Doctor Strangelove

Chapter Twenty-Three

Stephen couldn't hear or see anything at the moment. Was he deaf? Had he come back deaf and blind? Or had the Ancient One messed up and sent him to a place where there was just nothing? He didn't want either of those to be true. Wait, he was starting to hear something. He heard...crying? Who was crying? Feeling started to come back to his body and he could feel his upper body being held gently in someone's arms. He felt bruised all over and exhausted. He dared to crack open his eyes and saw that it was Rachael who was holding him and sobbing. A pang went through his heart at the sight.

"Please come back to me," she sobbed. "I can't lose you. You're my best friend."

"You're my best friend, too," Stephen croaked out. He cracked a small smile at Rachael as she looked down at him in shock. "Surprise." 

"Stephen! Oh, thank God!" Rachael hugged Stephen tightly, crying again but this time in relief. "You jerk! You can't do that to me! Were you just laying there and listening to me cry?"

"No, I was dead," Stephen said. "It's...complicated."

"At least you're alive," Rachael ran her hand gently over Stephen's cheek. "I thought I'd never see you again." 

"Careful, angel," Stephen hissed in pain as Rachael touched the area of his head where Kaecilius had struck him. 

"Sorry, sweetheart," Rachael said. "How did you die?"

"Kaecilius hit me hard on the head. He must have done some sort of spell with it, too," Stephen said. "That reminds me, where's Mordo? I need to...talk to him." 

"He and Wong are over there," Rachael nodded to the door of the Sanctum Sanctorum. "They're trying to make a plan."

"Alright, help me stand," Stephen said. 

Rachael gently laid Stephen on the ground before Standing up. Stephen tried to hold his arm up to help her, but it felt like it was asleep. Come to think of it, his whole body felt like it was asleep. Regardless, he powered through it and managed to push himself up onto his legs. He leaned against Rachael and let her walk him to the door of the Sanctum. When Mordo and Wong saw him, they looked like they had seen ghosts. 

"Stephen!" Wong gasped out. "How are you alive?"

"It's complicated," Stephen said. He looked to Mordo. "You. You stood by as I was killed. You could have helped me and you didn't. Why?" Mordo didn't answer. He just stared back at Stephen. "Answer me, Mordo!" 

"Kaecilius put a curse on me so I couldn't move," Mordo explained. "I wanted to help, but I couldn't." 

Stephen opened his mouth to argue, but he knew he couldn't. Mordo's excuse- even if Stephen knew for a fact that he was probably lying- was solid. This man knew what he was doing. Stephen clamped his jaw shut in anger before turning to Wong.

"We have to get to city," he said. 

"Are you even strong enough?" Rachael asked.

"I'll have to be," Stephen said. "Even I'm letting the Cloak do half the work by supporting me, I have to fight."

"Stephen, you were just dead!" Rachael gaped. 

"Yes, and now I'm alive again! If I don't fight, we're doomed!" Stephen said. "There will be plenty of time for rest when this is all over! Now, come on. We're going to the city, and that's final."

Stephen started walking slowly down the street. Rachael and Wong shook their heads at each other and sighed, but followed him. Mordo shrugged and started following them, too. Rachael jogged up to Stephen's side and slid his arm around her shoulders to help him walk. Stephen gave her a questioning look.