New Avalon

[yamikuronue]

Erika shakes her head.

"There's nothing I can do," she says, after a long moment. "I screwed up, and I'm going to have to pay that price."

[Hammer Sister]

"Nonsense; there's always a way out, even if you can't see it just yet."

[yamikuronue]

Erika smiles. "You think so?"

[Hammer Sister]

"Of course. In many ways, it's like solving a case; for a long time, not a lot makes sense. But then you find that key piece of information, and suddenly the jigsaw assembles itself."

[yamikuronue]

"So where should we start looking?" she asks, tucking some hair behind her ear.

[Hammer Sister]

"At this moment, I'm not sure. But we'll figure something out."

[CalamityJade]

~~

They would need some time, and there was still the current case Rob was on, but maybe they will find a way to figure something out. In the meantime, there are others that may or may not have been affected by her. Take, for instance, the ballerina that had an accident.

Nathaniel had been taken to a hospital shortly after the crowd had thinned and then it was a blur of drug-indused hazes and people reading charts and pain. The pain had ebbed as the drugs kicked in and he was able to find himself in a hospital room. IT must not have been too long, because there weren't many cards on the table. Just one or two. Probably from the other dancers. And of course one from Julianna.

A few moments later, the door opens and a man, obviously a doctor, steps in. "Good. You seem to be awake. How are you feeling?"

[yamikuronue]

"...blurry," he says, struggling to focus. He had fallen, and then... and then a blur of pain and drugs and concerned faces. Now, the stillness was almost as unnerving as the memories. Nathaniel hated being alone; he was a social creature, one who preferred the company of others during his relaxation periods.

[CalamityJade]

The doctor nodded. "Well, that's to be expected. You were in a good amount of pain from surgery." He moved to the side of Nathaniel's bed. "Thankfully, they got you here as fast as they did, or there might have been complications."

[yamikuronue]

Nathaniel smiles faintly, relief washing over him. "So there weren't any complications? I'll recover?"

[CalamityJade]

The doctor gave a hesitant nod. "There will be a good deal of physical therapy, but we'll have no problem getting you up and walking again."

[yamikuronue]

Nathaniel grins. "That's excellent news! How long before I can dance again? My understudy will want to know."

[CalamityJade]

"Dance?" The doctor looked a little stricken for a moment. "So then the nurse didn't tell you?" He vaguely recollected someone saying something to him a little before he either started dreaming or he was looking after moving lights. "There was extensive damage to the tendons in your knee and one major tendon almost tore completely free! Like I said, it was lucky they got you here when you did, or you might not be able to walk without assistance."

[yamikuronue]

Nathaniel's grin slowly fades. "...so what does that mean?"

[CalamityJade]

"It means that you'll be able to walk, maybe even run, but I don't know if you're knee will take the strain of dancing ever again. It would most likely permanently damage it to the point where you would need a crutch." The doctor gave a slow sigh. "I'm sorry, I was told that you had already been informed or I would have explained that first."