A little happiness Who: Claire and Madock When: Afternoon Where: The hospital
After the ambulances took Claire and the others to the hospital, it was hard to keep up with everything that was happening. Questions, questions and more questions. Police officers wanted to talk, doctors were trying to get information, and random people Claire didn't even know were trying to join the mix. She was admitted shortly after arriving and the minute she hit the soft hospital bed, her eyes shut and she drifted off. Sleep hadn't come easily to her over the past few days. It was hard to relax enough to drift away when you were shackled to a wall in someone's basement. But now she was safe and comfortable, even if she had tubes and people poking at her. She would take this over her recent experience any day of the week.
When she finally woke up, her mom was sitting by her bed, holding onto her hand. Claire noted immediately that her mom looked exhausted and her eyes were red-rimmed. Her dad was in the room, but he didn't say much, not that Claire cared. When she asked about Madock, her mom replied that he was on his way. After having such a terrible feeling about her twin while she had been gone, Claire was eager to see her brother in the flesh, to make sure he was okay with her own eyes.
Madock had driven to the hospital as fast as Claire's car would carry him. Speeding didn't seem like such a big deal when they'd found his sister. Tickets be damned if she was alright. By the time he got into the hospital room, everything else that had been weighing on his mind seemed to just disappear. A flood of emotions hit him like a freight train and he held his breath wondering if this was all some dream and he'd soon wake up from it. But soon his lungs were begging for air and he knew he had to breathe or pass out so he let out his breath and sucked in another and rushed over to her bed, hands finding her face making sure she was real. His father didn't matter, not when Claire was there and safe and breathing.
"Claire..." he said softly, pressing his lips to her forehead. "I'm sorry. I should have protected you." he whispered against her skin. He had plans to never let his sister out of his sight again, but those could be talked about later, right now what mattered was making sure she was alright. "Are you okay? How do you feel? What happened? What'd they do to you?"
Claire smiled when she saw Madock rush into the room. He looked like he was in one piece, and he was speaking clearly too, which meant he was okay mentally. Still, she searched his eyes with hers when he bent over her. "You don't have to apologize," she told him, grabbing his hand with hers to squeeze. "You're lucky they didn't hurt you, or worse." Their mom stood up so that Madock could sit, should he want to. Claire didn't want to start interrogating Madock about her non-vision vision with their parents there, so she resisted asking if anything terrible had happened to him while she was gone. "I'm okay... I feel okay... tired and hungry, but supposedly that's normal. They didn't do much to me at all but take blood." She held up one red, blistered hand from her fights with the shackles. "Bumps and bruises is all, I promise."
Madock took the seat his mother vacated, taking his sister's hand and not about to leave any time soon if he could help it. It was all surreal to him, like he was watching from the outside. "I shoulda been the one they took." he told her. It shouldn't have been you..." he muttered, but he didn't go too much farther into that topic. He wanted to tell her everything that had been going on, everything he'd done since she was gone, but with his parents in the room, it was sort of difficult to be able to. He wanted to talk about his fight with his father and he glanced up at the man before looking back at his sister. "Want me to see what kinda food they got around here?" he asked her.
"We can't change anything about it now," Claire told him. She didn't want to even think about having to be in Madock's shoes. She would have stayed in that basement forever if it meant having her brother safe instead. There were few people she'd want to make that sacrifice for, and he was one of them. "No, I want you to stay," she said quickly, glancing at her mother. Janey seemed to get the hint and she tugged at Frank's shirt, whispering something before she pulled him from the room. Claire ignored his soft scowl and returned her attention on Madock. The question slipped out almost as soon as their parents shut the door behind them. "Are you okay?"
"No." he said, shaking his head a little. "Better than I was before you got back though." he assured her. "Claire... I... I was confused and worried and I've never been one to think about things the way I should and... I think I..." There was no thinking about it, he knew he was no longer a psychic and telling his sister that part of that bond they had between them was gone was the most difficult thing he'd ever had to do. "I asked Jessalyn to bite me..." he whispered, closing his eyes and preparing to get reamed.
Claire stared at him as he spoke, knowing he was building up to giving her bad news. She had been expecting it, since her feelings were generally always right these days. When he revealed that he had asked Jessalyn to bite him, she didn't scream, or yell. She just stared before she frowned and sighed. "I thought it might be something like that... when I was gone, I had this horrible feeling about you... the same kind of feeling I had when Gabe got bit, only it wasn't as intense, or frightening. I knew something had happened, but I knew it wasn't quite the same. If that makes any sense. WHy?"
Madock took in a breath and opened his eyes, surprised that she hadn't freaked out, but a little thankful. The frown hurt him more than she probably realized, but he'd take what he could get. "I wanted it to be the same for me and her." he explained. "I wanted to be like her, to love her like she loves me... I just... I know I didn't think about it as much as I should have and maybe it wasn't the right decision but I just... I can't take it back... and I'm not psychic anymore." he went on. "When she bit me... everything changed. I can't see things anymore. Everything's so loud and Gabe's so upset with me and... I was staying with him for a while but I just... felt like I should maybe give us both some space so I'm at Day's house now which makes me realize I should tell you that Dad kicked me out."
Claire sighed again, inwardly this time. She couldn't yell at her brother, not when she understood how he felt. She just hadn't asked Gabe to bite her... nor would she ever. But that didn't mean it hadn't crossed her mind. It had a couple times when she had been shackled up to that wall. "Madock," she began quietly, "you can love her like she loves you. There's no difference. Being bonded to you the way she is doesn't mean she loves you more." Claire knew he wasn't psychic any longer. She had read about werewolves, both bitten and born. She knew if a supernatural being got bit, they would lose what made them supernatural in the first place. Blinking in surprise at the revelation that their dad had kicked Madock out, Claire fought off asking why Gabe was upset to focus on that instead. "What do you mean he kicked you out? Why?"
"I know that..." he said softly. "Now, I guess I just... I don't know..." he sighed. "I wanted it to be the same. I wanted to feel everything she was feeling. I wanted her to know that I wanted to be with her no matter what..." Madock mumbled. He didn't get much time to explain it any further before she latched onto the topic of their father. "He kicked me out because we had a fight." he explained. "The day you were taken. It got pretty physical." he admitted. "And he told me he wanted me out... so I left."
"Then all you have to do is be with her," Claire pointed out. "That would have been enough proof, Madock... staying with her, and loving her, even though you're not bonded to her the way she is to you." It killed her that her brother was a werewolf now. She had seen what Gabe went through during the full, and now she would have to worry about Madock too. Not only that, but they were missing that link that made them close... both of them being psychic. That particular bond was gone and it saddened her more than she expected. "Physical... did he hit you?" Her eyes widened and she was happy their dad was gone for the moment. She probably would have chucked her fruit cup at him.
"I'm sorry." he said softly, looking down at his hand holding onto hers. "I'm still me... you're not... please don't hate me, Claire..." he whispered, eyes already watering. He felt almost like a puppy about to get hit with a newspaper. "Everything was just... I... I got kicked out and you were gone and I just... I wanted to hold onto everything I had left and at the time I felt like that was all I could do." he explained. "I didn't mean to hurt you..." he told her, finally looking up at his sister again. "Yeah. He hit me." he nodded. "But it doesn't matter anymore because I'm not going back to that. And I really don't want you to go back to that either..." he told Claire. "I doubt mom's gonna want to let you out of her sight for a while, but we need to get you outta there soon."
"I don't hate you," Claire said, squeezing his hand again. "I could never hate you. I guess I'm just... I don't know..." Resting her head back on the pillow, she closed her eyes for a brief moment. "We can't change it... we just have to deal with what's happened." She wondered how Jessalyn was doing with all of this. Biting a human was supposed to be a big no no within the born weres community. "Dad's a jerk," she whispered. "I'm sorry he kicked you out. You're probably better off though... not being there. I think I'll have to be there for awhile but... we'll see..." She was too tired to think much about it right now. "I'm just glad you're okay."
He nodded a little. Part of him just wanted to crawl into bed with her and talk about nothing like they used to do when they were little, but he decided against it for now. "God I've missed you." he told her. "I don't know what I'd do if you hadn't come home... Gabe... Gabe's had it rough... Has anyone told him you're back yet?"
She managed a small smile, her mind still reeling from the fact that her brother was a werewolf. What if they all still lived together? She, Gabe and Madock. Would they need a basement big enough for two cages? Would the two of them being in the same room as werewolves be uber bad? Claire wasn't sure, but she was too exhausted to think about it right now. She just wanted to hug her brother as tightly as she could. Being a bitten were was better than him being hurt, or dead. He was still Madock. "Mom said she'd call him," Claire said, glancing toward the door. She half expected him to burst in the room at any second, really. "Is he okay?" She knew what it would be like for a werewolf to lose their mate and there was definitely some guilt she was harboring for doing that to him, even if it hadn't been her fault.
"He's hurting." Madock told her. "It's like... nothing would make him feel better, I wanted to help and I think all I did was making it worse." he admitted. "He could smell me the minute I walked into his room." he sighed. "I think he's hurt because he didn't get the choice and I'd chose something like this." he mumbled. "I just... wish I could make him understand it all."
"People deal with pain in different ways. I know if Gabe had a choice, he would have never been bitten. But his situation is different than yours," Claire said. She could imagine why Gabe was upset with Madock... given Claire was gone, and all of the sudden Madock was a werewolf too. It was probably too much stress. Her smile was faint. "I'm not trying to start a fight... but I think maybe you made the choice for the wrong reason. Maybe you love her, and if you do... then I'm happy for you. But I just don't want you to end up regretting it, Madock. The next full moon, it's going to be painful. I saw what it did to Gabe. And if you lose your temper..." Claire stopped herself. "I'm sorry, this isn't the right time to be lecturing. I think I can see why you did it... but I just hope you don't come to hate yourself for it later."
Madock frowned at his sister and let his eyes fall to her hand again. "I made my choice because it's what was right for me. No matter what anyone else thinks." he told her. "You're my sister and your opinion matters a whole hell of a lot to me, but the only part of this that hurts me is the fact that I hurt you and I hurt Gabe. Nothing else matters. I'm glad I'm not psychic anymore. I don't see anything anymore and you can't even imagine how relieving that is for me. I wish we still had that extra bit of a bond, Claire, I do, but I can't change it and I can't make you or anyone else understand my motivations for doing what I did." He sighed and pushed his free hand through his hair. "Jessalyn's family is going to hate me, my best friend thinks I'm a moron and my twin sister thinks I'll regret what I've done. Doesn't make me feel any better about my decision..."
"I don't think you will regret it, Madock, I'm just saying I hope that you don't." Claire supposed she just didn't understand how he could so quickly fall in love and make such a commitment. But then again, she couldn't lay there and judge him for it. Everyone was different. Maybe before Gabe, she would have berated him about thinking he was in love, but right now? She couldn't. Because she loved Gabe too, and Claire knew how that could motivate people to do crazy things sometimes. "You can't worry about everyone else right now. Worry about Jessalyn... because you two made this choice and you can't let other people try to tear you apart over it."
"I don't even know what I am yet..." he told her, his eyes flicking up to catch Claire's. "What if I'm not a wolf?" he asked. "What if I'm just a dog?" he mumbled. "What if Jessalyn regrets this? What if she feels like I pushed her into it?" That probably hurt more than anything else. "I should have thought about it more but everything just felt like it was falling apart and I just wanted to hold on as tight as I could..."
She knew how horrible that would be for both Madock and Jessalyn if Madock was something other than a wolf. There would be no mating for life on his part, just hers. And if Madock was a normal canine with that urge to... well, mate with everything... "How long ago did it happen?" she asked. "Have you been around Jessalyn since? Given she's a werewolf, maybe she's able to scent you out? I know they were able to with Gabe." Claire wanted to give him as much optimism as she could. "Do you feel any wolfish instincts yet?" Heightened smell, sight and taste were true of most canines... but finding a mate wasn't.
"Not long ago. And not much." he admitted. "I haven't really gotten to see her as much as I've wanted to. And the first couple days my head was pounding and just feeling so... off that I didn't get much of a chance to think about how I was feeling. I just... hear and smell everything." he sighed. "I know I want to see her. I talked to her today when I told her I'd be staying at Day's, but I haven't had a chance to go over there or anything."
"Maybe once she's around you more, she'll be able to tell?" Claire suggested, hoping that would work. "Or even Gabe. But you're going to have to learn to be careful Madock, even if you're not a werewolf. You should probably read as much about this as you can, so you're prepared." When Gabe was bit, he had some people who knew enough about the affliction to be able to help him. "And it's probably best if you don't tell mom or dad."
Madock nodded a little. "I might go see her once I'm finished here. Give you and Gabe time to see each other and everything." he told his sister. "Soon as I know, you'll know, alright? I'm just glad that I hadn't done this before me and dad had that fight..." he admitted. "He's definitely not my favorite person, but I coulda ripped him apart... I wanted to." He'd wanted it so bad he could practically taste it. "I gotta learn to watch my temper... walk away more or something..."
Claire nodded. She was looking forward to seeing Gabe again, but she was reluctant to let go of her brother so soon. "I think you should always walk away from a fight, but I know how hard it is to do that. But just try to remember what you are now, and what you have at stake. You can't risk everything just because someone is provoking you. I don't want to lose you, and I know Jessalyn doesn't either." Claire closed her eyes again, once more realizing how freaking fantastic mattresses were. "I'm glad that you stood up for yourself though. Never let him push you around." Which was funny for her to say, since she constantly allowed that to happen for years.
"He was just being an ass." Madock muttered. "Talking shit about how he wished it'd been me that was gone too. He acted like he actually gave a damn about you being gone. How I should have protected you. Like I didn't already feel shitty about what happened." he sighed. He knew he had to watch his temper. He had to keep himself from getting that angry at anyone. "I know what I've got to lose..." he said softly. "I don't want to let my temper get that bad. I guess I'll be doing a whole lot of walking away." he mumbled. "And when the full moon comes..." he said, biting his bottom lip. "Day is going to help me buy a cage. I so owe him."
"You can't listen to him," Claire said. "Don't let him aggravate you. You'll probably piss him off more if you do walk away, rather than fight with him." She knew Madock had a temper, and she hoped he could learn to stifle it more often than not. She didn't want him to risk shifting and hurting someone, or himself. "He is? Are you going to be staying with Day for very long?"
"I know..." Madock said with a little nod. "I'm trying Claire, I know the consequences now. That day I was just... I wasn't what I am now so I didn't think about it. I'm surprised he didn't call the police after I kicked him in the jewels." Very surprised. "Yeah, I told him about it and he said he'd help me out. And I'm not sure. For a little while at least, til I figure out my housing situation."
Claire sighed. "I don't know if he'd ever be that resentful enough to call the police on you. He was probably just shocked that you stood up for yourself." She chewed on her lip and looked at him. "Have you checked in on mom from time to time? She probably wasn't very happy that you got kicked out..."
"She was upset." he nodded. "But I call her everyday and I try to see her when he's not around." Madock told her. "It's not her fault that he's a dick and I'm not about to leave her completely alone. I worry about her too much to let her just rot with him."
Claire nodded and closed her eyes. Talking about their parents was always a mentally exhausting fete. She knew once she moved out, her mom would be calling her everyday. Claire would probably be calling her too. "Once we get a place of our own, she can come visit all the time if she wants... it's not like we'll both completely disappear, you know?"
"Too bad we can't just bring her with us." Madock mumbled. He wished that were possible. Wished that their mother would just leave their father. Sure there was a tiny part of him that loved his dad for just being his dad, but where did you draw the line on how much you could deal with? Frank had done far too much to Claire for Madock to ever forgive him.
"She's been with him long enough to know better at this point," Claire said. "If she's survived this long, there's a reason behind it... obviously she loves him." Claire did too, in a way she guessed. She just felt detached from him as her father. They never bonded, or got along. He was more like a sperm donor than a dad. She loved her mom, but if Claire moved out, she didn't think she would miss her father at all. "We should talk about something happy," she muttered. It feels like it's been hard conversation since she got to the hospital.
Madock nodded a little. He would have responded that love was a fucked up reason to stay with a total bastard that did nothing but harm everyone in his life, but he didn't want to make Claire any more upset than she already was. "Like you being back?" he said softly. "It's... crazy to think that I managed to survive without you..." he mumbled. "I've really missed you, Claire."
She opened her eyes and smiled at him. "I missed you too. I thought about you all the time, hoping you were okay. I'm sorry you had to go through everything you went through... it seems like it was a lot in the last few days." Dealing with Claire being gone, being bitten, getting kicked out, moving into Day's house... in such a short time, it probably took it's toll, stress wise. "Are you feeling okay? Since the bite? Did you go to the hospital to make sure it didn't get infected?"
"Jessalyn took me to the hospital after it happened because I was acting funny. I mean... more funny than normal." he explained. "This was before I knew that getting bit mean that part of my head would just shut down." he explained. "It wasn't infected, but I got stitches and all that." he said, pushing up his sleeve to show her. "I haven't really had much trouble with the bite itself I mean, yeah it hurt but my head... I just... I don't even know how to describe the way that felt." He shrugged a little and slid his shirt down again and gave her a weak little smile. "I'm tough though, I'm alright now. Better than alright really. Even after everything... having you back is definitely a weight off my shoulders. I knew you'd come back. You know you can't live without me for long." he smiled.
"Ha." She smiled again and shook her head. "I think you knew that you needed me around to keep you in line." Obviously, given what happened when she was gone. "I'm just glad you're okay... I'm sorry about the response your body had to the bite." If she had been around, she would have been able to tell him what was going to happen to him. "I hope it's worth it, Madock, and I'm not saying that in a sarcastic or mean way... if you really love her... have you... you know... slept with her yet since the bite?"
Madock shook his head. "No." he told her. "We've only done it that once..." he admitted. "I guess that would be the way to figure out what I am... if we did and I felt different..." he said softly. Talking about sex with his sister was slightly uncomfortable, but he supposed it was better than having no one to talk to at all.
"I think there's an almost instantaneous bond," Claire said, thinking back to the time she had been with Gabe. He had said she was his, and Claire doubted that had been completely affectionate. She turned her thoughtful expression back to her brother. "You had her bite you specifically for the purpose of being able to feel like she did, and love her like she loves you, supposedly... seems strange that you would get bitten and then put off the actual mating part." Although she knew had she been in Madock's shoes, she might not have felt like sex either, given the circumstances he had to deal with.
He let out a breath and looked up at his sister. "Well..." he said. "I don't think that I could have the first couple of days after because my head was pounding so bad I probably couldn't have even got it up in the first place." Not that he should have admitted that to his sister, but whatever, it was out now. "And then you were missing and I just... I don't want to be the guy that goes out and is fucking his girlfriend when his sister might be laying dead somewhere." he sighed.
"I know." She squeezed his hand again. "I think I'd be the same way. I just don't want you to worry about me anymore... I'm here and I'm okay. I'll probably up and moving around tomorrow like I was never gone." Maybe with a mild limp, give her ankle was still bruised and sore, but walking with a limp was better than nothing. "Seems like we have a lot to deal with in the upcoming weeks now... so the sooner I get better... er, well, the better."
"You know I can't not worry about you." he told her, shaking his head. "But at least I feel better knowing that you're here." he said softly, leaning over to press his lips to her forehead. "You try to not worry about me." he said with a flash of a smile. "And you're gonna get so sick of me coming here as much as I plan to til you get out."
"I think they're going to let me out tomorrow afternoon," Claire said with a small smile. "Then I think I'm going home for a bit..." It wasn't like she had anywhere else to go, and their mom wouldn't be letting her leave anyway. "I'll try not to worry about you if you try not to worry about me. Between you and Gabe, I'm pretty sure this won't be happening again."
That was for damn sure. Madock planned to keep as close an eye on his sister as he could possibly manage. "Well then dad's gonna have to deal with me at the house every once in a while." he said. "More than that really. He's not going to get away with being a dick when you've been through so much shit lately." he said. "Gabe should be here soon though. I don't wanna listen to all the love bird stuff." he teased, shifting off of his chair and giving his sister's hand a squeeze. "I'll call later to check up on you, okay?" he said. "Call me if you need anything at all, alright?"
"I'm sure mom would defend you coming over," Claire said, "and if she doesn't, then it's not like I'm going to be a prisoner in that house. I'll be able to leave and everything." She watched him as he stood up, wishing he didn't have to go, but if Gabe was going to be coming soon, then it was probably best, if Gabe was still upset with Madock. "Okay... and yes, I'll call if I need something. Tell Jess I said hi, okay? And I expect to see you here in the morning because this place will probably be creepy when I'm all alone."
"First thing in the morning." he assured her. "I'm gonna go see Jessalyn. Let her know that you're alright. She's probably worrying herself to death." he admitted, brushing his sister's hair behind her ear. "I'll see you tomorrow alright? Try and get some rest, you need it."
Claire nodded and gave her brother a small smile. She was worried about him, and what he had to go through now. But given her condition, it wasn't like she could spend every second stressing about it. That would probably come after she went home. The important thing was keeping Madock and their dad apart, at least until Madock learned to control himself.