17270/Make a Wish, Blow out a Candle

Make a Wish, Blow out a Candle
Date of Scene:	25 February 2024
Location:	Pezzini House
Synopsis:	After the events of Make-A-Wish, Joshua is taken home by Sara and there's a lot to be said on their relationship.
Cast of Characters:	Joshua Foley, Sara Pezzini

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Joshua Foley has posed:
It had been a busy couple of days. It was enough to keep Joshua distracted and not worrying about things except what was right in front of him. The paperwork was completed, the non-disclosures signed. "Sara, you don't have to stay if you don't want. I don't know how long I'll be."

He might as well ask a river to stop flowing.

Because, once he was ready, she would be the one taking him to Mount Saini. And when they arrive, they don't go through the main entrance. He's smuggled into the service area, where he changes, cleans up and heads in. That was at 8 PM. There was a full coffee pot in the waiting area.

It's 4 AM when Joshua comes out. He's back in his clothes he wore when he got here, the scrubs gone. His normal golden parlor is pale - a lighter shade of gold that is almost back to his natural color as he is set in a wheelchair, rolled out by one of the nurses. "Detective Pezzini?" she asks. "It was a success. But he's going to need plenty of protein and rest." She pats him on the shoulder lightly to stir him.

"Oh. Hey babe." he manages, his voice slightly slurred. "We did it. Yay." A thumbs up given before his hand drops back into his lap with a soft thud.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
There were a lot of balls in the air alright, too many for most to actually juggle, but Sara always had help. Joshua could make the platitudes and offers, but hell would actually have to freeze over to drag her away from Mount Saini that night. She knew full well what state he would be in when it was over and she trusted /no one/ else to taking care of him aftewards.

Once they were inside to the super secret back waiting room, Joshua was given a hug and a kiss before she whispered, "You got this, and I'll be right there when you're done."

Eight hours. She'd waited longer to hear about a fellow officer or fire fighter, but this was different. She really wanted to be watching, to be in the room, but that wasn't an acceptable option, so instead she remained outside. On occasion she was check the clock, turn the silver bracelet around on her wrist, and then go back to pacing.

Magically aware of everything happening in the hospital around him, Witchblade remained oddly silent. For once he was giving Sara space to deal with her life, and not pushing for his opinion to be heard and followed. Truth was, he was keeping an 'ear' out for signs of trouble, for indications that Joshua might go to far, he was once again testing the golden man without the man even knowing it was happening.

The very second the door open, Sara turned toward it and was walking over. She heard the words from the nurse, offered a nod in her direction, but her eyes were on Joshua. "I knew you could do it Joshua," she offered ass he squatted in front of him to look into his eyes. "You ready to go home, or should we go dancing?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
Eight hours. He went slow. He was thorough. No rush. He could have tried to go fast, but he wss so worried about making a mistake, he let the doctors hand hold him through it and check the progress as it went. Because if Joshua could do it once...

...he can do it again. The patient was currently having her head shaved, and small incisions made to be stitched up to give the appearance of some surgery that was done that fixed her. All part of the grand illusion to make sure the world knows a mutant didn't do this.

Because that's how the Reavers found and hunted him for years. Until they finally forced them back and Nettie negotiated his freedom.

"Just let me get my dancing shoes." he says with a small laugh and he leans in, placing a small kiss on her lips. "But I'm terrible at dancing, so maybe we should go home instead and watch a movie about dancing?"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Standing back up, Sara kisses his cheek on the way, then walks around behind the chair to take it from the nurse. "I was thinking about Godzilla versus Mechagodzilla, over an ice scream Sunday made in the serving bowl, while snuggling in bed," came her counter offer as she let the nurse lead the way to the back exit.

"For tonight, the television is in the bedroom, compliments of a couple of the rookies from the unit, but there is also some manicotti with Italian sausage and home made mozzarella. Not the best breakfast, unless your Italian."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"That doesn't sound like a very good dancing movie." Joshua points out as she makes the suggestion. Not that he really has a choice in the matter. As she takes over chair pushing, there's a snicker. "Once more around the park, Sara!" he calls out, curling up against the side of chair as they head towards the back exit.

"Who knows, maybe I'll be more Italian someday." he quips, a toss and forget comment before he sighs. "Your Aunt Ruth is a godsend, and she is one of the many reasons I'm dating you. Even if your brother's an ass." A small huff.

"But that's okay. You know why? Because it's my fault, and I forgave myself, and just... forgot it. Didn't happen. It was like, 'Josh, you were an idiot.' 'You're right, Josh, I was. I'm sorry.' 'It's cool.' And boom. Done." Loopy? Yes.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Sara let's him ramble, but she does give the nurse a look that is clear as words on a page: Say nothing or there will be pain.

"I could wander the halls of the hospital for a while," she comments as they round the last corner. "But that would be very boring, and Godzilla always dances the dance of rawr with his enemies!"

At the back door, not meant for patients to be coming and going, she locks the wheels on the chair then just picks Joshua up. He can complain, he can bitch, but he's not getting set down. "Everyone loves me for my Aunt Ruth, I accepted this a long time ago... she's totally worth dating me for," she then says with a chuckle, rolling with the loopy. "I think she knows it too, because she plays it up like she's the reason you stayed."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I said it was part of the reason." Joshua corrects as she wheels him down the hallway. "The other part is that you're beautiful, strong, resolute, a great role model, you never back down, you do what's best for everyone. Selfless and just wonderful." he says, noting all the things that he likes about Sara.

"And your ass is magnificent." he thinks to add, a sage nod at that, "Like... perfectly shaped, round, fun to look at and must be jelly, because something about jiggling."

"And you're so good to me, and it's amazing that you want me around considering everything and just." A sigh. "It's good to be me." And that's when Sara hefts him up as if he weighs nothing and he slides his arms around her neck and snickers outright. "Princess carry!"

Sara Pezzini has posed:
"Must be jelly cause jam don't shake like that," Sara offers the proper term, once again just accepting the loopy and making mental note that when he drains himself, it's as if he's drunk or high. It's entertaining, there is no denying that, but it also gave him motor mouth. The nurse gets one last warning as the woman closes the door behind Sara. It's not that what Joshua is saying isn't true, its more that it does not need to be repeated.

Carrying Joshua to the car, her work car, the official police detective sedan from hell, it's Witchblade using a tendril of metal to open the door... yes, using the handle.

"Tomorrow, when you are more yourself, I'll list all the things about you that I find amazing," she offers, using her foot to open the passenger door then sets him in the passenger seat. She does up the seatbelt because he is too far gone to remember to do it. Closing the door she walks around to the drivers side and climbs in.

In the space between the two seats is a bag of snack food, some chips, beef jerky, a can of Planter's Mixed Nuts, just a few quick grab things he can much on his way to the real meal at home. "There's a container of that Hawaiian Fruit Punch stuff in there too, only thing I could think that would be alright warm."

Joshua Foley has posed:
As soon as the cold hits him, Joshua sobers up a bit and closes his eyes, his reflex to curl closer to Sara and hold onto her. "I did good." he whispers. "She's going to be okay. And noone will ever know." he points out to her.

The door is opened and he is deposited inside as he immediately goes for the punch first. He needs to hydrate. His mouth is raw and dry, like he's been chewing on sandpaper, and as soon as the punch is downed, he's following it with the nuts. "I'm going to hold you to that, Sara Pezzini."

He gets on his seat belt and holds his jacket closer to him. "Why is it so cold?" he asks, and then ohs. "Because I drained myself." A sigh. "Sorry." Because he knows how many times Sara has gotten onto him about his powers and overtaxing them.

"But maybe this means I can last a little bit longer next time." He closes his eyes, pressing his head against the window of the door. "And remember, shh. This is our little secret, okay? Don't even tell mom."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Strapping herself in, Sara starts the car and kicks the heat on to get the car warm. "You don't need to be sorry," she says with a smile. "You didn't make yourself pass out, so you managed to find the line I was talking about and not go over it."

Getting out the back loading area required her ID, but then they were on the road. "As for not telling Nettie, here's the deal. I won't offer the information, but if she asks me flat out if it was you, I won't lie. I doubt she'll ask, but you need to understand I won't lie, for any reason."

The distance from Mount Sinai to the house was only fifteen miles, and thankfully four in the morning traffic was lighter, unless you counted the garbage trucks. "I don't know why you're worried about someone finding out though," she adds after a moment. "If some mutant hater comes your way, I'll kill them." Was that all Sara talking, or perhaps a little Witchblade in there as well?

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Because of they find out it was a mutant, it opens the whole faith healer thing, and then there's the whole thing that will start up, and then people will want me to do it more than more. The Reavers came after me to take me apart because they wanted to use that power." Joshua responds quietly, popping a piece of jerky in his mouth.

"I have much bigger things to worry about than pissing off some firefighters. Demon geese, demons in general, ghosts, all types of evil shit." He finds himself stifling a yawn. "Which is why it's done. No more worrying about it. Because I'm chosing you, Sara." he says finally.

"Just like you chose me. I'd rather tolerate a million Luca's than lose you." he says quietly. "I nearly did once. And I almost did again."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Pulling up in front of the house, Sara instincts immediately have her checking for cars on the street that shouldn't be there. The old truck belonged to the neighbors love affair, her husband must be away on work again. The red Honda was the Anderson's youngest daughter, a little brat who thought the world belonged to her just because she was born. The white Buick was new, brand her, no plates just the DMV temporary plate tag, the Walker's finally got their dream car.

"You've never nearly lost me Joshua," she says softly, turning her head to look at him. "I know you see it that way, that you constantly fear it will happen... but that's my fear as well, that you will leave. I think all couples fear it in the beginning."

Leaning over she kisses his jerky filled cheek, then climbs out and walks around the car. This time she can open the door herself, and once again makes ready to pick him up. "Don't even argue, you're feet don't touch the floor until we're upstairs."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Don't ever let me get too confident in having you, Sara." Joshua points out. "Because I never want to stop trying to hold your heart." That said with quiet heart-felt affection as Sara scouts the area. Joshua is really too worn out to help with it. But he's still conscious, a smile when she kisses his cheek.

"It's not a constant fear." he continues with his confession as he babbles a little. "See, I know you loved me. You said so. But if I don't continue to improve, I may become boring. So I always want to grow and improve in your eyes. I want your family to accept me. I have spent..." a quiet sigh and he shakes his head.

"I lost one family. And have a new one now. I just didn't realize I was going to fall in love with the cool older woman who thought she was going to be my Aunt at first and all I could think about is how great she looked and how much I wanted to kiss her."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
Scooping him out of the car, Sara uses her foot to kick the door closed then heads to the front door. "You get mushy when you over heal," she comments with a chuckle, then nuzzles his cheek with her nose before he gets another kiss. "Live is about growing, changing, and improving yourself. The minute you stop learning, you might as well just dig a hole and wait for the end. Even if you fall down or you fail, so long as you keep trying, that's all anyone, including myself, could ask."

Managing the front door with him in her arms required the skills of someone who has done it before, and perhaps a little more help from Witchblade, but once in side she doesn't even pause in the living room. She heads straight for the stairs and up to the bedroom. "So, bath first or straight into bed while I go get your manicotti?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I won't remember any of this in the morning. Or at least deny it all." Joshua comments as she lifts him and he nuzzles against her. He waits until the doors opened, and another snicker escapes him and he leans up and whispers into Sara's ear. "You're carrying me across the threshold." That said in a totally teasing manner, her turns his attention back to the conversation.

"If I stop learning, I won't be able to keep healing people, that's the whole reason I'm going to be an EMT. I want to be able to go into the hospital and help and people not wonder why I'm there. Even if I'm golden." A sigh. "That, and it gets me closer to you."

"Bed. I'll get a shower when I can stand on my feet again. Right now, I don't trust myself with sitting in the tub."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
"I'm carrying you across the threshold and then another," Sara teases right back with a grin. "I can't wait to see you in that frilly white dress. Oh, and who said you'd be in the tub alone?"

Tossing the last thing out there, she sets him down on the bed. Without pause, she kneels down and starts taking off his shoes. "You being an EMT needs to be about you, not about me, in any way. There were a lot of good reasons listed," she offers as she removes his shoes. "But closer to me? Unless you mean on the front lines of humanities ability to try and kill itself over and over again, how do you see it being closer to me?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"You'll look so handsome in the tux." Joshua points out with a little giggle. "I'd ask you to be gentle, it's my first time, but we know both of those statements are a bald-face lie." comes his bold comment as he's set on the bed and he wriggles out of his shoes and starts to move to push down his pants - boxers staying on!

"I mean. That and the whole last line of defense against the supernatural. But like... we can work in the same district and have lunch together and stuff, when our schedules mesh." he shrugs a little, sitting up to help with his shirt. "And I have something to prove. I know that I can heal... almost anything, but I want to show the world I can do it the right way."

Sara Pezzini has posed:
When it comes to dirty clothes, Sara is a toss em aside and worry later kind of person, so that's what happens with his cloths. His shoes though, they get set side by side right by the night stand, with the socks tucked into them. You never knew when you might need shoes in the middle of the night, so they had to be in reach.

Once his shirt is off and tossed aside, she lays one hand on his chest as she says, "I have no doubt that you will do everything you want to do in this life Josh, but you need to realize that healing someone... there is no right or wrong way, there is merely saving a life."

Standing back up, she pulls the blankets back so he can get into the bed easier. "I'm getting you water and manicotti, you want anything else while I'm down there?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Some cheesecake. And I don't mean one of your Avenger's posters. I get the real deal." Joshua quips as he's pushed back onto the bed and settles in on his side, curling against the pillows.

Something makes him snort a laugh, but he keeps whatever that was to himself, as he just tries to relax. "You know, when they talked me through it? It was so much easier. Yeah. Took longer. But now I know for next time." Because there is clearly going to be a next time. He pulls the blanket over himself as she heads downstairs.

When she comes back with the food and drink, he's out like a light, his candle finally burned out now that he's in his bed, safe and sound.

Sara Pezzini has posed:
"I don't even own one of those posters, and when I see em," she snorts, this comment as she heads for the door. "I want to tear them down... I don't though. Gotta seem grateful or something."

"The trip downstairs is about ten minutes. Enough time for Sara to throw the entire plastic container of manicotti in the microwave, bag up several bottles of water, and put the cheesecake on the tray with the fork. One stir of the dish, a few more minutes to zap, and she carries the tray and bag of water back upstairs.

Grinning as she sees him asleep, taking the food back down stairs, she returns to the bedroom more quietly. Turning the television on, with the volume low, she gets down to t-shirt and panties then climbs into bed. Maybe the manicotti would be lunch instead.

Joshua Foley has posed:
As he's sleeping, when Joshua feels Sara join him in bed, he rolls immediately. Pressing firmly against her, his arm drapes around her middle and holds onto her as he curls in against her side. She is totally the big spoon in the relationship.

And as he goes back to sleep, there's a light kiss to her shoulder and a soft, "I love you."