ways_infirmary | (no subject)

"KEVIN!" comes the almost-cheery shout from the door as Arnaud is shoved into the room. He stumbles into one of the beds before righting himself and giving Kevin a nervous smile.

"I told you he'd be here," he tells the man walking into the room. "Now... I really should be on my way."

A hand reaches out from the doorway and pushes him onto the bed before walking in. And Simon Cole glares hatefully at Kevin.

"I don't appreciate being lied to."

Kevin? Drops the beaker in his hand, which was fortunately empty, and stares at both the men in frozen shock. Knowing Arnaud was there is not the same as seeing him in his infirmary.

...but there's a worse danger than Arnaud, right now.

"...h-hello, Simon. I didn't lie to you..."

Arnaud looks towards the door and starts shifting in that direction.

Simon growls and grabs at his arm and shoves him in front of him towards Kevin before turning his attention from Arnaud to Kevin.

"How am I supposed to believe that, Fawkes? I'm still here, aren't I? Why am I not back where I'm supposed to be? Why can't I see myself? All I see is this... "

And he looks disdainfully down at himself. Or rather, Darien.

Arnaud gives Kevin a wane smile.

"You're looking good, Kevin. Very... lively, considering."

"It... it didn't work quite the way I was expecting, that's all. But I've had time to work on it, and Simon, I swear, this time I know how to fix it."

He's babbling in sheer nervous terror, but then turns a venomous look on Arnaud.

"Considering you had me killed, de Thiel?"

Arnaud shrugs.

Business. It happens.

Usually to other people.

Blink.

"He had you ki--then how--?"

He shakes his head. It doesn't make sense, so he's dismissing it. He must have heard wrong.

"You'd better not be lying, Fawkes. I'm losing my patience."

Kevin swallows, ignoring Arnaud again.

"I'm not lying. This time, I can fix it. With a little... help."

And God, but it kills him to say that and indicate Arnaud. But it's the only way it can work.

Arnaud nods, almost imperceptibly to Kevin, and then to Simon.

"Y-yes, of course. You know Kevin can't do a thing without me," and his voice is firmly in Dr.deThiel mode. "Now... we should get you onto one of these pallettes, yes?"

He looks to Kevin for approval.

Simon looks rather suspicious but nods his head and goes along with it, looking to Kevin for approval as well.

"If anyone can do this, I figure it's you two."

He smiles, not 'his' smile but a genuine one, and shakes his head.

"Man... I can't wait to see Ivy."

Kevin nods, forcing himself into calm professionalism.

"You'll be home with her soon."

At least, he prays that this last remnant of Simon Cole will get some peace.

Arnaud nods as well and pats his back as Simon gets onto the bed. He looks at Kevin meaningfully and nods to the minilab Kevin had been working at.

Kevin just nods, not willing to actually speak to the man more than he has to, and turns to the lab to collect the formula he'd worked out.

Arnaud watches carefully and continues to sooth Simon on the bed, patting his shoulder with one hand.

"We will have you fixed up in no time."

And Kevin is there with the syringe, swabbing down the back of Darien-Simon's neck before he administers the injection.

Arnaud watches the liquid as the plunger forces it down the needle and into the gland and, as it finishes, makes his move. One hand shoves Kevin back while the other goes for an improvised right hook that catches the dead doctor on the chin. He misses the jaw, however, but it's enough that he's spinning and making a run for it.

Simon hears the commotion and his eyes shoot open as he rears up and grabs at Kevin's shirt. His grip goes slack, however, as the pain shoots through him and the world starts dissolving.

"Fawkes! Fawkes, what did you--"

He's blind, in the darkness again, and grasping feebly at the lab coat even as Kevin falls back.

"Ivy?"

And then he's out cold, slumped half-off the bed with one hand in Kevin's lab coat pocket.

He's only still upright because Simon grabbed at him, but he's swaying on his feet, dazed from the punch.

He's alert enough to check on Darien, though.

"Goodbye, Simon. I'm sorry."

There's the sound of running feet and then there's a Charlie, eyes wide with panic. "Kevin--somebody said they saw Darien--"

Kevin wobbles and flops to the ground, exhausted and aching at the jaw and worried. Darien is starting to rouse, however.

Charlie bends to Kevin, touching his back. "What the hell happened? Are you all right? Is he all right?" He looks up. "Dar?"

Darien blinks awake and stares at Charlie for a moment, obviously relieved, before glancing down at Kevin.

"Kev? Kevin?"

Kevin rouses himself, but just long enough to groan.

"Man, what happened to you?"

Kevin winces and puts a hand to his jaw, as if checking to see if that had really happened.

"Darien?"

Darien rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, Kev. Moving on. What the hell?"

Kevin shakes his head and attempts to stand, but it doesn't go so well.

"Stay down, mate, stay down a sec--" He grabs a pillow from one of the beds and puts it under Kevin's head.

Kevin looks up at Charlie thankfully before checking on Darien again. Darien waves him off before blinking and sitting up, looking around.

"Kev, did--"

"He's gone."

Kevin goes on to give a good summary of events, including the peptide solution used to rid the world of Simon Cole entirely.

Charlie listens, eyes on Darien. Most of the science goes over his head, but the important part is easy to understand.

No more Simon.

Just Darien.

"Arnaud got away?" he says quietly and reaches for Darien's hand.

Kevin nods.

"I'm, uh..."

And Kevin looks to Darien for a moment before pulling himself up and nodding to Charlie.

"Take care of him?"

Then the doctor makes his way to his room. Darien, for his part, stands and stumbles into Charlie.

Charlie wraps his arms around Darien and says, "Of course I will," to Kevin's back. He holds Darien close and kisses him again and again. "Hey, baby," he says quietly. "Hey."

"Hi. I feel... queasy."

And he's feeling like shit for leaning on Charlie but he's still leaning on Charlie.

"Need to lie down? With a bucket?"

Charlie can hold him. He's small but sturdy.

He shakes his head.

"Nah."

He's... good with what he has now.

More stroking, more kisses.

Darien's okay but the vague feeling of helplessness remains.

He looks at Charlie.

"Get me in a bed, man. Please? I... I want some rest."

He loops an arm around Darien's chest to hold him steady and directs him towards the door. Not one of the beds here--theirs.

The only safe place, he thinks sometimes. The only safe place in the world.

He smiles and nods thankfully as they walk out into... God, right into his apartment and there IS a God. He looks out for fools.

At least, these two.

~~Fools, children, and ships named Enterprise.~~

"You hungry at all?" he asks quietly as he pulls back the bedding. "I make great soup-from-a-can."

continued here (http://qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com/10574.html)