Fic, Body and Soul, Blue Cortina, by DorsetGirl
Title: Body and Soul
Author: DorsetGirl
Fandom: Life on Mars
Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters or their universe. BBC/Kudos do. I’m not making any money out of this.
Rating: Blue Cortina for injury and angst
Pairings: Sam/Gene implied
Word Count: 378
Summary: Sam can’t keep body and soul together any longer.
A/N: A few days ago I posted a story called Fighting to Survive. duckyone wondered if there was more, and then
vicfarmer asked how Sam had come to the state described in that fic. So, in an attempt to answer at least one of Vic’s questions, this is a prequel to Fighting to Survive. There may be one or two more small chapters filling in the gaps between the two. Thanks to Ducky for the very gentle unintended pokey stick, and to
icudoc for the fast response to some medical questions. Not beta’d, so do shout if you see anything wrong.
Body and Soul
Sam was finding it difficult to breathe. It didn’t seem to matter.
He wasn’t sure how long you could live anyway with a punctured lung; without warmth and human company.
He wondered how long you could live with voices in your head calling you home; without food and water.
He had no idea how long you could live with broken bones and slowly-dripping wounds; without help.
He didn’t know if anyone could live with this much damage; without Gene.
* * *
Despite the Summer evening, the ground was cold and wet under his face, chill damp seeping into his clothes and bones. Luckily this time they’d left him on his side; even without the fettered hands he’d given up trying to move days ago. The pain was bigger than he was; it couldn’t be borne, controlled or even isolated. It could be ignored only if he sank into it, let himself fall head-first into the black and red mire; if he made no conscious movements, shifted not a single muscle of the few still under his control.
* * *
He’d stopped feeling hunger long ago. There was only pain.
Drink this, copper. Don’t worry, they’ll find you here. A snigger. You might even still be alive by then. Did you know you can survive without food for two months? You’ve only done fifteen days so far. Plenty of time left to enjoy it.
He’d begun to despair further back than he could recall. There was only death.
Belay that, dickhead, someone’ll find him tomorrow. Listen copper, I don’t need to go down for murder. When you wake up, you can call for help. There’s an alley out there; they’ll hear you. Nice knowing you, copper.
As the footsteps faded, he lost control of his body and thrashed feebly in his bonds, vomiting bile as his muscles spasmed uncontrollably.
As the light faded he lost control of his mind, sobbing weakly for release from this place.
* * *
Pain seeped back with the rain and the daylight. The rain dripped and splashed and echoed. Somewhere drops were landing on something hollow, a lonely, eerie sound from far away or long ago.
Drip. Splash. Beep.
He’s waking up. Sam? Sam, love? Can you hear me?
Mum! I’m coming home.
* * *
Unnoticed behind the fence, the body began to cool.
* * *