Broken, Battered, and Burned [Open]

[Connor Dwyre]

It had been several days. Connor had just been considered in stable condition. He had been unconscious for most of his stay. Considering what had happened to him, it was for the best. He was in a room enough for two, but he was the only resident right now. He woke up, and still felt like he had been hit by a truck. His chest was wrapped, for both the ribs to set, and to cover the burns. his chest would have tissue damage, and obvious marks from the burn. His hand was broken, and also wrapped to set.

He was declared stable. The nurses had come to know him a bit, mainly the one who was in charge of his care. Though, given everything, he still felt alone. That didn't surprise him. Not at all. He had avoided certain people, and he didn't exactly believe he had made a huge enough impression on anyone to have them come and see him. Suichi was probably there, but he really wasn't in the mood to talk to that man. Oh well. At least he had peace.

::Outside the room::

The older Asian man was wearing his fedora, and sitting outside his student's room. Connor might as well have been his son, as he treated the boy as such. He also knew Connor didn't wish to speak with him, as was evident by his actions over the past few days. He only wished there could have been something he could have done to maybe prevent this. It was the second time Connor was in the hospital for something major.

A nurse came by, and needed to let the patient know something. There was also a small group of what looked to be students entering, though not that they all came together.

::Back in the room::

The door was knocked on, and the nurse entered. "How are you feeling, Connor?"

"Like I was run over by a truck that was on fire." He was still lighthearted, even in a bit of pain.

"Well, would you be up for some visitors?"

"If Suichi is there..."

"He is, but it's not just him. There's a few people here who wish to see you."

A few people? Who? Connor was curious. "Um... yeah. I guess I am."

"Good, I'll send them in."

She left to the door, and opened it. "Go ahead. You can all see him."

[Matrim Gallagher]

Matrim hadn't left the hospital... not once. He became a part of the place in the several days he had been there, planning a funeral, grieving, and most importantly taking care of his son. The baby wasn't ready to go home yet and Matrim wasn't ready to either. Though when he heard that Connor was in the hospital, he decided that he'd go visit him to see what the hell happened there. Beta quickly took control since Alpha was entirely powerless. Something about all the grief, the regret, and the sorrow fueled Beta.

"Go ahead. You can all see him."

Beta walked through the door to see the extent of injury, nothing bad just a few physical pains. Nothing that seemed to bad. In fact, Matrim himself had dealt with worse on a regular occasion, "Got to be more careful next time. Who did this to you? I'll make sure Alpha pays them a visit." He smiled at Connor knowing he couldn't tell being blind. In fact, he wouldn't be able to tell that Matrim had been doing a bit of crying and hadn't slept. The bags under his eyes were probably viewable from space.

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

Victor walked in calmly, he had seen matrim go in, and though he had never personally met matrim he had seen him on the day of "ground zero". it would be nice to maybe make a new friend, he knew that he hadn't really leaked his affiliation to gabriel, and now that he had tossed that affiliation entirely it didn't worry him too much. Matrim had looked like he had no sleep, his voice sounded off, to victors surprise it didn't rub him the wrong way like victor thought it might. it actually fit quite well. Victor knew little of the 'Alpha' that matrim spoke, so he stayed quiet about that as he entered the room. He nodded to matrim, then looked to connor. "So... how are you feeling?" he asked. The boy certainly had a beating given to him, not like the fun brawl scoffs that victor was usually used to seeing.

[Connor Dwyre]

He recognized the voice instantly. It was Matrim. One of the very people he had been trying to avoid out of fear he had done him wrong. He had been with Gabriel, and even thought Connor had turned sides at the last minute, he still thought Matrim would hold it against him. Connor had felt horrible for being a part of that plan, one which included (not to Connor's knowledge) taking Matrim's pregnant girlfriend and using her as leverage.

Not only that, but here Matrim was, and offering to help get back at the one who attacked him in the first place. "Matrim... I..." he started to sit up, then remembered the control for the bed, and used it instead. As he did so, another familiar voice came in the room. Victor.

Connor smiled. So... he actually had friends who cared about him. "Hey Victor. I'm alright. Aside from the fact that it feels like I was run over, all is well." Connor's smile was never diminished. He held a lighthearted air as always, not showing his pain. He turned his attention back to Matrim. "I... owe you an apology." He took a breath. "I've actually been hiding since the last time you saw me. When Gabriel..." Connor's face reflected how he felt. "I had no idea he was going to take her and..."

Connor felt terrible. He put his own situation aside. "I hope she is alright. And your child. I hope... all is well with you." He was sincere. "Thank you for coming to see me. Both of you. As for who did this, I don't know. He never gave me his name. I just know that he had a very heavy Irish accent."

Connor shook his head. "You don't need to go after him. This just proves that I need to be stronger. Though, I really appreciate the offer, and the concern. It means a lot. I didn't exactly think I had too many friends around here."

OOC: To those I invited, please feel free to post. I would love to see you all!

[Sara Quinn]

Sara's phone buzzed. She sighed picking it up, and looked at the short message. Ahhh... She loved gossip, so very much <3 Very simply, the message stated that he was awake and people were allowed to see him now. Perfect.

It had been a student that messaged her. The student had been in the classroom the day she had stormed into a class to surprise attack Connor. The sweet little student had assumed they were friends and had told Sara that Connor had been injured. Ahhhh gossip. You had to appreciate its usefulness. She never would have known otherwise =_=" Sara had stopped keeping tabs on Connor after the Gabriel incident. Or at least... Had stopped keeping such close tabs on him. She regretted that.

Sara dragged herself out of the seat she was sitting in and left the small cafe. She had figured today would be the day and had stayed close to the hospital. Now it was time! She could see him!! Yay!!

---

Sara stormed into the lobby of the hospital and demanded to know what room he was in. She was told politely by the frightened receptionist where they were holding him hostage. She found the room easily enough, and sent a frightening glare to the guy sitting outside the door, as though it was his fault that Connor was here. Which it probably wasn't, but it was better then blaming herself.

She loudly and not so calmly made her way into the room, pushing Matrim aside and ignoring the other boy. She stood at the side of his bed and looked down at him. =_=" Oh she was going to KILL whoever did this. "What the HELL happened to you boy? Why the hell didn't you call me or something. Idiot... You should have developed... telepathy or something... Idiot... Just goes to show I can't leave you alone for a second." >3> And with her outburst over, she pulled a chair over and sat down next to the bed, intending to stay there. HA. She'd love to see them try to move her.

[Tash]

Tash hadn't been around when it happened but news at Moral Crest could travel pretty fast and it hadn't taken her long to figure out that the kid some guy named Patrick had sent to the hospital was Connor Dwyre. When she'd heard about it, she was furious. Connor hadn't, as far as she knew, done anything to deserve this. He was a genuinely nice guy: polite and unassuming. But he seemed to be a magnet for trouble, he did. Well she couldn't exactly get back at who ever had done this to Connor, because she didn't know who exactly the jackass was, but she could visit the hospital where her friend was. So she'd gotten into her Fastback and rolled on down to the hospital. Victor and Matrim were there too and she heard from one of the nurses as they waited that Connor had been unconscious for some time and had only just recently come to. The nurse went to lead them in and Tash suddenly remembered that she'd forgotten to lock her car.

"I'll be right back..." She murmured to one of the nurses, who nodded and smiled. By the time she returned, Break and Matrim had already entered the room. As she walked in, she caught the tail end of Connor's statement about friends. And a girl she didn't recognize was talking to him as well."Well, you've got me too." She interjects with a little smile. Poor Connor. He looked like he'd been hit by a bus and then dragged by it for a few city blocks. "Jesus Cristo, Connor. You look like hell! I wish I could have at least tried to give whatever ceffo pulled this crap a piece of my mind. ché pezzo scopante di emme! My God, you can take a hit like a champ. I'm glad you're going to be okay! How are you feeling?"

[Demetra Katsaros]

Hospitals bothered me. Well, there was certainly a lot of things that bothered me, and hospitals weren't nearly toward the top of the list, but they certainly were not the most pleasant place in my mind. I don't have a phobia of death or injuries, nor does it gross me out or disturb me that such occurrences are dealt with in the facility. What does irk me is the feeling that people deserve better. I'm not a doctor or any sort of medical specialist, but I smelled corruption in the industry, and believe me, I have a nose for corruption. Now, there was a decent amount of good performed in the vicinity, yet at the same time, I knew people would be denied equal treatment due to lack of financial funds, or sometimes doctors or nurses go lazy. They're not the only ones, of course; many people slack off on the job after a long, hard, stressful day. Still, an unsettling feeling washed over me as these thoughts pounded in my head. I was a fan of conspiracy ideas (though I don't buy into all of them, of course; I do a fair amount of research), but I don't think that was the case.

Maybe that's why I decided to see Connor. I obviously wasn't alone. However, I imagined my reasons were solitary my own. Most of the others just wanted to spend time with him, see if he was okay. That was the tradition of hospital visits. Those didn't suit me, though. I'm not sure if my presence actually offers any true emotional support. This was more of a trust issue. Yeah, that's right. I didn't trust the people around here. I filed into Connor's room quietly. The others were talking more than enough, so I didn't see a reason to say anything, at least not yet. He'd provide an explanation, and if need be, I'd place my input.

[Connor Dwyre]

Sara, Tash, and someone else entered the room. He knew it was Sara right away, as she was very, VERY vocal abut her appearance. He laughed. "Awww, glad you could make the party, Sara." He grinned at her comments. The girl really did care about him. He chuckled. "Telepathy, huh? Yeah, I'll work on that."

Before he could get another word out, he heard Tash enter and speak up. She asked for an explanation. The compliments were better than the morphine. Connor smiled and blushed. "If I could take a hit a little better, I doubt I'd be bandaged up like this." He put the bed into full sitting position, which was a bit of a strain on his body.

Connor was speechless for a moment. Then he spoke, his words holding a great amount of feeling behind them. "You guys... have no idea what it meas to me that you all came." He smiled at him, his eyes welled up a bit, though no tears fell. His shades were off, and here they were, no one turning from him.

He had friends.

"I was afraid... that some of you might actually have hated me. Matrim, Sara... for what happened not that long ago with Gabriel. I've been avoiding people in school, not wanting to end up here." He smirked, his lighthearted tone coming through. "Obviously, that plan didn't work." He shook his head. "I have felt very alone. For things in my personal life, and for things at school. But, then I got to meet you Victor, and someone else. I met a girl Demetra shortly before all of this. And Tash." Though he didn't know Demetra was the other person in the room, she had still made an impression on the blind boy.

He smiled. "And you guys showed up here. Not only that, But Emily came to help right before I ended up here." He was smiling on the inside, too. "Thanks. For... well, for caring. I didn't know I had friends like you." It was true. Connor had felt alone. Now, surrounded by people who cared enough to check on him, he felt much better.

"Sorry for being sappy." He blushed a bit.

"You guys don't have to take care of the guy who did this, though I will say you all made the offer very tempting." He sighed. "I doubt beating on him would do any good. But, I will tell you what happened." He relayed the story, from being beaten, all the way up to being lit on fire in the cafeteria. The rumor had gone around that someone had been lit up. It had been Connor.

"Emily came and put me out. I remember that before I blacked out. The way she yelled at the guy, it was like she knew him." Connor tried to think. Never once did he learn the kids name. "The only thing I know about him is he had a very heavy Irish accent."

He didn't want any more trouble. He just wanted the violence to end. Gabriel's plan failed, and Connor was going to try some other approach. He just didn't have a plan yet. A rally? Maybe. For now, he just wanted to get better.

He still had yet to talk to Bix, or Suichi. He didn't even know if either on had been by to check on him. Well, it wasn't like he was speaking to them as of yet. So, he let the thought just pass quickly. Right now, he was surrounded by friends. He felt warm, loved, and safe.

[Matrim Gallagher]

Matrim listened sadly, hearing Connor out....

"I... owe you an apology. I've actually been hiding since the last time you saw me. When Gabriel... I had no idea he was going to take her and..." Matrim looked away from Connor, "I hope she is alright. And your child. I hope... all is well with you. Thank you for coming to see me. Both of you. As for who did this, I don't know. He never gave me his name. I just know that he had a very heavy Irish accent."

"Irish accent, got it," Matrim said as he was pushed away from Sara. He did nothing in retaliation as he started to leave the room. There was Sara and three others in the room besides himself and Connor. He didn't know the two other girls, but as he left he put his hands on the shoulder of the one who remained quiet, "He'll be alright, try not to worry too much. All of you just.. stay with him. I have to.... I have to go.... take care Connor."

I wish to take vengeance for that kid.....

He is not close to us....

Maybe not but I am angry... I have to get it out somehow or else I will kill one of the hospital staff. Reira is gone, I have to do something. I can't just stay in this damned building and let you mourn Beta, I have to get out of here.

Suit yourself....

Matrim left the room, putting his hands in his pockets he made his way to where his son was being watched over by a nursing staff, it was time to take his son home. "Time for us to go home Shayne...."

[Victor "Break" D'Armond]

"told you so" Victor couldn't resist saying with a laugh. "you followed your heart and it won you your soul, as it should be" victor said, giving a tiny golf clap. "I love these movie moments... you may be a little bruised now, but check this out" he said, motioning to everyone in the room Victor clearly had no reservations speaking for everyone. "you're never alone..." he said wistfully. He stuck his hands in his pockets, knowing there wasn't really much else to say. He just smiled, and looked around, suddenly wishing he had brought a gift or something