#elsewhere

August pulls a seat over and settles in, gazing at Rachel with solemn grey eyes.

She breathes but does nothing else

Then, her eyes flicker... REM?

August reaches out and takes her hand gently.

Surprisingly, less banal than some of those awake

August has an impossible, dangerous, wonderful thought.... he searches his memory; does Liam prohibit Enchantment when the mortal is in a coma?

Not that he can recall. It does make them vulneerable to chimera but ... there appear to be no chimera in THIS place

He bites his lip, considering.... and then does it. He squeezes her hand just a little, infusing her with a drop of Glamour.

"I wish I had more to give you.... perhaps all I can do is give you sweet dreams. I hope it is enough to take you wherever you are going." he says quietly.

A faint glow falls over herr, and she smiles

And August smiles back. "Good." he whispers.

Such a shame. Brain fried, but clearly she has enough mind left to dream. He thinks he's given her a pleasant one.

And that is a victory, of sorts

He sits with her, a vigil of sorts. Everyone deserves to be tended when sick, and comforted when dying.

After a little while longer, he squeezes her hand again, without Glamour; just to give her that contact.

"I don't know if I'll be back, Rachel. I will try to come within a week. Safe travels." he murmurs and then he rises.

"I never thought anyone but my family gave a dam about her" A young man says, well, younger than Rachel, and bearing a resemblence "When they told me family was visiting, I thought mom snuck in again"

August takes his hand away from Rachel's, and smooths the sheet before turning.

"August Rachford." he offers his hand.

"Weatherly," He doesn't give the last name "Horrible isnn'tt it? My mom was this NCIS fan, had a thing for the actor " He takes the hand "You don't look like a cousin, August"

Weatherly doesn't seem upset by this

"I'm not a cousin. Please forgive my deception. I heard what happened and.... I felt I had to visit."

Weatherly doesn't seem banal "Why? I mean...what is my sister to yoU? She didnn't menion dating an august..ever"

"No, I never had the honor." he says, completely seriously "It seems like a great tragedy. Do I understand that the family has decided to end life-preserving measures?" non-judgmentally.

"More like the hospital has found a loophole and the money is running out. We sued the club that tthis happened in, but they declared bankruptcy and.. well..." He looks over at his sister "I don't know. Maybe it's for the best. Not like a miracle is likely"

"Miracles do seem hard to come by." August follows Weatherly's gaze to Rachel.

He looks sad "Yeah well.. nice of you to take an interest. Most folks now a days are wrapped up in themselves"

"Would it be ok if I visited again? Before...." he trails off; no need to point out how little time may be left.

"I can't speak for mom and dad, but as far as I'm concerned? Anyone who gives a shit about a total stranger can be 'cousin' August" A thought "Hey, if you want, we can get some coffee and I'll tell you about her"

The handsome, if quiet, young man nods. "I'd like that very much. Are you free now? My treat."

"No, mine. I insist" he says, "I'm free now" He pats his sister's hannd "hey, she's smiling. Think of something funny, Rachel?"

Rachel does not reply

"Sweet dreams." It's a suggestion to Weatherly and a wish for Rachel.

"Let's get that coffee. Hospital caf?"

Weatherly nods, then joins Augustt "Oh god no, this place stinks and I don't want to give them a dime more. There's a place a half mile from here that makes good stuff"

"Lead the way. Worth driving, or are you up to stretching your legs?"

"Stretch of the legs I was thinking. I get angry whenn I come here and I'd rather burn energy"

Thenn he stops "I'm sorry, it's Summer. You probably want to go by car. I've got one in their parking lot if you like?"

A gentle smile "I drive here, too. Let's walk."

They walk, and talk as they go "She always wanted to be loved. I think that was part of he problem. Fell in with a bad crowd, bbut it never made HER bad, if that makes sense?"

He nods. "It does."

"But she was so concerned with being cool and making friends that, well, they took advantage of that. " A frown crosses Weatherly's own handsome features, "I think it's good I don't know who did this. I might do something everyone would regret. I'm working on it. What's the old saying? Hatred is like taking a poison and hoping the other guy dies from it?"

"Sorry, been reading a lot of self help books"

"You are not alone." kindly "You and your family have been through a great deal, on top of what's going on currently."

"Yeah, everyone's got problems. The hospital has not gottenn better with the Crisis. How could it? Where was I?"

"Rachel."

"Yeah, that need to be loved aside, they never made her mean, oh sure, she didn't laugh at herr litle brother's jokes, but most don't. She actually helped at this old folk home... never told anyone , afraid they'd tease her, but she went. "

"Which one?"

he names the nursing home "But that was years ago, obviously"

"Of course. How did her injury happen?"

"She was at this club, drug overdose, a dangerous mix they said. It fried her brain"

August nods. "So I understand. There's been no change in her?"