InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Wash behind your ears!"

Jameson William Kemp (flare_star) wrote in nevermore_logs,
@ 2013-12-04 04:06:00

Current mood:	hungry
Entry tags:	charlotte kemp, jameson kemp, lena rainmayr, madeline kemp, saint anthony, theseus stavros, thomas kemp

Who: Jamie Kemp, Anthony, then Thomas, Lena, Maddy, Charlotte, Theseus, and possibly Emma, Victor, and Kat
What: Jamie's been found!
When: Early Wednesday morning
Where: Somewhere in Queens, then the hospital
Warnings: Discussion of torture, TBD

The sun was barely up when the door of Jamie's prison was thrown open, and Dantalion walked in, a mask over her face. "Up and at 'em, motherfucker," she yelled, grabbing Jamie and hauling him to his feet. "Today's your lucky day." She tied a scarf over Jamie's eyes, shoving him out the door and into a van. Jamie was so weak from hunger, exhaustion, and thirst, he didn't even protest. He laid there in the back of the van, hoping against hope that it was all about to be over.

Dantalion stopped driving after about 20 minutes, then she got out and hauled Jamie out of the back of the van. She pulled off the blindfold and shoved him into an alley, jumping back into the van and driving away. Jamie stayed where she'd left him, huddled on the floor of the alley and using all of his energy to stay upright and not start bawling. Or screaming.

Anthony had the paintbrush that Victor had given him tucked into his pocket, and he was using it more or less like a compass to pinpoint Jamie's location. Which was good, because he wasn't all that familiar with Queens. It took about 30 minutes to find the right alley, but he finally found Jamie huddled on the ground, and he crouched down next to him. "Jamie Kemp?" he asked softly.

Jamie barely raised his head. "I don't have any money, so whatever you're going to do, just do it," he whispered.

Anthony's heart broke for him a little. "All I want to do is help you," he said. "Your father sent me to find you. That's my gig, I find lost things."

Jamie finally looked at him properly. "How do I know he really sent you?" he asked warily.

"He said to tell you that Captain Giraffe wants you back safe," Anthony told him, watching his reaction.

A cautious kind of hope spread over Jamie's face. "That's what I call Dad," he said at last. "You said you find lost things?"

"Part of the Saint deal," Anthony told him, smiling slightly. "My car's not far from here, how about I take you to the hospital. Get you checked out."

"Yeah," Jamie said. "Yeah, OK. You might have to help me up, though. I don't know if I can walk on my own."

"Not a problem at all," Anthony assured him. He gently hauled Jamie up, supporting him all the way back to his car. Then he drove them to the hospital, explaining the situation, as best he understood it, to the intake staff. They whisked Jamie into the back, hooking him up to an IV of fluids and checking him for injuries. Sometime after his head had been checked out, Jamie finally, mercifully, passed out.

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	asterismos 2013-12-04 11:32 am UTC (link)
	"Of course you can go in," Thomas said to Theseus with a quick nod. He was hardly going to keep Jamie's boyfriend from him. "Like Maddy says, we can't crowd him, but yeah...I think the company would do him good." Thomas glanced around for sign of a doctor or nurse or anyone who might tell them what was going on. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-04 11:38 am UTC (link)
	He was grateful for that. "Thank you." They'd never made him feel excluded but this was different. "So do you guys want to go in first? I can wait, just as long as you tell me what's going on when you come out." He didn't mind giving precedence to Jamie's family. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

flare_star
2013-12-04 11:57 am UTC (link)

Jamie, meanwhile, had come to while a nurse was checking his vitals, groggy and confused about where he was. The nurse smiled at him. "Hello, Jameson," she said. "How are you feeling?"

"Foggy," Jamie answered, turning to look at her. "Where'm I?"

"You're in the hospital," she told him. "You were missing almost four days. I'm sorry if I woke you, right now they're recommending you sleep as much as possible."

"'M tired," Jamie said, unnecessarily.

"I'd imagine so," she said soothingly. "But there's some good news: I think your entire family is camped out in the waiting room. They're all chomping at the bit to see you, if you're up for it."

Jamie felt something tighten in his chest. He knew, logically, that he'd been gone for so long that naturally, his whole family would turn up to see that he was alright. But when he tried to conjure his dad's face, the only accompanying feeling was tension and fear. And that made him so incredibly tired and sad.

"I don't know," he finally said. He followed that up with a yawn, which was random, but apparently very well-timed.

"You rest, honey," the nurse said. "I'll go and fill them in on how you are."

Jamie nodded, then thought of something. "Actually...there's one I'd like to talk to. If my aunt Maddy's out there, see if she'll come see me?"

His nurse went and found the assembled gathering, addressing all of them. "He's sleeping right now," she told them. "Physically, he should be fine in a few days. I can't speak to his psychological state, he was only awake for a few minutes. He did say he'd like to speak to someone called Maddy, though?"

Maddy turned to look at Thomas, confused, then back to the nurse. "Are you sure?" she asked.

"That's all I know," the nurse told them.

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asterismos
2013-12-04 12:02 pm UTC (link)

Thomas blinked at that and then he felt his heart seize up. His son didn't want him to go see him!? "I...I have to see him," he said, his voice begging. "I have to see him with my own eyes." If Jamie couldn't talk that was fine, but if he couldn't see his son, then the vice grip on his heart wouldn't abate.

Lena kept ahold of Theseus as all the commotion went on, though she was frowning. If Jamie didn't want to see his dad right away, there was something wrong.

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	shining_armor 2013-12-04 12:09 pm UTC (link)
	Even he figured that. Jamie and his dad were pretty close, and he wondered what was going on. He didn't much mind he hadn't been called, there was a good chance Jamie hadn't been told or was too out of it. He glanced to Lena to see if she knew, but it didn't seem like she had much of a clue either. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

aspectabund
2013-12-04 12:22 pm UTC (link)

Maddy bit her lip, glancing from Thomas to the nurse and back again. "Let me go and find out what's up," she said at last, hugging Thomas. "I'll see why he asked for me."

She followed the nurse into Jamie's room, finding him dozing again. Her heart squeezed as she saw him lying there on the sheets. Her family really needed to stop ending up in the hospital, it would make her feel a lot better.

"You can be amazing, you can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug," Maddy sang softly, brushing some of Jamie's hair out of his face. He was sleeping, whether because of honest exhaustion or the drugs they had him on, she wasn't sure. But his eyes fluttered open as she touched his forehead, and she winced internally. "Sorry, kiddo, I didn't mean to wake you."

"'S OK," he mumbled, blinking and yawning as he became more aware. "Wasn't very restful anyway."

Maddy swallowed hard, running one hand over his shoulder, almost unconsciously. "I'm so sorry, Jamie. I am so sorry this happened to you. How are you feeling? What happened? And, the pressing question on your dad's mind: why ask to see me and not him?"

Jamie opened his mouth. Then closed it again. "I couldn't face him right now," he mumbled at last. "I don't think I could even stand to hear him talk."

Maddy's heart flipped. "You sound a lot like me...back when I ended up here in the summer."

"You asked how I was feeling," he said. "And I just...I wouldn't even know how to explain it, and I'd think I was going crazy, because people can't just shapechange, this isn't a fucking movie. I can't even begin to explain how I feel to myself, because nothing prepares you for something like this."

"Can I take a guess how you feel?" she asked. He nodded.

"You feel betrayed," she said. "Down to your bones, down to your soul, because your eyes told your brain that the people you loved most had a hand in your breaking. And they promised, they fucking promised to always look out for you. They promised they'd never hurt you, and it's so fucking hard to reconcile that with what happened to you, with what you saw and heard." She picked up one of his hands and squeezed it. "But you have to know, kiddo. None of what they said was true. You hear me? None of it. Those...things, they prey on your worst fears, the things you think to yourself in the wee hours of the night when you can't sleep. And they get off on tearing you down."

Jamie had started to cry silently, tears slipping down his cheeks as she spoke. Every word she was saying made sense, it was like she was in his head. And that thought should scare him to death, but right now, it was just comforting to know that someone did truly understand what he'd gone through.

"They used Dad," he said at last. "That was their favorite mask to wear, probably because it hurt the most."

Maddy nodded, squeezing his hand again. "They do that," she replied. "The people we love the most turn into their most powerful weapons. It's such a cruel way to hurt someone, and that's what makes it so effective."

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asterismos
2013-12-04 12:31 pm UTC (link)

Thomas just paced. He paced back and forth and back and forth, occasionally shooting worried looks at Theseus and Lena. Maddy didn't reappear and no one else showed up to tell them anything else and he finally just snapped.

"I have to see him. Even if he kicks me out immediately, I have to see him with my own eyes." None of them could understand. They didn't have children and they didn't know how you couldn't feel complete without them once they existed. No matter how often he was told Jamie was going to be fine, he wouldn't believe it until he saw it. "Jamie-"

And that was why he didn't wait for Maddy. Instead he went to Jamie's room but he only stuck his head inside so he didn't cause his son to panic. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I-I couldn't-" And when he finally saw the state of his son, tears fell from his eyes both from sorrow and relief.

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shining_armor
2013-12-04 12:39 pm UTC (link)

He didn't blame Thomas for wanting to go in there, nor for wanting to see it with his own eyes. He kind of wanted to do the same, but he wouldn't push. Instead he just sat down and curled up into the seat. "Don't really like hospitals," he mentioned to Lena. "Haven't been in them for six years now. Last time, it left me without a dad." He gave a shaky breath to that. "Just don't like them."

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aspectabund
2013-12-04 12:53 pm UTC (link)

Jamie squeezed Maddy's hand so hard it hurt, and she could feel the tremor start up in his hand. "It's OK, it's alright," she told him, beckoning Thomas outside and closing the door behind her.

"Tommy..." she began. "I think whoever, whatever took me before, I think it took him too. He said...he said you were its favorite face to wear. It's why he asked for me." She rubbed her arms absently, feeling miserable about everything.

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asterismos
2013-12-04 01:00 pm UTC (link)

Hearing Maddy say that made his stomach clench in anger. He glanced back up at the closed door between him and his son, but he nodded sadly. "My-my poor baby," he whispered sadly. "I just needed to see him. I can stay away, but I'm not leaving. I'm going to stay here for him. Will you tell him I'll be here whenever he wants to see me?" He wiped at his eyes and then sniffed hard before turning back into the waiting room.

Lena had been rubbing Theseus' back when Thomas walked back into the waiting room. "I hate hospitals too," she said sadly to Theseus. "But Jamie is going to be okay. Hey, Thomas."

Thomas sat beside them and quietly he said, "he...he was taken by the same person who hurt Maddy. The one who tried to break us up," he said to Lena. "A demon took my son and used my face to torture him and now he's afraid of me." He wanted to scream and throw things, but then they would make him leave and he wasn't about to go anywhere.

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shining_armor
2013-12-04 01:08 pm UTC (link)

"Shit," there wasn't much else to say to that. He was pretty lucky. He was only distantly related to the Greeks. Far enough not to get bothered by their politics, and save from Michael he'd never met a Christian before.

"I won't last." He tried giving. He wasn't sure how successful it might be. He rose then and gave a smile to Lena. "Thanks. I'm gonna say hi. See if he wants to talk to me." He couldn't really mind if Jamie asked him to leave. Not after all that.

He walked to the door and knocked before poking his head in. It did something awful to see Jamie like that but he gave his best smile. "Hey you. Can I come in?"

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	flare_star 2013-12-04 01:17 pm UTC (link)
	"Of course I will," she told him, pulling him into a hug before letting him go back to the waiting room. She was about to head back inside when Theseus turned up, and she only stuck her head in instead. "I'll be right out here if you need me," she called softly. Jamie managed a weak smile. "Yeah, come on in," he said. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-04 01:26 pm UTC (link)
	He gave Maddy a nod before walking over to where Jamie was. Then, gently, he went to give Jamie a long hug. He did his best to not get the wires tangled up. After a few long moments he kissed the top of Jamie's head and ran his fingers through Jamie's hair. "Not going anywhere, alright? Just tell me what you need." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	flare_star 2013-12-04 01:32 pm UTC (link)
	Jamie rested his head briefly on Theseus' shoulder before laying back down. "Just...sit with me for a while? The only company I've had for the past four days was a pair of demons. A familiar face sounds good right now." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-04 01:35 pm UTC (link)
	"I think I can do that," he offered with a smile. It took him a moment, but after it he was settled beside Jamie on the bed, and had one arm around Jamie. "I heard. Might've smoked two whole packs when you were gone." If Jamie wanted to talk about the capture, he would. But he wanted to offer a relatively normal option of conversation too. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	flare_star 2013-12-04 01:43 pm UTC (link)
	Jamie tensed up briefly, but he forced himself to try and unclench. He wasn't in any danger here, not anymore. "Should scale that back," he said around a yawn. "And can I just say, I am really glad to be back." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-04 01:45 pm UTC (link)
	He noticed so he took his arm off and just settled his hand on Jamie's. He wasn't going to push. Jamie needed to make these steps on his own time. "You know me. I smoke when I get worried." He smiled, "I'm glad to have you back too. Really glad. Though, I'll probably be around a lot here. You'll get sick of me." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	flare_star 2013-12-04 01:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Sorry," Jamie said, squeezing his hand briefly. "Just. Still a little jumpy and a lot tired. But yeah, I know that. Though I doubt I'll get sick of you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-04 01:59 pm UTC (link)
	He shook his head. "Don't apologize. You've been through some shit. If you're jumpy then I'll make sure that I go on your pace." He squeezed Jamie's hand back. "Want me to let you get some rest?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

forgr8justice
2013-12-04 02:06 pm UTC (link)

Serenity and Charlotte had been waiting for news together. Charlotte had decided she needed to get to know the goddess better since she was trying to be more involved, and they might as well use their time constructively while they were worried about Jamie.

Once they heard the news, they had rushed to the hospital. Charlotte broke off to go see Thomas, but once Serenity had found out Jamie's room, she continued on to poke her head into her son's room. She had changed her appearance again to look more like Jamie the moment she heard he was missing so her hair was dark and curly. "Oh, Jamie," she said sadly when she saw him in bed. "Can I come in?"

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	flare_star 2013-12-04 02:11 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes and no," Jamie said. "Sleep sounds great, but I still have this nagging fear I'll wake up back in that place." Whatever he would have said next was cut off when Serenity appeared, looking much more like she was his mother, the way she had when they first met. "Hey, Serenity. Come on in." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-04 02:15 pm UTC (link)
	"Hey I'll be right here, alright? Won't leave until you want me to." He looked up as the woman walked in and guessed this was Jamie's mother. A little unconsciously, he sat up a bit straighter. But he didn't let go of Jamie's hand either. "Hey. I'm Theseus." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

forgr8justice
2013-12-04 02:19 pm UTC (link)

Serenity moved over to Jamie's side and then without hesitating, she leaned down to kiss his forehead. She had done so once before, right after he was born. Right before she left-

"Oh, Jamie. I'm so sorry," she said softly. She pulled up and chair and sat before smiling softly at Theseus. "Hello, Theseus. I'm Serenity. He's told me wonderful things about you. It's really nice to meet you, though I wish it was under better circumstances."

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	flare_star 2013-12-04 02:24 pm UTC (link)
	"It's not your fault," Jamie told her, managing to dredge up a thin, tired smile for her. "This bitch just has a hate-on for our family, I guess. Thankfully she seems to have the attention span of a goldfish." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-04 02:27 pm UTC (link)
	He smiled at Serenity and nodded at her comment. He kept his hand in Jamie's for support, but let the two talk. He knew his own mother would probably want to fuss, and he wanted Jamie to have a connection. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

forgr8justice
2013-12-04 02:32 pm UTC (link)

"Do you know the woman's name?" Serenity said, her voice suddenly a little dark. She wasn't as strong as some of the immortals and she didn't really have any kind of physical powers, she could seriously fuck someone's life up digitally. She had helped create computers and the internet, it was as easy as breathing to erase someone's entire existence if she wanted to, making life very fucking difficult.

"If I know who it is, they're not going to get away with it."

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	flare_star 2013-12-04 02:40 pm UTC (link)
	"No," Jamie admitted. "They never called each other by name, and they wore masks so I never saw their faces. Aunt Maddy thinks it's the same one that snatched her a few weeks ago." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-04 02:43 pm UTC (link)
	He made a mental note to not piss Jamie's mother off when she went all spooky. He didn't want to know what she was willing to do. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	forgr8justice 2013-12-04 02:46 pm UTC (link)
	"Damn," Serenity hissed, but she didn't spend too much time focusing on it. "I know you might not trust this, Jamie, but I'm going to stay here until you can leave, okay? I'll stay right here in the hospital to make sure nothing else can hurt you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	flare_star 2013-12-05 08:30 am UTC (link)
	That touched him, and he was glad to feel something that wasn't tense, strung-out exhaustion. "I appreciate that," he told her. "The familiar faces, they help." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	shining_armor 2013-12-05 08:34 am UTC (link)
	"That's good to know, and you already know I'm not going anywhere until you tell me otherwise." He squeezed Jamie's hand again. "I'll even camp out in the chair here if you want to get some rest." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	forgr8justice 2013-12-05 02:28 pm UTC (link)
	"Are you hungry or thirsty?" Serenity said, immediately feeling like she needed to feed her son an entire restaurant because he had been through so much. Food was comfort, right? "I could get you something." (Reply to this) (Parent)

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