Play Your Cards Right

Ch 12: Choosing Sides

       "Eli? It's alright, your in de med wing downstairs. Everything is all right."

"Remy?" I asked, trying to open my eyes but they were so heavy. I felt sedated, floating in between consciousness and unconsciousness.

"Who else?" He asked with a small laugh.

"Hmmm."

"Looks like de drugs are wearin' off." He said. "Jean gave you somethin' to help you sleep."

"Drugged?" I asked while still processing what he said. "Drugged." I repeated in understanding.

"Yeah." He sighed, I watched him through slitted eyes as he reached across the white sheets of the cot I was on to rest his hand over mine. "Danny is passed out in de room next door. Tough kid-"

"I'm sorry." I blurted out before I could stop myself.

"For what?" He asked, his eyebrows scrunching together in confusion. "Eli it was an accident, we know you didn't mean it."

"For not telling you about him, about my family. You asked but I said there was no one." Again the words came out to fast to filter. I think it had something to do with whatever Jean gave me. But even as I processed that more came out. "I just wanted it to be over with. I'm just so tired with it all, and if you knew I was scared that you wouldn't like me. And-"

"Eli, you gotta slow down." He said softly. "I didn't understand half of what you just said." I paused to think again and went to say more before he stopped me. "Why don't you wake up a little more before you start talking? Okay?" I nodded in response but slowly. "How bout something to drink?"

"Yeah." I agreed.

"Yeah?" He laughed. "I'll be right back." I waited impatiently glancing around the room. The bright lights were starting to give me a headache and looking around to fast was getting me nausea. So I decided to wait with my eyes closed. What seemed like forever latter, the door opened again and I blinked my eyes open.

"Dr. McCoy." I greeted cheerfully.

"I haven't had that warm of a welcome all day." He chuckled in response. "But I told you Eli, you can just call me Hank." I nodded.

"Here." Remy said sitting beside me again. I took drink of whatever it was with out really tasting it. It wasn't until then I realized my throat was parched and took another large sip. "Hank wants to take a look at your vitals." I watched him walk about the room, checking the monitor that was attached to IV I just noticed was in my arm.

"Everything looks good." Hank said before leaving.

I finished up what was left in the paper cup before crushing it and throwing it at the garbage can. "Score." I muttered before slumping back against the hospital bed throwing my arm over my eyes to block out the halogen lights. Remy chuckled in response. I could hear the sound of him standing up to pick up the crinkled cup from the ground and properly dispose of it.

"Can I ask you a question?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"Huh?"

"Why did you say you didn't have anyone?"

"When I first got my...abilities, I had even less control than I do now. I hurt Danny on accident, but I hurt him really bad." I said slowly, carefully judging each word. "My mom, she died shortly after. She had an advance form of Parkinson's disease. And my father already thought I was a freak, he let me stay around for my mother benefit. After she passed he acted like he couldn't stand the sight of me. And the woman he remarried...we never saw eye to eye."