Will and Nico

Part 3

NICO

I sit on the infirmary bed, watching Will go back and forth between drawers and books and cupboards. He's so focused I feel like he's forgotten I'm sitting there.
'Okay.' He says, holding a syringe and tapping it slightly. He hold out his hand.
'What?' I ask, staring at him.
'I need a vein.'
'What?' I ask again, 'why?'
'For the serum. It'll knock you out. No thoughts, no dream.' He explains.
'But...I...why the syringe?' I ask.
'To get it in your blood str...are you scared of needles?' He asks. I feel my eyebrows knot, I stare at him and look down.
'No.' I say, quickly, 'not...I've just never...'
'You've never had an injection?' He asks suddenly.
'No.' I say.
'Never?' He asks, 'not even like...a flu shot?'
'They didn't have flu shots when I was growing up.' I explain, 'and it hasn't really been a priority up until now. Bigger things.'
'Wow. Okay. Well I'm going to have to get you up to date on all your shots.' He says, writing something down in a notepad. I don't argue, just let him believe I'm okay with it, 'how long since you've slept properly then?'
'Um...' I think back. 'Not since before the war. And not since transporting the statue. And then I was in a...like a trance sleep. Like a death trance. Because I was in this jar.' I say, and look to him. He stares at me, surprised. He was clearly not expecting this answer, 'a while.' I say.
'Right.' He says, pretending to be casual. I can tell he wants to ask more questions, but he won't push. He holds out his hand again.
I reluctantly hold out my arm. He takes it gently, with warm, soft hands. He traces my skin to find a vein. He's so focused. I watch him so intently that I don't see him put the needle in.
The sharp pain makes me instinctively reach out my other hand and grip onto his shoulder. I hold my breathe until he finishes.
'There you go.' He says, 'not so bad, was it?' I look up and realise I'm still holding his shoulder. I let go quickly.
'How long till it...?' I trail off. My head suddenly feels heavy, 'woah.'
'Works pretty quickly.' Will says, here, you should lie down. I try to move, but my body feels heavy. He helps me up, lifts the blanket up and helps me lie down.
'How long will it last?' I ask, close to drifting off.
'If you're as sleep deprived as I imagine, a long time.' He answers.
'I won't dream?' I ask again.
'Hardly.' He says.
'Hardly!?' I ask, jerking awake. I try to sit up.
'It's fine. You won't be aware of it.' He tries to tell me, but I won't hear it. I move my legs round and try to stand. I almost instantly fall down, but he catches me.
'I don't want to...I can't...' I say, but I can't fight it. It's taking over.
'Nico, you'll be okay.' He insists. But I know I won't. I know.
He sits me back on the bed, and I pass out before anything else.