Shades of Grey

[Max Griffiths]

Don't. *I put a hand on her shoulder to keep her from moving* You'll tear your stitching again. I'll be right back.

*Leaving the room, I retrieve several cans from the lockers down the hall; the entirety of the non-dog-food supply. Bringing them back to Red, I peel back the top of a can of fruit and hand it to her*

[redhavoc]

*My eyes go big when I see the fruit. I easily finish half the can, holding out the other half to Max*

[Max Griffiths]

*I wave her down* Finish it. You need the energy.

*I open a second can, full of what might have been chili at some point, but which is still slightly more appetizing than the powerpup*

[redhavoc]

*I wolf down the rest of the can, impatient for the day to start. I want to forget my dreams with the car and the desert. Feeling a little better, I slowly flip and try to slide off the mattress so I can use the wall for support*

[Max Griffiths]

*I look up sharply* Red. I told you to stay still.

[redhavoc]

*I shake my head. I don't want to stay here anymore, no matter what the cost. I realize my journal is in the car, so I can't tell him about Wilson or the knives or any of it! And, on top of it all, a headache is building in the front of my head. I don't know what's wrong, but I want to fix it, and I know it can't be fixed in here*

[Max Griffiths]

*I pass my half-empty can from one hand to the other, unsure of how to respond. If Red was anyone else, she'd be dead by now. After a moment's deliberation, I decide that letting her get back in the car will at least ensure that she doesn't move much* Fine. But you're not walking.

*I don't bother finishing the food, simply pocketing the last unopened can and picking Red up once again. I'm constantly amazed at how light she is; for such a dangerous crow, there's really nothing to her*

[redhavoc]

*I don't really want to be carried, but the upwards motion and my headache stop me from really fighting back. The soft morning light hurts my eyes a little and I wonder what will happen when the sun really comes up. Max really is tall... the ground seems so far away*

[Max Griffiths]

*Depositing Red in the front seat, I leave her to close the door herself. I'm still slighty bothered that she disregarded my orders. I leave the warehouse behind at a leisurely pace, having no set goal in mind*

[redhavoc]

*I sigh, looking through the glove box for some BLI pills. There are none there. I look in the med kit and middle compartment, slowly getting more and more frantic. I can't remember a time I have not had my meds. My headache builds and in frustration I kick the door, scuffing it badly*

[Max Griffiths]

*I frown at Red, looking from her to the road and back* What? *This isn't like her - she's too impulsive. Almost emotional.*

[redhavoc]

*I scoop up my notebook from the floor, find a pen, and write 'MEDS' in big block letters and hold it out to him, researching the compartments I can reach in the car with my other hand. I'm irritated at Max for not knowing right away, even though there's no reason for it*

[Max Griffiths]

*I shrug and set the notebook on the dash* I don't have any. No use looking. *I realize I've always known she took them, but I'm not in the habit of thinking about the pills. I don't really understand why people feel the need to take them in the first place, really.*

[redhavoc]

*I glare at Max and keep looking, the pain in my head throbbing like a jet engine. I look one more time, but don't find anything. I curl up onto the seat, hiding my head in my hands. It seems to help a little. I remember the killjoy, Blackie, that freaked out when I was with the killjoys. She had gone berserk when I had taken out my pills... I'm beginning to understand why now. I'd give anything for just a couple...*

[Max Griffiths]

*Red doesn't look like she's going to relax any time soon; she's so tense it's almost disconcerting.* Relax. They're just pills. If you still want some later we can look for a pharmacy.