You Do What You Have To - 68

 

 

Watching as the knife descended, Micky tried not to scream. When it touched his skin, he did, begging Darren to stop. Suddenly something pushed Micky and the knife missed. He felt dampness on his cheek and wondered if he was crying because he was so terrified. Another gentle shove woke him up.

 

"What are you doing here?" he whispered when he saw Thor's face looming over him.

 

"I suspect," Falcon said from the doorway, "that he knew you needed him more than Robin does right now." He came over to the bed, patting Thor's head. "Bad nightmare, I take it."

 

Micky nodded. "Now I know what Robin meant when he asked if I was all right up here." He tapped his forehead. "Which is strange, because I've said the same thing to him a time or two."

 

"So you should have realized it could happen to you." Falcon sat down on the edge of the bed. "I won't lecture you about the effects of escaping something horrible. I'm certain you were well aware of them even before you met Robin. Just don't let them take over your life."

 

"Robin hasn't, and he's gone through a lot more than I have. I think I can handle it."

 

"I'm sure you can. I was just… Warning isn't right. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, if it does get to be too much—and it might not—you can talk to me, just as you've let Robin talk to you."

 

"Thank you. That means a lot."

 

"You're welcome. Now if you don't mind, let me check your physical damages before I take Robin to the doctor to get his looked at."

 

"He's still in pain when he moves," Micky said, sitting up.

 

"I know. What I—we—have to find out is how much of that's physical and how much is mental."

 

"It's not all in his head," Micky protested.

 

"I'm sure it isn't," Falcon replied softly. "But we have to make certain. Although"—he patted Micky's shoulder—"he does seem better this morning. Your influence, I'm sure. He wants to get well because he has plans. Ones that involve being able to move, shall we say, easily."

 

Micky felt the heat rising in his face and turned away, hoping Falcon thought is was because he didn't want to look at the reminders of what he'd gone through—which were revealed when Falcon removed the bandages.

 

Falcon chuckled. "I didn't mean to embarrass you. Still, I suspect it's the truth." He checked the wounds, pronouncing that they looked good. "I think we can dispense with the bandages on the two relatively minor cuts."

 

"Define minor," Micky said. "For damned sure they didn't feel minor when he was slicing me."

 

"I'm sure they didn't. But it was basically surface damage. Meant to scare you into talking, more than anything else. The puncture wound and the one on your arm need to stay bandaged for a while longer." He got up, left for a moment, and returned with a first aid kit. After applying an antibiotic salve, he re-covered the two areas.