The Splintered Dreams

Steve found himself in a darkened room noise and sounds reached his ears, yet he could not move. His mind searched in the darkness “who am I, where am I?” he heard his thoughts “what happened to me”. The steady thump, thump echoed in the darkness all around him slowly changing from a rhythmic thump to the mechanical beep. Then he stood back on the ledge above his home he saw his wife and son laid out in front of him as the dragon black and fierce stood over their lifeless bodies. Off his guard a clawed foot swiped him sending him flying in the air to land hard on ground as the creature let out a roar so terrifying it forced him to stand two Aurors he had not seen appeared wands at the ready he felt the burning of his wounds in his body, his mind numbing as they world round him slowly faded out to the sound of the creature falling to an Aurors command.

Now he lay blackness around him once more, the beeping continuing in his ears unable to speak or move yet able to know all that went on, he had felt the doctors using their magic on him to heal his wounds, yet he still lay unmoving. Something in his mind stopping him as if protecting itself from the pain he now had inside, in a place not even magic could cure, his soul. The memoirs of his wife and son repeating a happier time, one he could not get back, they were both gone from his life.

Then it happened he felt it, he willed his hand to move and his finger twitched ,he did it again and again it moved, but he could not lift his arm as if it was made of lead , nor could he open is eyes, his throat burned from something inside it yet he still breathed.

Khaat was curious about the American wizard who had been transferred in. The whole hospital was buzzing about it. He'd been sent specifically for Robert's expert skills. but Robert was out at the moment, so Khaat stepped in and decided to make an assessment of her own. He was tough, rugged, and she knew at once he was not stranger to danger. He was, like her, a warrior, who knew how to get the job done and put feelings aside.

She laid her hand on his forehead very softly, scanning him with her own senses. His mind was in there still, confused. wondering. feeling too many things at once. "Steve," she called softly, "Steven Walker. My name is Khaat. You're safe now. You're among friends. I do understand how much it hurts to lose the ones you love. But when you decide to come back, I'll be here. For now, just sleep."

She sent a powerful sleep spell over him to force him to stop running his mind over things his body could not change at the moment. He needed rest.

He heard a womans voice he wanted to speak but failed to find the words. Then as if a vail of blackness was placed over him his mind slowed then stopped as she drifted into dreamless sleep. but it was short lived as the nightmare returned.

sitting bolt up right he tore at the tube down his throat pulling it out and caughing once it was done. He slumped back on the bed breathing hard as he looked around the room. White walls, minimal bedding, he was in a hospital but how, that thought he pushed as side, glad to know he wasn't dreaming any more as he smelt the cleaning fluid all around him permiate his nose. Tthen he heard it, the familier beeping that had invaded his mind, turning he saw a heart moniter cables ran to his chest where his hair had been shaven for it to sit

Khaat was passing by and saw Walker's rebellion at her sleep spell. Just like a warrior. Stubborn. Driven. She stood in the doorway for a moment, leaning on the doorpost, just watching. Then she went over to him and turned off that annoying beeping monitor. "Welcome back," she said softly. "Muggle healing methods really stink, don't they? Well, you don't need that nonsense in here. " She eased him back to the pillows. "When you're a bit more yourself again, we can talk if you want. I'm Khaat. I think you'll be on your feet again a lot quicker here. You do realize that 1 man + 1 dragon= Dragon wins, right? I realize you were doing what you felt you had to do, but you were seriously outnumbered."

Steven had not noticed the woman till she walked over and turned off the machine witch he was glad of "where am I?" he asked slowly, his voice bearly over a whisper his throat feeling as if sand paper had been shoved down it. when she spoke of the dragon he gave a low growel his fists balled on the bed. he noitced his wedding ring but could not take it off "too soon" he thought "How long?" he asked wondering just how long he had been out of it for.

He rubbed his chin and found the long hairs of a beard he knew that would have to go, but it also told him he had been out for a long time and he turned to look out of the window. He could feel the woman still stood beside the bed. She was strong like him he could tel that one thing he could do was judge people right. He turned to look back up at her "coffee?" he asked "french roast"

That made Khaat laugh. "You are a man after my own heart," she said, her violet eyes sparkling, the green flecks in them dancing. She hadn't had reason to laugh in a long time. She conjured quickly two cups of french roast and set them beside the bed. She fed him a couple of slow sips of the hot, flavorful coffee. "Not too fast. That stupid intubation tube will have your throat a bit irritated. However, since you have gone awhile without anything to drink, you might find you have your voice again. after a few sips of this." She set the cup aside. She picked up his chart. "Looks like the muggle healers at least kept you alive long enough to get to me. I have no idea how they knew to send you here, but I'm glad they did. "I think you should keep some of the beard, by the way," she smiled. "I like it."

"Steven, you've been in a coma for a long time. I am so sorry about your family. Even a warrior as you doesn't take a loss like that easily. But--its been six months now. And its my job to help you get ready--in every sense, to rebuild your life. It won't be easy, and you might even hate me at times, but oh well, that wouldn't be the first time that happened. So--we're sort of stuck together for awhile. You and me and my staff. This is my hospital. You're in England. It was necessary to heal you. It's almost March, in case you were wondering."

His eyes lit up as he saw her make two cups appear he winced sligtly at the coffee as it slid down his sore throat, but boy did it ever taste good to him. He rubbed his chin again when she said she liked some of it and gave a smirk. When she spoke of the time he'd been out of it he sighed knowing he'd missed his own familys funeral, "England, maam?" he spoke slightly better his texas accent higly promanent "hum, I am a long way from home" he managed to say looking back at his coffee "may i be aloud some more , Maam?" he asked he had forgot just how good coffee when you first wake could taste.

After a moment he turned to look at her "your a doctor?" he asked

'I'm a healer," Khaat said, feeding him more of the coffee. Okay, so he was a coffee addict like she was--completely and hopelessly. It made her laugh. She didn't mean to, but she could see herself craving the same thing. and with no coffee for six months, he had a lot to make up for. "You're at St. Mungos in Northern England. We are England's wizarding hospital. I am the director here. You will be under my care and my father's for your stay here. I am sorry. It is a long way from Fort Worth, but there are a lot of things about England to like. I promise you that."

He chuckled as he felt the warm coffee now slide down warming him, "god thats good, for a director you do make good coffee" he said now feeling some what like his old self "its Ryan, Oklahoma, maam , not fort worth" he corrected her "Janet.. " he paused saying her name only brought the memory to the surface " she made good coffee too" he shifted on the bed as a sesation of pins and needles seem to run threw his legs "do ya think i could get out this blasted bed , I never liked being inactive too long" he asked looking at her , he wanted to get back on his feet and got back to his home but he knew even after he was healed he would probably be assined here.

"Your file says you're a Texas Ranger," Khaat said, "Their base is Fort Worth, as you well know. So when did you get to Oklahomoa, Ranger? And, no, you can't get up yet. You aren't ready. You don't have the strength built up in your body yet to hold yourselff up. That is something we'll have to work on. Right now just moving in bed is challenge enough for you. So your wife was Janet, huh? I know what its like to lose the only person you think you're living for. Been there, done that."