CW: blood, injury (moderate)

Giving up on his soggy pancakes, Benedict heads over to the kitchen. They taste more miserable than he thought pancakes could taste. He steps into the hallway, digging out his keys from within his pocket. He tosses them in the air. His foot slaps against the ground just outside the kitchen door, unmistakably the sound of water. It's such a distraction that his keys fall onto the ground.

The door is locked. Water is leaking into the hallway.

"Hey!" he knocks on the door, his fist heavy. Galilee was last in here. What did she spill on the floor?

Darlington hears the shout and moves into the hallway.

In their lounge, Callie and Marcellus pay the sound of Benedict no mind. Callie hears him but ignores it. So deep in thought, Marcellus doesn't even hear Benedict.

"What's wrong?" Darlington asks.

"Someone left the faucet on," Benedict says. He goes to pick his keys up off the ground. They are slippery in the water as he sorts through them for the right one.

Refusing to waste time, Darlington heads up to Benedict. The floors are made of linoleum down here, and he isn't sure what the water damage will look like. He jams his key into the kitchen door and swings it open.

Not quite. The door hits something halfway in. Darlington sees the outline of a deep blue sweater.

"What?" Benedict forces himself next to Darlington to get a look.

He steps back, slipping in the puddle. Darlington barely manages to catch him. They look at each other, exchanging glances. Benedict, smaller than Darlington, tries to slip into the crack. Darlington yanks him back.

"We can't see what's in there," Darlington says. "What is if it's an exposed electrical wire?"

"It's Galilee," Benedict says.

He isn't entirely sure why he says it, because he doesn't think he even really likes Galilee. Yet, there she is, potentially unconscious on the floor. His heart is racing.

Darlington peers back. At the moment, he was more concerned with Benedict, whom he knows to be alive and okay, than with the body on the floor. There is light still in the kitchen. He steps into the puddle to try to get a better look.

"If a wire would live, we would be electrocuted through the water," Benedict says.

He muscles his way past Darlington, who doesn't resist. Darlington, being strong and wide, cannot fit through, but Benedict might fit. He forces himself into the gap, trying not to push the door into Galilee anymore. The door handle digs into his stomach. If he had eaten much of anything, the sharpness might make him puke. Then, he steps over Galilee and into the room.

Her clothes are wet and her hair is soaked. The water on the ground is soapy and tinged red.

"Gally," his voice is a breath.

The resident assistants took first aid, but Benedict hasn't had to use it on someone he knows. The first step, observing for fire, wire, gas, or glass already went ignored. He kneels down and winces. Broken glass presses into his knees.

"Get the first aid kit!" Benedict shouts through the door. He turns, seeing Darlington still frozen. "Go!"

Darlington works well under pressure. He runs to the staff office, grabs the door handle and swings it. Shit. He left his keys in the kitchen, and the door is locked.

"Why are you both shouting?" Callie asks, popping her head out of the staff lounge.

The halls are thin, but their voices were muffled. She could hear the sound, but couldn't hear the edge of panic in Benedict's voice.

"Give me your keys," Darlington holds out his hand, one fist still wrapped around the door handle.

Callie smirks, "lock yourself out?"

"Now!" Darlington shouts.

Callie digs her keys out of her pocket and tosses them to him. If he weren't rushing, he would have told her to stay in her room. His thoughts have formed a traffic jam in his brain. There is going to be a collision soon enough.

On the floor, Benedict slams his hands into the wet ground next to Galilee, "hey, are you awake?"

He taps her shoulders, and she stirs, turning her head slightly. Behind him, he hears a sharp gasp. Benedict turns his head, seeing Callie on the other side of the doorway, staring at Galilee on the floor.

"Oh my God," Callie feels her heart in her throat.

The worst part, Callie thinks, is that the water is diluting the blood. It's everywhere already, but surely it would be darker, more present, if the sink hadn't started overflowing. She forces herself inside the doors. Benedict hasn't turned the taps off yet. She nearly slips and catches herself on the sink, wincing. The water is nearly boiling.

"Callie," Benedict says.

She doesn't answer him. Instead, she finds the taps, her hands shaking as she turns off the water.

"Can you check her?" Benedict asks. "I don't... I don't know where the blood is coming from, and I don't want to check."

Callie can barely breathe. She can feel her lungs heaving. Her body sinks down onto the ground, her sobs shaking her whole body.

Outside, Darlington is running down the hallway. Marcellus peers out after him, having heard his panicked conversation with Callie. He needed to finish some measurements first. Darlington heads down the hall and into the kitchen.

"Benedict, Ben I'm back," Darlington says. "Where is she bleeding? Benedict!"

Benedict is observing her head, trying not to touch her in case it's a spinal injury. He doesn't see any bleeding there. His hands find her sides. Callie is still sobbing.

"Benedict!"

"Her hand," Benedict answers. There is a deep cut, splitting open the back of her hand. He feels himself swallow. "It's her hand. It's deep."

"Okay," Darlington begins to dig into the first aid kit.

Marcellus heads over to the commotion, just as the elevator dings. Ro walks into the hallway, staring at him.

"Is Callie still down here with you?" she asks, planting her hands on her hips. "Moonie is-"

Ro stops, peering at them. Darlington has half the first aid kit sprawled across the ground and Marcellus is standing over top of him, peering into the doorway. She can hear a woman sobbing but in hiccups. The sound of breath catching in a throat, followed by silence, and then breath catching again.

"Who is that?" Ro asks. She begins to stalk over.

Marcellus turns to Ro. He rushes over to her, grabbing her and pulling her away from the mess. They don't need another woman sobbing. He didn't hear properly.

"Is that Moonie?" Marcellus looks from Ro to the doorway.

"What?"

"Shit, I don't... all we have is fucking vomit-comet and a bunch of band-aids!" Darlington shouts into the kitchen, trying to call over Callie. "We have rubbing alcohol."

"Pass it in!" Benedict calls. "We're... we need something else."

Marcellus has spent enough bad nights at frat houses to know that all of the varsity athletes have better first-aid training than they do, and they are all required to have their own equipment as well.

"Call Maverick, tell him to bring the first aid kit," Marcellus tells Ro. "Don't tell him it's for Moonie."

"What?' Ro asks.

"Just do it," Marcellus says. "I think Callie is having a panic attack. I'm going to get her out."

Ro doesn't bother arguing. She does as they say, calling Maverick.

Back in the kitchen, Callie feels dizzy. She cannot stand, or she is sure that she is going to be sick all over the place. Worse of all, her breathing is out of control. Her vision is tunnelling.

Benedict pours the alcohol into Galilee's wound. She winces, her eyes slowly peeling open. She can feel the warm wet ground before she notices the pain in her hand. Her eyes look up, and she sees Benedict.

"Oh, thank God," he says, bending over top of her. With his hands still wrapped in hers. He feels himself bending over, his shoulders shaking and his head resting on her stomach. "Thank God."

Darlington feels the world more strongly than he has ever. It's like he's drinking a strong coffee, especially now that his job in the first aid kit is done. For now, he is instructing Benedict, and instructing others is what he does best, "Benedict, can you and Galilee shift over? We need to get out Callie. She's hyperventilating."

"There's broken glass," Benedict looks around the space.

"I can stand," Galilee says.

Benedict recoils at the sound of her voice, although hoarse. Galilee begins to pull herself up. Blood rushes out of her other hand as she moves it. No one else can see Galilee that well. Benedict watches the colour rush out of her cheeks. He goes to help her stand, pulling her out of the way. The water is slippery. Benedict braces them on a wall, and Galilee catches her hand on the counter.

Pain shoots through her. She goes limp.

"Shit," Benedict manages.

He guides her to the ground. There is enough room to push through the door though now, and Darlington and Marcellus burst in. While Marcellus helps pull Callie off the ground, slinging her heavy weight over his shoulder, pushing her out of the room. While Darlington heads over to Galilee.

~~~

On the second call, Maverick picks up. He is sulking in his room and wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone after all the events of the morning. Yet, he cannot put off the call forever. Elodie is surely going to apologize, even if it should be him.

It is Ro, according to the caller ID. It's strange, because Ro would never call anyone.

"Hello?"

"Pick up quicker, you idiot," Ro says on the other end.

Maverick can hear shouting on the other end. He stands up, next to his bed, "what's happening?"

"I don't know, I just know you need to bring your first aid kit, you have one right?"

He dives across the room and into his bathroom. The first aid kit is always kept under his sink, "where are you?"

"Kitchen," she answers.

The basement.

Maverick is on the fourth floor. He doesn't waste time calling the elevator. Even if he did, he doesn't think he could sit idle and wait for it. As he runs, out of the room, he pulls out his phone. Quickly, he calls Moonie.

The phone rings deeper in the room. Moonie hears it, but she is sobbing so much that she can't handle getting it.

Maverick's stumble gets queasy when he has practically lept down two flights. He's nearly halfway there, but he thinks he's going to be sick. He stumbles onto the second floor, just to take a second. He calls back Moonie and continues running. He makes it onto the first floor, where he has to switch staircases. His heart is thundering as he calls her. To get to the basement, he has to sprint past her room.

He stops at the door, hearing her ringtone. She is crying on the other side.

"Moonie!" he shouts, looking down the hall. He feels his heart race. Something is very wrong. On the other side, he can hear her.

She hesitates at the sound of his voice.

He doesn't have time to think.

"Fuck!" he mutters, sprinting to the stairs.

He leaps down them, arriving in the basement just as Marcellus is carting Callie out of the room. Her tears have stopped, and now she is fully hyperventilating. Ro has joined them, helping to support Callie. Maverick holds onto his first aid kit tightly.

"Is she hurt?"

"No," Ro gestures to the inside of the kitchen. "She saw-"

Maverick bolts past them. He nearly slides past the kitchen due to the water on the floor. Pivoting just in time, he makes his way down the room. A very pale Galilee is on the ground. The water is tinged pink. Blood trickles down her hand. Darlington's bloody fingers are pinching her skin together.

"She's fainted twice," Benedict says.

"From pain, shock or blood loss," Maverick asks.

"How would I know?" Benedict begins shouting.

"Take a walk, Ben!" Darlington tells him. "Get out of here."

As Marcellus opens his first aid kit, he looks at Benedict. He's clammy. His pants are soaked through with blood at the knees, too dark to be from kneeling. They are triaging though. Maverick is prepared for mass casualty events, and Benedict is lower on the list.

"We already cleaned it," Darlington says. "She needs stitches, I think."

"I've got steri-strips," Maverick offers, beginning to peel them. "Next best thing until we can get her to a hospital. Hold her skin like that."

Darlington continues to hold Galilee just so. Maverick, with firm hands, begins to put down three over the wound. It's a bit overkill, but he'd rather it be too much than just short of enough.

"We found her in the water," Darlington says. "Faucet was still running. There was broken glass on the floor. We've got no idea how long she's been out. She fainted she stood up the second time."

"Well, we're not going to let her stand again," Maverick says. "How long she been out this time?"

Darlington looks up at the clock on the microwave, "less than two minutes."

"If her head's fine, she'll be up soon," Maverick offers. He pats Darlington on the shoulder. "I've got it from here. You should take a walk too."

"I'm fine," Darlington insists.

Maverick, looking away from Galilee for the first time since he peeked at Benedict, puts his hands on Darlington's shoulder, "you can be a tough guy for everyone else if you want, but you don't have to for me. I'm friends with the varsity guys, so I get the pressure."

In a strange way, Darlington sees it. He sees what everyone sees in Maverick. The way Maverick makes him feel like he understands, even if no one else does. The way Maverick is unapologetically unafraid. Darlington had always assumed it was Maverick's stupidity which made others like him since when you have few opinions it's hard to offend someone. Sure, Maverick might drink too much and have piss-poor grades, but there is something entirely clever and kind. No, Maverick isn't careless, or foolhardy. He's brave.

"K," Darlington offers.

Then, he steps into the hallway.

Callie is on the floor. Ro is comforting her, tucking her hair behind her ear gently. It seems Callie has stopped hyperventilating. Ro and Marcellus are also whispering to each other, talking in hushed tones.

Benedict isn't there.

It's foolish, but Darlington checks every room in the basement. Benedict isn't there. So, Darlington catches the elevator. When he said to talk a walk, he didn't mean one that far. Benedict wasn't in good shape. They don't need another Callie.

Darlington makes it to Benedict's floor. He pops out of the elevator. He pops outside, peering his head down the hall. He hears sniffling.

Darlington turns. It's Elodie, on her side of the hallway. She wipes her eyes carefully, looking at Darlington.

Perhaps he is the last person she wanted to see here. Elodie crosses her arms, looking at him, trying not to scowl.

"Benedict told you?" Darlington asks. He knows it's impossible, but he was hoping to keep the information somewhat quiet. "Is he in his room?"

"What?" Elodie asks. "What are you talking about?"

"Did he not..." Darlington looks at her. "Did he get off the elevator?"

"I would've heard it ding," Elodie says. "What would he have told me?"

Darlington feels so exhausted now. He doesn't want to have to tell her. Elodie of all people, who is already crying.

"We think everything is okay," Darlington manages, "but there's been an accident in the basement."

~~~

Galilee opens her eyes. She peers up above her. Maverick is there, offering a tepid smile.

"You've granted my wish, shooting star," he talks in a quiet voice. "How are you feeling?"

"Good," she tries to sit up but he puts a hand on her shoulder, gently holding her down.

She furrows her brow, "what?"

"I'm not letting you up yet," he says. "How're you feeling?"

"My hand hurts," she manages. It's too stiff to flex. She looks down at it, noticing how it and her arm are tied to a piece of wood as a sort of makeshift splint.

"Do you know what happened?" Maverick asks.

Galilee nods, "the hot water snapped my wine glass. The sight of it made me faint. I fainted again, with Benedict. Where is she?"

"He's taking a breather," Maverick answers. He's used to seeing concussions in football players. She hasn't mentioned a head hurting, and there's not any confusion or sluggishness to her. She winces at the light, but that could also be from fainting. "Still dizzy?"

"I did faint twice," she offers. "No head pain though. I think the wall braced my fall the first time. Can you get Benedict?"

"Aren't I good enough?" Maverick asks.

When she giggles, he squeezes her good hand. Yeah, he thinks, it'll be okay.

~~~

The stairs take a long time to walk all the way up. It's seven floors to the top floor, but the floors but the ceilings on two of the floors are lofted, so it's more like eight flights. Benedict steps into the hallway. His bleeding has gotten worse. He turns toward Galilee's side. It's strange, that he wants to be here. Without a master key, he won't be able to access any room on this floor, except the public washrooms. Benedict finds himself stumbling to her door anyway. If he has to take a walk, he supposes it will be to her.

"I have other video games," Jerry calls from behind him.

Benedict turns around. Jerry and Tempest are standing outside of Jerry's lounge. They look at him, soft smiles on their faces.

It's Tempest that first notices. They've sat across each other in many study groups and many staff meetings. Typically, when Benedict is angry, he wears it in every part of his body. His shoulders are tense, his fists ball tightly, and he stalks rather than walks. Stress is much the same. Benedict will scowl, sure, and he will turn red, but he will never just show it on his face.

When she sees his eyes, and his relaxed posture, she knows something is deeply wrong.

Tempest finds herself hurrying across the floor. She runs over to Benedict and leaps into his arms, holding him. He doesn't quite hug back, and Tempest doesn't quite mind. He's not really the type to touch. His cheek is against her head though. He's leaning in.

"Are you all right?" Tempest leans back. She brushes the hair off his forehead. The sweaty makes in cling.

"It's," Benedict can't quite breathe. "Galilee fainted. There was... shes's..."

Jerry makes his way over to them, he gestures down to Benedict's knees, "her blood or yours?"

Both Benedict and Tempest look down. Tempest tries to swallow her gasp.

"A bit of both, I think," he says.

~~~~~

I am glad I at least skimmed to proofread this, because I accidentally referred to Elodie as Callie all but once in this chapter. I hope you enjoy it! A little taste of the despair that is yet to come!