darker_london | All the World (Dylan, Caitlin, Finian, Lydia) (Reply)

When Dylan awoke, the first thing he saw was his mother. It made sense, her bright red hair was like a beacon, blazing away against the starkness of the white room. Finian was beside her, holding her hand. And Caitlin was clenching it back so tightly her knuckles had gone ghost-like. She'd never had to worry about a child like this before. Deirdre was always so responsible, or at least it looked that way to her. And Dylan had run off before, but Caitlin had just known he'd be fine. He was a genius, after all, and able to use his intellect to keep himself safe even at 11 years of age. But while Dylan was just lying there, motionless and looking so tiny against the bed, she had no such reassurance. Dylan's brilliance couldn't get him out of death if the injuries were bad enough.

But they weren't. And Dylan groaned a little. His head hurt, but he could think. He knew who he was. And, more depressingly, where he was. Quickly, he cycled through the questions they might ask him, in case they thought he'd lost his marbles. He knew who the Prime Minister was. What date it was as long as he hadn't been unconscious long. That London College had been... Well he knew, anyway, even if he didn't want to think about it. "Mam..."

Caitlin was at his side in an instant. "DYLLIE!" She shrieked, effectively shattering Dylan's eardrums.

"Mother. Thou hast the volume control of a sonic boom." Dylan said dryly, reaching for his bandaged arm.

On hearing Dylan sound so utterly Dylan, Caitlin burst into tears and Finian leaned forward, his face full of relief in his own gentle way. "She's trying to say it's good to see you awake, Son. Really good."

Dylan smiled weakly. "Tis good to be awake. What happened?"

"Do you remember yesterday?" Finian said worriedly.

So they did think he'd lost his marbles! Quickly, Dylan spoke up, his words mumbled but still so very him. "I do. The school. That poor, unfortunate Gloria Geirsbergan brought a gun. I remember everything with pristine clarity. The screams and the running. Until a clumsy panicked oaf who's face I never saw didst kick me in the head upon my unfortunate fall on legs too wee to battle a stampeding herd." Dylan frowned. "Did...they find her? The lost soul who did this?"

Finn shook his head. "They didn't. She...Gloria...disappeared. You have a broken arm and you're pretty banged up. The most worrying thing was that you hadn't woken up, though. They were worried about head injuries. But you should be right now." Finian smiled. "Right so. I'll just go get the doctor to look you over." He stood and he kissed Caitlin and then Dylan. "I'll ring Deirdre and Evey too. Evey has Moira. And Deirdre's been frantic. There's someone in the waiting room who wants to see you too."

Dylan turned towards the door as Finian walked out of it. And then Lydia walked in and Dylan's face brightened up like a supernova. "Milady!"

Lydia ran over to him and she planted a kiss right smack dab on his lips, leaving Dylan looking plenty shocked and Caitlin smiling approvingly through her dramatic tears. "I'm so glad you're okay, Sir Dylan! Daddy said I could stay here til you woke up so I've been here all night and now you did!" Lydia said, bouncing a little. She, for one, had seen trauma before. What had happened yesterday wasn't necessarily any more or less freaksome than being tortured by a psychotic demon. And her Dylan was okay now. She could bounce. "I found you in the hall all bloody! I was SO scared!"

"Our little Lydia is a hero." Caitlin said fondly, finally taking her seat again with a sniff. "She carried you until her cousin found the both of you. She got her class out through the window too. I think you're both so brave." Caitlin said with a firm nod.

Lydia blushed and Dylan raised her hand to his lips with his uninjured arm. "Then thank you, milady, for saving my life. You have my eternal gratitude and love at your service."

Lydia smiled at him and she sat down by his side as well. "You have mine too." She said honestly. And for her, 'eternal' meant just that.