A Little Help From My Friends by Surreal Feedback: surreal666@hotmail.com Rating: PG-13 Pairing: Do I even have to remind you? Archive: LGM list, Unusual Suspects Disclaimer: Not mine. Part of the dialogue is taken from the episode so please don't sue me. Spoilers: "Eine Kleine Frohike" Summery: Part 2 of the missing scenes for "EKF". Who says no one cares if Langly gets poisoned? ******************* "Ah, Poisoned. Gotcha." And here I thought Jimmy was the idiot. Granted, I didn't know we had the wrong old lady until *after* I ate part of the muffin, but hey. I still feel pretty dumb. I think that's where I passed out. Hell, I don't remember. Next thing I know I'm on my back and Byers is kneeling over me, touching my cheek and talking real quiet to me, telling me I need to wake up, that I'm okay and all that. Right, John. I'm just peachy, except the fact I just poisoned myself. I don't open my eyes for a few minutes, cause I'm still trying to process the fact that I could die very soon. And John's still there with me, one of his hands resting lightly on my chest and the other one stroking my cheek. Feels really nice. I could die happy right here. Shit, I *will* die happy right here if I don't do something about it. I feel John sit up a little, and his voice gets louder as he starts talking to Jimmy. Jimmy's asking if he should call for help and John sighs. He says if they did it would cause a distraction and blow the Nazi operation. Damn, I hate when he's logical. He's telling Jimmy to go to the van and look for a first-aide kit. Says there should be something in there to induce vomiting. Sounds fun. Guess he's a little more worried than he's letting on, since normally he'd be able to tell ya exactly where anything is in the van. Or maybe he just wants Jimmy to go away before John embarrasses us both. Have I mentioned that I love him? By the time John turns back to me, I finally manage to open my eyes. Shit, he looks scared. Sorry, babe, didn't mean to worry you so much. But I can't cause right then my stomach reminds me of the stupid thing I did to get me in this position. Oh, fuck. "Ringo? Hey, shh, don't try to move. Just lay still, it's okay," John's telling me in that soft, comforting voice of his. It feels like a really bad cramp mixed with way too many Twinkies. Not a good feeling at all. I have to move, now, before I throw up on myself. I'd like to tell him this, but I'm afraid of what will happen as soon as I open my mouth. I manage to roll onto my side, groaning pathetically as I do so. John's trying to help me out, keeping me steady. He knows me well enough to know what's up. Or, what will *be* up in a few seconds. I'm on my front now, kneeling and I press my forehead into the wet grass. Breathe...steady, calm, relaxing breaths and I'm starting to get my traitor stomach under control. I feel John's hand rubbing my back and that helps even more. I'm thinking I'll be okay now. Then Jimmy comes back and says he can't find a first aide kit. Damn. Looks like I'll have to do this on my own after all. Ugh. "Ree, listen to me, okay?" John's leaning in close to me again so I'm the only one who hears him. "If she really did poison you, you need to get it out of your body before it hits your bloodstream, all right? You're going to have to throw up." I knew that. I raise my head a little and nod, show him I understand. Keeping one hand on the ground, my arm straight to brace me up, I close my eyes and stick my fingers down my throat. Oh, yeah. This is gonna be fun. It doesn't work. As much as I know John appreciates my efforts, I've spent years retraining my gag reflex not to kick in when I do something like that. For...extra- curricular activities. Anyway, this is going to take a little more effort than I thought. I think John knows this too, cause he's still there kneeling next to me on the grass, rubbing my back and holding my hair away from my face. Now I *know* the guy loves me; not many people would hold your hair back while you threw up. Ugh, it's working. I hate this part. As often as I do it, I really hate puking. It's just not fun. And now is even worse, because the only thing in my stomach in the last two days is that little bit of the damn muffin and that means I'm dry heaving for about five minutes. When I feel like I'm not turning myself inside out anymore I sit back on my heels, wiping my hand over my face. I feel really cold...this sucks. I feel like shit. "You okay now?" John asks me. God, I can't believe he stayed with me this whole time. That's commitment right there. I give him a weak nod and struggle to my feet. My knees are like water but I manage to stay standing, with John's help. Maybe if I just leaned against the van... Ah, damn. That guy, Wilhelm, he's still on his way. Ah, double damn. There's his car coming down the street. "Langly, you get in the van and lay down, pretend you're dead," Yves suddenly turns all business. Sure, I can handle that. So all this stuff happens around me, I don't really know what all's going on but I'm happy just to get the chance to get off my feet. Next thing I know, Wilhelm is leaning over me, reachin' down to check if I'm still alive. "Guttentaug, sucker," I open my eyes just as Yves zaps him with a tranquilizer gun and of course, he falls right on me. Ugh, that didn't feel too good. Little help here? They drag his ass off me and I sit up, still feelin' like spam lightly toasted. "Okay, so , now what?" John asks Yves as I stagger out of the van. Hello? Remember me, I'm Dyin'. Nice to see ya again, Johnboy. "Now we get me to a hospital," I manage to choke out as I double over from the returning cramps. "You're gonna be a-okay, buddy," Jimmy assures me. Gee, thanks, you freakin' moron. That make me feel so much better coming from you. I think he gets the hint from my glare. "Come on, let's puke you again," he says suddenly, grabbing me and pulling me up against him from behind like he's some kind of Alpha Male in rutting season. Geez. "I hardly know you!" is all I can protest before I feel him wrap his really....*really* strong arms around my waist and pull. Hard. Oh, god that hurts more than the dry heaving and the cramps. I feel stomach take the easy way out, which is through my mouth. I can't even breathe anymore. I must be making really gross sounds by now because I suddenly feel myself being dropped. Oh, wait...Yves is saying something to Jimmy. Good, get the big guy off me! I'm on the ground, gasping for air. "Damn it, Jimmy! Go easy on him, he's sick!" Ah, about time you came to my rescue, John. Took you long enough. He bends down to help me up, and keeps me steady on my feet while I wait for the dizziness to pass. When I open my eyes he's looking at me, scrutinizing. I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile. "You okay, Ree?" he asks me as the other two start doin' something in the van. I don't care what they're doing, as long as they clean up afterwards. "Yeah, just a few cracked ribs, nothing serious," I joke, but by the way his eyes get all big I don't think he thinks it was very funny. "No, really--he didn't hurt me," I hurry to assure him. He relaxes a little, but I can tell he won't let me out of his sight for the next few days, at least. He's like that, real protective but I don't mind. Makes me feel good knowing he cares that much for me. ********** "You could still be fired," Frohike threatens Jimmy yet again. The idiot just can't take a hint. Oh, well. I'm too tired to deal with it right now. I just want to go home and crawl into bed and sleep. Ah, yeah...a real bed. That's what I need. I manage to peel my body off the side of the van. John glances my way and I can see by the look on his face that I must still look like shit. There's no way I'm gonna die now, since I threw up everything inside my body over the last hour or so. "Can we go home now?" I ask. My voice sounds really ragged, like...well, like I've been puking. Go figure. "You sure?" he asks me, moving to stand really close and look me over. "Do you still want us to take you to a hospital, just to be safe?" I reach out and grasp his shoulder for balance, and make my way toward the van. "No...I just want to go home. I'm okay." He still looks doubtful, but then, that's him. He helps me into the back of the van, and I curl up in one of the little seats we left in there, right behind the driver seat. Wish we'd kept the bench in there, though; I'd really rather sprawl out. John sits on the floor next to my legs and just rests a hand on my knee. The other two take the hint. Jimmy gets in the front and Frohike slides in behind the wheel and we're finally getting out of this damn place. Good riddance. ************* Later, I'm feeling much better. I took a shower and cleaned off two days worth of van smell. Though, a lot of that smell was a nice mixture of me and John, but I can get that back anytime I want. Like now. I'm sprawled on my stomach wearing nothing but a clean pair of boxers. The sheet and blanket are tangled around my legs, and John is laying his side next to me. I've got my head pillowed on my crossed arms and I'm kinda facing him. He's rubbing my back. God, I love him. His hand is just petting me with long, warm, heavy strokes down my back and it feels so nice. We don't have to talk. It's just us, like this. That's all either of us needs. He's telling me that he cares about me and wants to make me feel better. I'm letting him. I'm pretty much asleep when I hear a soft knock on our bedroom door. Too tired to move. I'll let John get it. I feel him shift next to me, and call really quietly toward the closed door. "It's open." The door opens, but it's quiet so I don't know what's up. Then I hear the other person's voice. "Oh--sorry, I--I mean, I didn't... I'll talk to you guys in the morning." It's Jimmy. Well, that saves us from having to tell him about us. John moves again, and I can't keep a little disappointed moan from escaping at the loss of warmth. "Hang on, Jimmy," he says, then leans down to kiss the top of my head. "I'll be right back," he tells me, his hand stroking my shoulder a final time before he walks away. Good thing John is wearing more than I am; though, he's still only in sweatpants. They both step outside and John closes the door a little, but I can still hear what they are saying. "Sorry, I didn't know you guys were...um, you know..." Jimmy sounds really embarrassed. Serves him right. I hear John sigh and the soft slide of skin. He's crossed his arms over his chest, like he does when he's nervous. "Is this going to be a problem for you? I mean, does it bother you?" he asks Jimmy. "No! No, it's cool, I'm cool with it. I love you guys, I don't care who you choose to sleep with...I mean...I was just surprised is all." Oh, that was smooth. I get it, though. He's just saying he doesn't mind that we are...well, what we do in our spare time. I give him credit. John probably nods. "So, what is it you wanted?" he changes the subject smoothly. He's so good at that. "Um, I just wanted to apologize to Langly--you know, for being so rough with him earlier. I didn't mean to hurt him..." Aww, that's sweet. Makes the bruises on my chest just a little less painful. I hear a little movement, sounds like John is patting his arm. "Jimmy, it's all right. He knows you were just trying to help. He's not mad at you, and neither am I." Anymore, I add in my head. "So, he's okay? I mean, nothing broken?" "No, nothing broken. Just a little bruised and sore, he'll be fine." "Okay...um, I guess, that's all. Um...see you guys in the morning?" "Yes, but not too early," John reminds him. Since we got back so late, we told Jimmy it'd be okay if he wanted to crash on our ugly red couch. Like he's going to pass up the chance to hang with us. I hear the door close again, and the bed dip as John climbs back in next to me. He resumes petting my back and I make a happy purring sound. I feel like a cat. "I thought you'd be asleep by now," he says. I can hear the tired smile in his voice. "Nah. Wanted to hear you tell Jimmy off, maybe do a little beating to defend my honor," I tell him, yawning at the end of the sentence. Guess I am getting close to falling asleep. "He's a good kid, Ree. He really was just trying to help. And he did...kinda," he reminds me. I feel his arm slide around to my other side; it's his signal that he wants me to roll onto my side so he can wrap himself around me. I love it when he does that, so I move and he's there. His legs tangled with mine, his arm around my chest holding me back against him, his other arm going under my head. It makes a much better pillow. I fall asleep comfortably, surrounded by him. Yeah, I think I'll live. ******************** End.