Toss'n'Bail

Posted on Sat Nov 24th, 2012 @ 11:28am by Janice Gree & Cadet Senior Grade Eli Ziyad & Jackson Banning V

Mission: Sections of the Delta Quadrant
Location: Piper Medical

* * *Piper Medical Center * * *

Once Jan and Jackson were out of the waiting room and in the corridor, Jackson leaned back against the bulkhead to steady himself. He still looked far too pale and shaky and his mind was trying frantically to process the overload of memories from Eli. He mumbled something but it was incoherent as the images continued to unfold in his thoughts.

“He did the same thing to Lieutenant Edwards. I don’t think he’ll be the same ever again,” Janice commented, worriedly watching Jackson. “Neither of them will be.” Suddenly, a flash of anger hit her, “Trouble, Jackson. The woman gets a target painted on anyone around her.” They both knew who she meant.

“Are you so sure this is about Oz? She thinks it’s about me, Jan.” He pressed his fingertips to his temples and rubbed in slow circles as he spoke.

“Just like the attacks on Connor were all about Connor?” Janice’s network of information was broader than even Jackson might realize. “Even if this is about you, why you, J? You’re a bar owner. There’s no reason for someone to want you dead.... well, not unless you’ve been putting it to someone who you shouldn’t be putting it to? Oh, wait, you’re marrying that one.”

He grumbled at her, then leaned in to whisper at her ear. “I've become re-employed shall we say?”

“What!? How long ago?” She leaned towards him and, for a long moment while he filled her in, they looked like lovers comforting each other. She slapped his bicep lightly as they parted again. “And you didn’t tell me till now? Both of you? I should take you over my knee!” She fumed for a moment then eased off and stated, “Even so, you haven’t had time to piss anyone off doing that. I stand by my statement that she’s nothing but trouble.”

“Only a few days, and yes Vic too.” He shrugged. “I’ve not even started on anything yet. So we are back to square one.” Jackson sighed then his eyes widened. “Be right back,” And he dashed off down the corridor.

Knowing that look as one of ‘get out of the way, I’m gonna toss my cookies’, Janice watched him go and debated going back into the room with Cassidy, Eli and Woody. Knowing the level of tension in that room, she waited a few moments before doing so.

Moments later, the doors opened and Eli stepped out, the doors closing behind him. He glanced around, then crossed over to Jan. “Is he alright?”

She stared at him a moment then pulled him in for a hard, tight hug. “Oh, honey, he’s not the one I’m worried about. He’ll be fine, though. I think your memories were a touch much for him to take in all at once like that. But it wasn’t someone he loves.” She moved to hold him so she could look at him. “Are you alright?”

“I can’t honestly say, Jan.” His voice was muffled against her shoulder. “I’m not sure what I’ll do without Chance. And something was wrong. I couldn’t sense him, I couldn’t....”

“Shh.... Baby.” She wondered if Eli could sense Chance even when Chance slept. What about mere unconsciousness? “He’ll be okay, the doctors are on it,” she couldn’t hide her own doubt from Eli, though.

“We’ll see I guess. And to answer your question... I don’t know if I'd sense him unconscious. He’s never been that way around me.”

Approaching footsteps heralded Jackson’s return. When he reached them, he wrapped his arms around both of them. “Sorry to run out, Eli. I had to go make use of the facilities.”

“S’okay.” Eli relaxed a bit, now surrounded by the two who had become his erstwhile parents and family on the station.

“I did learn that Harding is still in with him, so maybe that’s a good sign.” Jackson tightened his hold on them. Oh, but he hoped so, though he didn’t have much faith in his own words.

Catching a look from a passing nurse, Janice sighed and said, “Perhaps we should go back in with Woodford and Cassidy, guys. J, Oralia is sleeping? Did the doctors induce that?”

“No she sat down, said she wasn't tired and crashed out. I want to take you back with me Eli, there’s something she wanted to say when she wakes up.”

“Alright.” Eli nodded, then looked to Jan. “Go keep them company?”

Janice nodded and re-entered the waiting room while two of her three - no, five - favorite men headed down the hallway. She’d give anything for this heartache to be over in the next few
minutes.

______________

Jackson Banning V
Owner & Thing One
The Nexus Club

Cadet 4th Class Eli Ziyad
Thing Two

Janice Gree
Owner & Thing Counter
The Nexus Club