InsaneJournal

Who: Greg & Theo
When: Later that evening
Where: Janus Thickey Ward -> St Mungos -> Caretaker's hut
What: Greg finally takes Theo home
Rating: PG-13?



A lot of things had been happening to Theo lately, few of which he remembered, but today they were strangest of all. He'd not been given his usual food fight for the last three days and was fully expecting a force feeding that morning, but it didn't happen. He had been taken out for his shower as usual, but the clothes they'd put him in weren't the usual hospital issued pyjamas - these were some old, strange, Muggle-type trousers in a strange, thick, blue material, a t-shirt of some kind with a picture on it and a robe that had seen better days but was almost sinfully soft.

If that wasn't strange enough, all of his usual routine had been thrown out of the window; he'd been in his room all day and hadn't seen anyone else apart from doctors, streams of doctors it seemed, and the odd one or two orderly. The last one, in fact, had elbowed him so hard in the ribs that it was tender to the touch and he held his arm off the area awkwardly - he'd been told that he'd done something bad, words hissed in his ear about something that someone had done, but if he'd heard properly he hadn't retained the information.

There was some kind of time jump (during which he'd just blanked out as he was wont to do) and when he blinked back to the now it was even later and he was being handed some kind of slack bag containing his things (the stuffed thestral from Zach securely inside), being told it was time to go, a plastic wristband around his skinny wrist. He was shuffled out of his room by an orderly with a hand placed in the region of his back but not touching him - that was never a good idea - and he was ushered into a medical room. He recognised the check up for what it was, but he didn't know why he was having it now. It wasn't the 15th of the month. He knew it wasn't.

He was so busy looking over at the calendar that he didn't see the sedative coming for him until it had pierced his skin and plunged in and by then it was too late. It wouldn't do to have him freaking out on the way to his new home after all.

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Greg had been almost pacing the floor, trying to wait as patiently as he possibly could. He had tried to plan out every step carefully, the correct authorization papers still in his pocket, releasing Theo into his care. Draco had come through, like a champion, and Greg was now in charge of Theo Nott, the custodial papers deeming Gregory Goyle his guardian.

He stopped, and turned sharply, trying to catch the sounds of a door opening or foot steps on the floor, telling him that it was really happening. He had the cottage ready, with what little he could recall that Theo might enjoy: there were books, a slytherin colored spread on the bed and clothes in the closet that Greg thought might be too big but could be sized. He was tempted, and had indeed, snuck onto the Nott Estate and crept to Theo’s room only to be stumped by what he found there; he had no notion of the items he saw would bring back good memories or bad ones. So he’d opted not to bring anything, but instead leave the room more bare. It had a window that could open, but Greg had ensured that the locking charm had been securely laid on it. The kitchen had mugs, plates and bowls, all ceramic, and a tea kettle and a good amount of food in the cupboard; why Greg had done this, he wasn’t quite certain as he could barely cook for himself, let alone Theo. But he thought that if maybe Theo was allowed to cook for himself, he might want to eat.

Greg chewed at a nail as he heard no noise, and thought about his projected route. They could not take the floo, which would have been the best bet. And a broom ride was just too long of a journey to make, especially for Theo just getting out (Greg knew this from personal experience.) So it was apparation. But Greg wasn’t sure how long Theo could handle; it had a habit of making one sick.

He’d found a park, on the outskirts of town, near a pond and had been tempted to take Theo there. But the urgency of getting him home and settled overrode that decision; Greg would take him on an outing there, sooner than later. He had dozens of them planned in his head.

------

Theo didn't know where, or even who, he was right then. They'd never doped him up like this before without carrying him back to his room afterwards, and they'd also put him under some kind of confundus charm as well, so he couldn't keep his head together straight long enough to shake off the sedative, if his scrawny body had even been able to do that.

He concentrated on putting one foot down in front of the other, confused and dopey headed enough without having to navigate as well; luckily the two nurses on either side of him were handling that well enough. He didn't hear the whispers and pointing from the healthier people outside the Janus Thickey ward, people who knew who he was and had never seen a real live Death Eater's son before - if that even meant anything now.

Theo couldn't even remember the last time he'd been outside the Janus Thickey ward, and this time it wasn't just because his mind was more full of holes than swiss cheese. He really hadn't been out of the ward since he'd gone into it, and it was just as well he had no awareness of where he was or he might have panicked. He was led out even further into a waiting room where he was carefully maneuvered into a chair and propped there, waiting like a parcel to be picked up.

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Greg had let himself slouch against a wall, not completely clear where he was supposed to meet or pick up Theo. He noted the two nurses leaving the waiting room that he had refused to stay in, feeling it closing in around him like a cell; walking and waiting in the hall had let the extra nervous energy flow out of Greg.

He rose as he saw them and they passed without a word, but then doubled back a few steps, “He’s in there, waiting for you, Mr. Goyle,,” one said, the sneer in his tone and his expression. Greg felt his fists curl up but he did nothing but stare and then move, suddenly, in a sprint to the room.

And there was Theo, dressed in some odd T-shirt and jeans, and a robe, with a bag over his shoulder. Greg had been told that they would, “administer a mild sedative to help make the transition smoother,” but he was stunned; Theo looked dazed and like he had enough drugs in him to sedate an elephant. He approached Theo, and crouched down below him, his face turned up to the other boy’s. Greg was smiling, “Theo. It’s Greg. I’ve come to take you to our new home. I’m come to take you back to Hogwarts. You want to go?”

Greg hoped that Theo understood some of what he was saying; he hoped that Theo recognized him by some strange luck. He really hoped this was what Theo wanted.

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Theo blinked heavily, slow, like his eyelids were weighted, and he tilted his head with the same speed, a look of confusion coming over his face like he knew he knew Greg but just didn't know how.

He didn't understand what was being said at all, but as a nurse came up to go over the terms of Theo's release with Greg he latched onto a word and repeated it, the sound not coming out too clearly but just about audible; "home..."

The nurse tried to gently take Greg to one side. "Mr Goyle, we would appreciate it if you’d sign these for us-" she held out what looked like hospital admin forms. "-for our records. Mr Nott has been sedated and I believe a similar type of spell has been cast on him which should wear off in three hours or so. All for precaution’s sake you understand." she said, not asking, all businesslike and almost bored.

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Greg nodded, turning his head from the woman to Theo, “He seems really sedated,” he began but she looked bored as she repeated, “It is to assure a safe transition. You should have no problem with him,” she offered as she watched Greg carefully sign his name on the dotted line, “And here as well, please,” she added, almost offer the request as a second thought. Greg didn’t catch it, nor did he care; he was worried about Theo and just wanted to get him home. He signed again and pushed the papers towards her, “Is that it? Can I just take him now?”

He tried not to allow his impatience to show but it was futile; it was clear that he wanted to get the hell out of there at long last. Greg turned to the woman, trying not to scowl, and she took a step back, slightly intimidated even though Greg was a familiar face to her, “Yes, all the documentation is in order. If you would like to take him, please use the main entrance for apparating.”

She seemed to wait, to see if there was another question or concern raised, but Greg was done with them, finished with the lot of them as far as he was concerned. He stepped over to Theo, and bent over, to lift Theo gingerly by one arm and help him stand, or to see if he could even stand.

“Are you ready to get the hell out of here Theo?” he said, moving to put and arm around Theo’s waist at his back, “I sure as hell am,” he said, under his breath.

---------

Theo turned his head to see who it was that was lifting him now, making a small sound of discomfort because he couldn't say he didn't want it, couldn't pull away if he wanted to and his mind was so sluggish. He got to his feet unsteadily and leaned into Greg's chest unthinkingly, reacting to the fact that a strong arm had gone around his waist.

"Get out of hell?" he asked, most of his barely-there weight now supported by Greg. He made a whimpering sound and then nodded, his fingers curling slow but desperate into Greg's shirt. "Get out, get out." he agreed, and even this small amount of speech seemed to tax him. He slumped a little but drew himself back up a moment later, force of habit which was really behaviour learned under atrocious teaching methods. He wasn't with it at all, and he hated it.

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Greg supported his weight easily and he led Theo out of the room, into the hall, “Yes, Theo Nott. We are getting out of this hell. Getting you out into some fresh air. Getting you out into some better place to live.”

He led him down the hall, to the lift, and the operater looked from Greg to Theo and didn’t say a word, but took them straight down to the first floor. There were other people in the lift, and Greg kept a protective arm about Theo, holding him and supporting him still. His mind went to the sedation, and he wondered if he should be giving Theo anything when they got to Hogwarts, things like night potions to help him sleep. He sort of wanted to give Theo a chance to be off of every drug, and let him get some clarity into his life. He wondered if half of Theo’s madness was medicine induced, mixed with a healthy dose of guilt for killing his dad, never mind the effects of hexes on Theo’s poor mind. Greg held Theo, making an odd sight to many: a large strongly built man holding a tall thin man to him. Clearly, there was something there between them, but the people in the elevator made a large effort to avert their eyes, for which Greg was grateful.
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Theo put one foot before the other, letting Greg lead him out with the docile obedience of a child being led away by a charming stranger. He didn't like it in the elevator, turning away from the other people in against Greg's chest and hiding his head there, his shoulderblades bony and visible as such even under his cloak, something hollow about his little body that didn't look quite right, especially juxtaposed against Greg's, turned solid and strong from his years in Azkaban; it was probably a good thing that Theo didn't quite know about that just yet.

He heard the people around him although he couldn't see them, and he trembled, his mind a floating cloud of confusion, so much so that he couldn't tell if they were really moving any longer.

He pulled back enough to look up at Greg, tilting his head to the side with a searching look. "I don't want this." he said suddenly, and who knew what he was referring to. "Please, I don't, I don't want it!" he said louder, distressed, his outburst causing people to look away or look towards them suspiciously, annoyed, gawping.

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Greg paused for a moment, blinking at Theo’s outburst, but wondered what it was that Theo didn’t want. Maybe he didn’t want to be so confused? Or drugged? Or known as Theo Nott even? The notion that Theo didn’t want to leave was not even entertained for a moment by Greg; Theo had to be talking about something else, surely.

“What don’t you want, Theo? I can stop it for you, if I can,” he said, turning his head to Theo in the lift, quietly speaking to him, his hand holding Theo carefully in fear he tried to lurch away. A few people exited the lift while the others still present looked uncomfortable. Greg caught one of the other men’s eyes and he gave him a hard look but didn’t say anything, his lips pressed tightly together; he had no notion how much he scared the crap out of the other man with that glare.

Greg’s attention went back to Theo, “Talk to me. But they gave you some heavy stuff, so you might be swimming around in there. I didn’t want them to give you anything, so you’d know what the hell was going on, but they said it was policy, the fuckers. It will wear off soon, and by then you will be with me. Home with me, Theo, Okay?”
--------

Theo leaned back against Greg, too exhausted thanks to the sedatives by that outburst to do anything else. He said something in broken Old Norse in response to Greg's question before he hid his face back against Greg's shoulder with a small barely-there unhappy mew. He reached to take one of Greg's hands in his those, fingers wrapping round Greg's index finger alone.

"Don't want to, can't, can't go home." he said, his words a little slurred as he struggled through the drugs. "Don't want to join, he'll kill me, he'll kill me but I don't want to, don't want to join, don't want to go home, please... please..." his voice became fainter as he spoke until it was barely a mumble and his strength left him. He slumped low on Greg, starting to slide down as his knees stopped taking even his weight.

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“Not that home, love. Never that home again. You’re coming to our home, just you and me, Greg and Theo’s place,” he said quietly with great affection in his tone. He held Theo, even as the other boy began to slump. Greg was strong, and Theo was far too light, but with his arm around Theo’s waist, Greg supported his weight.

“You don’t have to join anything. We are going to Hogwarts, home at Hogwarts,” he said again, as they stopped on the ground floor and the other people almost fled, with a few backward looks of worry. Greg found Theo still clutching his finger tightly, and he moved that hand around Theo awkwardly as he led him out of the lift. He readjusted his grip, putting Theo’s arm around his shoulder, “Hang onto me if you can. I’ve just to get us out of the doors, then I apparate us to just outside of Hogsmeade. I have a broom stashed away there, and I can fly us home to Hogwarts, to the cottage. How does that sound, Theo? A nice cozy cottage for the two of us. I made up a bedroom for your own, if you want, but,” and Greg adjusted Theo, now holding him with both arms about him. It was a bit awkward, much like holding a rag doll, but Greg wanted Theo walking out of the place of a sorts, on his own feet. And even if the tips of his toes were all that made contact, Theo was going to do it.

Greg went on, his mouth close to Theo’s ear, “You have your own space but I’d much rather you share my bed with me. I’ve missed you so much, love,” he said as they crossed the floor, towards the exit, oblivious of the watching eyes and whispers.
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Theo quietened at Greg's reassurances, imagining a home with Greg, an easy concept of his to grasp as it was one he had thought about all the time before at school, before his mind had come apart and falling like so much scree do the side of a steep cliff. Greg and Theo's place, a place for Greg and Theo; he liked that.

He didn't see the rest of the crowd looking back at them, just lost in thoughts of a place where he wouldn't have to choose. He didn't like those thoughts because they burned and itched his mind and he shook his head a little harshly to shake the thoughts away. "Flying..." he murmured after Greg mentioned it, something he'd never really been gaga over but something that he missed - he couldn't remember the last time he'd flown, but this time it was less because the memory had decayed away and more because it really had been that long ago.

He looked down to see the ground moving under his feet, and struggled to make them work for him - they wouldn't listen to him and he gave up in the end, too dozy from the drugs to try any harder. "A bed?" he said, a little slurred. "Mmm, bed, a bed." he agreed, nodding to the idea, his body so heavy, his mind so sluggish, so, so tired.
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Greg gave a deep chuckle, his chest rumbling next to Theo’s head, “A bed for two, but that will have to wait. I’ve got loads to do to be sure you can manage before I think of anything along those line, love,” he said as they made their way to the door. They exited and he stood for a moment, looking up at the cloudy sky, “Well, are you ready? Hold tight to me, Theo,” Greg directed, and he made sure his hold was tight on Theo, and he thought clearly of the spot he’d picked just outside of Hogsmeade.

With a swirl, Greg took them, spinning thru space, to the spot. They arrived, under a large tree, the spot shady and shielding them from the falling rain that was pattering above their head. Greg held Theo as he got his bearings quickly and he put out one hand, summoning the broom he had hidden in the branches.

“Okay, so part one down. How do you feel? You ready to go on or do you want to sit here for a few moments?”

Greg took his own breath in, deep and clean, the crisp smell of outdoors clearing his head from the stuffiness of inside the hospital. He held his broom in one hand, his other arm wrapped around Theo as he stood, letting the cool air wash over he and Theo.

“When you feel ready, we’ll take our next leg of our journey,” he said.
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Theo liked the rumbly purr of Greg's laughter and he tried to get his hand up high enough to place his fingers flat on Greg's chest, but failed. Enjoying the feeling would just have to do. He stopped, stunned completely when they stood outside, and it was lucky that holding tight to Greg was the only thing keeping him upright just then or he might have hurt himself falling to the floor - he couldn't remember this place and for an instant forgot how he'd managed to get there from inside his room (but at least not from inside his head)

The sudden tug and spin of apparating caught his mind off guard despite the fact that Greg had told him this was about to happen. He hung from Greg like an old coat, his legs completely giving way under him, and it was only when Greg moved his hand to summon the broom that Theo suddenly realised he as going to be sick. He broke away from the secure hold Greg had on him, more sliding out of the grasp than pulling away, and just about managed to get to his knees and face away before he was retching, trying to throw up but nothing in his stomach TO be thrown up. It hurt more than if he'd had something in there to expel out and he turned back for Greg, more than need but a desperate terror there now at being outside, at what had just happened.

He tried to drag himself back into those arms so that it could all go away, trembling and sobbing and all in all an utter mess, all over a small apparating journey.

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Greg dropped the broom as he lurched towards Theo who had managed to slip out of his arms, “Theo! Honey!” he cried, crouching down behind Theo, putting a hand on Theo’s back as he dry heaved. Greg had been worried about the trip; apparating when you were out of balance was a bad experience, much like being drunk and apparating. The spinning only made a person dizzier and sicker.

When Theo turned to him, Greg sat onto the ground and pulled the shaking man-boy to him, gathering him up like he did when they were in the hospital. Greg pulled out a small stopped flask; it held water. Pulling the top off, he put it to Theo’s lips, and tipped it up to let a small drop fall onto Theo’s lips.

“Its only water, honey. Take a drink. It will help,” Greg said, hoping it would. He held it to Theo, still as the quiet of the forest rolled over them. Greg wished he had brought another cloak; sitting here like this was going to chill him and probably freeze Theo in the process.

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Theo shuddered, wanting the world to stop spinning - the vertigo from the trip had mostly dissipated by now, but the giddiness from the drugs and the charm on him had been stirred up a little too vigorously by the travelling; he felt terrible.

Theo pushed his face against Greg's shoulder and hiccuped little sobs there, only pulling back to swallow when Greg fed him the water. He drank from the bottle hungrily, taking too much cold water into a stomach that wasn't used enough to taking food in, but that was something that would hit him later on. The water soothed him, quieted him and he leaned in against Greg, stopping to yawn; the drugs made him so weary; he was too exhausted to even think or care about the fact that he was outside, which was the whole point really. It was as though his mind shut down and turned him into a carry-able state. He murmured nothing and nuzzled in to Greg.

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Greg felt him settle and he slipped the flask into his pocket to rise, lifting Theo into his arms, cradling him as he set up the broom. With an ease from practicing with tools and equipment, flying things about as he carried them on his broom, Greg lifted off the ground only a few feet, with Theo nestled in his arms. He fly the broom, following the path that students took when walking back and forth from the school to the small town. He sped up, leaning forward slightly to prevent some water from getting on his face.

“We’re on the path to school, just like we walked all of those times,” he said, smiling as he thought about those times, “We never took the broom though, and I am not sure why. It certainly makes the trip faster,” he said as they made their way through the woods to come to the gate. He paused, hovering there with Theo in his arms and he took out his wand. He cast the unlocking spell, and it the gates slowly opened, so that he could float the broom through. He paused, and reset the lock, and waited until the gates locked with a click before turning towards familiar ground. He picked up the pace, more accustomed to this territory, eager to get Theo home. But he slowed as he approached the lake, the school large and looming.

“We are almost there,” he said to Theo.
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Theo reached out as much as he was still able to in order to hold onto Greg, trying to get his arms around Greg's shoulders although they fell to his lap as soon as he managed to raise them like a puppet with torn strings. He dozed a little there, the drugs facilitating this so that even though he was being flown along through who-knew-where he was relaxed enough to sleep.

He jolted a few times, waking up in a panic but in a body too weak and shut-off from itself to be able to do anything. He listened to Greg speak though, concentrated on the low sounds although the words weren't unravelling into any kind of sense for him.

He looked up at one point of the journey to see the gates, the metal turns above him peel back and flow away - he cowered against Greg's chest. He risked a look out when Greg spoke to him and he saw... space... fuck... he saw space for the first time in...his whole life... maybe. And it was... it was... it was, oh... so... the cold water in Theo's stomach hit the wall of overwhelming unknown emotion coming the other way and Theo barely managed to turn enough to miss Greg as he retched again, throwing up clear water this time.

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Greg felt Theo move, and when he turned his head down to look at his love, he visibly paled. Theo looked terrible, almost a shade of green, and he halted the broom, even as Theo began to hurl. Greg held Theo, tilting him slightly as he threw up, hovering over the green of the lawn that rolled down to the lake. He felt bad for Theo, and wondered if he was going to be able to get any tea into Theo when they got to the cottage. He hoped so.

When Theo seemed to stop, Greg moved a hand to clear the hair from Theo’s face, “We’ll be there soon. And then you can walk around a bit, or take a nap or do whatever you want,” and he moved the hand to Theo’s back and patted it gently and then kicked off, riding it one handed as he held Theo close. The lake disappeared behind them and soon the cottage was in sight. It didn’t look the way it had but there were elements that were similar. There was a fenced area to the side, that could house a garden, and Greg had built a bench from stone and a small fountain that circulated water. He’d brought paving stones in from the forest and created this small sanctuary with very high walls to keep out prying eyes. It needed more greenery, and that was something he was going to approach the new Herbology professor about, once they all started showing up.

Stepping off the broom, still holding Theo in his arms, Greg look about and was releaved to see nobody about.

“We’re here, Theo. Have a look,” he said, as he helped Theo to his feet. He was there, supporting him, because Greg was certain Theo would fall.

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Theo had always hated being sick but he had about as much control over his body as he did over his mind these days. The drugs were doing him no favours at all and the charm still held strong over him - at least he wasn't overfed. At least when he fell back, exhausted and feeling thin in all ways possible, there were warm arms and a trusted chest to fall back on.

He watched the ground below them move and tried to ignore the spinning, out of head feeling it gave him. Being too potioned up to think was something of a blessing, because he would have been much more panicked about being outside his head than before he'd been sedated.

The cottage was changed enough to look new to him - Greg had ben right to support him because Theo felt his knees wobble as he tried to take it all in. He turned to hide against Greg again like a small child. "They changed it." he said in a voice like a sigh. "Changed it to lose me, lose me, now I'm lost..." his dry whispers slid into murmurs that fell into silence. All he really needed now was sleep.

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Greg gave a small tysking sound and he scooped Theo up in to his arms as he walked towards the door, “Had to be be changed. It was all in rubble from a giant’s attack I believe,” he said, as he moved his one hand to touch the wand in his pocket. The door flew open and Greg stepped inside, carrying Theo like a bride. He paused to use his foot to shut the door, and then moved across their living space to the room that was to be Theo’s. He set Theo in the overstuffed chair he’d put in the corner as he moved to pull back the coverlette. He wasn’t going to undress Theo yet; he thought he’d just nap for a bit and then wake up and maybe want to roam the grounds some with him.

“I got most of this from home and I nicked some from the Room of Requirements. It’s still there, but loads of the stuff in it is charred. I took the best, and managed to get the smell out of some of it, like the rug in the other room. But this is from home,” he said, touching the bed post and then turned to hunker down in front of Theo, “There were hidden treasures there really. I’m just glad that I got to go through most of it. There’s still plenty more there if you ever feel up to changing things out,” and Greg paused, looking into Theo’s face. He shook his head slightly, “I’m talking to myself of course,” he mused, as he reached forward to gather a bleary eyed Theo into his arms before laying him on the very soft mattress. Greg had gone through the entire house and had discarded other choices as being too hard for Theo’s thin bones. This one, a bed used by his Dad’s gran, was exceedingly soft and pillowy; Greg hoped it would help Theo sleep better. The blanket was also very soft, and the sheets were a flannel he’d come across. It had every comfort Greg could imagine for his Theo, sort of a heater under neath. Greg would cast a warming spell once he got Theo situated. He thought the cabin a bit cold.
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Slightly disturbed by hearing that, Theo turned a little, trying to focus on Greg's face. "Giant's turned to rubble, yes, rubble, it can't, can't get fixed..." his words dissolved into a hushed silence when he saw the house. It was literally like nothing he remembered ever seeing before, something so attractive and comfortable and loved that when Greg put him down in the chair to turn the bed down he just sank into it with a sigh, more relaxed than any sedative could ever make him.

He barely heard Greg explain, but even that background noise was soothing to him. He looked up and tried to seem awake as Greg came down to his face level, speaking of treasures. He was right about talking to himself unfortunately, Theo had mostly checked out by this point.

He made a little noise when Greg lifted him again, but by this time it didn't really matter where Theo was as long as he wasn't holding his own weight up, he'd still fall asleep.

He almost sank into the bed, and the shock of it made him draw a deep breathe, about to panic until the fatigue overcame him again. He wasn't quite done though... he flung his arm out, hand turned up and fingers out for Greg to take before he finally fell into an unnatural sleep.

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Greg had thought to slip over to the chair and watch Theo sleep, but he instead caught Theo’s hand and moved onto the bed next to Theo. It was soft and yielding and Greg sank down next to Theo wanting only to hold him as he could.

I can lie here for a bit next to him, he thought to himself, as he took Theo’s hand and raised it to his mouth, to kiss the fingertips and then the top. Turning it, Greg let his lips find Theo’s palm and then he curved the fingers around the surface, “There, you have a kiss to keep you warm and safe. You are safe here, Theo, always. And you can live here as long as you fancy, because I’ll mind you, and look out for you,” he murmured even as he leaned on his side, on one of his hands so that he could look over at Theo’s face.

Greg fretted slightly that he’d fall asleep, with Theo, and then not be awake when the other boy rose. But the warmth growing between them was too much for Greg, and even with his bubbling excitement, he found himself emotionally tired from the hours and hours of preparation and waiting in the hospital. He let himself settle more, and moved to put his wand down, tucking it beneath the mattress so it wouldn’t break or be to readily available to wandering fingers.

“I can’t believe you are really here,” Greg said, as he let himself close his eyes, and lean against Theo. It was the best, far better than he’d imagined, comfortable and clean and private, unlike the drab dreary hospital room.
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Theo slept and the weight of the charms that he was under kept him there without dreams. It was a blessing for someone who had nightmares while he was awake sometimes, and it meant that he didn’t stir even once when Greg slid in with him.

He woke up confused because he was a little more lucid than usual and he didn’t recognise where he was - he felt the body beside his though, and that sparked off confusing memories for him. His breathing came in shivers and he reached a hesitant hand towards Greg’s chest, his touch there light. It twisted something in his helixed little mind and he shook his head, whimpering, but his hand started a slow descent over Greg, making for the waistline even as Theo became increasingly distressed; hell knew what was going through his mind for him to be doing this to himself.

He stopped with thin, cold fingers primed to slip under and search, holding still there and shaking harder again. “Please, please please please.” he whimpered the way he did, begging that expected no mercy.