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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 16:10:26 GMT -8
...And there he was, lying in the bottom of the bathtub - too-cold water still running down on his unconscious body. He was breathing, mercifully, but he wasn't moving...still half dressed with his skin blanching from the cold. The curtain was wide-open, spilling water messily out onto the bathmat, and one arm had slung awkwardly over the side of the tub, his head hanging down at an awkward angle.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 16:33:20 GMT -8
Even if Ashlin could see him breathing she needed to feel his pulse, to know for sure his heart was still beating. She quickly pulled her hand away though when she felt the freezing water that was beating down on him. Rather than check his pulse like she'd wanted she hurried to turn off the water, lest he give himself hypothermia.
She checked his pulse, but rather than being comforted by the steady beat she was terrified by how cold he was. "Michael you need to wake up." she chocked out. She was crying, she realized distantly, not really paying much attention. She needed something to warm him up with; towels, there had to be towels, oh God where were the towels? Ash blinked slowly realizing that the towels were right in front of her. She would berate herself later, she was more concerned with Michael right now.
Grabbing the largest towel on the rack she tried to dry Michael off without aggravating his scars, wrapping it around him to try to keep him warm. Oh God, this was going so wrong; she didn't want to leave Michael's side but Michael needed help. She rushed over to the door, glancing back at Michael every two seconds. "Mr.Stewart! Mr.Stewart something's happened to Michael!" She didn't know where he was or if he'd be able to hear her, but she yelled as loud as she could, and it was clear from her tone that she was crying.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 18:27:53 GMT -8
The young man was unresponsive - he lay there like a ragdoll as she moved him about, trembling with the cold and dripping wet. He was out cold, exhaustion finally having overcome him completely.
Mister Stewart didn't have cameras in the bathroom - but he had been paying attention to the goings on between the two, and as soon as he saw Michael rush into the bathroom, he had started to make his way towards his room to have a talk with Ashlin. So he was within hearing distance when she started shouting - and he picked up his pace, wheeling up to her as fast as he could manage.
Decorum aside, a quick keystroke magnified his hoarse, worried voice, sounding from the implants in his throat.
"What's wrong, Miss Thomas? Where is he!?"
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 18:52:04 GMT -8
When Mr.Stewart arrived Ashlin was barely keeping it together, she was crying and trembling, continuing to look out toward the bathroom compulsively. "H-he's in the bathroom. I heard a scream and a thud so I rushed in and found him lying in the tub." She wanted to tug on his arm, and drag him with her to the bathroom, already moving as she made her way over, but restrained herself. She was looking between the two like some kind of hyperactive tennis fan though.
"He's still in his pants, but the water was running, and it was so cold so I tried to dry him off with a towel but I don't know if its helping or-or" A sob interrupted her hysterical babbling, what if Michael wasn't okay? What if he had brain damage or- fell into a coma, or died or-or-
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 19:10:50 GMT -8
Terror needled the older man - but for Ashlin's sake, he kept it together, wheeling his way into the room with steady hands. "Calm yourself, Ashlin. We need to get him out of there and lying down. We're going to have to work together to do so."
The bathroom wasn't really built for someone in a wheelchair - but he managed to make his way in, getting right up to the edge of the tub. Seeing Michael lying there made his heart skip a beat - but he could panic later. They had to help him, get him out of those wet clothes...and if things went badly enough, get him to the hospital.
Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that.
"If you can pull him out enough for me to support his head and shoulders in my lap, we might be able to get him into the other room and onto the bed. Do you think you can do that?"
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 19:30:14 GMT -8
Ashlin took a few deep, shaky breath and wiped away her tears. Calm, calm she could do calm. She needed to be calm for Michael's sake. "I think so." she said, biting her lip. Her voice still sounded hoarse, and her eyes were watery but she was certainly calmer than before. Looking between Mr.Stewart and Michael she wondered just <i>how</i> exactly this would work. She moved to grab him beneath his armpits, trying to lift him enough to do as Mr.Stewart said.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 20:09:34 GMT -8
There was no reaction to the movement - Michael's head just lolled as he was lifted, rolling on his shoulders. He, happily, wasn't that heavy...with some effort, Ashlin should have been able to manage.
"Good, good," Mister Stewart breathed, arms outstretched, "Just a bit further. Into my lap, then I can pull him up."
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 20:41:12 GMT -8
Ashlin did as she was told, both relieved and worried by how heavy Michael actually was. "What next?" she asked, now that, that was complete. It was easier to stay calm if she was focused on doing something. As long as she was focusing on fixing the situation she didn't have time to start thinking up terrible scenarios and crying again.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 20:47:13 GMT -8
Carefully, Mister Stewart took hold of the younger man, pulling him into his lap and wrapping his arms over the arms of the wheelchair.
"Perfect. Now take his legs, and we should be able to ease him into the other room between the two of us." This would be a...tricky maneuver, but not impossible. If he pinned the boy's arms under his own as he took hold of the wheels, he might be able to manage.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 20:55:50 GMT -8
Nodding, she moved into the tub she and took hold of his legs. Ashlin wasn't sure if this was the best plan she'd ever been a part of, but it certainly wasn't the worst (that had involved a duck, and some glitter.) Once she had what she felt was a good grip on Michael's legs she nodded to Mr.Stewart. "Ready."
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 21:01:16 GMT -8
"All right. Here we go. One, two...three."
With that, he started to slowly wheel back, edging his way out of the bathroom, occasionally pausing to make sure the boy wasn't sliding out of his grip. At least it wasn't far, going between the bathroom and the bedroom...it just wasn't built for a wheelchair.
When they crossed into the bedroom, he glanced up to Ashlin to make certain they were doing all right.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 21:08:47 GMT -8
Between the two of them it really wasn't that much worse than when she'd helped Michael into his room earlier, but she would still be happy once they had Michael safely on the bed. She gave him a nod and a weak smile to let him know she was alright, and so they continued their slow but steady progress toward the bed. Finally they reached edge of the bed, and Ashlin waited expectantly for Mr.Stewart's next instruction.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 21:20:16 GMT -8
Wheeling right up against the bed, Mister Stewart shifted his grip, looking to Ashlin.
"You're going to have to lift him into the bed as best you can. I cannot from my position, I'm afraid. The cold water should have numbed his scars...just worry about getting him onto the bed, don't worry about irritating them."
His voice started to shake. He cleared his throat as best he could, trying not to show how worried he was.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 21:44:15 GMT -8
"Alright." she said uncertainly, biting her lip. She considered for a moment the best way to actually go about this before going putting her plan into motion. She moved to lay his legs onto the bed, putting Michael in a slightly awkward diagonal positio, and then she leaned down to wrap her arm underneath Michael's armpits and lift. The positioning made it an awkward move, and once she did manage to get him up onto the bed she was half laying on him. Ashlin quickly scrambled away, a light blush dusting her cheeks.
Sinking down to sit on the floor she leaned against the side of the bed she let out a sigh. Now that they had managed to move Michael Ashlin was feeling rather lost. She had no idea what could have happened to Michael in the short time he was in the bathroom, and she could only hope he would be alright. Ashlin looked up at Mr.Stewart, eyes puffy and red from her earlier crying, and greatly resembling a lost puppy.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 22:01:55 GMT -8
Mister Stewart looked on somewhat helplessly as she arranged the young man...wishing there was something more than he could do. He caught the blush, but said nothing for the time being, instead focusing his attention upon Michael. What HAD happened, exactly? He had seen up until Michael had rushed out...but then...this?
"...You said that he screamed, and then you heard him fall. Did you notice anything else?"
He eyed the wet pants, frowning beneath his mask. The wet bandage was going to have to come off of that gunshot wound in his leg...
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