(no subject)

[fifth_garde]

[He'd drove all night, habitually remembering to drink from the cold flask of cheap coffee he'd picked up from a diner and even more habitually to chew on aspirin. He had to keep the pain in his arm at bay, occasionally it would spasm causing him to jerk the wheel to one side. His eyes were aching, and either that was because of the exhaustion or the emotions which were rattling around in his head, both of which weren't things he was able to take care of right then.

He'd eventually caved in and put on the radio, listening to some random popular music station so he wasn't left with just his own thoughts. He didn't exactly enjoy the music but it was better than utter silence, every now and again he'd press a wad of napkins against his temple, which had crusted over but wasn't entirely finished bleeding yet.

Finally reaching the town he'd left Owen in earlier that day, or actually the day before considering it was now five in the morning, he could've simply ran but he'd either end up running into a wall or phasing half way through one and winding up dead.

He parked the car in the same car park he'd left the BMW and transfers the chest from one trunk to the other, after all he'd rather ditch Al's car for the stolen motor, regardless of the convenience of having a car with actual insurance papers.

Finally he drags himself into the corridors of the hotel, it seeming deadly quiet for the fact it was so early, he vaguely remembers Owen's room number having only seen it once before and slumps against the doorframe, tapping lightly on it and hoping Owen would hear.]

Owen? 's me... I mean, Five, y'there?

Comments

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

I believe you. I just generally dislike causing it.

[He will probably be causing quite a bit of it, despite this, making sure the wound is properly cleaned and covered with cream before applying the cause and taping it into place. He'll check to see how well it's healing tomorrow --or later, to be more accurate-- and if not... Well, he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. There were spells, but...]

Just this one now.

[He brushes his thumb across Jason's temple while inspecting the wound now it's cleaned up. Fortunately, this one is a lot less serious, and all it requires is disinfectant, anaesthetic, and two butterfly stitches.]

...I'm still worried about concussion, so you're going to stay awake for a little bit, though I know you have to be exhausted. And there's a good chance we'll have matching scars, though I tried to ensure it'll heal cleanly.

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

[He mutters out a couple of expletives, it was painful even by normal standards.]

Tomorrow I'll fix it. I brought somethin' with me I just can't use it tonight.

[He'd use the healing stone.. the injuries were serious enough to require that level of healing and he'd just get drunk to ignore the pain.]

'm gonna be fine, 'n yeah if the swimmin' feelin' is anything t'go by I have concussion. But I can't just turn up in a hospital, 'n like I said once I get my head together I can heal everything like that.

[He manages a weak smile when Owen's done patching him up.]

Thanks.. I had nowhere else t'go.

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

No, I know. I understand. We'll wait it out for a while and see how you're feeling a little later.

...I understand. And I-- I know what that's like. So you don't have to thank me, even if you feel as if you do.

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

I do though, y'had no reason t'help me. I'm still basically a stranger.

[He stands up, drinking more of the sports drink and sitting more comfortably on the bed. He just needed a few days to work everything out, eventually he'd heal on a mental level. The physical healing was going to be a lot simpler but it would involve going to get the chest which would be significantly heavier without the added adrenaline boost.]

'm surprisingly.. awake. I feel I should pass out any moment but even thinkin' about sleep seems difficult. [He sighs and leans against the headboard, wincing slightly.]

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

You're--

[And he pauses, because he really isn't completely how to finish that sentence for a moment. When he continues, his voice is soft.]

If I'm being absolutely honest, I have no idea what you are, but I strongly suspect that you were very much on the way to being something at least a lot like a good friend.

I like you. I like being around you. I relate to your circumstance. We can help each other a lot. And I'd help anyone in trouble if I could. So I have a lot of reasons help you, and no reasons not to help you. Let me--

[Jason's getting pillows arranged behind him now to ease the strain on his chest. Owen rests against the headboard beside him, one knee drawn up, on which he rests his chin.]




...Ironically, I'm a bit crap at this as a friend.

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

[He's not too sure how to take that, it was interesting to be considered anything close to anything, but he'd felt it too. He tilts his head to the side, just short of resting it on Owen's shoulder.]

Y'know... I was thinkin' the same thing, 'n this could be the painkillers, exhaustion and mental trauma talkin' but it might be nice t'actually have a friend who wants me around rather than just needs it.

[He sighs, taking another drink.]

's nice, really.

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

[Owen gives him a slightly wry smile.]

Be sure to let me know if you happen to change your mind once your faculties return. ...Speaking of which, I've got more painkillers, if you need them. I'm worried about giving you too many, but those injuries are fairly... severe.




...We can talk about it, if you want.

[He means the other, non-treated injuries, obviously.]

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

[He finds himself staring at the ceiling.]

Guess we'll find out in a few hours then, 'n no more painkillers. My heads swimmin' enough as it is.

[He frowns and claps his hand lightly on Owen's thigh.]

'm not ready for that yet, really. 's a floodgate ready t'explode 'n neither of us are able t'deal with that.

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

That probably for the best. You can sleep in a little while, but I'll have to wake you periodically to make sure you're all right.

[Owen glances at him at that and shifts over the tiniest fraction so their shoulders are touching.] ...Take all the time you need. ...But I'm here when you're ready. And I can deal with whatever you need me to.

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

Don't need t'sleep, we can talk about anythin' else except that.

[He sighs, it was too much for him to handle right now and he wasn't about to start sobbing again right there on the bed because he probably wouldn't stop until he rendered himself unconscious.]

What do I do next...? [That was the only thing he couldn't find an answer for, usually someone made his long term plans for him.]

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

You will eventually. You've burned through god knows how much adrenaline. You have to let your body rest. ...And your mind, too.

...Well, if the Mogadorians were able to track your last location, I would suggest that you get as far away from the place they found as possible.



You could always come back to England with me, if you wanted. I have... contacts, resources, that could be very helpful to you.

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

I could?

[He considers it, it would be his first real move by himself. Sure he'd spent a lot of time in different hotels and motels all over the world but that didn't mean he'd ever had another home. He swallows thickly and lies totally back against the pillows, closing his eyes.]

I guess I could, I mean.. it's a great offer. It's new 'n different...

[He sighs and dreads the outcome of his next question.]

What does that make us then? Friends, roommates, casual fuckbuddies? [Yes, Five was all colours of deep tonight...]

Owen fails so much at this, I'm sorry. :| :| :|

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

I, uh.

[Damn it, Jason would not ask him that if he were firing on all cylinders! Owen is so very bad at this.]

Er. No. Yes. Maybe? All... Of the above? More? I don't-- You know, I've never, um--




How about we just think of it as 'title pending', for now?

Ahahaha, Jason is bad.

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

[His head was swimming a little more now, especially with the fact that his adrenaline was rapidly leaving him.]

Title pendin', that works for now. Never did like labellin' things.

[He rests his head on Owen's shoulder, sighing.] 'm sorry, layin' this shit on you. When are you, I mean, when are we goin' t'England anyway?

He's doing better than Owen! He has legit reason to be all messed up.

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

I do. Usually. ...But this sort of defies categorisation, and for once, I'm not going to prod at it.

[That feels oddly comfortable, and Owen turns his head, resting his cheek against Jason's still-damp hair.] If you keep apologising, I'm going to poke you in your shoulder-wound.

The day after tomorrow. But... I can change the ticket to earlier, if you want, and... Do you have a passport that will get you through customs?

J is just doped up and will die if he falls asleep w. Owen...

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

Hey, that'd make you a bad nurse. Pretty sure threatenin' the patient is frowned. [He laughs breathily.]

I do, I mean I don't always run from place t'place. I like flyin' 'n that's not in my list o' skills.

[Usually Jason would move away when things start to get comfortable, but he figures there's nothing in the way of it right now and maybe a bit of comfort would do him well.]

Though, what class d'you fly...? [He might force Owen to upgrade his ticket or something, considering he may be in a bad way but that doesn't mean he likes people.. after all the only humans he spoke to he singled out to begin with.]

It has to happen some day! :P

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

Well, tough luck for you, because I'm going to be a doctor, and they've often got a crap bedside manner.

[If Owen is going to let him anywhere near his permanent living space, they'll have to get very comfortable. He's picky about people seeing and touching his things.]

Business-- coach is making a bad thing worse, and first draws too much attention.

Soooome day.

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

Well 've got crap bedside manner in the mornin', 'n that's the only warnin' y'get. [He smirks.] That's one of the normal things you've yet t'learn.

[A smile tugs slightly at the corners of his mouth.] Good, I don't like sittin' with a bunch of people, or kids...

[He yawns suddenly, turning his head away from Owen as he does so.] I should move t'the other bed 'n sleep. Long couple of days.

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, I'm sure you're perfectly terrifying.

You'll have a very nice reclining bed, and no one within kicking distance of the back of your chair, thank god.

You stay here; I'll go. The less moving you do, the better. And try not to exercise too much of that bedside manner when I wake you up to check on you, okay?

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

Probably am, jus' wait.

[He doesn't bother waiting to see if Owen will leave but simply falls into a deep sleep. It isn't the best and he slumps gracelessly at some stage, no doubt indulging that horrible habit he had of drooling.]

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

[Owen's on watch duty, so there'll be no sleeping for him. He will move over to the other bed eventually, though, and lie there, watching him. He's exhausted, but between student and Watcher training, he can make it through for another couple of hours. He picks up his book again, and this time, he's actually able to read like a normal person, and it actually goes in, though he does think again of Jason, and whether or not it might help to share his own experiences.

...Maybe, he concludes, in time. For the moment, however, he goes to wake Jason to check on him, putting a hand on his shoulder gently.]

Hey. Sorry to wake you. How are you feeling?

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

[He wakes with a start, sliding gracelessly off the edge of the bed with a thump. He pops back up in a moment, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth and then reaching for the pitcher of water on the nightstand.]

Good, honest. Much better. [He runs his hand through his messy hair, trying to paste a smile across his face.] I can probably fix myself up now, jus' need t'go down to the cars.

[He rolls his shoulders and cracks his neck, feeling incredibly stiff from the way he slept and gasping slightly at the pain that jolts through his system.] 's not gonna be pretty...

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

[He's not really buying that, Jason.]

Are you sure you want to go now? No offence, but you look like death. What is it? I can get it for you.

[fifth-garde.livejournal.com]

Y'can't. I mean I'd love for you t'be able t'bring it to me but you can't touch it without hurtin' yourself.

[He rolls his eyes and takes another drink.] 'n thanks, 'm pretty sure I do look like shit right now, but that'll change in an hour.

[He walks haggardly over to his bag and pulls out a t-shirt, pulling it on partly with his hands and partly with small bursts of telekinesis.] 'n then it'll just be the tiredness 'n.. other things that'll have me worse for wear.

[magicalmishaps.livejournal.com]

And I can't exactly float it through the corridors without being noticed. ...Or, truth be told, probably without dropping it. I'm not... It doesn't always work for me.

I didn't mean it like that...! You look like you've been in a fight, that's all.

Well, let's deal with... What we can deal with first. It'll look better if you have company, so-- Let's go.