After War Storm

Cal

I waited for Mare to speak after he eyes opened but she didn't. She didn't move either.

I traced my thumb across the back of her hand but she made no reaction to the contact.

"Mare," I spoke quietly, gently, not wanting to cause her to jump or anything but she didn't even blink. It was like she couldn't hear me.

"Mare?" I repeated, slightly louder, worry building in my chest. What was going on?

No reaction.

Oh no.

This was bad.

Very bad.

"Mare, say something, please," I pleaded, desperate for her to answer me or at least make a move to show she could hear me.

"Can you hear me?" I asked but again there was no response from her. I didn't understand what was happening. Mare was awake but it was as if she couldn't hear or see me.

"Mare!" The worry had risen up in me and I was panicking now. What if whatever she had done had physically harmed her? I knew Sara had said Mare was fine but she clearly wasn't.

I needed Sara in here now but I didn't want to leave Mare like this. Luckily for me, a knock sounded at the door just as I was about to get up to go and find Sara.

"Come on!" I called. The door opened to reveal Julien.

Julien took one look at Mare and his eyes filled with concern. "What's going on?" He asked.
"I don't know," I answered "We need Sara immediately. Do you know where she is?"
"Yes, I'll get her now," Julien answered, immediately leaving to find Sara. He knew this was an emergency as much as I did.

I needed to know what was wrong with Mare. I couldn't handle anything else being wrong, or losing her on top of Ti. So much had happened in such a short space of time. When Mare and returned I finally thought my life was going to be better, and somewhat normal. Then Ti appeared and everything was so much better. To find out I was a father had been one of the best things I had ever felt in my entire life, and that I had a baby with Mare. It was pure joy. But now that had been taken from me and I didn't know what I would do if Mare was as well.

In a matter of days I had gone from being ecstatic and the turn my life was taken to heart broken and full of pain and grief.

Only a few moments later, Julien returned with Sara just behind him.

"What's going on?" Sara asked as she appeared in the doorway.
"Mare woke up but she can't seem to hear me speaking to her. She's unresponsive," I explained. "Do you know what's wrong, Sara?" I asked. Even I could hear the desperation in my voice. I needed her to be okay.

"Nothing's physically wrong with her," Sara said slowly after a minute of examining Mare. "Then what is it?" I asked.
"She's in a catatonic state," Sara explained.
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"It means she can see and hear us but her body isn't really processing it in the same way. She is unresponsive but she can still hear what we're saying though I'm not sure if she can understand it or not."

"What do you mean you're not sure?" I asked, starting to become angry. "Mare is in a catatonic state and you're not sure what is actually going on?"
"Cal, calm down," Julien said soothingly. "Let Sara explain." I turned my gaze back to her.
"I'm not sure because there hasn't been much research done into this area of medicine. This never tended to happen to Silvers so it was never really looked into in depth. I know the basics of what is happening but not the fine details."

"Well, how long will it last?" I asked.
"I don't know," Sara answered and I could feel the frustration and anger on me though I knew it was unfair to be upset with Sara. "It could be a few days, it could be a few weeks."
"Weeks?" My voice cracked slightly as I said it. Mare couldn't be like this for a few weeks.
"I'm sorry, Cal," Sara said "We will monitor her as best we can and try and bring her out of this state as fast as possible. But I doubt it will be before the next few days. Mare has been through a lot and it is more than any human mind should have to handle-"
"You don't think I know that?" I growled, interrupting her.
"That's not what I'm saying," she replied calmly. "I just mean, that because of all the trauma Mare's been through, this might be the only way she can cope with the loss of Ti. By shutting down everything else, her mind will be able to focus on her grief and maybe this is the easiest way for her to be able to handle it."

Maybe.

We didn't know what was going on in Mare's head right now. She could be able to understand everything we're saying and not be able to speak for all we knew.

This was uncharted territory for Silvers and that scared me.

I had no way to protect Mare form what was happening to her right now, no way to help her.

And that was all I wanted to do right now: help Mare get through this.

But I couldn't. We were both stuck grieving separately and it killed me to not be able to help her through it. I knew how much pain she would be in and I didn't want her facing it alone.

But maybe Sara was right. Maybe this was the best way for her to deal with her grief.

But maybe it wasn't. Maybe she was being consumed with her pain and grief right now and had no one to help her.

Maybe this, maybe that.

I really hate the word 'maybe'.

"So what can we do?" I asked Sara, willing to try anything.
"I think it would be best to see if she comes out of it in her own and if she doesn't in the next couple of days and if she doesn't, then we can think of something else. I'll have to give her some nutrition though so either we move her to the hospital wing or I'll bring the stuff here to set up."
"Here," I answered Sara immediately. I didn't want Mare stuck in a hospital.
"Ok," Sara agreed "I'll go and get everything." With that she turned and left, leaving me, Mare and Julien.

"Why aren't we in your room?" Julien asked to break the silence. He could tell I didn't want to talk about this all just yet and, thankfully, he wasn't pushing it.
"Someone destroyed it," I told him and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Who?"
"I don't know though I'd guess it was the same person who...murdered...Ti. I'll go sort it out at some point. Right now, I don't want to leave Mare."
"She'll be in very capable hands with Sara and I here. I was under the impression you had some training to do with that young girl you brought back."

"Who told your that?" I asked, slightly surprised.
"I spoke to Greg to arrange a time to speak to him about his ability and he mentioned it."
"Oh," was all I could up with.

"Cal," Julien said, sitting down in a chair to my right. I turned to face him. "I know you don't want to leave Mare but I assume you training this girl is important?" I nodded.
"She can give life. I think she might be able to bring Ti back." Julien's eyes widened at my words, utterly astounded. I knew he had never heard of such an ability and I could see the flecks of curiosity in his eyes. He composed himself again.
"Then, it's important you go. I won't leave here until you get back and if anything happens, good or bad, I will send someone to get you immediately. If you think she can bring Ti back then you need to train her, Cal. It might be the only way you can save him."

I nodded, realising what he said was true. I needed to save Ti and if I did, it could help Mare greatly. I knew Julien wouldn't let any harm come to her and he would let me know of any developments.

"Ok," I agreed after a moment. "We'll be in my study if you need me." He nodded.
"Why won't you be in the training centre?"
"I kind of destroyed it," I admitted after a moment.
"Destroyed how?"
"Destroyed as in burnt to ashes." Julien let out a sigh before saying "I'll sort something out tomorrow."
"Ok, thank you."
"Now go and find Felicity. I'll watch over Mare."
"Thank you, Uncle," I said before standing up.

"Please, come back to me, Mare," I whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead.

Reluctantly I stood up straight and left to go and train Felicity, leaving the room with one last glance back at Mare.

-~-

I am very sorry for the wait and again I know not much happened and we are still not at Cal training Felicity 😭😭.

The next chapter is going to be very short and will be in Mare's PoV and I am going to write and publish it now.

After that we will get to the training and since we've had a lot of Cal's PoV recently, I was thinking maybe trying it from Felicity's PoV. What do you think?

Anyway, next chapter out in a minute. Hope you are enjoying the story 💗💗💗