Souls Through Time (EzioxOC/DesmondxOC)

Chapter 19 - Claire

Claire took a steadying breath, her hand lingering on Desmond's shoulder, feeling the warmth of his skin through the thin fabric of his shirt. The weight of this moment settled over her—seeing him finally awake, taking those first tentative steps after so many days of uncertainty. His face was etched with determination, but she could see the toll his time in bed had taken on him. His muscles, once strong and lean, had visibly softened, and a faint shadow darkened the hollows under his eyes. Guilt twisted briefly in her chest, the memory of those early days without proper support flashing through her mind, but she forced herself to focus on the present. He was here, awake, and that was what mattered now.

"All right," she murmured softly, her voice gentle but encouraging as she slipped her arm beneath his, bracing herself to support his weight. "Take it slow."

Desmond gave her a small nod, a flicker of his usual resolve visible in his eyes, and with a deep breath, he leaned into her arm, tightening his grip. His fingers curled around her forearm, grounding himself as he pushed himself upright. His legs wobbled, his muscles straining under the unfamiliar weight. She felt the tremor of weakness in his grip, the instinctive tightening of his fingers, clinging to her for balance. But he kept his gaze on her, finding steadiness in her eyes, and a faint smile ghosted over his lips.

"So... what happened?" he asked, his voice rough and thick, as though each word took a measured effort. He looked at her with an expression of curious exhaustion, as if he were piecing together fragmented memories, filling in the gaps left by weeks of silence. "You guys didn't leave me much to go on in the dreamscape."

Claire kept her voice calm, her eyes softening as she guided him through each careful step. "You were out for about a month," she said, her tone gentle, each word holding back the weight of her worry. "Juno... she took control, and it nearly killed you." She paused, letting that sink in. "You've been drifting in and out since then. We had to do what we could—keeping you hydrated, feeding you nutrients, improvising a lot just to keep you stable." She offered him a small, somewhat sheepish smile. "Nurse Starling had to get creative."

Desmond chuckled, a dry, almost hoarse sound, but there was a glint of warmth in his eyes. "I'll make sure to leave her a glowing review," he managed, glancing at her with an affectionate look that was all too familiar despite the exhaustion in his gaze.

With a small nod from Claire, Aiden and Paul stepped forward, each reaching out to lend a hand. Desmond took a steadying breath, shifting his weight cautiously as he allowed their hands to guide him down from the truck. His feet touched the ground, and his legs wobbled, a tremor running through his muscles as they struggled to hold him. He straightened slowly, his hands gripping their shoulders for balance, his expression caught between determination and vulnerability.

"Des, this is Aiden and Paul," Claire said gently, her voice steady and filled with warmth. "We used to run missions together."

Desmond looked at them, his gaze sharpening as he took in their faces, offering a faint nod of gratitude. "Good to meet you both. Thanks for... well, I guess a lot."

Aiden gave him an encouraging pat on the back, his expression softening as he met Desmond's gaze. "Good to see you up and around, man. You had us all worried there."

Paul nodded in agreement, his usual stoic demeanor softened with genuine relief. "Glad you pulled through," he murmured, his tone carrying a weight of sincerity.

Desmond managed a faint smile, his eyes drifting back to Claire, his expression shifting as he took her in, absorbing the quiet strength she seemed to radiate. "Feels like I've got half the strength I used to," he admitted, his tone laced with frustration and a hint of vulnerability.