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Post by Alex Kameren on Nov 5, 2010 22:29:59 GMT -5
"One of the few survivors of a creature attack, this patient is Auror Kameren. He was conscious when he was brought in, but swiftly sank into a coma. Can someone tell me what a coma is? Yes, Ms Wilson..." --September 23rd
Did those in comas dream?
Alex didn't know... he didn't consider the question, either. Sometimes he thought he dreamed, but for the most part he was simply sitting. It had the feel of a room, though he couldn't see anything in the darkness. As time went by, he grew more impatient and started to pace, though he couldn't have said that he'd felt any sense of time.
It was during one such burst of activity that a narrow white slit appeared in front of him. He advanced forward, getting his fingers wedged in the crack, he attempted to widen it. However, no matter how he pried, the crack refused to budge, in fact it grew smaller, snapping shut on his fingers. He tugged his hand free, looking at them for signs of harm, the light had seemed sharp. There was none.
On the outside, his eyelids flickered and his right hand clenched and unclenched once before relaxing. Alex went back to pacing the small black room.
[10/05/2020]
"He's been unconscious since the 18th. After this length of time, brain damage is likely if he regains consciousness." --October 4th
The crack appeared again, or was it a new thing? Things were uncertain. He nevertheless approached again, but the line of white light snapped shut even swifter than before. He was sitting in the middle of the darkness, whistling for Rasputin. Why didn't Rasputin come?
[10/07/2020]
“Mr Kameren-- Sorry. Dr Kameren, you must understand, simple reflexes do not necessarily mean he was conscious. If he is awakening, it could take days or even weeks.” -October 5th
This time, he was waiting. The crack was wider, and it moved to the side as he pushed, like a sliding door. He hoped it didn’t snap shut, last thing he would need would be sharp light cutting off his head. He pushed it wider, before taking a step outside. Now he was in a room of white. Why was everything black and white? Life wasn’t black and white, was it?
He opened his eyes. There was a white ceiling above him. Too white to be his apartment. His apartment was dingy and cracked. He wasn’t any more aware of his surroundings, but there was something bothering him. It became increasingly bothersome. What was this foreign stuff in his throat and airway? He was choking! He struggled to tear it out, but his arms wouldn’t lift. And just as swiftly as he had stepped into the white room and opened his eyes to the strange ceiling, everything faded and he was once again in the dark.
What was dream and what was reality?
[10/15/2020]
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Post by Curse Kameren on Nov 9, 2010 18:27:56 GMT -5
“How long has he been here?” Max’s voice was muffled into his father’s shoulder, where his head was buried as his parent carried him down the hall.
“Almost a month, “ Curse replied. Max felt his father’s chest rise and fall as he sighed. The young boy peeked up at his father’s scarred face, examining the man’s sharp, straight-forward gaze. Max knew that look. He was one of the few people who could recognize physically when Curse Kameren’s guard was up, because he had something to compare it to. The professor’s voice was short and gruff; Max could hear his father try to keep his composure.
As the two rounded a corner, a short, balding doctor joined them. “Dr. Kameren,” The man referred to Max’s father, and the young boy felt his father’s head move in the doctor’s direction, “I’m sure you’re aware of St. Mungo’s visiting policy—“
“I’m a teacher and can’t make it here during your visiting hours, and my son wants to visit his family.” The professor’s voice was short and impatient with the shorter doctor. Max turned to peek at the doctor, recognizing him as Curse’s doctor from his own long stay in the hospital. Oh, Max thought, that’s why he doesn’t like him.
The doctor stepped in front of them right when his father’s hand was on the door knob. Max read the sign on the door: Room #302: Alecsander M. Kameren. Comatose. “Dr. Kameren, I really must insist you come back duringour visiting hours. You’re here almost every day anywa—“
“And what will you bloody do if I don’t, eh?” Max stared up at his father’s annoyed face, his words turning harsh and his grip tightening on the doorknob. “Lock me up? This is my brother, and we’re the only family he has. His nephew wants to see him. So get out of my way.” His father pushed past the doctor and into the room, gently letting Max down onto his feet.
The hospital room was small and sterile white, with only one small window to let light in during the day. There were no machines, like in a muggle hospital; instead, beside the bed there were rolls of parchment that wrote out the patient’s vitals themselves. And, on the bed, there was the patient. The long, gaunt form of Max’s uncle looked even more frail stretched out on the bed, his skin even paler than his brother’s poisoned color. There were long, red scratches on his skin beneath his bed dressings, the cuts starting to heal and turn to scars.
Max heard his father and the doctor bickering behind him as they both slipped into the hospital room, but he paid them no mind. He approached the bed, placing his hand on the mattress by his uncle. Max just watched; his uncle’s chest fell up and down in sleeplike motion, and tiny subtle movements made it appear he was asleep. But there was something else, too; somehow, Max knew that there was no waking Alex until he did so on his own.
“Uncle Al,” the young boy leaned in close, tentatively speaking to Alex’s motionless body, “I promise I won’t call you Uncle Al any more if you wake up, please…” His round emerald eyes examines him for movement, but he saw nothing. The young boy’s eyes began to glaze over in tears.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Nov 9, 2010 23:32:03 GMT -5
He started remembering things. Like that bloody sharp light that had seemed to slice off his hand but had not. That was weird. Come to think of it, this whole room was weird. He was sure that things weren’t so black and white. Back and forth, he thought of them. Sometimes he was in the black room, sometimes he was in parts in the white room.
It was white right now. He lay on his back and looked at the impossibly perfect ceiling. He knew it was there, though there was no shadow or shades of colour to identify corners and lines. He lay on his back and began to hum. The white room was peaceful. He was becoming more and more dissatisfied with the dark room.
[10/17/2020]
“Doctor, the readings say he’s been having spikes in brain activity.” A young woman examined the rolls of parchment that wrote out Auror Kameren’s vitals.
“Excellent, perhaps he will awaken after all…” --October 23rd
Things were blurry. Alex captured familiar faces that hovered above him, telling him he would be fine, but who were they? The colors shattered and he slipped away into darkness. Darkness….
The black room was peaceful. He didn’t know what a room was, but he was in one. Were rooms terribly important things? He didn’t know. It didn’t matter. There was nothing that mattered, only the peace. He floated in warm seas, stripped of any cares.
[09/19/2020]
“He opens his eyes now. His fingers twitch. He moves his toes, he is no longer in danger of asphyxiation from lax facial and throat muscles. Yes, Mr Kameren is returning to us.” --October 24th
He must be more active now. There was no tube in his throat to feed him, there was no tube in his airway to prevent his muscles from relaxing and smothering him. The light was gaining definition, the black room was melding with the white room. The doorway opened again, this time on its own. He stepped through, sure of what would happen. [10/28/2020]
Alecsander Malice Kameren opened his eyes and said one clear, concise word.
“Damn.”
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Post by Curse Kameren on Nov 10, 2010 0:08:45 GMT -5
"DAD DAD!" Max Kameren accidentally yelled in his injured uncle's face in his surprise, jumping up and down as he turned to get his father's attention. "DAD! Wake up! He's awake dad!"
Curse replied with a semi-conscious grunt from his chair in the corner of the room, his sleep-fogged mind not at first comprehending what Max was saying. The Kamerens had made a routine of staying the night at St. Mungo's Hospital for nearly every night since Alex's accident; the elder Kameren brother kept watch over the only family he had, in his time of need. Curse wouldn't be losing someone else. His head snapped back as he suddenly awoke, his green eyes opening to look at his son. "...What did you say?"
"He's awake, Dad! I heard him talk! He said damnit!" Max was bursting with urgency. He grabbed his father's bony hand and pulled on it, urging him upward.
Curse's green eyes went from his jittery son to the bed, and back and forth again. He watched his brother's eyes open for the first time in weeks. "Alex!" Curse almost jumped up, making it from the corner of the room to the bed in only a step. A wide, crooked grin grew across the eldest Kameren's face as he saw his brother take an awakening breath. "Max," The ex-auror's head snapped up towards his son, "go get one of the Mungo's staff. They'll want to see him."
Max nodded eagerly, rushing out of the hospital room. Curse could hear his son's loud, childish voice moving all the way down the hall. He looked down at his brother from his kneeling position by the bed, examining his face. Was this really Alex awakening, or was this another false alarm?
"Alex? Are you there? Say something."
ooc: The last post took place roughly two weeks prior to this post.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Nov 10, 2010 0:22:39 GMT -5
"DAD DAD!" Max Kameren accidentally yelled in his injured uncle's face in his surprise, jumping up and down as he turned to get his father's attention. "DAD! Wake up! He's awake dad!"
Alecsander winced as the noise assaulted his ears. Who had let a jay into the hospital room? But the noise consolidated into his nephew’s voice, chattering excitedly at his father. Alex closed his eyes, taking a deep, calming breath.
"Alex!"
Alex opened his eyes again, focusing slowly on the blurry pale face above him. Merlin, but it was ugly, haggard and scarred. And yet the face looked hopeful, cautiously happy. With a jolt, the recognition hit the man. Pieces fit together, thoughts and ideas and memories returned. This was Curse. His brother.
"Alex? Are you there? Say something."
“Hey Curse.” Alex said, grinning weakly. “Miss me?” And for once, there was no hidden meaning behind his words. He lifted an arm, slowly, his right, for his left was in a cast, and brushed the long hair out of his eyes. He needed a haircut. Soon. The arm dropped back to his side, heavy. And a shave, he knew, though he didn’t touch his chin. He always did have the most ragged beard, which was why he preferred to be clean-shaven.
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Post by Curse Kameren on Nov 11, 2010 3:04:32 GMT -5
“Hey Curse.” Alex said, grinning weakly. “Miss me?”
"Oh God," Curse laughed, an edge of almost hysterical relief in his raspy smoker's laugh. Alex was alive and awake. After this long struggle, it had all paid off. He was safe. "Never, ever, scare me like that again. Ever." His grin was near maniacal, his smile pushing his diagonal scar uncomfortably across his face. He ran a hand through his mostly white hair, shaking his head. He was too ecstatic to even know how to express it.
He shook his head, chuckling lightly as Alex examined himself. "You look like shit, trust me. I think you might almost have me matched for unhealable scars, now," Curse arched a brow at his brother, sarcastically playing off his brother's injuries. They were aurors; scar stories were how you showed accomplishment in their world. Naturally, it was much more serious than that, but it was easier for Curse to talk like it was everyday conversation to Alex, even though the occasion was so different. "You just woke up from a coma. Nobody cares what you look like. We've been looking at your ugly face for a month." Curse was still grinning. He couldn't stop grinning.
The door opened and Max jumped into the hospital room, his emerald Kameren eyes falling jovially on his uncle. "Got a doctor, dad," Max struggled up onto the foot of Alex's bed, sitting in a corner away from his uncle's feet. "Hi Unc-- err, I mean Alex. I'm glad you're awake," He grinned happily at his uncle, glancing for a moment at his father before back to the action of the room, as a Mungo's medical worker entered the room to check on the awakened auror.
"Evening, Miss Callahan," Curse greeted the young Mungo's intern as she entered.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Nov 11, 2010 12:01:49 GMT -5
It had been a very busy couple of weeks and Elle had been blessed with not one but two Kamerens in her assigned wing for that rotation. Those weeks had turned into a month and one Kameren grew strong enough to leave but the other did not. Elle knew she shouldn't be emotionally invested in her patients. Yes she should empathize with them and care about them but not as much as she did with the Kameren's. They were special. She'd actually gotten to know their crazy messed up family after being one of the interns assigned to Curse's case the year before and now Alex's.
Elle had been down the hall in the tiny refreshing room for staff when she heard Max Kameren. It was late and many of the doctors on this floor were taking lunch. Only a shadow staff was left here taking care of the long term patients.
Elle dropped her cup of tea, ignoring the pool of water on the floor. She ran over to where Max was shouting that Alex was awake. Elle's foolish heart pounded and her stomach gave a slight jump but she ignored it. She did not have another crush on Alex Kameren. this was not Hogwarts and she would not think about it.
Elle quieted the very excited child and followed him down the hall and into the world of chaos, but not before sending a paper owl to the head doctor on the case, who was currently not at Mungo's.
Elle bounced lightly into the room, her steps lighter now that Alex was awake, she prayed he didn't have brain damage, not too much.
"A good one I am sure." Elle replied with a smile as she headed over to the bed, picking up the latest parchment sheet.
"Welcome back to the living Mr. Kameren. How are you feeling?" she asked softly, eyes filled with concern. A tiny voice in the back of her mind wondered if this hardened man would remember his old potions partner, she did after all look the exact same as she did in her seventh year, cute and flat.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Nov 13, 2010 2:17:38 GMT -5
"Oh God," Curse laughed, an edge of almost hysterical relief in his raspy smoker's laugh. Alex was alive and awake. After this long struggle, it had all paid off. He was safe. "Never, ever, scare me like that again. Ever."
Alex grinned at his brother as he laughed, he himself didn’t have the energy to join Curse in laughter. “Scare you, eh?” He said, “I didn’t know you--You big… damn idiot!” Alex swore, sitting up so fast he made himself dizzy. “Ak,” He put a brief hand to his head, but dropped it to glare at his brother. “What were… you thinking! You… could have… killed yourself!” His words didn’t come out as swiftly as he wished, and he grew frustrated. He kept his eyes on Curse.
"You look like shit, trust me. I think you might almost have me matched for unhealable scars, now," […] "You just woke up from a coma. Nobody cares what you look like. We've been looking at your ugly face for a month."
Alex shrugged. He’d never cared too much about his looks anyway. And being an Auror came with certain… risks. Risks he was still willing to take. Being an auror would likely kill him one day. He looked down at himself. Not that it hadn’t almost succeeded. As Max re-entered, he narrowed his eyes at Curse, to say the discussion about the idiotic thing he had done wasn’t over.
"Got a doctor, dad," Max struggled up onto the foot of Alex's bed, sitting in a corner away from his uncle's feet. "Hi Unc-- err, I mean Alex. I'm glad you're awake,"
“Hey Max.” Alex greeted his nephew. “Anything… interesting happen… while I was… out?”
"Welcome back to the living Mr. Kameren. How are you feeling?”
Alex’s blood was pounding in his ears, and his eyes were shadowy around the edges. He refused to lay down, though. He’d spent enough time on his back--a whole month’s worth, according to Curse. “Fine and dandy.” He said, trying to sound cheery--dammit, he was never cheery--but failing. “When can… I go home?”
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Post by Curse Kameren on Nov 13, 2010 12:11:59 GMT -5
“I didn’t know you--You big… damn idiot!” Alex swore, sitting up so fast he made himself dizzy. “Ak,” He put a brief hand to his head, but dropped it to glare at his brother. “What were… you thinking! You… could have… killed yourself!”
"And if I didn't help you along, you would have bled to death in the alley." Curse returned his younger brother's glare, his voice getting lower as the door opened and two others entered the room. They would continue this argument later, he knew. Neither Kameren was good at letting things go, especially when they knew they were right. And Curse was right.
"Got a doctor, dad," Max re-entered the room, hopping up onto the foot of his Uncle's bed in order to be closer to eye-level with those present.
"Evening, Miss Callahan," Curse smiled lightly at the Mungo's intern who had treated him multiple times, and now treated his brother. She was a good healer, and seemed to really care about her patients beyond what a regular healer did.
"A good one I am sure." she replied as she checked the parchment sheet.
"Hi Unc-- err, I mean Alex. I'm glad you're awake," Max smiled happily at his uncle, remembering his promise he had made.
“Hey Max.” Alex greeted his nephew. “Anything… interesting happen… while I was… out?”
Max grinned. And opportunity to talk was the greatest gift Alex could give Max. "Well, the first week I didn't know what the bloody Hell was going on, because dad was here and they wouldn't let him come back to Hogwarts to get me. Then some kids turned me into a tea kettle. Then dad finally got to come home and get me, and from there we just go between Hogwarts for potions classes and the hospital. Mostly we just sat in here, waiting for you to wake up." Max shrugged, chattering on as Alex's attention was diverted towards Elle.
"Welcome back to the living Mr. Kameren. How are you feeling?"
“Fine and dandy.” He said, trying to sound cheery--dammit, he was never cheery--but failing. “When can… I go home?”
"Oh for Merlin's sake you can't even string together sentences yet," Curse replied, blatantly missing the fact that he was being a complete hypocrite. He hadn't wanted to stay at Mungo's at all when he had helped bring Alex in, and yet he had had to stay for a week to regain the energy he had lost in the fight against the creature. "Give them time to help you."
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Post by Alex Kameren on Nov 15, 2010 3:01:50 GMT -5
"And if I didn't help you along, you would have bled to death in the alley."
“Not… as important.” Alex waved his hand in dismissal. “No one relies… on me.” He cast a significant look in Max’s direction before falling silent.
"Well, the first week I didn't know what the bloody Hell was going on, because dad was here and they wouldn't let him come back to Hogwarts to get me. Then some kids turned me into a tea kettle. Then dad finally got to come home and get me, and from there we just go between Hogwarts for potions classes and the hospital. Mostly we just sat in here, waiting for you to wake up."
He smiled as Max chattered on. “A tea... kettle? Merlin, what did… “
"Oh for Merlin's sake you can't even string together sentences yet," […] "Give them time to help you."
Alex gave his brother a Look through the black spots, Curse wasn’t a very good patient either. And then his eyes rolled up in his head, his gaunt body collapsing backwards as his systems demanded attention. Too much exertion, and they rebelled, knocking him flat out.
He wasn’t in a coma, merely sleeping. If the man had been able to comment, it probably would have been a complaint over needing sleep when he had just woken up from a long period of sleep.
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