Coming To Terms

[Kristopher Roberts]

There where rumors flying around in the human population of Wonderland. There was so many in fact it was impossible to keep track of them. But recently, a new one had been added to the list. One that stated Kristopher Roberts had been critically injured and possibly dead. That had bothered a lot of the younger children that liked Kristopher and so, after having punched one of the older boys in the nuts for stating that it was a good thing the blond could be dead, a little girl ran off.

Yes, she was going to get to the bottom of this event! But how to find out if it's the truth or not? Well, she had an idea on how to find out rather quickly. So the small six year old blond girl jogged out into the Fun House area. Her little legs carried her with such a purpose to find the one person that she knew well enough to ask. After all, he was always with Kristopher, right? So, he would know if any of what was being said to be truth or fiction.

She walked past the old rides and past a few swings and the fun house itself until she came upon a tea cup ride. It had been down sense yesterday. He would be here, wouldn't he?

Her blue eyes combed the area and she peered under the tea cups in order to take a peek and there she saw him, or at least his legs. A small appeared over her face that was soon taken over by concern. "Augusta." said the little girl a bit louder then she meant too. "Augusta, can I talk to you please? It's very important!" The little girl said as she bent down on her knees, dirtying the white dress her owner forced on her.

"It's about the rumors going on! They are scaring me and and and I punched a boy in the penis!"

[Augusta Davingoun]

Augusta knew about the rumors, he had his fair share of run-ins with those nasty comments. But, he was trying very hard to get over it. He hated hearing people say those sorts of things, but he knew that fighting wouldn't get him anywhere. He just kept his head down and tried to blend in, tried to stay out of trouble, at least for the time being. He did not know of any thing beyond everyone thinking Augy was the victim, when really both the boys were victims in their own respects. But he knew one thing was for certain, those people didn't know the half of it.

Augusta, being the grease monkey he was, was laying under a ride. He tried to force himself to think about the ride, the gears, the cogs, electric lines and fuel tanks and nuts and bolts. But his mind always seemed to drift. It drifted like a out-of-control car, then Augy snapped it back, snapped back the steering wheel like his life depended on it. But sooner or later, that brake pedal was going to give out.

"Augusta.... Augusta, can I talk to you please? It's very important!"

Augy was suddenly pulled back to reality once he heard a voice. He slid out from under the ride with ease. Wiping the oil off his hands he smiled, children were so cute. But the girl seemed to be downright serious about whatever she needed to say.

"It's about the rumors going on! They are scaring me and and and I punched a boy in the penis!"

At first Augusta wanted to laugh, but it seemed the couple was not the only ones affected. So the Frenchman sighed and tried his best not to laugh. " I know the rumors are upsetting but you don't need to be violent Margret..." he said and stood, dusting the dirt off his jeans.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Margret didn't care about being violent or not and she put her hands on her small hips in defiance. "We'll he wouldn't stop being nasty! He was saying bad things about Kristopher!" She stomped her small foot into the dirt to show how annoyed she really was at the matter, "So I taught him a lesson! That's all..."

Her eyes looked down at the ground for a long moment, "But that isn't what is scarring me really. I mean, I know it's a bad time for you and everything. An--and Kris is very sweet but..." She paused then trying to find the right words to say to the Frenchman. How could she ask him this even though she wanted to know the truth. So she decided to be blunt with the matter.

"Is Kristopher dead?" She asked in a small voice that held fear in it. "You two aren't together anymore and I never see him anymore either. Then--Then Sammy said Kristopher was dead. That a Boogieman killed him the other day. Sammy was saying it was good too---b--but that's not true. Kristopher is a good person right? I mean, you would know...if he was dead right? So he isn't, is he?" The girl looked so frightened and hopeful. Her bright eyes stared at the adult, her hands clenching her dress now.

"No one will tell me. So I---I figured you would know...c...cause you live with him. A--and they told me to go to the Music room if I didn't believe him. S--s--s--so I--I did...Augusta..." Margret's eyes started to tear up then as she tried to go on but couldn't find her voice.

"He really deserved to get punched in the penis for saying that! He messed up the floor to make me believe him, but I don't! Sammy is mean!"

[Augusta Davingoun]

"Is Kristopher dead?"

Augusta stared at the blond girl for a second before looking at her with a confused look on his face. He wasn't sure why she would ask him. Sure, the Frenchman hadn't seen Kris around in a bit, but that was to be expected. But dead? Why would she think that? But as she continued to talk everything started to come together and the more he heard, the less Augusta wanted to listen. But his curiosity got the better of him.

"No one will tell me. So I---I figured you would know...c...cause you live with him. A--and they told me to go to the Music room if I didn't believe him. S--s--s--so I--I did...Augusta..."

Augy bent down on the girl's level, his knees hitting the warm ground. He held her shoulders in his hands and looked at her with curiosity. " Margret... Margret ...Don't cry dear..." he said but the girl talked without him.

"He really deserved to get punched in the penis for saying that! He messed up the floor to make me believe him, but I don't! Sammy is mean!"

Augusta frowned, " Margret... what do you mean Sammy messed up the floor? What did you see in the music room Margret?" The dark-haired man's stomach turned, what happened when he was gone!? What happened!!! THIS WAS KILLING HIM!!! What or who did something to Kris? Was Kris really dead? WHAT WAS GOING ON!!! Suddenly the confusion turned into a lost feeling. What happened, ha wasn't sure, but sometimes rumors were half lies...

and half truth...

[Kristopher Roberts]

Margret sniffled as Augusta spoke to her and it didn't seem to help her at all. Her eyes went wide then as she stared at him, "Y--you don't know?" She asked with quivering voice. "B--but you're supposed to know! You're supposed to tell me he isn't dead." She raised her finger and jabbed it in his nose as she cried but put on a strong face. "You are supposed to tell me things are fine! You are a horrible boyfriend!"

She raised a hand and put it to her eyes as she cried but with the face of a trooper. "Sammy told me to go there a--and the floor near one of the tables had a big rusty colored spot! Like--like when you drop a lot of ketchup and can't get it all clean. There was a lot of it and some even went outside in the halls."

"It was all stained and and and it smelled like nuts...and iron. It was scary so I came to you." She hiccuped now as she looked at Augusta as if he had all the answers. "Sammy said that it was Kristopher's b--blood and he died because he couldn't service a boogieman right and they killed him."

"But that's not true, right? Right!" Suddenly, her trooper like face disappeared as she started to truly cry now like that of a child her age. "Sammy said he saw Kristopher...and and..and.....and he wasn't moving..."

"But he is just at home, sleeping....like always. He is just sick. Isn't that right Augusta?"

[Augusta Davingoun]

"Y--you don't know? B--but you're supposed to know! You're supposed to tell me he isn't dead. You are supposed to tell me things are fine! You are a horrible boyfriend!"

Augusta frowned and rubbed his nose. He let the girl go and sighed, " Margret... things aren't that easy..." he said softly. He listened to her and the more words she said the more Augusta felt sick. He could feel it climb up his throat and he wanted to throw up. He felt like every bone in his bone was broken and someone was beating him. Everything Margret said was starting to make that much more sense.

"Sammy said that it was Kristopher's b--blood and he died because he couldn't service a boogieman right and they killed him. But that's not true, right? Right!"

Augusta stood up again and looked away, " No... i--it's not true Margret..." he said softly, but inside himself he had a sick feeling it was. Nothing was ever as innocent as it seemed here in Wonderland.

"Sammy said he saw Kristopher...and and..and.....and he wasn't moving..."

Augusta covered his mouth, " Margret... Margret please... don't say-"

"But he is just at home, sleeping....like always. He is just sick. Isn't that right Augusta?"

Augusta looked away, turning his body just enough to hide his face, he forced back tears, forced back sobs. He was silent for awhile. The silence fell over him, he couldn't breath, he couldn't think, he didn't want to think. He didn't want to know if this was true or just a sick lie to screw with him. " No Margret, he's fine... I saw him this morning... He is kinda sick, but he should get over it in a few days..." he said. The Frenchman looked strong, he wanted to be strong but he was slowly becoming a completely different person. Without the blond doctor by his side, he was becoming broken.

Truly and irreparably damaged.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Margret lowered her eyes and nodded, she seemed to accept the lie. Lies where always better then truth, especially to a six year old. Even if she knew other wise. "G-good. Maybe I can find him something sweet then. He likes sweets. M-Maybe Sammy just saw him sleeping yes, sleeping. I bet you he's at the hospital now." The girl said with a firm nod.

But she knew she was lying to herself in this manner but she didn't care. She making herself believe the words. "Then, then I am going to go find him something and give it too him. He likes that, when I bring things to him when he is sick. Maybe you should too! He would like that, wouldn't he?" She ran her arm under her snotting nose then, trying to look like a strong six year old child.

"But I don't know where he would be. Can you find out?" she asked him softly, "So I know where to bring him his chocolate. Cause that's what I will take. My boogieman likes chocolate...I'll take some from him." She then placed a smile on her face, trying to get rid of the saddness on her features.

"Then I will go tell Sammy he is a lying asshole! And and and and punch him again! I'll go and do that right now for making me worry!" She declared and then pointed at Augy with, "And you...you find out where Kristopher is resting at...c...cause he never stays still...and and and...and....put something nice on!"

[Augusta Davingoun]

"G-good. Maybe I can find him something sweet then. He likes sweets. M-Maybe Sammy just saw him sleeping yes, sleeping. I bet you he's at the hospital now. But I don't know where he would be. Can you find out? So I know where to bring him his chocolate. Cause that's what I will take. My boogieman likes chocolate...I'll take some from him."

Augusta kept his body turned, he didn't want to lose his composure. But soon, despite the girls words, he felt numb. His entire body felt numb and cold. He would compared himself with the shell of a human, with no emotions or soul inside. He could hear the girl's words, but nothing really registered in his mind. So the adult nodded, " Yes... I can find him.." he said, his voice void of anything, no sadness, no anger, nothing.

"Then I will go tell Sammy he is a lying asshole! And and and and punch him again! I'll go and do that right now for making me worry! And you...you find out where Kristopher is resting at...c...cause he never stays still...and and and...and....put something nice on!"

Augusta let the numbness take over, he felt the heat leave him as he nodded and walked up to Margret. He patted her head softly, he then bent down and wiped some tears from her face. " I'll fix everything Margret. Everything will be fine..." he said softly. He stood back up and began to walk. He didn't know were he was going, his feet knew, but his mind was lost.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Margret nodded and as she was patted on the head, she patted Augusta on the stomach. "I know you will!" she said with a soft smile, "But now Im going to go beat up on Sam too..." She then hugged him tightly, wanting him to be alright as well. Then she turned and left to find chocolate for Kristopher.

Augusta would not run into anymore children for the moment. However Kristopher, unlike the rumors, was very much alive. Even if it was just barely. He was laying within the ICU of the hospital area, which was located in the very back of the hospital where not very many people wondered off into. The blond was currently resting still, he had not been able to stay fully awake for very long and when he was awake, he was confused on a lot of matters.

Such as why he was still in the hosptial and what was wrong with him. He had still yet to register that he lost an eye, even though he knew it...he couldn't believe it. The shock was still working through his system. His left eye was wrapped carefully as well as his left side from his ribs all the way to his shoulder and down his arm. His right hand was also wrapped to keep it from getting infected.

There was connected to him with the low techinology of Wonderland, but he did have an IV in his arm. One full of morphine and the other supplying blood that he had lost. He was currently on his second bag of the blood.

A few nurses had checked on him an hour ago and one of the ladies was now in the front of the hospital smoking her life away because of so much stress and the life in the hospital. "This blows..." He muttered to herself, looking out to the world as she ran a hand through her hair.

[Augusta Davingoun]

Augusta smiled and watched Margret walk off. But soon his feet were carrying him. Sometimes he thought his subconscious mind had control of his body. But right now he didn't feel much of anything. It was like the whole world was drained of color, like there was no point to even be walking right now. But his feet seemed to know best. They seemed to have an idea so he let them take him were he needed to be. Maybe it was a gut feeling but he somehow knew his feet were leading him to a place he wasn't sure he wanted to go.

The hospital.

Now, Augy never enjoyed being there, but he sometimes would get into little scuffles just to be in the general area of the residing doctor with blond hair and green eyes. But now that the green-eyed child wanted nothing to do with him, Augusta feared going back to the hospital so much that if he got in a fight, he would try and handle it himself. But as he came up onto the building he saw one of the nurses outside. He remembered her from when he was younger.

She must have been seeing him in and out of the hospital all his life. It seemed they were meant to be acquainted. Augy stopped a little bit away from her and looked over at her, his face a mix between numb sadness and vivid depression. " Gloria..." he said, " Please... please tell me...."

" Don't tell me he's... gone..."

[Kristopher Roberts]

Gloria looked up at Augusta for a moment and blinked, "Gone? Whose gone?" She raised a brow at him for a long moment before it hit her fully in the face then. "Oh, you mean him." She shook her head sofly as she put out her cigarette. "No, he's not gone, Augusta." Gloria chuckled dryly at her words. "He's far to stubborn."

Gloria stood up then and placed a hand on Augusta's shoulder, a look of concern on her face. She looked him with her soft eyes, "I suppose you heard the news then. I can take you too him, if you want to see him. But I warn you now, you won't like what you see and he isn't very coherent." She paused, "We gave him the last of the morphine, so once it goes away we will have to shove scotch or vodka down his throat to numb the pain. Heaven knows he will need it."

She took Augusta's hand within her own. "But he will live, unlike what everyone else is saying. That Roberts boy is very much alive, even I am starting to think he is immortal." She chuckled then, using her free hand to brush the french's dark hair from his eyes.

"But if you don't want to see him, then I can understand that. It's never easy to see someone laying in a bed, especially someone you care about." Gloria was a smart woman, she could read a person like a book and she could see that Augusta still cared for Kristopher. Even if the two weren't on good grounds still.

[Augusta Davingoun]

"Gone? Whose gone? Oh, you mean him. No, he's not gone, Augusta. He's far to stubborn."

Augusta smiled, it was a weak smiled, a painful smile. She was right, Kris was way to stubborn to die, not just yet. He felt her hands on his shoulders and he sighed. He felt a whole weight come off his chest. Like the world had suddenly been lifted. He knew Kris wasn't going to look good but... He needed to know he was alright. " I...I don't care... I need to see him... I need to see him Gloria... I need to fix things... This was my fault and I.... I... I need to fix it..." he said. His voice had a bit of emotion, but it was mostly monotone. Emotionless.

"But he will live, unlike what everyone else is saying. That Roberts boy is very much alive, even I am starting to think he is immortal. But if you don't want to see him, then I can understand that. It's never easy to see someone laying in a bed, especially someone you care about."

Augusta sighed softly and looked away, up towards the sky... " Gloria... I... I need him right now... If I had been there for him he wouldn't be hurt... I need to make this up somehow... even if I cry... I don't care..." he paused, " He needs someone... I need someone..." Augy stood in silence for a second before he let his emotionless gaze fall onto the girl in front of him.

" Gloria... you know me pretty well right... do you think I need to grow up?"

[Kristopher Roberts]

Gloria stuided the man before her for a long moment before sighing. "Honey, everyone grows up, some just slower then others." She patted him lightly on the shoulder and took him by the hand. "Let's go see him then, it's my turn to check on Kristopher." She held his hand tightly and lead him into the hospital.

She waved lightly at one of the passing nurses, she moved with a purpose. Going through the crowded hallways, dodging the screaming and crying children to make her way to the back. "It's harder here without him. I forget how much he does for people." She commented once the hallways started to become less and less crowded and far more quiet. As quiet as a graveyard really and that is usually what the ICU was for this world, a graveyard without the dirt and tombstones. Only a few individuals made it out of here and others died.

She checked in at the small counter with another nurse and took the folder from her. It was a rather large one, Kristopher's and ironically enough this was Vol. IV for him. The poor boy always was sick and he made sure to put down everything he could. "Here, hold this." She stated, giving the boy the folder that held Kristopher's history in it as she went around to grab a few other things.

She left Augusta there as she disappeared around a corner and then came back after three minutes with a new blood packet. "Looks like we will need more of these as well." She sighed, "We are running out of everything it seems. But at least we have plently of bandages still." She even had those in her hands. Then nodding she started to walk into the darker hallway off to the left and then entering the single door that was there. "He's in here, it was the warmest room I could find for him. Try not to be to shocked at what you see, he might not recongize you for a moment. Drug's will do that too you."

Then she pushed open the door and smiled sweetly at the sleeping blond who was covered in bandages it seemed. His blond hair clean, however still stained in a light red that turned the ends of his hair orange. "Kristopher." She said softly as she appraoched the blond. "Kris, wake up dear."

[Augusta Davingoun]

Augusta felt the warmth on his hand but his body still felt colder then ice. I couldn't feel his own feet as he was transported around the hospital. The loud noise of children and of nosy nurses was drowned out. Everything seemed like it was under water. He knew Gloria was talking to him but the words did not matter. His mind was like a blank slate, clean of everything.

Out of the 21 horrible years he has been alive, there was only one thing Augusta needed so desperately, only one thing he wanted more then his own life, more then anything, there was only one he thing he wanted to grasp in his hands, hold in his arms. And that one thing, his only life-line, his life raft in the ocean of mental instability was laying in that bed. Laying in that bed bandaged and bloody and bruised.

All because of one stupid, selfish act. IF Augusta hadn't of been such a baby, such a selfish ass, then he could have been with Kristopher, could have been there, saved him. He wanted to tell himself that. He wanted to blame himself, he was supposed to protect Kristopher. Kris was weak, fragile. While Augy was strong and powerful (not mentally of course) and Augy felt it was his job to protect the blond. And he failed... he failed...

It was equal to letting the green-eyed boy die. " Kristopher..." he said softly, " This is all my fault... I'm so sorry..." he hung his head, he clenched his jaw, his fists, every muscle in his body tightened to keep himself from crying. The Frenchman leaned against the door-frame so his knees wouldn't collapse under him. This was all his fault...

It had to be... who else was there to blame?

[Kristopher Roberts]

Who else indeed, Kristopher would say it was his own fault if he was awake. But he wasn't, not until Gloria finished trading out the bags and putting the used on in the trash can to get rid off by burning. She looked over at him and sighed, "You're speaking nonsense." She said to Augusta and then looked down at the pale blond.

"Kris." She said to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Hey, you have someone hear, now wake up dear." Finally, the blond stirred and opened his green eye that was clouded from sleep and drugs. He smiled softly at the nurse. "Hmm?" He said blinking a few times. "Gloria, can I go home now?" asked the tired sounding blond who had no idea Augusta was in the room.

Glora smiled and shook her head, "No, you know you can't go back yet. Remember, you got hurt and now you are going to stay here with me for a little while. At least until I know you can get up and walk on your own two feet." Kristopher frowned at this and lifted his right hand to his face, only to get thumped lightly, "Don't touch that, I need to change it."

She looked over then at Augusta, "Come here." She said to him and then looked back at Kristopher. "While I fix you up, why don't you talk to a friend? Hm?"

"Friend? Who..?" Kristopher asked with a voice that sounded so tired but rough from not being used and the wounds in his mouth from the vines. So he rolled his head over to spot Augusta against the frame. "Hello." Kris said to him softly and smiled. "It's Augy." said the dooped up blond and Gloria nodded, "It is. Augusta, come here and keep him distracted as I redo his bandaged. Its gotten dirty again."

"It's not dirty." The blond pouted, "Heh, okay well maybe a little...but I didn't do it!"

"Of course not, love. Of course not."