Xaviers!

After the group got Erica back to the infirmary, the doctor-on-duty was almost positive that she wasn't going to make it. She'd lost too much blood and any number of other reasons. But she hung on and her vital signs began to get stronger. All they could do for the moment was repair what damage they could and let her rest. She was made comfortable in a bed and hooked up to IVs. She lay there, eyes closed. Her arms, wrapped in bandages, rested on top of the blanket. Slowly her mind began to come to and she eventually woke up, but she seemed to lack the energy to even call the nurse.

((Open))

Will stood in the corner of the room, staring, unblinking at Erica. He had been the one to bring her in, so he needed to make sure she was going to be alright before leaving.

It takes Erica a moment to notice he's there. When she does, she gives him a pained smirk. She starts to speak, coughing painfully a couple of times due to a dry throat, before finally saying, "I see I've been put under guard."

"I can leave, if it makes you more comfortable."

"Taking those damnable blades out of my arms has done a lot to make me more comfortable," she says, "I presume I have you to thank for that?"

"Not me, personally. It was the Morrigan who led the rescue efforts."

"The Morrigan came herself, did she? I was under the impression that she wasn't overly fond of me."

"I wouldn't know about the personal history between you two, I'm afraid. I'm sorry I can't be of more help there."

"Fair enough. So why did you decide to stand guard over me?"

"We didn't think you were going to make it. You lost a lot of blood.

I was here in case we needed to do anything desperate at the last minute."

"I appreciate it. Never accept immortality that does not come with invulnerability. That's something I'll have to work on."

"Do you know who did this to you?"

“I should. But I’m drawing a blank. I know I should know him.”

Will frowned.

"Do you mean he just has a familiar face, or are you implying something's...blocking your memory?"

She screws up her face in concentration, “I think he did something... Some sort of spell. I can’t tell you who he is.”

"Then I'm of no use here. I'll go get one of our more magically or telepathically-inclined colleagues to help you out," he said, heading for the door.

It's not long at all after Will leaves that Sam walks in. It's like she'd been waiting.

"How many bargains did you have to burn to stay alive?"

"I strained quite a few, but they're all intact. You'd be surprised what you can live through when no one can claim you. Doesn't keep it from hurting though," she says, glancing at her bandaged arms.

"I'd imagine not."

She crosses her arms.

"You called. I came."

"You were the one close enough to do me some good. And I appreciate you actually coming."

"Whoever did this to you. He's after Viv, isn't he?"

"In a manner of speaking," she says, trying to pull together the thoughts again to identify her attacker, but not managing it. It suddenly occurs to Sam that she's never been able to read Erica's thoughts before. "He's... playing enforcer I think? Wanted to know what I knew about Vivienne and what she was doing."

"He really did a number on you. You're leaking."

It takes her a moment to realize what Sam's talking about. "Torture, a lot of it. And not being able to work my own magic. I'm not up to putting the wards back in place, so just be my priestess this time, okay?" She tries to muster a smile, but it doesn't quite get there.

"Think you've got that backwards."

"I saw him, you know. I saw him in your mind. I heard what he said to you."

"What did he say?" She moves slowly to raise the bed a bit.

"Something about his mother. Like 'Say hello to mother' I think?"

"He left a note about the daughter running out of time, and the son taking someone else."

"So clearly this is a family affair."

"The question is who's family?" She looks visibly frustrated, "I know I should know him. He's important... but he did something to me or had something done to me. I can't..."

"I could help with that."

"If you trust me."

She ponders for a moment, "I probably owe you that much, if nothing else."

"I don't know, you seem to be rather precise with what you... owe."

"Precision is what keeps agreements from conflicting," Erica says, "It pays to be precise. Would I have died on that floor if you hadn't retrieved me? No, but that doesn't mean I don't still owe you something for retrieving me. I have the feeling that we've wandered off the maps now. And while they scoff at such a notion these days, 'here there be monsters' still means something."

"He's dangerous enough to take you down. He's going to take others. If I'm to get to the bottom of this, you're going to hold nothing back from me."

That gives Erica pause for a moment. Finally she shrugs, "Agreed, provided you take care in how you spread my secrets."

"I've no reason to spread your secrets around, but obviously he chose you for a reason."

"I think he knew I'd live. I was a message. Back when things were less civilized, I've sent similar messages."

"So not only do you know him, but he knows you."

She nods, "He would have to..." She wracks her brain and Sam can feel her straining against whatever the block is. "I think that was back when I was Deirdre. It's been at least a couple of hundred years since the last time I used that name. I..." Again she strains, "... think he was calling himself Robert then."

"Then let's loosen what he put on you. You've bound yourself enough without him adding to it..."

Erica can feel the flock descending on her.

She tries to relax, but there's no way to make that sensation pleasant for someone in her position. Sam can sense the remnants of her mental wards. It's like a cracked and fractured dome over the sacred grove that forms the core of her mind.