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Post by Alex Kameren on Jun 25, 2011 21:41:58 GMT -5
The Kameren Estate. Alex thought of the monolith with a host of different emotions. There was the stubborn pride of course, and the myriad little emotions that followed a child through his childhood, a thousand little pains and a million memories-- some good, others bad. Some that hovered in the middle. (It was just him and father, mother wasn't there, and he looked up at the shadowy form and smiled, happy.)
Fast forward a few years and happy was no longer a word he associated with the place, except perhaps in long-ago-timeworn memory. And then he grew up and away and time wore away at his childhood like the sea wore away at the cliffs.
It was a point in time when he felt the trip was necessary. There were things in the Kameren Estate's great library, Dark things, not hidden in a corner, or locked away in the Forbidden section, but proudly displayed. Perhaps he could find the answers he sought there. It was nothing more than a means to an end-- he was an Auror, he wasn't mad and he needed an answer for the demons. They were getting stronger, more prevalent, and Cain refused to talk, shamed.
The world swirled around him, a hook yanked at his stomach, a familiar feeling, he had Apparated hundreds of times before, it wasn't anything to worry about--
But when he staggered to a stop in the great courtyard, the old castle decaying about him, blood pooling in his shoe, he knew he'd only been fooling himself. He was not likely to be normal again. He couldn't do something so simple as Apparate, for Merlin's sake. No one was fooled.
He took a step, determined to fulfill his self-given task. Two steps and his leg gave way beneath him, a thought and he twisted on his good leg (was it?) the familiar dizziness as the hook yanked him off his feet, and--
He finished his fall in a nearly empty corridor. He staggered back to his feet-foot--and looked the only other occupant of the hall defiantly in the eyes.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jun 25, 2011 21:58:16 GMT -5
It was just like a Kameren to glare accusingly at a healer. It wasn't like Elle had caused him to hurt himself. Nor had she willed a meeting with Alex Kameren. The young healer actually groaned out loud at the sight of the worst patient in the history of wizard kind. Today was not her day and tomorrow suddenly, did not look much better. Elle had been on call for the last 72 hours. In three minutes her long day off was about to begin. Sleep called to her but that blessing was now postponed. Not only was she the first person to see the injured man, thus obligated to at least stabilize him, but few people in the hospital were willing to care for Alex Kameren. Healers actually paid one in order to avoid that fate. Or begged Elle, because they knew of her friendship with the family. For some reason the Kamerens' sort of listened to her. At least more so than anyone else.
Elle shook her head as Alex balanced on one foot. It didn't take a trained healer to notice that he was missing a limb. Most likely from a splinching. With a wave of her wand, Elle summoned a wheel chair, placing it behind Alex and gently ramming the seat into his knees. She doubted he'd sit willingly. Stubborn man that he was, unless pushed, he'd hop the entire way to a room.
"You didn't happen to bring the foot with you?" Elle said as she walked closer to Alex, ignoring her racing pulse. It was a side effect of being to near your old crush. With several more waves of her wand and some muttered spells, Elle managed to stop the flow of blood. If Alex hadn't the foot then she would need to grow his bones back. Which would require a overnight stay. lucky man. Quickly, Elle deftly felt Alex's body for any more wounds.
"Want to tell me what happened?" Elle asked a bit concerned. It wasn't like Alex to splinch. Must have been something on his mind, or his powers still haven't recovered enough from the demon attack.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jun 26, 2011 0:41:47 GMT -5
Elle Callahan. Why did it have to be Elle? She glowered back at him, her exhaustion clear. Alex would have stepped back, if he could. Whoohmf. Something rammed into the back of his knees and he sat down abruptly, shocked. His head buzzed in the familiar sense of dizziness caused by bloodloss, black spots invaded his vision until his inner ears reconciled with his changed center of gravity.
"You didn't happen to bring the foot with you?"
The foot? Alex looked down at his left leg, which ended in a stump just above the ankle. Damn. He’d thought he’d only lost a strip of flesh, something he could ignore until later. Seeing his leg end so abruptly brought the pain roaring along his nerves, a reminder of what an insulator shock could be. A moment later, one of Elle’s spells numbed the pain to a dull ache.
“No.”
"Want to tell me what happened?"
“I splinched.” It wasn’t much of an explanation, and Elle gave him a sharp look. He reconsidered testing her patience at this point and continued. “I’m st-still if-iff-iff--” the word was there, but would not come. He changed tactics. “Bad. I’m still bad aatt Appararating.”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jun 26, 2011 14:28:27 GMT -5
Oops, apparently Alex hadn't noticed that he had lost his foot. If Elle was in the mood and knew it wouldn't hurt his feelings, she'd have laughed at his expression. Instead she worked harder to stop the pain and the bleeding.
“Bad. I’m still bad aatt Appararating.”
Elle ignored the fact that Alex still stuttered. He had nearly died and had come along way since the demon attack. Elle stood up and went behind Alex to wheel the chair down the hall. He would have to stay the night and he wasn't going to be happy. With a wave of her wand, Elle sent red and blue sparks to the nurse's station. Red meant, accident and blue meant stable and admittance.
"Any idea why?" She asked as she pushed him into an empty room and then sent a paper note from a stack on the door, letting the nurse on duty that the room was now occupied by Alex Kameren.
"You're not going to like this, but since you don't have the foot I'm going to have to regrow the bones. It isn't pleasant and since you don't have anyone at home---Curse is in no condition to help you and Max at this time, you're going to have to stay here." She pushed the chair to the edge of the bed, wand ready to levitate him.
"Can you get into the bed with one leg, or do you want me to levitate you?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jun 26, 2011 15:33:28 GMT -5
"Any idea why?"
Alex winced, shifting the foot-less leg as the chair bumped over an insignificant imperfection on the floor. His gaze was sullen and directed at the floor. He hated it when his magic acted up, detested it when he failed to perform a simple spell or when they went awry. It was slow, jerky going, some of it required relearning. It was a weakness he could not afford himself.
"You're not going to like this, but since you don't have the foot I'm going to have to regrow the bones. It isn't pleasant and since you don't have anyone at home---Curse is in no condition to help you and Max at this time, you're going to have to stay here
He had learned over the years that whenever someone started out with “You are not going to like this;” he usually didn’t. You’re not going to like this, but you have to stay in the hospital. You won’t like it, but you have a brother. You won’t like this, but poisoned Emmi. You’re not going to like this, but your father’s in Azkaban. You won’t like this. He ground his teeth, sitting back in the chair.
"Can you get into the bed with one leg, or do you want me to levitate you?"
“I’d rather not get in at all.” Alex said shortly. He had an aversion to hospitals. He didn’t like the world seeing his weakness. Alex had grown accustomed to hiding them from the world, it was the best way to protect oneself.
“I can stay at home. I don’t need watching over.” A thought occurred to him. "Besides, there's no one to look after Rasp."
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jun 26, 2011 15:45:26 GMT -5
“I’d rather not get in at all.”
Elle rolled her eyes again, ignoring Alex's comment.
Men. Thinking they had to be all tough and such. Didn't Alex know it was more manly to admit your faults than pretend to be bloody perfect? One of these days he is going to get himself killed because of his aversion to admitting that he isn't in top form.
Elle had been readying the bed for Alex's transfer when he said he didn't need help--typical--and that he had to look after Rasp.
He didn't want medical attention because of a silly pet? It would be fine for a night. Unless, there was no way for the creature to get food. Blood Hell. At this rate, Elle was never going to eat. As if on cue, her stomach rumbled so loud, Elle was sure it would be heard at the Ministry. But she ignored it for now.
"If i feed, Rasp. Will you stay? Someone has to administer the skel-o-grow more than once tonight and make sure the bones are regrowing properly. You'll also be in terrible pain and will not be able to walk. Unless you know someone else who can stay with you tonight?"
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jun 26, 2011 16:18:58 GMT -5
Alex looked up at Elle as her stomach growled, loudly. He stifled a grin. It sounded like it had been days since she’d last eaten. He pointedly sat back in the chair, his expression both amused and determined. He knew how to get out of the hospital stay now.
"If i feed, Rasp. Will you stay? Someone has to administer the skel-o-grow more than once tonight and make sure the bones are regrowing properly. You'll also be in terrible pain and will not be able to walk. Unless you know someone else who can stay with you tonight?"
“I’ll trade you.” He said, watching her face. She was exhausted. And hungry. He knew she wouldn’t put up much of a fight if it kept her here longer than necessary. “I’ll make dinner, and you will not make me stay in the hospital.”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jun 26, 2011 23:36:37 GMT -5
Elle was momentarily dumbfounded. Was her patient trying to bribe her? The idea of Alex Kameren cooking for her though was very appealing. Suddenly an image of a very ripped Alex dressed only in an apron flashed through her mind. For a second, before she pushed it away. Were her ears burning? Merlin, she hoped not. Alex might ask why and then she'd have to find an excuse because she could not tell him that she thought he was sexy. And that she pictured him...best not to dwell on it.
Still, it had been a very long time since she had a home cooked meal. Elle didn't have any living family in England. Not that her family knew how to cook. Seemed to be the Callahan family curse. Rubbish the lot of them.
“I’ll make dinner, and you will not make me stay in the hospital.”
"You do realize that requires me staying the night," She said a little bit slow. Was this unethical? Technically she was off the clock and she was here helping Alex. So it could be argued that Alex was asking her as a friend and not his doctor.
Food sounded lovely, her stomach growled in agreement.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jun 27, 2011 11:40:41 GMT -5
Elle was clearly debating. Alex sat back and relaxed. He wasn’t in pain-- the spells had ensured that. Nor was he about to loss copious amounts of blood. He could wait. Alex Kameren could be quite patient when he wanted.
"You do realize that requires me staying the night,"
Her stomach growled on the trailing edge of her statement, he raised a eyebrow at the healer. “Or we could stay here all night. Far away from food and rest.” He knew what it was like to go long, long hours that bled into days of watchfulness, skipped or hurried meals. Home tended to beckon after days like that.
Alex held out a hand, “Deal?”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jun 27, 2011 21:58:37 GMT -5
The man had a point. While Elle loved her job, there were times when she needed to escape. This was one of those moments. She'd been on duty for several days and it was now time for her to begin her rest and re cooperation regiment before reporting to work in seventy-two, now more like seventy-one hours.
Besides, what was the harm of going to her friend's house? They were both adults and it wasn't like Alex Kameren liked her in return. Hell, Elle doubt Kameren knew she was female. Or that he actually took notice of the biological difference between the species. This was an out patient procedure thus he didn't need to be there. Everyone would be happier if he was home.
"Deal." She said shaking his hand. "Let me go fill out the paperwork..."
She said before leaving, she paused at the door. "You move an inch, deal's off." She threatened before walking to the Nurse's station. In less than ten minutes she was back. Having never actually admitted him it was easier. Elle got approval to take Alex home and her nurse friend knew that Elle would be the one administering the skelogrow.
Elle shuffled back into the room. "Now how to get you home. Floo? Port Key, side along apparation, I'm doing the spell work, or the muggle way."
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 2, 2011 21:23:46 GMT -5
"Deal." She said shaking his hand. "Let me go fill out the paperwork..."
Alex smirked and sat back. He knew most people would think of it as going to extremes, just to avoid a little time in the hospital. Alex preferred to think of it as using good tactics. He didn’t see why he (or others) had to be miserable. And since he was miserable when forced to stay in the hospital, others usually were as well. (Elle had berated him for terrorizing the nurses a time or two. For some reason. He didn’t think he was that scary.)
"Now how to get you home. Floo? Port Key, side along apparation, I'm doing the spell work, or the muggle way."
“You can’t apparate into my flat.” Alex pointed out, having dutifully not moved an inch. He’d won a victory. He wasn’t going to compromise his deal with the healer at this point. “So floo, or apparate next door. Its wizard side, so no worries about the neighbours wondering what you’re up to.” His fireplace wasn’t hooked up to the floo network at the moment.
“Side-along might be best, if you’re not to tired to concentrate.”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 3, 2011 22:25:44 GMT -5
Odd. Alex hadn't even pouted when Elle mentioned that there was no way in this life that he would be performing magic. She had expected at least an eye roll or a good sulk. He must have really been having difficultly with magic. Suddenly, the crazy scheme didn't look like such a good ideal after all. What if there was something else wrong with Alex? At his place she would have nothing but what she carried in her kit. And it wasn't like she could fit every possible thing she might need in there.
"Maybe I should take you to my place. I live within walking distance. I could push you in the wheel chair. I have quite a few supplies..." She didn't really want to tell him that something else could be going on. Scaring a patient was never a good thing. But the downside to taking him to her small flat was the fact that she hadn't cleaned it in several days, actually she hadn't been inside it and she doubted she had anything in her cupboards.
"On second thought. You're place is better. Where do you live?" She asked as she stepped closer to him, pulling out her wand and making sure her bag was secure.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Jul 14, 2011 23:14:16 GMT -5
"On second thought. You're place is better. Where do you live?" She asked as she stepped closer to him, pulling out her wand and making sure her bag was secure.
Oddly enough, arguing about his ability to get home on his own hadn’t even occurred to the wizard. He hummed a little under his breath as he waited for Elle to make her decision. She suddenly seemed unsure, dithering about something before she spoke.
"Maybe I should take you to my place. I live within walking distance. I could push you in the wheel chair. I have quite a few supplies..."
Alex eyed her with growing wariness, wondering if she was rethinking the deal they’d just made. Surely not. A thought occurred to him. “One-- there’s no need to push me in the wheelchair, two-- as you’ve freely admitted to burning water, I seriously doubt you have ‘quite a few’,” there was a touch of wry humour in his tone as he quoted her, “supplies. Three-- what are you trying to hide.”
"On second thought. You're place is better. Where do you live?"
“West side, Rice Street.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you sure you aren’t too tired to concentrate?”
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Post by Elle Callahan on Jul 14, 2011 23:43:58 GMT -5
Her out loud musing were probably destroying what little confidence Alex held for her. By the doubtful look he was giving her , he must have thought she was going a bit insane. It was true, that Elle was tried but she could make it. Really, they had little choice in the matter. Elle was not someone who went back on their word and she doubted that Alex would actually let her retract this promise. Besides she wanted food.
“One-- there’s no need to push me in the wheelchair, two-- as you’ve freely admitted to burning water, I seriously doubt you have ‘quite a few’,” “supplies. Three-- what are you trying to hide.”
"No--thing," She stammered, how could he know that she had been thinking inappropriate thoughts? Wait, he couldn't. He must be referring to something else. Had to be. Alex Kameren was not reading her mind.
"I'm not trying to hide anything. My apartment is a disaster. Actually, I'm not sure when is the last time I was in there for anything besides sleep."A long time. And even that was rare. When did St Mungo's become her life?
West side, Rice Street.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you sure you aren’t too tired to concentrate?”
"I can do it," She said with determination as she grabbed a hold of his wrist and spun. The familiar squeezing feeling compressed her body and then she gradually expanded again. Her feet lightly touched solid ground and she instinctively reached out for Alex, ready to steady him. He was after all, a foot short.
"Alright?"
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