The Marathon [Rowena]

[Max Kameren]

There was one day each year that every member of St. Mungo's was scheduled to work. Everyone, from nurses to Potions Masters to the highest-level Healers gathered in the hospital. That day more than half the staff was delegated to Emergencies, working together to heal the incoming workload. Gurneys were set up, mobile curtain-privacy rooms were set up to help the injured and inebriated. That day was worse than Halloween and New Years Eve emergencies combined.

That day was the UK Quidditch Cup Finals. Today was that day. They'd gotten lucky this year; the morning had been relatively quiet, with the beginning injuries and drunken scenes trickling in later in the afternoon. Now it was evening, and the door to Mungo's Emergency Ward was turning non-stop.

The two Potions Masters, Max Kameren and Jackson Wells, stood back-to-back between two long tables in the widest part of the Emergencies hallway. Surrounding them were the contents of their respective offices: ingredients, cauldrons, mortar and pestles, and anything else they'd need for a quick potions-made solution to whatever walked through the door. The two had been brewing Sobering Potions since the early morning; though they were relatively quick to brew, Sobering Potion only had a shelf-life of a few hours. The Potions team had brewed countless cauldrons worth of potion, but today were still barely ahead of the hospital's demand. Harper and Jackson's apprentice, Stella, were running ragged taking the potions to the neediest party as soon as they were pulled from the cauldron. After several hours brewing, Max and Jackson were feeling the fatigue, too.

"Bloody Hell, we need to get a night potions crew for times like this." Jackson spoke over his shoulder to his taller colleague as he waited for a potion to turn color before bottling.

"I'm fairly sure I'm the night crew and you're the day crew," Max replied. He wiped a drop of sweat from his brow, cringing as he extracted stinksap from the sprig of Mimbulus Mimbletonia on his cutting board. "'Sides, we have Harper and Stella if we need back-ups when they aren't acting as glorified wait staff." The two Potions Masters finally breathed easily again then the stinksap was deposited into Max's cauldron.

"Yeah, I suppose. Just wish we didn't have to have all hands on deck for this every year, you know?" Jackson shrugged as he began funneling Sobering Potions into vials and setting them aside for the apprentices. He grinned over his shoulder. "I suppose you don't know, you're work-obsessed." Max grunted in response as he twisted Boba Leaves to cut more easily. "Speaking of work-obsessed, how's you and Covington going?"

Max paused for a moment to turn and give his grinning friend a glowering look. "Really, Jack? You're better than this." The truth was, Max had no idea where they stood; after their disastrous first date it appeared Rowena hated him again, but she’d cooled on her hatred after he helped her. She’d been gone for the few days since then, tending to her parents. The night after their trip to the muggle hospital Max had sent Rowena a text checking in, but never received a response. Personally, Max had no idea how he felt about her anymore; their romance had been so brief that he hadn’t really been able to sort out his feelings from hers. He knew he thought she was smart and funny, he knew he really liked kissing her, but with her feelings for him somewhere south of pleasant at the moment that didn’t amount to much. All he knew for now was that he wanted to try again.

"What? It was nice! They only way either of you will find someone is if you run into them in the St. Mungo's Hallways." Jackson laughed, grinning. "Besides, the couple weeks you two were making eyes at each other were some of the most peaceful this hospital's seen in years. You're both terrors; just terrorize each other."

Without a word Max bumped Jackson, spilling the potion he was funneling down the front of his green St. Mungo's robes. Jackson groaned, but was drowned out by an announcement coming from the Emergencies front desk.

QUAFFLE'S UP, EVERYONE! THE GAME IS ON! EXPECT A LULL WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

"Oh thank Merlin." Jackson whined. Max shook his head, smiling. It suddenly faltered when he glanced up to meet the eyes of who was standing in front of his station.

[Rowena Jones]

The past five days had been an absolute rollercoaster for Rowena Covington. Not long after Max had left, her father had had a relapse, his body convulsing, leaving Ro and her mother watching from outside the room in panic, holding each other for comfort, as the doctors and nurses rushed around attempting to save him. He’d recovered but been left more tired than ever and subsequent visits had been hushed and short. Finally, after 24 hours with no sign of regression, he’d been moved out of the CCU and to a different ward to finish his recovery. He was on a whole hoard of medication now and Rowena vowed to look into if there were any potions she could use to supplement his care.

Now he was back home, under the watchful eye of the nurses who had for so long taken care of Elizabeth. Rowena hadn’t left either of her parent’s side, so worried that she’d blink and lose one of them. She’d updated Milton and Albert on the situation who had told her to take as much time as she needed. She had so many Annual Leave days saved up that she thought they were glad she was finally using them.

Nevertheless there had been a silver lining to the whole affair. With her father on strict bed rest, the young witch spent a lot of her time with her mother. Edward had been right. The medication was working extraordinarily well to keep Elizabeth’s mind focused and clear. She still forgot minor things like where she’d put her cup of tea or where the kitchen was, and her body was still failing meaning she tired easily but for the first time in years, mother and daughter could spend several days in each other’s company without a single incident in sight.

Of course, this also had a downside. Elizabeth was keen to rectify what she considered her absence of motherly duty. Which in Ro’s case meant a lot of pestering about that nice looking boy she had brought to the hospital. There was only so much changing the subject Ro could do and eventually she broke down and confessed that they’d been on date and it had been wonderful until she’d screwed it up. She’d received a few reprimands over her foolishness for that but the subsequent hugs had helped her move past it and see more clearly.

She’d gone for a long ride about the countryside to try and clear her head and decide what she was going to do. She liked Max. She’d suspected it since the fundraiser, confirmed it during their afternoon together at the bookstore and then run away from it that very same evening.

“The heart wants what the heart wants my darling,” Elizabeth had said, looking knowingly at her daughter. “Just because you’re afraid doesn’t mean that it’s not right,”

She knew that he’d liked her too, had had the proof from his touch, been sure of it until she’d messed things up and now she hadn’t a clue where she stood. His helping her at the hospital hadn’t helped at all. She had no doubt he’d acted on instinct more than care for her. It was ironic really. She’d been scared of the power he’d had over her in getting her to open up, in the connection they had shared, but by running away she’d left the ball entirely in his court. If she apologized, he could refuse to accept it. If she asked him out again, he could turn her down. Both situations terrified her.

“Falling in love is about trusting your partner. It is scary. But the potential is worth it. Look at your father and me. I was terrified at first, this wonderfully, sharp tongued, bossy man who took my breath away just by smiling at me. But falling in love is half the adventure sweetie. You just have to find the man worth falling for.”

And that was the real crux of the question. ‘Was Max worth the risk?’ It wasn’t even about falling in love at this point. But if they were going to have any real chance at something, she was going to have to learn to be ok with opening up and the potential between them.

The ride didn’t help find the answer, though it had felt good to spend the hours outside. She’d returned to find her parents waiting for her.

“Rowena, darling, we both think it’s time you go back to work. We’ll be fine now. We both need some rest and you need to face whatever problems you have. We’ll be right here whenever you need us, whatever happens but you can’t keep hiding here.”

She’d opened her mouth to argue that they still needed her to look after them but a sharp glare had silenced her and she’d bowed her head in defeat. A few hugs and kisses later she’d returned to her home in London, been bowled over in greeting by her cats and braced herself for work. Never had she been more nervous about going to Mungos.

She woke early and Rowena busied herself with the thought of paperwork. She’d decided last night that she wasn’t going to avoid Max but nor was she going to seek him out. If the ball was in his court, then she’d leave it there for now. Besides, she’d have so much catching up to do today after being away almost a week! She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been away so long… had she ever been away this long? It was the coward’s way out she realized but with everything that had happened that week, she didn’t feel up to being brave.

It was only as she arrived at work that she realized what day she had chosen to return to work on. The UK Quidditch Cup Finals. She almost turned around and left again, but then rationalized this was exactly what she needed. A hard, exhausting day at work to keep her thoughts focused and away from Max.

The morning passed quickly, with Rowena doing everything she could to stay busy, answering any call for help and filling out paperwork whenever there was a lull. She kept her head down, avoiding looking at the area where Max and Jackson were working as much as possible. It was hard. Now that she’d acknowledged that she still liked him, it felt like there was an invisible cord pulling her to him and the work load during the day wasn’t as heavy as it had been in past years.

By the time the evening came, Rowena had changed her mind. She would go and apologise for the way she had reacted at the restaurant. She hoped that by doing so she could close the door on it all and her stupid emotions would stop making her think about kissing Max again.

QUAFFLE'S UP, EVERYONE! THE GAME IS ON! EXPECT A LULL WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

Well no time like the present, she thought, as she finished up on her current patient who had somehow spelled his tankard to be permanently stuck to his hand. Those damn butterflies were back with a vengeance as she made her way towards the Potions stations and as Max met her gaze, they doubled in number.

“Hi…” she said nervously, “I, urm, can I, I just wanted to say…” Why was apologizing so hard?!

“Oh for the love of Magic, this is painful to watch,” Jackson interjected, “Just kiss and make up already!”

Rowena whirled on him, “Did I ask for your opinion Jackson? No! Then kindly fuck off!” she hissed.

Jackson gestured pointedly at his work station and Rowena’s anger disappeared in the second it took embarrassment to take over. She’d been so absorbed in her task of trying to apologise to Max that she’d forgotten they were standing in a very public area. “Oh shit. Sorry Jackson… I’m just, argh! Nevermind.” This was not working. The whole hospital was going to think she was crazy now. Maybe she should just start looking for a new job.

[Max Kameren]

“Hi…” she said nervously, “I, urm, can I, I just wanted to say…”

“Oh for the love of Magic, this is painful to watch,” Jackson interjected, “Just kiss and make up already!”

Max opened his mouth for a retort, but Rowena beat him to the punch and then some. “Did I ask for your opinion Jackson? No! Then kindly fuck off!” Max couldn't help the small smile that came to his lips at Rowena's barked insult, letting his affection for her slightly show in that moment. Was it strange that he found her swearing cute? “Oh shit. Sorry Jackson… I’m just, argh! Nevermind.”

"Really, you're doing this now? Today?!" Harper stopped in front of Max's station, her dark eyes darting between her mentor and Healer Covington before she arched a brow judgmentally. "Max, you're going to have to double up on that deflation potion, five idiots just walked through the door with all their hands blown up into #1 fingers."

"Somehow they're even more exhausting than the Quidditch Finals could ever be." Jackson called over his shoulder.

Max sighed desperately. "Why have seven people done this today?! Just buy the finger at the game..." He put a pause on the cauldron and pulled out another Mimbulus Mimbletonia from his ingredients chest to extract the stinksap. "Ro, I'm sorry but can we do this la- ugh, damnit Jackson!"

Jackson had bumped Max into his cutting board right when he was extracting the stinksap, causing the entire pustule to explode onto him. The smell was horrendous; the entire hallway erupted in the stink of warm manure, causing staff to turn their heads and a few unlucky patients to wretch in disgust. Max threw down his knife, glaring over his shoulder at Jackson as he pulled off his robes. To his dismay the stink juice had gotten through, soaking a rancid orange stain into the front of his shirt.

"Oh no, Max needs to go somewhere private and take his clothes off, could anyone help him?" Jackson arched a brow in Rowena's direction, winking at max as he turned.

Max's sigh turned into a growl of annoyance as the tall Potions Master stepped over their communal ingredient mess to get out from behind the table. As much as he hated the idea of Jacksons prank working, he couldn't very well continue the day standing in a hallway smelling strongly like shit. "Jackson, you're a child."

"True." Jackson beamed.

"Harper, take the wheel on this potion until I get back. Stella can run for both of you."

"Got it." Harper couldn't hide the smile on her face at the idea of getting behind the potions table; Max knew having her run bottles around was a slow sort of torture for his apprentice.

"Rowena..." Max looked at Jackson's beaming face and rolled his eyes, resigning to his fate. He cocked his head in the direction of his office, balling up his robes in his hands. "Come with me."

[Rowena Jones]

"Really, you're doing this now? Today?!"

Rowena’s internal confusion disappeared at that remark and she scowled darkly in Harper’s direction. Max might have her acting like a fool but she’d be damned if she’d let everyone talk to her so disrespectfully.

“I didn’t realize I’d asked for your opinion either Harper.” Rowena spat. “And I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came to ask for a medical opinion on a case.” Ok. So that was total bullshit but Rowena had had enough with people assuming that she was some lovesick fool that they could all comment on.

"Somehow they're even more exhausting than the Quidditch Finals could ever be." Jackson called over his shoulder.

Apparently everyone in this hospital had an opinion on Max and hers relationship or lack of one. Did they not have their own lives? Why were they so bloody interested all of a sudden? Max and her had worked at Mungos for years and no one had ever had the cheek to say things like this to her. This had obviously been a mistake. She glanced at Max trying to think of a way out of this awkward situation.

"Ro, I'm sorry but can we do this la- ugh, damnit Jackson!"

An awful smell washed over Rowena as the stinksap pustule burst onto Max and she couldn’t help but turn away, her nose wrinkling in disgust. That was not pleasant. Why had Jackson been so careless… oh. What was it with everyone around them trying to set them up!? First Milton, then her own parents and now even Jackson was joining in. Couldn’t they see Max wasn’t interested anymore?

"Oh no, Max needs to go somewhere private and take his clothes off, could anyone help him?" Jackson arched a brow in Rowena's direction, winking at Max as he turned.

She flushed at the imagery that sentence conjured, her imagination immediately supplying her with plenty to be embarrassed about. She glared at Jackson, about to chew him out again when Max spoke, resignation evident in her voice.

"Rowena… Come with me."

Well that really sounded like he was enthusiastic about spending any time alone with her. “Oh…no, it’s oka-” she started to say, part of her terrified at the idea of being alone with him, the other not wanting to be any closer to that awful smell. She’d only wanted to apologise so that she could focus on her job and move past all of this. Instead she’d ended up in some soap drama scene that was taking way too long and getting far too much attention. Maybe she would be better just following him. Then she could get this apology out of the way in private and forget about it.

“Ok,” she said meekly, startled at how quickly the tables had turned. Their last interaction had had her leading and Max following. Now she felt like a lamb in a lions den. Powerless. The walk to his office was deafening in its silence and she spent the time trying to figure out how to wrestle back some semblance of control.

The sound of the door closing behind them as they entered the private room shocked her into speaking.

“Look Max, I just wanted to apologise for how I acted after dinner the other week. I was in the wrong and I just wanted you to know I am sorry for leaving so suddenly.” She debated explaining why, but he hadn’t shown any interest in her since so she rationalized he wasn’t bothered about her reasons. “Oh and thanks again for helping with my dad. I think that’s um, that’s all I had to say. You don’t really need any help with that do you?” she said quickly, gesturing towards him and his stained clothes. She tried to ignore the small voice in her brain that was begging Max to ask her for aid but couldn't stop the small blush as she looked at him.

[Max Kameren]

“Oh…no, it’s oka-” Max turned off towards his office any way, and Rowena followed through her denials. He could hear Jackson's cackle still as he turned the corner, trying to wipe his hands on his robes to get the stinksap off. “Ok,” she said meekly, startled at how quickly the tables had turned.

She followed him to his office in deafening silence. Max was confused by her presence; what was this? Was she here to apologize, and if so why not just do it while they were walking? This was the busiest day of the year, especially for the potions staff; Harper was right, Max didn't have time to stare wistfully into Rowena's eyes for very long. When they reached his office he opened it for Rowena, cocking his head to invite her in. He followed behind and pushed the door behind them closed with a heavy thud.

The sound of the door closing behind them as they entered the private room shocked her into speaking. “Look Max, I just wanted to apologise for how I acted after dinner the other week. I was in the wrong and I just wanted you to know I am sorry for leaving so suddenly.”

As she spoke Max deposited his robes into a wide copper bin in the only empty corner of his office. He took off his shirt and tossed that on top, only to realize to his dismay that his undershirt had also been stained. He mentally cursed whatever deity was staring down on them before stripping to his bare chest and throwing that on top. He nudged the bin with his foot and it erupted in smokeless flames, incinerating the smelly clothes into ashes.

He turned to her and met her eyes, trying desperately to ignore the fact that he was standing shirtless in his office with her like they were about to pose for the cover of a medical-themed romance novel. “It’s fine, Ro, really. And sorry about earlier, the Potions team is...unprofessional when they think no one’s looking.” He shrugged; as half the leadership of the Potions team Max was entirely complicit in that unprofessionalism, but he would let that idea hang in the air on its own. He raised a hand and a t-shirt shot out of the coat closet over Rowena’s shoulder and into Max’s open hand.

“Oh and thanks again for helping with my dad. I think that’s um, that’s all I had to say. You don’t really need any help with that do you?” she said quickly, gesturing towards him and his stained clothes.

Max looked down at the shirt in his hands and back up at Rowena with a teasing stare. “A t-shirt? I don’t know, it’s pretty sophisticated technology but I think I have it Healer Covington.” Max’s empathy caught the conflicting tension in Rowena and he stalled for a second, reveling in the power trip of her swirling aura. She’d left him waiting for the last week to hear how she felt; it was a bit of a guilty pleasure letting her twist in the wind for just a moment. He let himself smile as he pulled the t-shirt over his head and down.

“How’s your dad? Back at Batman’s house, I presume?” Max crossed the office and stopped with his hand on the doorknob. “I texted you after the hospital visit, thought it would be the best way to get ahold of you in the muggle world.” That hadn’t worked, as he hadn’t heard back.

As soon as Max opened the door green sparks burst in, circling around his head and leading back to the potions station. He groaned, picking up speed to get back to the chaos. “Oh, god, what now?!”

[Rowena Jones]

“Look Max, I just wanted to apologise for how I acted after dinner the other week. I was in the wrong and I just wanted you to know I am sorry for leaving so suddenly.”

As she spoke Max removed his shirt and then his undershirt. Rowena was momentarily dumbstruck as she was suddenly faced with his bare chest. Words deserted her as he apologized for the Potions department but all she could focus on was the skin on display. Concentrate Ro, you’re being so unprofessional! She scolded herself, snapping out of her daze. It seemed all they did these days was apologise to each other. She wondered if it was because they had nothing else to say. They’d have to end the cycle at some point.

“Oh and thanks again for helping with my dad. I think that’s um, that’s all I had to say. You don’t really need any help with that do you?” she said quickly, gesturing towards him.

Max looked down at the shirt in his hands and back up at Rowena with a teasing stare. “A t-shirt? I don’t know, it’s pretty sophisticated technology but I think I have it Healer Covington.”

How did he do it?! Max just had a way of making her feel like a complete idiot. “That’s not what I meant… urgh!” she threw her hands up in exasperation even as her blush deepened. She was one of the smartest witches of her age and here was a man, reducing her to an imbecile. Enough was enough. She needed to get some control back here somehow, but Max got there first, changing the topic to something more personal.

“How’s your dad? Back at Batman’s house, I presume?” Max crossed the office and stopped with his hand on the doorknob. “I texted you after the hospital visit, thought it would be the best way to get ahold of you in the muggle world.”

“You did? Urm… he had another attack...I’m sorry, I must of missed it.” Another apology. She dimly remembered seeing an unread message but everything had been so frantic and then she’d been so absorbed in spending time with her family that she hadn’t given it a second thought. She wondered what he’d written but it would be a bit awkward to look at it now, in front of Max. She was going to say more but he opened the door and was immediately greeted by green sparks, prompting him to rush down the hallways, leaving Rowena standing there dumbly.

She thought about following him but what was the point? She’d hoped for something… she didn’t know what really, but anything to tell her that maybe she still had a chance. She paused. She really should get back to the Pit and help out but there were plenty of Healers. Potions really did have it worse today with only four of them available to work. She could spare a few more seconds to check her phone.

Opening her messages, Rowena spotted Max’s immediately. She only really used her phone for her parents and the nursing staff who looked after them so the unknown number was pretty obvious. It wasn’t some proclamation of love or anything that would have made the whole ‘is he still interested?’ question easy to answer, but the simple check in, the thoughtfulness of it gave Rowena all the determination she needed. No more apologizing. She was just going to go up to him and tell him that she wanted another shot. Well ok. Maybe she’d wait until he was less busy. If he was going to reject her, it’d be nice to not have it become a public spectacle.

Mind made up and actually feeling a little better for it, she marched back towards Emergencies. She passed Max dealing with his emergency and couldn’t stop the image if him topless flashing in her mind. Well that was going to be a little inconvenient…even if it wasn’t unpleasant. She grinned to herself and took the next patient who passed her, an extremely large man who seemed to have nothing apparent wrong with him but who insisted on being examined. Privately. She shrugged, still a little distracted thinking about how she was going to ask Max out. Some of these big tough looking men were a bit delicate about some situations.

She was just about to take him into one of the rooms used for these cases when a spell narrowly missed her. The young witch looked around startled. Who was throwing Stupefys around willy nilly?! The Impedimenta Jinx that followed seconds later had her yelping out in shock and ducking into the room. What the fuck was going on?! This was a hospital, not a duelling range!

The sudden blare of the siren deafened Rowena but didn’t really surprise her after being almost hit with two spells. Something was up. That noise was never a good sign, meaning a distressed patient was missing or a dangerous person was on the loose. Either way, lockdown was about to hit Mungos. She should have known the day had gone too smoothly. The Quidditch Cup Finals were never an easy day. She turned to make sure her patient was ok, only to be faced with a wand pointed squarely at her face.

“Get me out of here or you’ll regret it.” Oh for fucks sake. This was just the cherry on the cake. She really should have stayed home after all. How was she going to get out of this one now?

[Max Kameren]

"What's happening now?" Max came around the table of the Potions station, inspecting the cauldron Harper was furiously waving her wand over. 

"It's fouling, it's fouling and I can't get it to stop!" It was the deflation potion he'd paused earlier, starting to turn. Max had forgotten to release the pause before Harper started brewing over it, causing two parts of the potion to brew at different paces instead of mixing together.

"Shit, Harper that's my fault. I've got it." Max released the pause with a wave of his hand and the two potions began to mix, their colors evening. "Grab the extension elixir out of the side of my ingredient box, a couple drops will put it right." Max and Harper traded places as Max began to pour out potions for their big-fingered patients. "You couldn't have leant a hand there, Jack?"

"I've been lending enough hands today, thank-you-very-much." Jackson grinned over his shoulder from where he was standing over one of his own cauldrons, counting out mix rotations. His smile faltered as he looked Max over. "Why do you look like a schlubby muggle?"

"Because Mungo's doesn't really carry spare robes for people who are six-and-a-half feet tall." Max didn't look up from where he was pouring out potions, passing them off to Harper who passed them to nurses in a never-ending healing bucket brigade. "Thanks for that, by the way. I'll have my revenge later I'm sure."

"Did you at least snog in your office?" 

"Jack, can't you please wait to torture us with your dull sense of humor until the lull?" Stella appeared from nowhere to take potions off of Jackson's hands, rolling her wide pale-blue eyes. "Leave Max alone, if he wants to be a loveless vagrant that's his decision." Max paused to glare at Jackson's apprentice as Jackson cackled.

The potions team's banter was suddenly interrupted as the lights suddenly brightened in the hallway and the hospital's alarm sounded. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Jackson looked around, frantically moving to preserve his brewing potions, "this has to be a drill, right? Why now?"

Max searched through the mental map of auras in the hospital in search of the problem. When he found it, his emerald eyes widened. He dropped his potions knife and quickly paused all his cauldrons, vaulting over the potions table to get out into the hallway. "Fffffuck. No, it's real. Harper, lock the ingredients chest in my office and help move patients." 

"Wh-What are you going to do?"

Max shrugged. "Help, I guess?" Jackson pulled out his wand as if to follow Max, but he pushed him back by the shoulder in the direction of the patients. Jackson was as lousy duelist, he would be more helpful moving patients. "Call the Aurors and help the patients, Jack." With that Max turned and hurried down the hall in the direction of the offending aura, with - what a surprise - Rowena's red pin next to him.

Protego and Expelliarmus spells already glowing silver and red on his finger tips, Max leaned against the wall around the corner from where the spells had been thrown, listening. “Get me out of here or you’ll regret it.”

"Listen to him, listen to him..." Max mouthed silently, pressed against the wall. He extended out his empathy, doing his best to open it only to Rowena, letting her know his location. Max wasn't sure what they were dealing with, yet; if Rowena could bring him around the corner Max could use the element of surprise. 

[Rowena Jones]

Rowena raised her hands to show her angry patient/aggressor that she wasn’t going to hurt him and nodded slowly.

“Ok, sir. But we’re going to have to move quickly… the doors will lock soo-” She faltered as she felt the unmistakable touch of Max’s empathy. He was here!

“What’s wrong?! Why did you stop talking?!” There was a sharp jab in her side as the man threatened her with his wand again. “Don’t try no funny business. You get me out and I won’t hurt your pretty face.”

Rowena thought quickly. If she could help Max surprise the man then maybe he could take him down. “Sorry. I was just trying to think of the best way to help you escape,” she said, trying to placate him. “Follow me,” She led him out of the room, all too aware of the wand pointed in her direction. He was too close for her to have any chance of blocking and she wasn’t any good in duels. No. Max would have to save her. Despite the situation, she wanted to groan in annoyance. He was going to lord this one over her for months. The day Max Kameren saved Rowena Covington. It was almost worth not leading the man past him.

They turned the corner passed where Max was hiding and she tensed, praying that he had an idea.

Suddenly spells were flying and it was all Rowena could to press herself against the wall and hope she wasn’t about to die. She grabbed her wand, unsure what to do with it but feeling better for having it ready in case she was needed. She looked up to watch Max fighting with her attacker and blinked as another man joined the fray. Was he helping them? Shit. Nope. Another bad guy. She should help right? She was smart and clever. She lifted her wand and cast a body bind towards the newest arrival, missed and only succeeded in drawing his attention. She didn’t have time to blink as a spell raced in her direction.

It hit her in chest, and she looked down in shock expecting to see blood spurting out of a cavernous hole or something else equally as dire but she just felt rather tingly. She groaned. That was never good. Something bad was going to happen because of those tingles and she had no idea what spell he had just cast.

Seconds later, their opponent got lucky, catching them both in an exploding spell as he ran off with his friend. They were thrown across the hallway, through an open door and landed in a pile on the floor. Rowena moaned in pain, trying to figure out which was up but quickly realized she couldn’t move her right arm. Her hand was stuck on something… that was odd.

She looked to where said hand was and cringed, even as her cheeks burned up. Why was one of her hands stuck on Max’s bottom?! And speaking of awkward placement… there was a distinct feeling of almost chest grabbing and when she looked at Max’s hands, she confirmed that he was also in hand placement hell.

“Oh fuck,” she said, sure she must be aflame by now. She was lying under Max thanks to the exploding spell and he was feeling her up. Not on purpose of course but it was happening all the same. She supposed he’d tried to stop his fall and she’d just happened to be in the way.

At least, it looked like she’d figured out what that tingly spell was. A freaking modified sticking hex that apparently only worked with human contact. They definitely needed to reverse this and as she had the only hand currently unoccupied in the gropfest, it was going to be up to her. No way was Max attempting wandless with his hands where they were! She needed her wand. Where was her wand?

Rowena spotted it on the floor still sitting in the corridor. Great. She was about to ask Max’s help in figuring out how to stand up while still stuck together and get to it, when there was a final shriek of the alarm and the doors of the hospital shut with a resounding bang. No! No no no no no no. They had not just gotten locked in this room with her wand outside and their hands stuck like this! Those doors would be shut for the minimum 10 minutes regardless of if Milton or some other authority lifted it. It was standard procedure.

She ought to say something, but she couldn’t think of anything sensible in such an awkward situation. “Urm… shit? Can we try to sit up or something? This lying down thing is making this way worse,” she finally said, blatantly ignoring the elephant in the room. Maybe it would wear off soon…?

[Max Kameren]

Max let out a silent breath when he heard Rowena start directing her assailants towards him, trying to focus himself and push the other auras of the hospital out. His father and uncle had trained him heavily after his kidnapping as a kid, but somehow this was Max’s first actual non-formal duel. He knew it would be much faster and less predictable, so he tried to prepare multiple spells at once to wandlessly cast.

“Follow me,” She led him out of the room. Max opened his eyes, balling his glowing hands into fists. This was it.

As soon as the wizard cleared the corner Max struck. His Expelliarmus knocked the wand out of the surprised wizard’s hand. With Max’s other hand he cast Protego, making a large silver oval-shaped shield that pinned Rowena between it and the wall. The wizard wasn’t disarmed for long, diving for his wand in the narrow hallway and going on the offensive. “Rowena, go! Get help! It’ll move with you – “ Max struck down a stunning spell from the attacker, backing up towards Rowena to try to get her to move through her shock with the shield’s shove.

Suddenly there were two attackers. A little fear went through Max; he wasn’t sure he could hold off two for long, especially if the second man was as good a duelist as the first one. He tried sent several stunning spells in the direction of the first wizard, finally hitting him. The man slumped momentarily against the wall, dropping his wand. Max didn’t have time to celebrate it, as a binding charm quickly flashed in his peripheral vision from the second attacker. On reflex Max lifted the shield spell to stop it; in that same split second, Rowena was hit.

“Shit, shit. Sorry!” Max grabbed Rowena by the small of her back and pulled her in close to him so the shield could cover them both. His emerald eyes took a to examine her worriedly for injury. Had the spell done anything, or was it ineffective?

Max resumed the duel with the second wizard; not seeing the first one had stood up and returned to battle, blowing both healers back with an exploding spell. They toppled backwards into the room Rowena and the assailant had come from landing in a pile on the floor. Max twisted at the last second to absorb more of the fall, landing with an unpleasant pop in his shoulder. He squeezed his eyes as pain seared through him, trying to roll off of Rowena. The pull of his hand stopped him, and he couldn’t move. What happened? Had the wall caved in with the force of the spell? Were they pinned?

“Oh fuck,”

“Ro,” Max grunted in pain as he tried to roll away from her again. Why couldn’t he move his hands? “You’ve gotta move. You’re on my shoulder and – fuck – I think it’s dislocated.” As they got up the final siren wailed and the door swung closed, locking them in.

“Urm… shit? Can we try to sit up or something? This lying down thing is making this way worse.”

He cursed loudly in pain as he pushed them both up to a sitting position, relieving the pressure on his injured joint. The painful pressure finally off, Max opened his eyes to a whole new horror they were stuck in: the reason Max couldn’t move his hand was because it was hexed to Rowena’s chest. His dislocated-shoulder hand was wrapped around her, stuck strongly to the small of her back. Rowena’s awkward feelings washed over his and he groaned in a whole different kind of pain. The two were tangled in the world’s most un-sexy foreplay.

Unable to move further away, Max bowed his head, just trying to catch his breath for a moment before tackling their newest set of problems. “Do you have a free hand? Can you get us unstuck?” He shifted uncomfortably, trying to move without upsetting his injured shoulder. "What's under me? Can you grab it?"

After a few moments of resting he lifted his head back up, meeting Rowena’s eyes and glancing warily down at his hand on her chest and back up at her face. “I think I already know the answer to this question, but should I try to un-stick myself?”

[Rowena Jones]

“Do you have a free hand? Can you get us unstuck?” Max shifted, trying to move without upsetting his injured shoulder and Rowena winced as her arm got squished. "What's under me? Can you grab it?"

“Yes I do. And no I can’t. My wand is on the other side of that door.” Rowena said with a forlorn glance at the door. She hated being away from her wand. She was suddenly so limited in what she could do.

“As for what’s under you…That would be my other hand… and it’s currently occupied grabbing your arse apparently,” she stated grimly, “so uh, no can do.” Rowena sighed, flexing her hand as it began to cramp under Max’s weight before quickly stopping as she realized that was the equivalent to giving his bum a pinch. She had two choices as she saw it. She could either curse every power under the sun and stay forever embarrassed, or she could curse every power under the sun and see the funny side of the situation. She’d kind of had enough of the apologizing and the blushing, so funny it was.

“So uh, this is not how I ever pictured this happening,” Rowena continued flippantly. “You should really ask a lady before you grab a handful,” she smirked at Max, meeting his gaze as he lifted his head, trying to lighten the mood.

“I think I already know the answer to this question, but should I try to un-stick myself?”

“Do you have your wand? Because there is no way in hell you are doing wandless magic with your hands where they are!” She said quickly before he tried anything. It might not be the answer he’d been expecting but between Max groping her and Max hexing her chest off, she’d choose the groping every time. This was a modified charm and as such, fixing it would be experimental, which meant it might not go well. At least with a wand, the spell wouldn’t be directly focused on important parts of her body.

“I can have a look at your shoulder though?” She had one hand free, and the shoulder in question was attached to the arm wrapped around her. She should be able to move it with her own body and use her free hand to do the necessary maneuver. It wasn’t going to be pleasant though. You didn’t usually need magic to fix a dislocation, just good rotation and hopefully it would move back into place. She shifted as much as their joined bodies would allow to get a closer look and winced. “Yeah… that’s definitely dislocated. Do you want me to?”

They could wait until they got out and he could have a numbing potion, but they still had several minutes stuck in the room and no way of getting themselves unstuck. She really did not fancy walking into Emergency like this.

“Thanks by the way. For attempting to rescue me.” She was going to give him some shit about the way that rescue attempt had ended but she’d been absolutely useless so perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to bring it up. Ah fuck it. She needed some humour. "Did you plan for it to end this way? Seems rather convenient for you?" she added grinning. If she was going to ask him out this time then she might as well test out the waters so to speak.

[Max Kameren]

“Do you have a free hand? Can you get us unstuck?”

“Yes I do. And no I can’t. My wand is on the other side of that door.”

"What's under me? Can you grab it?"

“That would be my other hand… and it’s currently occupied grabbing your arse apparently,” she stated grimly, “so uh, no can do.”

Max looked down at his hand and nodded, not really feeling in a place to judge. He jumped suddenly as she flexed her hand, wincing with the sudden movement on his shoulder. “Hey now! I get that you’re stuck there, but you don’t have to dig in!” He laughed incredulously; how could this have happened? It appeared Fate was on the same side as his coworkers, trying to force them to just get back together already.

“So uh, this is not how I ever pictured this happening,” Rowena continued flippantly. “You should really ask a lady before you grab a handful,” she smirked at Max.

He smiled and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “I was just trying to protect your assets.” He chuckled. I was at the very least nice to know that she had also pictured this happening one way or another, though he was sure neither of them had thought about it this way. “I think I already know the answer to this question, but should I try to un-stick myself?”

“Do you have your wand? Because there is no way in hell you are doing wandless magic with your hands where they are!” She said quickly before he tried anything.

Emerald eyes rolled towards the ceiling as Max tried to feel in his trouser pocket for his wand. “No, I’m pretty sure it’s still at my potion station. Either way I couldn’t wield it.” He shrugged. “But if you’d like to somehow make this more awkward you’re welcome to feel around in my pocket for it.”

“I can have a look at your shoulder though?” Max nodded and tried to hold still, biting his lip in pain as she twisted to look. She shifted as much as their joined bodies would allow to get a closer look and winced. “Yeah… that’s definitely dislocated. Do you want me to?”

A heavy sigh escaped Max as he prepared himself for what was definitely about to hurt. He’d rather go through the pain of popping it back in than accidentally stretching it worse in their current compromising position. He set his jaw and grimaced, ready. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

His body tensed as Rowena got into position, moving his shoulder back into place with a deeply painful pop. He yelled out, cursing in surprise. “Oh fuck me that’s so much worse than I thought it was going to be.” Max’s words burst out of him with the surprise. He doubled over, resting his head on Rowena’s shoulder. A bright green eye looked up at her through his dark hair. “Thank you, but… fuck.”

“Thanks by the way. For attempting to rescue me Did you plan for it to end this way? Seems rather convenient for you?"

Max’s pained sigh turned into a laugh at the end, and he lifted his head smiling. “Oh, you know me. Any way to get to second base.” He chuckled, his eyes lingering on hers for a moment. Maybe it was the adrenaline, but there were only inches between them and Max suddenly wanted to close the space and kiss her. He nearly did, but at the last moment he felt a presence coming up the hallway and he stopped short. They were already going to be discovered in a compromising situation, best not make it worse.

[Rowena Jones]

“Oh, you know me. Any way to get to second base.”

Rowena laughed. “I did not know that, but I shall remember it!” she declared dramatically, before her gaze caught Max’s and her laughter faltered as she realized how close they were. She should kiss him. She wanted to and she swore Max’s head was moving towards hers. He was going to kiss her! And then he stopped and Rowena was left frowning in confusion until a loud wolf whistle had her glancing towards the door. Well if she thought the situation couldn’t get worse, she’d just been proven wrong. Jackson stood in the corridor, eyebrows raised suggestively as he took in the situation.

“You guys just jump from one end of the spectrum to another don’t you? You do realize we’re in a security lockdown right? Not the best time to be roasting the broomstick, though I have to say that scream sounded more painful than pleasureable. You guys must be a bit too kinky for me.” he laughed joyfully. Rowena stared in disbelief. They were fully clothed! What on Earth did Jackson think they’d been doing?!

“Jackson! For fucks sake. We got caught in a duel! This is not what it looks like. Stop being a complete prick for a second and find my wand so I can fix this,” she spat, eyes narrowing in anger.

Jackson paused to let that information sink in and then disappeared out of view. Rowena desperately hoped he hadn’t just left them. She wouldn’t put it past him. He’d probably hope that if he left long enough, they’d succumb to each other. She tried not to think that that almost had been the case. Damn it if the man didn’t have to worst timing.

“I’m assuming this is it?” The shorter Potions Master popped back into sight, Rowena’s wand in hand. She couldn’t resist rolling her eyes. It wasn’t like there’d been several wands lying in the corridor… whose else wand would it be?

“Yes! Roll it under the door. Please.” She said eagerly. As much as she was enjoying the close contact with Max, she’d much rather do it deliberately than be spelled together. Not having an audience would also be ideal. And just why hadn’t Jackson given her her wand yet?!

“Jackson…” she growled in warning.

“Yes, yes, one second. I’m just trying to figure out what on Earth is wrong with you two!” Jackson muttered. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that you somehow managed to get stuck there, in the position, alone for several minutes… and you did nothing?!”

“Yes Jackson. That is exactly what I’m telling you. Not everyone has their mind permanently in the gutter. Now give me my damn wand!”

Another pause. “Nope!” Jackson declared. “I failed in my earlier attempt but this is much better. On behalf of the sanity of the rest of Mungo’s staff, I shall not give you your wand back until you admit to each other that you want to snog each other’s brains out!”

Rowena turned to Max, incredulously. “He’s your department. You sort him out!” she said decidedly. Jackson better hope he was far far away when those doors were open.

[Max Kameren]

As soon as the aura was close enough for Max to recognize he was already turning red. “Oh, god. Here we go.”

“You guys just jump from one end of the spectrum to another don’t you? You do realize we’re in a security lockdown right? Not the best time to be roasting the broomstick [...] You guys must be a bit too kinky for me.”

“Jackson! For fucks sake. We got caught in a duel! This is not what it looks like. Stop being a complete prick for a second and find my wand so I can fix this,” she spat. Max hung his head trying to stifle his laugh or risk Rowena’s fury swinging in his direction. He knew Jackson well; he would help, but he would have his fun first. There was no stopping him.

On the other side of the door the Potions Master cackled, picking up his robes to look around the mess the explosion had made of the hallway. “I knew this would happen, you know. The whole time I was helping you with that potion I was saying to myself: You know who’s as high-strung as Covington and they should just get together? Max Kameren. The world would be a better place as soon as those two would stop fighting and start f – Oh, here it is! I’m assuming this is it?”

“Yes! Roll it under the door. Please.” Jackson was about to roll the wand under the door but paused, thinking better of it. An evil grin grew across his face as his fingers closed around the wand. “Jackson…” she growled in warning.

“Yes, yes, one second. I’m just trying to figure out what on Earth is wrong with you two!” Jackson muttered. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that you somehow managed to get stuck there […] and you did nothing?!”

“Yes Jackson. That is exactly what I’m telling you. Not everyone has their mind permanently in the gutter. Now give me my damn wand!”

“Nope!” Jackson declared. “I failed in my earlier attempt but this is much better. On behalf of the sanity of the rest of Mungo’s staff, I shall not give you your wand back until you admit to each other that you want to snog each other’s brains out!”

Rowena turned to Max and he arched a brow at her, shrugging. What could he do about it? She was the one with a spare hand. “He’s your department. You sort him out!” she said decidedly.

Max sighed, nodding. The only way out of Jackson’s game was through it, he knew. “First off, Jack, if your idea of a good time is sticking onto your wife’s breast and not moving for several minutes I feel very sorry for the life she’s resigned herself to.”

There was a pause as Jackson considered the turning of the tables in their banter. “Touché, Maxwell.” There was a soft clunk as Jackson placed Rowena’s wand on the floor, preparing to roll it. “What say you, then? Doth ye take this woman?”

“Jack, come on. My shoulder’s cramping.”

“Maybe that’s something Rowena can help you with.” Jackson’s cackle was louder than ever, enjoying the torture of his captives. “Say it, Max! I only help people who help themselves!”

Max sighed, resigning to his fate. He did still want to pursue Rowena, what did it matter to him if Jackson knew? The other Potions Master wasn’t particularly a gossip; he just liked to collect ammunition to use to annoy the rest of the potions team. “Fine. I think Rowena Covington is funny and cute even when she’s yelling at me. Anytime she wants to snog, I’m there.” Max’s heart skipped a beat with his confession, tentatively surveying Rowena for anger in the corner of his eye. It wasn’t the sweetest way of putting it, but Jackson didn’t deserve to elicit Max’s actual, sincere feelings about her. “Now will you roll us the damn wand?”

“Wow, that was poetic. I’d have just settled for a ‘yep I’ll snog her’ but that was lovely. Here!”

Rowena’s wand rolled under the door and into her waiting hand. Luckily she was able to free them relatively easily; it was a modified spell, but not a well-crafted one. Immediately upon gaining his freedom Max sat back from Rowena, stretching his pained, swollen shoulder with relief. Thank Merlin, finally they were free.

A buzzing sounded through the hallways as the lockdown lifted and each door opened. Jackson caught the handle of their door, pulling it closed again and charming it shut. “Oh no, you two aren’t done yet. You’re on time-out; this door won’t open up until you two open up to each other.” Jackson grinned, giggling at his own genius. “I’ll see you back at the potions table. Have fun, lovebirds!”

[Rowena Jones]

Max sighed, nodding. “First off, Jack, if your idea of a good time is sticking onto your wife’s breast and not moving for several minutes I feel very sorry for the life she’s resigned herself to.” Rowena snorted in amusement. Max certainly had a way with words and it was definitely something that attracted her. She hadn't realised how much she'd missed their banter.

There was a pause as Jackson considered the turning of the tables in their banter. “Touché, Maxwell.” There was a soft clunk as Jackson placed Rowena’s wand on the floor, preparing to roll it. “What say you, then? Doth ye take this woman?”

“Jack, come on. My shoulder’s cramping.”

“Maybe that’s something Rowena can help you with.” Jackson’s cackle was louder than ever, enjoying the torture of his captives. “Say it, Max! I only help people who help themselves!”

“Fine. I think Rowena Covington is funny and cute even when she’s yelling at me. Anytime she wants to snog, I’m there. Now will you roll us the damn wand?”

“Wow, that was poetic. I’d have just settled for a ‘yep I’ll snog her’ but that was lovely. Here!”

Rowena’s heart skipped a beat. So maybe after she hexed Jackson, she might actually have to thank the man. Not only had she gotten away with not publicly confessing her own feelings, but she’d gotten the answer to the question that had been plaguing her for a week. Max still liked her even though she’d been a complete nincompoop on their date. Ok, so she might have started to suspect it over the past hour, but still, it was nice to get verbal confirmation.

A happy grin spread over her face as she was reunited with her wand. She could do things again! Now to deal with the gropefest. She cocked her head to the side as she thought for a few seconds. Sticking charm, modified with binding perhaps? A quick wave of her wand and a countercharm later, they were free again, Ro sitting back smugly. She was a genius. And then she noticed Max stretching his shoulder.

“Max! Don’t move it! It needs a little while to heal! Do not make me immobilize you!” she glared, turning full healer mode on him. “I’ll get you some pain relief in a minute. The doors should be opening soon.”

As if on cue, a buzzing sounded through the hallways as the lockdown lifted and each door opened. Rowena started to get up, anxious to finish Max’s treatment only to be faced with Jackson pulling it closed again and charming it shut. “Oh no, you two aren’t done yet. You’re on time-out; this door won’t open up until you two open up to each other.” Jackson grinned, giggling at his own genius. “I’ll see you back at the potions table. Have fun, lovebirds!”

He had to be joking?! Right? Rowena tried the door, tried an alohomora… nothing. “Jackson! You fuckwit, you infuriating piece of troll shit! You better hope I don’t find you any time soon you fucking miserable excuse for a Wizard!” she yelled at him as he skipped down the hallway. There was a small falter as he realized that Rowena really was not pleased but Jackson knew Max would sort her out. Snog her into submission. Get rid of all that tension. He shrugged as he turned the corner. It’d be fine.

Rowena whirled around, amber eyes flashing. Damnit! Max needed a proper check up, that shoulder still looked inflamed. She paced the room angrily. Once. Twice. And then fell with a resigned sigh next to Max and smiled apologetically at him. “I can’t believe he’s so short sighted! Are you going to be ok?” she let out a mirthless laugh, “He’s going to regret this if the match ends anytime soon.”

She paused, just looking at him thoughtfully, as her anger slowly disappeared and was replaced by a very different emotion. “So about earlier…I want to.” Rowena said with a small smile and her gaze fixed on his. She’d wanted to several times today. Kissing Max was very enjoyable and she’d missed out on it for a week. She had lost time to catch up on and what else were they going to do?

[Max Kameren]

Before either of the trapped healers could get to the opening door, Jackson closed it on them. Max leaned back on the hospital bed as Rowena leaped forward to try to unlock it, holding his shoulder. She was right; it hurt more now after he stretched it. He knew Rowena’s efforts were no use. Jackson was nearly as good at charming objects as he was at potions.

“Jackson! You fuckwit, you infuriating piece of troll shit! You better hope I don’t find you any time soon you fucking miserable excuse for a Wizard!”

Max grinned at his insults, feeling Jackson’s aura quake nervously as he walked away. “He’s not coming back, Ro.”

“I can’t believe he’s so short sighted! Are you going to be ok?”

Max shrugged. “In his defense, he didn’t know about my shoulder. He’s just being a prat, like usual.”

“He’s going to regret this if the match ends anytime soon.”

“I’ve got a vial of stinksap earmarked for his office already, don’t you worry.” He sighed, leaning back on his good arm on the hospital bed, looking up at Rowena. His smile softened as she turned to look at him, the fire of her aura quelling and suddenly changing the climate of the room. He pushed himself up, subconsciously leaning in closer.

“So about earlier…I want to.”

She’d barely gotten the words out before Max took her face in his hands and kissed her. There was a strike of lightning between them like their first kiss, but this time it wasn’t from Max’s surprise. All the energy and adrenaline from the day rushed through them in a storm of passion enhanced by Max’s empathy giving way into a mutual connection. He pulled her closer onto the hospital bed, his arms wrapping around her waist.

He pulled away with a smile on his lips, resting his forehead against hers. “So, what was that? You want to what?”