Timeout

[Cass van der Berg]

Cass had decided that, by now, it was his God-given right to take a break.
He had been on duty for six hours now, since the crack of dawn. He hadn’t had anything to eat yet – hence why he was currently breaking into Cardo and Anna’s ‘secret’ stash of chocolate digestives – and he’d only had one cup of coffee, which, usually, would be sufficient, but not at a time like this. Granted, it probably wasn’t the best idea to completely overdose on caffeine, and when he’d gone to sleep (very very late, after all the checks he’d had to make on the newly-conscious Kennedy) last night, his hands had been shaking a little bit. But when the choice came between having a bit of a caffeine shake and falling asleep while changing someone’s IV… Well, Cass knew which one he preferred.
He grabbed the pack of biscuits, took one out and held it between his teeth, then walked across the room and set the biscuits down beside his guitar. He then took the biscuit from his mouth, ate it, and picked up the guitar. Sitting down on a chair, he ran his fingers over the open strings, and hearing that the ‘E’ was out of tune, quickly fiddled with the tuning peg to get it back into order.
He didn’t feel like playing his own stuff now. If he played something out of his own head it would sound dreadful, because it would just be a reflection of the fatigue and hopelessness that all the Carers were feeling right now. So instead he went for the Rolling Stones, and quietly picked out the beginning notes of ‘Paint It Black.’
Then he decided that that was also much too depressing for the current situation, and quickly forced the tune to segue into the opening chords of ‘All You Need Is Love’. The Beatles were probably a lot more uplifting than the Stones, for what was going on now.
Not that anyone out there (a) could probably hear what he was playing or (b) cared what he was playing, but whatever, it was better to be safe than sorry.
He was about halfway through the piece when the door to the (previously empty) staff room opened, and his Head walked in. He didn’t stop playing, but brought the volume down considerably as he smiled at her, and nodded. “Hey, Will,” he said.
He hadn’t spoken to her since he had got back. In fact, had she even been told that he was back at all…?
Well, he’d find out soon, he guessed.
“How’re things out there?” he asked, gesturing at the hospital corridor which lay beyond the open door.

[Will Wright]

"There we go. All done!" smiling, she gently placed her hand above the cut and it emitted a golden glow and the skin didn't even looked that a scalpel had had a go at it in it's life. Will was happy. This was the first non related war wound she had been able to heal. "The dangers of art, eh?"
Sandra gave her a small smile to show her appreciation, "Yep."
"Well, you may go back, just don't fight with anymore scalpels..it'll hurt," she gave a half hearted laugh and moved away to check the stats and vitals of one of the coma patients. Everything was good for now and as she moved of her eyes wandered over to the clock. Her shift had ended 12 minutes ago. She was working on her break.
Will didn't want a break.
She wanted to work.
She needed to work.
If she didn't work, she'd be left looking at what was left of the forest and all the sickening wounds and all the damage the war had done which led onto her thinking how much she detested war.
No.
She just- she couldn't.
"Will? Aren't you on break now?" May walked over to her.
"I'm supposed to be."
"Then what are you doing out here?"
"I don't want a break. I don't need one."
"I think you d-"
"The hell you don't. And if you don't go and take some rest right now, then so help me, I will all but force you to and you won't be back in here to help anyone until you do. I need everybody in top shape and condition. Coffee will keep you up for so long." Nurse Gornray was right behind her; her low scolding voice piercing Will's ears. Will breathed in deeply.
"Yes, Judy. You're right-" she did a take back, "I mean, yes Nurse Gornray. I'll be in the staff room if anyone needs me!"
She walked around the corner and through the oak door which led into the staffroom. As she reached it, the soft, gentle strumming of a guitar was echo-ing of the wall's and making it's way trhough the door. It wasn't loud enough to cause a disturbance to anyone but not low enough so nobody could here it.
She opened the door, stepped in quickly and shut it softly behind her. She was greeted by a familiar voice before she had even time to registar the face.
"Hey, Will," blink, "How're things out there?"
Cass?
Cass was back?
Her face was void of any expression.
Nobody mentioned Cass had come back.
"Cass? Is that really you?" she smiled and walked over to sit beside him, "Hectic but calming down. I had no idea you were back, it's good to see you!"

[Cass van der Berg]

Well, that was pretty clear on the Did-she-know? front, anyway.
Cass wasn’t really surprised that she hadn’t been told. After all, more or less the only official person he’d informed yet was Nurse Gornray, and Nurse Gornray had far important things to think about than him right now. And so did Will, probably. Cass wasn’t expecting any big official recognition of his return anytime soon, and really, he sort of liked that. It was, ironically, about the best time that he could have come back, because no one really felt the need to welcome him. Right now, he was just another pair of hands to take up some of the Carer work.
And that was good. That was what he wanted to be.
Cass’s smile widened into a lopsided grin as Will sat down beside him. “It’s good to see you too, Will. And yeah, I’ve been back for… oof, five days now, I think. Since the battle, anyway – and I came back straight after the battle, so that’s probably why you didn’t hear yet. But never mind, it’s good that you know now! How have you been these last few months?”

[Will Wright]

"Well, it has to besaid, you came back at the right time for us but probably not a very good welcoming-back time, it has to be said." she paused as she thought about that question. How had she been feeling? "I'm - I've been - the same really. Still the same old random-doesn't-know-what-she's-doing Will." she gave an awkward smile.
She leant back into the back of the sofa while yawning. She actually hadn't realized how tired she actually was. Maybe she had been running on pure adrenaline for a a good bit of the shift there and her body didn't want to rest.
"It's great to see you back Cass. I mean...you were gone quite a while but you're back now and that's what matters. Who else knows your back then?"

[Cass van der Berg]

She looked tired.
But then, come on, what on earth else had Cass been expecting? Seeing a well-rested Carer, over the last few days, had become about as probable as finding a needle in a haystack. And he was fairly sure that he himself looked an absolute wreck.
But it must have been so much harder for Will, what with being a Head and all. At least all the other Carers only had to deal with their own cases, their own mistakes, but Will had so much more resting on her shoulders. With great power came great responsibility, Cass supposed.
Goodness' sake, though, she was only human.
"Um, well, most of my friends do," he said. "So Carer-wise, Cardo Sierra and Anna Stewart, and apart from that - well, everyone who's seen me, I guess," he laughed. "And Nurse Gornray obviously knows, and she said Professor Hoodham would sort things out, so he probably knows too. But... well, probably not as many as should know. You're right, it's not a brilliant time to come back, but I'm glad to be here... helping out and everything, you know. It's hard to be away from it all at a time like this. So I'm glad that you're glad to have me back." He smiled.

[Will Wright]

"So, not many then?" she laughed, "I'm glad you're here to help, with the amount of Carers in this place it probably doesn't look like we're short-handed but it sure as hell feels like it though. I swear, if I could and had the authority to, I'd ask everyone who're not doing anything in the other groups to get down here or over to the forest and help out. I mean, we're skilled and quite well trained but we can't all keep going like this forever. Rules are rules, I suppose. And also, most of them probably wouldn't know what to do..." she shrugged and stretched. All the Carers were just managing with all of the ordeal. They were just managing to get enough rest in to keep them going. And Will was doing her best to keep them motivated and on their feet but only she could do so much. She used her amulet to give them all energy but lately she couldn't She didn't have enough energy or power of her own to do it.
"We really do need all the help we can get. Coffee can't keep sustaining us like this. Yes, it works but..." she sighed and give a grim smile before walking over to the cupboard and pulled out a packet of crisps and a banana, "You want anything?" she asked as she got some water out of the mini fridge.

[Cass van der Berg]

Cass smiled, and took his hand off the neck of his guitar to gesture at the pack of biscuits beside him. "No thanks, Will, I'm way ahead of you. I was thinking about getting a coffee, but... Well, I know where you're coming from there. It's not exactly healthy, keeping ourselves up like that. I mean, you can see where this is going, can't you? We'll finish treating everyone and getting the forest back and all, and then half the Carers will come down with caffeine poisoning."
He thought for a second, placing his hand back on the guitar and starting to play again. From the Beatles to Boston in the shift of a chord.
"Maybe we could get people in to help, though. I mean, I know that not everyone's trained, but there must be some people, say, in Cardsdale that know first aid. And the Warriors know some first aid too, don't they...? I think they do, anyway."
Then something hit him. "But then, I guess the Warriors have enough to think about right now..."

[Will Wright]

"I'm not so sure about that, Cass. I get the impression that they want something to do. Have you seen their faces? Hell, even the Spies are getting stirr-crazy. Everybody is. I am, I just bloody glad that I have something to keep my mind of things. I wouldn't want to be in their position right now, lost a Head and with nothing to do." Will paused. I wonder what all the Carers would do if I went missing...Poor Madeleine, I hope they'll get her out soon. God only knows what's happening to her.
Leaning against the counter she peeled her banana and started to eat while Cass played his guitar. It was lovely to hear some form of music in a place as depressing as this.
"You're exceptionally good at that, you know?" she smiled and sat back in her place again and crossed her legs.

[Cass van der Berg]

And this was the time when all Cass's lessons on taking-a-compliment came back into his head. When people had said things like that before, he'd brushed it off and got kind of embarrassed. Then, after the thirtieth lecture from Cardo on how that didn't make him seem modest but 'really blooming annoying', Cass had decided to plan for incidents like this:
"Thank you," he said, smiling gratefully. He was grateful; always was when he got comments like this. Cass didn't really think that he was that good, considering how much he cheated with his powers when he was playing to get the effect he wanted. If he had to play without the aid of his air and speed, he wouldn't be capable of playing half the things he could do now.
"I've been playing for as long as I can remember, though," he said modestly. "It's sort of all I do; it drives my friends mad, but, well, no one's forcing them to listen. And it's really good at times like this, for stress-relief and all. It's very calming."
And now, he would stop talking about his own playing, and ask her, "What about you? Do you play any instruments?"

[Will Wright]

"Hahaha, good one, Cass, that's a good one. No. I sing, I'm a jaaaazzzz singer," Will lauged a bit. Jazz was her forté. She loved it. She couldn't imagine life without Jazz, it'd just suck and it wouldn't be life. There'd be nothing.
"Yeah, that's my height of musical instruments; my vocals. Yes, I get where you are coming from, it's nice, it's calming." but in saying that...she couldn't remember the last time she had sang. It'd been so long ago. And even though she desperately wanted to sometimes while she was working, nobody would want to hear her, everyone was too depressed to listen.
Sighing quietly she sipped her water and fiddled with bottle as soon as he put the lid back on it.
"Thanks for coming back, Cass." she murmered as she wandered about her own thoughts.
She really appreciated though.

[Cass van der Berg]

Cass blinked.
He hadn't really been expecting her to say that. But he quickly got over his surprise, and smiled, saying, "You don't need to thank me, Will, I'm thrilled to be back. I know that sounds stupid at a time like this, but it's true."
It was true, mad though it might have seemed, and little though Cass's friends seemed to believe him. They didn't seem to understand what it was like, being away from Orchid after you'd lived there. All the other magical schools were different, and not in a way that Cass liked.
And in another way... It was worrying. The timing of this battle had sort of worked out for him, in a way, but if there'd been another battle and he hadn't been able to come away, he would have been terrified, and he would have felt completely useless. At least this way he could help.

[Will Wright]

No need to thank him!?
There was all the need to thank him!
"Good," she simply replied. They sat in silence; Cass strumming on his guitar and Will deep in thought and also being tempted to start singing. The Hospital Wing needed more happy things in it, then again if it did it'd probably make people even more depressed. They'd probably think she was trying to cover what had happened up.
She frowned.
"So anyway, how's everyone back in Old Amsterdam? Does your mouse still live in the wee windmill? Does her have clogs on?" her voice got slightly high as she imagined that.
So cute!
She smiled wildly and started to hum A Love That Will Last while she waited for Cass to answer.

[Cass van der Berg]

A momentary pause, as Cass forced the memory of the last person he'd seen in Amsterdam out of his head, and he focused on answering Will's question instead.
And he laughed. "My clog-wearing mouse is doing great, thanks. As are the rest of the mice. They're everywhere in Amsterdam; falling out into the streets, practically.
"But aside from that, everyone in Old Amsterdam is doing just fine." He grinned. "I called my friends yesterday to check up on them, and they were doing fine, although they weren't too impressed that I'd left without telling them."
What was he supposed to do, though? Aafje and Coby would have tried to stop him, if they'd known; would have said that the last place he needed to be right now was in a hospital.
But it was different. He could make a difference. What had he been able to do in his mother's hospital? By the end he could barely even bring himself to hold her hand, knowing that every time he did he would be overcome by images of the disease that was -
No. So much for being better at blocking it out, he supposed. He shouldn't have assumed that so soon.

[Will Wright]

Will laughed.
It was the easy kind. The one where it didn't feel as though you were putting it on for the sake of it. It was free. ANd it was good because the only time she ever felt like that was when she was having fun with Jack. And even then- well she'd rather not go there.
She was happy at least some other person aside from Jack could make her feel like this. Could make her laugh like it was nothing.
"Cass. Tsk, tsk, tsk, you bad boy. You didn't tell your friends you were leaving? You better not start making a habit of that, it could get nasty and then I'd end up having to be your heroine and rescue you," and stop. Just. Stop. Will had the look of Ok-then.... on her face.
"Yeah...anyway," she started to search for a new conversation topic but couldn't. She had a one track mind.
Jack.
Jack.
Be mine Jack.
"Cass? How good are you with relationships?" pause, "I know it's personal it's just..I knind of need some advice, even if it's the slightest bit."

[Cass van der Berg]

What?
Cass hadn't been expecting that, either. The music stopped for a moment, but then he recovered it, segued it quickly into another song. Boston to Bach. He had a thing for B's today, apparently.
"Am I good with relationships?" he repeated, raising his eyebrows, then he exhaled. "Um... Well, that depends on who you ask, I think."
That probably wasn't very true, he realised after he'd said it. He'd only ever had one girlfriend; one proper one, anyway, and that relationship had ended nearly a year ago. There had been a couple of dates in Amsterdam, but none of them had worked out.
And now that ex-girlfriend was dating someone else who was more or less universally acknowledged to be thrice the man that Cass was, and seemed to be happy with him, while Cass continued to struggle with the fact that he couldn't just make his feelings for her disappear, even though he really needed to.
Yep, Cass was a downright genius when it came to relationships.
But... well, if Will needed help, she needed help. And people seemed to think that Cass was good with things like this. He could at least try.
"But I'll try to give you advice, if you want. It might not be very good though, I'll warn you now." He smiled. "So what's on your mind?"