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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 22:13:02 GMT -8
"No, not really." she said, sounding as helpless as Mr.Stewart probably felt. "He just rushed off suddenly saying he was going to take a shower, and would be back soon." Ashlin hugged her knees resting her chin atop them. "He couldn't have been in there more than a few minutes when I heard him scream, and then he must have fallen because I heard a thud." She frowned wiping at her eyes and trying to think of anything else at all that had been strange. "His voice started sounding a little hoarse right before he ran off but he was still acting more himself than when I first arrived."
She really couldn't think of any reason why Michael would just collapse like that.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 22:27:54 GMT -8
This was...more than a little disconcerting. His voice was hoarse - did that mean that that other creature, that...Smoking Man might be -
And then it dawned on him what ANOTHER reason for the boy suddenly rushing off for a shower with strain in his voice might be. In spite of himself, he...almost let out a little chuckle. It...wasn't out of the question. Neither possibility was, really.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief, offering it to the girl gently. "Miss Thomas...I am going to hazard a guess that I know why you are here. I am surprised that he would have told you his secret...he hardly speaks of it to me, let alone to anyone else."
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 22:47:58 GMT -8
Taking the handkerchief gratefully she gave him a wobbly smile, wiping at her eyes. "Thank you." It was lucky, she supposed, that she didn't wear makeup.
She looked up at him guiltily when he mentioned knowing why she was here. Ashlin had promised Michael she wouldn't say anything, but then. . . Well hadn't the entire point of not telling been not to worry Mr.Stewart? That was rather unavoidable now that Michael had collapsed without apparent reason. Still she had given Michael her word and she had no intention of telling Mr.Stewart that Michael's scars were acting up, not unless he said it first. If he said it first then she supposed it would be alright.
Ashlin was surprised to hear that he would hardly talk about his scars to even Mr.Stewart. She'd known Michael kept quiet about them, but he had actually told her quite a bit about them now that she thought of it. Given the current situation she felt almost guilty for the warmth that bubbled up in her chest at the realization that Michael really did trust her. "I. . ." she fumbled for the right words to say, something that wouldn't be breaking her word to Michael. "Michael is the first friend I've ever had, I just . . . wanted to help him." she finally confessed softly.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 24, 2011 23:04:26 GMT -8
He had been watching what was going on, of course. And he could guess why Michael would have reached out - it had been getting unbearable for him. It only took a modicum of attention to know any of that...but the trust he was showing in this girl, combined with...a couple of comments made in regards to her during a drunken, rather confused conversation.....
Mister Stewart gave a soft, warm little chuckle, nodding his head.
"I'm sure that means a lot to him. He thinks the world of you, that's for certain." He turned his head, looking down at the prone form on the bed...he was asleep, but he didn't look particularly peaceful. He never did. Gently, he reached out, brushing some of the wet hair out of Michael's forehead. Despite the ice-cold shower he had just taken, he was already starting to feel feverish, overheated.
This was...worrisome.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 24, 2011 23:48:21 GMT -8
Smiling at his assurance that Michael thought highly of her, she couldn't help flushing slightly; it meant a lot to her. She couldn't help feeling just a bit silly, because no matter what Emily had said she couldn't imagine someone liking her that way. Hell she was still adjusting to just having friends, and so an assurance from someone who knew Michael so well was nice.
Ashlin followed his gaze, noticing the way it lingered on the area Mr.Stewart had just touched (or at least she thought it did, it was hard to tell with the gas mask.) "Is something wrong?" she asked worriedly, standing up.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 25, 2011 0:06:40 GMT -8
Mister Stewart glanced back at her for a moment, then back down to Michael again, gently checking his pulse. Speeding up slightly. The usual nightmares, no doubt.
"He's got a bit of a temperature," he finally answered, starting to undo the bandages on his arm so they could be changed. "Did you notice that as well? The chill is already leaving his skin."
Michael gave a faint groan - the first sign of life since he had fainted. The bandage's removal put on display the gouges in his wrist...the wounds in his palms, possibly from clenching his fists too tightly. More unexplained injuries...could he really have done this to himself as well?
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 25, 2011 0:27:48 GMT -8
"He was so cold when I first turned off the water, but before that. . ." Ashlin bit her lip. "he felt warm, too warm." Couldn't he ever sleep peacefully, she wondered sadly, realizing he must be having another nightmare. "It was the same a few days ago." It hadn't been quite as bad as today, but he'd felt warm when he'd fallen asleep on her couch. He was warmer than he probably should have been given the weather.
Gasping as she saw Michael's wounds Ash could hardly believe it. "Oh Michael. . ." she breathed sadly. Between the burns and the cuts, the black eye, she could hardly believe that Michael was able to function. Let alone keep himself so calm and composed at all times. Despite what Michael had said she could hardly believe that all of this was self inflicted. Some of it maybe, but all of it. . . ? It just didn't make sense.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 25, 2011 11:57:20 GMT -8
"A few days ago? Was he...sleeping, at the time?"
Mister Stewart turned his chair about to face Ashlin, tilting his head in an incredulous fashion while waiting for the answer to his question. if Michael had been running a fever on and off for a few days...in light of what he had found out, this could be....
He glanced over, briefly, to the covered ash tray and pack of cigarettes on the nightstand. VERY troublesome.
Then he went back to drying off the wound. "...I don't suppose you have any idea how these other wounds happened? He came home with them yesterday. I am...surprised that he managed to drive home, what with his leg...."
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 25, 2011 12:18:50 GMT -8
Biting her lip she nodded. "We were having tea, he must have been so tired. . . he just fell asleep." She wasn't sure how much of what Michael told her she should actually tell Mr.Stewart. It was obvious he was just worried for him, and Ashlin didn't want to lie, but she couldn't betray Michael's trust either. . .
"He said," she bit her lip harder, hesitating. She had to tell him didn't she? Michael needed help and there was only so much she could do. Michael was with Mr.Stewart all the time, he'd be able to help Michael more than she could. She didn't want Michael to be mad at her. Ashlin sighed, twisting the handkerchief between her hands. "He said he did it to himself, that he feel asleep and when he woke up his eye was bruised." she said quietly. Even if Michael was mad at her at least he'd okay, right? She wiped at her eyes with the handkerchief; she didn't want him to hate her. "But it doesn't make sense!" she added in a rush. "It looks like someone punched him, he couldn't possibly have hit himself like that!"
"Wait, what's wrong with his leg?" she asked sounding panicked, finally realizing what Mr.Stewart had said. Michael was even more hurt than she'd thought? How was that even. . .
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 25, 2011 13:06:21 GMT -8
Once the wound on his arm was properly dried, he wheeled closer to the girl, reaching out to lay a calming hand upon her arm. He understood that Michael had probably demanded confidence...but sometimes, you had to know what was unsafe to keep a secret. Ordinarily, he wouldn't be so forthcoming, either...but she wanted to help Michael, and Michael just didn't have that many real friends.
None that would visit of their own accord.
"...I don't think he could have done it all to himself, either. The burst vessel in his eye and the scratch on his forehead were him - he rubbed his eye much too hard, and he caught his forehead by mistake." As he spoke, he continued unwrapping wounds. The young man was missing a fingernail...and, as Ashlin questioned about the leg wound, he rolled up the pantleg, starting to carefully undo the bandage.
Wordlessly, he unwrapped the wound, displaying the injury that a phantom bullet had left in his calf.
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 25, 2011 13:58:21 GMT -8
She felt her eyes widen as she saw more of the wounds Michael had kept hidden. "Oh God." she chocked out "Oh God, is that, is that a bullet wound?" she asked in horror, tears coming again. Michael could not have done this to himself, Ashlin refused to believe that. Where would Michael even get a gun and why would he possibly shoot himself in the leg. It didn't make sense, not even in her mind.
"Why would anyone want to shoot Michael?" she asked tearily.
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 25, 2011 14:21:09 GMT -8
"That's what it looks like," Mister Stewart said softly, his frown audible in his voice. Gently, he dried off the wound, getting it ready for a fresh bandage. Happily, it looked as if the burns on his legs were comparatively sparse and mild, many of them long since healed.
"...Honestly, I am not certain." A moment of hesitation. That was actually a lie...courtesy of an e-mail received, he DID know what had happened. It was only that he wasn't certain what he should say...what he should do.
A long moment of silence.
"...Ashlin. If you could, go and fetch the gauze from the bathroom, under the sink. Then there is...something that I need to talk to you about. For your...own safety."
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 25, 2011 14:55:09 GMT -8
Ashlin nodded, hurrying off to find the gauze. Digging through the cabinet Ashlin was more than eager to get back to the bedroom, she didn't like this bathroom. "Here you go." she said softly, handing him the gauze. She was still sniffly, though she had once again whipped away her tears. This was turning into a far more emotionally draining day than she could have imagined it would be, and if Mr.Stewart was to be believed it would only be getting worse.
She couldn't imagine what Mr.Stewart could need to tell her that would have to do with her safety though. Did he think that whoever had hurt Michael might hurt her too? But he said he didn't even know what had happened to Michael. . .
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Post by Mister Stewart on Jun 25, 2011 15:20:14 GMT -8
"Thank you."
With that, he started to wrap the wounds back up, gently and carefully. He considered his words, trying to gauge what he should and shouldn't say...he certainly didn't want to point the finger right at Michael, but he wanted to be sure that she would be safe. If she was this close to him...it was unclear what that would mean.
First things first.
"...Ashlin...have you noticed anything strange about this town? During the rain...or late at night, perhaps?"
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Post by Ashlin Thomas on Jun 25, 2011 15:40:00 GMT -8
Watching him wrap Michael's wound Ashlin wondered what else could have possibly happened to Michael. He didn't deserve this.
"Strange?" Ashlin asked with a blink, looking away from Michael. Her mind flashed back to the nightmare she'd had the other night. But, but no that had been just a bad dream. It wasn't real.
No matter how real it had felt.
"What exactly do you mean by strange?" she asked hesitantly. Ashlin had never been good at hiding how she felt and it was clear there was something she was holding back. That something strange had occurred.
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