Absence [Open]

[Alecsander]

22 September.

Alex woke to blinding sunlight that morning. The room was blindingly white. For a few moments, he panicked, remembering. Remember another room, white, white with no shadow. But his eyes adjusted and it was just another hospital room. He shook off the mustiness in his mind, returning to clarity as his mind caught up with his eyes. He'd just been asleep. Just sleep. He sat up carefully, wincing at the pain. Then, groaning as he tried not to wince. His face burned. At least the bandage was off his face this morning. Both eyes. He wouldn't lose that eye. Some mediwizard had told him it had been a near thing. And he could swear he remembered Elle shouting at him. Something about running into fiendfyre and a great bloody idiot.

He leaned back gingerly. His memory would return. They must have them on pretty strong medicines, though he was feeling stronger and stronger with each passing minute. More and more of his memory was returning too, though of course that couldn't have been Elle yelling at him. She wasn't speaking with him anymore. Not even to satisfy that extremely strong drive she seemed to have to tell him he was an idiot. He laughed, trailing off into more of a pained noise. His lungs hurt. Suddenly a noise attracted his attention, Alex's fingers glowed in preparation as he levered himself onto one elbow, staring towards the door.

[Bodi Lovegood]

Bodi didn't look up from his carefully-balanced tower of ice chip cups. This was a feat that survived twists, turns and the occasional ascending of floors - he was not going to lose the load. Not now. Not when he was so close to Alex Kameren's bed. He had been been keeping vigil for his new friend for the past several hours, silently holding the bile that built in his throat from the mere act of being at St. Mungos at bay. He hated hospitals. He hadn't even been in one since he was born. But friendships, even new ones, required sacrifice. And an expert-level ability in balancing paper cups.

Bodi slowly slid the load on to a nearby table and disassembled the pyramid. He had considered that the ice chips might melt before Alex regained consciousness, but as he had every hour for the past 24 hours, he'd simply replenish them. And find new editions of The Quibbler and The Daily Prophet to stow at his bedside. Bodi rubbed a tired hand across his face and returned to the arm chair that had been his post for the past day. He would never admit to Alex that he spent a great deal of that time watching him breathe, and wanting desperately to ensure his safety.

"Alex Kameren was hurt at Azkaban!"
- "What?"
"AZKABAN! We just received word he was attacked. He's at St. Mungos. We don't know much more."
- "I'm on my way."
"Keep us posted. We'll notify the rest of the Watch. Or what we have left of it."

Bodi's eyes remained focused on the floor as he recalled the frantic message. The Black Watch had hardly re-established themselves and they were already treading on familiar territory. But to nearly lose their leader this soon. Their friend. His friend. Bodi didn't know if Alex reciprocated the sentiment but it didn't matter. While he was neither an experienced duelist nor an expert in defense against the Dark Arts, he was heart-strong, and damn-well determined to keep watch over Alex Kameren for as long as necessary.

With a heavy but muted sigh, Bodi looked to Alex's bed, expecting to see his lifeless form. Instead, he found very lively eyes.

"Holy shit!"

He fell out of his chair.

[Alecsander]

Alex squinted his left eye. Things were slightly blurry and he had the feeling that it was the left's fault. Not fully healed. The form at the,door came into greater focus and he relaxed, letting the stunning spell he'd prepared dissipate from his fingers. Bodi came into the room, delicately balancing several paper cups of...was that ice? He was suddenly aware of a great thirst drying out his throat.

Bodi didn't seem to notice him, Alex watched with curiosity, wondering when he would notice Alex staring at him. Alex was just about to give up and lay back off his elbows when Bodi looked up.

"Holy shit!"

And promptly fell off the chair. Alex wheezed with laughter, falling back flat on the bed. Damn, that hurt! But the look of comical surprise on his friend's face...

"Oooh. What time is it?" he finally croaked out. His throat was on fire. Had that really been fiendfyre?

[Bodi Lovegood]

"Nearly 6:00pm," Bodi answered, picking himself up off the floor and hurrying to bring Alex's table to his bedside. He offered him a cup of ice and a spoon and tried not to focus on the horrific burns covering most of the Auror's left side. Earlier, Bodi had excused himself so that the healers could have some privacy while discussing Alex's prognosis. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop but it was near impossible to miss the word fiendfyre as it was uttered between harsh whispers. Bodi imagined the inescapable heat of a fire serpent barreling towards the man, its innate need to devour life feeding its speed and ferocity. It was a terrifying prospect and a bloody miracle that Alex survived. It also meant that the darkness they feared was growing stronger.

"I'm sorry. I'm probably not who you were expecting to see when you woke up. Given everything that's happened this past week, your friends wanted to take every measure to ensure your safety. My presence was less likely to draw attention." Bodi wanted to add, 'And I care about you greatly,' but managed to convince himself that it was a bad idea.

"I'd ask how you're feeling but you look horrendous. What the hell happened, Alex?"

[Alecsander]

"Nearly 6:00pm,"

A groan escaped Alex's body as Bodi helped him sit upright, propping him up against a pillow and the wall. He accepted the ice chips, the cool melting water down his throat felt heavenly. "What...Day?" He managed to get out. Of course, now that his lungs were singed and his throat drier than the Sahara, now his speech was going as well.

"I'm sorry. I'm probably not who you were expecting to see when you woke up. Given everything that's happened this past week, your friends wanted to take every measure to ensure your safety. My presence was less likely to draw attention."

"Thank you." He reached over with his unburnt hand, resting it on Bodi's. It was good to see a familiar face. Max was probably still knee deep in patients. He hoped. A memory flashed, of inmates being transported. Max wasn't ready! Alex hadn't had enough time to train him. He hoped it didn't become necessary. Were there dementors in the hospital?

"I'd ask how you're feeling but you look horrendous. What the hell happened, Alex?"

Alex spooned another chip into his mouth, trapping it between teeth and cheek. "I..I don't remember. Not much."  He was developing a pounding headache. What had they given him? His mind was still in pieces.

[Bodi Lovegood]

"What...Day?"

"September 22," Bodi replied dutifully as he replaced Alex's empty cup with another full of ice. "They said no water, otherwise I'd have brought you a reservoir with a straw." His throat tightened in sympathy as he took in Alex's form. Bodi was never bothered by the sight of burns or blood but it was the suffering of others that cut him to the quick. He knew the Auror's pain was significant and Alex's voice betrayed his stoic visage. It made Bodi proud of their leader. And devastated.

"Thank you."

Bodi looked down to where Alex's hand had suddenly covered his. The electricity of the man's touch reached down to the pit of the racer's stomach and engulfed him in a sensation that was remarkably pleasant but exceptionally foreign. Aside from the odd hug he stole from Eden, Bodi wasn't the recipient of much in the way of physical contact. He found Alex's gesture very selfless and vulnerable. How had he managed to gain the Auror's trust?

"I..I don't remember. Not much."

Alex's unfocused gaze told Bodi that he was struggling through a headache and he unconsciously placed his cool palm against the man's forehead, avoiding his burns. Bodi was no healer, but he remembered what his Gran used to do when his head went south. She was a miracle worker, than one.

"I don't want to burden you - not in a million years - but is there anything you need from us?" Bodi looked over his shoulder towards the door, confirming the room was clear but remaining mindful of the way sound carried. The walls in places like this tended to have ears. "I can't help but feel this is only just the beginning. I was thinking I might return to the Forbidden Forest to see if I can remember anything. I'm hopeful I can retrace my steps. But you remain my- You remain our first priority."

[Alecsander]

Three days. That was three days gone. He he took a deep breath, sighing when Bodi placed his cold hand on his forehead. It actually felt amazing. He didn't want any more medicine. He thought that might account for his missing memories. Pieces were coming back the longer he was awake. He wasn't a healer but it seemed likely he'd remember everything. Did they drug him to keep him in bed? It seemed likely.

"I don't want to burden you - not in a million years - but is there anything you need from us?" [...] I'm hopeful I can retrace my steps. But you remain my- You remain our first priority."

Alex smiled up at his friend. Merlin, his head did feel better. It no longer felt like he was,about to split open at the temples. "No, I'll be fine, thank you." he took a cautious breath. "Learn as much as you,can. Current events...are concerning. How are you doing, Bodi?"

[Bodi Lovegood]

"No, I'll be fine, thank you...Learn as much as you,can. Current events...are concerning. How are you doing, Bodi?"

"How am I?" A smile broke across Bodi's tired face and sprouted dimples. "Well, I managed to avoid fiendfyre and, quite frankly, the  grounds Azkaban all together, so I'm actually quite fine. One could even say peachy. Instead of saving wizard-kind from the darkest depths of imprisoned evil, I've been test-flying a shiny new broom and providing moral support to my friend, Rupert. He has his heart wrapped around a new someone and it's been...time-consuming. Even Dogwood is less-" Bodi froze mid-sentence, his brow furrowing.

"Wait, where did he go?"

The broom racer twisted in place before pacing the room to look beneath healing tomes and medi-scrolls for his wayward wand. He looked behind Alex's bed, underneath Alex's bed, behind the jar with the fetid toad and among the discarded paper cups that once burst with crystalline ice chips. The racer even stole a glance out the hall in case Dogwood had decided to visit the healers' station. The wand was infinitely more social than Bodi, and very quick to flirt with anything that had an ounce of flair.

"Oh no," Bodi started before returning to Alex's side. "I was considering a leash but they don't make collars that small." It was then that he noticed the blanket covering Alex's feet and the special way the blue flannel rose and fell with the suggestion of a breath. Dawn broke across the man's expression. "YOU. OUT." A sheepish tug and pull later, Dogwood was once again in hand. Bodi secured the wand in his pants pocket before offering an apology.

"I'm terribly sorry. He probably thought he was warming your toes. He sometimes does that."

For the first time in hours, Bodi glanced out the window and noted the falling sun. He considered that Alex would need to visit with his healer soon and another member of the Watch was scheduled to relieve him within the half hour. Bodi had intended to take the next shift but he couldn't shake the need to do a little fact finding so that he could offer Alex something more than sweet nothings. It was an awfully good night for a walk in the woods.

"I'm going to head out shortly but I need to know if there's anything specific you'd like me to look in to."