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Smedley smiled as the doctor left the room. His Guide was going to be fine. His heart, as evidenced by the beeping of the monitor - even if Smedley hadn't been able to hear it for himself - was beating steadily and soon, very soon, David would wake and then they would bond.
Leaning over the gurney, he gloried in the sight. If he ignored the I.V. in David's arm and the medical paraphernalia that surrounded them, he could almost believe that his Guide was sleeping peacefully, instead of having recently been revived from the dead.
He frowned. It should not have been necessary to flatline his Guide; Clement had a lot to answer for, forcing such distasteful acts upon Smedley. However, that really didn't matter now. Clement was dead by his own hand, or would be shortly, and David would soon be awake and ready for his new bonding.
Smedley's breath caught in his throat as the dark eyelashes fluttered slightly and David's heart sped up. His Guide was waking.
~'~
A slow, rhythmic beeping was the first thing to impinge upon his consciousness. It called to him, leading him up through the layers of darkness to a place where his mind could start to function once more.
Pain was next. His chest felt tight, as if he'd had the flu, and his head was aching. A small pricking feeling in his hand added a strange counterpoint to the sensations that were forcing back the dull lethargy that filled him.
"David?"
He frowned. That wasn't Neds' voice.
Then, like a wave crashing across rocks, the echoing emptiness within his mind hit him.
The beeping in the background went crazy and his eyes flew open as he panicked. He couldn't see Neds, he couldn't feel Neds; the bond was gone. Crying out with shock and pain, he tried to sit up, to look, to find - anything. Neds wouldn't leave him, Neds wouldn't abandon him -
Strong hands held him down. "It's all right, David. You're safe."
'Cunningham.'
"Neds!"
"Shhh. It's all right, you're safe."
Ignoring the assurances, he wailed again, calling for his own Sentinel. Desperately, he looked around, his eyes seeing but not comprehending the medical equipment around him. No Neds, just Cunningham. Memories flooded back: Cunningham and Dexter in their apartment; Neds on the floor...and David grasped at the realisation of what they had done.
Fury filled him, overriding the physical sensations of loss and pain, and he pushed his way up, rolling from the surface beneath him, screaming his anguish at the death of his Sentinel.
As something ripped its way free of his hand, he used the sharp stinging to urge himself on, flailing his arms at the Sentinel who was trying to control him. Cunningham had killed Neds, had destroyed his Sentinel. Anything less than the death of Neds' murderer was unacceptable.
He struck out, wrenching himself free from whatever was trying to hold him back, and took a sharp pleasure as the frantic beeping changed into a long wail of alarm. Even the universe was grieving for his Sentinel.
"David, stop it!"
Blinded by the tears that filled his eyes, he forced himself on; hitting, striking, flailing. Cunningham's hands grabbed at his arms, but the power of his grief gave him strength and he fought back. Other hands joined in the fight, and pulled him backwards against the gurney, its cold edge pressing into his back, allowing Cunningham to gain the upper hand. But his defeat was brief as the hands on his shoulders disappeared and he threw himself forward once more.
Cunningham fell, and David followed him down, striking viciously at the hated face that had destroyed the best thing, the only thing, in his life. He, who had never hurt another living thing, would kill this destroyer, would avenge his Sentinel. Even as he took delight in harming, in hurting, even as he screamed aloud in pain and fury, his heart wept within him for his loss. Let the world end now taking him with it; without Neds, without his Sentinel, his life was worthless.
Strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him back from the evil before him. Screaming his rage, he tried to fight his way free, but the arms were stronger even than his grief, and he was trapped. As he twisted to face his new attacker, still caught in the cage of arms that surrounded him, he bucked and fought, then wailed. Even his revenge was to be denied him.
The arms tightened, and rocked him, trying to soothe him, but David rejected their comfort. His Sentinel was dead and there could be no peace in this life for him.
A hand on the back of his head pressed his face into a warm shoulder, and he drew a shuddering breath then stopped, not believing the scent that filled his nose and mouth. It was a trick, it was false, it was impossible. Blinking his gaze free of the blindness of tears, he stared up into Neds' face.
"It's all right, David. It's all right."
The hand pressed his face against the shoulder again, and he leaned in willingly, pulling one arm free to wrap it around his Sentinel's neck as his body convulsed with the sobs that were still shaking him.
Dazedly, he realised that he must be dead. Neds was dead, but Neds was here, so he must be dead too. Smiling into the shoulder that cradled his head, he knew that he didn't care. What did death matter as long as he could be with his Sentinel?
~'~
As David calmed in his arms, and clung to him instead of fighting to be free, Edwards smiled. Then, as the feel of clammy flesh registered on his consciousness, his smile disappeared as he realised that his Guide was dressed only in a pair of sweatpants, Cunningham's sweatpants. Stripping off his jacket, he wrapped it around David as best he could; the garment serving the threefold purpose of shielding his Guide from other Sentinels' gazes, masking the alien scent that was contaminating him, and calming Edwards slightly as his and David's own scents mixed once more.
When he'd burst through the doors to find his Guide being attacked by both Cunningham and one of Cunningham's sycophants, the smell of David's blood in the air, he'd almost lost his mind. Now, the sycophant lay unconscious on the other side of that damned gurney while Cunningham, Edwards' eyes narrowed as he stared at his Guide's attacker, was trying to get to his feet.
David had certainly done a good job of defending himself against his assailant. The Sentinel's face was bloody and dark bruises were already beginning to show.
The relentless wailing of the heart monitor finally stopped as someone unplugged the damn thing, and Edwards smiled even more as he watched Cunningham trying to gather his wits. Edwards would kill the destroyer of his bond, then reclaim David but, for now, he looked down at his Guide, he needed to hand David over to Ellison to be shielded. With their bond destroyed, his Guide's mind was open and vulnerable.
Raising his eyes, his gaze met the Senior Sentinel Prime's. Ellison would protect, but not claim; he knew that David was not his Guide. A nod from Ellison showed that he understood, and Edwards dipped his head to speak quietly into the ear beneath his chin.
"David, I need to hand you over to the Senior Sentinel Prime. He'll shield you."
The arm around his neck tightened, and the head shook frantically. "No, please, no."
Ignoring the repeated denial, Edwards spoke again. "He'll shield you while I deal with Cunningham. I have to do this, David."
"No, Neds, please." David's arm clung to his neck while his other hand scrabbled to find a solid handhold, the distress in his scent growing.
"It's only for a little while." Edwards ground his teeth. At no point did he want to hand David over to any other Sentinel, but he had to. Cunningham could not be allowed to leave the room alive. "He'll shield you; keep you safe. Then we'll leave and I'll reclaim you."
The frantic clinging faltered. "You won't leave me?"
"Of course I won't leave you - you're my Guide, David. No one but me will ever claim you."
He got a halting breath in reply, then a desperate whispered, "Promise?"
"I promise." He unwound the arm from around his neck, and took a moment to wrap David up in his jacket properly before allowing Ellison to take him. "David," he waited until the haunted eyes met his, "I always keep my promises."
Even to Sentinel ears, the reply was barely audible, "I know."
Edwards found it hard to stop himself from growling as his Senior Prime wrapped his arms around his Guide. Even though he knew that Ellison was merely protecting David, it was still hard to see. Resolutely, he turned from the sight to face Cunningham.
The other Sentinel had remained silent, and Edwards suspected that Cunningham was still rather dazed, not only by the rapid turn of events but also by David's attack. Who'd have thought that his shy, unconfident Guide had that amount of anger in him?
He waited as Cunningham, on his feet and getting steadier by the moment, blinked to clear his gaze, then raised a hand to wipe away the trickling blood.
As soon as Cunningham's confusion seemed to clear, Edwards spoke. "I should let them jail you for Pierson's murder."
Shock, as though the other Sentinel had forgotten about the other Guide, filled Cunningham's face.
"But I won't." Edwards smiled. This would end now. He would not, could not have his Guide kidnapped, killed and revived, and not take action against the Sentinel who had done these things.
"I -"
"You'll die." Edwards moved closer. Sooner or later, Cunningham would attack, and Edwards wanted him to. Wanted him to try for the first blow. Wanted it to be a fight as opposed to the putting down of a rabid dog.
Cunningham's eyes skittered about. If he was looking for mercy from the assembled Clan members, he would not find it. David was their Guide Prime and this attack affected them all.
"I just did what I had to!" His gaze moved to beyond Edwards, to where David was, then, as Edwards took a step to the side to block that view, he looked back at Edwards. "He's my Guide!"
Edwards growled.
"He's my Guide and I claim him!"
Cunningham lunged forward, but Edwards was ready and his fist lashed out, aiming, not for the face, but for Cunningham's throat.
The force of the blow threw Cunningham backwards, and he landed on his back, then rolled to his side before realising what damage had been done. Still down, his hands scrabbled at his throat as he tried to draw breath through his crushed windpipe.
Edwards waited impassively as Cunningham fought to breathe; the body flailing around, fighting the suffocation that was killing it. He didn't move until the death rattle was silenced and the body lay still.
Taking a breath, Edwards forced down the Sentinel within him who was screaming to tear apart the body and obliterate any evidence of Cunningham's existence. Cunningham was dead, that was all he needed to know. Turning, he faced his Senior Prime. "My Guide, Ellison."
Ellison's voice was quiet, there was no challenge to be found. "Your Guide, Edwards. Claimed and marked."
~'~
David sighed with relief as Neds wrapped his arms around him again. He was safe now. Leaning his head against his Sentinel's shoulder, he let his eyes slide closed, trusting to Neds to direct him as he stumbled forward; the arm around his waist the only thing that was keeping him on his feet.
"Where the hell are your shoes?"
He glanced up into Neds' face, then shut his eyes again. He was dead; he didn't need shoes.
Neds obviously thought he did, as he swung David up into his arms and carried him. Doors opened and closed, footsteps sounded, but David didn't open his eyes again until he felt fresh air on his face.
"Truck."
There was a few seconds' pause then Neds replied, "Yes, that's the Senior Sentinel Prime's truck and he's taking us to the Sentinel Suite."
"Okay." David really couldn't work out how Sentinel Ellison was going to take them to the Sentinel Suite, or why. Or even why the rest of the Clan seemed to be aware of them. Maybe Sentinels could see ghosts, some people had speculated that they could although David couldn't remember who or when he'd heard it. He shrugged and smiled, tightening his arms around Neds' neck as he was manoeuvred into the truck. It didn't matter; none of it mattered now.
"It's all right, David. We'll be at the Sentinel Suite soon."
"Okay." That was another puzzling thing, David mused, vaguely aware of the truck starting. Why weren't they going home? Surely if they were going to haunt any place, it would be their apartment. He would have liked to ask Neds, but that involved too many words for him to deal with right now. Sighing, he rubbed his face against Neds' shoulder, and let the world slide away from him.
~'~
"How's he doing?" Ellison's eyes met his briefly in the rear-view mirror.
Edwards shrugged slightly. "He'll be fine." David would be fine, Edwards knew that, but this prolonged silence with a few, small, short words was not like his Guide at all. However, after everything that had happened, shock was only to be expected. "Doctor Harvey can look him over once we're there." That wasn't what he wanted, if he was honest with himself. It had been hard enough to hand David over to Ellison temporarily; having another Sentinel poking and prodding David - even for medical reasons - was not to his liking. However, David's hand needed looking at too. The site where the I.V. had been was torn, although the bleeding had stopped quickly.
"She and Jon are right behind us."
"Good." Edwards didn't need to look out of the rear window to know that the rest of the Clan was following them to the Sentinel Suite. The place was going to be crowded for a while.
~'~
A stinging in his hand woke David and he tried to pull his hand free from the grip that was holding it.
"It's all right, David. Let Doctor Harvey see to your hand."
'Neds.' David smiled contentedly.
"I'm almost done, Guide Prime."
'Doctor Harvey?' Confused, David opened his eyes to find the Sentinel Doctor smiling kindly at him.
"There. All done now."
She let go of his hand and David raised it to his face to examine it. He could smell antiseptic, and a small butterfly bandage was covering a tear in his skin.
"Thank you, Doctor Harvey."
"It was my pleasure, Sentinel Prime. As I said, he'll be fine. He just needs to bond and then rest; but you don't need me to tell you that. Jon."
A door shut and David frowned. Things really were getting rather confusing. He was dead; he didn't need antiseptic on his hand - or a butterfly bandage either.
"David?"
Bonding on the other hand....
David raised his head, smiling at his Sentinel, before he let his head fall back to expose his throat.
The arms around him tightened as Neds growled against his neck. Then he was pushed flat on the bed, his Sentinel leaning over him.
He grinned and invitingly tilted his head back again. A sharp nip to his throat made him smile even more, then he sighed with relief as his Sentinel pushed forward demandingly into his mind, almost aggressively storming into every corner of his psyche to reclaim him. The bond clicked back into place as if it had never been missing, and Neds raised his head to stare down at him.
"Claimed and marked, Guide."
Even if David had been tempted to refuse, the tone warned him that his Sentinel would countenance no defiance. Instead, he basked happily in the warmth of their bond as he replied, "Claimed and marked, Sentinel."
~'~
As David stirred next to him, Edwards woke, his arm automatically tightening to hold his Guide in place.
"Neds?"
"Go back to sleep, David. It's still early."
Shock reached him through the bond and he opened his eyes as David twisted to face him, confusion on his face.
"What's wrong?" There was silence for a few seconds, so he prompted him, "David?"
Green eyes met his, puzzlement in their depths. "Are we alive?"
Edwards frowned, his concern growing. He'd assumed that David would be fine after a good night's sleep. "Why wouldn't we be alive, David?"
"I...guess we are then." David buried his face in Edwards' shoulder and a muffled, "Night, Neds," reached him.
"David?" Gently, he pushed his Guide back so that he could see his face. David wasn't distressed; he seemed embarrassed.
Finally, David sighed and admitted, "I thought you were dead. So when you turned up to save me, I was I was dead too. Pretty stupid, huh?"
Edwards smiled, his relief at David's well-being too great to allow any other emotion in. "I thought you were dead when I came around and couldn't feel the bond."
Shock, then concern settled on David's face. "What happened?"
"Ellison knew that you weren't," Edwards replied carefully. There was no way that he wanted to tell his Guide about Dexter Pierson's dead body in their sitting room. Hopefully, David would just accept that his being kidnapped from the apartment was enough to make his Sentinel insist on moving to a new place. Edwards had to admit that that reason alone would be enough.
David looked relieved. "I'm glad he was there."
"Me too," Edwards replied quietly, forcing down the spurt of jealousy. David had merely been concerned for him. "Now go to sleep. It's practically the middle of the night."
"Okay." Wrapping one arm around Edwards, David settled back down.
Soon, his regular breathing and slowed heartbeat told Edwards that he was asleep. Edwards smiled as he lay back and relaxed. His Guide was safe now...and Cunningham could never threaten them again.
~'~
Two years later
Edwards glared in the mirror as he fixed his bowtie. He really didn't see why they had to go to this...farce of a Gathering that no one in the Clan was happy about. The Senior Sentinel Prime had claimed a prior engagement, so why the Sentinel and Guide Prime couldn't do the same thing was beyond him. Then again, it really would be too obvious if all the senior ranking Sentinels avoided meeting the future Senior Guide Prime.
"You know, I've never seen a bowtie tied so...sternly before."
Edwards' eyes met David's.
"It must be a military bowtie." He grinned suddenly. "Does it get court-martialled if it comes untied?"
Scowling at the offending tie, Edwards tied it again. "I really don't see why we have to waste an evening on this."
"I know, I know. And Sentinel Ellison won't even be there." David looked sad. "Couldn't you talk to him again?"
"He won't listen, David. I've talked, Niven's talked...everyone in the Clan has talked to him. He's determined that since he can't find his own Guide, he'll accept this one his father's found."
"But he doesn't even want to spend the evening with him!" David pointed out.
"I know." Edwards shrugged. Personally, he thought that Ellison was heading for disaster, but the man's stubborn streak had surfaced. Edwards hoped he was spending this weekend thinking things over and that he'd realise what a mistake he was making. But for now, the Sentinel and Guide Prime had a duty to perform. "C'mon, David, let's go meet Gerry Westward."
finis
Warnings: two death scenes. No major characters were maimed in the making of this story.
Smedley smiled as the doctor left the room. His Guide was going to be fine. His heart, as evidenced by the beeping of the monitor - even if Smedley hadn't been able to hear it for himself - was beating steadily and soon, very soon, David would wake and then they would bond.
Leaning over the gurney, he gloried in the sight. If he ignored the I.V. in David's arm and the medical paraphernalia that surrounded them, he could almost believe that his Guide was sleeping peacefully, instead of having recently been revived from the dead.
He frowned. It should not have been necessary to flatline his Guide; Clement had a lot to answer for, forcing such distasteful acts upon Smedley. However, that really didn't matter now. Clement was dead by his own hand, or would be shortly, and David would soon be awake and ready for his new bonding.
Smedley's breath caught in his throat as the dark eyelashes fluttered slightly and David's heart sped up. His Guide was waking.
~'~
A slow, rhythmic beeping was the first thing to impinge upon his consciousness. It called to him, leading him up through the layers of darkness to a place where his mind could start to function once more.
Pain was next. His chest felt tight, as if he'd had the flu, and his head was aching. A small pricking feeling in his hand added a strange counterpoint to the sensations that were forcing back the dull lethargy that filled him.
"David?"
He frowned. That wasn't Neds' voice.
Then, like a wave crashing across rocks, the echoing emptiness within his mind hit him.
The beeping in the background went crazy and his eyes flew open as he panicked. He couldn't see Neds, he couldn't feel Neds; the bond was gone. Crying out with shock and pain, he tried to sit up, to look, to find - anything. Neds wouldn't leave him, Neds wouldn't abandon him -
Strong hands held him down. "It's all right, David. You're safe."
'Cunningham.'
"Neds!"
"Shhh. It's all right, you're safe."
Ignoring the assurances, he wailed again, calling for his own Sentinel. Desperately, he looked around, his eyes seeing but not comprehending the medical equipment around him. No Neds, just Cunningham. Memories flooded back: Cunningham and Dexter in their apartment; Neds on the floor...and David grasped at the realisation of what they had done.
Fury filled him, overriding the physical sensations of loss and pain, and he pushed his way up, rolling from the surface beneath him, screaming his anguish at the death of his Sentinel.
As something ripped its way free of his hand, he used the sharp stinging to urge himself on, flailing his arms at the Sentinel who was trying to control him. Cunningham had killed Neds, had destroyed his Sentinel. Anything less than the death of Neds' murderer was unacceptable.
He struck out, wrenching himself free from whatever was trying to hold him back, and took a sharp pleasure as the frantic beeping changed into a long wail of alarm. Even the universe was grieving for his Sentinel.
"David, stop it!"
Blinded by the tears that filled his eyes, he forced himself on; hitting, striking, flailing. Cunningham's hands grabbed at his arms, but the power of his grief gave him strength and he fought back. Other hands joined in the fight, and pulled him backwards against the gurney, its cold edge pressing into his back, allowing Cunningham to gain the upper hand. But his defeat was brief as the hands on his shoulders disappeared and he threw himself forward once more.
Cunningham fell, and David followed him down, striking viciously at the hated face that had destroyed the best thing, the only thing, in his life. He, who had never hurt another living thing, would kill this destroyer, would avenge his Sentinel. Even as he took delight in harming, in hurting, even as he screamed aloud in pain and fury, his heart wept within him for his loss. Let the world end now taking him with it; without Neds, without his Sentinel, his life was worthless.
Strong arms wrapped around him, pulling him back from the evil before him. Screaming his rage, he tried to fight his way free, but the arms were stronger even than his grief, and he was trapped. As he twisted to face his new attacker, still caught in the cage of arms that surrounded him, he bucked and fought, then wailed. Even his revenge was to be denied him.
The arms tightened, and rocked him, trying to soothe him, but David rejected their comfort. His Sentinel was dead and there could be no peace in this life for him.
A hand on the back of his head pressed his face into a warm shoulder, and he drew a shuddering breath then stopped, not believing the scent that filled his nose and mouth. It was a trick, it was false, it was impossible. Blinking his gaze free of the blindness of tears, he stared up into Neds' face.
"It's all right, David. It's all right."
The hand pressed his face against the shoulder again, and he leaned in willingly, pulling one arm free to wrap it around his Sentinel's neck as his body convulsed with the sobs that were still shaking him.
Dazedly, he realised that he must be dead. Neds was dead, but Neds was here, so he must be dead too. Smiling into the shoulder that cradled his head, he knew that he didn't care. What did death matter as long as he could be with his Sentinel?
~'~
As David calmed in his arms, and clung to him instead of fighting to be free, Edwards smiled. Then, as the feel of clammy flesh registered on his consciousness, his smile disappeared as he realised that his Guide was dressed only in a pair of sweatpants, Cunningham's sweatpants. Stripping off his jacket, he wrapped it around David as best he could; the garment serving the threefold purpose of shielding his Guide from other Sentinels' gazes, masking the alien scent that was contaminating him, and calming Edwards slightly as his and David's own scents mixed once more.
When he'd burst through the doors to find his Guide being attacked by both Cunningham and one of Cunningham's sycophants, the smell of David's blood in the air, he'd almost lost his mind. Now, the sycophant lay unconscious on the other side of that damned gurney while Cunningham, Edwards' eyes narrowed as he stared at his Guide's attacker, was trying to get to his feet.
David had certainly done a good job of defending himself against his assailant. The Sentinel's face was bloody and dark bruises were already beginning to show.
The relentless wailing of the heart monitor finally stopped as someone unplugged the damn thing, and Edwards smiled even more as he watched Cunningham trying to gather his wits. Edwards would kill the destroyer of his bond, then reclaim David but, for now, he looked down at his Guide, he needed to hand David over to Ellison to be shielded. With their bond destroyed, his Guide's mind was open and vulnerable.
Raising his eyes, his gaze met the Senior Sentinel Prime's. Ellison would protect, but not claim; he knew that David was not his Guide. A nod from Ellison showed that he understood, and Edwards dipped his head to speak quietly into the ear beneath his chin.
"David, I need to hand you over to the Senior Sentinel Prime. He'll shield you."
The arm around his neck tightened, and the head shook frantically. "No, please, no."
Ignoring the repeated denial, Edwards spoke again. "He'll shield you while I deal with Cunningham. I have to do this, David."
"No, Neds, please." David's arm clung to his neck while his other hand scrabbled to find a solid handhold, the distress in his scent growing.
"It's only for a little while." Edwards ground his teeth. At no point did he want to hand David over to any other Sentinel, but he had to. Cunningham could not be allowed to leave the room alive. "He'll shield you; keep you safe. Then we'll leave and I'll reclaim you."
The frantic clinging faltered. "You won't leave me?"
"Of course I won't leave you - you're my Guide, David. No one but me will ever claim you."
He got a halting breath in reply, then a desperate whispered, "Promise?"
"I promise." He unwound the arm from around his neck, and took a moment to wrap David up in his jacket properly before allowing Ellison to take him. "David," he waited until the haunted eyes met his, "I always keep my promises."
Even to Sentinel ears, the reply was barely audible, "I know."
Edwards found it hard to stop himself from growling as his Senior Prime wrapped his arms around his Guide. Even though he knew that Ellison was merely protecting David, it was still hard to see. Resolutely, he turned from the sight to face Cunningham.
The other Sentinel had remained silent, and Edwards suspected that Cunningham was still rather dazed, not only by the rapid turn of events but also by David's attack. Who'd have thought that his shy, unconfident Guide had that amount of anger in him?
He waited as Cunningham, on his feet and getting steadier by the moment, blinked to clear his gaze, then raised a hand to wipe away the trickling blood.
As soon as Cunningham's confusion seemed to clear, Edwards spoke. "I should let them jail you for Pierson's murder."
Shock, as though the other Sentinel had forgotten about the other Guide, filled Cunningham's face.
"But I won't." Edwards smiled. This would end now. He would not, could not have his Guide kidnapped, killed and revived, and not take action against the Sentinel who had done these things.
"I -"
"You'll die." Edwards moved closer. Sooner or later, Cunningham would attack, and Edwards wanted him to. Wanted him to try for the first blow. Wanted it to be a fight as opposed to the putting down of a rabid dog.
Cunningham's eyes skittered about. If he was looking for mercy from the assembled Clan members, he would not find it. David was their Guide Prime and this attack affected them all.
"I just did what I had to!" His gaze moved to beyond Edwards, to where David was, then, as Edwards took a step to the side to block that view, he looked back at Edwards. "He's my Guide!"
Edwards growled.
"He's my Guide and I claim him!"
Cunningham lunged forward, but Edwards was ready and his fist lashed out, aiming, not for the face, but for Cunningham's throat.
The force of the blow threw Cunningham backwards, and he landed on his back, then rolled to his side before realising what damage had been done. Still down, his hands scrabbled at his throat as he tried to draw breath through his crushed windpipe.
Edwards waited impassively as Cunningham fought to breathe; the body flailing around, fighting the suffocation that was killing it. He didn't move until the death rattle was silenced and the body lay still.
Taking a breath, Edwards forced down the Sentinel within him who was screaming to tear apart the body and obliterate any evidence of Cunningham's existence. Cunningham was dead, that was all he needed to know. Turning, he faced his Senior Prime. "My Guide, Ellison."
Ellison's voice was quiet, there was no challenge to be found. "Your Guide, Edwards. Claimed and marked."
~'~
David sighed with relief as Neds wrapped his arms around him again. He was safe now. Leaning his head against his Sentinel's shoulder, he let his eyes slide closed, trusting to Neds to direct him as he stumbled forward; the arm around his waist the only thing that was keeping him on his feet.
"Where the hell are your shoes?"
He glanced up into Neds' face, then shut his eyes again. He was dead; he didn't need shoes.
Neds obviously thought he did, as he swung David up into his arms and carried him. Doors opened and closed, footsteps sounded, but David didn't open his eyes again until he felt fresh air on his face.
"Truck."
There was a few seconds' pause then Neds replied, "Yes, that's the Senior Sentinel Prime's truck and he's taking us to the Sentinel Suite."
"Okay." David really couldn't work out how Sentinel Ellison was going to take them to the Sentinel Suite, or why. Or even why the rest of the Clan seemed to be aware of them. Maybe Sentinels could see ghosts, some people had speculated that they could although David couldn't remember who or when he'd heard it. He shrugged and smiled, tightening his arms around Neds' neck as he was manoeuvred into the truck. It didn't matter; none of it mattered now.
"It's all right, David. We'll be at the Sentinel Suite soon."
"Okay." That was another puzzling thing, David mused, vaguely aware of the truck starting. Why weren't they going home? Surely if they were going to haunt any place, it would be their apartment. He would have liked to ask Neds, but that involved too many words for him to deal with right now. Sighing, he rubbed his face against Neds' shoulder, and let the world slide away from him.
~'~
"How's he doing?" Ellison's eyes met his briefly in the rear-view mirror.
Edwards shrugged slightly. "He'll be fine." David would be fine, Edwards knew that, but this prolonged silence with a few, small, short words was not like his Guide at all. However, after everything that had happened, shock was only to be expected. "Doctor Harvey can look him over once we're there." That wasn't what he wanted, if he was honest with himself. It had been hard enough to hand David over to Ellison temporarily; having another Sentinel poking and prodding David - even for medical reasons - was not to his liking. However, David's hand needed looking at too. The site where the I.V. had been was torn, although the bleeding had stopped quickly.
"She and Jon are right behind us."
"Good." Edwards didn't need to look out of the rear window to know that the rest of the Clan was following them to the Sentinel Suite. The place was going to be crowded for a while.
~'~
A stinging in his hand woke David and he tried to pull his hand free from the grip that was holding it.
"It's all right, David. Let Doctor Harvey see to your hand."
'Neds.' David smiled contentedly.
"I'm almost done, Guide Prime."
'Doctor Harvey?' Confused, David opened his eyes to find the Sentinel Doctor smiling kindly at him.
"There. All done now."
She let go of his hand and David raised it to his face to examine it. He could smell antiseptic, and a small butterfly bandage was covering a tear in his skin.
"Thank you, Doctor Harvey."
"It was my pleasure, Sentinel Prime. As I said, he'll be fine. He just needs to bond and then rest; but you don't need me to tell you that. Jon."
A door shut and David frowned. Things really were getting rather confusing. He was dead; he didn't need antiseptic on his hand - or a butterfly bandage either.
"David?"
Bonding on the other hand....
David raised his head, smiling at his Sentinel, before he let his head fall back to expose his throat.
The arms around him tightened as Neds growled against his neck. Then he was pushed flat on the bed, his Sentinel leaning over him.
He grinned and invitingly tilted his head back again. A sharp nip to his throat made him smile even more, then he sighed with relief as his Sentinel pushed forward demandingly into his mind, almost aggressively storming into every corner of his psyche to reclaim him. The bond clicked back into place as if it had never been missing, and Neds raised his head to stare down at him.
"Claimed and marked, Guide."
Even if David had been tempted to refuse, the tone warned him that his Sentinel would countenance no defiance. Instead, he basked happily in the warmth of their bond as he replied, "Claimed and marked, Sentinel."
~'~
As David stirred next to him, Edwards woke, his arm automatically tightening to hold his Guide in place.
"Neds?"
"Go back to sleep, David. It's still early."
Shock reached him through the bond and he opened his eyes as David twisted to face him, confusion on his face.
"What's wrong?" There was silence for a few seconds, so he prompted him, "David?"
Green eyes met his, puzzlement in their depths. "Are we alive?"
Edwards frowned, his concern growing. He'd assumed that David would be fine after a good night's sleep. "Why wouldn't we be alive, David?"
"I...guess we are then." David buried his face in Edwards' shoulder and a muffled, "Night, Neds," reached him.
"David?" Gently, he pushed his Guide back so that he could see his face. David wasn't distressed; he seemed embarrassed.
Finally, David sighed and admitted, "I thought you were dead. So when you turned up to save me, I was I was dead too. Pretty stupid, huh?"
Edwards smiled, his relief at David's well-being too great to allow any other emotion in. "I thought you were dead when I came around and couldn't feel the bond."
Shock, then concern settled on David's face. "What happened?"
"Ellison knew that you weren't," Edwards replied carefully. There was no way that he wanted to tell his Guide about Dexter Pierson's dead body in their sitting room. Hopefully, David would just accept that his being kidnapped from the apartment was enough to make his Sentinel insist on moving to a new place. Edwards had to admit that that reason alone would be enough.
David looked relieved. "I'm glad he was there."
"Me too," Edwards replied quietly, forcing down the spurt of jealousy. David had merely been concerned for him. "Now go to sleep. It's practically the middle of the night."
"Okay." Wrapping one arm around Edwards, David settled back down.
Soon, his regular breathing and slowed heartbeat told Edwards that he was asleep. Edwards smiled as he lay back and relaxed. His Guide was safe now...and Cunningham could never threaten them again.
~'~
Two years later
Edwards glared in the mirror as he fixed his bowtie. He really didn't see why they had to go to this...farce of a Gathering that no one in the Clan was happy about. The Senior Sentinel Prime had claimed a prior engagement, so why the Sentinel and Guide Prime couldn't do the same thing was beyond him. Then again, it really would be too obvious if all the senior ranking Sentinels avoided meeting the future Senior Guide Prime.
"You know, I've never seen a bowtie tied so...sternly before."
Edwards' eyes met David's.
"It must be a military bowtie." He grinned suddenly. "Does it get court-martialled if it comes untied?"
Scowling at the offending tie, Edwards tied it again. "I really don't see why we have to waste an evening on this."
"I know, I know. And Sentinel Ellison won't even be there." David looked sad. "Couldn't you talk to him again?"
"He won't listen, David. I've talked, Niven's talked...everyone in the Clan has talked to him. He's determined that since he can't find his own Guide, he'll accept this one his father's found."
"But he doesn't even want to spend the evening with him!" David pointed out.
"I know." Edwards shrugged. Personally, he thought that Ellison was heading for disaster, but the man's stubborn streak had surfaced. Edwards hoped he was spending this weekend thinking things over and that he'd realise what a mistake he was making. But for now, the Sentinel and Guide Prime had a duty to perform. "C'mon, David, let's go meet Gerry Westward."
finis
Warnings: two death scenes. No major characters were maimed in the making of this story.