It started with a twitch...

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

His fingers clutched at the sheet, the monitor attached to the right index sending a slightly faster beep to one of the life support machines. The twitch moved up his arm, evolved to a shudder across his chest, and rolled his eyes beneath the lids just before they blinked open. He groaned, raising a hand to block the dim light as his eyes squeezed shut again.

The groan became a cough as his conscious body rejected the breathing tube and his throat squeezed around it. He stilled a moment and allowed his eyes to adjust, allowed the tubes to breathe for him. His body did not feel right, and he gently ran his fingers over the thin fabric of his hospital gown. A grunt sounded from low in his throat as his dextrous fingertips touched the hills and valleys of his ribs. He had lost some weight. A movement to one side caught his eye.

Turning his head slowly, he had to close his eyes as the room spun around him. After the dizziness passed, he opened his eyes one more time to study the woman next to his bed. He recognized her, but it seemed like it was from some other life, that he had been some other man. His hand reached out, as if he were trying to touch her, but it fell weakly into his lap and he finally collected his thoughts enough to realize she was Macy. Sian. The scent of cinnamon, feel of her lips against his.

Rocketed back to the present by the beeping of his machines, he groaned in Macy's general direction and raised an eyebrow as if to say, "What th'hell happened ta me?"

[Abby Fletcher]

Macy looked over at the bed in front of her as she heard the man stir. The machines began to flutter with extra noise, ones that hadn't been made since she'd arrived at her friend's request. Closing her book she placed it into her bag that sat next to her chair, a soft smile crossed her lips. Though she had not minded doing a favor of such importance to Sian, she also hoped that too much time would not pass. Her own career would only wait so long.

She waited patiently for the first bit of disorientation to pass, no doubt Jack would gather himself in only a matter of moments. At least as much as possible in the state he was in. Her eyes met his as he looked at her, her smile was still soft while she waited for the recognition. Though they'd only met a few times.

When it was clear that Jack was awake enough to understand who she was and the situation he was in, Macy picked herself up gracefully from the chair. She moved over to the bed, with a couple of swift movements one hand grasped his giving him a comforting squeeze; while the other pressed a button on the wall. "You're at St. Lucy's Jack, you fell ill with the disease. A nurse will be here shortly. I'm glad you remember me." The unnamed disease. It was running a much through the verse, so much was unknown about it that it hadn't even been formally named yet. The patients had nothing in common, the length of the effects were not predictable. Some folks have been stricken with it for over a year. Jack had been a lucky one.

Enter Nurse Abby Fletcher

The call from room 1406 had come right as the page from the nurses station. There was always someone keeping an eye on the monitors from there for this very reason. Most folks didn't have someone waiting with them to wake up. This one seemed like a special case. It always warmed Abby when someone came out of the coma.

Abby entered the room with a soft knock, making sure to close the door back quickly as to not let too much light in. The first while was usually the hardest for people after waking up. Their bodies had alot to adjust to.

"Well well, it's good to see another face awake and alert Mister Briggs." She had a cheery smile as she approached the bed. Abby took care to learn all of her patient's names. A personal touch that doctors usually could not give. As she continued to speak the nurse looked over a couple of the monitor readings and made a few notes on his chart, "One of the docs will be in after a couple hours, they'll want to run a few easy tests and ask you some questions."

It was a pretty big deal when someone came out of the disease, there was no way to guarantee that it wouldn't happen again. There was so little known about it. Abby put down the clipboard and turned back to her patient, still with a smile of course. "I'll bet you'll be wanting that tube gone so you can breathe on your own, hmm?" At his confirmation it would be done.

Kyla

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

The words she spoke came to him slowly, one by one, and in his mind's eye he was a child trying to catch firebugs. Each firebug was a word put into a jar and when the jar was gleaming brightly, he opened his eyes and nodded, letting loose a long breath. The disease. With the amount of people he came in contact with every day, it was a wonder he hadn't caught it sooner. That was, if it was communicable. He didn't know much about it.

A pretty nurse came in next and he gently lolled his head in her direction. She knew his name, and a new fear came over him. A fear of his work, his indiscretions getting him caught. This place was a prison; there might as well be bars around his bed. But he calmed and let her do her work, nodding when she asked him to remove the tube.

The sensation of the tube being dragged from his throat was highly unpleasant and close to painful. He gagged, then coughed a few times when it was done. His breath came in short, shallow gasps until he had calmed himself enough to remember how to do it right. Very slowly, he used his palms to push himself up into a half-seated position. It was the best he could manage.

Though the gown was only a front that tied at his neck and revealing his entire back, only one part of his body actually felt naked. "Where's me 'at?" he croaked, staring at Macy with begging eyes. The hat Sian had given him, his staple. The next thing he noticed were his hands, and the revealed tattoo. "An' me gloves..." he said, mentioning his other trademark. He hid the tattoo by digging it into the sheets a bit and then stared at the nurse. "If this was all a ruse ta get me out me clothes, luv, I'd say you needn't've worked so hard." A shadow of his old self for a moment before another cough worked its way up his itching throat. "Maybe a glass o' water, yeah?"

[Abby Fletcher]

Abby watched her patient closely as he reacted to the breathing tube coming out. Keeping an eye for any signs of blood or too much pain. She was relieved with nothing seemed out of the ordinary. When Jack tried to move and was at least a bit successful it was another good sign. From the looks of him he probably wouldn't need to go through too much rehabilitation and would get to go home sooner than most.

At the mention of a couple of his personal items the unease within him became a little clearer, Abby nodded her head in the direction of a dresser set. The woman she had become to know as Macy and just a friend, smiled and without a word moved to the drawers to find the items.

There was a slight laugh from the nurse at Jack's words to her. Flirtations were surprisingly common for Abby. Some were serious, some just to lighten a mood, change subjects...many reasons. She was one of the few who never took too much offense unless they were overly vulgar. "I'll remember that next time." The nurse gave him a small wink before he was caught up with more coughs. "Of course, I'll grab some ice chips as well. That usually helps with the soreness a bit." She nodded with her words then went out the door she had come in.

-------------

Macy returned to the bedside with Jack's hat and gloves in hand. She passed them over to him as she spoke, "Before you ask, Cypher is on Persephone. He stayed behind after seeing you onto a ship heading to Ariel." That was probably one of the first things that would be on his mind once his thoughts got into order. Might as well go ahead and let him know. "I'll need to go give Sian a ring shortly, she'll want to know you're awake."

Kyla

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Briggs grinned at the nurse. "Thanks, luv. Miss you already." Jack watched her leave, one hand weakly moving to his chest as he caught his breath. He turned to Macy as she approached with his things. He tugged the gloves on first, being sure to cover the tattoo quickly. Then, with a bit of dramatic reverence, he lowered the hat onto his head and let out a satisfied sigh.

Of course, he looked a little silly in a hospital gown with those accessories, but Jack seemed to feel a lot more comfortable and himself than he had. He relaxed back into the bed and smiled at her. Cypher. He hadn't even thought to ask about him, or about his business. The first thing on his mind had been Sian, and he wasn't too sure how he should feel about that. "Right. Good. Good...I'm sure he's runnin' things as well's he can in me absence." Truth was, he was probably doing it better. Briggs had the devil's luck. His brow wrinkled and he glanced up at her with some trepidation. "How long's that been, anyway?"

When she mentioned sending Sian a wave, Jack coughed a bit, his cheeks coloring. "Will she? I mean...o' course she will. Us bein' frie-...er, bus'ness partners an' all." He rolled his eyes and tipped his hat back on his head a bit. "Must be a bit loopy from the...drugs. Or wha'ever they 'ave me on." Jack mumbled.

[A Face in the Crowd]

[[Using this account for Macy this time since Abby won't be back yet ]]

Macy watched as Jack put on this things, though he did indeed look a bit odd. However it seemed to make him feel better, which was probably good considering the situation he was in. There was a slight sigh that came before the answer to the man's question. "It's nearing two months Jack, it's the end of February." She'd been here almost the entire time as well, but she didn't want to speak of that and perhaps make him feel bad. It had taken a short time for her to make the arrangements and such to put her life on hold, then the trip over. She had come as fast as she could though. Though Jack was awake now, she wasn't sure how much longer she would stay. Just wait until Sian gets here perhaps.

Speaking of Sian, his response to her being mentioned was a bit less than expected. The companion raised her brow as he spoke, not sure if she should feel too annoyed. Perhaps in his illness he had forgotten the circumstances between Sian and Macy. They had lived together for quite a few months until her friend had made the off the wall decision to go adventuring into the black. Which had gotten her kind of stuck on Paquin since she was refusing to use her savings for anything at all. Macy had seen how the two of them acted around one another and even more-so how Sian acted when he wasn't around. "Yes. Of course she will want to know, she's been worried sick over you.' The companion got back up from her chair before she couldn't stop her own words from coming out, 'I wouldn't be here otherwise Jack; if she didn't care about her friend. She began to gather up a few personal belongings into her purse since there would be doctors and nurses a-plenty in here soon. Macy needed to take a break anyway, make a couple calls, perhaps take a walk to get her mind on straight.

Kyla

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Two months. That was an awful long time to leave the business in Cypher's hands, but there was a reason he was Jack's right-hand man. Everything had to be fine, otherwise Briggs would have been visited in the night by someone carrying a bullet with his name on it. He shifted his weight, groaning a bit as the IV tugged at his arm. "Rut this...I hate 'ospitals," he muttered under his breath. Jack had a deep-seated hatred and, if he was being honest with himself, fear of any institution and it was directly linked to the tattoo on his hand. Tugging the thin sheet up, he snorted. "If I had me clothes back, I'd be stumblin' outta here right now."

The companion's reaction to his words was deserved, but she truly did not understand his skirting around the strange relationship he shared with Macy's friend. Of course Sian was worried about him. If she felt even half as strongly for him as he did for her, she must be upset. His first reaction to her sarcasm was to be hostile right back. "Well if she cares abou' me so much, 'ow come you're 'ere an' not her?" he growled. Instantly regretting his tone, he reached out for her and gently took her hand, hazarding leaning off of his bed a bit. "Wait. Listen." He tugged slightly at her fingers to make sure he had her full attention before releasing her once more to let his hand drop back to the bed. Just that action had exhausted him.

His eyes pleaded with her for understanding. "Look. I dunno what-all she's been tellin' you, but I'm well knackered of this runaround, yeah? Don't breathe a gorram word of this to 'er, but listen to it and know where I stand, yeah?" Jack let out a breath, wondering if it was the drugs that were making him run his mouth. "I think it's obvious what I feel for 'er, right? I think it should be equally obvious, especially ta someone as close to 'er as you, why I can't do nothin' about these feelins. See, you know who I am and what it is I do." He leaned heavily back against the incline of his bed. "I ruin things, Macy. I ain't gonna ruin Sian. She deserves the best what this world 'as ta offer, and that certainly ain't Mister Briggs." Jack raised a hand to his face, feeling the short beard his stubble had grown into. He grunted. "I don' know what ta do wit' the woman, Macy. I want 'er more than I've wanted anythin', but I can't bring myself to tell 'er. This life I live? I don' want 'er involved in the worst of it." He met her eyes. "Best I can do is be a friend an' help her whenever the need arises while simultaneously keepin' her away from the dregs o' society. Maybe now you can appreciate my 'esitance, yeah?"

[A Face in the Crowd]

Macy wasn't too shocked at his reaction to what she had said, though she hadn't anticipated the anger she felt behind his voice. Before she could retort the assumption that Sian didn't want to be here he continued. His tone changing, seeming as though he was going to actually tell her that she already had a hint of. Neither of them were very good at hiding themselves, they were just in their own ways to realize. At least that was her opinion.

She watched him and listened, part of her feeling bad that the two of them were in the situation they were in. While Macy couldn't fathom not being a companion, her friend wasn't meant for the life. That had been obvious to her shortly after getting to know Sian. Despite that she made it a point to never pry into her personal life or feelings, for the good of everything she kept the younger companion at arms length rather often.

The companion let him go on until he was finished before she replied to anything. She sighed and sat back down in the chair, placing her bag next to her on the floor. "I listened to you, now it's your turn to listen to me." Macy eyed him just a moment to make sure he was going to let her speak her peace. "You've been here for near two months Jack, a few things are different now. Something happened on the Sojourn's first flight out after leaving Persephone.' She shook her head slightly in case he was about to interrupt. 'I'm not sure what, but nothing bad that I could tell. Sian changed her mind about how she was going to go about her trip out into the world. An' you know she's just as bull-headed as you are once her mind is made up on something. Anyway, she's refusing to use any of her savings, says she needs to stop being the high society rich girl and just be a normal person." Her friend hadn't been too keen on sharing why exactly things had changed, just that they had. Macy rolled her eyes at the thought.

"Regardless; the Sojourn didn't last. They were heading for Paquin first and it was apparently clear before they even got there that the crew wasn't going to be sticking together. So for the last month or so she's got a place with one of her former crew-mates and they've both found jobs. I don't want you to think for a moment that she doesn't want to be here, I think her mind is set on...long term. The quicker she feels like she has succeeded at what she set out to do, the quicker she can go back home.."

Macy sat for a few moments, her face softened a bit and her eyes returned to meet Jack's. "She hasn't told me anything, but she doesn't have to. I can see it. It's as clear as the pain in her eyes when I talk to her almost daily and have to be the one to tell her that you hadn't woken up yet. I can assure you that she will be coming now that you are conscious, regardless if you tell her not to. Sian has been working very hard to make sure she will afford to make the trip and take the time off from her job when the time comes Jack. She couldn't stay here for however long you were away from the world, but she did her best to make sure you weren't alone at least when you came back. It may not be my place...but as far as what she deserves, I think whatever makes someone happy is what they deserve.' Her head tilted slightly to the side, 'Besides, you don't plan to do what you do forever do you?"

Perhaps she had overstepped herself in this situation, but Jack had opened up to her. Things she had hints about between them were confirmed by the words he spoke and the feelings behind them. For Macy it was only right to speak in return for the friend who may very well never hear the words from his mouth.

Kyla

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

He was relieved she let him talk without berating him on his outburst. Already he was feeling ashamed of his angry words, but of course she was a classy woman and seemed to be letting him get away with it for now. When she sat back down, it was clear to Jack the situation was about to get intense. She chided him like a child, and he reacted like one, tucking his chin to his chest and looking down into his lap.

When she said something happened on the Sojourn, his head lifted and he sat up. Worry creased his brow and his lips parted, but she shook her head and he let her continue, sinking back into his bed. Vaguely, he was able to feel a sense of pride in Sian's decisions. She was some woman, attempting to make it on her own even though she didn't have to. Still, what could have happened? His mind wandered and he had to struggle to listen to the words Macy was saying even as the worst-case scenarios reared up in his brain.

Before he could even begin to get a little bit jealous that she had shacked up with a crew member somewhere, Macy had already started putting his mind to rest about Sian not being there with him. Long-term? Home? Long-term...What did that mean to him? Jack wasn't even sure why she was telling him this. Surely it had nothing to do with him...? He opened his mouth, closed it. Then opened it again, venturing to ask. "Home? An'...where is that?" His eyes dropped to his lap again, as if the answer would be better if he were not looking at Macy when she responded.

He lifted his eyes again as she spoke of what she had learned of Sian just from watching the woman. Jack knew she spoke the truth; for a companion, Sian had always been a bit too emotional. All that mattered was she cared, and Macy's mere presence proved that much. "She'll come 'ere? I don'...I wanna get outta here soon. Hospitals...they ain't my scene, yeah?" He shifted uncomfortably in his bed. "Well...if she's been savin' up..." His words stuttered from his mouth, his cheeks growing red again as some warm feeling swelled in his chest.

Macy's words about making her happy gave him pause and he tipped his head down so that he might glance out at her from the shadow of the brim of his hat. "I...would try ev'ry day ta make 'er happy if that was my place, Macy. I don' think you're quite gettin' what I'm tryin' ta say. If anythin' was ta ever happen to 'er...It'd be my gorram fault. 'Cause o' who I am an' the life I live." Her question was valid, but he didn't know how to answer it. "Forever's a long time, luv. I won't be doin' it forever, no. Thing is, I don' see a way out for me that ain't a bullet or goin' into hidin'. You don' exactly..." He waved his hand tiredly, "Retire from this line o' work, yeah? I'm sorta stuck. This is all I know 'ow ta do. That bein' said...if it was an option, I'd go anywhere in the 'Verse she wanted." He sighed and closed his eyes, head leaning back against the bed. Obviously exhausted.

[A Face in the Crowd]

"Thank you for letting me speak my peace Jack." Macy assumed Jack would know what her words meant, vague as they were, however that was the intention. The drugs might be taking their toll on how well things clicked and made sense. She had thought it best to avoid being as direct with everything, but there was not much point she decided at the end. Jack didn't want her to speak of anything he said, which she would think meant he wouldn't speak of things she said as well.

She had noticed his eyes drop when the words he spoke inquired about the mention of home and such. In return when she finally gave him the answer Macy as well turned her eyes just a bit so he might feel a bit better or comfortable. "At the time it was Persephone, but to be honest. I believe that it would be anywhere you were, though I'm not sure she'd openly admit that to you herself." A sigh escaped her lips and she made up her mind that she would continue her thoughts out loud. Perhaps give the man some insight into her friend. "As I told you she has told me nothing, but in my own opinion and observations. Well, Sian seems afraid to express her feelings and desires when it comes to you. It could be for several reasons of course, so I couldn't begin to try and figure that out." There were quite a few possibilities, none of which really fit the woman's normal personality. It didn't mean much though, when it came to delicate situations people were often not their normal selves. Macy was fairly sure it was fear of rejection that kept Sian at bay though, but she wasn't about to tell him that.

Macy shook her head lightly as Jack expressed his wishes to get out of the hospital. Of course he had only been awake for a short time, the doctors hadn't even made it by yet to talk to him. "It's not going to be that easy Jack, you weren't here for a cold or something simple. You were in a coma for quite awhile, that takes a toll on your body. You're going to need physical therapy for a bit before you can function on your own I'm guessing. As far as Sian coming here, yes that's her current plan, but if you were somehow able to convince the doctors here to let you go back to Persephone for treatments she'd go there." She shrugged slightly with the last of her words. Ariel had the best medical facilities in the 'verse, but for some hospitals were not an ideal place. Macy could understand that, they weren't her favorite place either really.

A smile crossed her face, she couldn't help it nor hold it back. Listening to Jack's words warmed her in a way. However part of her wanted to just hit him with something to try and knock some sense into him as well. His reasons and worries were valid, but the same could be said in the opposite. Macy knew Sian's secrets, some of them at least. "There's all sorts of danger everywhere, even for one such as Sian, should the wrong people find out...well I'm sure you're aware. So I doubt you're the only one with that particular worry Jack." Some things Macy refused to speak out loud, secrets of someone else's was one of them. She was well aware that he knew the one she was referencing though. You don't survive an attempted assassination because of who your father happened to be and not worry afterwards. The constant reminder when you look in the mirror that if someone didn't take a bribe or it was whispered in the wrong place someone would know you were still alive.

"Odd thing that, living a life because it's all you know." She raised a brow at him, wondering if he would catch on to the very words he spoke. Which was exactly the reason Sian had wanted to go out on her own in the first place. The life of a companion was all she knew, so she needed to learn something else.

"I should let you get some rest, I'm sure your nurse will be back soon. Probably trailed by a few doctors, so you should enjoy some quiet time while you can."

Kyla

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

Jack nodded as she thanked him, shrugging a bit. Her next words startled him and he ducked his head. Home was with him? How had they gotten to this point? Maybe he hadn't done as good a job keeping her at arm's length as he should have, but it was hard with her. So difficult, when all he wanted was to touch her hair, hold her, to ease her troubles and to make her smile.

Already, part of him was regretting being so candid with Macy. He had no idea what it was that Sian saw in him, but he was sure he couldn't ever give her what she deserved. Just thinking of being anything more to her, or being the person she wanted? It all seemed a silly pipe dream. What, would he settle them down on some nice farming planet and till the soil to feed her? Get a nine to five where he dressed in a suit and tie? Nothing seemed to fit, and he shook his head to free those thoughts from his mind.

As Macy continued, explaining that Sian had, in fact, told her nothing, his heart squeezed a bit. Jack glanced up at her, tipping his hat back slightly. "If she's not told ya anythin', per'aps you're thinkin' too much into it. I can't see what someone like 'er would want wit' someone like me." He rubbed his hands together, the tattoo beneath one glove seeming to burn his skin with shame.

When she explained it wouldn't be easy to leave, he snorted in derision. "Then I'll jus' have ta be a star student, yeah? Get back on me ruttin' feet faster'n they've ever seen." His words digressed to mumbling and cursing as he shifted his weight and struggled into a seated position. He ran his hand over his chin. "Need a damn shave. Not smooth, mind you. The ladies like a bit o' stubble." His eyes twinkled as he grinned at her, attempting to lighten the awkward feelings a bit.

She told him it was odd, living a life because he knew nothing else, and he caught on to her undercurrent of deeper meaning. His eyes sharpened and narrowed as they captured hers. "Guessin' I'll have ta have a talk wit' our mutual friend, yeah? See if she wants ta try an' change the stars wit' me..." He trailed off, obviously hardly even daring to hope. "But...after I get back on me feet. I ain't no kinda man right now." He nodded at her wanting to let him rest, though he was still moving to swing his legs off the side of the bed. They felt heavy and cramped from disuse. He waved a hand at her. "'Preciate you...bein' here an' all. Nice ta wake up to a pretty face." He winked to show he was teasing, but it was obvious he was sincere in his gratitude.

[Jack "Trigger" Briggs]

[ooc: Are we all done here? If so, I'll just start posting with him normally again.]

[Kyla Monroe]

I haven't had the time to do much posting as of late. You can do as you like with other posts hon you don't have to wait on me to carry on. I can try to work on a reply when I have the time.

[Ari Deschain]

[ooc: take your time, luv! I had a bit of a family emergency that kept me...stressed for a while. I just wanted to check and see what you thought about this thread. I think I'll have Jack pull some strings and finish his rehab on Persephone, so maybe we can just have Sian meet him there later? <3s and love.]