*Fabian slides the files over on top of some Scottish attack reports (others' attacks, not his own) absently, expected more of the same, or maybe overflow from someone else's caseload. The man's file happens to be on top, but he fails to recognize the photograph clipped to the cover; they never saw faces in the ward, after all. It's only when he realizes that it's a medical report - recognizes the same pattern of torture as Amrita Patil's - only when he flips quickly back to the cover and rereads "DECEASED" stamped across it, that the meaning sinks in. Frantically he shoves that file aside and opens the second, praying, hoping against all odds
( ... )
*It's near the end of the day, and he's tired, so Gideon's only half watching as Fabian takes up the file and reads it, but as soon as the tea goes flying his head snaps up. He's always been protective of his brother, almost hyper-attuned to him, and the past few weeks have only brought that out: Gideon only has to glance at him before he's out of his seat too and striding--no, running down the hall after him. He knows better than to grab his arm, so he cuts around Fabian, blocking his way, and holds out a hand.*
*Gideon doesn't say Don't be an idiot or Surely you don't mean that, doesn't crack a joke or make a face. This is serious. This is real. He has only very rarely seen Fabian like this, and it doesn't bode well for either of them, or anyone--or Dolores Umbridge.
What he does is place his hand on Fabian's chest, stopping him, centering him, and his voice is grim, completely humorless, ice-cold.*
*Running a hand into his hair, Frank jogs upstairs and straight to Neville's room. There's no question of where Alice is, nowhere else she'd possibly be. But it's the crying that damn near breaks his heart, the way she's standing over the crib just quietly falling apart. He stops just short of entering, a forearm braced up against the door frame, and watches her helplessly.*
*Of course he didn't know, how could he know? Alice shakes her head, she's already moved past that moment.
She turns her head back to him, and that was all she had honestly meant to do. But again her feet are moving without her mind and suddenly her arms are wrapped around him, the crown of her head burrowing into his chest.
She doesn't feel ready to say it, but if it has to be said, Alice is glad it's to Frank.*
*The confirmation is horrible, but if she needs to talk then she needs to talk, and this isn't about him. Folding her into his chest, Frank just holds her, tangling a hand in her hair and looking over her shoulder at Neville's crib.*
*Under Frank's arms, Alice can feel her chest rattling, getting ready for another sob. She reaches behind her and shuts Neville's door, they can't have him waking up.
Her nails start digging into Frank's back, her head pushing harder against him. She can't help it, she needs to say it, but she cannot do it without the alcohol and her body forcing it out for her.*
Comments 124
Reply
Fabian--what is it--talk to me, will you?
Reply
*He's shouting, but he's past caring that yelling death threats at a Ministry department head is perhaps a bad idea.*
Reply
What he does is place his hand on Fabian's chest, stopping him, centering him, and his voice is grim, completely humorless, ice-cold.*
Talk to me.
Reply
...Al, I'm sorry, I didn't know.
Reply
She turns her head back to him, and that was all she had honestly meant to do. But again her feet are moving without her mind and suddenly her arms are wrapped around him, the crown of her head burrowing into his chest.
She doesn't feel ready to say it, but if it has to be said, Alice is glad it's to Frank.*
She killed a child.
Reply
I know. Gid said.
Reply
Her nails start digging into Frank's back, her head pushing harder against him. She can't help it, she needs to say it, but she cannot do it without the alcohol and her body forcing it out for her.*
I don't know what - what to do.
Reply
Leave a comment