Reflections of Dawn

Are you okay?

It was past midnight by the time Nyx got to see Rachel.
She ran into the hospital room, collapsing onto her knees beside her mother. "Mummy? Are you okay?"
Rachel smiled weakly. "Thanks to Magnus, not too bad. Except..."

"Except what?"
"Oh, it's nothing really." She waved it off. "Magnus healed the worst, and the doctors are doing what they can..."
"Mum." Nyx said sternly. "Just tell me what's wrong."
"You see, Baby bird... Mummy's not going to be able to walk for a while. At all."

Nyx stuttered for a response. "Wha... why? But... you'll get better, right?"
"Course I will, darling. It'll happen. You've just got to help me until then."
Nyx nodded, face serious. Rachel chuckled. "Oh, don't look so down. It'll be fine. It's me. When do I not pull through?"
"I know, I'm just... I feel guilty. We feel guilty."

Rachel took her hand. " 'We' being... you and Alysha?"
Nyx nodded.
"Now, sweetheart," Rachel began. "I'm... Trying to understand, but... so, Alysha is..."
"Oh, she is me. Just... I mean... I... I'm not sure, either. Sometimes she feels like she is me, sometimes totally separate. But I'm getting better at keeping her under control."
"Isn't there some way... uh, I don't know. I don't... want her to cause you harm. Some way too..."

"Mum, in all due respect, I think getting Alysha into a doctors office would end a bit like that scene in Heroes." Rachel's eyes flew wide with shock, and Nyx hastily backtracked. "Not that I think she'd stab the doctor to death with scissors, but... it would be risky. But she's not  psychotic like that, just... a bit more dangerous than me. But... I don't know. I'll look into it."

"I might stab the doctor to death with scissors. Depends how much they pissed me off."
"Funny joke, but not the time."