#mediwhumpmayday24

[faofinn]

Day 24 - "We've got you now." / "You're safe."

@mediwhumpmay

"Harrison. Hey, Hars, open your eyes, look at me?"

He tried, he really did, but it was just too hard. There was something down his throat, forcing air into his lungs with each breath. Something else was itching his nose, the least of his worries but a nuisance nonetheless. Pain was there, too, but a dull ache he could tell had been sorted with too much ketamine for him to concentrate on. Everything felt swollen and heavy, but the weird sensation down his right leg had him frowning. He could feel his left toes, could feel the fabric rubbing against them, but his right leg just seemed to…stop. 

Oh, fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. That meant Marcus was gone too, that his whole life was over, that the team had ignored his begging to let him go.

His monitors started alarming, his panic rising. He began fighting against the tube, though each breath sent a new stab of agony across his chest. 

There was a gentle hand on his cheek that wasn't on fire, a soft voice breaking through his panic. "Harrison, hey, hey. You're alright, open your eyes, yeah? You can do this, breathe with it, just relax."

He finally managed to do as he was told, squinting his eyes open. One was mainly swollen shut, but he could see. Matt was standing there, still talking to him, trying to get him calmed back down. The shock of managing to look at him had made him forget he'd been panicking in the first place, but Matt seemed to be happy to see him, so it must have been okay. 

"Tomcat, welcome back. You've had a bit of a struggle, it was touch and go for a bit, but they've got you stable enough to fly." He paused to let Harrison catch up. "You're gonna be going back to England, the surgeons there are top class, much better than we are here."

He teased with the hint of a smile, and Harrison had to admit he appreciated it. As much as he knew he couldn't talk, he needed to know, and know for definite. Deep down, he already did, he could feel the emptiness, but there was a tiny spark of hope that he hadn't quite managed to stop clinging on to.

"I'm sorry, Tomcat. I'm so sorry. He didn't make it. He didn't suffer, James said he wouldn't have known anything. I'm so sorry, I know what he meant to you." Matt's voice cracked. "What he meant to all of us. You both did. We nearly lost you too many times, but you're stubborn, eh? You're gonna get through this, Marcus is always gonna be in your heart."

Harrison closed his eyes, the only thing he could control. A tear snaked its way down his cheek and he semi shook his head. He wasn't going to get through it. He didn't want to.

"Steve's been desperate about you, too, y’know? He's called nearly every hour since we brought you back, nearly three days ago. We could video him, if you wanted, so you could see your dad. You'll be going back to England obviously, but it's a little boost, I guess?"

While Harrison was exhausted, talking to Steve - as much as he could - always felt like home. He managed a small nod, and Matt's face lit up. Harrison was with it, was able to follow the conversation. He fumbled for the phone, dialling Steve's number. 

Of course, the older man answered almost immediately, panic on his face. 

"Matt? Oh, Harrison. Hars, you're okay." He didn't bother to hide his tears, dissolving into ugly sobs. "I love you, kid. You're gonna be just fine, they're gonna look after you the best. You're safe. I love you, Harrison."

Harrison's own tears fell, and he managed an almost grin around the tube. He'd be with his dad soon enough, he'd keep him right.

The call didn't last long, Harrison worn out and starting to drift. Steve recognised it and apologised, promising he'd be waiting for when he came home, and then let Matt hang up. 

In the silence, he turned to his colleague, searching for a childish bit of comfort. Matt stroked through his hair, murmuring away to him to get him to settle again. The ketamine had been given again, he could tell, everything slowly starting to disappear. 

"That's it, just relax. You're safe, we've got you now. You're safe." He promised. "We'll get you home."

[autobot2001]

Failed Kidnapping

@mediwhumpmay: "We've got you." / "You're safe." @themerrywhumpofmay: dragged (snippet from Hidden Killer)

A man walks down the street, minding his own business. He's heard of the Holiday Killer but isn't worried about being a target. Especially as he walks in a populated part of the city. Even if it's eleven at night. "Ah, an unsuspecting fool," Austin smiles while watching them from the roof of a building. He completes his outfit and hurries down the fire escape. "Let go of me!" His target yells and tries to fight back, but he's not strong enough. Austin knocks down his target and drags him into the alleyway by the arms. The man tells for help, hoping someone will help rather than just call the police. "Hey!" Another man yells as he and another rush to the man and Austin. Austin let go of his victim and prepared for a fight. Until he underestimates the two men's strength. They'll blow my cover. He worries and rushes up the fire escape. "You're safe," one man says as the two help the victim up, "we've got you." The two men worry about the system of their victim. They lead him into the nearby Starbucks and call an ambulance. Aware the police will come.

"...the guy was covered from head to toe except for his eyes," one of the men explains. "But it was too dark to see his eye color," the other man adds. The victim confirms his assaulter is a man by his voice. The officers believe the man was the Holiday Killer, even with the little information. The paramedic believes the victim doesn't need to go to the hospital. The officers return to the station, relieved a target of the Holiday Killer wasn't killed.