Todd Wants Key's Face

Doctor: Just hold these skin flaps open while I get the supplies necessary to crack his rib cage open.

Hunter: *...*

Todd: *...*

meanwhile

Sam: *he's no longer crying, but his voice shakes* ... I-I don't want you to go... I-I-I don't want you to...

Key: *nods, and does as instructed, only slightly grossed out* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: Th-Then hope dad makes it... because if they can save him, I won't have to... I-I'm not going anywhere, okay. Sam?

Doctor: *he gets his supplies, and begins the removal of the Hunter's lung*

Hunter: *...*

Todd: *...*

meanwhile

Sam: O-o-okay... *he pulls away from Sarah and wipes his nose, ashamed of himself for breaking down like that*

Key: *holds the skin open, as she was instructed to do, watching the doctor work* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: Hey... it's okay. *messes up his hair* W-We'll be fine, alright? *picks the board game up off the ground* Come on, we can still go play Scrabble. Pretty sure our parents are already back, too.

*later...*

Doctor: ... and we'll just snip this heeeeree, aaand - blood. Lot's of blood - Mrs. Huntings, I need clamps!

Hunter: *...*

Todd: *...*

meanwhile

Sam: ... okay... *follows her*

Key: *reaches over with one hand and grabs them, and hands them over to the doctor*

meanwhile

Sarah: *goes to Sam's room first, and knocks on the door* Hello? Mr. Gatzsky?

Doctor: *uses the clamps to stop the bleeding, then continues on until...* I need the ice chest in the corner of the room. I've detached the lung.

Hunter: *...*

Todd: *...*

meanwhile

Harry: *opens the door* Hello, Sarah... hello, Sam.

Sam: Hi, Dad... <:/

Key: *goes to get the chest, and brings it over to the table*

meanwhile

Sarah: Hi... Um, did mom come back?

Claire: Oh, of course... she's helping the doctor with Todd. <:/

Sarah: Oh...

Doctor: *he quickly places the lung into the chest* ... and now this Hunter can slowly, painlessly die. Onto helping Todd. *drags the chest over to the bed Todd lies on, and grabs a clean scalpel* ... first I must remove the lung, then put the new one in... it shall take twice as long as with the Hunter... *starts cutting into Todd*

Todd: *isn't disturbed by the slicing of his flesh*

Hunter: *...*

meanwhile

Harry: Why, Sarah? Did you want to talk to her? :/

Sam: ...

Key: *waits until she is needed* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: No... I just wanted to make sure made it back okay...

Claire: She had a bit of a run-in with a Hunter, but even that wasn't that bad.

Sarah: ... *nods* Okay.

Doctor: Same as last time, hold his skin flaps open...

Todd: *...*

Hunter: *dying*

meanwhile

Harry: Yup. Everything's fine. Don't worry, alright, Sarah?

Sam: ...

Key: *does so, and waits, praying to herself that Todd would make it through* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: Alright... Umm... can I stay here for a little while, then? Until mom comes back?

Claire: Of course, come right in. :)

Doctor: *works on Todd*

Todd: *...*

meanwhile

Harry: ... It might take a while, Sarah.... <:/

Sam: ...

Key: *waits* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: ... I just don't want to be alone right now... if you have to go to bed, I'll leave...

Claire: <:/

*midway through the surgery*

Todd: *he wakes up screaming from the pain of the whole thing*

Doctor: !!!!! ANESTHETIC!!

meanwhile

Harry: No, you can stay, Sarah! D:> You can stay for as long as you want! *he steps aside so that Sarah can enter the room*

Sam: *nudges her slightly, trying to get her to walk in*

Key: !!!!!!! *grabs the anesthetic and injects it into Todd herself*

meanwhile

Sarah: ! *is nudged into the room by Sam. she still holds the board game in her hands* Umm... Scrabble? ^^;

Claire: Wow, I haven't played that in YEARS...

Todd: *he screams and screams until the anesthetic kicks in, and he calms down, asleep*

Doctor: Oohh god... that could have ended VERY badly... *continues the surgery*

meanwhile

Harry: I've... never played. ^^;

Sam: You've NEVER PLAYED SCRABBLE? D8

Harry: You could say I was JUST a little bit MORE than "deprived" at a young age.

Key: *continues to assist him, doing everything she can to keep herself from SHAKING from the sudden shock* ..........

meanwhile

Sarah: *sets the box down* Well, you basically just have to make words to get points. ^^;

Claire: It's pretty simple--set it up! ^^

Sarah: *nods, and opens up the box, taking out the board and the pieces*

Doctor: *continues working, until...* There. He should be fine now. *starts sewing his front back up*

Todd: *...*

Hunter: *dead*

meanwhile

*And so they play Scrabble*

Key: *lets out a shuddering sigh of relief, still a bit shaky from the scare* ...s-so we just wait until he wakes up...?

meanwhile

Sarah: *plays the game, wondering how much longer they're going to take* ...

up

Harry: *walking to the medical room*

Soldiers: *two of them carry the Hunter and follow Harry, Key, and Claire*

Hunter: *...*

meanwhile

Sam: What if he doesn't?

Key: *quietly walks along, still clutching her arm* ...

Claire: *follows them, glancing around for the kids--she didn't need them to worry right now*

meanwhile

Sarah: Don't say that...

*they arrive at the Medical Room*

Doctor: Oh good! You brought our "donor". And oh BAD - someone had an accident, it seems. D:

Todd: *...*

Harry: The Hunter woke up during the ride back.

Doctor: I see. You two put the Hunter on that metal table over there. Mrs. Huntings, come here so I can see your wound.

meanwhile

Sam: I'm just asking what would happen - what you'd DO... would you... would you go back home, Sarah? With your mom?

Claire: *to the soldiers* make sure you strap it down, we don't need any more "accidents."

Key: *goes over to the doctor, taking her blood-covered hand off her wound. she wipes some blood off her face, and winces when she touches the scratch that was there* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: ...w-we're here for dad... If... if he died, we'd leave...

Soldiers: *do as they're ordered*

Hunter: *still twitches and growls in its sleep*

Doctor: *cleans Key's wounds*

Todd: *...*

Harry: ...

meanwhile

Sam: ... *he just looks at her, a sadness in his features* ... then I'll be all alone here...

Key: *tries not to pull away from the doctor, hissing quietly when he touches her wounds*

Claire: ...

meanwhile

Sarah: *returns his look* ...that's why dad can't die. I don't wanna just leave you here either...

Doctor: *after cleaning the wounds, he starts bandaging them up* You're very lucky it didn't get anywhere fatal...

Harry: So... uh... I'd say the mission was successful.

Todd: *...*

meanwhile

Sam: *he looks down at his shoes, sadness overcoming him now*

Key: *nods slightly*

Claire: So when will you be able to do the procedure?

meanwhile

Sarah: ... *takes the board game out of Sam's hand and puts it down on the ground, then steps forward and hugs him tightly* ...

Doctor: as soon as I can, which I guess will have to be when Todd wakes up again, so that way I can give him an anesthetic. I can get the lung out right now, though, I guess. *he walks over and rips off bandages that where wrapped around the Hunter's body*

Hunter: *when the bandages were torn off, it is revealed how it got infected - jagged purple-black old scars (from claws, it seemed)ran across its chest. Along with that, the thing was just as fit as Todd was, though twice as skinny*

Doctor: *he sighs sadly* ... and these things used to be the most human-looking ones... and to think, this Hunter must have had a LIFE at one point... maybe a family, a job, friends... and it's been reduced to this withering, rotting shell of a human.

Harry: ... Well, now it's gonna give its lung to Todd... I'd rather not think about it as a human right now, thanks...

Doctor: It doesn't have the RIGHT to be thought of as human... Mr. Gatzsky?

Harry: If it's so save TODD, then I'd simply rather NOT think of it as human.

Todd: *...*

meanwhile

Sam: *hugs Sarah tightly, suddenly finding himself sobbing against her*

Key: *tries to ignore the conversation for the same reason Harry stated--she just wants to save Todd* ...

Claire: ...

meanwhile

Sarah: *holds him tightly, resting her head on his, rubbing his back comfortingly* shh, Sam, it's okay, I'm not leaving yet... shh...

Doctor: ...

Todd: *waking up* Hnnh...?

Doctor: Ah. Hello again, Mr. Huntings.

Todd: Lemme go... please...

Harry: ... right... he hasn't taken his medicine...

Hunter: *...*

meanwhile

Sam: YET...! *continues to sob*

Key: Todd... *places a hand over his* Todd, it's okay, you're safe here...

Claire: *looks at the doctor* are we ready to go, then?

meanwhile

Sarah: Shh... If dad makes it, I won't HAVE to go. W-We just need to hope he does...

Todd: K-Key, what's going on...?? I-I don't - there's a TUBE IN ME...!!

Doctor: *injects him with the anesthetic*

Todd: N-no... no, don't... not again... not... again... *he passes out*

Doctor: Yes, you may go. *takes out a scalpel and starts cutting the Hunter open*

Hunter: *at that point, it was waking up. The Hunter responds to the sharp pain by screaming loudly and struggling to break free*

Doctor: shoot!!

Harry: !! D8

meanwhile

Sam: ... b-but... there's only one doctor... one doctor to do a SURGERY...!

Claire: !!

Key: !! *grabs another needleful of anesthetic and injects it into the Hunter before it has time to break free of its restrains*

meanwhile

Sarah: Sam, we just have to hope, o-okay? I-it's all we can do right now... n-now quit crying, or you're gonna make me cry too...

Hunter: *it's screams and cries turn into whimpers, and soon, it is unconscious once more*

Doctor: Yeesh... Mrs. Huntings, if you could stay here with me... I'd like some additional help, if you don't mind at all.

Harry: ... *he leaves, touching Claire's arm on the way out*

Todd; *...*

meanwhile

Sam: I... I CAN'T...! *still sobbing. He doesn't think Todd will make it. The chances were too slim*

Key: I don't mind--I'd be GLAD to help...

Claire: *nods to Harry, and follows him out of the room, but not before turning to Key* You tell us how it goes, alright?

Key: *nods*

meanwhile

Sarah: *struggles to hold tears in* C-Come on, Sam... please...

Doctor: Now then - I'll need to be able to get to tools and such, so... that'll be your job for the most part... *cutting the Hunter open* Or rather, you can help me keep these flaps of skin open... uh, gloves are in the bottom drawer in the middle counter on the far right. Big yellow box. You can't miss them.

Hunter: *...*

Todd: *...*

meanwhile

Sam: *he sniffles, trying to calm down*

Key: *goes where he directs her, and takes out a pair of gloves, puts them on, and hurries back* Alright, tell me what to do.

meanwhile

Sarah: *rubs his back soothingly* Shh... shh... we're okay...

up

Harry: *stomps on Hankerton's toes*

Hankerton: OUCH!! HEY! D:>

Hunter: *its screams get louder*

meanwhile

Sam: Well... yeah...

Key: *a smile tugs at the corners of her mouth* Do it again.

Claire: <_<

meanwhile

Sarah: ...l-let's just grab a game and go...

Harry: *stomps on the soldier's toes again - this time harder*

Hankerton: AAHHAHHGH!!

Hunter: *leaps on Hankerton and starts slashing at him*

Another Hunter: *leaps onto Harry and slashes at HIM*

Harry: !!!

meanwhile

Sam: *hesitates, then enters the room* Uh... there's scrabble here... if you want that...

Claire: D:<!!! *immediately shoots at tranquilizer at the hunter on Harry*

Key: *attacks the other one, tranquilizing that one as well* D*<!!

meanwhile

Sarah: That sounds fine...

Both Hunters: !! *pass out. Because their eyelids rotted away, their eyes were still open when they passed out*

Harry: G-god... (pushes the Hunter off*

Hankerton: *pushes his off* ... phew...

Harry: ... let's take one and leave...

meanwhile

Sam: *takes it* Alright, let's go...

Claire: *nods* Huntings, help me out.

Key: *nods, and helps carry one of the hunters back to the truck*

meanwhile

Sarah: *leaves the room and shuts the door behind her* ...do you think we should tell anyone...?

Hunter: *twitches and growls in its sleep*

Harry: *gets back into the truck*

Soldiers: *follow*

*they drive*

meanwhile

Sam: *shakes his head* No. Your dad could get in trouble from this.

Key: *sits there, staring at the Hunter, unsettled by its wide-open eyes. how could they be sure the thing was ASLEEP...?*

Claire: *sits silently with Harry* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: good point...

Harry: *notices Key's nervousness towards the Hunter* Trust me, Key - if that thing was awake, it wouldn't just be lying on the floor and twitching like that. We're all armed with tranquilizer guns, anyway. It won't be hurting anyone.

Soldiers: *they stare at the Hunter in curiosity*

meanwhile

Sam: Y'know... I wonder how those cured infected are doing...

Key: ...you can never be too sure...

Claire: ...

meanwhile

Sarah: I dunno... I guess it'd be harder for them now than it was for them back home, since they look so... different...

Harry: You'll be FINE, Key.

Hunter: *...*

Soldiers: >_>;

meanwhile

Sam: ... I wonder if it hurts... living like that, I mean...

Key: ... *relaxes a bit, but only a bit*

Claire: *is now wary of the Hunter on the floor of the truck* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: Umm... do you mean mentally or physically?

*they continue to drive for a while*

Hunter: *suddenly, it leaps up with a scream, catching everyone off guard. and slashes at Key angrily*

Harry: frack!! *fumbles with his tranquilizer gun*

meanwhile

Sam: ... both, I guess. <:/

Key: !!! *tries to move but is trapped in the cramped space. the Hunter claws her face and arm, there there is no armor* AAAGHH!!

Claire: *fumbles with her gun and manages to shoot a tranquilizer into its neck* D:<!!!

meanwhile

Sarah: ... I guess It'd be hard... i mean, you saw the Hunters from here, and they're the ones that are supposed to look just like closest to us... just think, how would you feel if you looked like that..

Hunter: *screams again, then stumbles across the truck before crashing into the back door and sliding down it, unconscious*

Harry: Are you okay, Key?? D8

meanwhile

Sam: ... I'd feel... uh... like, suicidal...

Key: *tightly holds the wound on her arm to stop the bleeding--it had cut her deep. the wounds on her face weren't as deep, though they still bled* I'm fine... j-just a scratch...

Claire: *grabs a first-aid kit and goes to help her, trying to clean out her wound*

meanwhile

Sarah: ...mhmm... *stares at a wall for a moment, then looks at Sam* ...do you think dad's the same way?

Harry: We'll keep a closer eye on the Hunter, alright, Key? D:>

Hunter: *...*

Soldiers: <_<;

meanwhile

Sam: What, SUICIDAL?

Key: *mumbles* knew it wouldn't stay down... *hisses and pulls away from Claire when she tries to treat her*

Claire: >:/ ...

meanwhile

Sarah: well, not THAT extreme, but... like... *pauses for a moment, then nods to herself* ...yeah. dad... isn't happy with how he is now. that's why we're here...

Harry: Let Claire treat you, Key. D:

*they were almost there*

Sam: ... so he's not sad about being an X-WD... he's sad because he's psychotic. And he wants to make up for it.

Key: ...stings...

Claire: Come on, we're almost there, let's just save the doctor the trouble and clean it for him. :/

Key: *stares at her* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: ...mhmm. mental hurt. <:/

*they arrive*

Soldiers: *get out of the truck*

Harry: C'mon, Key, Claire, let's head over to the medical room... *walks out*

meanwhile

Sam: ... Do you think he'll ever get better, Sarah?

Key: *hops off the truck after Harry, still clutching her wound, and follows him to the med room*

Claire: *tells the soldiers what to do with the sedated Hunter before following the other two*

meanwhile

Sarah: ...I really hope he does... h-he has to...

up

Harry: This was to HELP him, Key...

meanwhile

Todd: *...*

Doctor: ...

Sam: Okay, Sarah... *walks out with her*

Key: ...I know... It's what he wanted, but... I just don't want him to get himself KILLED...

Claire: ...come on. The faster we get out there, the faster we can help Todd.

Key: right...

meanwhile

Sarah: *walks with Sam* ...

Harry: *walks with Key, Claire, and a bunch of soldiers outside and into the truck*

meanwhile

Sam: *walks with Sarah* ... where are they?

Key: *gets into the truck, and sits silently*

Claire: *sits next to Harry* ...

*the trucks leave*

Sarah: ...! *runs over to a window and sees the trucks driving away* ...just missed them...

Harry: ... The plan is this - we find a Hunter, K.O. it, and bring it back with us.

Soldiers: *muttering among themselves*

meanwhile

Sam: ... oh... D:>

Key: *remains silent*

Claire: *looks around at the soldiers. she knew they were wondering what the whole point was... she looks up at Key*

Key: *stares at the floor of the truck*

meanwhile

Sarah: ...we'll see them when they get back, I guess...

Soldier: Wait, is this for that one zombie? Why do we need him so badly? Isn't he the outdated model, now?

A Few Soldiers: *laugh*

Harry: *shakes with quiet rage* ... Private Hankerton, you're VERY LUCKY that I don't punish people for STUPIDITY...

Hankerton: I was only joking. :/

meanwhile

Sam: *sighs* ... I guess... so what now?

Claire: *is highly unamused by this* Make sure it doesn't happen again, soldier.

Key: *turns and GLARES at the soldier, and says absolutely nothing* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: ...I dunno... I'd say explore some more, but I don't wanna find another roomful of zombies again...

Soldier: *shudders, and looks away from Key* ... yes ma'am...

Harry: *mutters angrily to himself* "outdated model", hrmph... stupid, fracking, little shoothead...

meanwhile

Sam: Uh.... okay... <:/

Key: *looks at the rest of the soldiers before staring back at the floor* ...

Claire: *puts a hand on Harry's shoulder and rubs it with her thumb, trying to calm him down* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: um... didn't dad find a bunch of boardgames that one day...?

Soldiers: O_O;

Harry: *looks over at Claire, still wearing that glare and heavy frown*

meanwhile

Sam: ... yeah, but he never told us WHERE they were... D:>

Key: ...

Claire: ... *moves her arm around him and rests her head on his shoulder, then whispers* ...he didn't mean it, Harry... *glances at Key, and the soldiers' nervous expressions* ...I think Key took care of it anyway...

meanwhile

Sarah: mmmmhhhh..... >___<

Harry: *he nods at Claire, though still feels angry* ...

Soldiers: o_o;

meanwhile

Sam: ... We... uh... COULD explore... and search for the games...

Key: ...

Claire: ... *starts rubbing slow circles in his back, trying to get him to relax* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: I guess we... could...

Harry: *relaxes* ...

Soldiers: ._.;

meanwhile

Sam: C'mon... *goes looking for the games*

Key: ...

Claire: *continues the movement until they reach their destination*

meanwhile

Sarah: *helps Sam looks for the board games, trying not to think of what crazy thing they could possibly find in one of those rooms*

Everyone: *quickly gets out of the truck*

Harry: Watch and listen careful...

meanwhile

*they go through many rooms, but eventually come across one particular one*

Sam: *when he opens the door, he finds a bed stacked with board games. On the floor next to the bed, a dead Hunter lies there, the second one found in the Palace. It had deep slashes all over its front - slashes from another Hunter* S-sarah...! Y-your dad! H-He must have killed it!

Key: *listens for anything that sounds REMOTELY like a Hunter* ...

Claire: *keeps alert for any threats* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: !! B-But his hands were clean when he came back... w-w-why didn't he tell anyone? D:

A Hunter: *in the distance, it screams*

Harry: ... it's somewhere... but at least we know it's close ENOUGH...

meanwhile

Sam: Sarah, he could have washed his hands... a-and I don't know why he didn't tell anyone - maybe because he HAD to kill it, but couldn't tell anyone because of the no-killing policy?

Claire: ...

Key: ...we need to get it over here...

meanwhile

Sarah: M-maybe... i-i think it would have been okay since he didn't have a choice, though..

Harry: How?

Soldiers: ...

meanwhile

Sam: ... he fought and killed a Hunter in order to give us a set of cards...

Key: ...make noise...?

Claire: ...

meanwhile

Sarah: I-I mean... he might've opened the door and it attacked him... he wouldn't have had tranquilizers or the cure on him, so... s-self defense...

up

Harry: *his grin widens* Maybe. But not tonight.

meanwhile

Sam: ...

Doctor: *notices them* Oh! Uh, would you like to see him?

Todd: *...*

Claire: I know. But one of these days. Come on, let's go.

meanwhile

Sarah: Y-Yes, please.

Harry: *nods and heads out*

meanwhile

Doctor: *steps aside*

Todd: *...*

Sam: *steps inside*

Claire: *heads out to finish getting ready with Harry*

Key: *is there, finishing up* ...

meanwhile

Sarah: *steps up to the bed, and stares at her father* ...

Harry: *approaches her* ... hey, Key... how're you feeling?

meanwhile

Todd: *he sighs, then turns his head towards Sarah, seemingly awake. He speaks in a slow, slurred voice between wheezing inhales* Hhhey... Kiddo...

Sam and the Doctor: !!

Key: *looks up when addressed. she looked tired* Hey... I'm doing alright...

meanwhile

Sarah: !! Dad, shh... you shouldn't be talking...

Harry: ... you don't look "alright"... <:/

meanwhile

Todd: ... dun'... care... wha'appened...?

Sam: D:>

Doctor: No, you REALLY should NOT be talking, Mr. Huntings. You shouldn't even be AWAKE.

Key: I'm just tired... I'm fine.

Claire: ...Key, I think you should--

Key: I'm not staying.

meanwhile

Sarah: Dad, you... you need to rest... please...

Harry: Not staying? What do you mean, Key? D:

meanwhile

Todd: Rested... long... 'nuff...

Doctor: Mr. Huntings, you are in NO condition to be awake and speaking like this - you do NOT want to overwork yourself - especially not your ONLY working lung!

Todd: ...?

Sam: *whispers to Sarah* ... he hasn't taken his medicine...

Key: ... *looks down* We're not staying.

Claire: You can't possibly mean--

Key: As soon as we find a replacement for Todd's lung, we;re going back.

meanwhile

Sarah: Oh my gosh, you're right... *to the doctor* Dad takes these anti-psychotics... should i got get them?? D:

Harry: Key, stop - THINK about this! TODD wouldn't want to go back! We'll just make him wear the vest next time, alright??

meanwhile

Doctor: No! We can't risk giving him anything BESIDES tranquilizers!

Todd: *growling* The.... hell... did y'put... n'me...??

Sam: ... Well, he sounds like he could use a tranquilizer right NOW... D8

Key: *isn't swayed* ...We'll talk to him when he recovers.

Claire: ...

meanwhile

Sarah: Dad, please...! *to the doctor* H-He'll freak out if you don't do something, just give him something to calm him down...!!

Harry: ... Key...

meanwhile

Todd: The hell'd'you PUT IN ME??

Doctor: !! *quickly grabs a powerful tranquilizer and stabs Todd with it*

Todd: N-no...! No... Sarah... *loses consciousness*

Sam: Well... at least he was, uh... awake...

Key: I don't want to risk leaving Sarah alone, Harry! D:<

Claire: D:> ...

meanwhile

Sarah: ... *nods silently, and rests her hand on Todd's* I'm sorry, dad...

Harry: You WON'T, Key! D:>

meanwhile

Todd: *twitches in his sleep*

Doctor: As long as the soldiers manage to retrieve a "donor", your father will be fine.

Sam: ...

Key: You were THERE, Harry! You saw how close we got to losing Todd, and we've barely been here more than a WEEK!

Claire: That was an accident, Key!

Key: Yes, yes it was, and who knows how many MORE accidents we could have!

meanwhile

Sarah: ... *nods*

Harry: *is quickly losing his temper* So you'd rather switch back to people PURPOSELY shooting him on the street?? Is THAT it?? D:<

meanwhile

Todd: *...*

Sam: ...

Doctor: Cheer up, Miss Huntings. He'll be back to normal hopefully within this month.

Key: D:< ... *goes quiet. she hates to admit it, but he was right* ...

Claire: *gives Harry a disapproving look. It may have worked, but it was probably not the best thing to say...*

Sarah: ...okay... *lightly squeezes Todd's hand before backing away from the bed* ...come on, Sam... let's go see if everyone else has left yet...

up

Sam: That's grooossss...! D8|

Harry: *he smiles at his son* No it's not. You'll figure that out eventually, Sam.

Claire: *grins, and briefly kisses Harry again before releasing him and standing back up* You can go find Sarah if you're ready, Sam. I'm sure she won't mind having company. :/

Sam: Yeah, okay. D8| *runs out*

Harry: *he laughs a little at this*

Claire: *laughs with him* He's growing up so fast, I can hardly believe it...

meanwhile

Sarah: *was already dressed and out of her room, wandering the halls, since Key had already gone to get ready* ...

Harry: *he nods* I just hope he doesn't grow up TOO fast... I like him like that. :P

meanwhile

Sam: *finds Sarah* Hey, Sarah! So my mom and dad, and YOUR mom are gonna go find a lung for your dad today? D:

Claire: *smiles* They're all cute like that... but they have to grow up sometime.

meanwhile

Sarah: Yeah... that's if they FIND a Hunter, though...

Harry: Yeah... *he frowns* ... I haven't been giving him that much attention, have I?

meanwhile

Sam: Maybe if they make enough loud noise...

Claire: ...We've been busy, Harry.

meanwhile

Sarah: Maybe... I guess... *sighs* I don't even know anymore.

Harry: ... I know... I just wish we had more time - I'm SURE it's effecting him...

meanwhile

Sam: He'll get better, Sarah - he's GOTTA get better... D:>

Claire: Yeah... If only... <:/

meanwhile

Sarah: I know. I know... But... what of he DOESN'T? What'll happen to us?

Harry: ... we need to do something with him when we come back to the palace today...

meanwhile

Sam: Wh-what do you mean? D:>

Claire: Like what?

meanwhile

Sarah: ...I'm just worried about mom... she was so quiet this morning...

Harry: I-I don't know, just... just SOMETHING.

meanwhile

Sam: ... do you think she'll be able to go out there today...?

Claire: ... *sighs* We'll think of something... come on, we need to get out there.

meanwhile

Sarah: She was getting ready to go out, so I guess so... I-I... nothing had better happen to her...

Harry: ... right... *starts putting his uniform on*

meanwhile

Sam: Don't worry, Sarah... <:( *he thinks* ... do you wanna see your dad?

Claire: *waits for him* ...so what exactly did you dream about? :P

meanwhile

Sarah: ... *nods*

Harry: *he grins at her* Something... r-rated. I guess you could say I'm feeling a little... deprived.

meanwhile

Sam: Alright, let's go then. D:> *walks with her to the medical room*

in the medical room

Doctor: *checking Todd over*

Todd: *remains unconscious, immobile. Almost as if he was dead*

Claire: *smiles widely* It HAS been a while... *jokingly* maybe we can kick Sam out one night...

meanwhile

Sarah: *watches from the door* ...

up

Sam: Goodnight, Mom... goodnight, Dad.

Harry: ... goodnight...

*they sleep*

the next morning

Harry: *still asleep and in a cuddling position with Sam*

Sam: *also asleep, cuddling with Harry*

Claire: *sees this when she wakes up, and smiles sadly. she carefully gets out of bed, trying her hardest not to disturb them, and changes into her uniform*

Sam: *he's waking up, but realizes that Harry's arms are around him, and he can't move* D: !

Harry: *still fast asleep*

Claire: ? *turns around and sees Sam awake, and wanting to get out of bed, but being hindered by his father. she smiles and puts a finger to her lips, telling him to keep quiet. she mouths to him* (Let him sleep.)

Sam: .__.;

Harry: *he smiles a bit in his sleep, and pulls Sam closer*

Sam: >__>;

Claire: *can't help but grin--she puts her finger to her mouth again*

Sam: *gapes at his mother. Really? Really?* D8> ??

Harry: *mumbling* mm... Claire...

Sam: DDDDD8> !!??

Claire: !! *almost starts laughing when she hears this, and walks over and tries to pry Harry's arms off of Sam before he said (or did) anything else* XD;;;

Harry: *his fingers twitch after Claire takes Sam, as if feeling around for his son - mistaken to be his wife* mmh...

Sam: Mooooom... what do you think he's dreaming about? D:>

Claire: Heheh... I'll tell you later, kiddo. *sits on the edge of the bed, and leans over to kiss Harry's cheek*

Harry: *from the contact, his eyes flutter open halfway * mm... g'morning, Claire... I had a real nice dream about you...

Sam: We know. .___.;

Harry: ... How do you know, Sam?

Claire: You were talking in your sleep, Harry. ^^;

Harry: *seems especially embarrassed by this* Oh CRAP, what did I say?? O///////O;

Sam: *is surprised by how embarrassed his father seemed to be* ... uh...

Claire: *raises an eyebrow* Just my name...

Harry: *looks relieved* Oh... that's nothing, then. Don't worry about it.

Sam: *not buying it* \:/

Claire: *looks at Sam's expression and laughs a bit* Go get dressed, Sam... :P

Sam: fiiine... *goes to get dressed*

Harry: *turns so he's fully facing Claire* ... so can you guess what I was dreaming about... Claire?

Claire: I can guess... *leans in, putting a hand on his cheek, and kisses him lovingly*

Harry: *kisses her back, wrapping his arms around her*

Sam: *still getting ready in the bathroom*

Claire: *deepens the kiss, moving her hand to the back of his head, putting the other one on his chest* mm...

Harry: *continues kissing her, moving his hands up her back*

Sam: *walks out, dressed and ready. He stares at his parents* eeeww... D8|

Claire: *continues kissing Harry until she notices Sam staring and breaks the kiss, still holding Harry. she smiles a bit* ...what?

up

Sam: I know that... but then how can he dream about colors...?

Todd: *...*

Doctor: He's safe for now. But he needs a new lung.

Harry: ... a new...? How's he going to... get...?

Key: ...there aren't any donors...

Claire: ...we'll have to go looking for one, then.

Sarah: ...?

Harry: From an infected?

Sam: D8 ...

Doctor: ... that seems like the best choice. Specifically a Hunter, since their insides seem to be the least damaged.

Todd: *....*

Claire: He was a Hunter before he was cured, as well... it'll have to do.

Sarah: D:> ...

Key: ... *nods* We're going to have to.

Todd: *...*

Doctor: ...

Harry: Come on, everyone... we should go sleep...

Sam: <:/ ...

Key: *takes one last look at Todd before leaving the room*

Sarah: ...'night, dad... *turns and leaves with Key*

Claire: *steps aside to let them through, watching them go, then looking over at Harry* <:( ...

Harry: *looks over at Claire* ... five times he's been shot, now... and all he dreams about is colors...

Sam: ... you've... you've said that, Dad.... D:>

Claire: ...we should go get some sleep...

meanwhile

Key and Sarah: *walk silently to their room, and get ready for bed*

Harry: COLORS, Claire...! And he was DYING...!! D8>

Sam: D:> *doesn't quite understand why his father seemed so bewildered by this idea. Todd still remembers what colors are, doesn't he?*

Claire: ...I know, Harry, I know. I understand. Now come on...

meanwhile

Key: *gets into bed* ...Goodnight, Sarah.

Sarah: *does the same* 'night, mom...

Key: *is silent for a while. she keeps thinking of what happened, what COULD have happened, what ALMOST happened... she felt like she could cry again. she gets out of her bed, and goes over to Sarah's, lying down and hugging her daughter tightly to herself* ...

Sarah: !! *is a caught completely off-guard when she does this, but... she hugs her back, completely understanding. she was afraid too*

Harry: ... *he silently nods, walking with his family to their room*

Sam: *quietly to Claire* Mom? What's wrong with dreaming about colors? D:>

Claire: ...It's been so long since Harry and the Huntings' vision was altered, none of them remember what colors look like anymore... your father thinks it might mean something...

Sam: Something? Like what? D:>

Harry: ... like he's sick of being an X-WD... like he's sick in the HEAD...

Claire: Harry, don't say that...

Harry: *let's out a shuddering sigh* M-maybe I'm reading too much into this...

Sam: You ARE! D8>

*they reach the room*

Claire: ...look, we'll talk to him when he wakes up, okay? For all we know, that's all it was-- a dream. *opens the door and goes inside*

Harry: *follows Claire inside the room and changes into his night clothes, then lies down on the bed, sighing. He was weary from all the stress that came that day*

Sam: *gets into his own bed* ...

Claire: *changes and joins Harry in bed, putting an arm over him and resting her head on his shoulder. she whispers* Will you be able to sleep? <:(

Harry: *quietly* ... I don't know...

Sam: <:( *he gets out of his bed, and into his parents' bed, snuggling against his father* ... I love you, Dad...

Harry: ? *he just looks at Sam for a while, then hugs him* ... I love you too, Sam...

Claire: <:( ... *reaches across Harry to comb her hand through Sam's hair a few times, then pulls her hand away* ...good night...

up

Todd: *...*

Doctor: ._.;

Harry: It was an ACCIDENT, Key... he didn't do that on PURPOSE.

Sam: Y-yeah, Mrs. Huntings! D:>

Key: He should've THOUGHT before he pulled the trigger! He should've SEEN that he wasn't attacking us, hell, he was TALKING to us! Infected don't DO that! D:< *is trying to get out of Sarah's grip*

Sarah: *refuses to let go* Mom, calm down...!

Claire: He was too far, Key! Anyone would have done the same!

Harry: Claire's right, Key - he couldn't possibly have noticed ANY of those things! Calm DOWN!

Doctor: *working* ...

Todd: *...*

Sam: D8> ...

Key: I am NOT calming down, he--!!

Sarah: MOM!

Key: *looks down at her* WHAT??

Sarah: *stares up at her* ...

Key: ...

Claire: ...

Everyone: *goes silent*

Todd: *...*

Doctor: *treating Todd* >_>;

Key: ... *looks away from them, her rage fading, and melting back into sorrow* ...

Sarah: ... *hugs her tightly* <:(

Claire: *sighs. everything just seemed to be falling apart now* ...

Harry: ...Key... we... we've gotten through the worst, here... Todd's fine right now...

Sam: *wonders how long "fine" will last*

Doctor: *treating Todd*

Todd: *...*

Sarah: *rests her head on Key's shoulder, and sniffles*

Key: *quietly, to herself* ...I told him he should have worn the vest...

Claire: ...I think he'll make it.

Harry: ... yes... he'll make it.

Todd: *...*

Doctor: I've removed the bullet.

Sam: ... :D

Sarah: :D!!

Key: *looks up, visibly relieved, but doesn't say a word*

Claire: Phew... we can breathe easy again.

Doctor: One of his lungs was punctured. *he continues working on Todd*

Harry: D8 !!

Sam: D8 !

Sarah: D8>!!

Claire: !!! I take that back. D8

Key: !!! ... A-At least it w-wasn't his heart... r-right?

Harry: ... I-I guess that's true... *he sighs* how many times has he been shot at, now...?

Sam: <:(

Todd: *...*

Doctor: *he manages to set up a machine for Todd to help him breath*

Key: ...three... four... five... not counting the shots that missed...

Sarah: *stays quiet* ...

Claire: ... He hasn't done anything to DESERVE any of it...

Key: No... he hasn't...

Harry: ... and yet, he was dreaming of colors...

Sam: Colors??

Doctor: *he makes sure the machine is working properly - the tube went straight into a hole in Todd's chest, and into his punctured lunge, helping him breathe*

Todd: *...*

Key: X-WD's can't see colors, Sam...

Sarah: ...

Claire: ...

Todd: *he has stopped bleeding, true, but he's also stopped breathing*

Harry: *looks up and notices this* ...? *suddenly, he's forced into completely panicking* shoot!! shoot!! HE'S NOT BREATHING!! *he takes Todd and puts him on the floor of the truck. He looks around the room* DOES ANYONE KNOW CPR?? D8> *tears were clearing running down his face now. He has dealt with too much for too long. There was NO WAY IN HELL he was going to ALSO lose his best friend* GODDAMNIT, SOMEBODY!! *he was now begging them* SOMEBODY!!

Claire: Harry, MOVE! *moves him out of the way and kneels next to Todd, putting her head to his chest to check for a heartbeat. finding none, she quickly strips away Todd's shirt and immediately starts chest compressions* Harry, Tell the driver to go faster! D:>

Key: *has her hands over her mouth, staring wide-eyed in a shocked horror. this couldn't be happening, this couldn't be happening, oh please, god, no...*

Harry: *nods and runs over to the driver, informing him what was going on, and that he needed to go faster*

Todd: *still wasn't breathing*

Harry: *when he walks back over to the back of the truck, he can't look at Todd. When he dies - IF he dies - he didn't want to see it*

*they were almost at Versailles*

Claire: *continues to administer CPR* Come on, come on...! D:>

Key: *is in tears, unable to tear her gaze away from him. (please god, don't die, please...)*

*They reach the palace*

Everyone Except Todd, Key, Harry and Claire: *run out of the truck*

Todd: *he gasps for breath, once more breathing in his unconsciousness - but his breathing consisted of short, desperate and shaking gasps. He was saved for a short while, but he would only last so long*

Harry: *picks him up and sprints into the palace, to the medical room, ready to break down - he was already fighting back sobs as tears rolled down his face*

Claire: *is close behind him, yelling for people to move out of the way, to let them through--every second counted*

Key: *follows them, very close to just breaking down into a sobbing, blubbering mess. he can't die, he just can't...*

Sarah: *sees them run past, and looks at Sam* ...S-Sam...!!

Sam: Sarah - y-your dad...!! D8

Harry: *runs into the medical room, kicking the door open* Help him!! Please - HELP HIM!!

Todd: *his breathing was quickening - threatening to stop again*

Doctor: D8 !!! *Takes Todd and starts hooking him up to various machines*

Key: *runs into the room right after Harry, feeling completely useless--he should have worn the vest, he should've been CAREFUL, he should have... he shouldn't die. he CAN'T die.

Claire: *stays by the door--the room was getting crowded, no one else needed to come in* ...

Sarah: *sprints to the med room with Sam, and tries to go inside, but is stopped short by Claire* D-Dad..! Mom! Mom, what's wrong with dad?? D8>

Doctor: *still working on keeping Todd alive* COME ON!

Todd: *he's on the very brink of death, still dreaming of happiness in a land where he could see color again. He smiled again, feeling death's grip on him, and... feeling happy to leave. WANTING to leave...*

Harry: *he finally breaks down sobbing*

Sam: D8> Mom, WHAT'S GOING ON??

Key: *silently breaks down, crying into her hands, breaking under the stress*

Sarah: Mom! MOM!! D8>

Key: *doesn't respond to her*

Claire: N-Now's not a good time, kids... go wait in your rooms...

Sarah: *struggles to get past her* I WANT TO SEE DAD!!

Doctor: *quickly working* Okay... okay, I think I - shoot! *had accidentally slipped and nearly breaks his equipment* Oh god - shoot he's bleeding again - why am I the ONLY doctor here?? *works harder*

Harry: *sobbing*

Sam: L-let her see him! D8>

Key: *crying*

Claire: Sam, he's--

Sarah: *pushes past Claire and into the room, stopping short when she sees him, so close to dying...* oh no... no, no, no, dad... n-not again, please...!

Doctor: *blood now soaked his arms as he tried to stabilize Todd* shoot - shoot - someone get me the defibrillator unit!

Harry: !! *snaps out of his sorrow long enough to give the Doctor the device*

Doctor: *starts warming up the paddles*

Sam: *peeks past his mother* Oh gosh...

Sarah: Oh my god... oh my--n-no!! YOU CAN'T DIE!

Key: *looks back up again, face streaked with tears. that was their last hope. if they couldn't save him...*

Claire: *watches from the door* ...

Doctor: *when the paddles start emitting a high-pitched noise, he presses them down onto Todd's chest*

Todd: *he gasps for breath again, and this time, his breathing is slow and even. Normal*

Doctor: ... Oh thank god...

Harry: *relief washes over him like a tidal wave, and he closes his eyes, thanking god over and over again under his breath*

Sam: ... <:D

Doctor: ... now I need to stop the bleeding. *first starts cutting a hole around the bullet in order to get it out*

Key: oh, GOD... oh my GOD... *lets out a massive sigh of relief*

Sarah: ...!!! *hugs her mother tightly, tears flowing*

Claire: *lets out a breath she didn't know she had been holding* ...jesus...

Todd: *...*

Doctor: We're not out of the woods just yet, people. The bullet could have done a LOT of damage... *still cutting into Todd's flesh*

Harry: D:> ...

Sam: <:( ...

Claire: <:( ...

Key: ... *her sorrow slowly starts simmering into a quiet rage* ...that goddamn french guy... i need to... *tries to turn and leave*

Sarah: *keeps a tight hold on her, keeping her from moving* W-What are you talking about?

Harry: *quietly, calming down a little* ... i-it was an accident... one of the survivors we rescued shot Todd... they thought he was a Hunter...

Todd: *...*

Doctor: *works on removing the bullet*

Key: *quietly* i need to find him.

Sarah: Mom...?

Key: *a bit more loudly* I need to find him.

Claire: *narrows her eyes* Key...

Harry: Key, what are planning to do?

Todd: *...*

Doctor: *working. He tries not to be distracted by what went on behind him*

Sam: D: ...

Key: *clenches her fists, digging her sharp nails into the palm of her hand* I'll figure something out... where is he?

Claire: Key, don't do anything rash...

Key: It's not rash, he deserves it!! D:<

Sarah: *hangs on to her mom, figuring that she's the only thing keeping her from charging out of the door* Mom, calm down...

up