Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "It's like a party on your head"

Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me
  • Create Account
  • IJ Login
  • OpenID Login
Search by : 
  • View
    • Create Account
    • IJ Login
    • OpenID Login
  • Journal
    • Post
    • Edit Entries
    • Customize Journal
    • Comment Settings
    • Recent Comments
    • Manage Tags
  • Account
    • Manage Account
    • Viewing Options
    • Manage Profile
    • Manage Notifications
    • Manage Pictures
    • Manage Schools
    • Account Status
  • Friends
    • Edit Friends
    • Edit Custom Groups
    • Friends Filter
    • Nudge Friends
    • Invite
    • Create RSS Feed
  • Asylums
    • Post
    • Asylum Invitations
    • Manage Asylums
    • Create Asylum
  • Site
    • Support
    • Upgrade Account
    • FAQs
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Interest
    • Search Randomly

Carrie Kelley ([info]girlwonder) wrote in [info]utr_logs,
@ 2008-09-10 16:09:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:alfred pennyworth, carrie kelley

who. Alfred Pennyworth and Carrie Kelley
what. Alfred being AWESOME
when. Late-late tonight.
where. NYC


The subway car turned just as Carrie, who'd been standing on top of it, lost her focus. It wasn't any wonder that she'd do so, really, considering the schedule she'd been keeping lately. When she wasn't working, she was training with Cassandra and getting her ass handed to her or training alone and completely overworking herself. Her body felt like one great big exhausted bruise.

So when the subway car jerked on the track at the curve, Carrie felt herself stumble. A second into it and she knew there was no way she wouldn't fall off. She did her best to tuck and roll and prayed she'd miss the electrified rail. She'd feel bad if she made Dick a widower.

Carrie landed hard on her side and rolled. She shouted out as the world spun around her. When she stopped, she glanced up and saw her fingers a few inches from the third rail. She pulled her hand back quickly, ignoring the pain that came with sudden motion.

She didn't want to move. There was a part of her that was quite alright just laying there in the middle of the subway tracks. She was just so tired and there was a sharp pain running down her leg. Her side throbbed.

"Fuck." Carrie forced herself to her feet, mostly because she imagined how thoroughly chewed out she'd be by every member of the batfamily if she just allowed herself to fall asleep in the middle of train tracks.

It took effort to pull herself up onto the platform. She spit blood onto the concrete and fell onto her back. Through blurred vision, Carrie saw stars in the night sky. After a quick check, Carrie surmised that she probably needed to be looked over. She doubted anything was broken and didn't think that this exhaustion was a concussion, but she needed to be absolutely sure she didn't have internal damage. So she fished in her pocket for her phone.

"Alfred." Her voice was small, strangled. She did her best to sound normal. "Hey. I kinda need a ride. Had a little slip. Could you come get me? I'm at the 215 St. station of the red line. Uptown side, I think." She hung up quickly and let out the pained groan she'd been holding in.


(Post a new comment)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-10 03:29 pm UTC (link)
"Certainly, Miss Carrie," said Alfred, but she hung up before he could manage any more. "I can only assume from your tone of voice that you've found a new and creative way to injure yourself," he added to no one. Alfred had been dusting when he received Carrie's call, which generally took up a large amount of time, given the size of Wayne Manor. Young Master Dick would help when he too wasn't otherwise occupied wounding himself.

Alfred picked a car with a soft, plush interior out of pity for Carrie's likely condition, and bad shocks out of exasperation at Carrie's likely condition. He drove as fast as he could, avoiding the speed limit with practiced ease. It wasn't long before he arrived and found the girl lying back, suspiciously relaxed, and out of costume. He hurried to her side and looked her over. Her eyes followed him, so she was awake; perhaps she didn't feel up to speaking. Kneeling down, he helped her to her feet and pressed a clean handkerchief to her forehead. "One should make every attempt to keep one's blood inside the body, Miss Carrie," he reminded her gently.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-10 03:36 pm UTC (link)
"Am I bleeding?" Her voice sounded off, even to her own ears. It was too high and she was breathing through the words. Standing up hurt. The fact that he was still pressing the handkerchief to her head was a good enough answer. "I'll keep that in mind next time."

She leaned heavily on him as they went down the stairs. "Hope I didn't wake you or anything," she said. Making conversation helped her to not focus on the full body ache. And to delay a speech, which she suspected would be coming eventually. She whimpered when she put too much weight on a leg. "So how's tricks at the mansion?" she asked in that same pained voice.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-10 06:23 pm UTC (link)
"Significantly more boring than I'm used to, although I'm certain that won't last long." Alfred's voice was, of course, thick with concern, but now that he was certain she was going to live, he was making a list of ways to chastise her in his head. Despite this, he made sure to support her weight as well as he could; fortunately, she was rather lighter than Masters Bruce or Dick.

He led her to the car and helped her in, pressing her hand to the handkerchief. "Keep firm, steady pressure," he advised. "Don't remove the handkerchief until we return home." Beside her, on the seat, was a small cooler with a number of ice packs inside. "Use those--" he indicated the cooler-- "to treat any aches you may have developed from your attempt to defeat gravity by sheer force of will."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-10 06:54 pm UTC (link)
Carrie groaned. Moving was bad. Moving from a standing to a sitting position was worse. She shut her eyes and pressed the cloth to her head. The handkerchief was getting wet. "Head wounds are supposed to bleed a lot, right?" she asked quietly. She wasn't that worried. He'd be moving faster and looking more grave if she was in really bad shape.

"One of these days, gravity's going to get it," she said, trying to force a shaky laugh into her voice, once Alfred had gotten in front of the wheel. With her free hand, she went for an ice pack, trying not to move the rest of her body in the process. It didn't really work. She gritted her teeth and laid one beside her thigh.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-10 09:43 pm UTC (link)
"It is typical, yes. I don't know from experience. I spend my nights indoors, occasionally enjoying an old film or a favorite book with a hot cup of tea, and have thus far escaped injury beyond a mild burn and a severe papercut. But my life of danger and excitement is not for everyone."

The speed at which Alfred was traveling made the car whine a bit, but he settled it with a good solid (but dignified) thump. "These don't seem to be your usual battle wounds. May I inquire as to the origin?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-10 09:51 pm UTC (link)
"Training." Carrie grunted when the car jolted her a little. She couldn't rat out Cassandra, though Alfred would probably see the blossom of bruises and scrapes. She certainly didn't want to tell him she'd been balance training on the top of a subway while working on less than a few hours of sleep. Alfred was someone Carrie didn't really want to annoy. He had a mighty glare.

She breathed through her nose and continued to push the handkerchief into her forehead. "If it gets me any credit, I'm trying not to bleed on the seats."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-11 08:29 pm UTC (link)
"Good, carry on not bleeding. I was going to make you clean it when you recovered." Master Dick had occasionally referred to Alfred as the team mom. Alfred hadn't agreed at the time, but with every injury and every chastising healing session that followed, he began to see his point.

Alfred moved away from the main roads and drove toward the Batcave entrance; everything even vaguely medical was kept downstairs. He pulled gently in, turned off the car, and opened the door for Carrie. "Up you go," he said, offering her his help to let her stand.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-12 10:54 am UTC (link)
Carrie stared at Alfred's hand a little longer than necessary. "Do I really have to get up?" She asked, knowing the look she'd get for asking a stupid question. Slowly, she reached out and took his hand. Slowly, she got out of the car. Carrie was leaning heavily on Alfred, putting her free arm around him as soon as she could.

"I think I'm mostly okay," she said quickly. It hadn't been that bad a fall, all things considered. With Alfred's help, she hobbled over to a table. She moaned at the prospect of jumping onto it and getting on her back.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-13 09:34 pm UTC (link)
"I would be more inclined to believe you, Miss Carrie, were you more capable of movement without my support." With his foot, Alfred pressed a button on the table to lower it to a comfortable level, then helped Carrie onto it. "Maintain the pressure on your forehead. I need to sterilize myself to avoid putting you in danger. I'm sure you appreciate the irony of that statement." Before he went to the sink, Alfred opened a drawer and pulled out a few clean garments. "I believe these belong to Miss Cassandra, but they are clean. I suggest you change out of those... what I will very charitably refer to as 'clothes.'" Alfred then walked away.

Alfred scrubbed and gloved and busied himself for a few minutes while he waited for Carrie to dress. There was another reason he insisted she change: the movements involved would give her a better idea of what, exactly, was injured. And it would possibly teach her not to do whatever she was doing ever again.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-13 10:08 pm UTC (link)
"Anybody ever tell you you're way too snarky? Especially to injured people?" Carrie called after him as he gave her space. Getting back onto her feet seemed cruel after all of the movement, but she managed somehow. Unbuttoning her pants and stepping out of them was easy enough but bending down to pull up Cassandra's pants (which were a little baggy and a few inches too long on Carrie) was anything but easy. She moved stiffly and grunted when she moved too much in any direction.

"Shit shit shit." Carrie paused to breathe. She pressed her hands onto the table she'd sat on and leaned over slightly. A while back, she'd been taught some breathing methods to help through pain. She tried to focus on that. It didn't help much. Carrie wished she'd paid a little more attention when Bruce had tried to teach her.

The shirt was next. Carrie had to pull her top up over her head and this took much longer than she would have liked. She was sorely tempted after the first few seconds to find a scissor and cut the damn thing off, but knew that would look pretty bad to Alfred. In a rough movement, Carrie had it off, dropped it to the side and put on Cassandra's button-down. Change complete, Carrie tried to calm her pained breathing. Alfred was a smart man; it was likely she wouldn't be trying anything this stupid again in a while.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-14 04:22 am UTC (link)
"I've been told the same many times, Miss Carrie," said Alfred when Carrie was done changing, "but I feel that the opinions of people who spend their free time jumping off of things and hoping to learn how not to die on the way down should be taken with a grain of salt." He was carrying a tray with an array of bandages and gauze.

"Lie back, Miss Carrie," said Alfred, firmly but kindly. He removed the handkerchief and cleaned the wound gently with warm water. "You're very lucky this isn't worse. Were there any detritus lodged in your wound, I would be forced to remove it with forceps. Slowly." When the injury was treated to his satisfaction and Carrie's hair freed slightly of the gummy blood that had tangled it, Alfred took a bottle of some ominous solution. "This may sting a bit. Think of it next time you confront yourself with some moving vehicle and wonder if you can best it in a duel."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-14 09:28 am UTC (link)
Carrie did her best to soldier through it, gritting her teeth and forcing herself to breathe as evenly as possible. "I wasn't..." her voice was a squeak. "I wasn't jumping off anything." Like that made anything better. She was trying to defend herself, knowing it was fairly useless.

Her eyes moved to the bottle. She bit back the sound that threatened to come out of her throat. "How's Dickling?" She asked, trying to distract herself from the sting that was coming. Carrie balled her hand into a fist so tightly that her short nails bit into the flesh of her hand.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-16 09:46 pm UTC (link)
Alfred knew that Carrie was looking for a distraction, so he answered her as he treated and bandaged her cut. "Young Master Dick has taken to throwing himself into his work, as it were." His voice was dripping with disapproval, although he held back any comments he might have been tempted to make; there was no point of Dick wasn't there to hear them.

Alfred treated the other scrapes on her body in much the same way that he had the cut on her forehead, albeit with much less concern. There was little else he could do. "Are there any other injuries I should take note of? Beyond the ones you obtained by 'training' with Miss Cassandra, I should note."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-16 10:08 pm UTC (link)
"Not surprised." Carrie tensed. Alfred had good hands, but this whole thing hurt pretty damn bad. Carrie was trying to decide whether she should go home or just stay on the operating table for a while. The latter was winning by a mile. "Oh... oh watch the side," Carrie said, inhaling sharply.

When he mentioned Cassandra's name, she blinked. For a moment, she wondered whether or not she'd just been hearing things. "What'd- who said anything about training with her?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-16 10:32 pm UTC (link)
Alfred cocked his eyebrow and gave her a 'nigga please' look. "You would not be in the shape you are in if you were not training. Master Dick would be far kinder, Master Jason is in no shape to teach anyone, and young Master Dick is otherwise occupied. Miss Cassandra is the best teacher available." He retrieved a small syringe from a nearby cabinet. "Besides, while Miss Cassandra is as taciturn as ever, Master Jason can easily be persuaded to chatter for some time in exchange for a listening ear and a plate of muffins."

After a moment's thought, Alfred traded the syringe for another, apparently identical one. "Shall I offer you a mild muscle relaxant to lessen your pain?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-16 10:39 pm UTC (link)
"Jason," Carrie muttered darkly. "Figures." She shrugged. Or moved one shoulder about a centimeter and back. Any more and she would have winced. "I could be training with strangers?" Carrie yawned suddenly and couldn't muster up the shame to look embarrassed for it.

"Uh. Yeah. And then I need to get home." How she planned to get home, exactly, she wasn't sure. Riding on the bike or in a car was something her body refused. Movement in general wasn't an option for a little while. "Dick's probably wondering where I am." She smirked a pained smirk, "I usually pop in for a nap before training with Cass."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-16 11:02 pm UTC (link)
Upon seeing Carrie yawn, Alfred deftly switched back to the first syringe. Fortunately, she hadn't been looking at him. "I'm sure Master Dick is quite familiar with your ability to get yourself into and out of trouble," said Alfred dryly. He dabbed her arm with a bit of rubbing alcohol before he inserted the needle.

When he was done, he put another bandage over the tiny puncture wound. "I should probably note some of the side effects of this drug. It may cause dry mouth, hunger... and you will be asleep in approximately two minutes." He was completely unapologetic; she wasn't the first person to be resistant to taking her medicine. "I will be certain to inform Master Dick that you are safe."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]girlwonder
2008-09-16 11:10 pm UTC (link)
It took Carrie a few seconds to digest what Alfred said. Her own exhaustion started to kick in again. She tried very hard to glare at Alfred, but it wasn't easy. "That's not fair," she protested weakly. "Jesus Christ this stuff is strong." Carrie's eyes started to shut, "You're not good people, Alf..." The drug had done its work. Were it possible, Carrie would have sworn vengeance. Strong words would have to wait until after sleep.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]raisingwayne
2008-09-16 11:19 pm UTC (link)
Alfred sighed and patted her shoulder gently. He was surprised she went under that quickly; he probably needn't have used the sedative. Apparently all she had needed was an excuse to pass out. Alfred covered Carrie with a blanket before straightening things up. Then, as he had promised, he called Master Dick.

"Grayson-Kelly residence."

"Hello, Master Dick."

"Hey, Alfred. What's shaking?"

"Miss Carrie is recovering from a misadventure in the subway. You may want to move her to a spare bedroom. She's not likely to wake up."

"Is she all right?"

"She's as well as one can expect, yes. She would be better if not for the fact that--"

"She's Carrie, yeah. I'll be right over. Thanks, Alfred."

"Think nothing of it." He hung up the phone and pressed his hand to her forehead. "Feel better, Miss Carrie."

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Home | Site Map | Manage Account | TOS | Privacy | Support | FAQs