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[ACTIONSPAM -- for Hospital]
[He all but jerks up out of sleep, unconsciousness, whatever it was, with a sharp gasp, and the only thing keeping him from sitting straight upright is the sudden stabbing pain in one shoulder, and the back of his head. There's a split second in which he's sure all those injuries are real and not some dream --]

[-- then there's the white wall of the hospital room. Breath. Pain. None of those would happen if he were dead, would they?]

[He settles slowly back down, eyes a little glazed and startled, fumbling around for a phone that isn't there. He has to call -- ]

[VIDEO START]
[And sometime after the initial shock wears off, and his phone is retrieved, a very disheveled looking man lying in a hospital bed, bandaged and pale, is holding the device up in one hand, like he's trying to see himself and record at the same time.]

[This is a terrible time for selfies, sir.]

I suppose that asking if anyone can hear me is a foolish question. However... I'll ask it anyway.

[He smirks a little.]

I'm so very intrigued to find out who it is I'll be speaking to in such covert means. A secret network? You have my attention.

Takenaka Yuji -- [He inclines his head, as best he can.] -- At your service.

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[Nick, of course, has been here since his partner was brought to the hospital. They've got the guy they were after, the one who did this, so now the most important thing is being there when Yuji wakes up.

When he finally does, Nick's head snaps up from the notebook he'd been using to look at the network. He drops it on the bed with a sigh of relief, as he leans over to rest a hand on the other man's arm, hoping to calm him down.]

Hey, hey. You're okay, man, it's good. You're in the hospital.

[Just for a moment, he doesn't react. His mind is miles away. But, by degrees, he comes back to himself, shaking his head a little. His free hand presses to his forehead.]

[One quiet stream of curses later, he's lying back down again, considerably calmer.]

So I see.

[He gingerly touches the bandage around his shoulder, frowning. The actual fight, and the sudden memory of the aftermath of another are all entangled. Where one ends and the other begins... he can't say right now.]

Are you going to tell me what happened... or should I guess?

[The corners of Nick's lips turn upwards just a little at the cursing, the smile growing when he lays back down.

His hand stays on Yuji's arm, squeezing a little when he asks what happened. He'd been worried, and the gesture is as much to reassure himself as it is his partner.]

We got the killer, if that's what you wanted to know. What do you remember?

[It probably says a lot to all kinds of unhealthy things that the presence of his partner is enough to settle him quickly. Either that, or it's just something normal after what happened.]

[... which he's still not sure about.]

Of course we did. Failure is never an option, after all.

[Though the question dims his growing smirk. He actually frowns.]

The last I recall is falling down, embarrassingly enough. Then... it's a bit confused. I don't suppose there happened to be any billboards with phone numbers on them overhead, hm?

[Because that would explain the weird number dream. If he'd hit his head, which he suspects he did... who knew what his brain would cook up?]

[Nick likes to continue to pretend that there's nothing unhealthy about their partnership, so he's going to go with the second one. It's only natural to be reassured by the presence of another after waking up injured in a hospital, especially when that person is your partner.

He returns the smirk at that.]

Not for us.

[Nick's own smirk fades as well, though he's still smiling a little.]

Falling after getting shot, so you know, that's slightly more badass. [...and then the comment about the phone number sinks in, and is so reminiscent of what he'd thought after his first echo that he starts to wonder. Still, he keeps his tone light.] Not that I saw. Why, have a number stuck in your mind?

[Right. Totally normal. Look at them being normal. He inclines his head, as best he can, at the other man's smirk, his own a little more smug than it should be while wearing one of those embarrassing hospital outfits.]

We would be horribly ineffective if we settled for failure, after all.

[He grimaces -- okay, yes, he remembers a shot. He remembers a lot of shots. Though, he's not sure which ones were gunfire and which were ~~frickin~~ laser beams...]

It's only bad-ass if you don't wind up in a position like this, I think. [He huffs out a sigh, shrugging his good shoulder.] Among other things, yes.

Do you have my phone?

[Let him type it out for you bro.]

[One hundred perc- okay Nick can't even pretend that's true. Maybe mostly normal, he can buy that. And of course he's smug, Nick's pretty sure he's seen him looking just as smug in something even more embarrassing.]

Nah, it's still badass. I'm sure you'll be able to spin it when you tell the story. Uh, yeah, hang on-

[He twists, so he can fish around in the pile of Yuji's things on the table by the bed without taking his hand from his partner's arm, then hands the phone over to him.]

...do me a favor and let me see it before you hit dial?

[Nick's still trying to sound casual, but really, his heart is pounding loud enough that he can practically hear it in his ears. He can't decide if it would be too good to be true, if his partner was joining the numbers club, or something he wouldn't wish on him in a million years.]

[Mostly Normal works. He won't question it. Possibly because questioning it calls a lot of things into light he doesn't want to deal with. He chuckles a little, closing his eyes for a moment.]

Oh, I will. Provided, of course, the scarring isn't too horrific. It has to be a nice balance of gruesome and handsome.

[That phone is probably some brightly colored monstrosity, but he accepts it like a lost limb. The question earns a raised eyebrow.]

... It's a sex line. Isn't it.

[Regardless, he's going to type out the number in the notepad app -- because of course he has an iPhone goddammit -- instead of the phone's keypad. The caution is... odd. He hadn't expected it.]

That's what the billboard was. Wasn't it?

[Another reason why they make such good partners. Nick is really good with just not dealing with anything. That's obviously the best solution.]

I'm pretty sure no scarring could actually look horrific on you, man. It wouldn't dare to.

[Nick smirks a little at that, but doesn't answer until after he's put the number in on his phone. He leans over, watching intently, not sure if he's hoping the network will appear or not. ...all right, no, he's hoping it will. It might be selfish, but he's tired of having to hide this from him.

And then there it is, on his partner's phone, and Nick can't help but grin little.]

I'd say only you would think that, but surprisingly, a lot of people thought it was a dating site or something. Including Monroe. Who brought dinner, by the way, while you were asleep.

[Obviously, both of them could probably stand to talk to someone about this, but. No. They're too Normal for that. He rolls his eyes.]

Of course not. My body should know I have a reputation to desperately cling to.

[Okay, with no answer, he's honestly half expecting it to be the number for the Playboy Mansion, or something equally distressing.]

[And the grin makes him no less suspicious. The look on his face suggests Nick just told him to give praise to the good comrade squid or something absolutely insane.]

What are you...? Wait -- your friend in the ugly sweaters?

You've managed to lose me.

[Who needs to talk to someone about this? Not Normal people, not at all.]

Exactly. And just this once, I won't make a joke about desperate clinging.

[Sorry, man, he'll make more sense in a minute, once it sinks in. ...all right, no, he really won't, very little about this make sense.]

I like his sweaters.

[That's not the point, Nick.]

But yeah, he's involved in this, too. The numbers you saw, they're not a phone number. They're - well, I don't really know what they are, but when you write them down, it connects you to a network. When you saw the numbers, did you - see anything else, weird? Like a memory, or a vision?

The only jokes you're allowed to make about clinging are the kind I'm not allowed to make in the station anymore.

[He makes a little scoffing noise, at the comment, but an eyebrow arches.]

Do you now. [A beat, in which he gives his partner a slow once-over.] I suppose bad tastes are drawn to one another.

A frequency? Of a sort? Dial it in correctly, and you can access other... receivers... using it?

[... Did he see anything strange? He glances away, for the first time, looking at the far wall.]

Nanimonai... Nothing important. [And then his smile flashes back, fixed and perfect.] Maybe the terrible blow to the head is responsible, hm?

We're not in the station, but I think the same rules apply in the hospital.

[His amused grin fades a little when Yuji gives him a once over, turning into a long-suffering smile and a roll of his eyes.]

Very funny. We can't all dress as fabulously as you. Besides, just because I like them on him doesn't mean I'd ever wear one.

[Nick pauses as he tries to figure out how to explain the network, and realizes that, yeah, that's close enough.] Something like that.

[Oh. Nick knows that look, both the looking away and the too perfect smile.]

Don't try that with me, man. Look, I - [He shifts uncomfortably.] When I saw the numbers, I had a - well, some people are calling them 'pulses.' But it felt like I was there, like I was watching my aunt dying. Which is impossible, since we both know she's in Miami, but there it was.

Alas. I had some good ones for any nurse willing to get his hands dirty soothing my wounds.

[This is normal. This is like an Every Tuesday sort of thing. And it's massively better than the weirdness going on around them.]

One day, some of my skill will rub off on you. One day. Or... maybe the pair of you will learn. You might find you like something better on him than hideous sweaters.

[He wiggles his eyebrows a little, before nodding. Okay. He can understand this. It's weird as hell, but if it's put into those terms... it's understandable, at least.]

[And there is a potential focus shift. He doesn't want to admit he remembers dying. Not to his partner.]

And you've spoken to her, recently? You're sure it was her, in your... pulse?

If you find one, flirt away. You're injured, for once you have an excuse.

[Nick rolls his eyes, looking vaguely affronted, even though he, too, would rather talk about this than the network.]

I have my own brand of skill, thanks, I'll stick with that.

[He's pretending he has no idea what Yuji is talking about with the other bit, and that it isn't even worth a response.

And that may be a focus shift, but not for long. There's no way Nick'll let that go.]

Yes, and yes. There's been others, and it's not always just visions. There's a guy who can talk to fish, so I'd say as long as you didn't get that, you're ahead.

With the way I look, I always have an excuse.

[The lack of response earns the slightest smirk. Don't even try it partner -- if he can't hide things from you...]

As you wish.

[He says it with a little bow of his head, the best he can do without actually bowing.]

Not always visions... What else? [And then the cool exterior vanishes in favor of a rather impressive look of confusion.] Talk... to fish?

Currently, or the way you usually look?

[He likes the not being able to hide stuff thing much better when it's the other way around. Still, he's going to ignore that smirk, too.]

Am I a farmboy now?

[The Princess Bride joke will throw him off the subject, right?]

Items. Abilities. Changes in physical appearance. It runs a pretty wide gamut, actually. [He smiles, just a little.] Yeah. He was the first I talked to on the network; I thought it was crazy. Honestly, sometimes I still do. But it's been over three months now, and it hasn't gone away.

[He huffs, all indignation.]

Looking pathetic has its advantages.

[And he's back to looking smug, eyes half-closed. It's either sleepy or smug, it's hard to tell.]

I can think of about half a dozen filthy responses to that question. Shall I answer? Or would you prefer to keep your ears virginal?

[Nope.]

[He cracks an eye back open, back to listening to the information.]

You don't look different. You must have gotten lucky. [A slight frown.] Then... I'm guessing it's unlikely to ever pass. Hm?

So does looking vaguely drugged, but I'm not sure it's an advantage you want.

[He grins at him, a teasing glint in his eyes.]

With you as my partner, my ears are hardly virginal. All the same, I think I'll pass.

[Damn it.

But he gets more serious, then, pushing his free hand through his hair.]

In that respect, yeah, I guess you could use lucky. For the most part, I've only gotten the vision things. But no, it's not. It's... probably only going to get worse. There's a lot you'll have to see for yourself, but when you do go on the network - don't tell them that you're a cop.

It makes me look more pathetic, I'm sure.

[He pokes his tongue out a little, at the grin. But that's about all.]

Pity. I had very good ones, thank you.

[The change in tone doesn't go unnoticed. He traces the edges of his phone with a fingertip, processing that as best he can under the circumstances.]

You're incredibly optimistic about this, aren't you? Saa. Why should I say nothing?

... This isn't about aliens, is it?

Well hey, that'll get you some sympathy attention, at least.

[That just makes his grin widen a little.]

I'm sure you did. And I'm sure I'll hear them at some point.

[There's a slight smile at that.]

Hey, I just wanted to make sure you're prepared. We can handle whatever they throw at us, man, we always do. [There, optimism.]

No, it's not. Well, some people think aliens are behind it, and some people have visions about aliens, but that's nothing to do with the cop thing. Most of the people on the network, they believe that the whole police force is in on whatever this is, that they're part of what's behind it. It's not true, of course, but it... it's not untrue, either. You know Detective Sherman? He's in on it. And so is the sheriff.

God, I'll take what I can get. It's been months.

[He shakes his head slightly, then winces -- that's not a good plan. But the optimism is pretty good to hear, all things considered.]

That's more like it.

[But of course, it's back to serious business.]

All of us? But... then wouldn't we remember being a part of some hideous, nefarious scheme? Because I certainly don't. [He blinks, frowning.] How do you know that?

You're gonna have some vacation days coming up now, you could always take them. For 'recovery.'

[He's mostly joking. Mostly.

But it doesn't last long, anyway.]

I don't, either. I think a lot of them are just paranoid and looking for someone to blame. We both know the police force isn't perfect, and there's always going to be corrupt cops, but there's no way everyone is in on it.

[And of course Yuji asks that. It wouldn't be his partner if he didn't. But this part is... hard to talk about, and it takes a moment for him to reply.]

There were two people who saw numbers, like us, a kid and a woman. The sheriff found out about them, and - the kid was killed. The woman disappeared. The kid was before I found out about the network, but the woman - I looked into her disappearance. There's security footage of her being interrogated by the sheriff and Detective Sherman, but there's no arrest record, no paperwork of any kind on her. That's the last time she was seen.

Don't tempt me. There's a spa downtown I've been eying for ever.

[His fingers rub over the edges of the phone case again, looking down at it. The images of the memory... combined with this new knowledge. It's more unsettling than he wants to admit. But the nervous habit makes it apparent to anyone who knows him.]

No, they aren't. I know. They aren't supposed to be in on horrible conspiracies though. That's... something out of a movie.

[His shoulders almost tense, but then there's a visible wince, and he does his best to relax. His fingers rub harder at the case, though his face remains closed, smooth and neutral.]

She could be alive, somewhere. Security footage in the building -- to show where they went after the interview...

Why did they bring them in? What was the... They couldn't have just pulled them off the street for no reason.

So go for it. Send me lots of texts, so I can be jealous.

[It is obvious, but unfortunately, none of this is probably going to make it any better. Nick's almost regretting that he'd been happy about Yuji finally being involved in this - thinking about it objectively, it's a terrible situation to be involved in.]

Yeah. Yeah, it is. My life is pretty much something out of a movie right now, man, I'm sorry yours is, too. But I'm... really happy I don't have to hide things from you any more.

[Nick squeezes his forearm, lightly, thumb stroking absently over his partner's skin. He knows this is a lot to take.]

She could be. We don't know what happened to her, the last footage we have shows her being taken into a police car outside the station. There's no trace of her after that.

The kid went to them for help. He told them about the numbers, about what he'd seen, and he got killed for it. Candy - the woman - they found out about her being involved with the network, too.

Edited 2013-10-07 05:22 (UTC)

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