InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Make it so."

Gwen Stacy (sciencenerd) wrote in makebelievelog,
@ 2013-03-05 10:32:00

Entry tags:

darcy lewis, gwen stacy, peter petrelli

Who: Gwen, Darcy, and Peter
What: Gwen has a serious injury Peter can't operate on. Darcy keeps her company.
When: Afternoon area
Where: The Castle's clinic
Warnings/Ratings: High Character death: Gwen Stacy, lots of pain, a gross injury, talk of death, and a sad Darcy.
Status: Incomplete/Closed

Gwen was thankful for the friends she made in the Land of Make Believe. She considered herself incredibly lucky. While she hated being called Spider-man's damsel in distress, she knew that there was no way she would have been able to get out of the Dragon Research Center by herself. She was a strong lady, but not that strong.

After losing her phone and staying hidden in the closet, the pain of her leg became too much to handle for Gwen. She knew that if she didn't find a way to get back to the castle, she was surely going to die in that closet. And death, was something Gwen was seriously afraid of. Gwen always had a hard time with death. She was afraid for those she loved; afraid she wouldn't be able to spend time with them before they go. There was never enough time. Her father's death was hard on her, and now that she knew she was to die after her return home, she was afraid of her own death. But others did say that it was possible for her to die here. And Gwen hated that. If she died here she would never see her family again and never see Peter again.

Gwen forced herself up and opened the door just a little to see if any Reavers were there. When she saw that the coast was clear, she went over to the windows. Gwen managed to open one enough for her to slip out of. She tried to run away from the research center as fast as her leg would allow. She didn't look back, afraid she'd find Reavers following her. But Gwen was lucky. She got to the edge of the parking lot when a pizza delivery truck pulled up. She stopped in her tracks and started to wave the truck down, hoping it was a human and not a Reaver. Of course that thought was absurd. Why would Reavers be driving a pizza delivery truck?

Thankfully it had been Glenn and Darcy, stopping by the Research Center after their return texts to Gwen had gone unanswered. Darcy opened the door for Gwen to climb in. The smell of the pizza - usually something amazing - was horrible for Gwen. She already felt sick and foggy, and the smell was enough to make her want to vomit. But she held it all in and thanked her friends profusely for going out of their way to find her.

Gwen was taken to the castle's clinic. She didn't even know they had a clinic. But apparently it had recently been re-opened by someone named Peter Petrelli. Gwen tried to listen to what everyone was saying to her, but in the end, she passed out.

She awoke again in intervals, not really taking anything around her in. When she finally did awake enough to stay conscious for a longer period of time, Darcy was at her side. Gwen's body felt weak and her head felt heavy. But she refused to be weak. So Gwen mustered up the best smile she could and said, "Hey. How are you?" In all the confusion Gwen didn't have a second to check and see if Darcy or Glenn had come out unscathed. She hoped they did.

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andreth
2013-03-05 06:23 pm UTC (link)

Not for the first time, Peter wished he had the ability to heal instead of the ability to fly. Of course, healers were few and far between in his world, and he hadn't heard of one since Daniel Linderman, who was dead and gone.

Because Gwen looked bad. There might have been something that a doctor could do - some sort of surgery, maybe - but he wasn't a doctor. He was a nurse, and while he'd been trained in the basics of general nursing, he was specifically a hospice nurse.

Having done everything he could, and not feeling terribly optimistic about the outcome, he turned to her when she stirred, and gave a weak smile.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

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darcylewis
2013-03-05 10:38 pm UTC (link)

Darcy only stepped out to eat, change her clothes, or go to the bathroom. Even if Gwen hadn't voiced that she objected to the pizza smell, Darcy knew that the smell she hated the worst when she was sick was that of food. When Gwen had woken up this time, she had been in a half-dozing state. She was sitting in a chair next to Gwen, leaning back against the nearest wall to use it as a headrest.

Gwen was one of her better friends around the castle. They were roomies, after all. There were moments where Gwen worked more than she should and they didn't talk or see each other as much. Still, Gwen seemed to make a point of trying to come around after such things and was always a call away if Darcy wanted her.

Darcy knew that Gwen died in her own universe, supposedly, but that wasn't here. It wasn't supposed to happen here.

Darcy sat up when Gwen talked and then Peter did. A quick yawn and some eye rubbing and she was feeling more aware. "I'm fine. Glenn is fine. So is Duncan. He's stopped in a few times, between going out and chucking bombs past the wall." Though she wasn't sure if Gwen had been conscious for any of the green-haired delinquent's visits. She had run into him when they were bringing Gwen in and had told him the basics. Darcy was grateful that he was okay and she knew it. She didn't need anyone else hurt, or worse.

"Focus on you, Gwen." She waited to hear Gwen's answer to Peter's question. Even if he was a nurse, not a doctor, Darcy was really grateful to have him around. Having no one at all would've been worse. At least Gwen could be made (mostly) comfortable amidst this.

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sciencenerd
2013-03-06 12:13 am UTC (link)

Gwen was relieved to hear that Darcy and Glenn had emerged unscathed from the madness. "Good, good," she said. She laughed a little at how Duncan was taking the Reaver situation. It was just like him to respond with homemade bombs. "Just stay that way," she said.

Both Peter and Darcy waited for Gwen to answer the first question. How was she doing. In all honesty Gwen was tired. Very tired. She was stiff, cold, and in pain. Her head pounded with a massive migraine, and she was having trouble breathing. She felt as if she was trying to take big gulps of air, only to get very little relief. But she didn't want to worry anyone. She felt bad for taking so much time from them. She did her best to not draw attention to her unsteady breathing. Gwen tried to move a little, to sit up more, but it was painful. "I..." Gwen didn't know how to answer. She didn't want to lie and say she was fine, but the truth wasn't any better. She finally settled with, "I don't know."

It was a half truth. Mostly. She had a hard time moving her leg. Gwen wanted to ask Peter how bad it was, but part of her knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Gwen reached up and pulled back on the sheet covering her so she could see her leg. She gaped at the sight. It was worst than she thought. The other half of the harpoon had been removed and the wound was bandaged. But she could see the veins were vibrant against her pale skin. She tried to shove some of the bandaging away to see better, but Peter did a fantastic job at wrapping it. The bandages would budge.

"How bad is it?" she finally voiced the question that weighed heavy on her. Despite her determination to be strong and not worry Darcy or Peter, her smile had disappeared and Gwen could feel tears burn her eyelids. She could sense that she may not make it through this.

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andreth
2013-03-06 01:45 am UTC (link)

There was nothing Peter could do, and he knew it well. Her injury was - he wasn't a doctor, and he couldn't do the surgery that would save her life. IV's, shots - he could do that. He was great with bandages, and he understood pretty well how meds worked. But he didn't have the training he needed to fix whatever was wrong in there. He wasn't even a surgical nurse.

He frowned, wondering how best to tell her the grave news he had. He'd done that before, of course, in hospice care, but it was difficult every time.

He took her hand and squeezed it.

"It won't be long. But I can make sure it won't hurt. And I won't go anywhere. You won't be alone."

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darcylewis
2013-03-06 02:44 am UTC (link)

"We will." Darcy's tone was extremely quiet, especially for her. She tended to be the one blabbing out loudly about whatever whim-like thought hit her mind. The fact she was quiet was probably as bad of a sign as any.

Still, what Peter said made her throat feel like it was closing up. She didn't know if she should take her phone out and call Glenn and Duncan, or if Gwen wouldn't want them there. She still wanted to believe that, somehow, Gwen would make it and be okay.

"And I'm not going anywhere either." Though Darcy's eyes were starting to fill with tears. She turned her head away to wipe her eyes. It was all she could manage to get out. She was thankful Peter was there to say the right things, even if she was just echoing it. It gave her mind something to grasp onto.

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sciencenerd
2013-03-07 01:29 am UTC (link)

"What?" Gwen asked, not really wanting Peter to repeat his words. Gwen had hoped Peter would have told her good news. But anyone looking at her leg would know there was nothing they could do. Even she knew the science behind it. Whatever was wrong with her wound, be it infection or a disease from the harpoon, it would enter her bloodstream and reach her heart. Gwen looked down at the abnormally colored veins again and couldn't hold back her tears any longer. Silently they fell down her cheeks.

Darcy promised to stay with her, and for that Gwen was thankful. Of all the people to be with her at the end, Darcy was it. She was there for Gwen when she first arrived, and now she would be there when she left. Gwen covered her leg again, not wanting to look at it any longer. She tried to wipe away her tears, but they just kept coming. In her distraction of Peter's words, she lost her focus on trying to breath normal and it was now audible that she was having a difficult time getting air in.

"Darcy," she said between the tears. "I'm scared."

Gwen reached out for her roommate's hand, letting her left still stay with Peter. She held them both tight, afraid that if she let go she'd lose an anchor to earth. Gwen knew she was to die in her world, but it felt so far away. She had been patient with the Land of Make Believe. She got a job and went out of her way to be kind and help others. She had hoped that maybe some day she would be sent back. But she knew now she wouldn't be. She was going to die.

"Darcy," she said again. Gwen couldn't finish a sentence. Her heart felt heavy, and it took a lot out of her to cry. She searched for answers in her roommate's face. But what could there possibly be? Gwen knew that she had to accept it. But it was hard. Gwen wanted to live. She so desperately wanted to live. But everything came to an end at some point. She was born, she had some time, and now she was to be returned to the Earth. It was just so hard for Gwen to accept. It was hard for her to let go.

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andreth
2013-03-07 04:18 pm UTC (link)

Peter knew death. He'd trained for it, studied it, learned the signs that showed death was approaching. He was well schooled on the five stages of grieving, and how to comfort both those who were dying, and those who were left behind. But this knowledge didn't make it easy. Necessary? Yes. But not easy.

He squeezed Gwen's hand, letting her know that he was there, and would be until the end.

"It's okay to cry," he said softly. "It's okay to be afraid," he said as with the other hand he measured out a shot of painkiller. "But you aren't alone. Neither of you are alone," he said gently, letting his eyes flicker to Darcy.

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darcylewis
2013-03-07 05:05 pm UTC (link)

"You are the best roomie ever. Okay?" Darcy was having a hard time talking at this point, but not due to the same reasons (of course.) Rather, she was having a hard time talking because she was having a hard time not openly crying. She didn't want Gwen to die. She wanted her to fight hard and somehow pull through. She was the type to hold onto hope.

But it was proving increasingly hard as it was obvious Gwen was having breathing problems. Holding on hope in the face of this just seemed like denial. Darcy shifted her chair so she was sitting closer. She hoped it would make it so Gwen could just look forward and see her and Peter without having to turn her head or fuss.

"Peter's right. It's okay to be afraid." Darcy glanced over at Peter, finding herself past grateful that was there. She would've been terrified, personally, if he hadn't been there. That wasn't even mentioning the fact she was happy he could be there to help keep Gwen comfortable. "You've always been - brave, Gwen, considering the weird that can happen around this place."

Darcy put her empty hand on top of the hand that Gwen was holding hers with. She wasn't letting herself outright cry. She wanted to be brave for Gwen, hoping it would help her feel a little less scared if Darcy acted brave in her stead.

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sciencenerd
2013-03-09 03:48 am UTC (link)

Gwen nodded, partially to both of them. To Peter for saying they weren't alone, and to Darcy who said she was the best roommate. Gwen hated goodbyes. But in a way, she was glad she had the chance to say goodbye to Darcy. She hadn't been given that chance with her father. "You too," said Gwen. "And, please, tell the others it's gonna OK."

Although Gwen was concerned when she first arrived, Gwen really did enjoy her time in New Creandi. She enjoyed it more when she wasn't de-aged or swapped out for an alternate version. But she did like that she had a chance to meet the people she met. She learned to stand on her own two feet. She learned to love, yet let go. She even had the opportunity to study dragons. Gwen was sad to leave, but she was thankful for the time she had.

Gwen supposed in the end that was all that mattered. Perhaps Helena was right. She couldn't dwell on the time she was losing - or going to lose back home. Gwen had to focus on the days she had with those she loved.

She could see Peter was measuring out some sort of pain killer, and moving to inject it in her. But she didn't draw attention to it. She was thankful he was there to help numb the pain. Because Gwen really was in so much more pain than she was allowing herself to show.

Gwen squeezed their hands one more time and said, "I'm really glad I had the chance to come here and meet you." Her words were quiet and strained. She had to take a few gasps of air between words in order to finish the sentence.

She could feel it. It was time. She knew there was nothing more for her to say. Nothing more for her to do. Gwen had simply run out of time. Her heart started to slow, her breathing became even heavier, until it all finally went silent. And while she kept her gaze fixed on Darcy - wanting to see that face as she left - she knew that it really would be alright in the end. Gwen would be at peace.

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