following this

[silverblackkarr]

Blood

Comments

[dr_s_calvin]

Some time later, Calvin sliced through the ER. She knew who she was looking for... but wasn't expecting quite so much blood. "Good god, Karr..."

[silverblackkarr]

He hears her voice, but it takes a minute for it to register. He lifts his head slightly, hands sliding to the back of his neck as he blinks up at her. "Susan? I thought you were in New York..."

[dr_s_calvin]

"The Knight girl called me; I took an earlier flight." This downplays a hell of a lot of yelling at airlines and eventually Xanatos's aid stepping in on her behalf. "Alyson?"

[silverblackkarr]

A single tear trails down his cheek and he nods. "Shot in the leg...hit her femoral artery...they're working on her now."

[dr_s_calvin]

She brushes a strand of hair away from his face, wanting to gather him into her arms. "She'll be all right." She doens't know that, but it's what you say in this situation.

[silverblackkarr]

He doesn't answer her, but drops his hands from his neck so they fall, palm up. He stares down at the sticky half dried blood, unable to speak.

[dr_s_calvin]

She squeezes his arm. "Let's get you cleaned up?" she suggests. It's close to the only thing she can think of.

[silverblackkarr]

He growls at her, very softly, but he means it. "I'm not leaving."

[dr_s_calvin]

"I'm not suggesting it. There's a restroom. Karr, it's not really likely, once she's stable, that they'll let you see her like that." She gestures at what she is self-defensively thinking of as the mess. "And I'm sure you don't want Alyson to see you covered in blood, my boy."

[silverblackkarr]

He sighs and gets up stiffly, heading for the open door of the waiting room bathroom. He flicks on the lights and scrubs his arms and face, hiding the tears he can't stop with the water on his face.

[dr_s_calvin]

She waits, wiping what's gotten onto her hands off on a napkin she'd found in her purse. Christ on a crutch, the new year was not looking good for... well, hell, think it if not say it. The new year wasn't looking good for her boys.

[silverblackkarr]

He comes back, still walking stiffly, sits back down hard, still slumped.

[dr_s_calvin]

She rises to meet him. "Karr..." But there's nothing, really, beyond that. "I'm afraid I've run through my supply of comforting words. I'm sorry," and she means it in general as well as for her lack of words. "She's a fighter. She will pull through."

[silverblackkarr]

His response is hollow, but in spite of his fear, he believes it. "I know..."

[dr_s_calvin]

Well, she never liked the blouse, and she has no idea what to do, and-- dammit, he's her son, after a fashion.

He's her son.

She pulls Karr toward her gently, trying to simply cue him that... it's there, if he wants it. That she'll hold him.

[silverblackkarr]

He allows her to pull him to her, unresistant. He rests his chin on her shoulder, eyes closed, exhausted.