Shadowsnow Returns

Chapter 1: Reawakening

I woke up, unable to move.  Neither my arms nor my legs would cooperate.  My eyes widened and I struggled to move them, beginning to hyperventilate, panicked.  Oh, my God!  Oh, my God!  I can't move.  I can't move!  Why can't I move?  What's wrong with my arms and legs?

"Allie, breathe.  Breathe.  You're okay.  You're okay."

I froze as I instantly recognized the voice. There's no way that's who I think that is.  It can't be.  I pushed him out and forced him to break up with me.  I thought he didn't want to see me.  I thought he didn't know who I was!  I turned my head as much as I could to see who was sitting beside me.

"Oh, my God.  Oh, my God.  Oh, my God!"  Suddenly, I heard a loud beeping and Dr. Abbasi ran in.  She had a wild look on her face.

"I am so sorry about this, Allie."  Then, she injected me with something and I passed out again.

When I woke up again, I still couldn't move my arms or legs, but I felt much more calm.  I looked around, realizing I was in my team's HQ.  I was hoping to see Xander again, but this time, the room was empty.  Was that a dream?  Was Xander really here?  Did I just make that up?

"I am glad to see that you are awake and much calmer it seems."  I looked towards the door and saw Dr. Abbasi walking in.

"What happened to me?  Why can't I move? How long have I been out?" She shot me an apologetic look.

"Allie..."

"Please.  I want to know," I begged.

She sighed and pulled up the rolling TV.  Then, she flicked it on and turned on the news.  I watched myself get thrown around by Phlegethon like a rag doll, until he threw me out the window.  I managed to grab the outer edge of the metal frame and was just barely holding on with my fingertips.  Phlegethon gave his villain monologue and then, stomped on my foot, making me drop three stories into a garbage bin.  I felt a fire burn in my chest, but then, I looked down at myself and the fire subsided immediately.

"You have been out for the last two weeks."

"I missed all of winter break?" A pained look crossed Dr. Abbasi's face.

"Yes." I looked down at myself.

"Was Xander here?  Or did I dream that?"  Dr. Abbasi looked at me, pity in her eyes.

"He was here."

"But?"

"He left after he made your heart race like that.  It pained him to see you like this, so he left to get some fresh air."  If I could've slumped on the cot, I would've.

"When is he going to be back?"

"Right now."

I tried to look past Dr. Abbasi, but I was still immobile.  She took a step back and then, I could see Xander's full profile.  I felt tears slip down my cheeks as I looked away, feeling instantly guilty.  I heard Dr. Abbasi leave as Xander sat down beside me, but I still couldn't look at him.

"Allie," Xander said, gently. I still didn't look at him. "Allie." I felt Xander gently rub a finger on my cheek and wipe away one of my tears. I turned my head to look up at him.

"Why did you come here? Why didn't you stay away?" I asked, the tears flowing more freely now.

"Because I saw Shadowsnow get hurt. I thought about what you said to me and how much it sounded like someone else. And I connected the dots. I thought you were dead, so I called Ronnie and begged her to tell me everything, especially if you were okay."

"I was so horrible to you when we broke up.  I told you that I was gonna treat you badly in a long-term relationship with me. I walked away without saying anything else or explaining.  I swear I was just trying to protect you because I was scared Phlegethon would come after you again and kill you and I couldn't have you here as long as he was still at large and—"  Xander interrupted me by leaning down and kissing me.  When he pulled back, I stared at him, so surprised that I'd stopped crying.

"Allie, I came here because I still love you.  I can't move on, especially not after the way we broke up." I looked away from him again, guilt threatening to drown me.

"I'm so sorry, Xander.  I should never have told you all of that. That's why I tried to push you away. I didn't want Phlegethon to hurt you."

I felt him take my hand and tried to curl my fingers around his hand.  I growled when my hand wouldn't cooperate.  Xander put his other hand on mine and I looked at him.

"Allie, give yourself time to recover.  You'll be able to hold my hand again soon enough."  I sighed, closing my eyes.

"It doesn't feel like it."

"I'm not leaving this time and I'm not letting you chase me away either.  I'm staying right here." I smiled.

"I'm glad. I don't want you going anywhere and I was an idiot to chase you away."

"I'm glad that I know everything now. I don't want there to be any more secrets between us." I nodded.

"I don't want there to be any secrets between us either," I agreed. Right at that moment, Dr. Abbasi walked back in, not giving me a chance to say anything else. I looked over at her as Xander kept holding my hand.

"How long until I'm fully healed?"

"Allie..."

"What is it?"

"You broke every bone in your body in your fight with Phlegethon." I sighed.

"When can I get up?"

"Hopefully in a couple of hours, but you will still have to rehabilitate everything to get it all back to its full strength." I sighed again.

"So, I'll have to be sidelined while I'm recovering and hope that nothing too bad happens while I'm out of commission."

"I am so sorry, Allie. If it makes you feel better, Maeve has been keeping an eye out and doing what she can on her own." I gently shook my head.

"It's okay. And it does make me feel better knowing that my team was there for our home when I couldn't be." Xander gently squeezed my hand and I looked at him.

"Do you want me to stay until you can get up?" I nodded and then, winced. Dr. Abbasi smiled at us and walked back out. I could hear her talking to Ronnie, Hannah, Carter, Maeve, and my dad, but I wasn't really paying attention to their conversation.

"Can you talk to me?" I asked, in a small voice.

"About what?"

"What've you been doing these last few weeks?"

Xander scooted a little closer and began telling me what he'd been doing while we'd been broken up. I realized I'd been listening to him talk for at least a couple of hours when I moved my hand and was surprised that I was able to move with minimal pain. I pulled my hand out of Xander's and started trying to sit up.

"Should you be sitting up yet?"