I don't want to leave you lonely

[acrotomophile]

WHO: Brian Moser and whoever wants in. Spike and McCoy are expected. :>
WHEN: The days after Spike finds him and brings him to the infirmary.
WHERE: The infirmary!
WHAT: Various people visit him during recovery. Completely open!
WARNINGS: Probably some mild swearing, discussion of the effects of torture (or more accurately, denial of the effects of

Comments

[with_discipline]

She didn't like the idea of letting Dexter out of Zero before she had to. She didn't like that there were no appropriate brigs on board to keep people like him should the need arise. He was a murderer, he was unrepentant, and she had no doubt that he would kill again. And T'Pol had very little in mind to fix that.

But Brian's warden thought that the brothers should see each other, and though it unsettled her, she afforded him benefit of the doubt. After all, she'd seen Sam and his brother; it was clear they needed each other in difficult times. They had killed, too, but not in the way Dexter did. She did not doubt that Brian was of the same ilk.

Still.

She escorted her inmate out of zero; genetically, she was faster and just as strong, if not stronger than him. Though T'Pol didn't think he would do anything but head for the infirmary. She intended to be there for the duration of this meeting; perhaps the time would give her an idea for appropriate punishment. It was clear enough that time in Zero was hardly adequate.

[born_in_blood]

Dexter waited in Zero for what seemed like days. He didn't know how long he'd been inside when T'Pol came to get him because he'd stopped keeping track. Shutting down entirely was something Dexter did naturally when nobody was around, allowing him to forgo potential anxiety.

He made his way to the infirmary with T'Pol escorting closely. He wondered if she was uncomfortable being in such close proximity to him. They obviously managed to unsettle each other in some small way, and Dexter even held a little contempt for the fact that T'Pol wasn't human.

When he arrived in the infirmary, he was on a steady lookout for Brian's bed, Spike, any indication of his brother.

[rudolphofvamps]

Spike gave a small, tired wave, getting up as Dexter entered the room.

"I kept a spot warm," he said dully, nodding a bit in thanks to T'Pol, though he wasn't sure she'd get it. "It's nice to see you again, Dex." Softly, under his breath, but he didn't have any grand delusions of no one overhearing.

And with that he was gone, leaving the brothers in peace with nothing but a brief glance at Brian over his shoulder.

[acrotomophile]

He'd mostly dozed off by then, but Brian started to stir when he heard his brother's name.

He yawned a little before his eyes opened. "Dex?" he asked in reflex, and when his eyes landed on his brother, everything else became background. He smiled a little, too doped on pain meds to modulate his reactions. "Hey."

[with_discipline]

T'Pol returned Spike's nod, and though she didn't take the seat, she did stand by it. She half turned, giving them a semblance of privacy without really giving it. Then again, she could have been across the room and still heard them just fine.

[born_in_blood]

As he watched Spike go, his eyes turned slowly toward Brian. Then, his feet moved of his own accord and suddenly, he was kneeling next to Brian's bed, Dexter's hand in his. Maybe it was better if T'Pol was here to watch. This sort of thing never happened. Maybe it would give his fake emotions stock to her in the future.

It was a bizarre scene for Dexter, because he had spent Brian's last moments alive kneeling just like this. After a minor bout of nostalgia peppered with what he assumed was guilt -- a very unfamiliar emotion -- he offered Brian a morbidly concerned furrowed-brow. He couldn't smile. There was no way he could fake it when Brian was in front of him in this state. He couldn't say anything. No words could convey how sorry he was that Brian had been reduced to this helpless state.

[acrotomophile]

"I should get tortured more often if it gets me up to hand-holding," he joked in his raspy voice, but Brian's expression was nonetheless soft and appreciative. He gave Dexter's hand an answering squeeze; he was unable to care or even acknowledge that T'Pol was there to watch them. He was just glad that Dexter had gotten out of Zero to visit at all.

Part of him hadn't expected that visit, after everything, but the more rational part of him that wasn't currently out of it knew that was ridiculous. It was just his insecurities talking, off-balance from so much time spent in physical pain and isolation.

[with_discipline]

It was certainly strange to see; T'Pol wasn't entirely sure what to make of their reactions to teach other. Perhaps, she thought, she should try speaking to Brian.

[born_in_blood]

He allowed himself to laugh quietly, then, but it was obviously hollow. Dexter had become a slave to automatic reactions to hide the holes in his humanity. Brian was making him feel more human than he had since Rita's death, which had thrown off his act and made him seem manic.

Holding Brian's hand still and further encouraged, he finally spoke, "Hey."

His voice was raspy. He hadn't spoken since T'Pol had forbidden him from visiting Brian initially. "Are you in any pain?" He looked away from Brian's face to inspect through narrowed, keen eyes the damage done to the rest of his brother. Whatever was visible. Any signs of trauma would leave Dexter feeling weak and dizzy, like he hadn't slept for days.

[acrotomophile]

It was all mostly hidden by the blanket, but Brian's face wasn't in good shape either: one eye was a little swollen, deep bruising on the same cheek, the opposite side of his lip holding a mending scab. And most notably, light bandaging around his neck, concealing the injuries that made his voice grate and scratch as he spoke.

"Hell no," he said, surprised and amused. "Haven't you ever been on an opiate?" He jerked his head toward the IV bag hanging nearby. "They got me the good shit. I'm not even sure I have feet."

It was an effort to remain coherent and attentive, but for his brother he didn't mind. Brian didn't mind at all.

[with_discipline]

T'Pol studied the far side of the infirmary, picking out the beds she'd been in when here, and listening without appearing to. She wondered if Brian's medication was dosed too high, but she said nothing on it. Dexter's reactions were the ones she was looking for. And she saw the concern.

[born_in_blood]

Dexter let Brian's hand go gently, letting it rest gently on Brian's lap. He gave it a light pat before he stood up, putting his hands in his pockets. He made his way toward the IV bags next to Brian's bed, examining them cautiously. Ever since Harry's near-brush with death, Dexter's trust in medical professionals was next to zero. It was a habit to examine the medication divvied out, the scrutinize the doses, to interrogate the doctors in his own, gentle way.

"Who's your tending physician, Brian?" He looked at his brother over his shoulder, eying T'Pol momentarily before turning his attentions back to Brian.

[acrotomophile]

"McCoy, I think," he answered. "Grumpy guy with an accent. Try not to interrogate him too viciously."

Brian eyed his brother with continued amusement; he knew him well enough to know exactly what his intentions were. "I'll be fine. I probably know more about hospitals than you do."

His tunnel vision started to broaden out, and he realized that he'd traded his warden for Dexter's. He automatically glanced over at her when Dexter did, belatedly realizing how disconcerting that probably was but not especially caring. He'd wait to address her until Dexter stopped quietly freaking out.

[with_discipline]

Two serial killers staring at her was not quite enough to ruffle T'Pol's well fought for composure. It was absolutely enough to make one eyebrow climb high, however, and though she was more likely to claim being unable to feel disconcerted, it was certainly strange.

Their conversation had nothing to do with her, however, so she said nothing; but they certainly had her attention.

[born_in_blood]

There was a point in time where he would've pretended to be distressed, even insisted that T'Pol left, but he couldn't really bring himself to put on that kind of a show right now. Instead, when he watched Brian's eyes move to T'Pol, he laughed.

"Oh, wow, I'm sorry. This was rude of me. Brian, this is T'Pol." He motioned to T'Pol, giving her a grin with a hint of smug. "...and T'Pol, this is my biological brother, Brian Moser." He motions to Brian, then.

oh god writing this tag creeped me out

[acrotomophile]

What a fun introduction.

"Hi," he quipped. "I feel like I should say something here, but I'm out of witticisms at the moment."

It was the truth. Brian was distracted by Dexter's good humor, feeling a little thrill at being introduced properly for the first time that he could remember. This was how introductions should always be.