unbroken_halo (unbroken_halo) wrote in stirs_of_echo, @ 2010-07-29 16:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | allie, damon, damon/grant, fics, grant, marion, max, max/allie, severus |
Fic: Last Kiss, Part 5
Title: Last Kiss
Authors: sevs_lil_secret and unbroken_halo
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.
Severus parked his bike under the tree and all but ran into the house. He had a feeling they were right on his tail. He bumped into Mother Wolffe in the hall to the downstairs room and informed her Grant was bringing Damon home. Together they readied the room, transfiguring and adding Wizarding space to the small bedroom to make it more comfortable and easier to manoeuvre in. They heard the crunch of the gravel just as they were adding the final touches. Mother Wolffe ran to open the door and Severus followed behind her.
Grant led the two attendants up the walk and followed along behind as they floated Damon into the house. "The bedroom is down the hallway," he instructed as he hugged Mother Wolffe and Severus. "Thank you both. We're ready for him?"
Grant watched as Damon was moved from the gurney to the bed and moved forward to straighten the ng tube and the I. V. line before he tucked the blankets up over the man. After thanking the attendants and closing the door after them, he took Sev's hand and pulled him to the bedroom where he repeated the instructions Max had given him. Carefully, Grant opened Damon's mouth and placed three drops of the potion between his cheek and gum, trusting that absorption would do the trick. He sat down on the chair next to the bed, holding Damon's hand and waited while watching the clock.
"Severus, I know this is going to work," Grant said softly as he met the younger man's eyes. "Damon is going to feel so much better soon."
Mother Wolffe watched from the bedroom door as Grant settled her baby and sat beside him. They had been through so much. She was glad in one way John was not here to see this. It would have killed him not to be able to help Damon. She watched over all the boys from the sidelines praying to any and every deity that would listen to fix it for all of them.
Severus nodded. "I hope so, Grant. Patience is not my strong suit, you know." He snorted. "Want to try the new batch I made? Get rid of the last of your bruising. I don't want you man handling him around and injuring yourself again. We have a long time to wait and a watched cauldron never boils."
“I'll try it in here Severus. I won't be leaving his side now," he said softly as he looked at Mother Wolffe in the doorway. "I'll be the one caring for him now." He could see the sadness in her eyes and wished he could take it away, but to be honest, he just didn't have the patience to give to anything besides Damon right now.
He settled back in his chair and picked up the book he'd been reading, starting to read aloud to Damon about case studies in Canada of split personalities and dementia.
Severus listened horrified for a moment and took the book away from Grant. "Don't read him that. You'll give him a split personality. Where's his book? I know there was a mystery we packed."
Marion laughed at them and went into the room. She kissed Damon first and then Grant and pulled the frantic Severus into a hug then kissed Damon again. "Behave boys, I'm going back to bed. I need my beauty sleep so I can make breakfast in the morning. Grant, don't stay up all night with him. You need your rest as well." She wagged a finger at him. "If I have to, I'll help Severus wrestle you into bed. Don't let it come to that, young man."
"Yes Mother Wolffe, I'll rest in a while," Grant said absently as he pulled the crap that Damon read habitually from one of the bags that came with him and opening it to the place he'd left off. He gave Severus a look before he began reading the tawdry account of a widow who wore too short skirts and too much makeup.
"Severus, where are the extra blankets I asked for?" he asked as he looked around the room once more then glanced at the clock. They were fifteen minutes into the first dose. He rubbed his fingers over Damon's hand.
Severus shook his head, leaned forward and jerked the blankets out from under Grant's ass. He dumped them over the other man's head. "The one with the reporter is better. I finished it last time I was here, go back to that one." He moved around to Damon's other side.
"Da, I don't know how you put up with him. You had better wake up soon he's going to drive Mother Wolffe and I insane." He kissed Damon's forehead and smirked at the blanket covered lump. "Come with me to the kitchen, Grant. We have forty-five minutes before we can even run the checks. I refuse to let you sit here and watch the seconds tick by."
Grant squeaked and glared at Severus. "I'm fine here, but I do need to go upstairs and do something," he said as he stood and kissed Damon's cheek. "I'll be back down shortly." He reached out and ruffled Severus' hair before he left the room to go up to the master bedroom and use the floo.
Kneeling down, he laid a fire and waited for it to build good before he tossed a pinch of floo powder into the flames. "Headmaster Dumbledore's office, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," he intoned and waited for an answer.
Severus sat next to Damon taking Grant's seat, alone with the older man for the first time. "So. What the hell were you doing Damon? You scared the bloody fuck out of us all. Are you having a good laugh where ever you are at? Come on, you ornery son-of-a-bitch. I know you are in there and you can hear me. You pulled Grant's hair, you old bastard. What are you going to do to me? I experimented on him, Damon. So I could make a potion for you. Give me a sign, that you can hear me, Da. Please." He bent his head and laid it on Damon's chest. Unwanted tears welled up as he laid there. He clung to the older man's hand.
The voice in the fire was not one Albus recognized and therefore had his curiosity piqued. He moved in front of the fire and looked at the clock. It was awfully early in the morning for someone to be making a floo call. "Albus Dumbledore at your service. How may I assist you?" He answered the lilting voice.
Grant looked at the old, bearded face and at once could feel the power from him. "Hello, I'm Doctor Grant Wolffe, one of Severus' parents," he began. "I wanted to let you know how things are going here."
Albus raised an eyebrow. "Indeed. Excellent to make your acquaintance. Please inform me of the proceedings. He left in somewhat of a hurry and I am however expecting Severus to return sometime this evening." He settled himself on the floor wondering about the man before him in the fire.
Grant nodded and listened to the words the man in Scotland was saying. "My husband is still in a coma. I was fire calling to see if there was something we could arrange for Severus. I don't think he'll leave today, in fact I am positive of it, but I don't want him to lose his position. Is there anything that can be done?" he asked, hating that it sounded like he was begging.
Albus blinked. "I am terribly sorry for your misfortune. I did speak with the governors and they are not granting a leave of absence. Something about the documents not being official adoption papers because Orion Snape had not signed away parental rights. Does the other man not know that this has occurred?" Albus rubbed his beard and waited. He knew Severus had strong feelings for these people and yet he had done all he could with the Board. "I am upset to say that it is out of my hands now. I told Severus I would hold off on his resignation pending the governors decision. If, however, he does not return to deliver it personally, then they will dismiss him regardless of the circumstances."
Grant closed his eyes for a moment. "Thank you, I will talk to him and pack his things," he said quietly. "Good day to you." He closed the connection and rubbed his eyes. How was he going to get Severus to go home without a fight? He didn't want to see the young man lose his job because of their accident, but he still couldn't see why the school was being so anal about not granting him leave, didn't he have months of vacation time coming to him?
He tiredly got to his feet and went back down to find Severus with his head laid on Damon's chest weeping silently. How could he tell his boy to leave?
"Severus... I spoke with Dumbledore," he said quietly and stroked the raven hair. "You have to go home."
Albus closed the connection and sighed. He hated that he could not give Severus the time he needed. He shook his head and stood, calling a house elf to bring him tea before breakfast and to put the new memory in a pensieve to study it.
Severus sat up and glared at Grant. "Why? Why did you call him?" He stood, still holding Damon's hand and looked down at the other man. "You just had to meddle, didn't you Grant? I told you I had already taken care of it."
Grant shrank back from Severus and took Damon's other hand. "I'm sorry Little Bird, I just didn't want you to lose your job..." his voice trailed off as he looked up into the hostile black eyes. He let go Damon's hand and left the room quickly, passing through the kitchen and out the back. He didn't like to be around Severus when he had that look on his face.
He went to the barn and slipped inside, finding the wreckage where it lay under the drop sheet. Needing something of Damon's, he uncovered part of the bike and sat down next to it, running his fingers over the scratched chrome of the handlebars. "I was just trying to fix it," he said to himself as he sat in the dark.
Damon listened to the words of his son and his husband and frowned. Once again he wondered what was going on. The floating sensation he had been forced into a short time ago had sent him horrifying images of a truck and its underside. Shrieking metal and darkness. Flames and heat and screaming. He recognized Grant's voice and went looking for him only to be bombarded with more images and pain. A freezing chill covered his insides. He gripped his middle and groaned. Max's voice and a woman's telling Grant he had to leave. His mother's tears on his chest and finally Max and Severus' reprimands. Downing the Road King and Grant flying through the air. He stood and gasped, hands clinched in fists at his middle. He heard his name being called. He looked up as the midnight black swirled.
John Wolffe came out of the swimming darkness and clasped his son's shoulder.
Damon stared at him. "Da?" John nodded. "It's not your time, boy. You have to wake up, son. There are still things you must complete before you come home."
The older man looked at his son and cupped his face. "I am so proud of you Damon and I never told you while I was alive. You need to go back and take care of your mother first for she will be coming home next. Not you. Grant needs you, boy. You can't leave him just yet. And the boy Damon, there's another coming after him. One that will complete him and bring him home to you and Grant. You have to make certain he lives long enough to be happy."
John stepped back and smiled at Damon. "You can do it, son. I know you can. They are trying their best to get you back. Go to them, Damon. They need you. All of them need you." He faded away and Damon screamed after him. He clinched his fists again against the pain and fought to hold on to everything he heard.
Severus hung his head. He shouldn't have spoken to Grant like that and knew he needed to go after him. He made to lay Damon's hand back on the blanket when the older man grasped his hand tightly and pulled. He stumbled under the onslaught Damon had quite a grip on him and was crushing Severus' fingers. He wondered if it was a muscle spasm or if Damon was trying to tell him something. "Grant!" Severus screamed. "Marion! Grant! Come back!"
Marion Wolffe hurried down the stairs as fast as she could, fear nearly choking her. Please don't let her baby be taken from her, she begged as she ran into the room and found Severus on his knees beside Damon's bed. "What is it Sevvie? Is Damon alright?" she demanded, rushing to her son's side and watching as his face contorted and he made several low guttural noises. She backed away with her hand over her mouth and looked around frantically for Grant.
Grant's head jerked up as he heard Severus scream from within the house. He ran in the back door and to the bedroom to find Severus trying to pry his fingers out of Damon's grip. He placed his hand over theirs and leaned down to whisper in Damon's ear. "You're hurting Severus, baby. Here, take my hand, I'm here for you, hold my hand."
He kept murmuring and coaxing the man to let Severus go and as soon as his grip weakened a bit, he pried the boy's fingers loose and placed his hand in his husband's instead. "Squeeze baby, stay with me, you can't leave me," he begged, his other hand in Damon's hair.
Finally he had them all there. He heard his mother's voice and Grant's as well. Damon began shouting at them, ranting and raving at his situation and the circumstances. He felt someone pulling at him and he clamped down again and reached out for someone, anyone.
Severus moved to Damon's other side. "Call Max. It's speed five." He yelled at Mother Wolffe. He leaned down next to Damon's ear. "Sir, calm down. Damon please, you are going to hurt Grant."
She stood frozen watching Damon for a moment until Severus yelled her name again. "Marion!" She jumped and fled the room, searching for the phone.
Damon's other fist came up and grabbed Severus' hair and forced him to his chest and he squeezed Grant's fingers tightly. His arms tried to cross over his chest ,bringing Grant and Severus with him.
I got you now and you are going to listen to me. Damon yelled at them. Knock off the fighting. I need you both. He pulled them together and held them tightly.
He grunted again and went limp, his hands loosely wrapped around them but breathing comfortably.
Severus looked up at the clock. One hour and ten minutes had passed. "Well, I think the potion is working." He eyed Grant across the other man's chest.
Grant looked up at Severus. "He's not hurting me, son, let him hold on to me," he said as Damon crushed his hand in his. He leaned down and kissed his husband's face gently, tuning Severus out and just focusing on Damon.
He heard Marion's frantic voice coming from the kitchen and not five minutes later the loud crack of someone apparating in. Damn, he hated it when they did that, there was something about the old mountain that sometimes screwed things up and caused accidents. His fingers were nearly numb now from Damon's grip and he'd gladly let the man crush them all night long as long as it kept him with them.
Grant watched in amazement as Damon's other hand reached out and grabbed Sev by the hair and then they were both yanked to the stricken man's chest and held there. Grant stared at Severus and then up to where Max was standing in the doorway with a very pale and shaken Marion. Damon's grasp relaxed and Severus pulled away, but Grant stayed put as he nodded at the younger man's words. Yes it did look like it was working.
"Max," he whispered, "He's in there and trying to come back." The small sub turned his head and pressed his face to Damon's chest and began to sob.
Max stared in disbelief at them. "What happened? How much potion did you give him?" He walked into the room and ran his wand over the prone man. His readings were slightly wonky from the Apparition and Grant lying on Damon's chest. He sighed and waited staring at them for an explanation.
Severus explained leaving out the bit about him yelling at Grant and then hugged Marion. Max nodded and frowned. Something else must have happened as well, since he knew Damon had only reacted to stimulus, before. He eyed his best friend and then patted Grant on the shoulder. "Grant, I need you to back away from him for a minute so I can check him out."
Grant sniffled and wiped at his face and moved to the side of the bed where he studiously looked at the floor and waited for Max to do the scan. The hand holding his still had a good grasp on him and he'd be damned if he was tossed out of the room. He just needed time with his husband. He looked up at Max for a moment and then Marion spoke.
"What does it say? Is my baby waking up?" she asked as she patted Severus' hand and then looked at Grant with a sigh. "Those two woke him up with that yelling, didn't they?"
Max looked up from Damon's readings and glared at Grant and Severus. "You were fighting? What happened, Grant?" He pointed at Severus. "Don't say a word, Sev." He turned to Marion. "Ma'am, he's not sleeping. He's in a coma and sometimes patients will react to outside influences. He's got a slightly elevated pulse rate which suggests either he's in pain or it was the recent activity. I haven't check his abdomen yet, but I will. I want to hear what happened first. All of it this time."
Severus crossed his arms over his chest and raised his eyebrow at Max then waited on Grant to explain.
"I upset Severus by contacting the school he teaches at," he said woodenly and continued to stared at the floor. "I didn't want him to lose his position. I left the house." He twined his fingers with Damon's for a moment and then gently withdrew his hand and laid Damon's back on the coverlet. "I wasn't trying to upset Damon."
Max grunted and cast the Magi-scan spell on Damon's abdomen. There was still a small amount of fluid in Damon's middle that had not been absorbed yet. The other organs were still enlarged but had come down some from what they were earlier. He cut his eyes to Severus and then back to Grant. "There's some improvement on the bruising. Grant, Sev take a look so you can tell the difference when it's time for the next dose." He looked at his watch. "It's been about two and a half hours since you left me and I am modifying my directions. Wait two more hours and then give him another dose at two am because it's after midnight now." He looked down at Damon. The man was relaxed and breathing well. Max shook his head.
Severus stepped forward and made note of what he was seeing and the sizes of the organs before nodding to Max. "I'll make sure he receives it at two and I'll call if there's any dramatic changes," he said as he set his wand to wake him up.
Marion came forward and kissed her son's cheek gently and bid the other men goodnight before she made her way back upstairs to bed and to her prayers for her little boy.
Grant looked closely at the sonogram above Damon's abdomen and nodded. "Go on home Max, we'll take care of things here," he said softly as he sat back down on the edge of the dresser, staring at his husband.
"Not just yet, I want the two of you to walk me out and I don't want either one of you back in this room until two am, come on." The big man strode out of the room and waited on the other men in the living room.
Grant rose to his feet and followed Severus silently out of the room. He was still upset by what had happened earlier and wasn't in much of a mood to talk. He'd see Max off and then come back to sit with Damon, he didn't care what anyone said, it was his house after all; well his Master's house.
Both men joined Max in the living room, Grant sitting down on his chair and hiding a yawn behind one hand. While Severus looked wide awake and ready to go do something productive, he was looking forward to getting back to brewing.
Max sighed again. "If you two are going to fight then I will take Damon back to the hospital with me." He held a hand up. "While being at home does have benefits if the two of you are going to agitate him then there is no point in him being here. Do you understand me?"
He knelt next to Grant. "I realize this is your home and you are a doctor but dammit we don't need him to backslide." He patted the other man's shoulder and squeezed it then turned to Sev. "Your potion is working. I knew you could do it however I brought you here and I will take you back forcefully if necessary. You all have to work together and not fight amongst yourselves if you want to help him."
He stood and crossed his arms over his chest. "Now, I mean what I said go to bed or something for two hours but stay out of that room. Let him rest after the activity. He was trying to tell you something by doing whatever he did. I am disappointed in both of you."
Grant looked up at the big red head. "I'm not going to fight with anyone. You don't need to take Damon anywhere, he's home where he needs to be. Severus, I am sorry for what I did, it won't happen again," he said as he looked over to Severus. "Now if I may be excused, I've some things that need doing." He stood, gave Max's arm a squeeze, Severus a nod and walked back through to the hallway where he summoned the blankets and made a pallet on the floor outside Damon's door and laid down, looking in.
Severus watched the smaller man go and shook his head, he turned to Max. "No more arguing, you're right, it doesn't help. That little man can push a saint's buttons though," he sighed. "I knew my potion would work as well and no, you aren't taking me back and that's final. I'll figure something out." He walked Max out to the front yard and shook his hand before the Healer apparated home to try to get some rest.
Severus walked back in and looked down at Grant. "Grant get up off the floor, please. Damon would hurt us both if he knew you were on the floor." he looked in at the man in question. "Besides it's not good for you to be down there with your injuries. Come to the kitchen with me and we'll talk." He held out a hand to the other man.
Grant stayed on his side and spoke softly. "I've spent many nights on the floor at Damon's bedside, this won't bother me, but I'll join you in the kitchen for a little while." He rolled to his knees and slowly got up using the wall to support himself. He walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of milk and got a plate of cookies before he sat down at the table.
Severus sighed and followed the smaller man into the kitchen. "Grant, I am sorry I yelled at you but I had already made my decision about Hogwarts." He reached across the table and held out his hand to the other man.
"You know Damon will skin you alive for quitting over this and then I'll be next because I didn't make you go back," Grant said as he looked at his boy. He stood up and got him a glass of milk as well before scooting the plate of cookies over to him. "You know I'm right, Severus."
Severus chuckled. "He's going to have to get up out of that bed to catch us, first Grant." He took a cookie and munched as he watched Grant. "I'll live. I have my savings and I can get a job here."
Grant chewed on a fingernail and looked out the window next to the table, watching the trees swaying in the wind in the light of the dusk to dawn light. "Severus..." he began and shook his head. "I'm not going to be the one to tell him you lost your job." He pushed away from the table and took his glass to the sink, rinsing it out before he left the kitchen. "I'll be up at two," he said as he patted Severus' shoulder on his way back to his pallet.
Severus followed him. "At least go get in the bed with him." He grabbed Grant's arm and took him in to Damon. “That's why I made the bed as big as it is."
Grant looked at the bed and at his husband, he was sorely tempted to climb into the bed next to him, but he also knew Max was right in that Damon needed the time to recover from the earlier upset. "Do you think it would bother him?" he asked softly as he looked down at the much calmer face of the man he loved. He sat down gingerly on the edge of the mattress to see if it brought any moans or other signs of distress from him.
Severus stood in front of Grant and unbuttoned the shirt the other man had on. "Did Max not say that touch sometimes triggered a reaction?" He pulled back the covers. "Be very gentle and crawl in there with him. Share your body heat with him. Just be mindful of his abdomen." He ran a hand along Grant's hair. "Go on, Grant I know you want to and Damon needs it as well."
Grant waited until Severus had left the room before he took his shirt and trousers off, clad only in his tee shirt and shorts, he climbed in carefully and pressed his smaller body against his husband's side. He lay in the darkness for a moment before laying one arm over Damon's chest and twining his fingers with the other man's and then closing his eyes. For the first time in several days, he finally found enough comfort to rest and not fret. "Good night my husband," he murmured softly, his forehead pressed against Damon's shoulder and his hair spilling over the pillow.
The scent was back and all around him. He knew and remembered it well. It was Grant. His Grant and Damon moaned. He drew his hands to his face and the smell grew stronger. Grant was here somewhere and he reached out trying to find the other man. His man was here and he was warm now as he searched. Damon slowed and sat; he wasn't in near as much pain as he had been before. He revelled in the smells of his man and relaxed. Grant was here and he was safe. Now if he could just find the light in the darkness to bring himself back. he laid down in the dark soup of things and sighed. He reached out to play with the silky strands of Grant's hair that were resting always by his side.
Damon's fist tightened around Grant's fingers.
That was how Severus found them at two. Grant laying just to the side of Damon their fingers entwined and the other hand twisted in Grant's long tresses that had somehow made their way across the blond man's chest. Severus hated to wake him but he had to check on Damon. "Grant." He said softly. "Grant it's time to check Damon." He laid a hand lightly on the older man's shoulder.
Grant opened his dark eyes and looked up in the dim glow from the tip of Severus' wand. "I'm sorry, I must have overslept," he mumbled and pulled himself to a sitting position. He reached over to the nightstand while he wiped the sleep from his eyes and picked up the phial. He looked at it and then up at Severus, "Three drops, right?" he asked just to reconfirm.
He gently opened Damon's mouth and administered the dose once again between his cheek and gum before he swung his legs out of the bed and moved to the chair. He looked at their boy again and yawned. "Have you rested at all?" he asked softly as they both watched Damon in the half light.
"Three Drops." Severus shook his head. "I've been on the floo talking with Dumbledore all this time. It seems I showed up late to breakfast and was seen by all the staff looking very green around the gills. Suddenly I became violently ill and passed out right there on the dais. Apparently I have a rare case of Wizarding Flu. Very contagious. I must be quarantined for another week at least."
He chuckled. "The governors were more than happy to send a substitute once several people confirmed my illness. Remus Lupin is now sequestered in my rooms under Polyjuice Potion on the off chance that someone tries to contact me."
Grant looked at him and tried to put the words together. Sev had the Wizarding Flu? He looked at him closer and said the most intelligent thing he could come up with at two fifteen in the morning. "Huh?"
Severus laughed softly and cleared his throat. "Surely Dr Wolffe, you recognize a case of one of the most severe illness known to our kind. Albus has listed you as the treating physician and your orders are another week of isolation." He chuckled again. "I have another week, Grant, before I go back."
Grant yawned again and scratched his head thoughtfully. "Good, I do need you here, but I didn't want you to lose your job." He smirked and smiled. "Just wait until you get my bill," he laughed and stood to embrace the younger man. "I need to send him a note of thanks."
He watched Damon intently and noticed his hands were moving more and now one leg was twitching, nodding he moved closer and took his husband's hand. "I think it's working very well Sev, pull up a chair and wait with me."
Severus smirked and pulled the little chair closer as Grant crawled back up into the bed with Damon. He took ahold of Damon's other hand and held it in both of his as he laid his head on the bed next to Damon's waist. He yawned greatly. "What time is Max coming by in the morning? We need to be out of here before then." he yawned again and turned his face to the mattress, trying to blink away the sleepiness.
Grant started to answer that Max would probably be by around seven thirty, but he drifted off before the words made it out of his mouth, his head once more nestled against Damon's shoulder. He slept soundly with the noise of Damon's breathing and Severus' soft snores filling his ears, he never even heard the front door open or the big red head clear his throat as he stood in the doorway.
Max stood with his brow raised and looked at the trio of men in and on the bed. Damon stretched out on his back with Grant on one side and the blond man's hand tangled in the dark tresses and Severus half on and half off the chair and bed and Damon's other fist in his long black hair. He shook his head and cleared his throat again.
Severus tried to sit up at the second cough and cursed softly when his head was yanked back down to the blankets. "Damon, let go of me." He growled softly. "Grant, make him let go. Max is here."
Grant sleepily opened one eye and reached out to pull Damon's hand from Severus' hair. "Let go baby, he has to get up," he said softly as he tugged the man's hand from the long hair. "There Sev, you're free." He closed his eyes once more and shifted on the bed, his hand now held tightly by Damon as he nestled in closer to him. Within a few moments, the room was filled with the sound of Grant's gentle breathing.
Max looked down at Severus and the seated man smiled sheepishly. "We fell asleep Max, but he's done alright," he said as he moved out of his way and let him get closer to the bed. "Did you get some rest?"
Max shrugged. "Some but it's a doctor's lot in life to do without that's why I make the big bucks." He drew his wand and once again the readings were off because of Grant's proximity. He sighed. "I hate to wake him but Grant's got to get out of bed. His signature is wrecking havoc with Damon's readings. Come on Grant. Wake up, sir. Mother Wolffe has your tea ready."
Grant slapped at the hand that was shaking him. "G'way," he slurred and sighed. Severus shook his head and stepped around to the side of the bed.
"It will just be easier if I pick him up Max," Severus said as he wriggled his arms under the small man and began to lift, only to stop as Grant's head was yanked back by his hair. Damon still had a handful and wasn't letting go.
"Stop it!" Grant barked as Severus froze with him half off the bed. "Put me back down before he yanks all my hair out."
"Quit your squalling, little man before I cut it all off and leave it for the old man to fondle." Severus gently untangled Damon's hand from Grant's hair. He sat the other man on his feet. "What the bloody hell is wrong with you this morning?"
Max ran his scans and listened to the two men squabble, waiting for them to stop so he could let them know what had happened over night. It was looking good the swelling had gone down some more but there was still some inflammation
Grant quieted and stood up on his feet, looking expectantly at Max. "How is it? It's working right?" he asked as he reached out and took Severus' hand in his.
Severus gave his hand a squeeze and wiped at his face with his other hand. "Yes, how is it working. I hate to admit it, but I feel asleep before I could do the readings. I've been pushing so hard trying to get this done in as little time..." he trailed off and just looked at Max who looked back with an amused smile on his face.
Max chuckled. "You did good Severus. the swelling has gone down at least twenty five percent. It seems to be working on his external bruising as well. He opened Damon's pyjama top and showed them the yellowing bruises on the flat stomach. He turned to grant and now you little man. Come away from Severus and let me check you over. I want to see the long term effects."
Grant moved over to Max and stood looking up at him, still yawning behind his hand. "I don't hurt anywhere Max, I think it's good stuff. Severus needs to get to work to get it in trails." He watched as the wand moved over him and looked over to give Sev a smile. "When do we dose Damon again?"
Max hummed as he looked over Grant's read outs and nodded. "Let's get another bag of fluids in him, check his dressings and such then bathe him. After we get him dress again we can dose him again. Your bruising is entirely gone and it's been a little over twelve hours since we dosed you. And that was after we purged you as well so I want to wait and see if the potion has a cumulative effect."
The big red head nodded at them. "After you eat and get something in you first. I'll see to Damon since Mother Wolffe has already shoved a bacon sandwich and coffee down me."
Grant went back to the bed and kissed his husband gently and then hugged Max before he left the room to get some breakfast. He could hear Severus behind him and he smiled thinking of how it sounded so normal.
"Good morning Mother Wolffe," he said as he kissed the old woman on the cheek and sat down to the large breakfast she'd prepared. She sat down next to him and sipped her coffee.
"How is he this morning? And how are you feeling?" she asked as she peered at him and reached out to push his long hair out of his face.
"Max said the swelling is going down and he was going to clean him up a bit before we dosed him again," Grant answered around a mouthful of sausage gravy and biscuits.
Severus stayed with Max for a bit longer and watched him change the dressings and administer to Damon. "Is he really getting better, Max? If he is why is he still unconscious? Why hasn't he woken up or do more than pull our hair?" He rubbed the back of his head.
Max chuckled. "Those loving touches from Damon signify he is getting better however the head injury is what's keeping him under. There's no magic potion for that, Severus. The mind is a wondrous and mysterious thing. He could wake up in a few minutes demanding Grant and biscuits and gravy. It could be a week, it could be next month. You never know when dealing with a head injury. Only time will tell for certain, my friend. One day he'll decide to wake up and there is nothing we can do but try to make him want to return faster."
A few days later Severus approached Max with an article from a journal he'd brought with him. "Max, I know we spoke about this before, but have you seen the article in Healing Times about magic transfer being used to stimulate brain activity in unconscious patients?" He handed the article to his friend and waited for his reaction. He knew head injuries were tricky, but it just seemed that Damon was stuck somewhere in between. Maybe a nudge would help him.
Max read over the article and sighed. "I've heard about this and as I told you before, which they neglected to mention, was the blood type having to match as well. Damon's doing much better since your potion went into him. The bruising is almost entirely gone, the swelling off his brain and everything." He handed the article back to Severus. "Do you really want me to draw off some of his magic and test it against yours and then Grant's to see if you are compatible? Have you asked Grant about this?"
"How much would you need to draw off, exactly? And what about his military records, wouldn't it be on them?" Severus asked, nearly desperate to have his Da back.
Max rubbed his face. "I'd need enough to test against for two people plus the same amount of blood. I would say no more than ten cc's for blood for each of you." He pulled Damon's chart closer to him and flipped back tot eh front. I have his blood type here already. It's A negative. That doesn't surprise me since he also has the recessive blond hair and blue eyes genes too. You and Grant though both have the dominant brown genes. I'm not saying that has anything to do with it but still it could mean that neither one of you are a match because you both have the most common traits. Do that make any sense?" He looked back up at Severus. "You never answered me about talking to Grant about this?"
"I've not said anything to him, wanting to wait to talk to you. I don't want to get his hopes up, you know?" Severus said softly as he sat down in the chair by the wall in Max's office. He let out a long breath and looked at his friend. "He just seems stuck, like he's trying so hard to get through to us. Did you know Grant was in there this morning eating his breakfast while talking to him and he opened his mouth, made chewing motions and was moving his hand like he was reaching for the coffee." He paused a moment before he told Max what Grant had done. "Grant stuck his finger in the coffee and put it to Damon's lips. Max, the man grunted and sucked his husband's finger."
Max laughed. "Severus, did you know that a foetus will suck it's thumb in the womb at five months of life? Some things are ingrained responses to stimulus. If he is doing these things do you really want to drain off his energy?" He shook his head. "Have there been any displays of out of control magic? I haven't seen any nor has Grant documented any either." The healer sighed. "With this head injury Severus, he may have lost the ability to reach the magic that is residing within him and that's why he has not fully awakened. I hate to be the Devil's advocate but the possibility is there and we can't swept it under the rug."
Severus looked down for a moment and mumbled something.
Max raised an eyebrow to him. "You have to speak up if you are going to complain, Severus."
"Not complaining, was just remembering something," Severus said and continued. "All the bulbs in the house were blown yesterday morning when I got up... Grant was still sound asleep, but Damon was restless."
Max sniffed. "About what time was it? Time they normally get up and Grant has breakfast ready for him? Is Mother Wolffe still there making heart attacks on a plate for the both of you?"
"Marion left night before last. It was about six I think, about the time Grant is normally up and making coffee," Severus said thinking. It had been odd finding not one working light in the house and Damon with his hand clenching and unclenching.
Max rubbed his face again and tugged on his hair at the base of his neck trying to relieve his headache. "I can't test him without Grant's consent. And you know as well as I do the minute you mention this Grant's going to want to be tested. So, I will leave it up to you. It sounds like to me he's trying to come back on his own and it's may take him a bit but it's getting there."
"Is it possible he could be stuck?" Severus asked. He didn't want to do anything to harm Damon and he wouldn't push Max. "I'm not going to say anything to Grant right now about it, okay?" He dropped his head into his hands and rubbed at his face. "I know it's juvenile of me, but I keep thinking he should wake up any moment."
Max shrugged. "Possibly but his body is almost physically healed. Time and the potions worked miracles. Think of it like this; it's almost like someone has suffered the Cruciatus numerous times and their mind is gone. But the difference in this case is Damon is showing signs of returning. Tempers, mood swings things of that nature. Crucio victims are fairly emotionless and do not respond well to their surroundings and we have all felt that he responds quite well and his method of delivery hasn't changed; pain."
"So how long do we wait until it's decided that Damon isn't coming back to us? I mean that is a possibility, isn't it? That Damon will be a vegetable for the rest of his life?" Severus asked softly as he closed his eyes and rubbed his hand over his face. "I'm not pushing you to do something you don't feel will benefit him, but tell me how long do I wait before I begin looking into a care facility for him?" He didn't even want to think about having to make that decision or attempting to tell Grant that he wasn't able to take care of his husband at home.
Max sighed. "Yes, it's a possibility but it's unlikely since he is showing signs of returning. Maybe you are right and he needs help, Sev. Grant won't put him in a long term facility. He's already told me that. Tell him, Severus and I'll be by tonight to draw a sample from all of you. Allie and I will donate as well. One of us has got to be a match.”
Severus looked up at his friend and then took his hand. "I'll go talk to him now, I know he's with Damon," he said as he got to his feet and hugged the big man. "Am I pushing too fast? Tell me if I am." When Max didn't answer, Severus left his office and made the short drive back to the farmhouse.
Grant was in with Damon, going through the exercises designed to keep the older man's muscles from atrophying in disuse. Bending each limb in a set pattern of motion and a set number of times, the small man kept up a one sided conversation with his mate. "Damon, all of the storm windows are up now, Severus and Max put them up for us. Can you believe they said I didn't belong on a ladder?" he chuckled and continued the routine before settling in to read to his husband.
Severus watched Grant from the doorway. He waited until Grant had set Damon's leg down and took a drink of his water before interrupting. "Grant, Can you come out here? I want to show you something." He pulled the Healing Times from his pocket and stood rolling and unrolling the magazine. Better butter him up. "I need a medical professional's opinion."
Looking up, startled by the sound of Severus' voice, Grant leaned down and kissed Damon's smooth shaven cheek, whispering something for his ears only before he joined their boy in the living room.
"What is it? Are you alright?" Grant asked as he sat down in his chair and took the magazine Severus silently handed to him. He quickly skimmed the article, going back to reread specific points and then looked back up at the younger man. "I've seen this. It's becoming very common to treat head injuries in this manner. I know Max believes it's a gamble that asks too much of the patient, so I've not brought it up to him." He handed the magazine back to Severus and sighed. "What do you think of it?"
"That's the thing, Grant. I think Damon is trying but stuck. I brought it up to Max. he'll be here this afternoon to tests us if you say so." Severus bit his lip. "He also said that he'd test him and Allie as well to see if one of us is compatible.”
Grant took the magazine from Severus once more and reread the article, he looked up at the younger man and nodded. "I think he's stuck too, and that's my professional opinion, not as his spouse," he said as he set the journal on the table beside his chair. "I feel Damon is strong enough now to allow a small amount of his magic to be sampled for compatibility." He fixed Severus with a serious look. "You do realize it could give his system a very violent shock if one of us is able to do a transfusion with him. His personality may alter a bit."
Severus chuckled. "Is this really a bad thing? I mean if you or Allie or Max is a match he might get easier going. I highly doubt an infusion of Severus Snape will alter his personality too much. he already complains that we are too much alike for my own good." He sat down on the couch. "Grant, what if none of us match? How are you going to continue to care for him?"
"Just as I do now, one day at a time," Grant said softly as he played with the end of his braid. "I'll sell my share of the practice, most likely sell Cutty's and just be here with my husband." He looked up and smiled sadly at Severus. "He'll stay home where he belongs, I've made up my mind about that."
"I thought as much." Severus sighed. "I'll stay with you Grant. "I'll retire early and set up the apothecary sooner than I expected. It's not like I have something waiting for me in Scotland." He held out his hand to Grant. "I'll help you care for him, Grant."
"I don't want you to quit because of this Severus," Grant said softly as he took his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Just come visit us like you always do. We look forward to that so much, you know. I can take care of him, don't you worry about us." He leaned his head against the back of the chair and regarded the younger man from half closed eyes. "You had better listen to me, or I'll take Damon's belt to your butt."
Severus sighed. "Grant I am not going to argue with you. I will quit and take care of you and Damon if I want. I'm happy here. My family is here and I'll be damned if I'll abandon it. If I am here I won't be worrying." He eyed Grant. "You have to catch me first... mum." he grinned.
Grant snorted in soft laughter and gave Severus' long fingers a squeeze. "No one would ever guess you didn't have Damon's blood running through your veins, brat," he said smiling. "Alright we won't argue, let's just see what's going to happen with him after this, okay?" They sat in companionable silence for a short time, Grant dozing off before he woke with a jerk of his head. "What time is it? When is Max coming?" he asked as he got to his feet and stretched. "I'll start supper and then go give Damon his meal." He walked into the kitchen and put the meatloaf he'd mixed up earlier, into the oven.
Severus had been watching grant sleep when theother man had jolted scaring him half to death. "Damon's meal is in a bag I'll do it." He looked up at the clock Max should be here with Allie in about half an hour." Severus stood and went into Damon's room. He closed the hepren lock and changed the bag of I. V. solution and opened the drip back up again. "Hey, Old Man. It's Sev. Max is bringing Allie by to see you." Severus sat down and took Damon's hand. The fingers squeed his as he twined them with the older man's. "I'm going to stay Damon. Help Grant take care of you."
Grant stood in the middle of the kitchen, turning in circles as he tried to remember what he was going to do next. Merlin he was so tired, he didn't know what he was doing anymore. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind and focused. With a rueful smile, he picked up the bag of potatoes and a paring knife, setting to work to peel them quickly and get them on. 'Old man,' he muttered to himself, 'you have got to keep it together. There's too much to do, you can't fall apart now.'
Max pulled into the drive earlier than expected and helped Allie down from the truck. She looked at him sideways and asked a question that had been bugging her since Max had explained what they were going to do. "You really think this is going to work?"
"I hope so, Pet. Sev seems to think so." He held a hand out to her and went around to the back door, then banged on it. "Hey Grant, Sev. We're here. What's for dinner?" He grinned, opened the door and dragged Allie through.
Deep in his reverie, Grant hadn't heard the truck and nearly jumped out of his skin as Max's voice boomed through the kitchen, potatoes, peeled and unpeeled flew through the air as he jerked and sent the bowl flying. "Merlin!" he yelped as he realized who it was. "You two scared the hell out of me!" At the same time Grant yelped, the kitchen door slammed shut and the lock was bolted. Severus came out of the bedroom holding his hand and massaging his fingers. "He got a bit upset. Hey Max, Allie," he said as he hugged each of them and sat down at the table.
Max jumped as the door nearly slammed on his back side. "What the hell's going on round here? Sev, did you talk to Grant?" He turned to the other man. "Sit down Grant and calm down. You have never been this jumpy before. Max returned the hug to his friend and sat at the table. He held out a hand to Allie. "Pet, if you don't mind help Grant out with dinner while I tell them what is going to happen."
"I talked to Grant, and that was Damon with the door," Severus said as he poured Grant a glass of tea and settled him back into his chair. Allie Accio-ed the potatoes to her and set to peeling and dicing them up to boil on the stove. Severus sat down next to Grant and put an arm around the smaller man's shoulders. "I was just in my own little world, I suppose," Grant said apologetically as he patted Severus' knee.
Max frowned. He drew his wand and scanned Grant. He frowned again with the results. "You are borderline exhausted, Grant. Why haven't you been resting?"
"I am resting, I napped just a bit ago Max, so stop your fretting," Grant said as he made a shooing motion with his hand. "I'm fine." Severus rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly. "That's why I found him up around three this morning doing laundry."
Max hummed. "If you don't get some rest, I will not test you to see if you are compatible. You can not go into this lightly, Grant. If you are a donor then you have to be rested and ready to have the drain on your magic take it's toll on you. You can't do it stumbling around here half dead." He held up a hand to Grant's protests he knew that were coming. "Sev take him upstairs and put him to bed. Healer's orders. You will lay down and sleep for at least four hours. Now, Grant. That gives me enough time to take samples from Damon and Sev." He looked at Grant. "If your levels have come back up I will consider testing you in the morning. Do you understand me? Don't make me go in there to Damon and tell him that you haven't been taking care of yourself."
Grant opened his mouth to speak and then shut it with a snap. With an exasperated huff and a roll of his eyes he stood and let Severus take him upstairs. As he laid down between the cool sheets, he looked up at Severus. "He's going to come back, I know he is," he said softly, rolling over and closing his eyes.
Severus just nodded and kissed the dark head before going back downstairs, stopping in Damon's room to check on him. "Grant's upstairs resting Da, he's running himself a little ragged, but I'll keep a closer eye on him from now on, I promise," he said softly as he took Damon's hand in his own. "By the way, you scared the hell out of Max by slamming the door." He chuckled and leaned down to hug the old man.
Damon listen to Severus and growled. Why was Grant tired? He had been resting with him this whole time. Damon had felt him in the bed with him. He had been sleeping better as well and felt great. He was ready to get out of bed but he couldn't. He need something but didn't know what. Maybe Max would know. He was going to get on Grant something fierce once he was finally able to get up.
Max set up shop in the sitting room and had all his stuff laid out on the coffee table. He looked up as Severus came back in the room. "Grant settled? Let's get started then. I'll draw the vials of blood I need first and then the magic. I'll talk you through that one, alright? It's a tedious process and let's hope we don't here anything else out of Damon while I am doing this."
Severus nodded and sat down on the sofa, rolling up his sleeve and watching Max. "He was asleep before I left the room I think, I just checked Damon and he seems quiet as well," he said holding his arm out to Max when the big man held his hand out. "You know I hate needles, right?"
Allie was sitting in Grant's chair and snickered at hearing that the austere Dom was nervous about being poked. "If you are a good boy, I'll give you a Snoopy band aid," she laughed, only to laugh harder as Severus glared at her.
Upstairs, the blankets around Grant were tucked in tighter around the sleeping man by unseen hands.
Max raised an eyebrow at Severus as he rubbed an alcohol swab over the crook of the man's elbow. He thumped lightly on the pale skin trying to make the veins stand up. "You aren't going to hit me or anything like that are you?" He tied the tourniquet around the upper bicep and smiled. You'll only feel a small stick, I’m a good vampire. Make a fist for me then open and close your hand."
Max turned and pulled out a butterfly needle and tubing. "I'll use a small one, alright." He pressed on Severus' arm again and got ready to stick him. "Allie kiss him."
Allie leaned over and planted a wet one right on Severus' mouth as Max stuck him and hit the vein on the first time. He pulled off the tourniquet and filled two tubes quickly. He folded a piece of cotton, placed it over the puncture wound and pulled out the butterfly then wrapped sticky pressure gauze around the site. "There all done. Now that wasn't so bad, now was it?"
Severus looked from Max to Allie as he tried to find the words to express himself after she'd kissed him. Allie just smirked at the dark haired man and patted her hair back in place while she watched him gape like a fish. "It's alright Severus, I won't tell anyone you kissed a woman," she laughed as she gave his hand a squeeze.
"You know, that wasn't so bad," Severus said thoughtfully and raised an eyebrow at Max. "Let me kiss her again."
Max looked at him. "As tempting as that thought is to watch, I don't think so. Allie go get me some tea and Bring Severus some orange juice. Check on supper as well if you would the magic is a little harder to draw off and I want his physically strength up as much as possible."
He watched the small raven haired woman leave the room and slugged Severus. "Asshole. I don't need her finding out about that snake you keep in your jeans."
As soon as Allie was safely out of the living room, Severus wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and slugged Max back. "Don't ever do that again, I love Allie dearly, but I don't want her to do that again," he said under his breath, not wanting the woman in the other room to hear and have her feelings hurt. Rubbing his arm, he watched as Max prepared to sample his magic. "What is going to happen now?"
Max held up a feather. "I want you to float this using wandless magic." He demonstrated quickly with his wand. He sprayed some blue coloured water between his wand and the feather. "I'm a little low cause I had them draw off mine at the clinic, so I am using my wand but see the lines of magic. That's what we need to collect. Does that make sense?"
"Yes. Alright, let me have a go," Severus said as he waited for Max to lay the feather back on the coffee table. He closed his eyes and gathered in on himself before he focused a stream of magic in his mind and reached out to the feather, seeing it in his mind's eye as it lifted gently and floated. Keeping his breathing steady and his mind focused, he only winced once as he felt Max begin to draw from him. It didn't hurt, but it wasn't the most pleasant of experiences either.
Max drew a probe across the stream of magic coming off the other man. It was powerful and Max didn't blame him for wincing. It had stung him as well when they had done it at the office. He was basically shaving off a layer of Severus' magic. He curled the lone lines around the probe and then stuck the vibrating metal in a wide mouthed beaker. "Ok. I got it. You can stop. You alright?" He turned towards the kitchen and yelled at Allie. "Move your ass woman. Bring us something to drink."
The feather floated to the table and Severus slumped back against the cushions panting. Amazingly, sweat was starting to pop out on his brow. "Oh Merlin, I've never felt that before," he managed as he opened his dark eyes and looked at Max. Allie returned then with their drinks and a sandwich for Severus.
"I know Sev, I thought I was going to pass out," she said as she patted his hand and then pressed his glass of juice into it. He smiled at her briefly before drinking deeply and then looking at Max.
"Grant can't do that," he said shaking his head. "He's not up to it and I don't think he can do wandless."
Part 6