Waking Up
Title: Waking Up
Fandom: Harry Potter - Scion 2G Universe
Characters: Brendan Finnigan/Grace Pucey
Word Count: 2,143
AN: Unbeta'd. Special thanks to disparagingrant for her help in writing Brenden.
Grace ran a hand over her forehead wiping the sweat that was trickling from her hairline. She wasn’t aware of the streak of dirt she left behind as she concentrated on the plant in front of her. It was stubborn, but she was even more so and she was going to graft it to the muggle plant. “I don’t care if you don’t want to be in this pot. Trust me you’ll be better after this.” She struggled a bit, but finally placed the two together. “There.” Before Grace could give a shout of triumph, the floo buzzed behind her.
“Grace!”
She spun quickly at the sound of her mother’s voice. Her mother’s concerned voice. “What? What is it? Is everything all right?”
“It’s Brendan, honey. There’s been an accident at the Dragon Preserve and Bren’s in the hospital. He’s in a coma.”
Everything in Grace froze. Her blood and her breath, everything. It felt as if her body shut down, she couldn’t imagine a life without Brendan in it. “I’m going.” Grace’s voice was firm despite her shaking limbs and heart. “I’ll pack a bag and be there as soon as I can. He will be all right and he will wake up.”
She couldn’t look at her mother’s sad features floating in the floo or she would break down and Grace couldn’t do that. She had to be strong for Brendan. Her stubborn Pucey side was going to rise to the surface so that she could bring her best friend back.
Her voice trembled a bit, as she kept her eyes lowered. “Thanks, mum. I’ll take the International floo.” Grace hoped to reassure her mother that she wouldn’t try to apparate anywhere. She knew that she would splinch herself, if she even tried. “Love you.” The words were spoken softly as Grace turned from the floo to begin packing, the plants already forgotten, her mind completely on her best friend.
~*~
Every possibility of what Brendan would look like flashed through Grace’s mind as she traveled to the hospital. From burns covering his body to bones completely gone with a bottle of Skele-Grow next to his bed, but what frightened her most was that he wasn’t waking up. Taking a deep breath and preparing herself for the worst she approached the Healer’s desk. “I’m here to see Brendan Finnigan.”
The witch looked over the rim of her glasses at the young woman in front of her. A kind smile lit her features, “He’s in room 649 at the end of the hall. You just missed his parents, they left about five minutes ago.”
Grace smiled her thanks to the witch, not sure if she was glad or sad that she wouldn’t see Ginny and Seamus Finnigan. On one hand, Grace wasn’t sure she could have kept her emotions in check if she saw his parents with Bren. On the other hand, she loved the Finnigans and wanted to see them.
Straightening her shoulders, Grace pushed open the door, but paused in the doorway. Her teeth biting hard on her lip to stop the cry from escaping at the sight in front of her. Brendan laid silent on the bed, bruises covering his collarbone that she could see, and cuts on his cheek and forehead. He also had bandages on his arm that was lying on top of the covers, and Grace didn’t want to think of the injuries that she couldn’t see.
She sat in the chair closest to his hand over the sheets and carefully took it in hers, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. “Hey, Bren. Open your eyes and show me how glad you are to see me.” Her voice soft and soothing. “You know I won’t let you get away with just sleeping, I’m too stubborn. If I have to come up with a spell to send me into your brain and drag you awake, I will.”
Her thumb softly caressed the skin on the back of his hand as her mind drifted back to the first time she met him. “Remember in Wee Wizards camp when I was out hunting for a plant at night.” Grace laughed softly at the memory, “I didn’t want to go to the camp, but mum bribed me with the knowledge that there were plants there that I’d never seen. I am so glad she did. I know we would have met no matter what, but Circe I’m happy you were my very first friend.”
She felt her voice tremble, but she stubbornly firmed it, not wanting to cry in front of him. Not yet. That would be for the tears of joy when he woke. “You never knew you were the reason I stayed at Wee Wizards. I’d been homesick and wanted to leave, then I met you. You’re always there for me, Bren, whenever I need you and I’ll always be there for you, whenever you need me.” Her voice low, barely audible in the room, “Even when you move on and marry.”
It tore at her soul to think of Brendan married or even with another witch, but it was something that she was prepared for. Eventually, it would happen, and she would have to watch her best friend look at someone that wasn’t her, with love in his eyes. Grace had wondered when she’d fallen in love with Brendan, it seemed like she’d been in love with him forever.
Memories rose again in her mind from a year ago, when they’d gone skinny dipping to pick up luminescent algae. It had been reiterated that they were only friends, even if his body had reacted to her form. She’d understood it was a teen-age male reaction to a naked female wrapped around him. His words had been plain enough, Take your algae and go to the dock, get dressed and don’t look back. So she had, and had never been tempted to cross the line between friendship and more again. Grace hadn’t wanted to lose her best friend.
Grace’s eyes rose to look at Brendan’s sleeping features and sighed from deep within her soul. She still didn’t want to lose her best friend, but that had almost happened with his accident. What if he didn’t wake up? Grace’s heart clinched at the thought, lowering her head to rest on his chest, her fingers still held his.
Her voice whisper soft as she confessed, “I love you, Bren. Not only as a best friend, but really soul deep love you. I know one day you’ll find a witch and give her your heart. I’ll still be there with you, any way that I can have you in my life I’ll take it.” The tears that she’d kept dammed up were silently spilling down her cheeks. “I can’t imagine my life without you.”
"I was just barely your first friend," Brendan’s voice gravely from misuse continued softly. "If I remember correctly, you would have rather found the Shining Sasperroot than me that night."
Grace didn’t know if the voice was a figment of her imagination or if Brendan really was awake. Slowly, as if afraid to break the spell, she raised her head from his chest, and squeezed his fingers. With hope in her heart, Grace turned her head and a smile bloomed over her features.
“That was before you showed some of that Finnegan charm.” She brought her free hand up to caress his cheek. “You know you didn’t have to fall off a dragon to get me to come visit. I had my floo tickets for next month.”
“I didn’t fall, a tail caught me unexpectedly.” Brendan raised his hand to tug at the ends of Grace’s dark locks. His mind trying to focus on her, but all he could hear was her soft confession. Had she really said she loved him or was that his coma and wish fulfillment? He’d been in love with Gracie since he understood the differences between wizards and witches.
“All I felt was the breeze minutes before my feet were swept out from under me. The Romanian Longhorn turned and all I saw was his horn. My first thought was I was going to die before I could be honest with you.” Brendan’s voice low as he felt her body still.
Grace’s whole body froze, scared that he had heard her softly spoken confession of love and this was the end. Would he avoid her now that he knew her secret? Goddess, why hadn’t she kept her secret to herself?
Brendan’s eyes closed as exhaustion was rising again, but his fingers continued to caress the ends of her hair. He wanted this connection to Grace, the comfort that she always gave him. “I’ve kept a secret from you. For all these years.” His mind went back to all the times he’d denied himself because he hadn’t wanted to ruin their friendship. The skinny dipping at Wee Wizards came to the front of his mind. All he’d wanted was to lose himself in her that night. If she’d stayed any longer he would have.
Secret? Grace’s mind raced as to what he’d kept from her all these years? Was there someone else? Someone he’d seen secretly? If Brendan was seeing someone in secret it was because he knew someone would be hurt. Since he didn’t know about her feelings it had to be someone else. The first name that came to her mind was Candace Zabini. He’d mentioned her when they were skinny dipping, and he was friends with Ian. Was that his secret?
“Secret? You know you can tell me anything, Bren.” She steeled herself for what she knew would break her heart.
"I was too scared to tell you. Afraid of what your reaction would be." Brendan swallowed past the huge lump in his throat. “I saw Cyprian turn and stomp and all I could think about was never telling you how I felt.”
Grace mutely nodded, not trusting her voice, as her free hand rose to swipe at the lone tear that was leaking from the corner of her eye. She gathered her emotions tight around her and forced herself to turn to look at her best friend. “W-what did you want to tell me?”
Brendan forced his eyes open and his breath caught at the sight of Grace’s eyes wet from unshed tears. He made a silent vow to never see that look again, unless it was tears of happiness. “I love you, Grace. Not only as a best friend, but really soul deep love you.” He repeated Grace’s words to her letting her know that he’d heard her.
Grace felt all the color drain from her face, at first thinking Brendan was throwing her words back at her, then she realized that he was serious. Brendan loved her. Was she dreaming? Had she fallen asleep with her head on his chest? Reaching down with her free hand, she gave his thigh a pinch.
“OW! What’d you do that for?” Brendan looked at her in confusion.
She smiled slightly, “I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”
“Is that like the time that Maeve hexed Sean to get his attention? You know there are other ways you could show me that you love me.” His hand moved up from the ends of her hair to cup the back of her head. “Kissing me in the rain. Well, kissing me anywhere. Snuggling in a bed while you feed me some of your homemade biscuits. Just seeing your smile when you're big as an Opaleye in your ninth month of carrying our child.”
Her eyes widened as large as saucers as Brendan continued to list the ways that she could show her love. But, her mind zeroed in on one phrase and she scowled slightly. “I will not get as big as an Opaleye.”
Brendan just chuckled and pulled her head down for a kiss.
Ginny stopped in the doorway of her son’s hospital room, tears of happiness spilling from her eyes at the sight in front of her, and a soft gasp on her lips. Her son was awake and apparently none the worse for wear. She felt Seamus’ arms encircle her from behind and leaned into his chest.
“Takes after his old man.” Seamus’ voice held a note of pride and laughter as he watched his son kiss Grace.
“That he does. You’re both too thick to realize your best mates were in love with you.” Ginny smiled over her shoulder.
Seamus’ eyes widened in mock shock. “Dean was in love with me?! I had no idea.”
“Git.” Ginny narrowed her eyes at her husband before turning in his arms and wrapping them around his neck.
“Yeah, but you love me anyway.” Seamus gave her a wink and lowered his head to kiss his wife.
Fandom: Harry Potter - Scion 2G Universe
Characters: Brendan Finnigan/Grace Pucey
Word Count: 2,143
AN: Unbeta'd. Special thanks to disparagingrant for her help in writing Brenden.
Grace ran a hand over her forehead wiping the sweat that was trickling from her hairline. She wasn’t aware of the streak of dirt she left behind as she concentrated on the plant in front of her. It was stubborn, but she was even more so and she was going to graft it to the muggle plant. “I don’t care if you don’t want to be in this pot. Trust me you’ll be better after this.” She struggled a bit, but finally placed the two together. “There.” Before Grace could give a shout of triumph, the floo buzzed behind her.
“Grace!”
She spun quickly at the sound of her mother’s voice. Her mother’s concerned voice. “What? What is it? Is everything all right?”
“It’s Brendan, honey. There’s been an accident at the Dragon Preserve and Bren’s in the hospital. He’s in a coma.”
Everything in Grace froze. Her blood and her breath, everything. It felt as if her body shut down, she couldn’t imagine a life without Brendan in it. “I’m going.” Grace’s voice was firm despite her shaking limbs and heart. “I’ll pack a bag and be there as soon as I can. He will be all right and he will wake up.”
She couldn’t look at her mother’s sad features floating in the floo or she would break down and Grace couldn’t do that. She had to be strong for Brendan. Her stubborn Pucey side was going to rise to the surface so that she could bring her best friend back.
Her voice trembled a bit, as she kept her eyes lowered. “Thanks, mum. I’ll take the International floo.” Grace hoped to reassure her mother that she wouldn’t try to apparate anywhere. She knew that she would splinch herself, if she even tried. “Love you.” The words were spoken softly as Grace turned from the floo to begin packing, the plants already forgotten, her mind completely on her best friend.
~*~
Every possibility of what Brendan would look like flashed through Grace’s mind as she traveled to the hospital. From burns covering his body to bones completely gone with a bottle of Skele-Grow next to his bed, but what frightened her most was that he wasn’t waking up. Taking a deep breath and preparing herself for the worst she approached the Healer’s desk. “I’m here to see Brendan Finnigan.”
The witch looked over the rim of her glasses at the young woman in front of her. A kind smile lit her features, “He’s in room 649 at the end of the hall. You just missed his parents, they left about five minutes ago.”
Grace smiled her thanks to the witch, not sure if she was glad or sad that she wouldn’t see Ginny and Seamus Finnigan. On one hand, Grace wasn’t sure she could have kept her emotions in check if she saw his parents with Bren. On the other hand, she loved the Finnigans and wanted to see them.
Straightening her shoulders, Grace pushed open the door, but paused in the doorway. Her teeth biting hard on her lip to stop the cry from escaping at the sight in front of her. Brendan laid silent on the bed, bruises covering his collarbone that she could see, and cuts on his cheek and forehead. He also had bandages on his arm that was lying on top of the covers, and Grace didn’t want to think of the injuries that she couldn’t see.
She sat in the chair closest to his hand over the sheets and carefully took it in hers, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over. “Hey, Bren. Open your eyes and show me how glad you are to see me.” Her voice soft and soothing. “You know I won’t let you get away with just sleeping, I’m too stubborn. If I have to come up with a spell to send me into your brain and drag you awake, I will.”
Her thumb softly caressed the skin on the back of his hand as her mind drifted back to the first time she met him. “Remember in Wee Wizards camp when I was out hunting for a plant at night.” Grace laughed softly at the memory, “I didn’t want to go to the camp, but mum bribed me with the knowledge that there were plants there that I’d never seen. I am so glad she did. I know we would have met no matter what, but Circe I’m happy you were my very first friend.”
She felt her voice tremble, but she stubbornly firmed it, not wanting to cry in front of him. Not yet. That would be for the tears of joy when he woke. “You never knew you were the reason I stayed at Wee Wizards. I’d been homesick and wanted to leave, then I met you. You’re always there for me, Bren, whenever I need you and I’ll always be there for you, whenever you need me.” Her voice low, barely audible in the room, “Even when you move on and marry.”
It tore at her soul to think of Brendan married or even with another witch, but it was something that she was prepared for. Eventually, it would happen, and she would have to watch her best friend look at someone that wasn’t her, with love in his eyes. Grace had wondered when she’d fallen in love with Brendan, it seemed like she’d been in love with him forever.
Memories rose again in her mind from a year ago, when they’d gone skinny dipping to pick up luminescent algae. It had been reiterated that they were only friends, even if his body had reacted to her form. She’d understood it was a teen-age male reaction to a naked female wrapped around him. His words had been plain enough, Take your algae and go to the dock, get dressed and don’t look back. So she had, and had never been tempted to cross the line between friendship and more again. Grace hadn’t wanted to lose her best friend.
Grace’s eyes rose to look at Brendan’s sleeping features and sighed from deep within her soul. She still didn’t want to lose her best friend, but that had almost happened with his accident. What if he didn’t wake up? Grace’s heart clinched at the thought, lowering her head to rest on his chest, her fingers still held his.
Her voice whisper soft as she confessed, “I love you, Bren. Not only as a best friend, but really soul deep love you. I know one day you’ll find a witch and give her your heart. I’ll still be there with you, any way that I can have you in my life I’ll take it.” The tears that she’d kept dammed up were silently spilling down her cheeks. “I can’t imagine my life without you.”
"I was just barely your first friend," Brendan’s voice gravely from misuse continued softly. "If I remember correctly, you would have rather found the Shining Sasperroot than me that night."
Grace didn’t know if the voice was a figment of her imagination or if Brendan really was awake. Slowly, as if afraid to break the spell, she raised her head from his chest, and squeezed his fingers. With hope in her heart, Grace turned her head and a smile bloomed over her features.
“That was before you showed some of that Finnegan charm.” She brought her free hand up to caress his cheek. “You know you didn’t have to fall off a dragon to get me to come visit. I had my floo tickets for next month.”
“I didn’t fall, a tail caught me unexpectedly.” Brendan raised his hand to tug at the ends of Grace’s dark locks. His mind trying to focus on her, but all he could hear was her soft confession. Had she really said she loved him or was that his coma and wish fulfillment? He’d been in love with Gracie since he understood the differences between wizards and witches.
“All I felt was the breeze minutes before my feet were swept out from under me. The Romanian Longhorn turned and all I saw was his horn. My first thought was I was going to die before I could be honest with you.” Brendan’s voice low as he felt her body still.
Grace’s whole body froze, scared that he had heard her softly spoken confession of love and this was the end. Would he avoid her now that he knew her secret? Goddess, why hadn’t she kept her secret to herself?
Brendan’s eyes closed as exhaustion was rising again, but his fingers continued to caress the ends of her hair. He wanted this connection to Grace, the comfort that she always gave him. “I’ve kept a secret from you. For all these years.” His mind went back to all the times he’d denied himself because he hadn’t wanted to ruin their friendship. The skinny dipping at Wee Wizards came to the front of his mind. All he’d wanted was to lose himself in her that night. If she’d stayed any longer he would have.
Secret? Grace’s mind raced as to what he’d kept from her all these years? Was there someone else? Someone he’d seen secretly? If Brendan was seeing someone in secret it was because he knew someone would be hurt. Since he didn’t know about her feelings it had to be someone else. The first name that came to her mind was Candace Zabini. He’d mentioned her when they were skinny dipping, and he was friends with Ian. Was that his secret?
“Secret? You know you can tell me anything, Bren.” She steeled herself for what she knew would break her heart.
"I was too scared to tell you. Afraid of what your reaction would be." Brendan swallowed past the huge lump in his throat. “I saw Cyprian turn and stomp and all I could think about was never telling you how I felt.”
Grace mutely nodded, not trusting her voice, as her free hand rose to swipe at the lone tear that was leaking from the corner of her eye. She gathered her emotions tight around her and forced herself to turn to look at her best friend. “W-what did you want to tell me?”
Brendan forced his eyes open and his breath caught at the sight of Grace’s eyes wet from unshed tears. He made a silent vow to never see that look again, unless it was tears of happiness. “I love you, Grace. Not only as a best friend, but really soul deep love you.” He repeated Grace’s words to her letting her know that he’d heard her.
Grace felt all the color drain from her face, at first thinking Brendan was throwing her words back at her, then she realized that he was serious. Brendan loved her. Was she dreaming? Had she fallen asleep with her head on his chest? Reaching down with her free hand, she gave his thigh a pinch.
“OW! What’d you do that for?” Brendan looked at her in confusion.
She smiled slightly, “I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”
“Is that like the time that Maeve hexed Sean to get his attention? You know there are other ways you could show me that you love me.” His hand moved up from the ends of her hair to cup the back of her head. “Kissing me in the rain. Well, kissing me anywhere. Snuggling in a bed while you feed me some of your homemade biscuits. Just seeing your smile when you're big as an Opaleye in your ninth month of carrying our child.”
Her eyes widened as large as saucers as Brendan continued to list the ways that she could show her love. But, her mind zeroed in on one phrase and she scowled slightly. “I will not get as big as an Opaleye.”
Brendan just chuckled and pulled her head down for a kiss.
Ginny stopped in the doorway of her son’s hospital room, tears of happiness spilling from her eyes at the sight in front of her, and a soft gasp on her lips. Her son was awake and apparently none the worse for wear. She felt Seamus’ arms encircle her from behind and leaned into his chest.
“Takes after his old man.” Seamus’ voice held a note of pride and laughter as he watched his son kiss Grace.
“That he does. You’re both too thick to realize your best mates were in love with you.” Ginny smiled over her shoulder.
Seamus’ eyes widened in mock shock. “Dean was in love with me?! I had no idea.”
“Git.” Ginny narrowed her eyes at her husband before turning in his arms and wrapping them around his neck.
“Yeah, but you love me anyway.” Seamus gave her a wink and lowered his head to kiss his wife.