The Sun is going down (Jari)

Subject: The Sun is going down (Jari) Mon Oct 13, 2014 2:50 pm

Marilyn was now walking into the healers room after her talk with Louis and was greeted by healers fussing over her for a few minutes, before letting her sit on a bed and rest a bit. But resting was difficult with six occupied beds with ministry officials glaring at her. Marilyn glared back and one nearly peed his pants.

It seemed like ages she sat there on the bed, waiting for Jake to come in. She just wanted to see him, make sure he was alright and hold him. Preferably forever.

Guest

After being dismissed by Clement, Jake had managed to very shakily make it to the next room, holding the bucket because he still felt queasy. The moment he stepped through the door, Jake was swarmed by a duo of Healers, hurrying him towards the nearest bed. Removing his shirt with a quick spell, they took in the damage to his shoulder. One hurried off for a potion whilst the other took out her wand, summoning a glass of water and her clipboard.

"Apart from your should and stomach do you have any other pain, Mr Newbury?"

Jake shook his head. "Thirsty though." He replied, but his hand was instantly filled with a glass. Jake didn't even realise he spilt half of it down his front from the tremble in his hands. The Healer cleaned it with a flick of her wand, taking the glass from him once he'd finished and then motioning to the potion.

"We need you to drink this to bind the muscle in your shoulder. It will feel sore and possibly tight for a couple of days, we'll give you a sling to keep you from over using the muscles for that period but there won't be any lasting damage. Your stomach we will need to check for internal bleeding, but it's precautionary."

Jake wasn't listening really, simply taking deep breaths as he tried to catch up with what had happened. Numbly drinking the potion, Jake watched his hands continue to tremble. The Healers took over, helping him consume the drink. Their eyes met, the male mouthing "shock" to the other.

"Mr Newbury, can you just lie back for me?" The male healer asked, helping Jake to lie down. Taking out his wand he checked Jake's body and with a nod of approval he motioned for the Healer to apply the paste, mumbling about having others to see. Bringing his right hand to his face, Jake came in to contact with wet droplets, confusion mounting as he realised what they were.

Tears.

Subject: Re: The Sun is going down (Jari) Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:59 pm

When Jake arrived he was swarmed by healers and Marilyn stood up instantly, but was blocked by healers who tried to restrain her "Jake! Let me through, dammit let go of me" she looked them square in the eye and glared, "Look I put those six in here and they got healers if I do that to you who's gonna fix you?" Her voice was deadly quiet, but effective and then let go of her instantly.

They'd finished up mostly, Healers worked so quickly, just needed the sling now. But when Marilyn approached his bed she saw a sight that felt like one of her grandmother's punches to her heart. Jake was crying. She was knelt beside him instantly, on his uninjured side, holding his free hand and kissing his cheek, "Jake..." she whispered, "I'm here, oh Jake..." the witch saw a nurse holding a cream, but not moving, seemingly afraid of Marilyn. Good, she thought, taking the cream and kissing his hand gently before letting go to apply it ever so carefully.

Guest

Jake wasn't sure what to do here. Here was scary, everything was scary. He'd believed he'd be okay with this. Today was not okay. The people that busied around him without touching him didn't register. They were just background noise.

However, the moment someone pushed through that barrier, touching his hand and kissing his cheek, Jake flinched, recoiling from the touch. "Auror in Training. Squadron... squadron..." The number had escaped the Auror in training, he had registered Marilyn there but he knew to move away from the touch. Away kept him safe.

The touch didn't stop though, soon Jake felt the coldness, and pressure on his stomach. A soft whimper left his lips at the motion, despite it being gentle. The tears had stopped, and despite his head telling him he was safe, it was also telling him to not let his guard go.

Everything about this was confusing, so Jake started to curl in on himself, mumbling his name and rank under his breath.

Subject: Re: The Sun is going down (Jari) Mon Oct 13, 2014 4:26 pm

He flinched away from her touch and if this were any other situation Mari would've been hurt and offended, but the pain she felt was not personal towards herself. She felt so helpless and it hurt to see Jake in so much pain and so frightened. Merlin, if she never had to see him like that again it would be too soon.

"Jake...shh..." she kept her voice steady and soft, finishing up applying the cream and wiping her hands on a passing healer, who looked offronted but Mari didn't even look at him. Only at Jake. "No, Jake, don't tense your stomach, you can't curl up, corazón." Mari took a deep breath and gently pryed him back onto his back flat, her fingers moving his chin carefully, "Look at me. Jake, look at me. Focus. You're safe. They won't hurt you. Nobody's going to hurt you. I'm here." Pressing her fingers to his lips to quiet him she continued to murmur reassurement softly, sweet nothings, distractions.

Another part of Marilyn was fuming. How could Louis let him go like that, he was obviously not well, and most certainly not yet fully there mentally, she was going to talk to him very soon. But now she had to concentrate on staying strong for Jake so she smiled softly, "Jake, focus. Who am I?"

Guest

"No, Jake, don't tense your stomach, you can't curl up, corazón."

Jake didn't resist as he was pushed back on to his back. Cooperate enough to stop pain, but tell them nothing. That was what he was going for. His muscles were screaming, however, from the unnecessary movement and a soft whimper left him again, a whimper that was hushed as fingers pressed to his lips, his eyes being forced up. Meeting the eyes of the witch before him, Jake listened to her words of safety.

He wasn't sure if he believed it. He wanted to believe it but he was frightened that more pain would come. Clement though...

"Jake, focus. Who am I?"

"M-... my Mari. M-Marilyn Caldwell." Jake replied, his voice shook, but his lips somewhat mirrored the smile he was given. Familiarity hadn't meant safety before though. But this was different. "My Mari... " He insisted, taking her hand in his right hand, loosely, but trying. Fear still resided in his eyes, but he couldn't help that.

Subject: Re: The Sun is going down (Jari) Mon Oct 13, 2014 5:37 pm

From the way he was reacting in the delayed shock Marilyn guessed he'd been subjected to a kind of interrogation that had distorted his sense of reality and perception, which would explain why he wasn't really acknowledging her presence like he usually would until she guided him to look at her.

"M-... my Mari. M-Marilyn Caldwell."

"Your Mari, that's right," she let him take her hand and kissed his knuckles, "All yours, I'm here." He repeated the sentiment and Mari nodded, having to bite her lip momentarily to keep from dry sobbing, swallowing the emotion and leaning down to very slowly and carefully give him a kiss, "I'm here, your Mari, you're safe here with me, I promise." The witch whispered tenderly, pressing another kiss to the hand she now held in both of her own.

"I'm gonna take you home, soon." The words were gentle, to put him at ease. As soon as Jake was coherant enough to be apparated Marilyn would put his things in her bag and take him back to her flat.

Guest

Jake simply watched the witch kiss his knuckles, so soft in her movements. It was out of place to the young man, in the last six or seven hours he'd known only roughness. But each kiss was relaxing him, bringing him back to the reality of life. The kiss to his lips made a shaky smile come to his lips, though his eyes stayed open, watching Mari from both fear she was going to leave, and that if she did more pain was going to come. "Vic... Vic is safe, isn't she Mari?" Jake asked softly, the worry was quite clear in his eyes. "She said if I didn't tell them she would get hurt... but she's safe?"

"I'm gonna take you home, soon."

Jake simply held Marilyn's hand close to his chest, comforting himself in the knowledge she wasn't going and the only pain was the weird sensation in his shoulder as the muscle knit back together. "I passed though." Jake mumbled, smiling uncertainly to himself. He was pretty sure that was a good thing. As the Healers said he could go home after putting his left arm in a sling, Jake had stood from the bed, holding on to Marilyn with one arm as she apparated them back to the flat.

"Thank you." Jake whispered to the witch as they stood still. There was so many things he was thankful for, but right now he was simply thankful that the witch was here with him.

Subject: Re: The Sun is going down (Jari) Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:35 am

Seeing how it was helping him Marilyn continued to place gentle kisses on each knuckle as he breathed and spoke, then between each knuckle, finally moving to press soft kisses to the pads of his fingers as he asked her if Victoria was alright. Oh no, she thought, they made him think she... oh Jake...

"She said if I didn't tell them she would get hurt... but she's safe?"

"Victoria is 100% safe and at Hogwarts. You'll be there soon enough, you can relax, she is most certainly very safe there." Mari reassured, smiling gently when he pressed her hand to his chest, her heart surging with affection and gratitude that he was coming around and relaxing.

"I passed though." He told her and her smile even crinkled her eyes, "I'm so proud of you." And she meant it.

Soon he was even relaxed enough for them to fasten the sling (she held his other hand the entire time) and for them to go home.

When the warmth of her flat enveloped them they remained stood for a few moments, still holding each other and Marilyn pressed her lips to his gently when he thanked her, not verbally responding, because she couldn't. There was nothing she could manage to bring past her lips, and he still needed rest, so she just nodded her understanding before carefully ushering him into the bathroom.

"I'm going to draw you a hot bath and then you're going straight to bed." her voice was steady enough since she pushed any wobbling tones far away, concentrating on the moment.

Flicking her wand she vanished his clothes to reappear in the dirty laundry pile and cast impervious on his sling so even in water it wouldn't get wet. Pressing another kiss to his cheek she told him to get in the bath and that she promised she would be right back, she just needed to get him fresh clothes. "Jagger!" she called and the large dog trotted in quickly, "I'll be right back. You come get me if he needs me, okay?" Jagger blinked his one eye before fixing it onto Jake.

And although she didn't want to leave him, not for a second, she went around the corner to the large closet where she kept a few of his shirts for sleeping in and accio'd a pair of clean boxers from his bag. Clothes in hand she paused before going back, closing her eyes, hands shaking slightly.

"Not now, Marilyn, not now." she whispered to herself to keep the tears from rolling from where they'd began gathering in her eyes. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand she took a deep breath before coming back into the bathroom.

Guest

"Victoria is 100% safe and at Hogwarts. You'll be there soon enough, you can relax, she is most certainly very safe there."

Jake nodded at this information, murmuring that she was okay to himself. It was difficult for him, letting go of those images was difficult, but he could trust Marilyn. She would never lie to him about the safety of Victoria. He was sure of that much.

"I'm so proud of you."

The only response came as a nod, Jake continuing to hug her hand to his chest. It was subconscious that he found comfort in her touch, because his mind was processing the idea of safety. Thankfully the trembling was subsiding, but it would probably still be there for a few more hours.

The notion of a bath was a welcome one. Jake had been cold, he realised now, he watched the witch working and stood by, simply waiting for instructions. As his clothes were removed, Jake simply slipped past the witch in to the water, not acknowledging the heat much, or the fact she'd called Jagger. His eyes simply focused on his feet and the water as he sat there. Numb, mostly.

How long the witch had left for, Jake hadn't considered, he'd remained still in the water, just sat thinking, processing and righting everything in his mind. Victoria was okay, safe. Marilyn was safe. He was safe. It was finished. He'd passed. Proven that he was worthy of his place on the course. Everything was falling very quickly in to place, almost as quickly as the heat was travelling through him.

As the witch entered the room again, Jake put his hand on the side of the bath and waited for her to come closer to him. His eyes moved to Marilyn's a moment later, a faint smile on his lips. "Thank you." Jake managed again, taking her hand in his own and drawing it closer to him. Up to his lips were he pressed his lips to her knuckles like she'd done so many times when they with the Healers.

Biting his lip slightly, Jake's eyes lowered to their hands, contemplating them for a moment.

"I... I l-love you, Marilyn." He whispered, barely hearing himself speak those words. There was never a right time for these things, nor a perfect amount of time before you said these things. But that evening, this, now, to Jake, was the right time. Even if he didn't look up at the witch, or look like he'd said it. The words were out and he couldn't help the turnout of this now.

Subject: Re: The Sun is going down (Jari) Tue Oct 14, 2014 9:54 am

As Marilyn entered the bathroom she saw his hand on the side of the tub and sent Jagger to his bed again wordlessly, setting Jake's clothes on the side table next to the sink, mentally making note to try and summon one of the Caldwell owls, some of the fastest in the country, to write Victoria asking if she could write back assuring Jake she was okay, just to make 100% sure he got closure.

Taking a slow breath Marilyn knelt beside the tub and held his hand, just looking at him gently. Just as she was going to tell him that he didn't have to thank her he said words she had most certainly not expected to hear just yet, not because she didn't feel that way, but because Jake had never shown any indication that he felt comfortable with the words. But once they registered in her brain Marilyn smiled and suddenly she just felt so very, very at home.

"I... I l-love you, Marilyn."

The with squeezed his hand and bit her lip to keep herself in check, her free hand cupping his chin to make him look at her softly before kissing him and trying to put everything she felt into the kiss, caressing his cheek with that hand and running her thumb over the hand she held.

It was then that her reality came into focus for the first time since she'd gone into the simulation. She was kneeling on the tile, dirt streaked from the interrogation, blood from the last guard in her sleeves, hair dangerously frizzy in front of her boyfriend who loved her. That morning- was it morning? Was it night? Her 'day' started, she took out six ministry officials. Now she was in her flat and he loved her. He loved her.

"Room for two?" She whispered, suddenly tired. She wanted to get rid of the blood under her nails. She wanted to stop smelling like captivity. Most of all she wanted to be close to Jake, nothing sexual. Just together.

Soon she had tossed her dirty clothes into the corner and was carefully sat in the large tub, careful to not have any weight on Jake's healing body, instead leaning into his healthy arm. They stayed quietly together, when the water started to cool Marilyn looked up at Jake.

"Jake?" She asked quietly, smiling when he looked back at her, "I love you."

Guest

The words that left his lips were gone in an instant, Jake didn't react to them leaving, he was too tired, his emotions were too raw, and he simply needed to let the witch know how he felt. Jake had never been great with expressing his feelings, so perhaps this was the best way to do it, but as the witch cupped his cheek, Jake looked up and saw that there was no bad feelings expressed on her face or in her eyes.

The kiss that followed simply pulled Jake away from the place he'd been stuck, reassuring him that everything was okay in that moment and gently guiding him back to reality. But mostly, mostly it was relief that saying that, being so brutally honest hadn't cost him something he was working hard to build up.

"Room for two?"

"Room for two." Jake replied softly, moving back in the back so that she had space to sit in the bath with him. He hadn't moved to wash, Jake knew better than to try much with his right hand because it's directionality was poor to say the least. As the witch slipped in to the hot water with him, Jake gently pulled her back against him, grimacing with the effort, but needing the witch closer to him for comfort. They sat in near silence, Jake gently helping her wash her back and shoulders. It had been a short while before Jake moved to kiss the witch's shoulder, resting his head on her shoulder.

Sleepy, Jake was getting sleepy very quickly now, though it wasn't unsurprising. Forcing himself back up straight before he fell asleep in the bath, Jake merely held the witch close, content on this situation and everything in it.

"Jake?" She asked quietly, smiling when he looked back at her, "I love you."

The only response came with a single blink. Jake just looked back at the witch, taking in that he had seen her lips move in the words he'd heard. Breath catching in his chest, Jake simply looked at the witch for a moment. That... was the first time someone had told him that in a relationship. The first time he'd known someone to truly mean those words, or so he hoped as he continued to just look at Marilyn. It was quite clear to see he was processing those words, trying to think of a reply. Was there even a reply that was adequate to that?

"I hope so." Jake whispered eventually, pressing a kiss to Mari's shoulder once more as his foot gently pressed the button to let the water go. After Marilyn had gotten out of the water, Jake carefully lifted himself from the bath and patted himself dry before pulling his boxers on with a little difficulty. Once they were dressed, Jake took her hand very gently and led her to the bedroom, slipping in to bed beside the witch. They were led in semi-darkness, Jake's right arm under the witch.

"Did... did you pass?" Jake asked the witch softly, he expected that she had, but he wanted to check. He'd forgotten until now that she'd done the same in his own shock and fear, but now that it was manageable, or coming down to manageable, his mind pointed out the witch beside him was no different. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..." To not be there for you...

Subject: Re: The Sun is going down (Jari) Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:23 pm

"I hope so."

"I do." She murmured honestly, smiling at the affection towards her shoulder and drying off with him, accioing another one of his spare shirts, his old jersey, her favorite, and pulling it on. The witch wasn't sure what was happening to her head right then, as he lead her to the bed and they cuddled under the sheets.

The absurdity of the day- of life- had struck her dumb and speechless. Or at least coherant-thought-less. Because on one hand she was elated, Jake loved her, that was something so precious and joy inducing and she'd never been happier.

But on the other she felt that she couldn't properly feel the happiness because her emotions made her numb herself against them, lest she begin to cry.

"Did... did you pass?"

The question took her by mild surprise as she hadn't expected him to want to talk about it at all. And to talk about herself had honestly not occurred to her at all so his apology was met with a shake of her head, "Don't apologize. We're different. I've done this before. Worse than this. You hadn't. You needed me." It was simple to her.

She still hadn't answered, trying to maintain face and composure. So she forced a smile, "Yeah I passed. Took out six ministry officials. I think Louis pulled me out because nobody else wanted to go in with me." she laughed but it was hollow and the end choked so she looked up at the ceiling, "The last guy had a knife."

Marilyn swallowed, "Louis was furious, they weren't supposed to use anything that would do lasting damage...but I got him with it first. He should have a scar." The witch trailed off, another short 'ha' left, just as hollow as the first before a sob escaped her throat.

"oh no, no no no. No," she muttered at herself as more sobs came, tears streaming down her face, "God, Marilyn, stop crying." Mari told herself out loud, her hands over her face as she let it go, just let it all go.

Guest

Jake didn't hear the witch's promise that she meant what she'd said, so he simply left it. There was no certainty in the young man that it had been said off her own back, and right now it didn't matter.

Once they were rested in bed, Jake with a little trouble, but eventually comfortable, the conversation shifted again. "Experience doesn't mean you don't need support." Jake told her softly. He was annoyed with himself. Self absorbed was never something he wished to be associated with. "It won't happen again..." He promised.

The information that came from the witch made Jake's eyebrows raise. "It was in the instructions! " Jake insisted, holding her closer to him as best he cake, even bringing her close enough to bring him discomfort because her comfort was more important. "I'm so sorry, Mari." Jake whispered before he realised...

Marilyn was crying.

"Mari... you're safe. Clement wouldn't allow him to have touched you. I won't let anyone hurt you." Jake told her softly, slipping his wrist from his sling to wipe her cheeks. Ignoring the pain, Jake just tried to calm the witch down. "You overpowered him, you're safe. Please... Please don't cry." He tried, his own voice was shaking with emotion but he knew that he couldn't show weakness again.

Subject: Re: The Sun is going down (Jari) Tue Oct 14, 2014 4:18 pm

Marilyn couldn't respond to his promise with anything but a nod because she was spiralling into after-shock crying that she'd been putting off since she got out.

"You overpowered him, you're safe. Please... Please don't cry."

Marilyn nodded, she understood she really did, the crying was just...irrational. And if there was anything Marilyn never was it was irrational. Through her tears she realised that he'd pulled his arm out of the sling to wipe her tears and she huffed at him, gently pushing his arm away to put back in the sling, "Don't- you need to be careful," she sniffed, somehow managing to sound cross through the sobbing.

"When you came out you- you looked so- I thought I was going to pass out." Mari shook her head, "I thought-" she bit her lip and the tears rolled down her cheek and into his shoulder as she had her face pressed against his chest.

"I just- I want you to be safe and I know you can handle yourself, I'm so p-proud of you, you're so- Jake you're such a sweet, sweet person and I love that about you and when I saw you looking so...lost...I thought for a second that-that they'd broken- you- and I don't even want to think about that, b-because I n-need you. And I want y-you j-just the way you a-are."

The witch sniffled as sobs subsided, tears rolling down her features in more quiet streams, her hand going to cup his cheek gently.

"And I d-don't w-want you to be t-tough, th-that's not you." Mari wiped her face with her free hand and shook her head, "S'not your fault I'm crying, I'm exhausted and it was a hard situation, in the s-simulation. P-poor Louis had to give me a h-hug." she did manage a soft smile at that, "And though seeing you was...difficult. I'd rather see you like that than not be by your side to help."

Guest

"Don't- you need to be careful,"

"I'm okay." Jake assured the witch, but he allowed her to put his arm back in the sling. The pain was easing for him, but he knew better than to argue. Jake simply wanted to comfort her.

When the witch explained that she'd been frightened seeing him like that, Jake felt worse than before. He hadn't meant to. He thought he'd been okay when he left Professor Clement, but apparently he'd been wrong. Whispering that he was sorry once again, Jake pulled her closer to him again. "I'm going to be okay, I was just scared... that they were playing with my head again. I... I'm sorry."

"S'not your fault I'm crying, I'm exhausted and it was a hard situation, in the s-simulation. P-poor Louis had to give me a h-hug."

Jake held the witch, knowing he should have been there for her. Of course, it was difficult, with them in the same division. "That was all it was. A simulation." He told her gently, though even he had found the whole thing very, very realistic. Sickeningly realistic.

"And though seeing you was...difficult. I'd rather see you like that than not be by your side to help."

"I... I'm going to be fine. It just hurts a little now. But... everyone is fine." Jake told her, pressing a light kiss to her cheek. "I'm still here, just tired and a little scared, but I'm still your Jake." He paused momentarily, looking to the witch. "I'll just... have to hope I don't have to do that again... it was horrible... I can't... I'm glad you're here." He explained, his voice not yet confident, but slowly relaxing in to the fact he was safe and all of it was over.

Subject: Re: The Sun is going down (Jari) Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:21 pm

"I'm still here, just tired and a little scared, but I'm still your Jake."

Mari nodded silently, accepting the kiss to her cheek and closing her eyes as she cuddled closer, the smell of mint reassuring her.

The witch was beginning to regain control of herself and now she was truly exhausted both mentally and emotionally. The tears had stopped and her breathing became less erratic as she listened to his comforting words quietly.

"...I'm glad you're here."

"And I'm not going anywhere," she whispered gently, "I'm glad you're here, too." Leaning forward to kiss him softly as if to underline her words, her fingertips gently carressing his cheek, "I meant what I said earlier." the witch added softly, closing her eyes and cuddling closer, moving her hand to hold his uninjured one, their fingers lacing together. Then sleep claimed the witch and she didn't wake up until late the next morning.

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