ArchivedLogs:Out of Time

Out of Time
(Warning: Death scene)
Dramatis Personae Gabriel, Jackson, Iolaus, Lucia
In Absentia	2013-12-24 The day after talking Gabriel down.
Location <NYC> The Mendel Clinic - Lower East Side
With its sharp crystalline edges and sleek lines knifing up into the sky, this building is one of the most /distinctive/ new additions to the neighborhood. An angular structure in glass and steel, the tall tower has a deceptively slender look to it that is belied by the heavy security as soon as you enter the doors. The front doors are frosted with the Clinic's logo -- a rising sun over a rod of Asclepius -- a motif echoed in many places throughout the building. Visitors to the clinic must first pass through a small mantrap, guarded by some of the Clinic's security guards; once they make it through the metal detector and airlock's double doors they emerge into the much more hospitable lobby. With dark wood floors underneath and comfortable black and red couches at its edges, the high windows give the room an airy feel. A bank of elevators to one side carry visitors to the many destination floors, while the wide welcome desk at the other side is manned by a security guard ready to help point visitors in the right direction. It's late afternoon, the weather outside the clinic cold, having snowed today. Inside the isolation area of the clinic, inside a private room with a bed, lies Gabriel. Since last night, his condition has gotten worse, his body thinner than before. He's hooked up to an IV and several wires measuring his heart rate and breathing, and has an oxygen mask on. He's not sleeping, just lying there, thinking. Sitting in a chair near the door is Lucia, wearing her blindfold and headphones. From her face, she seems very sad, and you could assume she's been crying, even though the mask blocks any tears. Gabriel's parents haven't arrived yet, but are on their way, having visited this morning. It's late afternoon, the weather outside the clinic cold, having snowed today. Inside the isolation area of the clinic, inside a private room with a bed, lies Gabriel. Since last night, his condition has gotten worse, his body thinner than before. He's hooked up to an IV and several wires measuring his heart rate and breathing, and has an oxygen mask on. He's not sleeping, just lying there, thinking. Sitting in a chair near the door is Lucia, wearing her blindfold and headphones. From her face, she seems very sad, and you could assume she's been crying, even though the mask blocks any tears. Gabriel's parents haven't arrived yet, but are on their way, having visited this morning. The entry door slides open with a soft hiss and a small rush of air inwards, ruffling the edges of Iolaus' hair as he steps into the room. His lab coat is fixed on his shoulders, and he has a folded piece of paper in his hand, creased in several places as if folded and refolded several times. The doctor makes his way over to a stool and takes a seat, wheeling it over to Gabriel's bedside. "Hello, Gabriel." Iolaus says, voice soft, as he gives the young man a small, kind smile - a look of consolation. "How are you feeling?" he asks, eyes searching the other man's face for a moment before they turn to glance at the instruments hanging off of the wall. Jackson has been by this morning to visit and check in on Gabriel, before being dragged away by work -- not any outside attack but another mutant with exceedingly erratic powers; by the time he's through helping keep them safe and stable (and keep them from accidentally /killing/ their doctor) he looks kind of worn himself. A little too pale, a little run-down tired. His black and red Mendel Clinic uniform still looks neat, his hair brightly festive in red-and-green, and now with downtime he's slipping back into the room. His smile is warm as ever, though there's concern in his eye. "Hey, honey-honey," he greets softly. Slowly, Gabriel turns his head to Iolaus, calm in his tone, but sounding sickly as well, speaking slowly. "Like I'm minutes away from Death. Which, I assume, isn't wrong.". Gabriel sighs, turning towards Jackson as he arrives. "Hey, Jax. How are you? How is Micah? The twins?" Gabriel seems more worried about them than his own well being, showing acceptance in what's going to happen. He looks towards Lucia, as his body begins to shift a small bit again, though most likely less frequent due to any medicine they have in him. Lucia feels this, looking up to him, as he just stares over to her. Iolaus glances up at Jax for a moment as he walks through the door, then turns his attention back to Gabriel. "No, Gabriel. You're not wrong." The doctor's voice is soft and level, and the edges of his smile twitch up once. His head twists to look at Jax again, then to Lucia, before he continues, in that same level, professional tone. "Your body isn't responding to the medication we are giving you to help you clot, and the latest blood work shows that your liver is failing. I've called the organ center to put you on the emergency transplant list, but..." The doctor shakes his head. "It won't come in time. I'm sorry, Gabriel." Jackson stays quiet, at first. Around him the light trembles faintly as Iolaus and Gabriel speak. He squeezes Lucia's shoulder gently and moves to the Gabriel's bedside. "Micah's good. The pups are aright. Lotta decoratin' for Christmas." He sets his hand on the mattress by Gabriel's, turning it up in case the other man would like a hand to hold. "S'anything you need I can do for you, honey-honey?" "Doubt it would have helped much. If my ability kept going, it'd just fail again. Thanks for trying, though.". Gabriel partially smiles toward Iolaus, nodding his head, before shifting his head over towards Jackson. "There's not much you can do. I don't have long left, I can feel it. Just, take care of Lucia? That's all I really need. Help her at school. The works.". Gabriel grasps Jax's hand, his body shifting again. "Every shift makes it worse, sadly.". Iolaus watches Jax and Gabriel for a moment before he turns and steps over to a set of drawers. He opens a few of them up and withdraws two syringes, and from his pocket, a small glass bottle. He carefully measures out a bit of the clear liquid into one syringe, and carries both back over towards Gabriel. "I have something here for the pain. When you are ready, Gabriel. I'm not going anywhere." Iolaus says, softly. "I'm here for the whole way." Jackson's hand is fiercely warm in Gabriel's. He lifts Gabriel's hand, pressing his cheek to the other man's knuckles. His eye flicks towards the door, looking over at Lucia. "Of course. The school -- was my home a long time, I'll. Keep an eye on here." He ducks his head a little sheepishly at that, wincing at his own inadvertent pun. "Just rest then, sweetie. I'll stay here with you till -- I'll be right here." Gabriel nods towards Iolaus, waiting for the syringe. "Yes, please. I don't know how many shifts my body can take, and the pain is horrendous." Gabriel shifts again, wincing, as he nods towards Jackson. "Thanks for everything, Jax. You're a good friend.". Gabriel turns to Lucia one last time, smiling. "She'll be fine. I know it.". Iolaus nods down at Gabriel and scoots slightly closer. One of his hands gently rests on Gabriel's wrist as he takes his IV line in a hand. The injection of the first syringe is a slow push forward, watching the line carefully, and it is followed by a slower injection of saline. "That should help ease the pain." Iolaus says, softly. "Give it a few seconds to work." Iolaus' eyes turn up to look at Jax and give him a small smile and a nod, before he turns back to watching Gabriel's face. Jackson's thumb brushes slowly over the backs of Gabriel's knuckles. "She will. I'll look after her. Everyone at school will." His other hand lifts to join the first, cupping Gabriel's hand gently in his own. His eye fixes on Gabriel's face, too. "M'right here," he murmurs, in quiet reassurance. After Iolaus injects the medicine into Gabriel, soon after he seems more relaxed. And then his eyes flash. His face remains calm, as he nods slowly. "It's time. I can see only one possibility from here. See ya, Jax.". And then, his body shifts, violently. And then, the shift stops. As does everything else. His breathing. His heart. His muscles. Gabriel is dead. Lucia feels this via vibrations, and stands up, running towards the bed, screaming and crying. He's gone. Almost immediately as Gabriel closes his eyes, the monitors next to the bed start blaring a sharp, loud-pitched noise, insistent. Iolaus bends his head down, eyes closing, murmuring a long, low string of Greek, fingertips pressing lightly together. When he reopens his eyes, Iolaus stands slowly to tap his fingers against the monitor. The noise cuts off with a sharp whine in mid yell, and the doctor turns back towards look at Jax. He takes in a deep breath, then lets it out just as slowly, stepping over to pick up the phone off its hook on the wall. He looks over at Jax as he says, "Control. Iolaus. Can you page the mental health staff on duty? When Gabriel's parents get here, take them to one of the offices and let me know." Jackson closes his eye, pressing a small kiss to the back of Gabriel's knuckles. He reaches out with his right hand, thumb tracing a small cross, first over Gabriel's forehead and then his heart. For a moment his lips move in silence, and then he crosses himself as well. He lowers Gabriel's hand to the mattress, looking back at Iolaus and then for a long while just sitting in silence.