wall and dropped into Proteus' empty chair.
"I had to do it . . . Jerod." She reached out to hesitantly touch his wrist. "You're one of my people. I figured you knew that by now."
Part of Daws' brain reflected in a vaguely detatched way that if she was capable of blushing under her fur, she was probably doing so by now. "Vance -- I . . ." She groped for words before giving a halfhearted chuckle and glancing away. "I'm no good at this."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 1, 2007 21:05:52 GMT -5
Vance turned his hand over, lightly squeezing Daws' fingers. "Yeah. I warned you about this sorta thing." He gave a weak, crooked smile. "Lotta good I did either of us on that count."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 1, 2007 21:59:46 GMT -5
"Yeah, well," Daws smiled faintly, "You know me an' my record for listening to anything anybody tells me."
She shrugged one shoulder, her smile fading. "But I . . . I remember that warning, believe me."
She sighed. "Look, Vance, I . . . I think I'm in love with you, or at least I'm as close to it as I've ever been in my life. But I remember what you said about love in the middle of a war being a dangerous idea. And I know I wouldn't be much of a catch even without fur. And . . . I'm not asking you for anything or expecting anything out of you. I mean -- I'd understand it if . . ." Daws made a frustrated noise and shook her head, looking away. "Jeeze, I really am no good at this sort of thing."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 1, 2007 22:19:56 GMT -5
Vance chuckled grimly. "Fur or scales or plain old skin... doesn't matter. I said once that maybe it was my turn to take care of somebody." He rolled his eye slightly, in deprecation of his helpless condition. "That doesn't seem to be working out too well at the moment, but..."
His shoulder twitched in a slight shrug. "Well, give a guy a chance."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 1, 2007 22:29:53 GMT -5
Daws glanced back at Vance, smiling slowly. "Okay, Major." She said, gently tightening her grip on Vance's hand, "Get yourself healed up -- and then you're on."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 1, 2007 22:40:19 GMT -5
"Yeah." Vance squeezed her hand. "Now, you'd better get together with the others about our latest problem. I'll be thinking about it too, and if I have any ideas, I'll have Proteus let you know."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Jan 1, 2007 22:44:35 GMT -5
"You got it." Daws' smile widened into a genuine grin, and she patted Vance's arm before standing up. "Feel better."
She crossed to the bedroom door and stuck her head out into the hallway, looking for Proteus.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Jan 1, 2007 22:53:15 GMT -5
The shapeshifter was leaning against the wall at the end of the landing. Seeing Daws, he straightened and stepped forward.
"You look happier than you did when you came up here."
|
|