Sanctuary Ficlet -- Lazarus
A very short ficlet with James and Helen, with spoilers for Tempus and Revelations.
James Watson opened his eyes. He was lying flat on a gurney, and he could not say that he was entirely surprised to see the face of the woman bending over him. It had been the last thing he saw before his sight dimmed and the rising blackness overwhelmed all thought, Helen with John just behind her, Nikola twisting his hands together as though he ought to do something impossible.
"James?" she said, bending over him. "James, can you hear me?"
He took a breath, deep and shuddering, clean air rushing into his lungs without even the familiar weight of the device on his chest. There were lights above, a white ceiling. Not Balasalaam, then. Not that he had expected it would be. Nor was he surprised to see that she looked older, the creases at the corners of her eyes a little more deeply graven than his last sight. Of course.
"James, do you understand me?" She was worried, naturally. He was dead. Moments, by his lights. A century and more by hers.
"Of course I do," he said, and was proud that the words came out clearly and distinctly. "I rather thought you might do something like this." James Watson smiled.
James Watson opened his eyes. He was lying flat on a gurney, and he could not say that he was entirely surprised to see the face of the woman bending over him. It had been the last thing he saw before his sight dimmed and the rising blackness overwhelmed all thought, Helen with John just behind her, Nikola twisting his hands together as though he ought to do something impossible.
"James?" she said, bending over him. "James, can you hear me?"
He took a breath, deep and shuddering, clean air rushing into his lungs without even the familiar weight of the device on his chest. There were lights above, a white ceiling. Not Balasalaam, then. Not that he had expected it would be. Nor was he surprised to see that she looked older, the creases at the corners of her eyes a little more deeply graven than his last sight. Of course.
"James, do you understand me?" She was worried, naturally. He was dead. Moments, by his lights. A century and more by hers.
"Of course I do," he said, and was proud that the words came out clearly and distinctly. "I rather thought you might do something like this." James Watson smiled.