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[amicably_absent]

Glitch wasn't entirely ready for this, but he didn't think he ever was going to be. You didn't get ready for someone doing a reinstalling transplant of your brain back into your head when you couldn't even actually remember having it taken out in the first place.

They had him dressed in a loose, open necked and shapeless shirt with similarly matched trousers, the theory being that he'd feel more comfortable and relaxed in calming clothes. And he knew that Wyatt and DG were outside the door, well, Wyatt, DG had been pale and struggling and she might have gone now that he was walking into the surgery and being helped to lie down.

"Just lie down, Ambrose, and we'll get you nicely under. You won't feel anything."

He lay down, a nurse looked at him with warm eyes as she stroked his forehead and hair, checking for signs of trouble along the zip. The doctor nodded, white lights being turned on and the mask over his lower face.

Glitch felt his heart start racing.

"All right now, Ambrose. Just count back from a hundred, ninety-nine-"

Glitch remembered nothing more. Certainly not flipping to his feet and off the table and definitely not barreling out of the surgery doors, through the waiting area and out of the hospital entirely at a flat sprint that he never would have credited himself as being able to do.

Comments

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

Fear sparks for the span of a racing heartbeat, and Cain hopes by Ozma Glitch won't stay like this, that this is just his brain coping with getting reacquainted.

"Shh," he soothes, smoothing the back of his hand over Glitch's forehead, mindful of the zipper as always - DG still hasn't let go of his hands.

"I'm DG, Glitch. You know me." She speaks firmly, with authority borne from a lifetime of independence at the Other Side. "You're at the hospital, and you're fine. Just fine. You should try to relax."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

He relaxes again. "Of course I know you, Princess. Just keep your hands out of my experiments, I don't want to have your sister scolding me for little fingers getting caught in cogs again."

He gives Wyatt a last hooded, sleepy look. "You better be here when I wake up, or the wedding's off."

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

On the other side of the bed, DG cracks up - quietly - eyes boring into Cain like particularly relentless drills through wood.

He glances at her, unable not to be amused. "I'll be here, Sweetheart. You try get some rest. Princess's orders."

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Glitch smiles and sighs softly as he slips back into comfortable sleep.

The nurse peers in through the door. "Has he woken up yet?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"For a moment," DG turns to the nurse with a smile. "Rambled all kinds of coocoo talk, but he's fine. He went back to sleep."

Cain stands up, but doesn't move away from the bed. The fingertips of his right hand linger at the bedding. Soft, crisp sheets.

He'd prefer sleeping outdoors almost any day.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"It's to be expected. He has to recalibrate his body and mind back together. He'll be a bit addled for a few days, but a good sleep should do him a world of good."

Glitch slumbers on. His fingers twitch, randomly at first, but distinctly settling into the rhythm of piano playing.

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

DG nods, glancing back at Glitch, then to Cain, who meets her eyes with the same fond gratitude that she show the nurse.

"Thank you so much. I mean that. You have no idea how much."

Cain would tip his hat if he wasn't holding it in his hand. As such, he gives her a curt nod.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

"He'll be asleep for some time yet. Can I get you anything, your highness? Officer? Even just chairs?"

[less-hugging.livejournal.com]

"A chair would be nice," Cain speaks up. "Please."

DG nods. "Maybe something for Glitch once he wakes up. He really likes apples. Red ones?"

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

The nurse heads off. She came back with two comfortable chairs and a plate with three apples and a small paring on it.

They might be in for a bit of wait.

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"Soooo," DG moves her chair all the way up snug against Cain's, watching him with her impossibly big blue eyes. As of this moment, full to the brim with mischief.

"Can I be your maid of honor?"

...it's going to be a long wait, all right.

[amicably-absent.livejournal.com]

Hours will pass.

Glitch sleeps, mostly peacefully, though there's the occasionally bout of twitching and thrashing that quickly settles again, small mumbled words and protests and, once, a giggle.

Much, much later, Glitch stirs. His eyes open slowly, looking around once before closing again.

Then he opens his eyes, looking around with confusion. "Where am I?"