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.

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[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."

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

There's an absentminded frown, at the words. A shake of his head, as best as he can manage it, lying on his stomach like this.

"Can' be right," he mutters, "'s usually fine with a couple layers 'f bandages."

"You bled through them, Elliot. Twice, even," Rachel tells him, too fretful to even entirely notice the use of the word 'usually.'

[ofthecubs]

It's why it's good that there's two of them. The 'usually' hits him like a punch to the gut.

It takes a moment before he can form words again properly. "...just... just rest, okay? This will-- heal up better."

Than if he moves around, yes; but also, presumably, than 'usually.'

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

"Please, Elliot," Rachel adds softly, her hand finding his hair briefly, soothingly.

There's something soft in Elliot's eyes when he looks up at her, for all there's also still that lingering hint of disorientation. It has him acquiescing with a slight nod after another moment's hesitation.

"All-- 'll right."

[ofthecubs]

It doesn't matter, in the moment, if Elliot does it for himself or for Rachel. It doesn't matter as long as Elliot is willing to settle back down.

"Thank you. We'll be here, all right? You just breathe."

[meonmyway2stealurgirl]

"...Okay."

He can do that. He's drifting back more towards unconsciousness again, anyways. He's absolutely starting to relax as Rachel's fingers stay delicately tangled in his hair.

[ofthecubs]

He waits until Elliot's breathing is evened out. He waits until he's certain the other young man is asleep before he allows himself to genuinely exhale.

"...he's lucky."

Not in every way, but in a few of the important ones.

[theunpressuredclub]

She won't disentangle her hand from his hair until she's certain his breathing is evil. Will still have her hand unconsciously reaching for Elliot's, just so she's able to feel his pulse (and it's starting to steady, now, thank goodness.)

It takes her a moment to catch Edgar's meaning. She bites down on her lip a moment before she nods.

"Just a little bit."

[ofthecubs]

"Very." His attention stays, for the moment, on the monitors. There isn't a lot they can do, after all, other than try to breathe for each other now. "Not everyone has a friend like you to trust like this."

His hand settles briefly, lightly on her elbow for just the faintest squeeze.

"And he's lucky he got here in time, mm?"

[theunpressuredclub]

She'll extend the arm his hand rests on, needing him a little closer so she can drop her head against his shoulder.

"He is," she says with a soft sigh, "Thanks for helping me with him."

She wouldn't have been able to manage it without him. She shudders to think what that would mean.

[ofthecubs]

Moving closer to her is easy. Supporting her is as natural as breathing.

"Anything for you two, Rach. You know that."

She must, at least, know that for herself, if not by extension for Elliot. It's more true, after all, for seeing how much she clearly cares for the Spade.

[theunpressuredclub]

"I know."

And she does, at least for herself. She's starting to believe the same about Elliot. They were close friends before, once, after all.

"Still. Thank you."

[ofthecubs]

"...you're welcome."

He turns, briefly, to press his nose against her temple. He squeezes, briefly, to hold her tighter.

"You should get some rest too, you know. He's safe now."

[theunpressuredclub]

The curling closer has her smiling softly, nestling in a little more into his hold.

"What about you, though?"