Me neither.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:04 pm

"Seizure," Michael put down the bag, not sure how he could help but ready if he was needed.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:04 pm

William shuddered as he opened his eyes. The men probably assumed he wasn't there after what had happened between him and Gabe; yet he spoke. "Guys? Is Marlee alright?" He moved out of Gabe's arms to sit up straight. "Gabe, do you think we should go check...?"

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:07 pm

Gabe had dashed up as soon as he had heard the scream. He rushed through the leaves. "What are you guys doing to her?" he asked as he saw further away the two men looking down at the baby. His forehead was pearly with sweat.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:09 pm

Tom paled. "It's the water reflecting." He muttered, holding the jerking little girl at arms length. The tips of his ears were red. Marlee's eyes rolled back in her head and she grunted again. Thoughtfully, he placed her on his knees, a hand on her round stomach.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:13 pm

Michael watched, scared and glad Tom seemed to know what to do.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:14 pm

William rushed after Gabe, worried. "What's going on? Tom," he insisted, "what's wrong with her?" He watched the baby, and noticed all the small bruises on her arms, oddly similar to the ones he had. No, no. Tom wouldn't do that. Tom wouldn't hurt his daughter.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:17 pm

Gabe got closer to the men and saw Marlee's sharp movements. His vision seemed to blur a little; he felt like he was going to puke at any given moment. He made to reach for the little girl, but his hands only met thin air for he reached half a meter away from her. What's happening to me? He almost fell forwards as he struggled to keep his balance.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:18 pm

"I think..." Tom whispered, his voice cracking. "She has photosensitive epilepsy." He stared at his shaking hand on his daughter's jerking figure. Marlee gave another strange grunt.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:21 pm

Michael looked at Gabe, a little confused. He turned to William and felt his stomach clench uncomfortably with guilt as he checked for signs he knew would be there.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:23 pm

William wrapped both arms around Gabe's waist upon seeing him oscillate strangely on his feet. "Gabe? What wrong?" He held him tightly. "Gabe?" He didn't want to seem like he wasn't concerned by Marlee's health, but Gabe was truly worrying him.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:28 pm

Gabe turned around and saw only shapes of what must have been William. "Where is she?" he asked. "Is she okay? Make sure she doesn't choke if it's a seizure! Lay her sideways so she doesn't choke..." And he stumbled backwards onto William as he gripped the younger man's shoulders. What's going on? He made a gag movement but nothing happened; he was in between standing and bent over.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:30 pm

Tom narrowed his eyes as he watched them. He relaxed as the little girl's body went limp, holding her tightly against his chest. "It's alright." He cooed, kissing the top of her head protectively.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:33 pm

William bended his knees, firmly gripping Gabe's arms, until he managed to sit down with the man leaning on him. "She's okay now, thank you..." He placed his cool hand on Gabe's forehead. "Are you alright?"

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:35 pm

Michael looked more confused than ever. What's going on?

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:39 pm

The coolness of William's hand helped Gabe regain part of his senses. Although he didn't see much, he could hear pretty well. "Must be the sun..." he said with a faint smile as he caught his breath. He made another gag movement - this time harder - but nothing came out. "Just... don't hold her upright. You have to lay her sideways so she doesn't choke on any eventual regurgitation..." And he breathed again, his chest heaving. Why am I this way now, of all times and places?

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:40 pm

Tom ignored Gabe, gently stroking the sniffling baby's head. "It's got to be the water. It happened here before, remember?"

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:42 pm

"Yeah," Michael nodded, watching Gabe and William and wondering if he should offer assitance of some kind. He glanced at Tom. Maybe we should jut go...

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:43 pm

William lowered his head to kiss the corner of Gabe's mouth. "It's okay Gabe; she's doing fine. She's alright now." He glanced at the baby as he spoke, and hoped Gabe wouldn't notice the tiny bruises. "Calm down."

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:49 pm

Gabe's vision had lightened slightly. His grip on William's arms slackened. "I'm calm. I just don't feel so good." Gabe was unsure what had caused him to feel so bad so quickly. He was unsure whether it was the sun, the twitching baby, the two men in front of them and everything it implied, or simply his own body failing after having eaten so little. "Just make sure she doesn't choke..." he said as he gagged again, falling forwards on both hands. I hate this.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:50 pm

"She's stopped." Tom murmured as Marlee began to cry again. He sighed. "I don't think she's hungry."

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:57 pm

[Michael is having lunch. Skip~]

William rubbed Gabe's back. "She won't choke, Gabe. She's doing perfectly fine." He wanted to reassure the man, but Marlee's crying in the background didn't help much. "I know. I'm her godfather now." He turned to look at Tom, and his eyes inevitably caught Marlee's bruises again. "What happened?" he whispered.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:00 pm

Gabe knew that if Marlee was crying, she wasn't choking. He let himself fall on the ground, and he sat as he put a hand over his mouth. He could see Tom pretty well now. Godfather? And he sat there, unsure what was happening but listening intently.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:02 pm

Tom looked down at the ground and didn't answer, knowing what William was talking about.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:04 pm

"Tom?" William asked again, louder. "What happened to Marlee?" He didn't realize it, but his hands were shaking. He bit his lip. I couldn't be wrong on that. I just couldn't.

Subject: Re: Me neither. Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:08 pm

Gabe's vision was cleared now. Even though he still felt horribly sick, his senses were fine. He saw Tom and his eyes wandered immediately to Marlee. He saw her bruised arms. He fought the urge to grab her, instead he listened, intent on hearing what Tom had to say. He couldn't have been mistaken; although he had threatened Tom, Gabe had known she'd be fine with him now that the guns were gone. Had he been wrong in thinking Tom would never hurt her?