fic: Tower of Strength [PG-15] p 4/14 Highlander
Title: Tower of Strength
Author: A Lanart
Characters: Richie Ryan & Siannon O'Niall (OFC)
Rating: PG-15 (UK). (Probably an R in the US)
Warnings: Swearing, Angst and possibly disturbing subject matter.
Spoilers: Highlander seasons 1-3
Disclaimer: Davis/Panzer productions own the Highlander universe
Concepts and characters used without permission.
Original characters and ideas are Mine, so is the story.
No profit is being made off this by anyone, especially me!
Title courtesy of the Mission, from the song of the same name,
Summary: Richie's back in Seacouver after the events in 'Testimony', where he meets an *old* friend.
Part 4
After an hour or so, three cups of coffee and a wash, Siannon began to feel more able to deal with the situation.
"I think I ought to go up and see him."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"No I'm not sure, but I don't think I can accept it if I don't see him. You've no idea how it felt. One minute he was there, beautiful, vibrant and alive. The next thing I'm doing CPR on him, hoping to at least give him a chance to fight for his life. No-one should have to go through that. No-one!" She exploded out of her chair and began to pace. "How many times do we fall in love, only to have it snatched away? I knew I was going to lose him as soon as I fell in love with him, but not so soon, not like this. Fucking hell, we hadn't even had three years together!" The anger seemed to die out of her in a rush as she came to a stop in front of him. "Oh Richie, what am I going to do?" She let herself be gathered in another hug, taking comfort in the warm strength of his arms.
"I've no idea what you're going to do, but I'll be there for you while you do it. If that involves going up to see him, then I'll go with you. If you want to go home, then I'll take you. I'm not leaving you alone with all this going on; you've got to have someone to lean on. I tried to be there for Mac when we lost Tessa, even though I felt as guilty as hell for surviving, and I want to be here for you, no matter what happens."
"Thanks. I think I'd like to see him now."
Of course she wished she had decided not to see Laurie when they were allowed in. He had been in surgery, and was almost unrecognisable. The vivacious man who had been so full of life and love lay still and grey in the stark confines of the hospital bed, his head swathed in bandages, hiding what was left of the fire gold hair. He was surrounded by machines, breathing for him, monitoring him, keeping his body alive. Siannon took one look at the near lifeless figure in the bed and knew with a certainty beyond reason that Laurie had already gone. This would be goodbye. She fought her way through the endless tangle of tubes to stand beside the bed. She reached down to touch Laurie's face, to kiss him one last time. Siannon had to kiss him on the cheek as the tube that he was ventilated through was in his mouth, the tapes holding it in position distorting his lips. She choked back more tears.
"Goodbye Laurie. I love you. I just wish we'd had more time." Stepping away from the bed, she turned toward Richie. "Get me out of here," she said. He needed no further urging and threw an arm around her shoulder as he guided her out of the room with as much haste as he could muster.
Richie kept on casting worried glances at his heartbroken friend as he walked her out of the intensive care unit. He could feel the trembling in her body where it was pressed against him and tightened his arm around her, trying to offer some comfort and strength. In a way he was glad he had Siannon's grief on which to focus as it prevented him from dwelling on the all too painful memories of Tessa's loss and the feelings of inadequacy and guilt that he'd had at the time and were now threatening to resurface. They had reached the echoing silence of the deserted corridor with no interruptions when Siannon's control finally broke again and all he could do was hold her as the terrible, racking sobs tore through her body, right into his heart, wounding him with their pain. He found himself wondering what it must be like to be on the receiving end of a love like Siannon had so obviously had for Laurie and whether it would be worth all the pain.
At last the storm of weeping was over. Siannon still clung desperately onto Richie, her head buried in his damp shoulder. Slowly she began to calm, allowing herself to relax into his warm embrace as he gently began to stroke her hair. She had no idea what she would have done if he had not been there, an island of peace in the turbulent stream of her emotions, a haven, someone to hold onto. She could so easily lose herself in grief, it had nearly killed her before now, and only the presence of a friend, then as now, had stopped her going off the rails. While she was aware that physically Laurie would be alive until life support was terminated, Siannon knew in her heart of hearts that he had left this life and that they would not see each other again, not as Siannon and Laurie anyway, and maybe not ever. Although Siannon believed that mortal souls lived again and again in their own sort of immortality, she knew the chance of meeting someone in another lifetime, and recognising them, was remote. In all her years on earth it had only happened once. Drawing a shaky breath, she finally raised her head to look at Richie, seeing only compassion and concern in his blue eyes. She scrubbed the tears away from her face, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her jacket. He regarded her with such an intense expression she was momentarily taken aback until she realised what it was. Love. The love of true friendship and a recognition of her feelings, the sharing of her pain. It touched her in a way that she did not expect.
"Let me take you home, there's no point in staying now." He spoke softly, not wanting to intrude too much on her thoughts.
"No. Richie, I can't go back there tonight, not with all his stuff still lying around. I'd lose it completely, I know I would." He hugged her tightly.
"Then come home with me. Stay as long as you need to. If needs be, I'm sure Mac wouldn't mind you staying in the loft until you got yourself sorted."
"Thanks. I think I'd rather stay with you than be on my own, I'm going to have bad dreams tonight, if I get to sleep at all."
"My place is yours. Do you want to pick up any stuff?"
"Not if you don't mind lending me a T-shirt to sleep in." He let her go and gave her a sad, gentle smile.
"I think I can manage that. Do you think you'll be okay on the back of the bike?"
"I'll be fine."
"Let's go then."