Disclaimer: Harry Potter and company are property of JK Rowling. No money was made writing this fiction.
Summary: An accident brings Severus home to Echo earlier than anticipated.
Warnings: Tissue Warning, Explicit Descriptions Of Injuries, Discrimination
Author’s Note: We are quite serious, parts of this may very well warrant tissues. Yes, we've harmed the Wolffes....but we promise, they are all better now. Please don't hunt us down.
Last Kiss
Saturday morning came and Grant was up before his husband, he knew the older man wanted to take the bike into Wheeling to see his mother, so he wanted to get a few things together for Mother Wolffe. He was packing a basket to stow in the saddlebag; with the jams and beans he'd put up earlier that month. He knew the older witch liked his blackberry preserves and tried to keep her supplied. He put the coffee on and the water to boil for Damon's grits and went up to wake his husband.
"Damon, honey, you need to get up now if you still wanted to go see your mother," he said softly as he sat down on the edge of the bed and gently shook the man's shoulder before he pressed a kiss to the bare skin. As soon as he received an answering grunt, he got up and laid clothing out for Damon
Damon grunted again at his husband and rolled over. "Why did I want to go over there today, remind me?" He grumbled from under the covers. He lay there for a minute and then sat up watching Grant move around the room. "Come here."
Grant laid the shirt he was holding down on the chair in the corner and went to his husband's side. Sitting back on the edge of the bed, he leaned down and kissed his love. He brushed the unkempt hair out of Damon's eyes and smiled fondly at him.
"You wanted to go and make sure her storm windows were up for the winter, honey," he said as he felt Damon's arms encircle his waist. "Come on, get up, I'm making you your special breakfast this morning." He laughed and leaned in to kiss his man's neck. "I'll be down in the kitchen."
"Oh yeah, I'm a good son, I remember now." Damon nuzzled Grant's neck in return and let go of the man with a slap to his bottom. "I want sausage too." He tossed back the covers and headed into the adjoining bathroom. "Want to wait on breakfast and shower with me?" He leered at his husband as he began to strip down out of his pyjama bottoms. The old Dom made a grab for his husband.
Grant looked at his husband and laughed. "No Mister Wolffe, if I get in that shower with you, we won't leave at all today." He set towels out for the other man and danced just out of his reach. "No, no, no, not if you want sausage gravy old man," he chided and left Damon to his shower while he went downstairs to put together the fried egg, bacon, and gravy grease bomb that would go atop the cooked cereal.
He had the man's plate laid out with fresh biscuits and potatoes done up as well by the time Damon sauntered into their kitchen. "Sit down baby, it's still hot."
Damon looked over the food and hummed. "Yeah, now that's what I call breakfast." He kissed Grant's cheek then sat and eyed his husband. "Why am I getting this? What do you want?"
Grant only hummed to himself as he drank his hot tea and then spread jam on a biscuit. "Let's just say I'm showing you how much I loved what you did last night, husband of mine." He smirked good-naturedly and motioned to the plate. "Eat, you won't get this again for awhile, Max is going to kill me anyhow."
Damon grinned. "Yeah?" He dug into the breakfast and raised a bite to his mouth. He closed his eyes as he savoured the good food and he moaned and made a bunch of other sounds not really appropriate for the table. "Damn Grant, I am glad you can cook and Max can kiss my ass. This is good shit." He scooped up another bite. "Thank you, Pet."
Grant shook his head. "I can hear the arteries hardening now," he sighed as he sipped at his tea. "Goodness old man, you sound like you're in a Singapore brothel, it's only eggs and bacon." He laughed and got up to start the dishes, he liked to do little things to make his man happy. "You know you are only getting salad with a grilled chicken breast tonight for supper, right?"
Grant looked out the window over his little garden and thought of the things he needed to do once they got home, winter would be upon them soon. "When are you putting up our storm windows?" He asked as he realized that was one more thing on his list.
Damon sighed and chewed the bite he had in his mouth before answering. "Max told me he was going to help me do them after I got mom's up." He took a large swallow of the ice-cold milk. "So it will probably be sometime this weekend when he's not at the office. Anything else you want done then?"
Grant listed off the work he needed done out in the garden and what he needed done to his car while he washed up the dishes from Damon's breakfast. He set the last dish in the drainer and turned to Damon. "Are you ready? I've got a basket for Mother Wolffe to take as well. We're going to be back before dark then?" He asked as he followed Damon out to the barn where the bikes were parked.
"We should be. There aren't that many storm windows at mom's." Damon grabbed Grant's helmet and placed it on his sub's head. "Hold still baby, this will only take a minute." He drew his wand and began to cast charms on Grant. Cushioning and balance to help ease the bumps along the road for his husband.
Grant went up on his tiptoes to kiss Damon's cheek. "Thank you honey, but you know you worry way too much about me, you know I am with the safest rider in the county." He swung his leg over the bike and made himself comfortable on the bitch seat. The Road King was nice, it was padded and had a backrest for him, the only drawback Damon had with the bike was its weight.
Damon kissed Grant and pulled on his own helmet. "I know Pet but it never hurts to have the extra precautions. I don't like to take a chance with the fools on the road. Especially with this big bike." He slid his leg over the seat and kick started the cycle. It roared to life under his body and he settled himself on the seat and rolled them off the kickstand and down the drive. He stopped at the end and knocked on Grant's helmet. "Ready, Pet? Hang on to me, baby." He waited on the answering squeeze and then after checking the road twice he took off.
Grant was enjoying the scenery as they rolled along the small, windy, two-lane highway. Damon had chosen the back way in to his mother's place because it was a quieter road and he enjoyed the sights. The smaller man raised his head when he felt the bike slowing, there was some construction up ahead it looked like and they began to pass some work trucks and heavy machinery.
He thought he could hear something and turned his head to see an old pickup truck right on their tail, weaving in and out of their lane, looking like it was attempting to pass. Grant gave Damon's waist a squeeze to let him know something was up when he looked again and the truck was now even with them. He heard a loud horn and looked up to see a semi in the other lane, bearing down on the pickup.
Damon saw the idiot in the truck trying to pass and he slowed down. The blaring horn jolted him as the truck cut in from of them almost clipping the front end of the cycle. He slowed even more and the cycle wobbled from the wind and sudden speed change; he had been going about sixty-five when the truck came up beside him. He swallowed and tried to get the big bike under control as the truck slammed on the breaks in front of him. He swerved and went between the truck and the concrete pylon separating the lane and the deep ditch on the other side.
Grant tried to scream as the truck nearly slammed into them and then felt his blood run cold as he saw the highway maintenance truck not a hundred feet in front of them. There was nowhere for them to go. He began to pray as he clung to his husband, feeling him wrestle the bike to an angle and lay it down to keep them from running into the truck head on.
The charms Damon had placed on him, the ones he did every time they got on the bike went into effect, keeping Grant from hitting the pavement as hard as he should of. The last thing he was aware of was Damon pushing him away from the bike as they slid toward the huge truck.
Damon turned the wheel hard and reached behind him. He wound his fingers into Grant's jacket and started to raise him from the seat. He pushed with all his might and magic, hoping the bit of wandless magic he could do would help. "Away!" He bellowed when he figured out he couldn't get the bike stopped. He turned the wheel the other way and leaned hard as he felt Grant leave his place from behind him. He braced for the impact as the bike collapsed under him and they went scrapping along the pavement to the Highway Maintenance boom truck. The bike stalled out and Damon screamed as it hit the truck head on.
Grant bounced and rolled twenty-five feet along the road before he came to a stop against the concrete supports for the guardrail. He ended up on his side, one leg twisted brokenly under him, looking at where Damon and the bike were trapped under the truck. He could barely make out Damon's jacket in the mangled wreckage of the Road King and the smell of gasoline was thick in the air.
Grant tried to get to his feet, an onlooker holding him down as he fought to get to his husband. "Damon!" he screamed hoarsely, fear consuming him when he could hear nothing from the other man. He only became more hysterical when he watched several large men try to pull the wreckage out from under the truck. "Why isn't he answering me?" he screamed at the man holding him down. The man only shook his head and held him firmer. At the sound of someone's yell, Grant knocked the man away and looked in horror as flames began lapping at the still spinning wheels. "DAMON!!!!!!!!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Max appeared in the middle of the street in Hogsmeade, Scotland. He stumbled and leaned against the wall to an old building. He hated Portkeys; they made him sick as all get out. He straightened and looked to the distance. Across the skyline he could see the outline of a great castle. He sighed and began walking.
Shortly he came to a pair of black wrought iron gates with large winged boars on them; he pressed against the fence and it opened easily. He trekked the rest of the way up to the castle where a bigger man than himself met him. He looked up at the man and grimaced. "I am looking for Professor Severus Snape, Can ya take me to him, man?"
"What you lookin' fer the pr'fess'r for?” The giant drawled, in a cockney type accent. One that reminded him of Sev when the man got angry.
"He's here then? Can you take me to him?" Max asked.
The giant nodded. " 'E's here alrigh' but who're yeh? If'n yeh don' mind me askin'"
“Healer Maxwell Sorens. West Virginia, United States. There's been an accident and I need him to come back with me." Max straightened up to his full height, still a few feet shorter than the giant.
Severus was having a bad day, it had started with second year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs for a double session and then seventh year Slytherins and Gryffindors. He had a headache that would not go away regardless of how many potions he took and a staff meeting to dread in the coming afternoon. He made his way up the dungeon stairs to the main floor of the castle to attend the mid day meal in the Great Hall.
He strode the hallway at a quick pace and was shocked to hear the groundskeeper shouting his name. "Yes, what is it, Hagrid?" He snapped as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes for a moment. The sea of students swarmed and then fell silent as they recognized a stranger among them.
Max stepped out from behind the big fellow, dressed in his white Healer robes. "Sev?" He stared at the other man.
"Sev, there's been an accident ... Damon and Grant... the Muggles got to them first we need to go like yesterday, man."
Max was standing there in the hallway...in robes. Why was Max in Scotland? He looked dumbly at his friend for a moment, he was saying words but Severus wasn't comprehending them. He felt Hagrid's hand on his arm, guiding him to an empty classroom.
The words sank in. An accident.
He swallowed, his mouth suddenly feeling full of cotton wadding. "How bad?"
Max hugged the ramrod straight man and frowned when he didn't return the embrace. He looked at the severe face. "They're alive. A drunk ran them off the road. Grant's got a broken leg, massive bruising and some road rash."
The big red head sighed. "Damon's not too good, man. He's in a coma because of a skull fracture and has some internal injuries. He's burned on thirty percent of his body, the lower half only with a busted pelvis and arm; all the bones are shattered."
Max swallowed. "Severus, I have to tell you, man and I haven't told Grant this yet but I am not too certain he's going to wake up. The Muggles had them for five hours before I could get to them. Grant doesn’t know I am here so we have got to get back. I am trying to get him moved. Damon had to be life-flighted to Charleston."
Severus trained his beetle black eyes on his best friend. "What can I do? What potions do you need?" he asked as he found his feet and left the classroom with Max on his heels. "I need to inform the Headmaster I will be leaving immediately," he murmured to himself as he pushed past students and dodged faculty on his way to the Great Hall. He stopped suddenly and turned to Hagrid. "Please take Healer Sorens to my personal laboratory and help him package anything he needs."
He spun back around and made Hogwarts history by sprinting down the long corridor, bursting in the side door and taking the steps up to the top table and to Dumbledore. "Headmaster, I must speak with you, it is of utmost importance Sir."
The students and Max stared after Snape until the giant started everyone with a great "Move along now, Nuthin' ter see." The big hairy man steered the Healer to the dungeons.
Albus Dumbledore turned to the huffing Potions Master. "Calm down Severus surely it isn't that urgent. Have a seat, dear boy and tell me of your problem." He pulled out a chair for the dark haired man.
Severus looked at the proffered chair and sat down impatiently. "Headmaster, I must leave immediately due to a family emergency. I do not know how long I will be, for that I apologize," he said and rose again to head back to the dungeons to help Max. He was oblivious to the stares of students and colleagues alike.
"Severus, come back. I am afraid you cannot just leave. The Board Of Governors must be notified first and they have to approve the leave and find a substitute. You cannot leave until this is done." Dumbledore snapped his fingers and an elf appeared to his left. "Mindy, bring me some parchment and a quill, I need to write the Governors."
He looked at Severus. "Is your Father well, dear boy?" The elf returned with the requested items and Dumbledore began to write.
Severus stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Dumbledore. "Sir, with all due respect, the man I consider my father is lying in a hospital bed clinging to life. The governors be damned, I'm leaving within the half hour, " he looked at the man, ready to resign effective immediately if needs be. He would be with his family right now. "If you will see fit to excuse me, I must pack and prepare for a TransAtlantic portkey."
Dumbledore sighed and rolled the parchment back up." Severus, I cannot release you to leave even to arrange that because the man of which you speak is not blood." The old man sighed and rubbed his nose. "I am sorry, my boy."
Severus reached out and plucked the parchment from the Headmaster's gnarled hand, the quill from the other. Quickly unrolling it and laying it on the table, he scribbled for a few moments and handed the parchment back. "Good day Headmaster," he said quietly and turned on his heel. The parchment unfurled to reveal his elegant script.
I, Severus W. Snape resign as Potions Professor for Hogwarts, effective immediately. Severus Snape
Dumbledore read the parchment and stared after the Potions Master, stunned as the door to the Great Hall slammed behind him.
Max had his bag out and was busily packing several potions into it when the door to the lab opened. He didn't even bother to look up to see who it was. "Hagrid, do you know if Severus keeps his potions anywhere else? I can't find the Skele-Gro."
Severus entered his private lab, unbuttoning his formal teaching robes as he went. "The Skele-Gro is in the upper left cupboard on the middle shelf. Take everything, I shan't be returning," he said brusquely as he passed through to his personal rooms and began packing for the trip. He'd take only the necessities; he could replace what he must.
"Max, I am afraid I'll shall need a few moments longer to be ready to leave. Have you found the Skele-Gro yet?" he called as he dropped his heavy robes to the floor and pulled out a pair of faded denims. "Do I need robes or will Muggle attire do?"
Max stared at him. "I have our return Portkey already. It leaves in another thirty minutes so we have time for you to pack; you'll need both. We have to go to Charleston and get them from the Muggle hospital so we can move them to the Wizarding one in Echo." He looked down at his clothes as if realizing what he was attired in. "I had these on because I was seeing to some students but if you have a Potions Master's set then we'll have less of a fight getting you in and out of Damon's room. Grant's been going round and round with the Muggles about them letting me in, since they have a specialist already on staff there."
The rest of what Severus said sank in. "What do you mean you shan't be returning? What happened?" He moved to the other shelf and began loading more phials into his Ever-Expanding Medical Bag.
Severus only nodded and reached into the back of his wardrobe for his formal Potions Master's robes, the deep aubergine showing nearly black with silver shot through it. He quickly donned both the under robe and the outer robe before slipping the sash about his waist. He shrank down the other set and tossed them into his carpetbag. He gave a frustrated snort and just shrank the entire contents of the wardrobe and his chest of drawers, floating the items to the bag. He looked wistfully at his library and shook his head. Nothing to be done, he didn't have time enough for that. He pulled several books on healing from the shelves and tossed them into the bag as well as his private journals.
"I shan't be returning Max, I resigned," he said by way of explanation and moved back into the laboratory, shrinking his favourite cauldrons to go with him. "So Grant is awake and coherent?" he asked as he closed the bag and took one last look around.
Wait, Max said they were in a Muggle hospital? "They know about Grant then?" he asked quietly as he fingered his wand, wondering how many minds he would need to erase to protect the older man.
It was Max's turn to snort now. "Yeah and when they fought him about not being Gracie Wolffe, he said some such nonsense about having a sex change." He shook his head. "I thought the head physician there was going to shit a gold brick. Then this nurse showed up and she has a sister that's a witch. Grant recognized her from Echo and she vouched for them. Yeah, I know what you're thinking and I can't believe he told them that either. Anyway I have a Wizarding Liaison working on it now to get them back to Echo."
Max closed his bag and watched Severus pack a few more personal items. "Are you certain you want to resign, man? I mean Salem could use a good Potions Master but to just walk out..."
Severus looked up into Max's face. "My place is with my family and my employers do not wish to afford me that courtesy, so I was left with no other recourse," he said shortly. "Have you Obliviated any of them yet?" he asked as he finished up by taking his lesson plan in his hand and going to the floo.
Tossing in a pinch of powder he spoke clearly. "Headmaster Dumbledore's office."
Max shook his head. "No, the Liaison Office is taking care of it. Jo’s on the case as well. She was on her way down there for something and saw the whole thing. She’s trying to get the son-of-a-bitch that cut them off put away. He's got two strikes against him already and she's wanting him to go down for this one."
Albus appeared in the fire. "Severus, please give me some time. I don't want to turn your resignation over to the Governors."
"Headmaster, I am sorry, but I must leave. I trust you to do what you feel is best. I've the lesson plan I use as well as the storeroom inventory list; I shall leave them on my desk. I would appreciate it if the bulk of my belongings were to be placed in storage until I am able to return for them," he spoke softly. "Thank you for giving me a home here Albus, but I am their adopted child, I must go." He sat back on his heels and dusted invisible dust from his robes.
"Dear boy why didn't you tell me this? Give me the American papers and I can arrange something. I can give you three days and cover your classes but after that I have to get a substitute and file the resignation with the Governors." Albus raised an eyebrow at the man.
Severus rose and went to his bag, withdrawing his journal and slipping the ever-important document from it. His name change records filed with the Rainwalker clan. He passed them through to Albus and waited silently.
Albus eyed the records and nodded. "I'll see what I can do my boy, but without a barrister’s official signature..." he trailed off. "Go on Severus, I'll do my best. Take care of business, while you are there."
"David Walking Tall signed off on it, and he is a barrister with the American Wizarding Council," Severus said softly. "That is my legal name."
Dumbledore nodded. "Alright Severus, I'll see what I can do." He shook his head. "Severus William Raven Rainwalker Wolffe Snape" The old man shook his head. "Well, my boy you certain manage to keep things interesting don't you?" He chuckled softly.
Severus felt a spark of anger well up in his gut and swallowed it down. "Thank you Headmaster, I shall return as soon as possible and contact you to keep you abreast of events." He closed the connection and rose to his feet. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he turned to Max.
"Will Damon live?" he asked quietly as he picked up his bag and ushered the other man out of his door so they could make it off of Hogwarts grounds in order to Portkey.
Max walked along side of Severus and said nothing until they were off of Hogwarts grounds. He pulled the tin of Altoids from his pocket and held it out to Severus. "This will take us to Blue Ridge Mountain Wizarding hospital to make certain they are set up to take Damon. They are supposed to be getting everything ready for me. Then we can apparate to Charleston."
Max pulled Severus into another hug before whispering his answer softly. "I don't know man. I just don't know."