i'm gonna run back to the edge with you

[Kelly Evans]

It had been a long couple of months. With attacks on wizard and muggle alike, the hospital had been the busiest it had ever been, busier than Christmas. Aside from the circumstances, Kelly appreciated that she was kept busy every day. It meant that her mind wasn't always fixed on the fact that so many of the people she loved had ended up on her floor, in her beds. The only time she really let herself think about that was when she laid down to sleep. Even then, her dreams were filled with images of dark mist, roiling around Jacques, and Ivy, and lately figures with no faces, figures she recognised from scent and shape. It was never restful sleep. In fact, Kelly had become so ill at ease in her own home that she'd started sleeping in her office. A small camp bed had been conjured into the corner of the room, pushed up against the wall. Dark smudges circled her eyes, leaving her already pale face looking wan.

It turns out that she was not a good vigilante. Her attempts at espionage had gone worse than she could have imagined, but in all honesty Kelly didn't mind so much. She thought back to perhaps the only pleasant moment she'd shared with her mother, who had figured out what Kelly was attempting to do. You're not built to fight, Adrienne had said, not unkindly. You're built to put people back together. Which is what she'd been doing for these past months, praying to whatever gods or goddesses out there that more of her friends would not be hurt. The face of Jacques swam into her mind, and she had to smile. The progress he was making was allowing Kelly to believe that all of the work and the lack of sleep was worth it. She glanced down at the chart she held in her hand, scribbling a note on the paper while she thought of it. There wasn't much that she and the other Mediwizards on Jacques' case hadn't tried to cure his memory loss. It had taken Kelly a good couple of weeks to admit to resignation, and accept the fact that perhaps the only thing they could give Jacques, and the other victims, was time.

Kelly stood up from her desk and stretched. Combing her fingers through her loose brown hair, she tied it up into a knot at the nape of her neck, tucking away any stray strands. Unwilling to sit back down, but equally as unwilling to leave the quiet of her office and look for trouble, Kelly stood in the middle of the room, staring at the door. As she had whispered to herself every day for the past year, she wished that she would just wake up, and everything had been a horrible dream.

[Jacques Basset]

<sup>Jacques stood alone in his apartment, staring out the window as if he was anticipating to see something or someone. It had been almost a year since his accident and memory loss. Slowly everything was coming back to him, but not fast enough. There were times when an image would flash from the past and he'd suddenly feel like a part of his memory returned. But he was still relearning people's names and faces and who they meant to him. Some people he felt a comfortable and familiar presence with and slowly began trusting again. The one main thing he didn't lose function from his memory loss is using magic. He could continue work like normal and perform spells perfectly. His accident didn't interfere with his work, but the time he was out did put a strain on him. Even though he was treated at the hospital, he had to stay a month for observation. So that was a lot of hours he had to work over time so that he could pay for his rent and utilities.

Backing away from the window he walked across the living room and headed toward the door. Something inside him felt different, but he was used to this by now. For months his body would feel restless, mostly caused from sleepless nights. It was frustrating that when he would close his eyes for a long period of time, he could see dark hooded figures whispering to each other. Jacques wasn't sure what the meaning of it was, but their voices responded to each other about carrying out plans. It freaked him out because the next day there would be news of attacks on people, some random while others he vaguely remembered their names. He wasn't sure what it meant or if he was suppose to hear of these plans, but it gave him some insight to what he should expect the next day. Today was another one of those days, but he wasn't going to let it drag him down while he was on his way to St. Mungo's to visit with Kelly.

After he pocketed his wallet and tucked his wand under his pant leg, Jacques left his apartment and headed out. This visit wasn't medical but personal since he liked being around Kelly. He knew of their relationship after weeks of rehabilitation that Jacques did on his own accord. Some times he would find even the slightest smell of her perfume in his room, specifically on one side of the bed that he didn't sleep in. They were in a serious relationship and because of that knowledge, he tried to work hard on regaining most of his memories with Kelly. She made him feel alive again after the accident, but there were some things missing that he couldn't feel complete enough for the both of them. When he arrived in St. Mungo's, he went up to the floor she mainly worked on, heading down the hall toward her office. He made so many trips here that he knew it by heart.

I wonder if she'll be in her office. He hoped she was because it's usually a wild goose chase in this hospital when it comes to finding Kelly when she's needed everywhere. Jacques approached the closed door to her office and raised a curled hand, gently rapping against the hard surface. "Erm...Kelly are you there?" He asked from his side while resting his arm back to his side. Jacques glanced both ways before speaking up again. "It's me, Jacques."</sup>

[Kelly Evans]

The knock at the door caused the witch to jump, and she cursed herself for being so frightened all the time. It was a new feeling for her, and it definitely wasn't one that she appreciated. Kelly was used to feeling in control, of her own feelings, her own thoughts. She liked the knowledge that she was powerful in her own right, that she wasn't vulnerable. The last year had changed that, and if she could have her own way, that would be the first thing that she would change back.

But it was Jacques' voice murmuring against the wooden door, Jacques' voice that made her heart race in a much more pleasurable way. He'd made so much progress since the attack, but the fact that there was still chunks of their history missing from his memory was enough to leave her feeling cold. She turned to the door and opened it quickly, unwilling to let him believe that she wasn't in, unwilling to let the chance to see him slip away. They saw so little of each other lately, outside of the doctor-patient relationship anyway. It really wasn't the one she was interested in cultivating.

"Hi there," she said quietly, standing aside to let the man pass. "This must be a personal visit, because your name didn't pop up in my appointment list this morning," she joked. As Jacques walked into the room Kelly closed the door quietly, before turning to face him. "Is everything okay?" she asked quickly, worried that something may have happened. Her hazel eyes searched his face for fresh scars, or signs of hurt.

[Jacques Basset]

<sup>There was little doubt in his mind that she'd ignore his presence once he spoke through the door. He anticipated on seeing Kelly for awhile nowadays since they had been so busy to meet. Meeting her through appointments wasn't enough for Jacques as he finds himself constantly thinking about her. Although he appeared to be strong on the outside, he was actually quite vulnerable. So much that he needed someone to go to and lean on. But he didn't want to take advantage of her kind and caring nature. He was actually grateful for some much that words cannot explain. Jacques hoped that his feelings for Kelly still reached her, underneath all the fog and uncertainty in his mind.

When she appeared at the door, his face brightened at the sight of Kelly. Even though she looked tired and restless from work, she can still stun him with her beauty. Upon entering her office, his eyes scanned the room and the little camp she had set up in the corner. This is where she spent nights if she wasn't at home. Jacques turned to look over at Kelly who obviously appeared sleep deprived and smiled softly. "Hey," he replied shortly after her. Kelly hit the right reason for his presence and he nodded to confirm.

"I wanted to see you since it seems like it's been a few days or so. I hope you don't mind, but I think I came at a good time too." It's unfortunate that he didn't bring something like a snack or some coffee for her, but he could take her to the cafeteria if she was up for it. "Well everything is fine besides the usual side effects. Voices and hooded figures popping up in my dreams. I sometimes wonder if I'm crazy, but I can't be if I'm not the only one with this problem," he shrugged. "How are you doing? I'm worried that you're over-working yourself. Have you had a decent sleep or anything to eat?"</sup>

[Kelly Evans]

"You did," she replied, smiling, glancing around her as yet empty office. It was that blissful, quiet period of the day, where early-morning rounds were over, and the first emergencies hadn't started flooding the doors yet. The calm before the storm, the deep breath before the plunge. Call it what you want, it was Kelly's favourite part of the day. "And I definitely don't mind," she added quickly. Pushing stacks of parchment and patient charts aside, she sat down on top of her desk and patted the space beside her, inviting Jacques to sit. She drew her legs up and crossed them at the ankles.

Kelly frowned gently at the news that Jacques' dreams still hadn't stopped. "Well, you're not the only one, so you're definitely not crazy," Kelly replied. "You still shouldn't be having them, because of the potions we've been giving you. If you want, we could change the dosage, but it's up to you." She didn't really want to talk about medicine, or about hooded figures in the shadows. She wanted everything to go back to a year ago, when the man beside her still remembered that she would only eat chocolate cake that he made.

Laughing, Kelly threw a glance over her shoulder at her camp bed. It really wasn't very professional; she'd have to put it away before her first patients started coming in. Or worse, the head of the hospital. She shrugged her shoulders lightly at Jacques' question, a small smile on her face. "I haven't been eating as well as I do when you cook, that's for sure," she laughed. "And I have forgotten what my own bed feels like. I should probably start sleeping at home again, it just feels so strange being there alone." Kelly dropped her eyes to her hands, one twisted around the other in her lap.

Before she could change her mind, Kelly leaned closer to Jacques and pressed her lips to his, slipping one hand into his as she did. She withdrew quicker than she would have liked, a flush on her cheeks. "I've missed you most of all," she said quietly. "And I hope we can fix whatever they've done to you, to everyone."

[Jacques Basset]

<sup>With Kelly's inviting gesture, he sat next to her on the desk. He was glad that he caught her when she wasn't busy with work. They can spend some time alone and catch up where they left off. "I don't know why I still have them." The medicine was strong enough that he'd sleep within minutes, but his dreams still remained. How, he didn't know why, but these dreams meant something to him. They were real as the hand covering his eyes when he awoke. "I don't know if anything will help Kelly." Taking a glance at Kelly, he chewed his bottom lip nervously. "But somehow I feel that there's a connection, and I don't want to lose that."

It was a pathetic excuse and Kelly probably didn't buy it, but he was tired of taking potions. None of it was helping him gain the rest he needs every night. However, with each vision he's able to see and the voices that he hears, there was something he looked forward to. These puzzle pieces were slowly coming together for him. "Anyway, don't worry about it. I'll survive," he smiled while withdrawing a look at her and averting his eyes across the room.

He was surprised with her responses to his question. "If I had known you weren't eating well, then I'd have brought you something." Jacques continued cooking for one person, but rarely two since Kelly spent most of her time at work. He missed the company and sharing casual meals together. "Well if you can't be there alone, don't hesitate to come over. It's not an inconvenience. I'll even whip up something to eat. I wouldn't mind it at all, just as long as you're happy and healthy."

Jacques just wanted what was best for Kelly, even if his mind wasn't all there together. However, it was his heart that remembered her and only thrummed fervently while around her. Although it was unexpected, his lips pressed against hers in return and he held her hand firmly in his. These lips that he's kissed thousands of times still made his heart flutter and his body react involuntarily. He felt like a glass filled to the rim, ready to spill over from any sudden movement. She was a greater cause and effect in his life, but why couldn't he remember her from before?

"I miss you too. Even though I lost a part of you in my memories, I'm still glad that you stayed by my side." Taking her hand, Jacques placed it over his heart so that she could feel how he felt toward her. "No matter if my mind forgot, I think my heart still remembers," he smiled reassuringly. "I hope so too. We'll catch the culprit and reverse what he or she has done to us all. It's out there, the answer, we just need to piece the clues together."</sup>

[Kelly Evans]

She nodded, understanding his silent request for the potions to stop. Kelly knew what it was like, having to rely on a mixture of foul ingredients to relax, to sleep. She squeezed Jacques' hand and didn't say any more on the subject. Perhaps he was right, anyway. Perhaps the dreams he was having about cloaked figures and whispered plots were actually happening. Jacques could play an important role in stopping these crimes, particularly if he ever recognised any of the figures.

Chuckling, Kelly ducked her head against Jacques' shoulder, a flush on her cheeks. "I know, I know. Next time there's a choice between horrendous hospital food and your cooking, I won't have to think twice," she laughed. And that certainly wasn't a lie. As much as she loved her job, and the few house elves she had met who prepared the hospital food, Kelly did not envy the patients and their palates. "Maybe we should take some time and go out for dinner somewhere?" she asked, her dark eyes bright. "I think I'm owed at least a few hours away from here."

Kelly kept her eyes closed for a moment, breathing in the smell of the man beside her. She wanted to never move from this spot, to be able to forget the world outside, and all of the responsibilities that waited for them out there. She opened her eyes again as Jacques picked up her hand and pressed it to his chest, and she smiled gently. She entwined her fingers around his, not wanting to be too far away. "I wouldn't have been anywhere else than at your side," she said quietly. "I couldn't have been anywhere else. No matter what, I can't leave you now."