better living through chemestry

Jaimie Alexander by Giuliano Bekor | 2011

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Nina LaCour, Hold Still (via perfect)

That was all the clues the Mentor could give him, all the hints she could spare before the female Peackekeeper jabbed her in the back with the tip of her rife, and like that she was gone.

He kept his hand still for her, allowing her to test his pulse as his other than returned the squeeze she offered him. It was comforting, ever so brief as it was. They wouldn’t hurt Bula. She was released, though maybe not free… But she was a doctor. They needed her. They couldn’t hurt her now. Still- “I’m sorry.” He blurted out. Don’t save it until its too late. Gear felt as though he needed to apologize before Bula disappeared forever, or he himself. “-Before the Arena, during the training. I’m sorry.”

I'm sorry. Bula lost count of the pulsating beats and brought her gaze up to his slowly. “Don't...” God, training felt like forever ago. Not that she hadn't relived every day of it in her mind a million times since then. How selfish she'd been. How heartless to think that she had the right to choose one of them to save over the other. Of all the things in her life- of all the things she'd done in the arena and after, choosing between them had been the worst. “I'm the one- I'm so so... s-so sorry.” a hand left his wrist, the pulse forgotten now so she might cover her mouth and muffle the a stilted little sob. “You're so very brave Gear- so impossibly brave.” Composure was a little beyond her reach now, but even with a shaking whisper and tears streaming down her face she knew what had to be said. “I don't know anyone who would have stayed with Keely in that arena. Anyone who would have risked their lives for that little girl... Gear you're stronger and smarter than anyone gives you credit for- and I need you to be strong for a little bit longer. Okay? Can you do that for me?”

Gear knew that having his blood pressure taken wasn’t frightening. Or it shouldn’t have been, anyway. “Okay.” Just make it fast.

“ I don't... They only let me out yesterday- I think.” between the blood loss, weakness from dehydration and hunger she really couldn't be sure of anything as meaningless as the passage of time in one of these cells, but Gear didn't need to hear any of that. “Snow didn't tell me why or what. But after my interrogation... they must have figured I'd be more use here than locked up.” she shook the statement away more than a little worried about its implications, instead she fell silent for a moment focused on counting the pulsing beats in his arm. Her free hand found his though, giving it a little squeeze as she watched the second hand on her grandmother's wrist watch tick tick ticking away. 

Swallowing hard, and though his hands were shaking, he complied with her request. He tugged up his shirt, trying his best to will himself into remaining still when the stethoscope made contact with his skin. It was cold, but not as much as it could have been. Deep breaths. He was good at that. Catching Bula’s quick gesture, a finger to her lips as she focused on her medical tasks, Gear’s eyes watched as she listened to his lungs. But what could he ask? What could they discuss in there short time they had? “Did you see the others?” -Because there had to be others. He knew there were, he just didn’t know who exactly they were.

"I'll make sure they bring you something." she told Gear, determined to make it so. If he could keep them guessing as to what he knew about the rebellion she would have a better chance at advocating for better treatment. They wouldn't be easy on him. She knew that already, so did he she was was sure. But... broken was better than dead. "Gonna take your blood pressure now." Or at least she hoped so.

Bula pulled away, and Gear’s eyes were drawn to the medical bag. It was Bula, she wouldn’t hurt him. That didn’t quell the sudden panic. “Why?”

She wished there was something more she could do for him, that there was some pill or shot she could give him to fix it all. “I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to make sure you're alright.” with a metallic snap the case to her right popped open and for the first time Bula got a look at what she could only describe as a medical toy box. Gadgets and gizmos glistened and shined, each and every one the product of half a dozen years of of half a dozen districts labor and ingenuity, all to benefit the Capital and it's citizens. It made her stomach turn. In the end she favored familiarity for invention, digging to the bottom for a stethoscope. “Pull up your shirt.” she directed him as she warmed the scope in the palm of her hand, breathing a warm breath on to it while slyly placing a finger to her mouth, her back to the Peacekeepers. If they were to communicate they would have to do so quickly, and quietly, no doubt they were being listened to this very moment and all the others as well, so just like old times really. “Take a deep breath for me.... you're no use to them if you don't know anything... and out. Again...don't let them know what you don't know... Good, once more real deep this time...”