The City

Rapid swallowed hard. He picked up the kitchen knife and poured some of the bottled water over it, trying to keep it clean. He steadied his hand and rested he other on the based of Gabe's neck, he could feel the device below the surface, under the thin scar. He exhaled slowly and smoothed his thumb over Gabe's skin. "St.. stay still." he waited a little longer then made the first cut. He winced seeing the blood well up slowly. He turned the blade and used the tip to slide under the chip and push it up. He pulled the bloody chip free and set it on the nightstand. He daubed at the skin with the towel and rested his hand over it. "What did you want me to do with the chip?" he asked Gabe, his voice had just the edge of a shake to it."Gabe?" He was so worried about him, his health, he looked horrible, he had to feel horrible too.

Molly ran to the door and knocked a guard over, wrenching it open she flew at Piper and crushed her in a hug. "PIPER! Thank God you're ok!! I thought..." she shook her head. Her heat with Piper's natural cold was making their embrace steam. She jumped up. "Are you ok?? How's your shoulder? Where are the kids??"

Alan had lit back down on the block where he had last seen Rapid and Gabe, they were long gone. He strode down the steps and saw Will in the street. He frowned and stepped cautiously over, his fingers crackled with static, just in case. He reached Will's side and nudged his leg with his foot. "Will." he grunted. He vaguely knew of the Reeds, having run in the same circles, though he was in their same area with the secret missions. He also thought Mr. Reed in the council was a bit of a prick, and had told the gentlemen so on a few separate occasions. "Will get up before I arrest you for endangering a citizen and attempted murder." his hand crackled with a few blue sparks.

"That's my surname." Alan rolled his eyes. "Glad you figured that out." He folded his arms. "What the hell were you doing!" he scolded. "Your brother's missing! You probably killed him, without medical attention he's gonna die, and his blood's on who's hands again?"

Molly nodded. "Wait, is Emery still there? Ugh, I'm gonna FLAY him!" she turned and ran back into the building. "MICHAEL! I need a squad! We're going to city limits!" She hurried back to Piper. "You should see a doctor, I love you and all but you look like hell and I'm pretty sure even Leon could knock you out if he wanted to." She jumped in place, antsy and stressed, the tips of her hair smoldered in tiny flames.

Rapid swallowed hard and rested a hand on his back. He stroked it gently, hoping he wasn't hurting him. He just wanted him to get better. "I was so scared..." he blurted. "I thought he... I thought you were dead." he sighed out shakily. "You're... so tough." he shook his head. He removed his hand, thinking about Will almost punching a hole through Gabe made him wary of his own strength. "Do you need me to get you some help??" he asked him again. "I don't know what I'm doing what if I make it worse??"

"Worried?? I... You looked like Quazimodo! Like a broken animation rig, like... Gumby..." he trailed. "As soon as he hit you my heart stopped..." he confessed. He stared at his hands. "And then I tried to rip him in half... and probably would have..."

Alan wanted to kick him in the shin. "His spine was arched out of alignment." he pointed out. "And find him again? I don't think so, you're an endangerment. If I had a cell left to hold you I'd book your sorry ass in a heartbeat." Stupid super strength bozo... he thought sourly.

Molly nodded and hugged her again. "I'll bring them home, him too." she promised. "Then we'll hang him upside down from a tree and bust the candy out of him with sticks together." she ended with a smile and hurried down the stairs.

Rosalia appeared around the corner. "Ms Piper? Come on, lets get you patched up." she beckoned her inside.

Rapid sighed out raggedly and looked up. He didn't know what to do, he was so exhausted from the adrenaline and the fear, Gabe seemed fine now, but he could still smelled the blood he'd vomited up previously, and that made him feel sick. He wouldn't leave him again. He couldn't afford to, no matter what he said. "It doesn't feel ok." he shook his head. "We're still stuck out here, still lost." he fingered the edge of the blanket on the bed. He thought of Ren, Rosie, the whole lot of them in hiding, waiting for them to find them. But even then, what? Hide in a hole together until this whole siege blew over? Starve and freeze to death quietly as they season grew harsher? He looked at Gabe, he'd only known him a few days, but now the thought of losing him terrified him. He looked up and rested his hand on Gabe's. "Please get some rest, I know you say you're gonna be fine but... humor me, I'm still getting used to your powers and..." he sighed out again. If Gabe kept scaring him like this he was going to go gray.

Rosalia lead Piper to the hospital wing and helped her settle down, she brought her some fresh Commando issued clothes and helped clean up her wounds. "I'm filling in as the medic while Nzuri's busy in surgery." she explained. "She's the head doctor of this safe house." She placed the last bandage and smiled. "All finished. I wouldn't want to meet the creature that chewed you up." she shuddered. She took the box and flew off the ground to place it on the top shelf then came back.

"I thought you were on assignment from your old man." Alan sat on a block of rubble. "Didn't realize it involved fratricide."

Rapid looked up in surprise, his face warmed and he glanced around before standing and sitting in the bed next to him. He sighed and reclined on his back and stared at the ceiling, it was getting darker. He rubbed his eyes and rested his hands on his stomach. "I can't remember the last time I slept on an actual bed... been couch hopping for years." his eyes flickered. His spike of adrenaline was going down and so was he. He sighed out and shut his eyes, finally, slowly starting to relax enough to let his guard down to sleep.

Alan didn't want to argue anymore. "I catch you pummeling anyone else I'll zap you into a grease spot." he turned and headed down the street. "Steer clear of your brother, I doubt he'll survive another 'misunderstanding' from you." he took off into the air with a static crackle.

Rapid actually managed to sleep all through the night, knowing Gabe was safe and they were hidden away from the rain and cold had helped him relax for the first time in what felt like ages. He woke up feeling sunlight shining in his eyes and squinted his eyes open seeing he was curled close to Gabe, he made sure he was still breathing and sighed in relief. He eased off the bed and stretched his impressive muscles, his bone and muscles popping and cracking softly. He crossed to the window and peered outside, the rain had cleared off and the streets were clear. He looked over his shoulder and checked on Gabe, he should find him something to eat, something for them both to eat... He didn't want to leave him alone though." he walked back over to him and rested a wary hand on his shoulder. "Gabe?" he murmured. He hated to wake him, he looked so peaceful.

Rapid smiled gently. "You don't have to get up, I was going to find use some food, I wanted to make sure you'd be ok alone for a few minutes, I'll just be in the building checking the other apartments." He felt a little shy talking so softly to him. "How are you feeling?" he asked, despite looking healthier than he did by a long shot he worried. He realized his hand was still on his shoulder and withdrew it self-conciously noticing he was half exposed.