You're going to die anyway

“Oh god,” Jase says, “oh god.”

He’s shaking as he knocks on Fosher’s door, and his hand leaves blood behind on the white paint.

“Please, please,” he says, and the door falls open in front of him.

“Jase?” He hears Fosher say, “is something wrong? Oh my god, is that blood?”

“It’s Luke’s,” Jase says, rocking back and forth. “It’s Luke’s. Oh god.”

“Is he alright?”

“No,” Jase says, voice trembling, “no, I don’t think so.”

Fosher leads him inside, closing the door behind them. “What happened?”

“I…” Jase stops, staring blankly, tears rolling down his face. “I hurt him, I hurt him, oh god.”

“What do you mean?” Fosher says, “what do you mean you hurt him? Where is he?”

“Oh god,” Jase says, and he’s dry heaving, and choking. “No, no no no no.”

“Jase, you need to explain, so I can help you.”

Jase tears away from him, and out the door, running flat out toward the elevator.

0---

Luke is screaming when he opens the door, screaming like he’s dying.

Jase pulls life from all around them, wrapping Luke in it, mending every hurt he can reach. He cradles his body to him, holds him as tight as he can, rocking back and forth, smoothing his hair with a shaking hand.

“Jase,” Fosher says, standing in the doorway, “what?”

He curls his body protectively around Luke, shielding him, from the wrong person.

Luke is still screaming when Fosher kneels before them, staring into Jase’s eyes.

“He’s going to die,” Jase says, “no matter what I do.”

“What?”

“I-I…I hurt him,” Jase says, “I didn’t mean to hurt him, I don’t know what happened.”

“Shh,” Fosher says, “calm down, I know.”

“Oh god,” Jase says, “oh god.”

“What happened?” Fosher says, “can you?”

“I don’t remember,” Jase says, “I don’t know, I was on my way back, and then I was at your door, and now we’re here, but…”

“Jase,” Fosher says at last, sitting back on his heels. “Are there any telepaths in town?”

0---

A return to 2007 Additions.