Tell Geller his side? What the hell? He had just spilled on everything to her, and she basically brushed him aside like so much dust. "Yeah, fine. Do whatever you people do." Miffed? Just slightly. Here he was just trying to protect a friend who had been injured, and he was being treated like a child. He gave Zack a nod, and headed to the kitchen to get a soda for the young man. He pulled out another can, and came back into the room, setting it in Zack's hands.
"I'm gonna go smoke. Don't hesitate to call if you need me, bud." He had spoken to Zack, and had flicked his eyes at Silent with his comment. And with that, he headed into the hall, and lit up a cigarette, puffing angrily. He started to head downstairs to get some air, and stopped at a table with some keys, and a folded paper with Zack's name on it. It didn't look like mail, and he had been quite sure that it hadn't been there before. And Zack's name was scrawled quite hastily, it seemed.
He picked it up, and skimmed what was written. Dammit, Nate. So he strode back into the room, smoke trailing from his mouth and wreathing his face, and moved between Silent and Zack. He pressed the paper into Zack's hands, and leaned close to the man's ear. "I didn't see this earlier. I suggest reading it alone."
He squeezed Zack's good shoulder in consolation, and headed back out the door. He needed to get some fresh air, and not only because of the bitch wolf now. Pushing open the doors of the shop, he stepped onto the sidewalk, and lit another cigarette with the one that had burned low. He punched the wall hard, and knew the coming weeks would be hard for Zack.
Zack hadn't expected Steven to actually get up and go get him a soda. “Dude, it was a j-” To late, the door had already closed behind him. Well, can't complain, right? At least he didn't have to go get one himself. From what the elementalist had said, it seemed like it was more to get away from Silent than anything. Was she that protective of Lori, like Owen was starting to be with Zack?
The thought had Zack turning his attention to the doctor. The leopard really did seem to be taking a strange liking to him, culminating with him bringing their heads together. It was odd, to be sure, but he had seen similar behavior with the other lycans before. That sort of closeness must have been the norm among them, he thought. Not something that he was particularly fond of, but he'd get used to it eventually. “Hell, you think I could have picked anyone earlier today? That was all Nate, man. I'm just happy you showed up.”
Steven entered the room again, shoving a soda can into Zack's hand. The chill from it felt so refreshing in comparison to the heat his body was putting out now. Why the hell wasn't he sweating, though? It could have been a fever, but he didn't really feel sick. Just a lot of pain, which the meds were taking care of for the moment. “Well, sweet! Thanks, man...” The words seemed like the fell on deaf ears, as Steven walked back out of the room, claiming he needed a smoke break. The thought of it caused Zack's free hand to twitch. It had been an hour or so since his last cigarette, and a full day before that. If the current events weren't going on around him, withdrawal would have driven him bat shit crazy.
“Well...fuck it, then.” Zack popped the top off of the can, raising it to Owen and Silent as a toast. “To...new beginnings? Sounds pretty damn good to me.” His drink was interrupted, Steven yet again entering the room, this time looking a little more pale than usual. This time, a folded up piece of paper was pushed into his other hand, Steven leaning in close and telling Zack to read the letter alone. The low voices didn't mean much, as at least Owen could probably hear it anyway, not knowing what Silent really was yet.
Once Steven had left, Zack set the can down on the end table by the bed, looking over the note. The front only had his name in Nate's handwriting on it. What the hell was going on? The way Steven had acted about it made him worried, and he wanted to read it as soon as possible. “Uhh...I'm sorry, guys. Think I'm gonna use the bathroom now, if you don't mind.” It was total bullshit, but he needed some excuse to leave, slipping past Silent to get outside the door.
In the hallway, Zack unfolded the note, leaning back against the wall. The paper in his hand was a loaded gun, the words drilling into his head one after another. No. For fucks sake, no. Why was it that when things finally started to look up, God was waiting behind him with a baseball bat, ready to beat him back down? There were to many words that he didn't quite understand yet: Munin, Lupanar, and Ulfric to name a few. The one line that really mattered, however, was conveniently placed right on top of the page.
“If you are reading this now, you know I am gone. I know you won't understand me abandoning you, but I had to leave New Orleans...”
Somehow, Zack managed to read down to the bottom of the page, where Nate gave him the combination to his gun case where his Glock lay in case the wolf came back for him. But that didn't matter now. Nothing seemed to matter now. Nate was one of the first people Zack had met when he came to New Orleans, searching for steady employment and a roof over his head. Nate had kindly supplied both, and had been the best friend he could have to the young man. When things had looked their worst for Zack, Nate was there to pick him up, almost literally, out from the gutter. And after he was attacked, Nate was the first one there for him in the morning. Hell, one of the reasons he wanted to go on with the transformation was because of Nate. He felt that his group of friends could show him the proper way through it. Nate most of all.
And now Nate was gone.
Something in the young mans head snapped. Zack had enough sense to quite calmly fold the paper back up and put it in his pocket, the words on it being meant for his eyes only. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, tears started to roll down his face. In the same spot Nate had broken down when he had read Cullen's goodbye note, Zack slid down the wall, sobbing uncontrollably. Once he was on the floor, be brought his knees up to his chest with his arms, burying his face in them and trying to keep from making to much noise. It wasn't going to be enough, though, and he was sure the others in the house could hear him clear as day.
-- Edited by ZACHARY SULLIVAN on Sunday 10th of April 2011 04:09:37 AM
He felt too much of the tension in the room, the doctor simply stepped back from whatever fire he felt between the she-wolf and the elementalist, he watched as Steven left then about half another hour he re-entered the room to hand the soda pop Zack had asked for, sounded like him when he would go in and out this morning to the afternoon cause he could not sit long enough for even his own cat to not bother him too much, the one thing he needed was to be pestered by the beige feline that likes to give him hell sometimes when he didn't expect it to. Owen was about to follow Steven when he suddenly came back again, this time he noticed a note that was left by someone. Nate or Geller? He could not tell this far, since Steven had told him through amplified ears he must read it alone.
A bit of bile threatened to reach to his throat, almost but he could handle anything, cub or not there was a lot of emotions shifting from one man to another like telling a best friend that your loved one has passed and there was nothing else he can do for him except support him. Turning his head to give a quick look at Silent before seeing Zack had left them be, the nose smelt a white lie emanating but he acted as if he believed why, sure that you had to urinate sometimes right? But Owen knew and he was smart enough to recognize that there was more to the story than meets the eye. If Zack could only wonder he too use that same story to fool his father after his beloved mother had died, told him and sisters he needed to meet the porcelain god, that was actually funny, but he was serious at the time cause he needed to mourn alone.
The sound of weeping caught his attention, he thought if he can be there for him, turning to Silent he left the room, trailing towards the male voice. He smelt salty tears in the air, footsteps echoed and there he was standing in front of Zack, he held a white handkerchief that he carried with him in case it was needed, now is the time to make use of doing something that can ease the man's pain, he can sense that pain and now it made him feel like he wanted to curl up, put his body against him as most like him are known to do that. He can understand if Zack wanted to be left alone that he can provide. While he did not know of the situation, part of him still would have liked to know what is going on so he can pretty much do his best to find what ails a broken heart, it broke his heart when he felt the agony that rolled off of him. "Zack? If you want to talk, I am here. I'll listen. "Hey, what else can he say other than that? He did not sit next to him right away, he kept his place standing with his hands behind his back.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Sunday 10th of April 2011 04:11:56 AM
The young man on the floor couldn't remember the last time he had shed tears before today. There hadn't been any when he was caught breaking into a girls car and sentenced to a few months jail time, nor when his parents disowned him on his release. Every trial put before him up to this point had been met with a stoic determination. His philosophy was that he could push through whatever he set his mind to, and fuck whoever thought otherwise.
That mentality, after 24 years of life, had finally come crashing down around him, his sobs of despair a glaring indication of it. From the beginning of the day, his mind had been on a roller coaster of emotions, constantly in flux from one extreme to another, overjoyed to devastated. The note was the final little push he needed to go over the edge.
Sometime during his episode, Owen had come out and stood above him, trying to sound as passive as possible. Talk? There were so many things that Zack wanted right now, talking not really being one of them. Screaming, smoking, drinking, and shooting sounded like reasonable alternatives, though. The young man raised his head, trying to look Owen in the eyes through his tear blurred vision. Without saying a word, he leaned forward, resting his head on Owen's leg.
He must have looked like a little puppy there, leaning on it's master for support. The image would have made him laugh, if he remembered how. Instead, he just sat there and cried on Owen, letting out all of his bottled up emotions. The closeness that Owen had pursued earlier really didn't seem all that bad now. After a few minutes of this, he had calmed down enough to talk through the tears that had begun run down his neck and chest. “It's Nate...he left.” Zack sniffed back the gunk running down his nose. His voice was cracking but coherent, and he was still leaning on the leopard. “Owen...fuck, man. What do I do now?”
It's Nate..he left. He heard the man, heard Zachary just tell him that Nathaniel Roshan of all people vanished. Unlike Zach, people like Owen would have gotten upset cause of this man who was going through possible changes, major ones. The echo of his heart was louder now, he curled his left fingers into his palm, there was no claws and if there was he would not mind several puncture wounds but instead small, half moons along his palm was better enough. How did he feel? There was no cure for someone who was left here, nothing can help a soul whose loss someone they put their entire trust in. His pants leg was soaked with salty tears from Zach's tear ducts, has people like Owen ever cried in his lifetime?
Once or twice, but the greatest pain was watching her fall over and die during his victorious soccer game. The referee's whistle blew loud, so loud he could imagine walking the road of pure bliss, then as if the dark lord of the underworld meant to ruin a great bout, there the grim reaper came to take his beautiful artist away, his mother laid on the ground like a rag doll. He remembered breaking down, he nearly was out of breath, his grade slipped in school due to the grief he bared. His high school teacher was writing something on the chalkboard, all he can hear was chalk meeting board, making a sound but it was drowned out. He heard her footfalls, did not know she was concerned cause he was thinking of his mother six foot deep. The teacher spoke in a low voice "Mr. Connors, Mr. Connors, if you like..you can take a day off of school. I'll make sure to have one of your friends take your assignments to your house."That was good and all, but as stubborn as he was, he did not want to hear it. Owen continued to look up into the ceiling of this very shop, he then looked down at Zachary Sullivan who was torn, torn in a way that the smaller pieces shells would not be all, people he relied on was there for him then they took off without at least giving five or ten minutes of their time telling him or them their going to leave New Orleans, their reasons as well so that Zachary did not have to feel like this. If it was up to Owen, he'll take care of Zach, teach him what he can. Research was a useful tool. The pack can't force him to join them if he did not want to, if they did then he has every reason to feel their not giving his new friend any options.
Owen could manage, he has since day one as a wereleopard, though, he knew he was fooling himself everytime that he can venture alone but that wasn't true. He needed an experienced wereleopard to take him under his wing(or hers) teach him, love him, nuture him like any cub in the wild so that he will be free to hunt better and without too much failure. A lump of saliva was trapped in his throat, part of him want to cry too, but he learned the hardways of life that as much as shit fell from the sky, he took it all in as if it was nothing. A cub who raised himself, the cub should do his best for the new wolf even if he wasn't wolf, he'll be the next best thing.
Finally, he knelt down on both knees, leaned Zach's head against his chest so he can let it all out. They felt like two orphans. They can do it all on their own, enough said if not a single person is not going to do a damn thing he'll definitely pick the infected human up, push him further as well as himself, weak is stronger than the ones who already were strong. Such knowledge has seen that determination, self-esteem, and the courage to do what you can on your own without relying on so much. "We can leave here that's what. Staying here in this room, in this shop is going to make you even more sad. It'll be nostalgic, if no one else is going to do it, then I will be happy to take you in, I'll do my best to see to that Zach."If anyone else was mad that he made the choice, he did not care and didn't want to hear it.
Owen was best at his strength when it comes to his family and friends, with those who can stop them that easily. Laughter is the best medicine isn't it? If that werewolf does come to collect Zach, he'll be prepared. Just cause his leopard does not have what it takes, that doesn't mean his human side can have a defense that can repell whatever was after him. As for Steven, he'll make a chit-chat with him if Zach takes his offer to come stay with him until there is a better option or some suggestions thrown in there. If anyone wants to talk with Zach, so be it. Owen can rival, doesn't matter what race or species it is. He has proven as a doctor to heal, but as a lycanthrope he has now made a stand to have a handle on things like with Zach. Who else will do a better job without scaring the man silly? Or making him more depressed than he already is? Happiness is greater than fear, than sadness, it provided positive things. "If no one, then I'll be it."He now looked into his eyes, making a confirmation and if Zach refuses he'll understand that too.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 04:08:55 PM
The little pixie hadn't heard anything about Zack from anyone. She knew her flowers and the teddy bear had been sent and received because she'd checked on the delivery via website. She didn't want to call the seven sins, in case Nate picked up and hung up on her, well, because they hadn't exactly got along well on that first meeting. Yes, she knew it was partially her own fault for over-reacting and letting her anger get the best of her. She actually felt kinda bad about that. Still, after waking up, sending the message to Silent and hearing nothing for hours, she'd found herself pacing around the loft wondering what the hell she should do.
Not able to stand it any longer, she left the Hookah with the backpack on her shoulder and decided to go for a walk. Was it any wonder that the direction she took had her heading towards the Seven Sins shop? Even if Nate decided to kick her the hell out of his place again, the tiny goth girl had decided she had to try. Zack had been helpful and even friendly towards her, before all hell had broken loose at the grand opening. Then again, the night before, well, they hadn't really gotten the chance to talk much after the attack, except for the jokes he tried to crack while in pain.
It didn't take too long to traverse the streets until she was standing in front of the shop, the look on her face doubtful as to how well she would be received before walking in. She wandered around on the ground floor, somehow missing Steven as he made his exit for a cigarette and some fresh air before remembering that the man in pajama's had come from above. Lori looked for stairs and as her luck would have it, found an unlocked door that led up into the place where Zack and the others lived.
"Hello?" She called out, not wanting to get yelled out for entering without permission, but not stopping either. As she walked into the living room she saw Silent and she gave a great sigh of relief, walking over to the swamp wolf and giving her a quick hug, nuzzling her cheek against the other woman's. There were very few people that Lori was open and familiar with enough to be comfortable touching, but Silent was one that definitely made that list. "I'm so glad you made it. I hadn't heard anything and got worried. Where is he? Is he ok?" She asked as those blue-green eyes traveled around the room looking for Zack. Pulling away from Silent, she gave her friend a smile, "I'm gonna go check on him." The look in the swamp wolf's tri-colored eyes told the petite pixie that the two of them would be having a talk later, and a slender midnight brow arched up, wondering at it for a moment before she continued to move through the apartment.
She dropped her backpack on the couch before moving into the hallway, and stopped dead seeing Owen and Zack in a strange sort of embrace. Color hinted at her cheeks, and she cleared her throat, lashes lowering over her eyes as she turned her head. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Her lips twisted in a wry sort of look as she glanced back up, noticing the sheen of tears in Zack's eyes. Immediately she kneeled down next to the two men so she could be on the same level with them, but not close enough to actually touch them. "Are you ok? I know I shouldn't really be here right now, but I wanted to check on you. You've given us quite a scare." Gloved hands fidgeted at her sides, and her teeth bit into her bottom lip. "What's wrong?"
-- Edited by LORISSA MCDERMOTT on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 10:00:55 PM
There wasn't any resistance from Zack at all when Owen pulled him closer. He just sort of fell forward into the leopards chest, his arms hanging limply at his sides while let everything out of his system. Nate running out on him was the last thing he had planned on happening, though it wasn't like much of what had happened the past couple days was planned anyway.
Even without the wolf, though, Owen was being very supportive, offering to take the young man in if nobody else did. Zack had no way of knowing what Owen might have been feeling then, but he felt like Owen and Steven were the only ones he could trust. The good doctor especially, him being there for him now. He hung there in Owen's embrace for another few minutes, long enough to calm himself down to a reasonable level. “I...I kind of like the sound of that.” Zack pulled away a little to look at Owen, raising his good arm to wipe the tears from his face. His eyes were still watery, but they'd stopped falling at least. “If nothing else works out. Thanks...thanks a ton, Owen. It means a lot to me.”
Their moment was interrupted by an unexpected guest. Zack turned his head to the sound of a familiar voice, and a smile came to his face again when he saw Lori walk through the door. “Shit, Lori!” Zack leaned forward when Lori knelt down, nearly knocking both of them over with as tight of an embrace as the patient could muster. “Thank you so much for last night...and for the bear.” Feeling a little awkward, Zack pulled away again, taking a seat on the floor and leaning on Owen a bit.
“Nate left me a letter. He's gone.” The mention of Nate almost had tears falling again, but Zack managed to hold them back. “This guy named Geller was here, then he disappeared. I'm sure you saw Silent already, but...” The young man cast his gaze to the ground, sniffing back another breakdown. “...I don't know what's gonna happen to me anymore. Geller thought the wolf might come back for me, but they figured they could keep me here for a while. With Cullen and Nate gone, though...I don't know what to do.” Zack's voice trailed off near the end, his hand raising to wipe the gunk from his face a little more. He truly felt lost, with very few options.
The athletic framed man stood outside for a good long time, smoking a few cigarettes back to back. He snuffed the last one under his heel, and reentered the building. He headed back upstairs, and avoiding Silent, he found Zack and Owen. And, xurprisingly, Lori was there as well. He moved a little closer, and spoke in a soft quiet voice. His eyes were red a little because of the anger he had endured for a few minutes before the nicotine could calm him down. "Hey, Zack, man. I know things are bad right now, but believe me things will pick up. There's only one place to go when you hit rock bottom, and that's up." He waved a little to Lori, mouthing the words 'thank you; to her.
He came and offered a hand to Zack, and looked him in the eye. "What kind of liquor do you have in the house? And I think you need something stronger than just tobacco as well. The doc here can either knock you out with some of his meds, or we can get you blasted." He knew it wasn't a good way to hide form his grief, but it would be something for now. The poor guy just lost most of the people he trusted. He had no idea what else to do, besides. The only other thing he would usually do for such a shattering, would be to take the man to a strip club, and get him lapdances. But with his shoulder being the way it was, he didn't think it would be enjoyable at the moment.
Jade green eyes, locked on Zack and then on Lori. "I plan on finding this wolf before it comes back. I want you to be safe Zack, seeing as how you can't protect yourself too much in your state. But that's what the soldiers will be for. I personally want to find this bastard, and either kill him myself, or hand him over to the authorities." There would be no dissuading Steven. When he took up vengeance, he would use all of his resources to deliver.
He already confirmed that he will take Zach under his care, it was the right thing to do cause the lack of trust for everyone else made it so difficult that who knows if anyone else start abandoning or walking out on this man when he really started to be close to the people that cared for him and his feelings for the men he lost are way gone. Owen came into his life, Owen was selected over the rest to make use of what knowledge he has. There was no false pretense, only that he had already dibbed him as a roommate for the time being, not so sure what is going to happen to either of them but it's a fresh start. Seeing a new face...wait, her scent was familiar, thought her face and her appearance was placed to the first time he came to the BDSM store. What Zack called her was the name Lori, he introduced himself telling her what all she missed since she had been missing in action. From what he can tell his friend here must know her, as long as he was okay with her he did not need to go into defense mode or protective stanze the minute he connected to him on a level where each of them can relate to the other. "I'm Owen Connors, a doctor here in New Orleans. I came around this morning, Nathaniel had called me cause I was the only person he knew in town. I gave him some meds earlier so the pain can dull, it's temporary, I will have to give him some more in another hour. "He went into his Physician mode, his tone serious. The young kitten, Owen Connors shifted position so that now he sat on the right side of Zack, his arm wrapped around his shoulder letting it be a leverage for support. His feline's maw parted some, tongue sweeping over jaws as it sat there unmoving.
Head slightly turned watching Steven whom he had meant to accompany him had come back inside the room when he turned his attention to the woman who joined them. "As for interrupting, you came in the nick of time. I am going to let Zack stay with me. "The maturity he showed proved he can handle things from here, it's only because he was starting to understand someone who he only met recently, but their friendship itself was scaling to new heights. Owen could see it'll take a long time before Zack can trust anyone, he will understand if Zack did not trust him whatsoever. He wanted to see what if the others protest that he maybe incapable of providing for this broken fellow here, what other options did anyone have other than his own plans. Zack already accepted his invitation to move in with him. For now, he had a hotel suite that had an extra bed, tv, bathroom, a small kitchen with a stove, microwave, and there was enough drinks as well as food for the both of them. Today, he felt acknowledged by someone who saw potential in him.
If he wanted to, he'd have done anything for Zachary, enough said. He can see Zach picturing either one of them, then think or dream about them leaving him too. Any large event like this often did trigger the sub-conscious of the person's mind no matter if the first or second day has passed on by. Owen was going to do whatever it takes to assure Zach that those that surround him are here, he was here most of all. Now, he looked to Steven letting him know what is about to take place. "You can send those soldiers over to the hotel downtown, that is where we will be staying. At least, make sure their undercover, we simply do not want any of the people involved in the hotel plaza. "He then added, after listening to the Elementalist about finding this bastard. "Come over sometime."A soft smile curled his lips, he then turned to the girl who his patient knew. "You too. Doubt it is a good idea to keep hanging in a facility that is no longer in use."BDSM is closed down, shut, and no longer in business as already figured it out.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Wednesday 13th of April 2011 01:41:01 AM
Zack's exclamation when she kneeled down, before leaning forward and nearly bowling them both over with his affectionate hug had the petite pixie blinking in shock. The smallest of frowns tugged at her lips as she puzzled out what to do, never having been very comfortable with touching others, or them touching her. There were of course a short list of people that she'd gotten used to, but it was still a little disconcerting everytime it happened. Slowly her arms lifted to wrap back around him in a light hug while a gloved hand patted his back softly. When he thanked her for the help she'd given and her gift, her lips curled up in a slight smile "You're welcome. It was the least I could do"
When he pulled back after a few seconds, Lori let him go easily, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable with his actions. As he explained to her that Nate had left him a letter, before leaving. She frowned again, seeing tears start to form in the man's eyes. "Oh no! Well, Fuck! That's terrible!" She wasn't sure if she knew who this Geller person was, and she nodded when he said he was sure she'd seen Silent. Learning that Geller thought the wolf might come back for him, and he didn't know what to do had her mind moving a mile a minute with thought.
She opened her mouth to reply to him when Steven walked into the room, and Owen interrupted her train of thought with his own introduction. "Nice to meet you, Owen." Blue-green eyes moved to Steven as he mouthed the words 'Thank you' to her and she nodded to him, giving a smile. Of course, when the elementalist told her he planned on going after the wolf that attacked Zack, the tiny goth girl frowned again. "I'm not sure that is the best of ideas.... Shifters can be very.... resilient. It might be better handled by their own kind, or..." Whatever she might have said after was paused when Owen started talking again.
Her eyes widened when the man offered Zack a place to stay, and though the offer in itself was generous, there were some things didn't quite sit right with the tiny pixie. "Are you a wolf?" She asked the question right off the bat, blunt as ever. It's not that she cared if the man was a shifter, but if Zack was infected. If the infection did indeed take hold of him and he shifted on the next full moon, Owen could be in trouble. "I know that it's really none of my business wether you are are not Dr. Conners, but honestly, if you are not, I think that would be a bad idea, and I'll tell you why. If Zack's been infected, which from the looks of him, he might very well be, his first shift will not be pretty. He will need a strong wolf to guide him or else he may end up inadvertantly attacking someone else."
Her eyes moved to Zack as she talked, and she sat down, scooting next to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know with everything else going on, you would not want that on your conscious. Trust me." How would she know? Well, she'd never attacked anyone herself, hell she wasn't a shifter, but she'd had plenty of memories stuck in her head, and some of them were from shifters. "Also, being in a hotel, would not be ideal either. I'm sure it is only temporary, but being a new shifter, anything can set him off. Blood, sex, high emotions. He might hurt someone and if he shifts around a lot of people, it can be bad."
For a moment Lori thought and then gave her head another shake, looking first at Owen, then Steven and finally Zack. Silent might not be to happy with the little pixie for the offer she was about to make, but she was going to say what was on her mind anyway. "I think you should come stay with me at the Hookah. There are plenty of rooms in the loft and I actually could use some help, so there would be a job in it if you need one. There would also be other wolves there to help take care of you, and help you learn your abilities." She prayed to the heavens above that Silent would not skin her alive, not sure if the swamp wolf had told anyone here that she was a wolf, as most would probably assume that it was her she was talking about.
-- Edited by LORISSA MCDERMOTT on Wednesday 13th of April 2011 05:08:04 AM
After their embrace, Zachary leaned back into Owen's arm, taking a few deep breaths with his eyes closed. There was just to much going on in the mans mind right now. Hearing Steven's reassurances was helping to put him in a better state of mind, as was Owen and Lori's touch. With a last deep exhale, he opened his eyes again and wiped away what was left of the tears.
“Alright...I'm fine. Thanks, guys.” Zack's voice was still shaky, but a small smile was back on his face. He reached his hand out for Steven's, using it for support to bring himself up off the ground. The group hug that was going on was comforting, to be sure, but he wasn't the type to stay on the ground for to long. “Corona's in the fridge, and there's whiskey and vodka above the sink.” Zack motioned towards the kitchen, for Steven. “Honestly, though, I think I'd much rather just sleep for a while longer...once we figure out what the hell's going on.”
And it was one hell of a situation. Zack trusted Owen, and would have been perfectly fine staying with him. Lori did have a good point, though, about him needing a wolf to train him. The last thing he wanted was to shift at the wrong time and have innocent blood on his hands. Who knows, maybe that's what had happened out in the park. Nate's note mentioned Silent being a wolf, and Lori's offer about living with her and others was pretty damn tempting.
Out of habit, Zack threw his hands into his pant pockets and leaned against the wall, lost in thought. “Ya know...it figures.” Zack mumbled more to himself than the others. “Most of the day, I've been pretty fuckin' upset that I didn't have any options. Now that they're in front of me...” He shrugged. “...Hell if I know what to do.” Trying to procrastinate the decision, he looked back to Steven. “I'd tell you that you weren't going out there without me, but I know none of you would let me go. Nate left a gun loaded with silver in his room, and if I saw the fucker, I'd shoot 'em myself.” Which was also bullshit. Zack might have talked big now and then, but he just wasn't a fighter. With others around, though...he could be convinced to do a lot.
Zack shook his head and sighed, not really wanting to give his thoughts on it all. “I...I really gotta thank you for the offer, Owen. When we weren't sure of what was gonna happen, it was a great idea.” His gaze kept going between the leopard and Lori. “But, she has a point. You said it yourself, man, It'd be better for me if I had wolves to train me. Hell, she saved my life out there last night, it's not like I expect anything bad to happen over there. I need this.” Zack didn't like it, but if that's what he had to do for survival, then so be it
He didn't want to lose anyone over it, though. Especially Owen. Zack knew that the doctor was pretty excied to have him over. “Just one thing, Lori. If I do go with Silent and you, I don't want this to take over my life. It's a big deal, yeah...but I still want to see my friends, you know, and have a life outside of this bullshit.” Really, the two other men in the hallway with him were the only people that he could consider friends at this point. The last thing he wanted was to be cut off from them. “...Sound reasonable?”
Steven stood there listening to the rest of them forumlate ideas, and postulate criticisms of the proposed plans. Owen wanted Zack to live in a hotel with him, Lori wanted him to be with her in the upper level of the Hookah, and both had great intentions, but only one of them had solidarity in the plan.
"Look, Owen. I know your heart is in the right place, but honestly, Lori's right. A hotel is not the best place for Zack to be in this time. And not just for the reasons she gave. Being in a hotel gives a mindset of being in limbo. He needs something solid. Somewhere he can call home. There are only two choices left for that. He can go with Lori, and be around the other wolves, or he can stay with me. I'm buying a place in the French Quarter, not far from the bar, and it has plenty of room. It even has a basement. That's where I'm bringing my soldiers to."
He looked at Zack, Lori, and Owen. "Zack, it's all up to you, bud. You can stay with me, and train with the wolves, and be protected all the time, or you can go to Lori's. I've seen the loft she's talking about, and there's plenty of room for your stuff. And if she and the owner allow, I'll move my soldiers over there too. You like warrior statues?"
He smiled, and headed to the kitchen, letting the man think it over. He pulled open the fridge, and brought out a few beers, and opened them, tossing the caps in the waste bin. He brought the beer back to the group, and distributed them. "There's one more thing. I can help you set the shop back up, and keep it running. That's if you want to keep it. If not, I know enough about retail to put it on the market."
He droned out the voices, droned them. His leopard pacing inside of him as he sat there while Zack finally stood up from having cried his heart out. Their taking him away, he thought to himself even as they spoke of appropriate housing for the guy. If Zack only knew what he been through along with the leopards, he thought of Trevor, the alpha wereleopard had walked away without a single word or goodbye. Sigh, see there was a strong connection between he and Zack. Owen knew how he felt than the rest cause he was going through similar shit as he was.
The bluntness was brushed away from the doctor, so this is it huh? Zack will be gone to a better place. Hell, little did she know he could be as dangerous as this man who needed wolves in his care. The cub stood to his feet, a right hand brushed through his locks not sure what to think then in hesistation and reluctance though there was a deep utter of sadness. Owen could hide emotions like the best, the terms Zack spoke of, it made him smile that if Lori did care about him she'll allow leopard and wolf, as well as an Elementalist to be in his life just as Silent and she was. Besides, Jessica often did go on runs with the wolves didn't she?
Wolves and the rats, so who knows that once the full moon came again he'll be sightseeing up in a tree towards a new wolf, he'll growl but doubt his wolf can communicate with leopard on their metaphysical plane. That's okay, cause Zack's scent was locked on, so he can locate him anywhere he is on his radar. The African Leopard wanted to curl along Zack's right leg like most cats do in house or jungle, it would have been a done deal enough said. Mark him, show him how much he did appreciate it, the inner feline did not do such a thing but it was tempting as hell. "I happen to be a wereleopard, Lorissa. I know what this man is going through. I been through the same mess as he when I became infected with lycanthropy, with leopard instead of wolf. But, I can see where you are going with this."He turned to Zack, he then went towards him, hugging the soon to be wolf letting him see he'll come by to see him no matter what they say.
Owen was a determined fellow whose cub was like an orphan, if he could have found an experienced leopard in town then he'll be safe and not hurt anyone. They act as if one is dangerous, but if you think about it his leopard could so swiftly and easily slash more people than Zack's wolf could tear out throats. Not that they realize what he is capable of, cats were more hazardous than a single wolf as it's probably detected in many statistics. If Owen did not have Jessica or Trevor that night, he was afraid that he'll go on a killing spree cause he still lacked proper discipline that his large cat needed. Where are you Jess? He thought to himself when he thought about the stronger leopardess. "I...I...I understand."That was towards Lori and Steven whose decision was that a hotel was out, then they left options of housing offers hanging in there. A soft sigh escaped his lips soon as he released his embrace from Zack. He wrote a number down on a pad that he kept with him, then gave it to both men cause he felt he can trust him than anyone else. "Call me guys, Zack..I see how much you're going to need other wolves around. "He was going to get a new place himself, he wasn't going to stay in the hotel for much longer anyway.
A right hand reached to brush through silk, dark brown locks while standing there thinking. There will always be someone who understand Zack though, Owen did. If there was one thing he can see is that Owen has been in the fellow's shoes enough times than he could possibly imagine. Yes, he been ill before the full moon set in, he been constantly expecting to go ripping men, women, and children with razor sharp claws. Most cats can become a massacre than a wolf, he knew it while he wasn't a biologist there was some knowledge in there. As for this shop, doubt Zack is going to want to stay in a location that had the feeling of Cullen and Nathaniel around here. Nostalgic. But, Owen said nothing to them except let Zack make the decisions.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Thursday 14th of April 2011 11:38:05 AM
As everyone started to stand up, the little pixie pushed to her feet as well, looking around. Steven said something about beer and she was not going to start complaining about that at all. Her eyes drifted over to Zack when he said that he wasn't sure what to do, and she gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. "No one can tell you what to do, or what to choose. We can only give you options. You have to make your own decisions." That's what it all boiled down to in the end.
Her eyes flicked over to Owen as he straight up told them all that he was a wereleopard, and she gave a small nod of her head. She'd known a few leopards in her time to, hell, if there was a certain type of shifter she hadn't met sometime throughout her life, she'd be surprised. Although, she wasn't really sure how she was supposed to react to the news, she gave him a slight smile and simply said, "Ok, cool." Someone being a shifter didn't bother her and never had, she'd practically grown up around them.
The look on Owen's face that Zack would not be staying with him as he had offered was not a particularly happy one. But when the man looked at her saying he would only come stay with her and Silent on the condition that he could still be himself, and choose his own friends. A slender raven brow lifted out as she looked at all three men, a little perplexed. "Wait... what? You think that I'm gonna try and tell you who you can and can't hang out with? That's ridiculous! Why would you think such a thing? I mean, I'm no wolf, so I'm not completely sure on how the pack politics work. But they don't make your decisions for you."
She frowned for a minute looking at Zack, then at Owen, then Steven before retuning to Zack. "I mean, they have their rules, to be sure, but it's nothing like. You can only hang out with other wolves." If that were the case, Lori wouldn't be living with Silent, or the others, because, quite simply, she wasn't a wolf. When Steven spoke up, also offering his own place to Zack, the tiny goth girl blinked, tilting her head to the side, before giving a shrug. It wasn't her place to tell the guy where he should stay, she'd offered her opinion on the matter at hand and offered him a place to stay if he needed it. Even offered him a job if he wanted it. The two were not contingent upon each other, if he wanted to live somewhere else and come work for her, that's be fine as well as vice versa. "Statues? I don't se that something like that would be a problem. Wait... how many statues you talking about?"
When the beer was brought back to them, she accepted one happily and took a long chug. Owen was moving around as if he were thinking about leaving, and she wondered on that for a second. Lori wasn't trying to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do, and learning that Owen was a leopard did make the situation a little different. Though, she knew the pack would need Zack, as much as he would need them to be able to grow, she bit her lip. "Look, you can live where ever you want to. Where you live, is not really the point. The first few months are going to be tough no matter what. I think it might be easier for you with other wolves around you. If you think differently, then follow your heart. I'm not here to tell you what to do. I came because I was worried about you, and you told me your problem. If I can help you find a solution I will try, but you don't even have to follow my advice. That's all it is... Advice. What I think might be best for you, but then again, you hardly know me and can do what you damn well please."
Silent had been there. Just staying out of the way..Any why not tempers got pissy when a...Whatever he was..Was for the most part ignored.And truely he wasnt ignored...At least not the part when he started talking about the attack...But Zack was the more important issue at the moment. Geller and Ash were getting things taken care of on that matter. At the moment..Seeing that this kid made it out alive was more her concern...And no medical knowledge really could save Zack from the war that was about to happen.
And Silent really had planned on staying away for a bit longer...Let lori smooth things out...Especially with Nate's sudden depature. Which...In truth did make Silent sad. He had so much to give and she had so much to teach him. Mainly that a woman...Even in male dominated socity like wolves...Could lead...Just as well(if not better)then a man. Pushing up from the chair she had claimed she would join the little gang.
"Truth is..And this may piss some of you off..But until he is strong enough to control his beast..That is if he survives at all..He doesnt have a choice. His Ulfric will decide for him. Sure he could hang out with yall but..Live? No.He'll need to be with his pack.Once again...Thats if he lives"
Why stress the if he lives? Because..Not many actually made it threw the transformation..It takes a toll on the heart..Not to mention the body.For many their first moon is the only one.So their false promises of choice were..Well..Wrong.Once he learned to control...And many older lycans still have urges..That they chose to ignore..Or in Zachs case...The wolf in doing..Chose to give in.
"I am more then happy to let you live with me and nyx...Nyx is still learning as well.But ill tell you this..Should you choose..Not to be with the pack..You are a danger not only to yourself..But my (and yes she would always find this city to be hers) city..And that wount do at all."
She looked at them all as this was said. She may not have stepped up and claimed ulfric yet...Mainly cause she wanted to speak with Ash before making any kind of move. But she had started forming her pack. And she would protect them. This one included. She understod he was afraid and had no clue what to do..The bite was not ment to turn...That much she could tell..It was ment to kill.That much she could see.
"Lori..Call me when he decides...And be careful..Even a mere few hours..Were dangerous..If he tries to attack..Kill him.''
Silent wasnt trying to be cruel. But a newly turned werewolf was dangerous. More so then the one who attacked him.She didnt regret her words..Though..Sure they could of been alot nicer..But with everyone already babying him...He needed someone more realistic.
Pulling out her phone she would call Milo,Jess, and Ash. They were her closest three..And the first two were her salvation over the last few years.Making her way to the bike she hoped most of all for jess to answer..Since she was the voice of reason.
“No, no, Lori. I didn't mean you at all!” Zack said back quickly, removing his hands from his pockets and waving them apologetically. “I just really don't know how things would work out with the others, is all. The last thing I want is to be shut off from my friends, you know?” The comment really shouldn't have been aimed at her in the first place, but it had gotten directed that way since she had made the offer to stay with her and other wolves. “I'm loving the idea, though.”
As much as he liked it, however, he did feel sorry for Owen. Zack was no mind reader, so he couldn't tell what his exact reasons were, but the poor guy had seemed so excited to take him under wing. The leopard wasn't making it any easier, moving in to hug him. Zack simply smiled and returned the embrace as earnestly as he could. What Lori had said was making him feel better about the whole thing, though not by much.
Speaking more to Owen than to Lori, he pulled away and looked the doctor in the eye. “She's right, man. The reason why I'm doin' this is because I don't want to get caught like that again. You've all got something going for you, some way to keep yourselves alive in this fucked up world out here...and I don't.” Zack recited the same thing he'd been telling himself in his mind ever since Geller first walked into the room, slowly pulling away from Owen and taking his place against the wall again. “This could be it right here. Once I'm done with this month of bullshit, I'll be on pretty equal footing with the rest of you. If I'm going through with this, though, it'd only make sense if I had people around who could teach me everything I needed to know. And honestly? I think going with her might be the only way...maybe. I'm willing to give it a try.”
Zachary didn't like telling Owen no at all, but it was the only thing that seemed reasonable. Steven had brought up the other reason for it, too. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to stay in the apartment at all anymore with Nate and Cullen gone, so he needed a place to call home for a while. A call to Nate once he'd cooled off about it would be in order, but the Hookah sounded like a decent idea for the moment.
The beer Steven brought him was met with a nod, though the young man didn't drink much of it. Zack was content with the cool touch of it against his hand, occasionally pressing it to his arm or head. “Maybe later, Steven, once I'm in a more stable spot. Right now, things are gonna be hectic.” He grinned a bit at the mention of him having his own place, the possibilities whirling through his mind once again. “Shit, Steven. I'm tickled fuckin' pink that you're all tryin' to help out here. Maybe that would work too, Lori?" Zack sure didn't see why not. Stay with Steven for the nights, spend his days at the Hookah...or wherever these wolves hung out at. Either way, it seemed like a good deal. "Somehow arrange th-”
Enter killjoy, stage right. Silent picked almost the perfect time to step in, interrupting Zack mid-sentence. The woman looked like she had something on her mind. Maybe she was ready to impart some wisdom?
...What came from her mouth had Zack staring at her slack jawed. How up front and blunt she was about the whole situation was enough to put most anyone into a small state of shock, and Zack was no exception. “I...I'm sorry. What?” He shook his head as he spoke, trying to make sure he heard Silent right. 'If he lives'? 'Doesn't have a choice'? The hell was this? His face contorted into one of anger as Silent continued to speak.
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?!?” Angry. Red cheeked. Pissed. Words alone couldn't describe how he felt. To be fair, the option was one to consider, but Zack wasn't one to lay down and be told what to do. After living out on his own for so long, that just wasn't a line to be crossed. “We've got this all figured out, and you expect me to sit down and let you tell me I don't have a fucking choice in the matter?” He was up off the wall, his arms wide open, trying to seem as imposing as an injured man standing at 5'7 and weighing a little less than 120 pounds could look. Which wasn't very intimidating at all.
As he moved, the burning in his arm and the cramps in his chest were returning in full force. Owen wasn't kidding when he said that Zack would need the painkillers again soon. One arm came down and wrapped around his chest, not wanting to give up just yet. “You think I can't handle this? They can't help?” His breathing was becoming more and more labored, his body screaming at him to calm down and let the doctor pump him with more drugs. The man was stubborn to the last. “Everything was just fine and fucking dandy 'till you and Geller showed u-” The thought wouldn't get a chance to finish as the last few words mingled together in a yell of pain, Zack's body finally getting him to stop. His breathing heavy, the injured man returned to his same spot against the wall, arms wrapped around his chest and wincing in pain.
Maybe he had stepped out of line with that? Zack hadn't blown up like that in years, not since the confrontation with his parents after his jail time. But he wouldn't apologize. He saw the sense that Silent was making, however blunt it was. The boy just wasn't one to be controlled. Where he was now, though, in desperate need of help from anyone, there simply was no choice in the matter. Zack needed the help, and however bad it may have sounded to him, Silent was willing to provide.
“Guess I should at least thank you for giving me something concrete.” Zack said without looking up, still bent over from the exertion. His head turned slightly to Lori, his face a mix of pain and disgust. It was wrong of him to blame her for anything, but the stark contrast between her words and Silents left a fowl taste in his mouth. Or maybe that was a bit of throw up on its way, he couldn't tell for sure. “...So much for freedom of choice, huh?”
-- Edited by ZACHARY SULLIVAN on Thursday 14th of April 2011 11:40:00 PM
Jessica has been busy. Aside from time spent with Milo she was making a name for herself at Tulane University Hospital. It had taken some negotiation but she had gotten privileges there. Then it was time to overhaul their entire lycanthropy treatment and vaccination program. Most hospitals had access to vaccine and reinforced rooms for treating those that had been infected but many facilities still really didn't know how to manage someone that was infected. The treatment rooms were often those rooms used for treating convicts and were barely more then a jail cell. Getting the hospital to renovate the treatment rooms was the first step. Educating the staff on proper treatment of the newly infected was another issue altogether. Proper tracking of the vaccine, keeping the vaccine supplied and starting up a clinic for shapeshifters were all on her list of things to do.
There were days she wished she spent more time treating patients, human animal or shapeshifter, but all the time she spent being an administrator meant that more people were helped so she kept to her desk. Phone calls were made constantly, raising money, knowing that as long as there was money there the hospital wouldn't shut the program down. She had meetings with every shift, dealing with the derision of the doctors that refused to acknowledge her credentials and the wariness of the nurses who weren't sure just how she fit in the pecking order. So much of her time was being spent at the hospital and when not there, well, she was giving Milo her undivided attention.
Along with her job at the hospital came a BlackBerry so that she could be reached anywhere, anytime. Yay for management right? And she'd gotten her regular phone back from New York in a shipment belongings that Tommy and her Mom had sent down and she still had the GoPhone she'd picked up when she'd left NY in the first place. In other words.... three phones.... so yeah, she had a tendency was still getting herself organized. Which was why when the phone rang she was fumbling to see which electronic leash was tugging at her. OK, not the work phone, which was good since she was in her office. Where the hell were the other two? A moment of scrabbling about, digging in her purse before finally finding the right one.
Steven listened to everyone hem and haw about the different options that Zack had to choose between. The fact was, he needed to make a choice, but if they all kept throwing more choices at him, he would not be able to make one.
"Well, let's see...maybe about forty or so? They are kind of large, though." He was about to talk about it some more when the woman who looked like the poster child for ecstasy-R-us came back out, and started spouting her bullshit again. Steven had to bite his lip and turn away so that he didn't say anything in front of Lori. In fact, he bit so hard, he broke the skin.
Once she was gone, he guzzled his beer, and wished he could smash it against a wall. Without noticing, one of the flourite stones vanished from his necklace and coated his body in a red, hardened sheen. He was about to speak again, when he noticed what happened. "Shit. Not again." He headbutted a wall, and some of the stone flaked and turned to dust. Then he walked into the kitchen, and pummeled himself, since he couldn't feel it, and the stone fell away into fragments resembling ashes. Once he started feeling the hits, he willed the rest of it to dissipate, and he was calm.
He walked back into the hallway, and spoke up. "Look, Zack's got a bunch of shit on his plate, and we're not gonna help him make his choice." He jotted down his number, and left it on the table. "That's my number Zack. Let me know what you decide, I'm headed out. I got to run a few errands. Offer still stands on my end, bud." And with that he pushed past Lori, his hand brushing hers slightly, but not purposefully, and he made his way outside. Lighting a cigarette, he headed towards his new condo.
It made his leopard rear up, all defensive and shit when Silent came into the room. Hearing her loud and clear, he sneered lightly then turned hearing Zack protest soon as the she-wolf made a final bout towards the new lycan, kill him?! Over his dead body. "Fine! Go. Just, if you do not mind I shall follow Steven out. If you ever want to come hang out or spend time I shall be available then. Call me."He did not have nothing else to say to either of the women who did not make anything easy for someone who just got bitten. How did he feel? Upset, angry, no..what he felt was far greater than that.
Feeling the need to shift, rip someone to shred just cause he wanted to was an appropriate task. Easier said than done. His phone chimed when he got back into the room to lock up his equipment, take the tests to the lab, then head on over to his apartment. May call in sick to his boss. Jessica's voice was on the phone. His eyes lit up when he heard it. "Jess! Where have you been?! I left a message to the post office. Did you get it? "He had missed the woman, hell, Silent told him about Milo. Didn't know there was something going on with those two. He has heard of this rat king from Otis when they first met, but never really had met Milo face to face. He was pretty much on edge, but Jess was the experience leopardess so he was ready to update her on what happened. It should be in the letter, not sure she received it.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Friday 15th of April 2011 11:55:50 AM
Jessica frowned at her phone when she heard the sound of a ring instead of a voice in response to her answering the electronic leash. The voice at the other end made her blink in confusion, not recognizing it for a moment and then wondering how in the hell she managed to connect to Owen when she didn't even have his phone number programmed into this phone. Ah well, she was a doctor not a damn technician what did she know?
"No, I haven't gotten any message. I've been working at the hospital and trying to get some things going with the city council. Why?" Yes, Jessica had a life that she spent trying to help shifters integrate in with the rest of the world. It was something she'd been very involved in back in New York and now since it seemed they would be staying in New Orleans, it was something she was getting going here in the Big Easy.
Her phone beeped a signal of call waiting, the line she had attempted to answer in the first place was still waiting for a response apparently. "Hang on a second Owen, I have another call." She flipped to the other line, trying to answer again, "Hello? This is Jessica."
When Jess's voice finally came..It was almost unexpected.Welcomed though. Alot better then expalaining what she just did via voice mail.
'Jes..Its silent.I think i just messed up bad..But everyone was being so...Unrealistic...Theres a kid..Hes been attacked. Not sure...If hes infected..Hes turn down the vaccine..It wasnt me who did it...I need you.."
This all was said almost in one breath..And now she waited. She trusted Jessica above all others. Even herself sometimes.
"Theres a leopard doctor here..But...I want you to take a look at him."
Silent's voice on the other end of the line had her sitting up a bit more, frowning at the information coming over the line. "I'm sure it wasn't you that did it." Her voice soothing, reassuring. Of course she didn't think that Silent attacked anyone, not unless the wolf thought there was a reason to do so, and honestly, if Silent had done it she couldn't see her calling someone to care for the victim. Leopard doctor? That had her brow arching a bit. It had to be Owen, how many other leopard doctors were there in this town after all.
"Alright Silent but if this kid was attacked why wasn't he brought to the hospital? I mean, if it was definitely a shifter attack he should be here not in someone's apartment." A hint of frustration laced her words, shaking her head as she rose from behind her desk to pace. This was the major issue she was fighting with on all fronts. People don't want to get treated because they don't want to be known as shifters, so instead they try to deal with it on their own and more people get hurt. Or worse, you get those shifters that think that it would be best if they take in the newly infected and practically abuse them, until finally there is a unnecessary dominance fight and again, people get hurt. What the hell was wrong with people? "I'm at the hospital now, you want to bring him in? I'll get all the testing done, make sure he's in one of the secure rooms. If he has a negative response to the infection he'll be here at the hospital so we'll have a better chance of getting him through it alive." She was already getting admission paperwork ready on her computer, canting her head to keep the phone in place with her shoulder as she typed. "Did anyone report the attack to the police? I know that Ash was getting his credentials back so he might be able to take over the case."
"whoa whoa jess. I know. Ive pointed these things out...And I was made to feel like the asshole. I got a text from Geller about it...And your right he needs to be looked after...As for the cops..I have no clue. Geller called Ash..God where is he when i need him.''
Silent would slup against the bike. Jes's 5th degree was something else.Silent wasnt about to fight with the woman...
"Heres the address.......Maybe you can talk some sense into these guys'
She sighed, hearing the upset in the other's voice, "I'm sorry Silent. I'm just dealing with this same shit at the hospital. People just don't seem to think. I didn't mean to dump it on you. The other doctor, his name is Owen right? I know him. let me talk to him and see if I can get things moving to get this kid treated ok? You did the right thing." She ended the call with Silent, gathering her purse in case she had to leave as she flipped back to the other line.
"Owen? Sorry about that, it was Silent on my phone. She gave me the heads up on things. Now... why isn't this kid in the hospital? I'm running the lycanthropy program here at Tulane so we need to get him here. Do you need me to send an ambulance over or is the patient ambulatory enough to get here with your assistance?" Her words to the other doctor snapped out, now that she knew what was going on she going to have a long discussion with him about proper treatment of those that had been attacked.
He was just plain giddy talking to the woman of all things, there was pretty much why his tone turned to excitement even hearing part of her voice. It was fun running with her and the other leopards that night, so he would do everything he can to see what he can do. She was giving him a set of options, the hospital did not sound appropriate but what can he really do after Silent and Lorissa gave Zack an option to come live with them at the Hookah. A little sigh escaped his lips, pacing though stopped when he was able to piece together what else to do.
Jessica was one Physician in New Orleans with him being the other except their roles were different than the other. She told him what she has been up to, hopefully they can meet again when the next moon arises yeah? If she makes it on top, probably meet Zack in leopard mode if he's lucky? Anyway, he provided with what felt is right. Owen spoke professionally, the gist of it was that he wanted to make sure his new friend there was in good care. This is all that he believed what is necessary. "Well, I gave Zack here some ped meds to numb the pain for awhile. I doubt he's going to need any of it soon as the infection takes it toll Jessica. Silent had me calling you to see if you can send this stuff she's talking about. "He did not need to shout or yell, she can hear better than any human aside that he can just as much. "Silent nor Jess wasn't the only ones whose up in alligator shit, so was he.
Owen's been here this morning till evening, you will think he's just as proud or happy. But, hearing Jess one time sparked a plug in him somewhere other than the fact is been a rather, long, long, long, month. Enough said. Owen paused, she talked about a hospital..oh no. He been in one of those, when he was infected it wasn't pretty. Course he was glad not to go on a mayhem. Is this necessary? No, don't answer that. Why isn't this kid in the hospital? "I know what you're thinking Jessica, but I got here this morning when Nathaniel called to tell me my patient here was infected with lycanthropy, he panicked and I came right over soon as I can. Silent and Lori are here, they provided him with shelter at the Hookah. I am sure with the wolves, he should be fine Jess. I did everything up to this point until help arrived."He laid it out there smoothly, he spoke in respect and he understood people had lives, so does he. So, he figured he helped since she may have had her hands full with other things. Never hurt to have another healer on hand now and then. Proper treatment sounds something he's going to need, he can do much better if he learned more from her. Kind of makes him wonder to become some kind of apprentice or something along there.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Friday 15th of April 2011 03:40:09 PM
Good lord not another one, and this one was a shifter. "Owen. if he wasn't infected, if it was just an animal that bit him, you would have gotten him to a hospital to be treated right? And if he just had an infection, a life-threatening infection, you'd get him to a hospital. So explain to me why in the hell you would think that a goddamn house call and a bunch of people with no medical training past first aid is the best goddamn place for him?" Yes, she'd started out calm but by the end she was practically snarling at him. Why was this such a difficult concept for people to grasp? "I run the damn program, its not like he's going to be put in a freaking cage." Trust her on that one, she'd spent more then enough of her own time in a cage when she was newly infected, it was not something she'd wish on her most hated enemy.
She paced across her office, restless from having to deal with this from someone that should know better. "Look, the 'stuff' Silent wanted was vaccine. He can get that here, under a controlled setting with more then enough supervision to treat him if he goes into cardiac arrest or if his fever spikes so high he seizes. You won't be able to manage him on his own if he starts to seize. Especially with a bunch of people that have no idea what to do." She took a deep breath, settling herself again, "Now, do I need to bring an ambulance or is the patient refusing to come to the hospital against medical advise? Because if he is, you will need to have him sign the form stating so. If you really and truly believe that he does not need hospital care and something happens to him.... well, I guess we'll go over your findings at the mortality review." And that was the end of that as far as she was concerned.
He sighed, she knew so much more than he did cause he was still freshly new of his own lycanthropy, could not blame him for misindirect that one. Hearing the snarl from her, guess he deserved that one coming so in all else knowing Silent must trust her enough for Zack's well being. "Yes, I think an ambulance will be a good thing. There really is no other choice. I do care about my friend so I trust you than anyone right now since Silent feels you can do what you can for him. "Owen did not say nothing more other than business. Damn it, of course, he could have called an ambulance to carry him to the hospital then. Damn it! Now, this happens. "I am real sorry for everything that occurred."Quite frankly, he's been ignoring the supernatural world in his own state of mind.
This knowledge was Jess field, it'll be a good idea to use her expertise since he was better with treating humans than with a new infected human. This was where Jess comes in. She has every right to be angry with the cub, he made a mistake not like a lot doesn't make them. Looking in the room with Jess still on the phone providing the best obvious approach. She had a point there. The question is this...will Zack go willingly? He's seen how much the patient had options weighing on him from Lori, then Steven, then Silent. Oh boy, this probably may not sit well with Zack will it? He understood the mentality, that is what he dealt with.
Owen was not only a counselor but a physician who deals with skin care and the mind itself, most importantly as soon as he explained to the group everything that Jessica stated, including to Zack what he believes is right for him then he will have to see Zack's reaction. He's dealt with this sort of thing before. "Well...."He saw his friend still standing there with the women, if the last option weighed down upon someone whose been giving a math problem, and when said math problem as a metaphor, it means complexity. Biting his lower lip, he knew he had to go out there make a proclamation for the lad now that his infection wasn't exactly a theme park right about now. "Not exactly. He has not refused and I'll have him sign the forms."He never said that Zack did not need medical expertise, Owen knew he will need something. Why would he let anything happen to his new pal of all things?
He was nothing if not concerned for him just as much as everyone else is. Jess was right though, he'll have to lay it out with the fellow regardless what everyone else says otherwise. "Send an ambulance."Is all he said from there. Gah, if he knew Zack from spending time with him earlier is this, he may or may not refuse. The dude has no choice whatsoever if he wanted to go through with this transformation all the way through.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Friday 15th of April 2011 06:10:39 PM
“...So there's no choice in the matter, then. Whatever. I can fucking deal with it.” The bitterness in Zack's voice was still there, but there wasn't much else he could do. Standing back upright, he talked to nobody in particular, everyone but Lori having either left or gone into a different room. He wasn't even sure if Lori cared to listen after he yelled. “It's for the best, I guess. She's got to many good points to fight with...I don't want to get anybody hurt. It's gonna be the best way of going about it all, so I might as well go with you two. I just...fuck! I can't stand being backed into a corner like this.”
The pain was coming back in waves by now, and he was conscious of how hot he was again. In his anger, Zack hadn't noticed where Owen had slipped off to. Taking a wild guess, Zack walked along the wall to the bedroom he was in earlier this morning, stopping right outside. He could hear Owen talking to someone else, probably on a phone. “Hey, Owen.” Zack winced as he tried to get the doctors attention, and hopefully bring him outside the room to talk face-to-face. “...What do you think of me getting some more of those meds soon?”
The little pixie gave a small grin when Zack said that he hadn't meant her. Nodding her head, she shrugged her shoulders. "It's cool. I'm just not the kind of person that would say you can only talk to certain people." The truth of the matter was, people could surprise you. Who you thought they were at first glance most of the time tended not to be the person you thought they were at all. Sometimes it was a good thing, and sometimes it was bad. She was actually glad when he said he was loving the idea, and she gave a little bounce.
Blue-green eyes lifted when Silent walked into the hallway, and Lori gave her a smile that almost died on her lips when he swamp wolf started talking. She blinked, her gaze flying around the room looking at everyone's expressions all at once. Well fuck! The tiny goth girl hadn't known about all the intricacies surrounding the situation, and hearing that he might not survive the initial shift at all had her frowning. She knew it was possible, there were some who were just not strong enough to live through it, but Zack had seemed so determined to change, she hadn't wanted to use scare tactics on him to make him change his mind.
When Silent's tri-colored eyes fixed on her, telling her to call her when he made his choice, she gave a small nod of her head. Though her next words had the petite girl's heart beating a little more rapidly. She didn't think Zack would try to attack her, but she also knew that those newly infected could be unpredictable and slightly unstable. It wasn't through a fault of their own, it was just how it was. Frowning, she gave another nod, unsure if she would truly be able to kill the guy, hell, she'd come here to help him, but when it came down to life or death, she knew how to defend herself. She gave a quiet prayer that hopefully it would never come down to anything like that.
Steven and Owen left her standing in the hall alone with Zack, and Lori sighed. "Look, I don't know about everything. I'm not a wolf. I'm not a shifter of any type. I came here to see how you were doing and help you out, not start a war and put myself between you and your friends." Her hands fidgeted at her sides, not knowing what to do or say at this point. She had thought things were going well, until Silent had come in and told him point blank he didn't have a choice. The tiny goth girl was about to rectify that. "You have a choice Zack. You always have a choice. Other people may not like that fact, but you do. You can choose to come and stay with me and Silent at the Hookah, and if you survive your first shift, to become a part of the pack, or you can choose to go elsewhere. Life is full of options, wether people want to acknowledge those options is the tricky thing."
"I'm sorry that Silent acted that way. I know you can't see it, but she's not always such a bitch. She can be, but then, so can I. She's worried, there's a wolf out there attacking people, and then you, who might be infected, who doesn't know what to do. I can tell you this, she is fiercely loyal, to her friends, and the pack. She's saved my life, from a fate worse than death. And she would practically give her life to protect those under her care." After saying that, she fell quiet once more, there was nothing else she could really say. Bringing the beer to her lips she chugged the rest of it down in a few gulps and then held it loosely between her fingers, leaning back against the wall as Zack went to look for Owen.
As soon as Zack came into the room, knowing that with all the shit that was hitting the fan, things were getting more worse by the minute. It would seem like a good dream then it all shifted into a nightmare. "Um..hold on a second Jessica."He put the phone down then grabbed the pain meds he had given him earlier, next he injected some of the serum in a vein so that soon as the liquid reached his bloodstream it will relieve the pain some more. "I need to discuss something with you. I know you're going to hate me for this, but I want to know what you want. You're my friend."Jessica really does not understand when it comes to friendship does she? His will was a lot stronger than her tactics of scaring him about a mortality review.
He knew Zach, maybe more than her. Owen never forced a patient to do what they don't want to do. Then again, she made a statement needing some papers if he was refusing to go. He did not like it anymore than Zach did, Owen wasn't someone who'll force his patients, not ever. He was a good man, when it comes to his patients he can care less about how much people will despise him based on the choices he made. "Jessica said you will need a hospital. I don't like hospitals, and I realize how it will effect you the most to go. So, Zach what is your decision. Jess says the vaccine you need is there and the fact I may not be able to manage you on my own, but so far I been doing better up till this point. You said it yourself, I been the best Physician to you. Now, she also said that if you're refusing medical advise that you must sign a form stating otherwise. "Yep! He knew exactly what was coming and he was going to embrace what hell that is wrought.
First jess snarls at him, now what else comes next? As far as he was concerned, he was the mighty punching bag for all shouts, anger, for some odd reason none of the negativity was doing much except make him more aware that his day is just not the best. Owen had taken Zach into the kitchen where their conversation was more private, it was a good idea to not speak of the matter in the bedroom where people with sensitive ears can listen. He wasn't as dumb or stupid as most thought he might be.
-- Edited by OWEN CONNORS on Sunday 17th of April 2011 01:31:32 PM
(Ok, granted I am jumping back into this after all that time away because of my accident and after Laurie has left so I will try my best to wrap the scene so everyone can move on with things. Sorry you guys were left waiting for my reply.)
+Geller didn't really understand Nate's reaction to what he told him. Apparently Nate had believed that he and Zach would just hole up here at the house and that no other involvement would occur. The fact that the law, the pack, and Zach's other friends would want access to the man seemed to be an offensive idea. It wasn't really a reaction that Geller had expected. For a long time Geller and Nate were out of the room dicussing things. One thing became very clear to Geller, Nate was not interested in being a part of what had to happen here, and the primary thing that had to happen here was the hunting of Zach's attacker. After a long and drawn out discussion Geller sighed, hands pushing back through his hair as he watched Nathaniel carefully.+
"Every minute that we stand here and argue the trail gets colder. You do what you've got to do man, and I'll do what I have to do."
+Turning away he left Nathaniel to continue contemplating whether he would stay or whether he would go. The decision was his to make and Geller wouldn't know until days later that Nathaniel had in fact decided to leave New Orleans for other pastures. Heading back through the house and into the room he passed Owen who was on the phone with Jessie. Silently he said a thank you to the gods that Jessie had been reached, he knew that her cool logic and reason would be very necessary in this situation. Also, he was hoping that she would get Zach checked out just in case. This whole thing was a mess.+
+Stepping back into the room he saw Lori and Steven, two new humans added to this mix. Thick lips parted and he let out his breath in a sound like a sigh as he moved towards Zach's bedside. His black and silver whorled eyes looked at the two humans and then at the man in the bed. Not for the last time he thought of what a mess this situation was.+
"Alright, Nate's....taking some time to himself. I'm sure he'll come see you in a little bit. There are some things I need to go take care of..."
+Geller was going to go hunt down the wolf who had ruthlessly attacked this man in an effort to try and find out if he was a new wolf who needed help, or just some bastard who couldn't keep his claws in their sheaths and off the local goodies. But under the circumstances he didn't think Zach or the duo of humans needed to be concerned with what his plans were. The idea of "tracking" and "hunting" would either worry them or interest them and either way he didn't really want to stand around discussing it while the attacker could be out there doing god knows what to other people.+
"You two should really go and let him rest...let the doctors take care of him for awhile and then meet up in a few days."
+Geller's eyes rested on Lori and Steven. He wasn't telling them what to do. He was trying to be reasonable. Zach was obviously ill, sick, hurt and standing around discussing moving him and other things could certainly wait until he'd had a few days of rest. The glance Geller gave the two humans said clearly that they should think more about what Zach needed right then. His eyes moved back to Zach and watched that petulant set on the young boys face.+
"You think it's going to make you stronger. You want autonomy, agency, a right to independent choice. When the beast comes you have no choice. For your first few years the beast will control you. When it wants to feed, it will. If it wants to eat your friends, nothing you want will change it's mind. The choice you should be worrying about isn't what friends you're going to shack up with and have play dates with.....it's how best to take care of yourself so that you and your friends stay alive. And the first way you can do that is by resting for a few days and listening to the doctors. After that, we'll see..."
+Yea, no need to go back into that stuff at the moment. There was plenty of time in the future for Zach to figure out what he was getting into. If he ate a human in the meantime....then....that was in fact his choice, by ignoring the very serious reality of what was happening to him. There were lovely people with big guns and silver bullets who would then make a final decision for him whether he liked it or not. Right now, Geller had given the best advice he had to the new wolf and the humans with him. He had to go.+
"I'll leave my number for you. If you need something later on just call me. Either way, I'm sure we'll meet again."
+Geller left a business card on the bedside table, his senses more attuned now to the scent of the predator from Zach's wounds than to anything else around him. With a final glance to the foolish idealists in the room he turned to go. They wanted to make plans and dream as though Zach was still 100% human, but that just wasn't the case. For now though he would leave them to their dreams and the consequences of those dreams. Stepping through the hallways of the house he saw Silent slumped against her bike. Eyes narrowed on the woman, squinting through the light to see the colors of her hair clearly. Oh sure, he had opinions aplenty about what Silent should have done...she should have cleared the room, should have told Jessie to come right over and take over medically, should have made very clear to Zach what was happening, but arguing with Silent now would just waste more time. That was not part of his plan.+
"While all this foolishness continues the one who did this is still out there. Possibly hurting...possibly a confused new wolf himself...or worse, some predator who's going to attack again, or already has. I have his scent...I can track him...but the more time we spend here the more his trail is going to go dead. We need to leave now."
+And so, leave now they did. For now Zach was still effectively human, at least until the next full moon, so he would be fine for awhile at least. They needed to find the one who had done this so Geller and Silent left on her bike to do exactly that.+
(So that is Geller and Silent out of the scene, and I suppose you can consider Nate out as well since the char left the game.)
