Agent Washington (completelysane) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-07-26 15:22:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !partner thread, agent washington, vanessa ives |
Who: Wash and Vanessa Ives
What: Vanessa is in a car accident
When: During the Giga-Slave
Where: a few blocks from Baxter's Bakery
Rating: Low
Warnings: Minor vision of Lina's fate
Status: Complete!
Vanessa was sure that things hadn’t been this bad when she drove to the studio that morning, but all she had to do was get home and she’d be fine. She was ignoring that little nagging thought in the back of her mind. She’d been having more and more feelings lately since her dreams had gotten more intense. And her dream before this started was definitely playing on her mind, how could she have known this was coming?
She was distracted as she drove, trying to keep her attention on the road but also running over everything in her head. When the lightning struck close to her and felled a tree she swerved to avoid it though not entirely in time, her car slammed sideways into it and her airbag deployed. She was dazed as she slowly came round, pain in her head.
It was distinctly worse out now than it had been before. Wash had just started to wonder if maybe it had been a mistake coming out for a patrol and it was time to simply hunker down at Baxter’s and attempt to ride the rest of this out, however long that was. He hadn’t seen or heard anyone since he’d ventured out. Orange County had the distinct feeling of being abandoned. It was an intensely unsettling feeling.
He was about to call to those at Baxter’s Bakery to let them know he was headed back when a bolt of lightning hit exceptionally close and was followed instantly by by a deafening roar of thunder. Wash’s first instinct was to hit the ground as though he were being fired at. It took every ounce of his will to keep from doing so.
Jesus Christ, this goddamn storm is going to make my head fucking explode.
Squealing tires and the sound of something large and definitely car-shaped striking something instantly caught his attention. Someone was actually attempting to drive through this?! What were they...insane?!
Wash instantly broke out into a run towards the sound of the crash. It didn’t take long for him to find the car where it had come to a stop sideways against a tree. The only other noise Wash could hear as he rushed towards it was the wind. No one was getting out either. That wasn’t a good sign.
As he approached he saw the figure of a woman inside, sort of slumped in her seat. Quickly he yanked the car door open “Hey!” He called, “Ma’am? Ma’am, can you hear me? Are you alright?”
As Vanessa came too she heard a voice and forced her eyes open, “I...I’m okay” she said, though she was obviously dazed and there was a small cut on her head which would bruise later. “Lightning, the tree” she said, explaining. She hadn’t expected the weather to get so bad, so quickly, she thought she’d be able to make it home. Obviously that hadn’t been the case.
Well, she was conscious. That was a start. Wash crouched by her door so he could get a better look up into her face. She was dazed, but that was to be expected after a crash. The cut on her forehead concerned him. There was a possibility of concussion. He was loathed to move her, but given their current circumstances he really didn’t have much of a choice.
“Can you move?” He asked her.
Slowly Vanessa came back to herself and when she was asked if she could move she nodded, wincing at the pain, “Yes, I can move” she told him, “Thank you” she said as she moved to undo her seat belt, her hands shaking as the reality of everything settled over her. Luckily she wasn’t alone and she was very grateful to the man who had stopped to help her.
“You’re welcome,” Wash answered as the woman started to move about. He took her arm gently and helped her out of her car. He watched her carefully. Adrenalin would start to wear off soon now that the immediate danger of the crash had passed. If she was injured she’d start feeling it. Again, had this been a normal day, he would have had her sit on the curb while he dialed 911 and got a police car and an ambulance here to give her a once-over.
Lightning sliced the sky over head. Right, not a normal day. Well, he just couldn’t leave her here.
“We should get in out of this,” he told her gently hoping to keep her as calm as possible. “Do you think you can walk a bit?”
Vanessa appreciated the help even if she would be slightly embarrassed later on for needing it and for attempting to drive in such conditions but right now she was just grateful. She felt slightly dizzy as she stood but she had been lucky. The bump to her head could have been worse and the whole thing could have been far more disastrous than it was.
The lightning made her jump and she looked at him when he spoke again, “Yes, I think so. Moving would be the best idea I think”
Wash agreed. The storm was getting worse by the minute and the quicker they got to cover the better. “There’s a place not far from here that’s been open and taking in…” Nope, still didn’t like the term ‘refugee’. “...people who’ve gotten caught up in this mess. If you think you can walk a block or so, I can take you there.”
“I can do it. The alternative isn’t particularly appealing” Vanessa said, with a small if wobbly smile before she took a deep breath and determinedly stepped forward. “Thank you for your help” she said as they slowly walked, her arms wrapped around herself to hold herself together.
“No problem,” Wash answered. He fell into step beside her, slowing his pace enough so she could keep up, but keeping it quick enough to keep her from falling behind. He kept an eye on her as they did, looking for any signs of injury she might not have been able to feel earlier, and definitely for signs of a concussion. He had to admire her determination, though. It took a lot of guts to remain as calm after a car accident, not to mention a car accident during the apocalypse. “If you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing out here?” He asked.
Vanessa wasn’t sure what made her so calm, she wasn’t the sort to fall apart and maybe it was the British part of her that gave her a stiff upper lip and simply made her get on with it. She was simply determined not to fall apart, after all it had been her own fault.
“I was driving home from work. It wasn’t this bad when I drove in this morning” she said, “I was stupid I know but it honestly didn’t look that terrible when I left, it got worse as I got here”
“It’s been getting worse over time,” Wash agreed. He didn’t say anything about the woman being foolish. She obviously knew going out in the storm had been a bad idea. And she was safe now, so no need to dwell on it, right?
He glanced up when another bolt of lightning sliced across the sky followed instantly by a tremendous clap of thunder. He frowned at the sky. This whole thing was so surreal and yet somehow he was getting used to looking up and seeing the dark clouds swirling into what could only be called a whirlpool. It was showing no signs of stopping. Wash was starting to fear what would happened when it did end.
Vanessa definitely knew she had been foolish, but part of her had assumed it was just another one of those things. Not something to truly worry about. How wrong that had been.
A hand went to her head when the thunder sounded, and she gasped a scene flashing before her eyes. A young girl, the end, pain and then it cleared. Whether that was a good or bad thing she wasn’t sure. It was the end of something but exactly what she didn’t know. These flashes could do with subtitles or commentary.
Wash’s brows furrowed with concern. He knew all too well how much this thunder could mess with an already aching head. He was thankful that he’d managed to get his own migraine under control finally, otherwise he’d be a fucking mess by now.
He reached out to steady the woman next to him. “Are you alright?” He asked worriedly. He really hoped this poor woman didn’t have a concussion. His knowledge of first-aid in the field could identify a concussion, but apart from keeping the person conscious his knowledge about how to actually treat one was lacking.
What he did know is that they couldn’t stay out here much longer.
“Mmm” Vanessa mumbled her reply, “I’m fine. Sorry, headache. I’ll be fine, let’s keep moving” she said, also knowing how important it was to get to safety. She raised her hand to her head and pressed it as they walked. She could feel the ache but was not going to let it stop them getting where they needed to go.
Wash sympathized with the whole headache thing. Man, could he sympathize. “Alright,” he said carefully. “Just let me know if you start seeing double or start feeling sick or something, ok?”
Thank God - although at this point Wash wasn’t sure if thanking Him was doing any of them any favors - they weren’t that far from the bakery. He guided them around the corner and was very pleased to see it was still where he had left it, lights on inside like a beacon drawing them home.
“There it is,” he said pointing up the street. “Home sweet home for the time being. Once we get inside, we can get you ice for your head and something to drink.”
“I will. Thank you” Vanessa said, she wasn’t about to tell him the specifics of her headache other than the accident. He might think her completely insane or something and besides she didn’t really know herself yet.
“Wonderful. I’ve never been so glad to see a place before” Vanessa admitted with a smile.
Wash gave her a smile. “Me either,” he admitted as well with a smile. He shouldered the door open and held it for her. The lights inside were still dimmed a little. A number of people were already inside.
Wash guided Vanessa towards the back where it was a little quieter and more secluded and had her take a seat. “I’ll get you some water and see if I can scrounge up some aspirin or ibuprofen for your head. You’re not allergic to either, are you?”
As he stood straight again he gave her another small smile. “My name is Wash. If you need anything,” he stressed that final word. “Let me know, alright?”
Vanessa shook her head and winced, "No, no allergies. Thank you so much. I'm Vanessa and once this is over I believe I'll owe you a drink" she smiled in response.
“Its nice to meet you, Vanessa,” Wash said. “And you’re welcome.” His smile broadened a bit. “I’m not one to turn down a drink. Sit tight here for now and I’ll see about getting you something for your head.” With that he turned and headed towards the back room in search of a pain reliever.