Lights → Doctor Strange

{and now, we wait}

Riley laid on the hospital bed, asleep and motionless. She hadn't woken up since her fall and the doctors weren't sure if she would. Strange sat by her bedside, his head in his hands. Luckily, he still held some pull in this hospital, and he had requested an MRI to be done on her. 

It wasn't good. The tumor was back, bigger than ever and all thanks to Mordo. He has reversed the fix that Strange had done; ripping off the band-aid so to speak. Christine hovered uncertainly in the doorway for a moment before walking in, "Steven, visiting hours are over."

Strange just looked at her, red eyed and tired. 

"Okay," Christine muttered. "Stay, that's fine. You know what to do if she wakes up."

"When she wakes up," Strange corrected. 

"Yeah," Christine sighed, "When."

Strange reached over and grasped Riley's hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. Christine watched him for a moment, a faint tug of jealousy rubbing at her. His watch was gone, she noticed. A pang of sadness hit her. She let it go. He was happy when Riley was happy. And now that Riley was hurt, he was miserable. So Christine would do her best to fix it. 

"Doctor Nico could do her surgery," Christine suggested. 

"I don't want that butcher anywhere around her," Strange snapped, his old pride leaking into his voice. He paused, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. It's just..."

Christine finished his sentence for him, "You could've done better."

Strange only nodded, standing and going through the routine of checking the IV drip. The familiar surroundings and movements calmed him. He used to look dying people in the face and think of nothing more than their medical file; but when he saw Riley laying there, all he could think about was her sitting in front of that damned magic window. The way her eyes would light up when he'd make a joke. Her face when she would win one of their training duels. 

"I'm going to find Mordo," Strange said, "and I'm going to get the Eye back."

Christine realized that he wasn't talking to her, but to Riley. His damp eyes never strayed from her face. 

"And I'm going to come back, and we'll fix this. Together. We need our Sorcerer Supreme back," Strange gave Riley a smile, even though his eyes swam with tears. He kissed the back of her hand, then put the Amulet in her palm, "You'll need this when you wake up."

He turned to Christine, "Take care of her."

Christine nodded, "You know I will."

"Thank you," Strange said, brushing by her. 

Christine just shrugged, giving Strange a shy grin, "It's kind of my job."

Strange gave her a half smile. He looked back in the room, where Riley laid. The heart monitor beeped steadily in the background, assuring Strange that she was alive. Nothing more than a blow to the head, some broken bones, and a tumor pressing into her brain. She'd wake up. He'd seen miracles far greater than that. 

She'd wake up. 

<>

Strange stood in front of the table that housed the Orb of Agamotto. He reached forward and opened the carved box it was in. The Orb floated up out of the box and in front of Strange. It hovered, waiting for a command.

"Show me Mordo," he commanded. 

The Orb spun through different scenes at a dizzying rate before it began to slow. The inside of the Orb showed only blurry, dark grey. "Show me Mordo!" Strange asked angrily. The Orb once again went through innumerable scenes before settling on the blurry grey.

Anger built in Strange as he realized the Orb would be no help. It had been his last option. There was no Eye to lure Mordo with, no Riley to help him look, and now no Orb. Strange let out a yell of rage as he took the Orb and threw it. It shattered against the wall, the pieces falling to the ground like stars. He watched as the Orb slowly melted into a liquid and put itself back together. 

Good. Even if the thing was useless when he needed it, it didn't mean he wanted it broken forever. Strange turned on his heel and left, back to the sanctum. 

<>

The masters of the sanctums chattered to each other quietly. Strange stood alone by the chair Riley had occupied only days before. They were without a Sorcerer Supreme, again. The other master's had called an emergency meeting, which Strange had reluctantly joined. 

"Strange," the master of the London sanctum called. 

Strange looked up, "Yes?"

"We need a new Sorcerer Supreme," the master of the London sanctum suggested. 

"She'll be fine, just give her time," Strange countered. 

The master of the London sanctum shifted uncomfortably. Strange's temper flared as he realized they didn't expect Riley to make it. She wasn't even dead and they were treating her like she was buried. 

"Nevertheless," the London master coughed, "Perhaps, someone could fill in for the time being?"

Strange stood up straighter, "Who would you recommended?"

"I think the choice is rather obvious," the London master trailed off. 

Strange raised an eyebrow, "Yourself? If I remember correctly, you couldn't even keep your sanctum safe from Kaecilius, let alone the entire world."

The master of the Hong Kong sanctum cleared his throat, "Strange has a point. If anyone should be Supreme, it should be him. After all, Supreme favored him anyway."

Strange looked at the chair where Riley had sat and commanded them to find Mordo. Would he be able to do the same thing? Would she understand that he took the position out of necessity, not because he gave up on her?

He'd have to risk it. 

"So be it," Strange called. "I will take the position of Supreme, but only until Riley is able to take it back from me."

The master from the London sanctum scowled. Strange stood by the head chair, but couldn't bring himself to sit in it. 

"I want everyone looking for Mordo," Strange said gravely, "No one should face him alone. Find his location and report back to me."

The other master's nodded and went on their way, off to relay the message to the other sorcerers in their sanctums. Strange heaved a sigh and rubbed his temple. He needed to find Mordo. Quickly, because he wasn't sure how much longer Riley had. 

"And now, we wait," Strange mumbled.