Who: Addie & Silas with Edgar Where: Home - hospital When: Sunday night, June 3rd
The Sunday service went very smoothly and was not interrupted by an undead brother returning a comatose father to the Rayner house like Silas and Addie had feared. It was easy to keep up appearances on a professional level and so it wasn't too peculiar that the day went by more easily than the two prior to it had. It helped to keep busy and put aside their own problem for those of their clients. When everyone had left however, that was when things got hard again. Going for a drive seemed almost like a ritual at this point. After dark they'd get in the car, sometimes more often than once in an evening, and drive around the likeliest places for Elijah to hide out with their father. No sign of them so far had Silas worried for the worst but he didn't voice it and if Addie was thinking the same, neither did she. Maybe they both knew that saying it out loud would make it more real and neither of them could afford to lose their shit right now.
There were a few places they did not go into despite suspecting that those places might be exactly where Elijah and Edgar were staying. No amount of caring could make them go into the Cooperdale Tunnel but they still drove up there and looked around - just not inside. The mausoleum was another place but one look at the new reinforced lock was enough to make them think that Elijah couldn't possibly have gotten in there and even if he had - even if that place was unlocked - they'd heard the stories and they both knew better than to doubt them.
It was about ten o'clock when they came back home after their latest drive, exasperated and speculating on whether Elijah had taken their father far out into the woods. That was another place that not only they would never dare go but also it would be useless trying to search the vast area just the two of them. It might be time to involve the police but they were both reluctant to say that as well.
The hopeless feeling was nearly suffocating and Silas was going over the possible outcomes in his head over and over as they drove up to the house. It was like sinking into quicksand really and just when he thought he couldn't feel any more anxious, it somehow got worse. And then it just stopped, just like that. His heart sped up and he reached over to grab Addie's arm as he spotted Edgar sitting on the porch bench. He was all wrapped in blankets and looked like he was asleep. Silas didn't want to think he looked like he was dead and before that fear could make a nest in his head he saw Edgar move, open his eyes and blink against the car's headlights.
Addie was getting to the point where she was going to ask Nick for help. Or someone. One of the witches in town, even. She and Silas were getting nowhere in their search and the longer her dad was gone, the more she was convinced he was dead. It was a horrible feeling and it was hard to keep up a cheery pretense for Nick. She had been avoiding him since Elijah took her dad, lying about an abundance of work to keep from seeing him. Not because she didn't want to, but because he knew her well enough that he would know something was wrong, no matter what she said or how wide she smiled. But she and Silas could only lie for so long and it was becoming unbearable.
Pulling into the drive now, after another unsuccessful search, Addie had made up her mind to call Nick. But then Silas took her arm and she blinked at him in confusion before following his gaze to the porch. "Oh my god. Silas, he's awake!" It didn't escape her notice that Elijah wasn't there, but one thing at a time. Their dad was home and awake!
Silas knew it had been harder on Addie than him because he didn't have a boyfriend he had to lie to. It had been hard enough to dodge half the truth with Toby so he understood why she'd been avoiding Nick. He let go of her and parked the car, fumbling not to forget to put it in park and handbrake before he actually got out because his limbs seemed to be way ahead of him and wanted to get out of the car while it was still moving. Addie beat him out of the car but he had longer legs than her and caught up pretty fast so they made it to Edgar's side at the same time.
"Dad," Silas said quietly, crouching down to look him over. He didn't look hurt, just a little groggy, and he was awake. "Are you okay?" It felt like such a stupid thing to ask a man who'd been in a coma for months and Silas was itching to peel those blankets off him to make sure he was all there and unharmed. He looked confused now, frowning softly at the question and then giving Silas a faint smile after looking at him and Addie a few times as if assessing what the hell they were doing there.
Like Silas, Addie was looking over their dad for any sign of injury. Maybe he needed a hospital. He probably definitely needed a hospital. He seemed to be okay but they wouldn't know for sure at this point. Addie smiled softly at him, bringing a hand up to the side of his face gently. "Dad? Do you know where you are? Do you know who we are?" He was awake but maybe he was disoriented, or dealing with amnesia. Maybe the coma had affected him more than they knew. Addie was itching to dial 911, but there was a bit of desperation holding her back, that selfish urge to confirm that their dad was still their dad.
Edgar snuck a pale, thin hand out from under the blanket and lightly grabbed her arm. "Of course I know who you are," he said though Silas wasn't entirely convinced until he actually said their names, looking from Addie to Silas. "Where is Elijah?" he asked then and he still sounded confused, even if his words were making sense. "He was just just here." He furrowed his brows as he looked around slowly and Silas glanced at Addie worriedly before repeating his own question.
"Dad, are you okay? Are you in any pain?" He didn't want to move the old man if there was any chance it might hurt him but Edgar seemed fine as he shook his head and waved his hand dismissively before telling them he was cold. Silas glanced down at his bare feet sticking out from under the blanket and winced softly. "Let's get him inside?" he said to Addie with a touch of hesitation. "Can you get the door?" They could at least look him over when they'd gotten him in the house
Where is Elijah. That was definitely a question that needed answering. But later. Right now, they needed to get their dad inside where it was warm and comfortable. Addie heard Silas's question and blinked back to attention. "Yeah, of course." She got up quickly and dug around in her pocket for her house keys. Already she was wondering if she ought to call Toby, or a doctor or something. Getting the door unlocked she shoved it open and hurried back to help Silas with their dad. "Let me make you some hot tea or soup or something," she told Edgar, wishing she could clear all the nonsense from her head so she could think straight. This felt like a surreal dream she would wake up from at any moment.
Silas was incredibly thankful for the little couch near the front door and that was where they led Edgar - or more accurately half carried him because his legs were not doing their job properly so Silas was also thankful that his father was not a heavy man. Tall, yes, but like both his sons and his father before him, not broad at all. "I'm so happy to see you, dad," he said once Edgar was settled and damn near felt like weeping when Edgar reached out to pat his head.
"I would very much like some soup," Edgar told them. "And some socks. And a shower, though that might be difficult. When did you get home, Silas?"
Silas didn't know how to tell him he'd been in a coma, did he even know what month it was? It had been the dead of winter when he slipped under but he was stringing together good sentences even if he was drawling a little. "I think we might need to take you to the hospital, dad," he muttered, feeling kind of like he'd need his father's permission for that. He'd always been in charge for as long as Silas could remember, it was strange to see him so helpless. He looked to Addie. "Or call Toby?"
Addie had brought both of her hands up to steeple in front of her mouth. Her dad was awake and talking. It had been months but it felt like years since they had last spoken to one another. So yes, she was feeling emotion and overwhelmed and Addie tried to keep her voice from wavering when she answered Silas. "I think we should call Toby first. He knows dad's circumstances. If he thinks we should take dad to the ER we will. But I'm going to make him something to eat. We need to get him comfortable. I know it's June, but I can get the fireplace going too, if he... if you want," Addie redirected to Edgar. She couldn't help it. She bent down to hug him, careful not to do it too tightly, but it was difficult not to cling. "I missed you so much."
"Oh, hold on," Silas said abruptly as he remembered the wheelchair they had stashed away for guests as their father had always been adamant about everything being impeccable and no problem going unsolved. Silas was more than a little grateful for that thinking ahead now as he left Addie with Edgar to go fetch the chair, allowing himself a few seconds of pause away from them to take deep breaths and try to still his racing heart. Joy could be overwhelming, especially when it followed so much fear and uncertainty and he felt a bit overcome for a moment, closing his eyes and holding back tears. He returned soon enough. "Fire and soup and call Toby," he decided with a strained smile, his chin wobbling a little despite his efforts to relax. "Toby is your nurse, you'll like him." He wondered if Edgar remembered any of that time he'd been in a coma. There had been those moments where he got out of bed and stood there like a sleepwalker but who knew if he'd ever woken up.
"I seem to be in need of some catching up," Edgar said quietly as Silas helped him move to the chair but he didn't ask further questions, just furrowed his brows in thought as if processing everything took some effort.
Addie nodded along with Silas. Food, fire, Toby. She could do those things. "We'll get you caught up on everything," she promised. "Right now let's get you comfortable and fed. I'll get the fire started." She could call Toby while she was making the soup. Addie just needed to stay busy or she was going to start crying or panicking about Elijah now that Edgar was home and safe. Catching Silas's eye, Addie tried to convey to him that it was okay if he wanted to tell Edgar everything while she got some soup heated up. But if he wanted to wait for her, that was okay too. They were both feeling emotional and drained and it seemed as though they had a long night ahead of them. "Do you want something to drink, Silas? Coffee?" Whiskey, scotch, rum? His nerves had to be frayed right now and she wanted to do whatever she could to help calm him.
"Irish coffee, thank you," Silas said and only because he recognized that keeping busy was grounding for both him and Addie so he didn't feel too bad about taking her up on her offer. He wheeled Edgar into the kitchen at first so he could leave him with Addie while he hunted down some socks for him and then started up a fire in the living room since it didn't make much sense for Addie to do everything. Edgar seemed a little spaced out and while he didn't look as corpse-like as he had while he was in a coma, he definitely looked older than Silas remembered him. They didn't really talk about anything substantial while they got everything ready so it wasn't until they were huddled around the fire together with their soups and hot drinks that Addie and Silas cautiously filled Edgar in on everything that had happened. At hearing how long he'd been in a coma, Edgar frowned softly and then said in true Edgar fashion, "Oh thank God, I thought you were going to say years." It eased the tension a little but Silas knew that method of guarding one's feelings all too well. This had hit hard. He didn't remember much of his coma, just that he had woken up with Elijah carrying him in the woods, then fallen asleep again only to wake up alone on the porch. "He'll come back," he said sadly. "This is where he belongs."
Edgar still needed a shower and clean clothes and possibly some medical attention so they tried to call Toby up since Edgar insisted they 'allow him to keep his dignity' and let a professional help him with those 'pesky bodily matters'. He would take care of it all himself, he said, but he felt too weak and it was obvious this was a blow to his ego. He was more concerned with how the funeral home had been running and since hearing about the service seemed to make him happy, Addie and Silas told him every little detail of how successful it had been despite their frayed nerves.
Addie had no doubt that Elijah would come home. She just didn't know what he was doing in the meantime and that scared her. Listening to her father talk was a blessing she hadn't known she needed. There had been a very real fear deep inside of her that he would never wake up. That he would just go on living on machines until they finally let him go. But he was sitting up now and talking and even if he needed medical attention, it seemed like he was coherent and clear headed. Addie wanted to cry and cling to him for a long time, but... that would have to wait. "We need to take you to the hospital," Addie told Edgar. "They may want to keep you for a day or two, but... we'll keep looking for Elijah. I know it's a long shot, but did you recognize the woods? Blackwater? Maybe Seaview?"
It didn't surprise Silas much when Edgar told her with no uncertainty that it had been Blackwater. He had far more knowledge of the forests than the two of them and Silas had never been able to pick up on those little details of how the trees were actually a little different in Blackwater Woods if you just looked close enough. It made him feel a little more secure that their father was going to be okay, even if he tended to slip into a thousand yard stare but the mere idea of wandering around Blackwater to look for Elijah gave him the creeps. "We can't tell the doctors what really happened but I want them to check you for injuries," he said fretfully and it felt oh so wrong to be making up lies but at this point in their lives it came naturally - at least when it came to Elijah. "We can tell them you got confused and wandered outside?"
Edgar did look confused at that which only cemented the possible story, but then he nodded. "I woke up in the yard," he mumbled. "That's all they need to know. Then they con prod around and scan my head and do all those lovely things they so enjoy doing with their expensive machines."
Addie nodded and chewed nervously on her lower lip. The thrill and joy of having her dad home and awake was slightly overshadowed by Elijah still being gone. "I know some of the people who work at Mercy," Addie said. "They won't question it. If they make you stay the night Silas or I can stay with you, if they'll let us. But... anything you might need, you know we'll help." She wanted to get back in the car and go driving to look for Elijah. It was like they had lost the family dog in a way, except they couldn't exactly put up Missing posters around town. "Once you're warm and have eaten, we'll drive you to Mercy." And then... well, and then they would wait and see what they were dealing with. Hopefully there wouldn't be some horrible setback for their father. Addie didn't think she could bear watching him fall into a coma again.
There were so many things Silas wanted to ask about and there were so many things he expected Edgar to want answers to as well, but he noticed that their father didn't ask about his coma or whether they knew what had caused it. He only asked if they had taken good care of Elijah during all this time and Silas tried hard not to take it as an accusation. They probably had neglected him a little, nobody but Edgar actually liked spending time with Elijah and they would never understand his unwavering love for something that was no longer his son. It really didn't feel right to start bombarding him with questions when he looked so frail and had been through so much so Silas just gave Addie some fretful looks as they made sure Edgar was comfortable and eating.
Addie had done her best to "take care" of Elijah. Considering what she and Silas had been forced to do to multiple bodies that had come into their funeral home, she couldn't imagine what more Edgar would expect from them. But that was a conversation for another time. Once they were ready, and Edgar felt well enough to go, Addie drove them to Mercy. On the drive she kept her eyes open and alert, half expecting to see Elijah standing on some street corner, or hiding in someone's bushes. But he was nowhere to be found. As they pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, Addie refocused on her dad, wanting to get him inside and under the care of his doctor. She was terrified they might find something really wrong with him, or he might slip back into a coma, so it was hard to remind herself to breathe as she parked and ran inside to find a nurse or orderly with a wheelchair.
"Did I lock the door?" Addie asked Silas as they followed their dad and the nurse into the hospital. "I can't remember if I turned off the stove after making tea." She was needlessly fretting and she knew it, considering she had been chewing on the same thumbnail for over an hour.
These were the sort of things Silas worried about but it was amazing how somebody else's anxiety could quiet his own down a little. "I remember you locking the door," he told her. "And I'm sure the stove is off." He wasn't, of course, but they had decent security on their house and considerate neighbors so it was easy to assume things wouldn't go the worst way possible. He half expected to run into Toby since he hadn't picked up his phone but their nurse was nowhere to be seen and Silas didn't really know what ward he was working in anyway. The hospital was fairly quiet at this hour on a Sunday night and it just reminded him how eerie he'd always found this building with its cold spots and whispers. He focused on Addie and the doctor, glad he wasn't alone at least.
The doctor, unsurprisingly, decided Edgar should stay at least one night so they could run some tests and monitor his condition. This long in a coma with no recognizable reason obviously had him concerned and he left them alone in the small examination room as he went to arrange a room so they could talk somewhat freely for a few minutes. "I don't want you to stay here," Edgar told them. "I'm in good hands and I'd rather you be home when, you know who comes back." He eyed the doorway and lowered his voice. "I don't want you to go searching for him in the woods either, I know he'll come home."
Addie was reluctant to leave. She was afraid of what might happen if she walked out of the hospital. She was afraid of going home and finding Elijah on their porch, or inside. It wasn't that she was scared of him, but she was scared of what he represented - the ability to completely derail everything the family had built and worked for. Taking a deep breath, Addie fought the urge to protest. Her gaze ticked to Silas before refocusing on their father. "If you need anything, call us." What would they do if Elijah didn't come home? Edgar sounded confident but Addie just wasn't sure. "We'll be back tomorrow to bring you home. We have a lot to talk about."
Silas has absolutely no problems with not searching for Elijah, in fact he was immensely relieved when Edgar explicitly told them not to, feeling a tension he hadn't been aware he was holding slowly seeping from his body. "If you need anything at all, whenever, you call home," he told his father, reaching out to rest his hand on Addie's back. It seemed to help his own anxiety a little to at least attempt to soothe hers, funny how that worked. He wasn't eager to leave either, even if Edgar was telling them to go he felt like they were betraying him by leaving him here. And what if he fell into another coma?
"You're fretting," Edgar said with a mild disapproval in his expression. "Please stop. I'm the father here, it's my job to worry about you, not the other way around." He gestured to Addie to come closer and held out his arms. "Come give your old man a hug and then go home and take care of yourselves."
"Of course we're fretting," Addie said, though she went into his arms willingly, clinging as tightly as she could without wanting to hurt him. He had been in a coma, and then he had disappeared with her "brother" and... every single second of the last couple of months equated to fretting. Massive fretting. Now her dad seemed to be okay, but there was still Elijah to fret about. Addie pressed a kiss to his cheek before she pulled back so Silas could hug him too. "We'll call you if he comes home tonight," she murmured.
Silas knew that feeling all too well and it was strange to realize his father was probably experiencing the same thing Silas had experienced oh so often. Keeping his own fear and sadness in the shadows because everyone around him was already carrying too much. He couldn't help but wonder if they'd all been doing this for years, keeping it all inside to not hurt each other when they could have wept openly together for all the terrible things that had happened to their family. "Don't worry about us worrying," he mumbled when he moved in to hug Edgar. "Just be okay and call us if anything at all feels wrong or you need something. Even if it's something small, we'll be happy to bring you a toothbrush or a toothpick even." He smiled faintly when he pulled back and wasn't surprised that this made Edgar laugh. He wouldn't call for something minor, but Silas really wished he would.
Addie still hesitated, trying desperately to find a valid reason to stay there, just to keep an eye on her dad. She had the irrational fear that she would step outside and he would just disappear, just like that. But the doctor would want to run tests and Addie knew she would be in the way because she would quite literally, get in the way, just to see and ask questions and make sure she knew every single thing that they were doing. Exhaling softly, she gave Edgar a soft smile. "We'll see you tomorrow." Reaching out, she grabbed Silas to pull him towards the door, otherwise they would never leave.
Silas let himself be pulled away, glancing worriedly back at Edgar before they started stalking down the hospital hallway, minding his manners and his tongue until they were outside the building. He stopped abruptly in the parking lot, pressed his clenched fists against his face and let out a very smothered scream. Deep breath then and he let his hands drop, focusing on calming down. "I hate this place so much," he said in a deceptively calm voice because really, he felt like screaming it too. "Why do we always come back here." He should feel better because their father was awake and safe but he felt like he was having a nervous breakdown and he leaned forward with his hands on his thighs, taking in a few hopefully soothing deep breaths. "Do you want to look for him?"
Addie understood Silas's frustration and she reached out to rub her hand over his back. "I never left," she pointed out quietly. "And you came back because I needed you, Silas. We all need you." Maybe once things were settled and feeling somewhat normal again, he could go back to Bangor and get back to his own life. But right now, they had to stick together and be strong until they knew what was going on. "I think we should listen to dad and go home. If he's sure that Elijah will come home, we need to be there when he does. I don't know what else we can do."
Silas's shoulders slumped a little and he nodded. He didn't think Edgar really knew what he was talking about, he always thought he knew Elijah so well but how could he really? Silas had to admit that he didn't know if they could coax Elijah to come with them if even they did find him so going home seemed like the only rational thing to do at present. "Do you want to stay up for him? I suppose we could take turns. I'd kill for a hot bath and some cognac right now, to be honest." Or play music very loudly in the living room while nobody was there to be bothered by it. Self care came in many forms.
Unlike Silas, Addie trusted that Edgar knew Elijah better than they did. They had a bond, however creepy it was, and her gut told her Elijah would come back on his own. Especially when and if he got hungry. "I'll stay up," she promised Silas, slipping her arm through his to lead him to her car. "You get a drink, take a bath and go to bed. If anything happens, I promise I'll wake you up." Her job meant she could be woken at any hour so she was used to staying up late. It didn't bother her to wait. Addie didn't think she would be able to sleep anyway.
"You don't have to stay up all night," Silas said though her offer made him smile with massive appreciation. Oh to just soak in a bubbly bath with a glass of good cognac then fall into bed for a few hours. "I can be up soon again if you want to go to sleep. You don't want to look zombified when you see Nick again, you need to make that guy stay so get your beauty sleep while you can." He knew Addie had been keeping Nick at an arm's length throughout this ordeal so he couldn't imagine she wouldn't want to see him as soon as possible now that at least half that weight was off their shoulders.
Addie huffed out a small laugh. She missed Nick. They spoke on the phone and texted but she had been claiming to be overwhelmed with work since their dad disappeared from the house. Addie could lie when the stakes were high, but she was quickly learning that she couldn't lie very well to Nick. She didn't want to. So it was easier to deal with this on her own than introduce him to the insanity that was her family. She definitely didn't want him in her house if and when Elijah showed up again. "Take your bath, get your rest," Addie told Silas as she unlocked her car for them to get in. "When I get tired, I'll wake you up. We'll be okay."
Silas gave her a hug before they got in the car and he had a feeling they both needed it after the weekend they'd been having. "You always manage to keep me from spiraling," he told her, taking the passenger seat and moving it back to accommodate his long legs. "Even as kids, you know? I'd go spiraling and you'd look at me with those big blue eyes and I knew I had to keep calm or you'd start crying." He shot her a little smile, then pulled his seat belt on. "God, we've been through the wringer." He huffed softly, as if it was funny instead of sad and really that might be the only way to get through it all, just laugh. "Let's go home."