Mortal
by Surreal
E-mail:  surreal666@hotmail.com
Website: https://www.squidge.org/~surrealarts/
Feedback: Is appreciated!
Status: Complete
Category: Missing scenes, 'Dosed.'  Mild slash 
for now.
Rating: R for language
Summary:  Deaq realizes Van is mortal, after all.
Archive: Candy Store and my site.
Disclaimer:  Fox has them for now, we're just 
playing with them because that's what they 
would want.
Notes:  My first story in this fandom, written 
spontaniously.


***

I've settled on the fact that he's *going* to live 
because as soon as we get him fixed I'm going to 
goddamn fucking *kill* his ass for scaring me like 
this.

Glancing over at him sitting in the passenger seat, 
watching him struggle to appear calm even though I 
know he's fighting just to keep breathing sets my 
heart racing again.  He's staring out the window, 
his face paler than usual and his eyes rimmed in 
red.  

For the second time since all this shit started, I 
realize just how sick my boy is.  

The first time was when we were in the bar.  I 
looked up at him, saw blood running down his upper 
lip and that was when I knew this was more serious 
than I'd thought.  I asked him if he was okay, he 
looked away with a weak smile and told me 'no.'  

My foot can't seem to press on the gas petal hard 
enough.


***


Skidding to a halt at the emergency entrance, I 
turn the car off and fly out of my side and around 
to Van's.  Opening his door, I crouch down and undo 
his seatbelt.  He's leaning back against the seat, 
his eyes closed and his breathing even worse than 
before.  

My hand on his cheek brings him around.  "Van, baby, 
we're at the hospital.  Come on, grab onto me and 
stand up, okay?"  

"Mmm," he sighs in reply, but manages to flop his 
arm around my shoulders and move with me as I help 
him stand.  He sags against me and I fight to keep 
us both standing.  I see a couple of people in white 
coming out the doors toward us, thank god.  

"Hey, I need some help here!"  

Van groans and buries his head in my neck.  "Shh, 
baby, hang on, you're gonna be fine."  I let one of 
the guys take his other side and we pretty much 
carry Van inside.

There's an empty gurney waiting inside and we lay 
him on it.  His doctor from earlier shows up out of 
thin air and before I can question that we're moving 
down the hall fast.

The doctor is saying stuff about not enough oxygen but 
I'm not listening, because Van is looking so lost it 
breaks my heart.  

"I'm sorry, you have to wait here," the doctor says, 
his words finally sinking in.

"Deaq," Van's weak, shaky plea cuts into me and it's 
all I can do not to cry right there.

"Don't worry, I'm staying right with you," I assure 
him, ignoring the looks from the medical team.

Come on, Billie, don't let me lose him.


***


Van looks terrible and I'm shaking so bad I have to 
sit down.  He's barely breathing, his face so pale 
it's nearly transparent, his eyes red and shining 
with tears.  I don't know who is more scared, him 
or me.  

"There's nothing more we can do right now.  I'm 
sorry."  

"Doc," I plea, his words SO not what I want to hear 
right now.  

"He can't help me, huh?" Van pants, his eyes following 
me.

"It's gonna be all right, Van.  Billie's out there."  
Please, please, please let her call.  We're losing 
him fast and all we can do is keep feeding him oxygen 
and false hope.  

"Billie," he says softly, his breath coming in short, 
harsh gasps by now and I just wish I could hold him.  
"Who...do you think she's..gonna get to replace me?"

"Nobody," I nearly snarl, too shocked by his question 
to even think about that.  "You my partner, Van.  YOU."  
I don't even want to contemplate being on this job 
without him at my side.

He struggles for air and all I can do is stand by and 
watch helplessly as he reassures *me*.  FUCK, I can't 
stand this!  "Just do me one favor," he says in that 
voice that is killing me.  "Whoever it is, make sure 
you're as big of a pain in the ass to them as you are 
to me."

I can't even reply, my throat is too tight for words 
to escape even if I could think of something to say 
to that.  

By the time I can look at him again he's already 
unconcious.  The machines stuck to his chest are 
beeping way too fast, his heart is racing.  

Thank god, thank *Jesus*, the phone rings and it's 
Billie.  

The doctor and nurses jump into action finally, 
talking too fast and doing things to Van's IV line.  

When Van starts to breathe again, so do I.

And I'm gonna fuckin' KILL him.


***

End.