What if? (Greyster)

Past Behind Them

"Arghhh!"

"Gaster!"

It had been another three days. Gaster was sure that he was strong enough to get out of bed and "Do something productive." He had been attempting to get up for a few minutes now. He had managed it though!

For a few seconds.

Jessica grabbed Gaster's arms and steadied him as he stumbled. "Gaster, be careful, you haven't walked in a week!"

"I'm fine, thanks, go annoy someone else," he snapped at her. She recoiled, looking hurt, but did not relinquish her grip.

"And let you fall on your face? Not likely."

"I'm fine, I can walk!"

"You can fall, that's for sure."

"Why can't you just-"

"D-DAD?" Papyrus was woken up by their raised voices. He struggled to lift his head off the pillow. "MY SOUL- IT HURTS."

Gaster and Jessica both stopped, nose to nose, Gaster's eyes glowing red and blue.

Gaster rushed over with Jessica's support. "Papy, its okay. It'll stop hurting soon."

"HOW'S SANS?" Papyrus could see his brother next to him as he turned his head.

"Sans will be fine. His soul is just healing."

"BUT HE SAID-"

"He's going to be fine, I promise."

"I'M T-TIRE..." Papyrus trailed off as he fell back into sleep. He looked more content now, however. He knew his brother was going to be okay.

Gaster stood up. He stumbled very little as he walked to the door. "I'm going to the lab, Miss Grey. There is a lot of work to do."

Jessica suddenly realized what he was going to do. "Dr. Gaster, wait, your soul has not recovered enough to tele-"

A flash of light surrounded Gaster, but he wasn't going anywhere. He gasped and clutched his chest before his legs gave out from under him. Jessica rushed over and kept him from falling.

Gaster's face turned slightly purple. "Oh, well, I could-" Gaster got his legs under him again.

"I'll drive you Gaster. You can't walk there either."

"Miss Grey, it is perfectly alright. I can surely get there on my-

"Car. Now."

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They drove in silence. Gaster was watching the buildings go by, the evidence of the war everywhere. Cleanup crews were taking care of the rubble, and reconstruction was beginning on buildings that had been destroyed completely. Jessica was watching the progress too, and said nothing. The city was being pieced back together.

Gaster, his back still to her, asked a question to break the silence. "You remember the way, correct?"

"Yes, I believe so."

They rode in silence for the rest of the ride, neither of them daring to break it.

They arrived at the lab ten minutes later.

As they got out of the car, Gaster was quick to notice that the lab was mostly untouched. There were the normal windows, albeit dusty, and the structure was completely fine. The door clicked open, and they walked inside. They discovered that nothing inside was damaged either- apart from a coating of dust of course. The lab had not been entered for a few weeks.

Gaster, seemingly improved in strength, strode in without a stumble. He examined his blueprints, left unattended on the table, and then looked around at the scattered books he had left behind as he rushed out of the lab. Jessica watched all this from the door, then stepped over to the books that were scattered over the floor and gathered them up in the arms. "Where should I put these?" She asked, eager to help.

"There's a bookshelf. You can put them there." He did not even turn to look at her as he spoke, absorbed in his blueprints.

Jessica found the bookshelf and lined the books up neatly. She found Gaster sitting on the armchair, a book in his hand. She shook her head and smiled softly. Right back to it.

She sat down on the sofa and waited patiently for him to finish. She spaced out after a bit.

"Why did you choose me over yourself?"

She turned to see Gaster, his head in his hands, book down.

"Well?" He looked at her now, his expression unreadable.

"Dr. Gaster, you could help so much more than me." Jessica smiled sadly. "With my soul the way it is, I wouldn't last in a fight anyway. I wasn't.. needed." She teared up. "Rave could've taken over easily anyway. I only- I only make things wors-"

"You do not."

"Gaster. While we are on the subject, why did you save me?" Jessica sighed with relief. She had been afraid she would have to wait months to ask that question.

Gaster seemed taken aback. "I- I could care less about you dying but...." He seemed to be steeling himself for what he had to say next. "I couldn't handle more blood on my hands. If I could've done something to prevent your death, but didn't because of a personal grudge- that is something I could never forgive myself for."

"I understand."

"I don't think that-"

"I will never forgive myself for what I did to Sans."

"I meant what I said Jessica." Gaster looked at her with a dead serious expression. "I forgive you for everything."

"I killed your son."

"You saved my life twice."

"You saved mine."

"I attacked you."

"I gave a crucial weapon to the enemy."

"Miss Grey, this is going nowhere." He stood up. "Beating yourself up isn't going to help anyone."

Jessica stood up as well. "It's my business, and I'm doing my job fine, right? That's all I need-" Jessica was crying now. "To-"

Gaster walked towards her and Jessica winced- only for him to embrace her. She felt his shoulders shaking. It was only then she noticed that he was crying too. "Jessica, please don't blame yourself. That demon would have found a way to get what she wanted with or without your help." He let go and looked at her. "You deserve to be happy too. This war would never have been won without you."

Jessica was crying in earnest now. "I-I just."

She suddenly cried out in pain as her vision darkened. The last thing she saw as her eyesight dimmed was Gaster shaking her and calling her name.