Intensive care ward, Port aux Basques. Two weeks after the war.

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Jav stared absently out the window, listening with half an ear to the ragged beat of the heart monitor as it played counterpart to the wheeze of the respirator. He'd just spoken to the doctor, who had 'gently' told him that Vic wasn't going to wake up.

-They don't know nothin', God.- He leaned his head against the glass, feeling that strange bit of calm that had been there since a few days after the war. It came with an insane assurance that somehow things were going to be alright.

-'Course, it could jes' be me crackin' up like Sal.- He rapped his skull gently on the reinforced glass.

-Two weeks. She's ben gone two weeks, 'n I's still lookin' fer 'er when I turns 'round, thinkin' I's seen 'er outta the corner 'o me eye.- Water trickled down his face and he ignored it as his heart constricted painfully. -If it weren't fer Vic I....- He squeezed his eyes shut, hand going to where his holster had once hung. -But at least the old geezer's gonna be alright. I got that.... Dead wife, broken mother, crippled sister... but the @#$%&$ cat's gonna be alright....-

He broke down then.

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[sadri.livejournal.com]

Sadri knocked gently on the open door of the room. "Jav?"

This wheelchair business was annoying; she kept overwheeling herself and bumping into walls. She'd had three seperate surgeries on her spine and they still weren't sure what had happened. But she was getting some feeling back in her legs and just maybe she'd be able to walk soon enough.

"You in here?" From her vantage, she couldn't see him. Just Vic, a sad sight on the bed.

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He gasped, then gave an almighty sniff and nearly managed to choke himself to death on snot.

"Ugh?" he managed past the coughing.

[sadri.livejournal.com]

She inched into the room and put the brakes on the contraption, then put an elbow up on the armrest and cupped her chin in her hand. "How're you doing?"

It was painfully obvious to her, but she wanted to hear the truth from him.

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He got his airways cleared and squinted one eye shut comically, then sobered and looked at her warily. "I'll be alright."

[sadri.livejournal.com]

She stared at him, all aglow as per normal. "Yeah, I know," she said with a sigh. "But will he?" She twitched her chin in Vic's direction.

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His eyes narrowed, then widened as the respirator suddenly squealed a warning and a movement came from the bed.

[sadri.livejournal.com]

Sadri stopped and turned around to look. "What's going on...?"

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Jav blinked as he saw Vic looking back at him with concern, then gulped and hastily scrubbed his eyes. "I'm alright. Don't strain yerself." -Not gonna wake up, me @#$%&#$!-

The bigger man's brows drew together in a frown, but he relaxed and looked toward where he'd heard Sadri's voice.

[sadri.livejournal.com]

She smiled and lifted her hand to wave at the man. "Hi."

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"Don't think he can sit up too good on his own." Jav got the chair, then cut a quick glance at the door, dropping back into the edge of combat mode.

[sadri.livejournal.com]

She sighed. "Then what do you suggest we do? I can't walk and there's no way in hell you're gonna carry him on your own."

The back of her neck prickled and she too looked at the door. "Fierfek. They're coming back..."

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Jav grabbed a sheet and ripped strips off of it, then quickly transfered Vic- who felt like a giant rag doll- and tied him into the chair. "Get on my back."

[sadri.livejournal.com]

"You're lucky that I'm not stubborn..." she said, grunting as she slipped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

"Now go. Before I get mad."

[sadri.livejournal.com]

She stared at the back of his head incredulously for a few seconds.

"Um... yeah, okay."

She fell to the ground and then hoisted herself up and into the back seat, ready to receive Vic.

"Just out of curiosity, why the hell'd you just call me General?"

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He got his friend stuffed into the space as gently as he could, then watched as she got his shoulders and got him straightened out. "Eh? No idea."

A quick glance over his shoulder and he swore. They were coming after them.

[sadri.livejournal.com]

Sadri looked as well.

"Well, damn."

She put an arm around Vic and steadied him. "Just go. We'll deal with the mess later."

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He flipped the seat back and shut the door, then booked it around the front of the truck and peeled out of the lot with a screech.

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"(There haven't been too many visitors, and I was busy with Vic. What's up?)" He slowed slightly as Port Aux Basques came into sight.

[sadri.livejournal.com]

"Theta told me that she was asked by the Council to... well... lie about authorizing Sal to get rid of her sister."

Sadri sighed. "Nobody really knows what they're getting at."

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Jav clenched his jaw so hard that a grinding sound came from his teeth. "(That's ... garbage."

[sadri.livejournal.com]

"Yes," she said evenly. "This has turned into more of a fiasco than we thought it would."

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"Don't crawl." He frowned at her in concern. "There's still glass all over."

[sadri.livejournal.com]

"Fine," Sadri growled. "I'll wait. You go get Ven."

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Hunter stepped out of the house and looked around as he closed the door, then blinked and hurried down the stairs at sight of Jav and the two injured members of the BnB family.

-Do you need assistance?-

Jav looked at him thoughtfully, feeling a little over-protective as he contemplated the offer.

[sadri.livejournal.com]

Sadri looked up at Hunter. "Sure."