January 1987; what you can't carry

[theunpressuredclub]

 She'd skipped training today, and she was certain she was going to pay for it later, as Pierre was liking paying for it now. But walking to the Spades Castle had had her running into Elliot, and Elliot had clearly been in need of some kind of help. It wasn't until he'd turned away from her and she saw the blood that had seeped through the back of his shirt that she'd even begun to figure out the problem.

Encouraging him back to the Clubs Castle was rough, but he was ultimately in too much agony to argue otherwise. Had half-collapsed onto her bed after shrugging off his shirt with a low groan of pain.

Really, it was impressive that it was only a groan, Rachel had determined once she'd gotten proper look at the obvious lashes across his back. It had turned her stomach more than anything she'd seen yet had-- and there'd been a lot she had seen, now. Had had her asking a Two to call for Edgar when the Spade had passed out-- from the exhaustion or the pain her delicate cleaning of the wounds had been, she couldn't tell-- asking him to come as soon as he was able.

There's worry clear in her features when she answers the door, along with a small bit of uncertainty. By now she knew that Edgar suspected there was more to her 'training' situation than she'd let on, but she wasn't sure he knew to what extent. And even though she was fairly certain Elliot's situation wasn't related to their shared experience, she couldn't help the fretting when she was still so obviously healing from the session that had left bruises all along her arms.

Comments

[ofthecubs]

Of course it doesn't take long for Edgar Eicheln to be found. He isn't exactly the sort of person who's good at hiding himself away--nor is he the sort of person who ever really wants to. Even if he were, of course, there's something inexplicable in the frown of the Two who tells him Rachel needs him to come around.

This isn't a normal invitation to come over. This is the sort of nervous need that sends shockwaves rippling through the rest of the castle on an incredibly quiet level.

He's already frowning when he knocks on the door. It's impossible not to let a little sound of confusion and nerves escape at even just the sight of her face when the door is actually opened.

"--hey. What's--?"

[theunpressuredclub]

"--It's Elliot."

And it's been so long since she could say he and the Spade were properly friends. It's just that this is something she thinks he'll need to know.

"He's-- he's hurt, Ed. It's--"

It's better if she shows him, really. Better if she lets him in and shuts the door firmly before leading him to where the other young man is resting.

"Look."

[ofthecubs]

They haven't stuck close. They don't hang off each other or scramble to find themselves in the same circles anymore. There's certainly no animosity, but there also isn't much in the way of closeness.

It doesn't stop Edgar's gut from twisting around the way she says Elliot's name, even before she gets to what's wrong. The dread sets in instantly.

And the dread doesn't even begin to prepare him for the sight of the other man resting covered in slick new blood on Rachel's bed. "--Christ, what-- What happened to him?"

[theunpressuredclub]

"I don't know," she says, wringing her hands with worry as she drifts to the Spade's side again to check his breathing.

"It's-- I know it's not from--" And she cuts herself off sharply from saying her uncle's name, shadows briefly resting over her eyes at the thought, "...This isn't-- usual. I just-- I happened to see him before we started 'nd he was-- already hurt."

[ofthecubs]

The event, clearly, is something to be examined more. Both events, maybe, from the careful separation Rachel is drawing in the sand now. None of it's right, after all. None of it's acceptable.

And none of it should ever have been allowed to get this bad.

"We need to get him to a doctor. A proper one, Rach. He's-- It looks bad. He probably needs a transfusion."

[theunpressuredclub]

"I know."

It had been terrifying, after all, trying to clean the wounds and being overwhelmed by how much blood there was. It had been worrying, seeing how out of it the young man already was when she'd nearly stumbled into him in the Spades castle.

"I just-- He didn't want to go and then he started fading I couldn't get him all th'way--"

He'd been too hurt, and she's too small to help him.

[ofthecubs]

"Okay. Okay."

His fingers briefly, lightly, find her elbow to squeeze. His feet take him forward for a better examination despite the lurching of his gut.

"We probably shouldn't-- try to move him now. We'll get someone to come here." One hand moves with infinite delicacy, just for a moment, to press against the pulse in Elliot's neck for more definitive sign of life. "You want to stay with him, or-- do you need a minute?"

Both impulses would be completely understandable.

[theunpressuredclub]

"'m not leaving him," she answers instantly-- and if there's a hint of protectiveness that's tinged with something other than just the sense of friendship, it's not something she actually notices herself, yet.

"'nless you-- want to watch him 'nd have me get the doctor."

Either way, they'll want to do it soon. Elliot's pulse is existent, still, and the light touch even garners the smallest of restless shifts from the young man, but it's so clearly a losing battle.

[ofthecubs]

"You might be able to explain it better, is all."

And with less fumbling. A lack of fumbling is most important. They don't have all that much time.

"Whatever's quicker, Rach."

Whatever got Elliot bandaged up sooner.

[theunpressuredclub]

"Mm."

There's only a moment's thought as she scans the form of the unconscious young man again.

"'m faster. 'll-- 'll go."

Even if she wants so badly to stay by his side.

"Take care 'f him."

[ofthecubs]

"I've got him."

It's going to be good for her to get a little air. It's going to be good for her to get herself together again.

"Hurry. I'm sure Dr Epstein is still up."

[theunpressuredclub]

"A-all right."

She's going to rush out of the room after only a moment of tangling her fingers in Elliot's hair to assure herself he's still breathing. She's going to track down the doctor after some minutes of frantic searching.

It'll feel like too long before she gets back, but thank goodness the Spade will still be hanging in there when she does.

[ofthecubs]

It's amazingly easy to fall into care. It's amazingly easy to let it sink in completely that this is an old, dear friend as he moves mechanically to keep up cleaning up the excess blood.

And it's bad. This is bad. This is the sort of bad that can't be ignored or explained away.

His hands are shaking a little when he moves out of the way for the doctor with only the slightest plea that they be allowed to stay. To be helpful.

[theunpressuredclub]

Rachel will flutter over to Elliot's and Edgar's side as soon as they re-enter the room. The doctor will assess the situation thoroughly before beginning to reply.

Yes, they'll be allowed to stay. Yes, they'll be allowed to be helpful. Edgar will be directed to help finish off the cleaning. Rachel will be asked to help as the doctor does their best to close-- or at least cover-- the wounds.

There'll be more blood yet, before the job's done. There'll be whimpers of pain and a bit of struggle from Elliot, which Rachel will soothe to the best of her ability.

There'll be a tired sigh from Dr. Epstein when all's said and done.

"We need to get him to the hospital still," the doctor says, "He's lost a lot of blood, and I'm worried the wounds may still get infected. I'm going to go get a stretcher-- the two of you stay here and keep an eye on him. I'll be right back. Run if you need me."

Rachel, shaking and with a sob in her throat, will reach for Edgar once the doctor departs.

[ofthecubs]

It's more blood than he's seen before. It's more blood than he's lost before, even. It's harrowing to be cleaning up. It's harrowing to see the pile of blood-soaked rags and bandages.

He barely manages to repress his shaking as he pulls an arm carefully around Rachel's shoulders.

"It's going to be okay. You heard the doctor. He's-- he's going to make it, Rach."

[theunpressuredclub]

"Y-yeah."

And it is a reassuring thing, but she's still shaking as much as he is nonetheless. She's still getting near to hysterics from the worry.

"B-but I just... I don' understand."

It's not really Shea's usual thing, after all, as far as she's seen, and even if it were, she doesn't know what the Spade could've done to provoke the older man into this sort of thing.

This sort of thing was really only seen from someone who had a deep-seated sort of hatred towards their victim, and she'd never quite detected that from their trainer.

[ofthecubs]

"Don't focus on that."

It's all he can do to keep his voice calm, hand squeezing tighter at her shoulder. It's incredibly difficult to breathe deeply enough to manage it.

"We'll figure it out. I promise. Just-- he's going to be fine. That's what matters."

[theunpressuredclub]

"He's-- gonna be fine," she says, a little faintly, as she buries her face more into his shoulder.

"And we'll... we'll figure it out."

Maybe even be able to help him.

Definitely will be able to help the doctor move him onto the stretcher, at least.

[ofthecubs]

"We will. This--"

This hurts. This burns. This is all but ruining his heart as he shifts to pull his arms more properly around her. These are his friends. This is one he hasn't kept track of laid out like a rag doll, and this is one he loves more than he should shaking like a leaf for having dragged him here.

"This is going to be okay again."

They'd make it.

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

"Will be."

She has to believe it. She has to keep telling it to herself as they help their friend onto the stretcher. As they cling together while the wait at the hospital. As they wait for Elliot to wake up again.

The latter of which being something which happens in fits and starts. Will eventually happen in full with Elliot working his way out of the haze of unconsciousness and immediately trying to push up on his arms to get a better look at things.

[ofthecubs]

Repeating it has to happen with some frequency. It has to come again and again when they drift in and out of consciousness waiting in the hospital.

Repeating it in variation happens when movement in the bed startles him out of his haze.

"Elliot." Hopefully his voice is still familiar enough. "Elliot, you're okay. Easy."

It's thoughtless to reach out to try and soothe Elliot down again, but it's the first impulse.

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

The pain that shoots through his back from the movement has him hissing and halting his attempts at movement immediately. Even if it hadn't, he would have stilled at the sudden touch. It takes Rachel jerking awake and shifting instantly to kneel beside the bed where Elliot can see her, murmuring soft reassurances, for the hurt and disorientation to clear and connections to be made.

"Rae?" And then, after another moment and with a hint more confusion, "Edgar?"

"Yeah, Elliot," Rachel says with a trembling smile, "We're here. And you're-- you're safe. Just rest, mm?"

[ofthecubs]

"You're going to be fine."

It doesn't matter that they've been apart. It doesn't matter that Elliot will probably be upset later that they brought him here. It matters that they get him settled now, that he keep healing.

"But you need to keep still, okay? You'll pull out your stitches."

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

There's confusion in his expression, still. He's lost too much blood and been unconscious for too long not to be groggy.

"Where--?"

[ofthecubs]

Rachel is here to be soft. Rachel is here to be the strong emotional connection. Rachel is here to soothe and coddle and help that way.

He's not here for that. He's here to help in a different way.

"Hospital in Town." He shifts slightly, lowering his head to catch Elliot's bleary eyes better. "With a Clubs doctor. And it's saved your life, Elliot."