his head clean from his body. What a fucking dickhead. All for what? I can’t think of anything so important that I’d betray everything I knew, everyone I loved.
Though I could say the same for Bauer—I still have no idea why he did what he did. Why he worked with Archer. I just hope I get my brother back, and I get the chance to find out.
“It’s going to take time, for him to wake fully, but there’s nothing more we can do. I’ve left some herbs for a tea. When he wakes, ensure he drinks it. It will help him settle back to this world, help him adjust. Just prepare yourself.” She smiles at me sadly.
“Thank you, Marie. I appreciate it. If there’s anything I can do for you, anything you need.”
“Hush, child. I watched you boys grow. You’re family. No payment is needed.” She pulls me in for a hug, and practically crushes me, but it’s everything I didn’t know I needed. I’ve gone from being a carefree guy with no worries, to having the weight of the world on my shoulders at warp speed. She’s as much a surrogate mom as Maddie has been, and I really needed this hug. “You call me if he wakes and the herbs don’t help.”
“I will do.” I tell her and she releases me from her grip. Marie and her circle gather up their stuff and head out, leaving me in this big house alone once again, waiting for my brother to wake up.
I take a seat in the chair opposite the sofa where Bauer is still laid and close my eyes. It’s been a long few fucking days and I’m exhausted.
“Colt?”
My eyes fly open and I find Bauer trying to sit up, his entire body trembling.
“Hey big brother,” I say softly, standing and crossing the room to him slowly.
“How did I get here? Is this real?” He asks, his voice still shaking.
“It’s real. Had to kill a few people, and get some Witchy woo woo to break you free from whatever he did to you but you’re back.” I sit on the coffee table in front of the sofa, keeping a reasonable distance between us just in case.
“I’m so sorry, Colt.” His voice catches as he speaks, and it shatters my heart. I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen Bauer break, and that’s exactly what’s happening. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
“It’ll be fine, big brother. I’m not saying I forgive you, because fucking hell, Bauer. But right now, we have bigger shit to deal with,” I say, not knowing what to do. Remy usually helps when this happens, but she’s not here. It’s just me.
“What happened while I was out? What happened to your face?” He asks and I shake my head.
“There’s time for that. Let’s get some food in you, and then get some real sleep.” Much as I want to bombard him with questions, he looks like shit. “Marie left some tea for you too. To help.”
“Okay,” he sighs, his eyes sad and tired. I help him stand, his legs give out under him, so I sit him back down.
“You wait here, I’ll get some food, and we can talk later,” I tell him, trying not to worry. I don’t know how long he’s been under like that, it could’ve been ever since he warned Remy, and that was weeks ago. A Hunter can survive without food and drink for a while, but it fucks us up royally.
“Yeah, okay man.” I jog into the kitchen and pull one of the many Tupperware containers Maddie made up for Dad and chuck one of them in the microwave to heat while I heat some water for the tea Marie left for him.
In the few minutes it takes to put together, Bauer is silent, and I try not to think too hard about what sort of punishment Archer dealt to him, trapped inside his own mind. God knows we’ve all got enough Demons to deal with normally.
I steep the tea and take a sip. Fuck me that’s bitter, but at least it’s not scalding. I grab a fork for the pasta whatever it is and take it through to where Bauer is sat where I left him, just staring at a wall.
“Here you go man,” I say popping it all down on the coffee table, and sitting in the chair again, giving him some space. He seems like himself, but Marie wouldn’t have warned me