“Watch his neck!”

“Keep him awake, but keep him calm.”

We’re moments past the end of WAR GAMES, and the medics have carted out the injured. Most of the damage is light - bruises, cuts, possible sprains - and the most any can expect is an overnight trip to the local hospital just to ensure that there is no permanent or hidden damage. 

Calico Rose:
He’s okay, he’s okay, he’s okay…

All but one: Impulse.

"Ma'am, we need you to move."

Cally appears to be shell - shocked. She walked with the stretcher up the ramp and backstage, but she has not stopped moving - or staring - since they put Impulse down to wait for an ambulance.

Cally:
Why did I do that?

Impulse:
Rosie...

"Don't try to speak!"

Impulse:
Shut up. Rosie, come here.

She kneels down next to the stretcher. Impulse tries to look at her, but his head is currently immobilized so he looks as best he can with a side-eye.

Impulse:
None of this is your fault.

Cally:
Yes it is.

Impulse:
No... it isn't.

Cally:
Yes... it is.

Impulse:
How?

Cally:
My stupid Halloween costume.

Impulse:
Are you... serious?

Cally: 
I don't go all Amazon Prime and Don't Fear the Reaper, and Reaper doesn't get pissed and send in the clowns, you don't get beat up by the Army of She, then you're not hurt going into War Games and the Unlikelies don't get you in the back of a volkswagon and you guys don't lose the match it's my fault--

Her words start to trail off.

Impulse:
...Cally?

She looks at him with fear; her eyes are wide and she makes an unfamiliar (to the medics) motion with her hands.

"...What's..."

Impulse:
She's having an asthma attack, you idiot. 

As luck would have it, at that very moment the rest of Team DEFIANCE starts to reenter the backstage, including someone Impulse considers a friend.

Impulse:
Scotty!

The Southern Heritage champion hears his name and looks, obviously concerned about the Marathon Man but more immediately, his attention draws to Cally, who has sunk to her knees.

Impulse:
Cally's bag. Can you get her red inhaler and bring it ASAP?

Douglas nods, and rushes off. 

"Just calm down, sweetie."

Impulse:
It's not a mental thing; once she starts she needs her meds. 

The coughing and wheezing continue, but they sound... wetter.

Impulse:
She needs some help, it's about to get messy.

As if on cue, bright red splatters hit the floor. Finally, the medics understand the situation, and they help her into the at-last-arrived ambulance. 

Impulse:
Take care of her first.

Cally's eyes never leave his.

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