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BREAKING BAD"Half Measures"Episode #312Written bySam Catlin&Peter GouldDirected byAdam BernsteinAs BroadcastSONY PICTURES TELEVISION INC.All Rights Reserved © 2010No portion of this script may be performed, or reproduced by any means, or quoted, or published in any medium without prior written consent of SONY PICTURES TELEVISION INC. * 10202 West Washington Boulevard * Culver City, CA 90232*BREAKING BAD"Half Measures"Cast ListWALTSKYLERJESSEWALTER, JR.HANKMARIESAUL GUSMIKEANDREABABY HOLLYBROCKBULLETHEAD #1BULLETHEAD #2TOMASVICTORWENDYDRIVER (Non-speaking)JUNKIE (Non-speaking)BREAKING BAD"Half Measures"Set ListInteriors:WHITE HOUSEBATHROOMDINING ROOMHALLWAYKITCHENLIVING ROOMSUPERLABHOSPITALHANK'S ROOMCORRIDORSAUL GOODMAN'S OFFICEBARANDREA'S HOUSEBEDROOMFACTORY FARMOFFICE TRAILERTHE CRYSTAL PALACEWENDY'S ROOMWALT'S AZTEKJESSE'S TERCELVICTOR'S CARExteriors:WHITE HOUSEBARFACTORY FARMOFFICE TRAILERTHE CRYSTAL PALACESTREETCORNERURBAN STREETPLAYGROUND CRIME SCENETEASEREXT. THE CRYSTAL PALACE - DAYMUSIC STARTS -- a chirpy and cheerful mid-60s pop tune. You’ll recognize it immediately.Under it, a familiar MOTEL SIGN stands out against the sky.WIDE now to reveal the sign stands beacon before our infamous “Crystal Palace” MOTEL -- last seen as the site of Jesse’s bust by the DEA in episode 203.And in the parking lot of the Palace... a lone female figure. A working girl. She glances over as an old beater comes chugging into the lot.CLOSE -- the working girl is WENDY, our lovable meth whore (and Jesse’s sometime-squeeze). It’s been an unbelievable 22 episodes since we saw her last, and we missed her!She flicks away her cigarette and falters over on her tall platform heels, climbing in the passenger seat of the beater which has pulled up before her. The DRIVER is some creepy Tom Clancy-type, but hey, a job’s a job.The SONG which plays beneath is “Windy,” by The Association. It will run throughout our Teaser.THE ASSOCIATION(singing)Who’s peekin’ out from under a stairway -- Callin’ a name that’s lighter than air -- Who’s bendin’ down to give me a rainbow -- Everyone knows it’s Windy!“Who’s bending down to give me a rainbow” should hit at just the moment Wendy’s head disappears from view beneath her john’s dashboard. Because after all, we can always use another Peabody Award for Excellence in Television.The pacing here is sprightly. Essentially, we’re building a music video that depicts a day in the life of Wendy.Her existence centers around the Crystal Palace, so we’ll never stray too far from it (at least till Teaser’s end). Her main activity and source of income is giving quick, around-the-block blowjobs -- which means all day long she’s getting picked up by different cars and trucks, driven around the block, then let off right back where she started.(CONTINUED)Throughout this set-to-music MONTAGE (for which we should provide on-set PLAYBACK), Wendy’s pulse seldom goes above 60. Her blank, bored expression tells us she doesn’t despise her life -- she simply doesn’t think about it. She might as well be twisting bolts on an assembly line.THE ASSOCIATION(singing)Who’s trippin’ down the streets of the city -- Smilin’ at everybody she sees -- Who’s reachin’ out to capture a moment -- Everyone knows it’s Windy!Crucial to shoot is a HIGH AND WIDE TIME-LAPSE of the lot, with Wendy getting in and out of various vehicles. As clouds scud overhead in pixilated fast-motion, she goes around the block in ten or twelve cars (representing a timespan, at least in theory, of four or five hours). She doesn’t get into every car that cruises her, as every now and then somebody doesn’t like the price she’s charging.We intercut this time-lapse with scenes of downtime, as Wendy’s day involves a lot of standing around or sitting on the stairs. Amongst these moments:-- Wendy buys cans of ROOT BEER from the motel soda machine. As established, she’s a big fan of root beer, so this is something we can keep cutting back to.-- Wendy eats take-out Asian food from a white Styrofoam tray. She bends back one of the tines on her plastic fork and uses it to pick her teeth.-- Wendy talks trash with our tattooed and horned DEVIL MAN (last seen in episode 213). Throughout all these moments we certainly might record production sound... but the conceit is that we’re hearing MUSIC, not dialog.-- Wendy stands idly smoking. She picks something off her tongue, peers at it. Huh.-- Screaming at a customer who underpaid, Wendy throws her can of root beer at him as he drives off. It bounces off the back of his station wagon, jetting mocha-colored FOAM.-- Around the side of the motel, Wendy squats behind the dumpster, taking a tinkle. She smokes, staring into space.THE ASSOCIATION(singing)... And Windy has stormy eyes -- that flash at the sound of lies --BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 2.CONTINUED:
(MORE)(CONTINUED)And Windy has wings to fly -- Above the clouds, above the clouds, above the clouds...-- Wendy talks more trash, then gets in a tug-of-war with a big TRANSVESTITE HOOKER (last seen in 205) over a rabbit fur coat. Wrestling outside her weight class, she loses.-- Add to these moments whatever seedy/fun/evocative bits of business our director might add. Shooter’s choice!INTERCUT WITH:INT. THE CRYSTAL PALACE - WENDY’S ROOM - DAYInside her room here at the Palace (established in 102 and 203), we intercut Wendy taking regular meth breaks. -- CLOSE ON her glass pipe as she fires it up, deeply inhaling white clouds of the stuff she’s living her life for. Hands down, this is the best part of her day.THE ASSOCIATION(singing)... And Windy has stormy eyes -- that flash at the sound of lies --And Windy has wings to fly -- Above the clouds, above the clouds, above the clouds...-- Wendy checks her stash, frowning at the fact she’s running low. The 8-ball she’s holding has maybe only three or four hits left. She taps it with a finger.-- Wendy counts her cash. Getting close to enough. She tucks it back in some clever hiding place that other junkies hopefully won’t discover.-- Her tall shoes kicked off, Wendy lies propped on her bed with her knees up in front of her, smoking a cig and staring blankly at her television. What’s on TV should not be seen, as we don’t want to have to pay for it. Instead, the box throws flickering blue light throughout the darkened room.Off this hellish, miserable existence, ironically set against a bubble gum SOUNDTRACK...EXT. STREETCORNER - DAYCLOSE ON Wendy’s platform heels clip-clopping the sidewalk. We TRACK LOW, following behind them.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 3.CONTINUED: (2)THE ASSOCIATION (CONT'D)
(CONTINUED)THE ASSOCIATION(singing)Who’s trippin’ down the streets of the city -- Smilin’ at everybody she sees -- Who’s reachin’ out to capture a moment -- Everyone knows it’s Windy!CLOSE following behind the greasy FAST FOOD BAG that dangles from her hand.Andrea’s little brother TOMAS -- Combo’s ten-year-old killer -- rides idle circles on his bicycle in f.g. as Wendy walks through frame in b.g. The kid is bored. He pays no attention to her, nor she to him.WIDE to reveal a familiar intersection in a rough part of town. We saw it at the end of our previous episode, and before that in the Teaser of 211. This is where Combo died.Wendy heads for an old muscle car parked inconspicuously across the way from the kid. Inside it sit our two familiar BULLETHEADS. They’re the creeps who ordered Combo’s murder. They know Wendy well, aren’t surprised to see her. Likely, she’s one of their best customers.WENDYHey guys.She hands them the bag of burgers (more on that later) and bends down to bullshit with them through the open driver’s window. She’s their very best friend in the world just as long as they’re selling.Wendy shoots a quick glance around for cops, then slips the guys a wad of her hard-earned cash. Off this close, objective angle...INT. TERCEL - DAY - CONTINUOUS... MATCH-CUT to the same activity as now seen in JUMPY, EXTREME TELEPHOTO. This long-lens view tells us we’re inside someone’s covert surveillance. We watch as the BULLETHEAD DRIVER takes Wendy’s money and slips her an 8-ball of METH.She tucks it in her pocket, keeps talking. The guys unwrap the burgers she brought them and eat. They keep their eyes peeled as they chew, though they never quite look our way. They seem to tolerate Wendy because she gives them food, and probably the occasional BJ.Off this WIDE VIEW:BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 4.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)Reveal that it’s JESSE slumped low behind the steering wheel of his parked Tercel. He’s by himself, watching these dudes from a couple blocks away.Jesse keeps staring out his windshield.Off our Jesse, with hate in his heart, grim determination in his eyes... and now, a dawning IDEA...END TEASERBREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 5.CONTINUED:ACT ONEINT. AZTEK - DRIVING - AFTERNOONCLOSE -- hands on a steering wheel, properly situated at ten and two o’clock. ADJUST to reveal they belong to WALTER, JR.Yes, our young man is growing up. He’s DRIVING through the White’s own neighborhood (some side street or other, so that we’re not currently within sight of the actual house).Keeping his eyes properly peeled through the windshield, he shoots a quick glance to the seat next to him. After a moment, he hazards another.Walt’s not nervous the way he was the last time he gave his son a lesson (back in ep. 204). Maybe it’s because Junior is doing much better this time around. Or maybe it’s due to the fact Walt has been through so much life-changing shit since then that a car crash is the least of his worries.WALTER, JR.So if it’s okay, I was thinking I’d use this one for the test.(off Walt’s glance)Mom’s brakes are very sticky and you barely press down on them and it’s like screeech.WALTSure.Walt nods. Fine. Another beat of silence, then:WALTER, JR.But I’m good?WALTYeah, you’re great. Why?WALTER, JR.Um... are my feet okay?He asks this meaningfully. Walt glances down into the driver’s side foot well.Walt’s POV: Junior has one foot on the GAS PEDAL and the other poised over the BRAKE. We may recall this was their big bone of contention last time. Walt hated it.Before Walt can answer, Walter, Jr. is already explaining.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 6.
(CONTINUED)WALTER, JR.I looked it up -- New Mexico says all I need is a note from a doctor.(off Walt’s shrug)I-I know it’s not the “right” way and all. But once I get my provisional, I can keep working at it.WALT(a beat)Well, as long as it gets you safely from point A to point B, then who am I to argue?He says it matter-of-factly. He’s resigned, but not bitter. Walter, Jr. is more than a little surprised.Is there something more to read into this? Has the fight left Walt altogether? Is “Heisenberg” dead and buried?Off Walt, okay with being driven and not driving...INT. WHITE HOUSE - DINING ROOM - AFTERNOONCLOSE ON a LAPTOP SCREEN -- it shows a Wikipedia entry on “MONEY LAUNDERING.” We slowly scroll through it, reading. Educating ourselves. This is the POV of...... SKYLER, sitting at the dining room table, her laptop in front of her. She steeps herself in the complexities of criminal enterprises while breast-feeding BABY HOLLY.SKYLER(softly, to Holly)Hi! You’re a sweet girl... yes you are... yes you are... yes you are. (beat)I know...The sound of TIRES out in the driveway turns her attention. She closes her laptop and gently disengages her daughter.EXT. WHITE HOUSE - AFTERNOON - CONTINUOUSThe Aztek is parked in the driveway. The engine shuts off and Junior opens his driver’s door, retrieving his crutches from the backseat. Walt rounds from the passenger side.WALTER, JR.Here you go... Got it.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 7.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)Walter, Jr. grabs his backpack, nods. Walt hugs him goodbye.WALTER, JR.So, nine AM Saturday. WALTNine AM Saturday.WALTER, JR.So which means pick me up about 8:30..?WALTI’ll be here with bells on.WALTER, JR.What?WALTJust a saying... Don’t worry. I won’t be wearing bells.Walt is ready to climb in his car and go. But just now, Skyler exits the house (sans baby), headed their way.SKYLERHey.WALTER, JR.Hey, Mom.SKYLER(to Walt)Hi. Um, do you have a minute?(off his nod; to Junior)Could you, uh, go in and keep an eye on your sister for me?Walter, Jr. takes that as his cue to head inside the house.WALTER, JR.Yeah, sure. Alright, seeya, Dad.WALTBye, Son. Hey, good work today.WALTER, JR.Thank you.Walt gives him a smile and a wave. Skyler and Walt remain standing here beside Walt’s Aztek, Skyler waiting for Junior to get some distance before she says what’s on her mind. Once she does, her voice stays low.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 8.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)SKYLERHave you thought anymore about what we discussed?WALT“Thought anymore” meaning “reconsidered?” No.She’s not happy to hear it.SKYLERSo, show me the flaw in it.WALT(with emphasis)Uh, flaws, Skyler. Flaws plural, not singular. Where do you want me to start?SKYLERHey, I don’t love this situation, alright? That you put me in! However, let’s just stick with what makes sense here: You took the seed money you won gambling, you invested it in the car wash that you helped run for four years. You hired your wife as a bookkeeper, because guess what? She’s actually a bookkeeper. Now, that is a story an auditor can believe. So what am I missing?WALTYou’re missing that you should just take this money that I give you and not look too closely at it. So if, god forbid, I get caught... you maintain plausible deniability.Skyler pins him with a withering look.SKYLEROkay, my estranged husband, who -- when he was working -- made forty-three thousand dollars a year, starts shoveling money at me. And when the police come, I’m supposed to say “Gee, I, uh, never thought about it, officers. Made sense to me!” Really? That, in your mind, is “plausible deniability.”(off his silence)I tell you what, Walt... BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 9.CONTINUED: (2)
(MORE)(CONTINUED)I’d rather have them think I was Bonnie what’s-her-name than some complete idiot.Walt considers her. Clearly, she’s serious about all of this. She gives no sign of giving in or changing her mind. Walt mulls his options. If you can’t beat ‘em...WALTSo you’re promoting caution here. And you want a believable story.SKYLERThat, it seems to me, is the safest way to make the best of a very bad situation, yes.WALTAh. But I’m noting a little hole in your plot, though. Why would your “estranged” husband be doing all this for you? Wary Skyler quickly sees where this is headed. Cocking her head and giving back as good as she gets:SKYLERBecause he loves his family and desperately wants a reconciliation. Though it may be hopeless and futile... then again, he’d try anything.WALTI’m just not buying it. No, I-I think it would be better if the husband were no longer estranged. Maybe if he were back sleeping in his own bed...SKYLERWow. Suddenly a fantasy story.Realizing this is a battle he will only lose, Walt instead turns it into a negotiation.WALTI am at least going to be a part of this household. Dinner with the family, every night of the week.SKYLERNot every night, no.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 10.CONTINUED: (3)SKYLER (CONT'D)
(CONTINUED)WALTSix nights a week. You get one night off.SKYLERDinner two nights. Not weekends. With twenty-four hours’ notice.WALT(no fucking way)Five nights a week, with no notice.SKYLERThree. Six hours’ notice.WALTFive nights a week, with two hours’ notice.SKYLERFour.(as he opens his mouth)Don’t push it.Walt considers, sighs... then nods (all of that horse-trading should play pretty fast, but not sitcom-fast).WALTAnd I want my own key to the house.SKYLERNo.WALT(nodding; non-negotiable)For emergencies, and for appearances, yes. I am going to babysit my own daughter, I’m going to help my son with his homework. I am going to be a part of this family. And that is how we’ll sell your little fiction.Off Walt, not backing down...INT. SUPERLAB - DAYA new day. We’re looking straight up at bright lights and ductwork from INSIDE the huge stainless MIX/COOK TANK.We hear a warning BEEP... BEEP... of machinery. A HISS of hydraulics. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 11.CONTINUED: (4)
(CONTINUED)Into view above us parks a steel chemical DRUM turned on its side. It’s balanced on the business end of our stand-up FORKLIFT.Jesse climbs into view, reaching to yank the CAP off the top of the drum with a beefy pair of pliers. Reddish-brown METHYLAMINE gushes down onto us, obscuring our view.NEW ANGLE -- Jesse watches the chemical GLUG-GLUG out, his mind preoccupied by a great many things. He climbs down off a stepladder poised beside the vat. He steps back aboard the forklift and JIGGLES the now-empty drum with it, making sure to shake out the last few drops.Walt wanders into view, scanning a clipboard he has in hand. While not exactly whistling here, he’s likely in a better mood than usual, considering the inroads he has recently made with Skyler.Jesse stands above, studying Walt a moment. Sizing him up. Reaching a decision:JESSEHow ‘bout we stop somewhere afterward and get a beer?Walt glances up from his clipboard. Did he just hear right? Seems like a really out-of-the-blue request.WALTUh. No thanks though. Maybe some other time.JESSESeriously. Get a beer with me.Sounds casual enough... only Jesse isn’t asking. Walt stares up at the kid, confused. Jesse eyes him meaningfully, in a way that seems to say Let’s talk. Only not here, in this place you think may be bugged.Not waiting for an answer, Jesse expertly wheels the forklift around and goes driving off on it, putting away the empty barrel. BEEP... BEEP... BEEP. Off Walt, staring after him:EXT. BAR - NIGHTTo establish -- this is an old-school neighborhood place, nothing fancy. Maybe we can grab this special, on the fly?BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 12.CONTINUED:INT. BAR - NIGHTCLOSE ON a glass of Coke. Teetotaling Jesse (remember, he’s in recovery) is not drinking alcohol. He’s not even drinking his soda, come to mention it. His mind is elsewhere.Walt sits before him, a beer mug in hand. The two of them sit in a booth or somesuch -- some spot in this half-full place which affords them privacy.Walt senses the kid has something big on his mind, and he’s curious to hear it. He’s patient, too, until finally...WALTWhat?Glancing up at him, Jesse reaches in his pocket and pulls something out. He tosses it atop the scarred table between them. Walt frowns, recognizing it.Walt’s CLOSE POV -- it’s a TEENTH baggie of BLUE METH.Walt’s hand slaps down atop it, obscuring it from sight. He shoots a quick yet subtle glance around the place -- did anyone see that? Relieved no one did:WALTWhat the hell are you doing? --JESSEThat’s ours, right?(points)Look at it and tell me if that’s ours.What the fuck?! Walt takes the briefest glance at the teenth under his palm, then shoves it back at Jesse.WALTYes, it’s ours. Now put it away. What the hell is wrong with you?(Jesse tucks it away)Where did you get that? Did you take it from the lab?!JESSEI bought it from the two guys who killed Combo.Walt settles down. Returns to being confused. Staring intently, Jesse quietly spells it out for him.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 13.
(CONTINUED)JESSEThey had Combo shot down in the street, and now it’s our product they’re selling. Which means they work for our guy. Right?Already not liking where this is headed, Walt tries to keep things reasonable. Even-keeled.WALTWh-what is that? That’s hearsay. Do you have any proof?JESSEI heard it from the sister of the kid who shot him.(then)You hear how I just said “kid?” This kid -- he’s eleven years old. Shot Combo on orders. These two... scumbags. They got him dealing, they got him...Jesse trails off, not wanting to say it again -- as the whole thing makes him emotional, and he’s trying hard to stay calm.JESSEYou know he’s not the first. They use kids ‘cause hey, why not? Easy to control. Easy to fool. All they get is juvie if they ever get caught. Hearts and minds, right? Get ‘em young and they’re yours forever.(off Walt’s silence)These guys killed Combo. They used this little kid like some puppet. They used him to shoot my friend.Jesse sighs raggedly and lapses into silence. He stares at the tabletop between them. A wary beat.WALTSo why are you telling me this?Jesse eyes Walt evenly. He’s back in control of himself.JESSEI need your help.WALT(not wanting to know)... How?BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 14.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)JESSEI need ricin.WALTOh my God. Uh... God.Walt silently shakes his head -- absolutely, positively not.JESSEThese two...WALTNo.JESSEHey, they gotta go, alright? I got the entire thing figured out.WALTNo.JESSEThe delivery method, everything. All I need from you is the poison, that’s all. WALTNo.JESSELook. Otherwise, you don’t haveta, you don’t gotta lift a finger.WALTNo. Listen, you don’t even know what you’re talking about. Not even --JESSE-- You don’t get how right this is? You don’t get how the whole entire world would be better off?WALTI know we’re not even talking about this.JESSEI know a woman who buys from these two once or twice a week. Alright? BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 15.CONTINUED: (2)
(MORE)(CONTINUED)She brings ‘em hamburgers ‘cause they sit in their car all day and they get hungry, so she brings ‘em food, and they knock a few bucks off her price. There’s your delivery system right there. I can be a mile away.WALT(arguing despite himself)Jesus. A meth-head you’re trusting to do this.JESSEYou know what? That meth-head stood up to your brother-in-law, alright? He questioned her five hours and she didn’t give it up. You know how it is you know it? ‘Cause you’re not in prison right now!WALTYeah, well I know I would be in prison after this. Prison or worse. And I’d be right alongside you.(tries to make him see)Jesse... you cannot be serious. This-this is a ridiculous idea.JESSEIt’s ridiculous? What, so you’re saying it’s not gonna work? How about back when it was YOUR plan? Back when we were gonna use it on Tuco?WALTApples and oranges.JESSEGuy eats ricin -- two, three days later he gets the flu or a heart attack or something and keels over. That’s what you said. Untraceable back to us!(corrects himself)To-to me. Not even that other scumbag we work for is ever gonna figure it out. Yo, it was a good plan back when it was Tuco, and it’s a good plan now.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 16.CONTINUED: (3)JESSE (CONT'D)
(CONTINUED)WALTTuco... wanted to murder us. These guys... don’t. Apples and oranges! Do-do I really have to sit here and explain the difference to you?Jesse’s eyes glow at Walt, but his voice gets low and even.JESSECombo was us, man. He was one of us. Does that mean nothing?WALT(realizes something)Why didn’t you go after these guys two or three months ago? Huh?JESSE‘Cause I just found out about ‘em.WALTWhat’s to find out? It’s a dispute over turf, right? I mean, how hard could it have been for you to track them down on their turf and kill them months ago?(before Jesse can answer)Because back then you were too busy getting high. Feeling sorry.Walt isn’t being cruel. He’s trying to connect, to help.WALTNow, murder is not part of your twelve-step program. This is not some... amends you have to make. What you are talking about here is pointless. This achieves nothing. It accomplishes nothing.Jesse keeps staring at Walt for the longest time. He’s not even angry at him. He’s simply bewildered. Calmly, quietly:JESSEIf you can’t see what it accomplishes... then there’s no way I can explain it to you.Jesse reaches in his pocket, pulls his wallet and counts out cash. Walt wants to keep him here, keep him talking.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 17.CONTINUED: (4)
(CONTINUED)WALTJesse, listen to me... You are not a murderer. I’m not, and you’re not. It’s as simple as that.Jesse drops some money on the table to cover their drinks. He’s not acting petty or pissy about this, nor is he leaving in a childish huff. He’s behaving like a proper grown-up. One who isn’t going to waste his breath. He rises.WALTJesse...JESSEI’m doing it. With or without you.Serious as a heart attack. With that, he calmly walks out of the bar, never once looking back.Walt twists in his seat to stare after him... then faces forward again once Jesse is gone. Off agitated Walt, wondering how in the hell he’s supposed to deal with this:END ACT ONEBREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 18.CONTINUED: (5)ACT TWOINT. HOSPITAL - HANK’S ROOM -- DAYUP ON: a TABLE covered with a picked through chocolate assortment, hand lotion, wadded up Kleenex and a wilting stalk of purple flowers -- detritus of a long hospital stay. NEW ANGLE: MARIE, HANK and WALTER, JR. are playing CARDS. Hank’s sitting up, his guests perched on opposite edges of his bed. They use a serving tray for a card table. Walter, Jr. picks up from the pile. Thinks a moment, then discards. Now it’s Hank’s turn. He picks up a card, shakes his head, disgusted, and almost immediately discards. (Note: They’re playing “knock rummy” here. In this game, if you think your cards will add up to the lowest score, you can knock and challenge the other players. Lowest hand wins.)Marie’s turn. She picks up a card and considers it... at length. Contemplating her next move like she was Boris Spassky. Hank sighs, impatient. Sometime this year, maybe? Finally Marie makes her move, setting down her hand. MARIE Knock! Knock! HANK(irritated)Chrissakes, you don’t say “knock-knock”, you...Hank raps the tray table -- knock-knock-knock. HANK... like that. MARIE(not arguing, but not backing down either)Well, I like saying it. HANKYeah, well, that’s not the rules. He raps the table again, harder -- knock-knock-knock-knock.HANKOkay?BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 19.
(CONTINUED)This isn’t Hank teasing and being playful here -- ever since his “time to leave the hospital and go home” argument with Marie back in Ep. 311, he’s been seriously cranky.MARIEListen, you knock your way, Groucho, I’ll knock mine. (triumph)But look, see? I win!WALTER, JR.Not so fast... Walter, Jr. grins as he sets down the real winning hand. HANK(rolls his eyes)Christ, again? That’s 3 in a row. Frickin’ Paul Newman over here. MARIE(suspicious)Have you been playing cards with your dad? WALTER, JR.(confused)No. Why?Marie checks herself. She promised Skyler: no one can know about Walt’s gambling problem. Especially Hank.HANKHow is your old man? He back teaching? WALTER, JR.No. Uh, I don’t think either of them are working right now.HANK(surprised)Yeah? How they swinging that? WALTER, JR.I dunno.Marie jumps in. They’re veering back into ‘Sick Walt And His Dirty Money Secret’ territory, so she changes the subject: BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 20.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)MARIEHey, did you know that the doctors told your Uncle Hank that he can get out of here any time he wants to? WALTER, JR.Oh, yeah? That’s great!Smelling a set-up, Hank shoots Marie a look.HANKYeah, we’re not sure about that.WALTER, JR.Why not?MARIE(off Hank, innocent)What? That’s what they said.HANK(increasingly prickly)That’s what they said because they, uh, they want the room. Hit the sheets with Lysol, re-set the meter and wheel in the next slob. We went over this, Marie. Drop it. Marie shrugs, pouts. Starts to tally the game scores.WALTER, JR.(carefully)Are you not well enough?HANK(temper flaring)Jesus kid, you too?! Do I look well enough? I’m shitting in pans, peeing in pitchers, can’t move my legs! Got it? WALTER, JR.(stands his ground)So... people in wheelchairs should be in hospitals? What about people on crutches? Maybe I should be in here too? Is that what you’re trying to say? Oops -- time for Hank to backtrack and apologize. Right? Actually, no -- time to be more ornery than ever: BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 21.CONTINUED: (2)
(CONTINUED)HANKThat’s exactly what I’m sayin’. Now deal, you little prick. Off Marie: stewing. How in the hell is she ever going to get Hank to leave? It’s going to be really hard to pull off. INT. SAUL GOODMAN’S OFFICE - DAYCLOSE ON a HAND playing with the Scales of Justice. Pull back to show: Walt. Sitting on the couch, absently fiddling with Saul’s garish, non-ironic coffee table CENTERPIECE. He sits anxiously, waiting, waiting... NEW ANGLE reveals: Saul sitting at his desk, peering intently into his computer screen. Hmm... what could Saul be working on that’s so important? An Ice Station Zebra spreadsheet? Updating his Facebook class-action page? We COME AROUND to show: Saul’s playing computer solitaire. Huh? What the hell? Why are these two just... sitting here? SAUL(re: game)Bitch...(finally glances over)You know I’m hourly, right?Walt checks his watch for the 39th time.WALTHe promised me that he would be here. SAUL(dry)Oh, he “promised”? Why didn’t you tell me? Let’s wait then.Walt sits there, staring off, like he hadn’t heard. SAULThat’s a joke. The kid ain’t coming.Walt stands, begins to pace. Saul quits his game, stretches. SAULOkay, so, what’s Plan B? WALT(at a complete loss)I don’t know... I really don’t. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 22.CONTINUED: (3)
(CONTINUED)SAULWell, let’s brainstorm. Saul leans back in his chair, steeples his fingers.SAULYou really think he’s serious? WALT(shoots him a look)That’s why I’m here, Saul. (half to himself)The way he was talking..? He is going to do it. Or try, at least.SAULOkay, so, what? We pay him off. WALTNo, no. It’s not about money... it’s about getting him off the streets. Getting him to calm down...Walt stops. A thought forming. A crazy thought... WALTMaybe..? What if we..? Maybe... could you get him arrested? SAUL(frowns, dubious)You-you want your criminal associate taken into police custody?WALTNo, no, listen. I know it sounds risky, but it wouldn’t be anything that would get him into real trouble and nothing that could lead back to our business. Just some minor offense. If it seems like Walt’s reaching here, you’re right, but sometimes desperate times call for half-baked ideas. SAUL(still not convinced)Pinkman in jail? I don’t know: I’m picturing it and my... BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 23.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)WALTI don’t mean “jail” as in, jail jail. I’m talking about one of those... situations where you’re in an orange jumpsuit, picking up litter along the highway.SAUL(smartass beat)That’s jail. (catching on)You’re talking about a level 2 joint. WALTSomething that keeps him off the street for say, 30 days? Then, by the time he gets out, tempers have cooled and hopefully we can move on. Saul mulls it over. It’s certainly not the most brilliant of Walter White plans (it’s been awhile since we saw one of those) but Saul always enjoys a challenge. SAUL(thinking out loud)Well, you know, Roswell Correctional’s pretty low impact, you know. In the past, I’ve recommended Springer, but I’m hearing chancy things about their bathrooms since they renovated. So.WALTSo it-it’s possible? SAUL(shrugs)Well, it falls under my Premium Services Package, but you can afford that. Saul picks up his phone and dials.SAULI’ll call my P.I. Off Walt: nodding, hopeful for this Plan B. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 24.CONTINUED: (2)INT. CRYSTAL PALACE - WENDY’S ROOM - NIGHTCLOSE ON: a HAND holding a bag of BLUE METH. Shake, shake. rustle, rustle -- its a lot of gack. Half pound. Maybe more.NEW ANGLE shows: it’s Jesse’s hand. He’s pulled a chair up to the bed where Wendy sits cross-legged, alternately deep-hitting on a cigarette and gnawing at her nails. JESSE(low, intense)You understand what you have to do?Wendy’s looking away, she’s actively not looking at Jesse and all that dope.... calling out her name...JESSEAnd you can never talk to anyone, right? I mean ever, understand?WENDY(quiet)Yeah.JESSEI found this stuff on the internet. Takes days to kick in. Just keep quiet and this won’t ever come back to you. (off her silence)You’re okay with this, right? Wendy shrugs -- she’s obviously not okay. JESSE(steadying)Just think of it like it’s the same thing as always; you’re just delivering some hamburgers.WENDYIt’s not just delivering hamburgers. Ah, the refreshing moral clarity of a meth whore. But Jesse doesn’t relent. He continues to gently push. JESSEHey. You got a kid, right? What’s his name? WENDYPatrick.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 25.
(CONTINUED)JESSEAlright, imagine these two guys had Patrick working as a mule. Making him kill people. Wouldn’t you do anything to protect your kid? WENDY‘Course I would. I do all kinds of things for him. JESSEOkay so, these guys using kids like that? They gotta go. Right? Wendy gives a barely perceptible nod. JESSEGood. He stands and drops the bag of meth on the TABLE -- thunk. JESSETomorrow. I’ll be in touch. Jesse leaves. Wendy continues to just sit there, not looking at the dope... not looking at the dope... not looking...Outside we hear: TRUCK BRAKES. An eerie groan. Like a whale call. Off Wendy: who turns and finally looks.INT. WHITE HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHTCLOSE ON: BABY HOLLY. Sucking greedily on a PACIFIER. Walt’s with her. He got his key from Skyler after their negotiations, and is now taking over some of the child care duties. He has Holly on a blanket on the living room floor, where she lies on her back.WALT(to Holly)Yeah... I’ll bet that tastes good.There’s a KNOCK on the door, interrupting this bonding time.WALT(to Holly)Hey... come here, baby. Okay... here we go. Here we go...Walt rises and walks to the door, checking who it is through the window... What the--? He opens to reveal...BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 26.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)MIKE. Saul’s “P.I.”WALT(agitated)What are you doing? If you need to talk, use the phone. MIKE (coolly insisting)This isn’t a phone talk, Walter. Your wife’s out, right? Walt hesitates. He’s not crazy about letting this guy inside his home, but this sounds serious. Walt stands aside, closing the door quickly after Mike enters. MIKE(smiling, re: Holly)Aw, isn’t she somethin’. I got a granddaughter a few years older.Uneasy about these two worlds of his colliding, Walt picks her up and loads her into the bassinet.WALT(’get on with it’)What can I do for you? Mike sits on the couch. Walt remains standing, he’s not gonna let Mike get settled in...MIKEHave a seat, Walter. Nice try. Walt grudgingly sits. MIKEI spoke to Goodman about Pinkman and this plan of yours. WALT(impatient)And? MIKEWell, I’m not gonna do it. WALTWhy? MIKEBecause it’s moronic.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 27.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)WALTSaul said you’ve done things like this before.MIKE(shrugs, ‘maybe’)That’s not the moronic part. WALT(losing patience)Okay. So? What’s the problem? Mike sighs. He’s about to go out on a limb here for Walt. And not for the first time, either. For some reason, Mike’s always kinda had a soft spot for him. MIKEThe problem is... the Boss wouldn’t like it. WALTSaul? MIKEMy boss.(adds meaningfully)Your boss. Mike works for Gus?! This is news to Walt. Troubling news. It’s another sign of Gus’ extensive, subterranean reach. MIKEThis is a professional courtesy. No one knows I’m here. Understand? Walt nods, numb.MIKEBut our employer would find out. Like always. And, if Pinkman were arrested... he’d take it as a problem. (level gaze)Walt, you got a good thing going here. We all do. You want to risk it all on one junkie? That’s a good question. These days, who knows what Jesse will do? What he’s capable of? Walt certainly doesn’t. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 28.CONTINUED: (2)
(CONTINUED)MIKENow, I realize you two have a history, but this kid’s been on the bubble a while now. It’s a long time comin’. Walt gets a chill. WALT... what is? The question hangs in the air a moment. Then, in that no-nonsense, matter-of-fact Mike style, he tells a story: MIKEUm... I used to be a beat cop, long time ago. And I’d get called out on domestic disputes all the time. Hundreds, probably, over the years. But there was this one guy, this one piece of shit that I will never forget. Gordie. He looked like Bo Svenson. You remember him? “Walking Tall?” You don’t remember? WALT(quiet)No. Normally when underworld types come in his home, sit on his couch and break into storytime, Walt pays attention for about zero seconds. But it’s hard not listen to Mike here.MIKE(nods, continues)Anyway. Big boy. 270-280. But his wife, or whatever she was, his lady, was real small. Like a bird. Wrists like... little branches. Anyway, my partner and I’d get called out there every weekend and one of us’d pull her aside, and we’d say “Come on. Tonight’s the night we press charges.” And this wasn’t one of those “Deep down he really loves me” set-ups. We got a lot of those, but not this. This girl was scared. She wasn’t gonna cross him. No way, no how. Nothin’ we can do but hand her off to the E.M.T.’s, put him in the car, drive him downtown, throw him in the drunk tank. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 29.CONTINUED: (3)
(MORE)(CONTINUED)He sleeps it off. Next morning, out he goes. Back home.(then)But one night my partner’s out sick. And it’s just me. And the call comes in and it’s the usual crap. Broke her nose in the shower kinda thing. So, I cuff him, put him in the car and away we go. Only that night, we’re driving into town and this sideways asshole is in my backseat humming “Danny Boy”. And it just rubbed me wrong. So instead of left, I go right, out into nowhere, and I kneel him down and put my revolver in his mouth, and I told him: This is it. This is how it ends. And he’s cryin’, going to the bathroom all over himself. Swearing to god he’s gonna leave her alone. Screaming -- much as you can with a gun in your mouth. And I told him to be quiet. I needed to think about what I was gonna do here. And of course he got quiet. Goes still and real quiet. Like a dog waiting for dinner scraps. And we just stood there for awhile. Me, acting like I’m thinkin’ things over, and Prince Charming kneelin’ in the dirt with shit in his pants. After a few minutes, I took the gun out of his mouth and I say, So help me, if you ever touch her again, I will such and such and such and such, and blah blah blah blah blah... Mike trails off in disgust. Walt’s trying to understand.WALTIt was just a warning?MIKEWell, of course. Just trying to do the right thing. (then)But two weeks later he killed her. Of course. Caved her head in with the base of a Waring blender. We got there, there was so much blood, you could taste the metal. (then)BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 30.CONTINUED: (4)MIKE (CONT'D)
(MORE)(CONTINUED)Moral of the story is I chose a half measure when I should’ve gone all the way. I’ll never make that mistake again. Walt looks away. Mike’s message is terrifyingly clear. MIKENo more half measures, Walter. OFF WALT: Staring off, stuck. Thinking the unthinkable... END ACT TWOBREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 31.CONTINUED: (5)MIKE (CONT'D)ACT THREEEXT. STREETCORNER - DAYBINOCULAR POV: Our view searches, focus cranking back and forth... A glimpse of sky and distant buildings.A BICYCLE WHEEL spins past. The rider is... Tomas. We’re back where we started in the Teaser. The kid circles nothing in particular, bored. We might even be reminded of the way he circled Combo the first time we saw this particular street corner. No sign of the Bulletheads.JESSE (O.S.)Man I don’t get this. I don’t get this at all. All I’m seeing is the kid. INT. TERCEL - DAY - CONTINUOUSAgain Jesse’s parked in his Toyota, using binoculars to watch the selling corner from a safe distance. In the passenger seat Wendy picks nervously at her hair. JESSESo where are they?WENDYI dunno. They’re always around.JESSEBurgers are getting cold. Wendy eyes the white fast food bag on her lap. The knowledge that the burgers are poisoned is freaking her out. WENDYSo is it like... fast?Jesse lowers the binoculars and looks over at her. The chunk of meth Jesse gave her is calling Wendy’s name and she knows these drug dealers don’t deserve to breathe... Still, she wants to get it over with before second thoughts set in. JESSEDon’t sweat it, alright, you’re just doing what you do. Hey, nobody’s gonna know anything. Wendy knows what she needs to settle her nerves. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 32.
(CONTINUED)WENDYCan I have another bump?JESSELook, you had your bump. We get this thing done and then you can have all you want. THWACK! A hand raps on the driver’s side window. Jesse whips around to see a man bending down to peer at him. It’s Mike. Jesse takes a moment to place him. Then -- OH --he remembers the PI from the terrible morning after Jane died. Jesse starts to roll down his window. MIKEGonna need you to come with me.Before Jesse can protest, VICTOR opens the passenger door and leans over Wendy. VICTORTake a walk. Wendy doesn’t need to be asked twice, she rushes to climb out. The sight of Victor takes the wind out of Jesse’s sails. If Mike is working with Gus’ minion, Jesse’s deep in the shit. Off Jesse getting out: EXT. URBAN STREET - DAY - CONTINUOUSKnowing trouble when she sees it, Wendy hurries away. Victor’s car (last seen in 304) is parked behind the Tercel.Mike opens the back door of Victor’s car for Jesse. Has Walt given Mike the green light to get rid of Jesse? Is that what “no half measures” means? There’s no one around to help and no escape. Left with no recourse, Jesse climbs into Victor’s car. Mike slides in after him, closing the door with a THUNK. INT. VICTOR’S CAR - DAY - MOVINGPANNING ACROSS an abstract swirl of OUT OF FOCUS brown landscape until we’re looking into Victor’s affectless, dead eyes in a REAR VIEW MIRROR. He glances back at... Jesse. He’s in the back seat, jaw clenched. Mike rides next to him, as impassive as a bust of a Roman Emperor. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 33.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)JESSEWhere we going?Mike gives him a lingering glance but says nothing. Jesse knows he’s riding to his execution. The next stop is an open grave -- what else could it be? But how did Gus find out about his plans to kill the Bulletheads? Off Jesse, adrenaline surging, trying to hide his fear... EXT. FACTORY FARM - DAYVictor’s car drives our way, raising a trail of dust. PANNING with the car as it passes the weathered buildings of GUS’ FACTORY FARM. Jesse doesn’t know this place, but we do. No activity is visible; the trucks have departed for the day. It’s the perfect isolated spot for an execution. EXT. FACTORY FARM - OFFICE TRAILER - DAYVictor parks next to Gus’ Volvo. Mike climbs out and waits for Jesse. He gets out cautiously. Nobody has to push or shove him. Jesse knows better than to resist. Jesse glances around the strange, deserted place and stops at the sight of Walt’s Aztek parked nearby. His mind races. Of course. Walt’s been picked up also. They’re both dead.Mike curls a finger at Jesse. This way. Jesse walks toward the trailer, keeping his head up high. He’s terrified but he’s not begging. The kid’s got spine. INT. FACTORY FARM - OFFICE TRAILER - DAY - CONTINUOUSJesse enters, surprise on his face as he sees...Men sit around the table, waiting for Jesse’s arrival. It feels like a cross between a mobster’s sit-down and an intervention. Jesse’s POV: Walt’s in the power seat next to GUS. He avoids Jesse’s glance. Far from being on the verge of execution, Walt made this meeting happen. This is his last ditch measure to keep the peace with Gus while saving Jesse’s life. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 34.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)Gus is beside Walt, calmly in control. But Jesse’s gaze moves past the stranger (remember Jesse’s never met Gus) to land on... THE BULLETHEADS. The thugs are sitting at the far end of the table, biding their time. Moments ago Jesse was about to poison these assholes. Now here they are, watching him as if they’ve got all the cards. GUSSit down. Jesse takes the empty seat in front of him. Victor and Mike sit nearby, ready in case they’re needed.Gus begins with quiet authority. He states the case simply and accurately with an almost judicial detachment. GUSI understand that you have a problem with two of my employees. Jesse’s putting it together -- this is the guy, the “boss.” The one he was never allowed to meet. Jesse doesn’t quite have the nerve to meet Gus’ questioning glance.GUSIt is true that they killed one of your associates. It is possible they acted rashly. But, on the other hand, there was provocation. The man was selling on their territory. (including the Bulletheads)There is blame on both sides. (a hint more force)This will go no further. It will be settled right here, right now. But Jesse’s looking at Walt. He can see Walt’s not here against his will. And if that’s true... JESSE(disbelief)You told him? Walt looks away. Gus narrows his eyes. Is this junkie too stupid to understand that he’s being presented with a chance to save his own life? This dirty laundry shouldn’t be aired in public. He turns to the Bulletheads, ice in his voice. GUSWait outside. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 35.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)There’s silence in the room as the Bulletheads follow Victor out, giving Jesse a prison-yard stare as they go. If Gus weren’t here, Jesse would already be bleeding out. Mike stays put, watching everything that goes down. Once Victor and the Bulletheads are gone, we see a new side of Gus. His mask of impartiality drops. He despises this kid, this insect, this junkie troublemaker. Gus rises and stands over Jesse. He’s quiet, he’s controlled but this is Gus losing his temper. GUSListen to me. You have one friend in this room. (pointing at Walt)This man. Walt stays seated --- and silent. The body language makes it clear; Gus is the boss here. There’s no trace of “Heisenberg” now; Walt has become a submissive company man.GUSThose men outside are my trusted employees. And when I learned what you intended to do...Gus can barely contain his contempt for the cowardice and stupidity of Jesse’s plan. He lets his words trail off, not finishing his thought. But his meaning is very clear. GUSIf it wasn’t for this man -- and the respect I have for him -- I would be dealing with this in a very different way.Jesse cuts his eyes over to Walt.GUSYou don’t look at him. You look at me. (Jesse complies, then)This is what happens now. My men will come back inside. And you will shake their hands and you will make peace. And that will be the end of this. He doesn’t need to say “or else.” There’s no choice here. Jesse must knuckle under to survive. But... something won’t allow him to go along. Something deep inside him rebels. He returns Gus’ stare. And says simply: BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 36.CONTINUED: (2)
(CONTINUED)JESSENo.What the hell?! Even Mike shifts a little in his chair. Walt’s stunned. Jesse must take this deal. WALTJesse --Without looking at him, Gus silences Walt with a gesture. GUS(to Jesse)Pardon me?Jesse rises to his feet and forces himself to look right at Gus. As scared as he is, Jesse’s not backing down. Even Gus is surprised by Jesse’s quiet bravery. JESSEThey use kids. These assholes of yours -- they got an eleven year old kid doing their killing for them. You’re supposed to be some kind of a “reasonable” businessman. This how you do business? Shit! Jesse’s calling Gus out! Jesse turns to Walt. JESSE(to Walt)You okay with this? You got anything to say here? Surely Walt is going to stand up to Gus. Now he’s got to side with Jesse. Heisenberg will be here any second, right? Wrong. Walt just stares at the table. A gutless wonder. This is Walt’s most cowardly moment. Gus stares at Jesse for a long, charged beat. Most likely he’s deciding the kid is going to be killed -- right now. GUS(to Mike)Bring them back. Mike goes to the door and signals to Victor. Jesse doesn’t take his eyes off Gus as Victor leads the Bulletheads back in. The drug dealers don’t go back to their chairs, they stand across from Jesse, waiting for Gus to give the word. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 37.CONTINUED: (3)
(CONTINUED)GUS(to the Bulletheads)No more children. Glances of confusion around the room. GUSUnderstand? The Bulletheads glance at each other, pissed. Somehow Jesse talked the boss into muscling into their business. Still, they nod. An order from Gus is not to be questioned. GUS(to Jesse)And you. You keep the peace. Jesse nods. Not quite believing this outcome.GUSSay it.JESSEYeah. I’ll keep the peace.GUSShake hands. Jesse slowly reaches out and shakes the hands of each of Combo’s killers in turn. Walt’s relieved but also deeply humiliated. He’s never stood up to Gus like this, never even imagined it. Off Jesse -- has he just won a victory? INT. AZTEK - MOVING - DAYWalt drives, stealing a glance at Jesse in the passenger seat. Jesse ignores him, staring out the window. After Walt’s betrayal, Jesse is through with “Mr. White.” Whatever respect remained is gone. A long beat. Finally Walt can’t stand it any more -- he’s got to explain himself. WALTJesse. Your actions... they affect other people. In other words: You gave me no choice. WALTSometimes... compromises have to be made... For the best of reasons. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 38.CONTINUED: (4)
(CONTINUED)Translation: I ratted you out to save your life. Walt’s trying to be mature and fatherly -- but every word rings hollow. In Jesse’s eyes, and in his own, he’s lost his balls. The Aztek slows. Before the car even stops, Jesse throws open the door and jumps out. He’s had enough of Walt. EXT. URBAN STREET - DAY - CONTINUOUSTurns out we’re back where Mike and Victor picked Jesse up. Jesse charges to his Toyota without bothering to close the Aztek’s passenger door. Walt rolls his window down, trying to get one last word in. WALTJesse... Jesse... THRUMM! Jesse burns rubber as he peels out. With a heavy sigh, Walt reaches over and pulls the passenger door closed. NEW ANGLE -- on the Aztek from way up the street. A long lens compresses the space, in f.g. Tomas circles on his bike. Now that we’re closer to the kid, we can hear he’s humming a little tuneless song as he makes his wobbly figure-eights. (If we haven’t noticed them yet, now we get a good look at the distinctive, almost garish SNEAKERS on Tomas’ feet.) No matter how much this boy has seen and done, he’s still just a kid. Maybe Jesse’s bravery has saved Tomas and some other kids like him. In the b.g., Walt pulls the Aztek into a U-turn and heads in the opposite direction that Jesse went. Off Tomas, quietly humming to himself:INT. HOSPITAL - HANK’S ROOM - DAYTIGHT ON water droplets falling from a sponge. RACK to Hank eyeing Marie as she wrings the sponge into a bowl.HANKMarie, let the people who get paid to do this do this. Marie pulls the top of the his gown aside and begins to gently sponge his shoulders and neck. Having Marie touch him like this just makes Hank feel more helpless. MARIEThe people who get paid to do this do a lousy job. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 39.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)Marie moves more covers and starts on his biceps. MARIE(quieter)So I guess this is what you want, huh? Just lying in a hospital bed getting sponge baths from nurses. HANK(not this again)Marie...MARIEIt’s time to go home, Hank. HANK(for the millionth time)How many times I gotta tell ya, Marie? Not ‘till I’m well. Marie sponges in silence for a moment, trying to think of something to say that’ll change Hank’s mind. But she’s tried all the words she can think of... Wait a minute. Marie has an inspiration. Working her way down, she sponges Hank’s body under the covers and goes lower... and lower...And lower still... We can’t see exactly what’s going on, but Hank is mildly alarmed. HANHey, hey, hey, hey. Wha-wha-wha-what’ya you doing?MARIEI’m just seeing.This happens OFF SCREEN but from Hank’s reaction it’s clear that she’s stroking him where it’ll make the biggest impact. HANKSeeing what?MARIESeeing what I see. HANKI’m not at my best here, Marie...MARIEWe’ll see. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 40.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)Staying TIGHT on Marie as she continues, a twinkle in her eye. All we can make out is the rhythmic motion of her upper arm but there’s definitely an expert handjob in progress. Hank’s more uncomfortable and exasperated by the second. HANKNothing’s gonna happen.MARIEI say it will. HANKNah. I’m in this bed for a reason. (she’s not stopping)It’s a waste of time. Besides, what if someone comes in? MARIELet ‘em. I don’t care if someone walks in. HANKMarie, what is wrong with you? MARIEI tell you what. If I can get the groundhog to see his shadow --HANK(interrupting)-- that’s not gonna happen. I’m sorry.MARIEI’m betting it will. And if he does, you check out of here. Hank feels self-conscious not to mention pissed. The woman is taking advantage of his diminished state! However, judging from the little we can see, Marie really knows what she’s doing. But it seems to make no difference to Hank. HANKI’m not gonna bet on whether I can get a boner. There’s no bet, no bet here! No bet!MARIEYou afraid you’ll lose?BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 41.CONTINUED: (2)
(CONTINUED)HANKYou know you’re just, you’re being foolish, you know? Come on. What’s the point? Now Marie goes all in. If she fails, she may never get him out of this hospital. She looks Hank in the eye. MARIEThe point is you’re not completely hopeless. We have a bet?Hank considers. This is beyond the pale, but... HANKYou know what? If it’ll get you outta here quicker, you’ve got one minute.MARIEOne minute? Alright. That’s a cakewalk. HANKYeah. This is just, this is just sad... I mean, I really feel sorry for you, Marie, you know, I really do. It’s just, uh... it’s pathetic. The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Marie has him where she wants him and she knows it. MARIEThat’s good, keep talking. Protest. Struggle.HANKMarie... Give up... I mean, seriously. It’s... not... gonna happen. A look crosses Hank’s face and he falls silent. Betrayed by his own dong. Off a glimmer of triumph in Marie’s eyes... INT. HOSPITAL - CORRIDOR - DAYA SPRAY OF PURPLE FLOWERS sways in front of Hank’s pissed-off face. PULLING BACK to reveal he’s riding in a wheelchair with one of the gift baskets balanced on his lap. For the first time since the shooting he’s back in street clothes. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 42.CONTINUED: (3)
(CONTINUED)A LARGE WARD ASSISTANT is wheeling Hank up the corridor. Following just a few steps behind is... Marie. She’s quietly delighted with herself as she cashes in on her winning “bet.” Off Marie’s pleased little smile... INT. ANDREA’S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHTTight on a BEDSIDE RADIO playing soft MUSIC. A plastic INDIAN is perched on top of the radio, firing his arrow down at a cowboy on the bedside table. We follow a trail of injection-molded warriors from the bedside table... across crumpled pillows to...Jesse and Andrea. They’re having a quiet moment in bed. Jesse watches smoke curl from his cigarette, deep in thought. Andrea gently traces her fingertips over his tattoos. She knows something’s going on with him. ANDREABad day?Jesse thinks it over. All he can come up with is: JESSEI don’t even know. He’s not being evasive, he’s still trying to figure it out. Jesse’s still shaken by his brush with death. But he’s also torn between pride in his small victory and disgust at himself for being part of Gus’ operation. He glances over at Andrea, a ghost of a smile for her.JESSEAnyway. It’s better now. He leans over and kisses her. She kisses back. Looks like Jesse really is going to keep the peace. THRRRRRRP! The moment is interrupted.Andrea looks over at her bedside phone.ANDREAUggggh. JESSETell ‘em you’re busy. The phone is on Jesse’s side of the bed. Andrea crawls over him. She perches on the side of the bed, back to Jesse, as she picks up. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 43.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)ANDREAHello... Grandma? Slow down. Slow down. I can’t -- Oh, God...(a short breath, then)...Oh, God. The mood in the room has suddenly changed. Jesse’s smile fades: sounds like something terrible has happened. Her grandmother, breathless and horrified, tries to explain. As Andrea starts to understand her voice breaks. ANDREAOh my God. NEW ANGLE -- Jesse and Andrea are framed in the doorway as he stubs out his cigarette, very worried. A small figure appears in f.g. -- it’s Brock. He peers curiously up the hall as his mother cries. Off this heartbreaking image: EXT. PLAYGROUND CRIME SCENE - NIGHTStarting with impressionistic, nearly abstract images. BLUE LIGHTS bob and swirl rhythmically. Muffled VOICES and RADIOS Doppler and echo as if from very far away. The lights drift into focus; ROLLERS on top of a pair of SQUAD CARS. We’re FLOATING THROUGH a crowd of DARK FIGURES, following someone rushing ahead of us... She glances back -- it’s Andrea. The sound keeps us strangely detached. Now glimpses of slowly turning chains on a SWING SET and a silhouetted SEE-SAW tell us we’re in a playground. But it’s also a crime scene; evidence flags are planted over CHALK TRIANGLES on the asphalt. The dreamy POV pushes forward (this could be one of our rare Steadicam scenes) -- chasing Andrea as she moves in and out of sight through a tangle of ONLOOKERS and COPS. We catch up with Andrea. She slows as she arrives at the quiet center of the action in a SAND-FILLED play area. A FAMILIAR BICYCLE is upended nearby, wheel slowly turning... A big-boned COP crouches over a SMALL FIGURE sprawled out on the sand. A sheet covers the body, but we can make out a little sneaker-clad FOOT. Mercifully we don’t see the body but that distinctive, almost gaudy sneaker leaves no doubt. It’s Tomas, Andrea’s younger brother, under that sheet. The Bulletheads have taken Gus’ order about “no more kids” very literally.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 44.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)ANDREATomas! Tomas!Andrea cries out in anguish as GRANDMA rushes over to her. PIVOTING around Tomas’ bike to finally reveal JESSE. We’ve been in his POV up to now. PUSHING CLOSE on Jesse, the bicycle wheel in f.g. The sound comes RUSHING IN... the chatter of people, the squawk of walkie-talkies -- and the keening, heart-shattering sound of Andrea and her grandmother wailing. Jesse’s rocked, the world has turned upside down -- he’s not thinking about who’s responsible, he’s not enraged -- that will all come later. Right now the sight of Andrea and her dead brother is his whole universe. Off Jesse, overcome, the blue rollers flickering across his face. What is he going to do about this? END ACT THREEBREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 45.CONTINUED:ACT FOURINT. SUPERLAB - MORNING... knee-high off the floor and tilted UP towards the lab door entrance. We RACK as Walt steps into f.g. wearing his Tyvek (minus mask). He checks his watch. He looks annoyed, for sure, but also a little... concerned. He crosses to the wall PHONE, dials and gets... JESSE (VOICEMAIL)Hey. It’s me. Wait for the thing. Walt leaves a message. (He’s aware that the lab may be bugged and that Gus could be listening in, so Walt does his best to affect an air of controlled professionalism.) WALTJesse, you are now... 42 minutes late. I’m starting without you. Walt hangs up, mutters. If Jesse wants to hold a grudge, screw him. Walt grabs a MASK and pulls it over his face.We’re HIGH and WIDE and LOOKING DOWN on Walt as he walks over to a cook vessel and turns a knob -- OFF: the “CO2 purge effect” that Mr. Freeborn details in his handout. “WHITE VAPOR” clouding out of the vessel, obscuring Walt from view -- hssssssssss...EXT. GAS STATION - TIME LAPSETime lapse takes us from day to night.INT. WHITE HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - EVENING - CONTINUOUSWalt and Walter, Jr. on the couch watching TV. (Baby monitor should be in evidence. Baby Holly’s napping in the nursery.)Walter, Jr.’s pretty into Jeopardy, (following clip has been cleared) but Walt’s only putting on a brave face. This family time is nice but he can’t help from being a bit... distracted.CONTESTANT (O.S.)... what is “wasabi”?ALEX TREBEK (O.S.)Wasabi... right you are.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 46.
(CONTINUED)CONTESTANT “4 Letter Word” for $1200.ALEX TREBEK (O.S.)Pilots and musicians know this word derives from...Skyler calls in from the kitchen.SKYLERDinner’s almost ready, okay?ALEX TREBEK (O.S.)... for “harpoon.” Kevin?CONTESTANT #2 What is “solo?”ALEX TREBEK (O.S.)That’s the word.WALTER, JR.This guy’s good.CONTESTANT #2 (O.S.)Four letter word. 2000.ALEX TREBEK (O.S.)A loud, harsh cry; Walt Whitman’s was “barbaric.”WALTER, JR.“Yell”. WALT(quiet)What is “yawp”?ALEX TREBEK (O.S.)Kevin?CONTESTANT #2 (O.S.)What is “yawp”?ALEX TREBEK (O.S.)“Yawp”. CONTESTANT (O.S.)“Tokyo.” $1200ALEX TREBEK (O.S.)This crustacean...BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 47.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)After Gale’s gift to him in Ep. 307, Walt knows his Whitman. Walt can’t help but wonder, whatever happened to him? Why bring him up? Maybe we’ll see him again someday? Soon. WALTER, JR.(did you hear me?)What the heck’s a “yawp?” WALT(snaps out of it)Uh... a “yawp” is a yell. I’ll be right back.WALTER, JR.That’s what I said!Walt glances at his watch before rising. INT. WHITE HOUSE - HALLWAY/KITCHEN - EVENING - CONTINUOUSSkyler’s tossing a salad. Walt walks past, hesitates. WALTUh... okay to use your bathroom, right? Okay, now we understand Walt’s need to be diplomatic. He doesn’t want to give Skyler the impression he’s overreaching on their new ‘arrangement’. But asking permission to use the bathroom? Seriously? When the hell is our hero going to sack up and take command? Where o’ where is Heisenberg? SKYLER(shrugs)Yeah, okay. He nods and continues down the hallway. INT. WHITE HOUSE - BATHROOM - EVENINGWalt enters, closes the door and turns on the sink. He takes out his phone and dials. JESSE (VOICEMAIL)Hey. It’s me. Wait for the thing. Walt scowls, snaps the phone shut. Enough. If Jesse wants to be a child and sulk, so be it. Walt’s not going to feel guilty for saving this kid’s life. That’s absurd. Beat. He re-dials.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 48.CONTINUED: (2)
(CONTINUED)JESSE (VOICEMAIL)Hey. It’s me. Wait for the thing. Walt sits on the edge of the tub. He’ll try and pull off his Scolding Elder routine here but it comes off... defensive. WALTLook, I hope you’re not waiting for an apology because I did not “rat you out”? I was looking out for your best interests as well as my own. And I stand behind my decision 100%, so we’ll just have to agree to disagree. Anyway, just... call me back. Walt hangs up. Where the hell is he? Off Walt: sitting there with the sink running. Worried and feeling guilty. INT. WHITE HOUSE - DINING ROOM - EVENINGSkyler finishes setting the table, shooting Walter, Jr. a look as he comes to sit. NEWSCASTER (O.S.)...surprise today as temperatures drop into the...SKYLER(good-naturedly)So the TV turns itself off, huh? WALTER, JR.Yeah.Walt enters. Walter, Jr. starts to turns around but --WALTOh, I’ll get it. NEWSCASTER (O.S.)...might just be the beginning of an early cold snap.Walt goes into the living room, looking for...WALTWhere’s the remote? Walt searches for the remote, pulling up couch cushions, finding it just as the TV goes to a NEWS BULLETIN.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 49.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)(Note: TV’s already been established here so, audio only.) NEWSCASTER (O.S.)But first... more details on our top story -- the murder of a young boy in the South Valley... Walt turns around to face the TV, alarm bells ringing. NEWSCASTER (O.S.)... Police have yet to release a statement, but sources indicate that 11 year old Tomas Cantillo may have been the victim of a gang-related execution. An anonymous tip brought police to a playground in the forty seven hundred block of Eighth Avenue late last night. Paramedics were called to the scene but were unable to revive the boy. A gruesome crime.SKYLERCan you turn that off? Walt doesn’t hear her. He’s fixated on the TV screen. NEWSCASTER (O.S.)And yet another casualty in what appears to be the city’s ongoing struggle against drugs and the gangs that peddle them -- SKYLERWalt. NEWSCASTER (O.S.)We’ll be passing along details...Walt clicks off the remote, keeping it together. (It would be bad if Skyler suspected his business, if their business, was connected to the murder of an eleven-year-old. Really bad.) SKYLER(quiet, to Walter, Jr.)... for your dad.(beat, to Walt)I’m sorry, it’s just, uh, they’ve been talking about that all day. And it’s just...WALTNo... yeah...BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 50.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)Walt’s stunned. He has no doubt this boy is the same one Jesse mentioned at the summit with Gus. Walt’s got a good idea where Jesse is now. Or where he’s headed, at least.Seriously rattled, Walt joins his family at the dinner table. Like a truck driver fighting sleep, Walt’s determined to stay focussed, to stay present. Here, with his family. Try as he might, Walt’s having an hard time staying engaged.Brief, natural pause as they eat. Then -- SKYLERHey, uh, did you know your Dad and I are thinking about maybe starting a business together?Walt, Jr. likes the sound of that. Yet another hopeful sign for the White family household. WALTER, JR. Seriously? Wha-what kind of business?Skyler steals a look over at Walt before continuing: SKYLERUm, we’re thinking maybe a car wash. WALTER, JR. What do you mean? (to Walt)Like the...? Walt stares. Skyler and Junior continue; their conversation FADES into b.g. noise as we slowly MOVE IN on: Walt. At war with himself: ... Jesse’s going to kill those two guys... ... I did everything I could to help him...... Take on Gus Fring..?! Is he out of his mind?... ... My family’s all that matters... that and the money...... And that’s not wrong, either... not at all... ... I did everything I could...... Absolutely everything... BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 51.CONTINUED: (2)
(CONTINUED)... Right? TIME CUT TO:INT. WHITE HOUSE - FRONT DOOR - MOMENTS LATERWalt pulls open the front door.WALTI’m sorry. I have to go.Walt opens the door and leaves. Off Skyler and Walter, Jr: exchanging a look. What just happened?INT. TERCEL - NIGHTA strange yellow light washes across a pair of hands fumbling with a tiny plastic bag. The hands shake the contents of the bag out onto the surface of a scratched-up CD. The hands use the butt end of a Bic lighter to grind the meth crystals. Who is this pathetic skell?We TILT to discover -- Jesse. He’s getting ready to take a bump of the meth he bought from the Bulletheads in 311. Jesse stares down at the meth. Of course, he’s not really going to do this. He’s going to reconsider. But... Jesse SNORTS THE LINE. When he said that he was through with drugs he believed it -- and so did we. But now Jesse’s sobriety, so seriously undertaken, so hard won, is broken. WOOOSH! Jesse’s head snaps back with the meth rush. CUTTING WIDER. We’re in Jesse’s parked car. Sodium-vapor streetlights outside fill the car with an uncanny glow. Jesse’s breathing gets faster, there’s a wild look in his eyes. The months away from the drugs make the ride sharper and stronger than ever. Headlights from a passing car sweep over Jesse, illuminating the inside of the car for a moment. He doesn’t want to be seen. He slumps back in his seat, watchful and resolute.Why is he hiding in his car, bumping on meth in the dark? NEW ANGLE, JESSE’S POV -- through the dirty windshield. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 52.CONTINUED: (3)
(CONTINUED)Jesse’s parked about a block away from the Bulletheads’ corner. (He might be in the same spot as in the Teaser or some other location. Whatever works best for the sequence.) The street is deserted except for a JUNKIE waiting to buy, stomping his feet in the cold.EXT. URBAN STREET - NIGHT - CONTINUOUSAngle thorough the windshield PUSHING IN on Jesse. His eyes glitter in the dark as he waits. There’s some kind of confrontation brewing... but what has Jesse got in mind? Another car passes through the wide, desolate street. A beat and... HERE THEY ARE. The Bulletheads’ LOWRIDER slides out of the darkness, headlights off. A predator emerging from perfect camouflage. The junkie lopes over to the car and leans in, doing a buy. Without their underage kids, the Bulletheads are getting more hands-on in their work. INT. TERCEL - NIGHT - CONTINUOUSJesse reaches under his seat and pulls out a STAINLESS STEEL 9MM AUTOMATIC. This is no Saturday night special. Jesse’s taken a big step up from the revolver he bought last season. He needs one more thing. Putting the gun aside, he shakes the rest of the meth out of the tiny baggie, crushes it on the CD and takes another, even deeper BUMP. Whooooooooa! Better. He’s feeling the anger he needs for this. The meth-head’s Dutch courage. Back to the automatic. Working with focus, Jesse tugs the slide back and releases it. Click-CLICK. Now there’s a round in the chamber. Jesse looks back up at the corner. The junkie finishes his buy and slinks off. How much longer will the Bulletheads linger, now that their business is done? Now or never. Running on pure rage and blue meth, Jesse takes a deep breath. No matter what the consequences, he’s going to make these men pay a price for what they’ve done. Heart racing, knowing that this may be the last thing he ever does, Jesse gets out of the car.BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 53.CONTINUED:EXT. STREETCORNER - NIGHT - CONTINUOUSIn the lowrider, one of the Bulletheads counts money. The other one taps him on the shoulder. What’s that?Bullethead POV: a silhouetted figure approaches without varying his pace. As he crosses through a pool of yellow light, Jesse’s face is visible. He’s not sneaking up on these skells, he going to face off with them man-to-man. ANGLE LOW behind Jesse. As he passes us, the STEEL AUTOMATIC glints in his hand. He holds it behind his back, flattened against his thigh. It’s out of the Bulletheads’ sight -- for the moment. ANGLE LOW on the Monte Carlo. The doors swing open and the Bulletheads step out. The Bulletheads exchange a glance and then begin slowly walking together towards Jesse. They keep their hands in their pockets. If we haven’t noticed before, now we see one of the Bulletheads is wearing a pair of OAKLEY SUNGLASSES around his neck on a lanyard (this will play in the next episode). ANGLE LOW on Jesse’s feet walking in measured steps over cracked asphalt. CLOSE ON Jesse’s 9mm. TRACKING with the gun as it moves steadily forward. Streetlights glimmer in the steel. HIGH AND WIDE. The figures slowly converge. Their long, ruler-straight shadows slant across the desolate street. Jesse’s only about a half block from the Bulletheads. ANGLE ON Jesse; he’s breathing like he’s climbing a mountain. This is it. Jesse allows his 9mm to come into view. The Bulletheads pull their own AUTOMATICS. Jesse raises his gun and -- SCRREEEEEEEEH! Tires squeal nearby. The Bulletheads turn just a moment too late and --RRRRRRROOOOOOOOOAAR! HOLY SHIT! A vehicle SCREAMS out of nowhere, PLOUGHING into the drug dealers! A gut-turning CRUNCH of metal on flesh. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 54.
(CONTINUED)The Bullethead with the Oakleys slides UNDER THE TIRES. The vehicle actually rises slightly as it CRUSHES his sternum. The other guy FLIPS over the vehicle’s hood and goes FLYING. He hits the concrete face-first and lies there, limp. Jesse is frozen in place. The vehicle is... WALT’S AZTEK. Walt gets out of the Aztek and quickly scans the area for witnesses. As far as he can tell, there’s no one out there. We didn’t see him but during Jesse’s confrontation with the Bulletheads, Walt was parked nearby, watching from the darkness. Getting involved wasn’t a calculated move -- if he’d had time to think about it maybe he wouldn’t have done it at all. But when he saw Jesse walking into a gun fight, Walt’s instincts took over. Walt glances back -- the guy under the Aztek’s wheels is twisted at a weird angle. Blood pools around him. Definitely dead. But... SCRAPE-SCRAPE. What’s this? The second Bullethead is MOVING. His automatic landed about ten feet away from him and he’s painfully inching his way over to it. The danger’s not immediate; at this rate he’ll be there sometime after the next Summer Olympics. Walt goes over to the automatic and picks it up. With tremendous effort, the wounded Bullethead heaves himself over onto his back. His face is a mess; landing on the concrete was like rubbing sandpaper on Jell-o. Walt stares down at him. He knows what he has to do. Without taking his eyes off Walt, the Bullethead pulls himself halfway up to a sitting position. The drug dealer’s mouth is moving, he’s struggling to say something. Maybe he’s trying to threaten, maybe plead for mercy. No way to tell, all he can make are saliva bubbles. Jesse hasn’t budged since Walt arrived. He’s watching, wide-eyed. His automatic dangles at his side, forgotten. No half measures. Walt grasps the Bullethead’s automatic and stands over the drug dealer. Is he really going to do this? The Bullethead stares straight at Walt... ANGLE LOW on Walt -- KRACKKK! The MUZZLE FLASH creates a towering, larger-than-life shadow on the building behind him. BREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 55.CONTINUED:
(CONTINUED)Blood sprays from the back of the Bullethead’s skull as he drops to the concrete.The gunshot ECHOES on the quiet street. Jesse still hasn’t moved, he’s thunderstruck. Walt himself is shocked by what he’s done. Neither of them can begin to know the consequences of what just happened.Walt looks Jesse in the eyes and says one word:WALTRun.You wanted “Heisenberg”? You got him. CUT TO BLACK.END EPISODEBREAKING BAD #312 "Half Measures" AS BROADCAST 56.CONTINUED: (2) | screenplays |
THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Written by
Christopher Mcquarrie
Revised, 05/25/94 White
Revised, 06/01/94 Blue
Revised, 06/07/94 Pink
Revised, 06/11/94 Yellow1.
WHITE 05/25/94
1 1 BLACK:
The lonely sound of a buoy bell in the distance. Water
slapping against a smooth, flat surface in rhythm. The
creaking of wood.
Off in the very far distance, one can make out the sound of
sirens.
SUDDENLY, a single match ignites and invades the darkness.
It quivers for a moment. A dimly lit hand brings the rest of
the pack to the match. A plume of yellow-white flame flares
and illuminates the battered face of DEAN KEATON, age forty.
His salty-gray hair is wet and matted. His face drips with
water or sweat. A large cut runs the length of his face from
the corner of his eye to his chin. It bleeds freely. An un-
lit cigarette hangs in the corner of his mouth.
In the half-light we can make out that he is on the deck of
a large boat. A yacht, perhaps, or a small freighter. He
sits with his back against the front bulkhead of the wheel
house.
His legs are twisted at odd, almost impossible angles. He
looks down.
A thin trail of liquid runs past his feet and off into the
darkness. Keaton lights the cigarette on the burning pack of
matches before throwing them into the liquid.
The liquid IGNITES with a poof.
The flame runs up the stream, gaining in speed and intensity.
It begins to ripple and rumble as it runs down the deck
towards the stern.
2 2 EXT. BOAT - NIGHT - STERN
A stack of oil drums rests on the stern. They are stacked on
a palette with ropes at each corner that attach it to a huge
crane on the dock. One of the barrels has been punctured at
it's base. Gasoline trickles freely from the hole.
The flame is racing now towards the barrels. Keaton smiles
weakly to himself.
The flame is within a few yards of the barrels when another
stream of liquid splashes onto the gas. The flame fizzles
out pitifully with a hiss.
(CONTINUED)2.
WHITE 05/25/94
2 CONTINUED: 2
Two feet straddle the flame. A stream of urine flows onto
the deck from between them.3.
WHITE 05/25/94
The sound of a fly zipping. Follow the feet as they move
over to where Keaton rests at the wheel house.
CRANE UP to the waist of the unknown man. He pulls a pack of
cigarettes out of one pocket and a strange antique lighter
from the other. It is gold, with a clasp that folds down
over the flint. The man flicks up the clasp with his thumb
and strikes it with his index finger. It is a fluid motion,
somewhat showy.
Keaton looks up at the man. A look of realization crosses
his face. It is followed by frustration, anger, and finally
resignation.
VOICE (O.S.)
How are you, Keaton?
KEATON
I'd have to say my spine was broken,
Keyser.
He spits the name out like it was poison.
The man puts the lighter back in his pocket and reaches under
his jacket. He produces a stainless .38 revolver.
VOICE (O.S.)
Ready?
KEATON
What time is it?
The hand with the gun turns over, turning the gold watch on
its wrist upward.
The sound of sirens is closer now. Headed this way.
VOICE (O.S.)
Twelve thirty.
Keaton grimaces bitterly and nods. He turns his head away
and takes another drag.
The hand with the gun waits long enough for Keaton to enjoy
his last drag before pulling the trigger.
GUNSHOT
The sound of Keaton's body slumping onto the deck.4.
WHITE 05/25/94
MOVE OUT ACROSS THE DECK. Below is the stream of gasoline
still flowing freely.
The sound of the gasoline igniting. The flame runs in front
of us towards the barrels, finally leaping up in a circle
around the drums, burning the wood of the pallet and licking
the spouting stream as it pours from the hole.
MOVE OUT ACROSS THE DOCK, away from the boat.
The pier to which the boat is moored is littered with DEAD
BODIES. Twenty or more men have been shot to pieces and lie
scattered everywhere in what can only be the aftermath of a
fierce fire-fight.
A BARGE COMES INTO VIEW.
On the deck of the barge is a tangle of cables and girders.
The mesh of steel and rubber leaves a dark and open cocoon
beneath its base.
MOVE INTO THE DARKNESS.
Sirens are close now. Almost here. The sound of fire raging
out of control.
SIRENS BLARING. TIRES SQUEALING. CAR DOORS OPENING. FEET
POUNDING THE PAVEMENT.
MOVE FURTHER, SLOWER, INTO THE DARKNESS
Voices yelling. New light flickering in the surrounding
darkness.
SUDDENLY, AN EXPLOSION.
Then silence. TOTAL BLACKNESS.
We hear the voice of ROGER "VERBAL" KINT, whom we will soon
meet.
VERBAL (V.O.)
New York - six weeks ago. A truck
loaded with stripped gun parts got
jacked outside of Queens. The driver
didn't see anybody, but somebody
fucked up. He heard a voice.
Sometimes, that's all you need.5.
WHITE 05/25/94
BOOM
3 3 INT. DARK APARTMENT - DAY - NEW YORK - SIX WEEKS PRIOR TO
PRESENT DAY
The black explodes with the opening of a door into a dark
room. Outside, the hall is filled with blinding white light.
Shadows in the shapes of men flood into the room. We can
make out men in hoods with flashlights. They are laden with
weapons.
VOICES
POLICE. SEARCH WARRANT. DON'T MOVE.
It is a blur of violent action and sound.'Beams of flashlights
cut the darkness in all directions.
FINALLY:
A dozen flashlights land on one man. He lies naked in bed,
Merging from a deep sleep. He squints at the flood of blinding
white light, more annoyed than frightened. He nearly laughs
at the sound of countless guns cocking. He is McMANUS. Age
twenty-eight.
VOICE (O.S.)
Mr. McManus?
MCMANUS
Yeah.
VOICE (O.S.)
Police. We have a warrant for your
arrest.
MCMANUS
Will they be serving coffee downtown?
Two dozen black gloved hands grab him and yank him out of
bed.
4 4 INT. AUTO BODY SHOP - DAY
An old paint mixer vibrates furiously.
TODD HOCKNEY, a dark, portly man in his thirties is working
on an old Fire-bird.
A YOUNG HISPANIC KID mixes paint a few feet away.
SUDDENLY, the garage door opens TO REVEAL:6.
WHITE 05/25/94
A row of five men silhouetted by the bright sun.
Hockney squints.7.
WHITE 05/25/94
HOCKNEY
Can I help you?
Hockney's voice is gruff.
MAN
Todd Hockney?
Hockney reaches for something just inside the door of the
Fire-bird.
HOCKNEY
Who are you?
All six men INSTANTLY PRODUCE GUNS and aim them at Hockney.
MAN
Police.
Hockney withdraws a filthy towel and wipes grease and sweat
from his forehead.
HOCKNEY
We don't do gun repair.
5 5 EXT. STREET - NEW YORK - DAY
FRED FENSTER, a tall, thin man in his thirties strolls
casually down the street. He is dressed conspicuously in a
loud suit and tie with shoes that have no hope of matching.
He smokes a cigarette and chews gum at the same time.
He happens to glance over his shoulder and notice a brown
Ford sedan with four men in it cruising along the curb. He
picks up his step a little. The Ford keeps up.
He looks ahead at the corner. He tries to look as comfortable
as he can, checking his watch as though remembering an
appointment he is late for. The Ford stays right on him.
SUDDENLY, he bolts. He gets no more than a few yards before
cars pour out of every conceivable nook and cranny. Brakes
are squealing, radios squawking, guns cocking. Fenster is
surrounded instantly. He stops short and flaps his hands on
his thighs in defeat.
6 6 INT. MONDINO'S RESTAURANT - DAY
An attractive man and woman walk quickly through the front
of a small New York cafe. They are charged with nervous,
excited energy.8.
WHITE 05/25/94
The man is DEAN KEATON, a well dressed, sturdy looking man
in his forties with slightly graying hair. He looks much
better than he did in the opening scene. The woman with him
is EDIE FINNERAN, age thirty-three, poised and attractive -
Easily the calmer of the two.9.
WHITE 05/25/94
They come to a staircase at the back of the restaurant leading
down to a dark room. Edie takes Keaton's arm and stops him.
EDIE
Let me look at you.
Keaton is uncomfortable in his suit, or perhaps the situation.
Still, he smiles with genuine warmth.
Edie straightens his tie and picks microscopic imperfections
from his lapel.
EDIE
Now remember, this is another kind
of business. They don't earn your
respect. You owe it to them. Don't
stare them down but don't look away
either. Confidence. They are fools
not to trust you. That's the attitude.
KEATON
I'm having a stroke.
EDIE
You've come far. You're a good man.
I love you.
Keaton blinks then stammers, looking for a response.
Pause.
EDIE
Live with it.
She kisses him and runs down the steps with Keaton close
behind. Keaton playfully grabs her ass and she nearly stumbles
down the stairs.
7 7 INT. RESTAURANT - DOWNSTAIRS
They come to the bottom of the steps giggling and jabbing
each other. Once off the stairs they instantly transform as
though hit with cold air. They assume a cool, professional
exterior and walk two feet apart. One would look at them and
see only two business associates here to ply their trade.
They walk across the dimly lit dining room to a table in the
far corner where two men are already waiting. The first is
MR. FORTIER, age thirty-five, the other is MR. RENAULT, age
sixty. Both men are impeccably dressed with a distinguished
air. They stand and smile.10.
WHITE 05/25/94
FORTIER
Edie, nice to see you.
EDIE
Sorry we're late.
FORTIER
Nonsense. Sit, please.
RENAULT
(struggling with
English)
You must be Mr. Keaton.
EDIE
I'm sorry. Dean Keaton Renault's
hand is already out.
RENAULT
Monsieur Renault. A pleasure.
KEATON
How do you do?
They shake hands. Keaton takes Fortier's hand next.
FORTIER
Monsieur Fortier. So nice to finally
meet you.
Everyone sits at the table. All faces are smiling.
LOW ANGLE: UNDER TABLE
Edie's hand reaches out and finds Keaton's leg. Her hand
runs high up his inner thigh and squeezes firmly.
Her face is absolutely calm, giving no hint of what her hand
is doing. Keaton smiles and clears his throat.
8 8 INT. MONDINO'S RESTAURANT
Follow a waiter past the flight of steps.
PAN DOWN TO REVEAL:
Five sets of feet arriving at the bottom.
The feet in the middle wear shoes notably nicer than the
rest.11.
WHITE 05/25/94
PAN UP TO REVEAL:
SPECIAL AGENT DAVID KUJAN (Pronounced Koo-yahn), U.S.
CUSTOMS. Thirtyish, dark-haired and determined.
9 9 SCENE DELETED12.
WHITE 05/25/94
10 10 INT. RESTAURANT - DOWNSTAIRS
FORTIER
Edie brought us your proposal and
I'll be honest. We're very impressed.
A bit skeptical, I must admit, but
impressed.
KEATON
Skeptical.
RENAULT
We find the concept brilliant, but
New York is difficult for new
restaurants. How can we be certain
that our money will be returned in
the long run?
Keaton looks at Edie and smiles confidently.
KEATON
It's simple gentlemen, design
versatility. A restaurant that can
change with taste without losing the
overall aesthetic. Our atmosphere
won't be painted on the walls.
FORTIER
This was the part of the proposal
that intrigued us, but I'm not sure
I follow.
KEATON
Let's say for example --
VOICE (O.S.)
This I had to see myself.
Keaton looks up. He sees David Kujan. Behind him are the
very serious looking guys in suits.
Keaton is not happy to see them.
KEATON
Dave. I'm in a meeting.
KUJAN
Time for another one.
KEATON
This is my attorney, Edie Finneran.
(gesturing)
(CONTINUED)13.
WHITE 05/25/94
10 CONTINUED: 10
KEATON (CONT'D)
This is Mr. Renault and Mr. Fortier.
Everyone, this is David Kujan.
KUJAN
Special Agent Kujan. U.S. Customs.
(gestures to men behind
him)
These gentlemen are with the New
York police department. You look
great, Keaton. Better than I would
have thought.
RENAULT
Is there a problem, Mr. Keaton?
KUJAN
The small matter of a stolen truck-
load of guns that wound up on a boat
to Ireland last night.
Renault and Fortier's confusion is giving way to suspicion.
FORTIER
Mr. Keaton?
KEATON
If you will excuse us for a moment,
gentlemen.
KUJAN
We need to ask you some questions
downtown. You'll be quite awhile.
Renault starts to get up.
RENAULT
We should leave you to discuss
whatever this is.
KEATON
Please. Sit.
Keaton stands up and throws a wad of money on the table to
cover the check. He looks at Edie. She moves to stand, but
he sits her back down with a hand on her shoulder.
KEATON (CONT'D)
Enjoy the meal.
(to Edie)
I'll call you.
Kujan takes him by the arm, but Keaton yanks away.14.
WHITE 05/25/94
He looks out over the dozens of other faces in the restaurant.
Everyone is looking at him with some level of surprise. If
Keaton is humiliated by the whole affair, he hides it well.
11 11 INT. LOCK-UP HALLWAY - NIGHT
A police officer steps into the frame and opens the steel
door.
FOLLOW A PAIR OF FEET as they shuffle across the cement floor.
The shoes are shabby and worn, as are the wrinkled pants
that hang too low and loose at the cuffs. The right foot is
turned slightly inward and falls with a hard limp. It is
clear that the knee does not extend fully.
The sound of a steel door opening. The bottom corner of a
steel cage comes into view. Another set of feet falls into
step with the first. Another steel door and another set of
feet. Another door, another and another. Five pairs of feet
walk single file down the hall.
The lame feet are in the front of the line. They come to
another steel door, this one solid and covered with dents
and rivets.
CRANE UP TO REVEAL:
ROGER KINT, VERBAL to his few friends. He has a deeply lined
face, making his thirty-odd years a good guess at best. From
his twisted left hand, we can see that he suffers from a
slight but not debilitating palsy. Behind him are Dean Keaton,
Fred Fenster, McManus and Todd Hockney.
Verbal steps through the door, followed by the rest.
VERBAL (V.O.)
It didn't make sense that I be there.
I mean these guys were hard-core
hijackers, but there I was. At that
point, I wasn't scared, f knew I
hadn't done anything they could do
me for. Besides, it was fun. I got
to make like I was notorious.
12 12 INT. LINE-UP ROOM
The five men are ushered into the room in front of a white
wall painted with horizontal blue stripes. Each has a number
at either end to denote the height of the man in front of
it.
Between these lines are thinner blue lines to tell the
specific height in inches.15.
WHITE 05/25/94
Bright lights shine on all of them. They squint, eyes
adjusting.
Keaton leans forward a bit and looks at the men in line with
him. He shares a look of familiarity with Fenster and then
McManus. Hockney smiles at all of them.
MCMANUS
(to Keaton)
Where you been, man?
VOICE (O.S.)
SHUT UP IN THERE. Alright, you all
know the drill. When your number is
called, step forward and repeat the
phrase you've been given. Understand?
The men all nod.
VOICE (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Number one. Step forward.
Hockney takes a step forward. He looks directly into a mirror
on the other side of the room. It is three feet square and
we can make out faint light behind it. It is a two-way. He
speaks in a complete dead-pan.
HOCKNEY
Hand-me-the-keys, you-fucking-cock-
sucker.
VOICE (O.S.)
Number two. Step forward.
McManus steps up and makes a gun with his thumb and
forefinger. He mocks criminal intensity, pointing at the
mirror. He camps up his line.
MCMANUS
Give me the keys, you motherfucking,
cocksucking pile of shit, or I'll
rip off your
VOICE (O.S.)
KNOCK IT OFF. Get back in line.
McManus steps back.
The rest of the men do their bit as Verbal speaks.16.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (V.O.)
It was bullshit. The whole rap was a
setup. Everything is the cops' fault.
You don't put guys like that in a
room together. Who knows what can
happen?
13 13 INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT
McManus sits in a chair in front of a white wall. He smiles
at someone off-screen.
OVERLAPPED:
MCMANUS
This has to be embarrassing for you
guys, huh? I mean you know and I
know this is a load of shit, but at
least I don't have a captain with
his dick in my ass making me play
along. That has got to suck,
VOICE (O.S.)
Are you done?
MCMANUS
Do you work for a broad? That would
have to be the worst.
VOICE (0.8.)
Are you done?
MCMANUS
Still, I guess dignity is a small
pries to pay for medical and a
pension. A small pension, mind you,
but a pension nonetheless.
VERBAL (V.O.)
They drilled us all night. Somebody
was pissed about that truck getting
knocked off and the cops had nothing.
They were hoping somebody would slip.
Give them something to go on. They
knew we wouldn't fight it because
they knew how to lean on us. They'd
been doing it forever. Our rights
went right out the window. It was a
violation. I mean disgraceful.17.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
They went after McManus first. He
was a good guy. Crazy though. A top
notch entry man .
VOICE (O.S.)
So where'd you dump the truck?
MCMANUS
What truck?
VOICE (O.S.)
The truck with the guns, fucko.
MCMANUS
You kill me, you really do. Where's
my phone call?
VOICE (O.S.)
Right here. Suck it out.
MCMANUS
Clever guy.
VOICE (O.S.)
You want to know what your buddy
Fenster told us?18.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
Do I look stupid enough to fall for
that?
Jesus Christ. beat me if you gotta, but no more of the candy-
land tactics, man.
VOICE (O.S.)
WHERE'S THE FUCKING TRUCK?
14 14 INT. INTERROGATION ROOM
Now Fenster is in the seat. He sweats profusely.
FENSTER
I want to call my lawyer. I don;'t
know about any truck. I was in
Connecticut all night on Friday.
VOICE (O.S.)
That's not what McManus said.
OVERLAPPED:
FENSTER
Who?
VOICE
McManus. Be told us another story
altogether.
FENSTER
Was it the one about the hooker with
dysentery I swear , she never
mentioned money until I came.
VOICE (O.S.)
Be fold us about the truck.
FENSTER
To be honest, it was more like a
mobile home. She made a lot of money,
VOICE (O.S.)
Who took the guns off your hands?
FENSTER
Hey, are we talking about the same
thing?
VOICE (O.S.)
I'm losing my patience.19.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (V.O.)
Fenster always worked with McManus.
He was a real tight-ass, but when it
came to the job, he was right on.
Smart guy. A gopher. Got whatever
you needed for next to nothing.
FENSTER
You guys got nothing on me. Where's
your probable cause?
VOICE (O.S.)
You're a known hijacker. You're
sweating like a guilty motherfucker.
That's my p.c. Save us the time.
Tell us where the truck is.
Fenster knocks on the table.
FENSTER
HELLO? Can you hear me in the back?
P.C.
He looks under his chair.
FENSTER (CONT'D)
Where is it? I'm lookin'. It's not
happening. What's going on with that?
I want --20.
WHITE 05/25/94
15 15 INT. INTERROGATION ROOM
Hockney's turn in the chair. He laughs it all off.
HOCKNEY
- my lawyer. I'll have your badge,
cocksucker.
OVERLAPPED:
HOCKNEY (CONT'D)
I know you. You don't think I know
you're on the take. This whole fucking
precinct is dirty. You don't have a
fucking leg to stand on.
VERBAL (V.O.)
Hockney was just a bad bastard. Good
with explosives. Mean as a snake
when it mattered .
VOICE (O.S.)
You think so, tough guy? I can put
you in Queens the day of the
hijacking.
HOCKNEY
I live in Queens. What the fuck is
this? You come into my store and
lock me up in front of my customers.
What the hell is wrong with this
country? Are you guys gonna charge
me or what?
VOICE (O.S.)
You know what happens if you do
another turn in the joint?
HOCKNEY
I'll fuck your father in the shower.
Charge me, dick-head.
16 16 INT. INTERROGATION ROOM
Now Keaton sits in the chair, cool and indifferent.
VERBAL (V.O.)
Keaton was the real prize for them,
for obvious reasons.
VOICE (O.S.)
I'll charge you when I'm ready.21.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
with what?
VOICE (O.S.)
You know damn well, dead-man.
KEATON
Hey, that was your mistake, not mine.
Did you ever think to ask me? I've
been22.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON (CONT'D)
walking around with the same face,
same name - I'm a businessman, fellas.
VOICE (O.S.)
What's that? The restaurant business?
Not anymore From now on you're in
the getting-fucked-by-us business .
I'm gonna make you famous, cocksucker.
Keaton shows just a flicker of contempt. The threat has hit
home.
KEATON
Like I said. It was all your mistake.
Charge me with it and I'll beat it. Let's get back to the
truck.
A FIST flies into the frame and connects with Keaton's jaw.
His head snaps back, blood flowing freely from his mouth.
17 17 DELETED
18 18 INT. CELL BLOCK
Keaton is brought in to a holding where he joins Fenster,
Hockney, Verbal and McManus. He sits in a corner and keeps
to himself.
Fenster is in mid-tirade.
FENSTER
Somebody should do something. What
is this shit - getting hauled in
every five minutes? Okay, so I did a
little time, does that mean I get
railed every time a truck finds its
way off the planet?
McManus is silently staring at Keaton, who sits on a bench,
looking away.
HOCKNEY
These guys got no probable cause.23.
WHITE 05/25/94
FENSTER
You're fuckin' A right, no P.C. Well
screw P.C. No right. No goddamn right.
You do some time, they never let you
go. Treat me like a criminal, I'll
end up a criminal.
HOCKNEY
You are a criminal.
FENSTER
Why you gotta go and do that? I'm
trying to make a point.
KEATON
Then make it. Christ, you're making
me tired all over.
McManus looks at Keaton.
MCMANUS
I heard you were dead, Keaton.
KEATON
You heard right.
HOCKNEY
The word I got is you hung up your
spurs, man. What's that all about?
MCMANUS
What's this?
HOCKNEY
Rumor has it, Keaton's gone straight -
cleaning house. I hear he's tapping
Edie Finneran.
MCMANUS
Who?
HOCKNEY
She's a heavy-weight criminal lawyer
from uptown. Big-time connected. She
could erase Dillinger's record if
she tried. I hear she's Keaton's
meal ticket.
(to Keaton)
Is it true?
MCMANUS
What about it, Keaton? You a lawyer's
wife. What sort of "retainer" you
giving her?24.
WHITE 05/25/94
Keaton shoots McManus a fiery glare.
FENSTER
I'd say you've gotten on his main
and central nerve, McManus.
KEATON
Do your friend a favor, Fenster,
keep him quiet .
MCMANUS
You're clean, Keaton? Say it ain't
so. Was it you that hit that truck?
FENSTER
Forget him. It's not important. I
was trying to make a point.
KEATON
(ignoring McManus)
This whole thing was a shakedown.
MCMANUS
What makes you say that?
KEATON
How many times have you been in a
line-up? It's always you and four
dummies. The P.D. pays homeless guys
ten bucks a head half the time. No
way they'd line five felons in the
same row. No way. And what the hell
is a voice line-.up? A public defender
could get you off of that.
FENSTER
So why the hell was I hauled in and
cavity searched tonight?
KEATON
It was the Feds. A truck load of
guns gets snagged, Customs comes
down on N.Y.P.D. for some answers -
they come up with us. They're grabbing
at straws. It's politics - nothing
you can do.
FENSTER
I had a guy's fingers in my asshole
tonight.
HOCKNEY
Is it Friday already?25.
WHITE 05/25/94
FENSTER
Fuck you. I'll never shit right again.
So who did it? Own up.
KEATON
I don't want to know.
MCMANUS
Nobody asked you, workin'-man.
HOCKNEY
Fuck who did it. What I want to know
is, who's the gimp?
ALL EYES suddenly turn on Verbal. He has been quietly
listening the whole time without uttering a word.
KEATON
He's alright.
HOCKNEY
How do I know that? How about it,
pretzel-man? What's your story?
KEATON
His name is Verbal Kint. I thought
you guys knew him.
MCMANUS
Verbal?
VERBAL
Roger really. People say I talk too
much.
HOCKNEY
Yeah, I was gonna tell you to shut
up.
KEATON
We've met once or twice. Last time
was in...
VERBAL
County. I was in for fraud.
KEATON
You were waiting for a line-up then,
too. What happened with that?
VERBAL
I walked. Ninety days, suspended.26.
WHITE 05/25/94
HOCKNEY
So you did it?
VERBAL
To your mother's ass.
Verbal looks away from Hockney, awaiting a violent response.
Everyone slowly starts to laugh. Hockney looks as if he is
about to boil in his own skin.
KEATON
(to Hockney)
Let it go.
Verbal smiles at Keaton appreciatively.
McManus stands and walks to the toilet in the corner of the
cell. He starts taking a leak;
MCMANUS
Look, we've all been put out by this,
I figure we owe it to ourselves to
salvage a little dignity. Now Fenster
and I got wind of a possible job -
KEATON
Why don't you just calm down!
HOCKNEY
What do you care what he says?
MCMANUS
Yeah, I'm just talking here, and
Hockney seems to want to hear me
out. I know Fenster is with me -
(to Verbal)
How about you, guy?
McManus finishes pissing.
VERBAL
I'm interested, sure.
MCMANUS
There, so you see, I'm going to
exercise my right to free assembly.
McManus taps the bars of his cell and the others LAUGH.
KEATON
I'm not kidding. Shut your mouth.27.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
You're missing the point.28.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
No, you're missing the point. Shut
up. I don't want to hear anything
you have to say. I don't want to
know about your "job". Just don't
let me hear you. I want nothing to
do with any of you -
(beat)
I beg your pardon but all of you can
go to hell.
MCMANUS
Dean Keaton, gone the high road.
What is the world coming to?
McManus and Keaton stare at one another for a long and tense
moment. Finally McManus turns to the others.
MCMANUS (CONT'D)
Forget him then.
(whispering)
Now I can't talk about this here in
any detail, but listen up...
Everyone but Keaton gravitates toward McManus's cell as he
begins to speak in low, hushed tones.
VERBAL (V.O.)
And that was how it began. The five
of us brought in on a trumped-up
charge to be leaned on by half-wits.
What the cops never figured out, and
what I know now, was that these men
would never break, never lie down,
never bend over for anybody...
Anybody.
19 19 EXT. PIER - DAY - SAN PEDRO - PRESENT DAY
It is morning in the aftermath of the opening scene.
Harsh sunlight shines on a line of body bags on the dock.
Police swarm everywhere, photographers are taking pictures
of the scene while a team of men in rolled up sleeves and
plastic gloves pick at the remains.
Two men on a fire boat operate a water cannon, dousing the
smoldering remains of a burned-out ships hull.
Watching this from the edge of the pier is a man in a dark
suit. He is SPECIAL AGENT JACK BAER of the F.B.I. He is tall
and fit, in his late thirties. He gazes out over the water
thoughtfully.29.
WHITE 05/25/94
A UNIFORM COP trots up to him.
COP
Who are you?
Baer holds up his badge without looking at the man.
BAER
Agent Jack Baer, F.B.I. How many
dead?
Before the cop can answer, Baer turns and walks along the
line of body bags.
COP
Fifteen so far. We're still pulling
some bodies out of the water.
Baer eyes the corpses on the dock, burned beyond recognition.
COP (CONT'D)
Looking for anyone in particular?
Baer looks at the cop for the first time, unamused.
BAER
I don't want any of the bodies taken
away until I've had a chance to go
over this, understood?
COP
I have to clear the scene. I've got
word direct from the Chief Baer lights
a cigarette, only half listening.
BAER
(Unimpressed)
Yes, the chief. Spooky stuff. Any
survivors?
COP
Two. There's a guy in county hospital,
but he's in a coma. The D.A. has the
other guy - A cripple - from New
York I think. Listen, the Chief said --
BAER
Excuse me.
Baer walks away from the cop, ignoring him completely. He
wanders through the carnage on the pier.30.
WHITE 05/25/94
20 20 MT. OCEAN
A half mile out from the pier.
The sea is choppy, stirred by the wind. An object floats
into view a few feet away, bobbing in the water.
It is A DEAD BODY - a man, face down, wearing a CHECKERED
BATHROBE. He drifts quietly toward the open ocean.
21 21 INT. HEARING ROOM - DAY - LOS ANGELES PRESENT
Verbal Kint sits in a chair in front of a microphone attached
to a tape recorder, his brow beaded with sweat.
On the wall behind him is the seal of the STATE OF CALIFORNIA
He is cleaner, better kept, in a well-cut suit and neatly
trimmed hair. He looks older than he did in New York - worn
down.
A flurry of voices banter off screen. Verbal's eyes follow
the voices back and forth.
VOICE #1 (O.S.)
My client offers his full cooperation
in these proceedings. In exchange,
his testimony is to be sealed and
all matters incriminating to himself
are to be rendered inadmissible.
VOICE #2 (O.S.)
The district attorney's office will
comply provided --
VOICE #1
No provisions, nothing. My clients
testimony for his immunity.
VOICE #2
May-I be frank, Counselor? I suspect
your political power as much as I
respect it. I don't know why Mr.
Kint has so many faceless allies in
City Hall, and I don't care. The
embarrassment he helped cause the
city of New York will not happen
here.
VOICE #1
Immunity.31.
WHITE 05/25/94
VOICE #2
Counselor, I will prosecute your
client.
VOICE #1
Then prosecute. I will be very
impressed to see if the District
Attorney manages to bring in twenty-
seven simultaneous counts of murder
against one man with cerebral palsy.
I would think a man with your job
would agree with these alleged
"faceless people in City Hall" you
mention.
VOICE #2 1
One would think the counsel is veiling
a threat.
VOICE #1
Counsel isn't veiling anything.
VOICE #2
I'11 take my chances then. I'11 feel
safer without a job if a man like
Mr. Kint is behind bars.
VOICE #1
Mr. Kint will plead guilty to weapons
possession.
VOICE #2
You're joking.
VOICE #1
Weapons. Misdemeanor one.
VOICE #2
Counselor, you're insulting me.
VOICE #1
Counselor, you're bluffing. Shall I
push for misdemeanor two?
Voices mumble off screen. Verbal fidgets in his chair.
VOICE #2
Misdemeanor one. Fine. This is
ludicrous.
A tiny smile and a genuine look of disbelief flash across
Verbal's face.32.
WHITE 05/25/94
VOICE #2 (CONT'D)
(clearing throat)
As for the rest of the charges grand
larceny, arson... murder - the
district attorney will accept the
subject's testimony in connection
with the above mentioned events and
in exchange will offer complete
immunity. The transcript... The
transcript of said testimony will be
sealed and all matters incriminating
to Mr. Kint will be rendered
inadmissible.
Verbal lets out a long-held sigh of relief.33.
WHITE 05/25/94
22 22 INT. POLICE STATION - HALLWAY - DAY
David Kujan is walking quickly beside SERGEANT RABIN, a dark
and weathered looking man in his late thirties. They move up
a staircase into the heart of police headquarters.
KUJAN
What do you mean I can't see him?
RABIN
The D.A. came down here last night
ready to arraign before they even
moved him to county. Kint's lawyer
comes in and five minutes later, the
D.A. comes out looking like he'd
been bitch-slapped by the boogey
man. They took his statement and cut
him a deal.
KUJAN
Did they charge him with anything?
RABIN
Weapons. Misdemeanor two.
KUJAN
What'the fuck is that?
Rabin motions for Kujan to lower his voice. He points out
that they are walking through a bullpen filled with desks
where a number of other police are working within earshot.
RABIN
I give the D.A. credit for getting
that much to stick. This whole thing
has turned political. The Mayor was
here - the chief - the Governor called
this morning, for Christ's sake.
This guy is34.
WHITE 05/25/94
RABIN (CONT'D)
protected - From up on high by the
prince of fucking darkness.
KUJAN
When does he post bail?
RABIN
Two hours, tops.
KUJAN
I want to see him.
Rabin comes to an office door with his name on it. He opens
it and lets Kujan in before following.35.
WHITE 05/25/94
23 23 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE
RABIN
Dave, please.
Rabin's office can only be described as a disaster area. The
desk is cluttered with weeks, perhaps months or even years
of paperwork that could never conceivably be sorted out.
Above his desk is a bulletin board. It is a breathtaking
catastrophe of papers, wanted posters, rap-sheets, memos and
post-its. This is in the neighborhood of decades. Rabin is a
man with a system so cryptic, so far beyond the comprehension
of others, he himself is most likely baffled by it.
RABIN (CONT'D)
Even if I was to let you talk to
him, he won't talk to you. He's
paranoid about being recorded and he
knows the interrogation rooms are
wired
KUJAN
This won't be an' interrogation,
just a... friendly chat to kill
time.
RABIN
(enunciating)
He won't go into the interrogation
room.
KUJAN
Someplace else, then.
RABIN
Where?
Kujan looks around Rabin's messy office.
RABIN (CONT'D)
No, no, no, no, no.
KUJAN
If it was a dope deal, where's the
dope, if it was a hit, who called it
in?
RABIN
And I am sure you have a host of
wild theories to answer these
questions.
KUJAN
You know damn well what I think.36.
WHITE 05/25/94
RABIN
That's crazy, Dave and it doesn't
matter. He has total immunity and
his story checks out. He doesn't
know what you want to know.
KUJAN
I don't think he does. Not exactly,
but there's a lot more to his story.
I want to know why twenty-seven men
died on that pier for what looks to
be ninety-one million dollars worth
of dope that wasn't there. Above
all, I want to be sure that Dean
Keaton is dead.
RABIN
He's dead.
KUJAN
Two hours. Just until he makes bail.
RABIN
They're all dead. No matter how tough
you say this Keaton was, no one on
that boat could've made it out alive.37.
WHITE 05/25/94
24 24 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
A door marked INTENSIVE CARE.
The door BURSTS OPEN. SUDDENLY, the hallway is a flurry of
activity.
DOCTOR LISA PLUMBER, age fifty, walks quickly beside JACK
BAER.
Baer walks with all of the determination of a battalion of
Chinese infantry.
DOCTOR RIDGLY WALTERS, a young intern in his late twenties
rushes up to them.
PLUMBER
Ridgly, this is Special Agent Jack
Baer from the F.B.I. Agent Baer,
this is Doctor Ridgly Waiters.
RIDGLY
Nice to meet you.
BAER
Is he talking?
RIDGLY
He regained consciousness less than
an hour ago. He spoke - not English -
then he lapsed.
BAER
Hungarian?38.
WHITE 05/25/94
RIDGLY
I don't --
BAER
It was Hungarian. Most of them were
Hungarians. Any fluent Hungarians on
your staff?
RIDGLY
We have a Turkish audiologist.
Ridgly opens a door and Baer barrels through.
25 25 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM
(<< >> .. DENOTES LINES SPOKEN IN HUNGARIAN)
Baer comes to an abrupt halt at the foot of a bed surrounded
by a massive tangle of medical equipment. In the center of
it all is the as yet unnamed ARKOSH KOVASH, mid-thirties.
His body is nearly mummified in bandages and plaster from
waist to chin.
BOLD IS OVERLAPPED:
KOVASH
<<Are you the police? I need the
police. He'll find out I'm here and
he'll kill me. I need the police. I
will tell them anything they want to
know. Please, I am going to be
killed.>>
BAER
Will he die?
PLUMBER
There's a chance.
Baer walks over to Rovash and kneels down on the bed beside
him.
He looks closely at his battered and scalded face. He listens
to him far a moment. Kovash goes on incessantly.
KOVASH
<<Find someone who understands me,
you idiot, I'm going to be killed,
You'll all be killed if he has to do
it. Help me, God. They're all stupid.
Get someone who understands me or
we're all going to die.>>39.
WHITE 05/25/94
Baer pulls a cellular phone out of his jacket and dials.
BAER
Call hospital security and put a man
on the door until the police get
here.
KOVASH
<<Why are you just standing there,
you idiot? I'm not speaking English
am I? Wouldn't it make sense to find
someone who could talk to me so you
could find the person that set me on
fire, perhaps? He is the Devil.
You've never seen anyone like Keyser
Soze in all your miserable life you
idiot. Keyser Soze. Do you at least
understand that? Keyser Soze. The
Devil himself. Or are you American
policemen so stupid that you haven't
even heard of him. Keyser Soze, you
ridiculous man. KEYSER SOZE . >>40.
WHITE 05/25/94
Ridgly runs out of the room. Kovash babbles louder and louder,
trying to get Baer's attention. Baer sticks a finger in one
ear to block him out and hear the phone.
PLUMBER
Is he dangerous?
BAER
Yes.
Someone picks up on the other end of the phone.
BAER (CONT'D)
Joel, it's Baer. I'm down at L.A.
county. The guy they pulled out of
the harbor is ARKOSH Kovash... Yes,
I'm sure... No, he's all fucked up...
What? I can't hear you.
(to Arkosh)
Shut up, Hugo, I'm on the phone.
(into Phone)
Yes... No... Not until I put someone
on him. Listen, I need you to send
me someone who can speak Hungarian.
He's awake and talking like a Thai
hooker... How should I know? Get me
someone who can talk to him --
Baer is suddenly distracted by something Kovash has said. In
the middle of a long string of unintelligible dialect, he
has spouted two words that have gotten Baer's attention.
He turns and looks down at the tattered man in the bed.
Kovash realizes Baer is listening and says the two words
again.
KOVASH
Keyser - Soze.
BAER
What?
He waves his hand, gesturing for Kovash to say it again.
KOVASH
Keyser - Soze.
BAER
No shit?
(into Phone)
Joel, call Dan Metzheiser over at
Justice and find Dave Kujan from
Customs.41.
WHITE 05/25/94
26 26 INT. HALLWAY - POLICE STATION
Rabin walks out of a small room. Behind him, we catch a
glimpse of a workroom with a bench covered with wires.
Kujan comes out a moment later, gently fixing his tie.
Rabin opens the door to his office and Kujan enters. Rabin
follows, looking up and down the hall before closing the
door behind them.
As the door closes we can just make out the back of Verbal's
head. He is seated in Rabin's office, smoking a cigarette.
27 27 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE
Kujan and Rabin sit down across from Verbal.42.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN
(exasperated)
Verbal, you know we're trying to
help you.
VERBAL
Sure. And I appreciate that. And I
want to help you, Agent Kujan. I
like cops. I would have liked to
have been a Fed myself but my C.P.
was --
KUJAN
Verbal, I know you know something. I
know you're not telling us everything.
VERBAL
I told the D.A. everything I know.
28 28 INT. WORKSHOP
Rabin stands over LOUIS, a messy looking technician at his
workbench in a room full of electronic equipment. He adjusts
several dials on a receiver until the voices of Kujan and
Verbal come clearly through a tinny speaker on the wall.
Rabin reaches over for a nearby pot of coffee.
KUJAN (VOICE)
I know you liked Keaton I know you
think he was a good man.
VERBAL (VOICE)
I know he was good.
KUJAN (VOICE)
He was a corrupt cop, Verbal.
29 29 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE
VERBAL
Sure. Fifteen years ago, but he was
a good thief. Anyway, the cops
wouldn't let him go legit.
KUJAN
Keaton was a piece of shit.
VERBAL
You trying to get a rise out of me,
Agent Kujan?43.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN
I just want to hear your story.44.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL
It's right here.
He taps a finger on the stack of paper that Kujan brought
in.
Kujan picks it up and thumbs through it.
KUJAN
According to your statement you are
a short-con operator. Run of the
mill seams. Everything you do, you
learned from somebody else.
VERBAL
That's been suppressed. Anything in
there is inadmissible.
KUJAN
Oh, I know. Sweet deal you have.
Total immunity.
VERBAL
(laughing)
Well I do have the weapons charge.
I'm looking at six whole months hard
time.
KUJAN
(smiling)
You know a dealer named Ruby Deemer,
Verbal?
VERBAL
You know a religious guy named John
Paul?
KUJAN
You know Ruby is in Attica?
VERBAL
He didn't have my lawyer.
KUJAN
I know Ruby. He's very big on respect.
Likes me very much.
Verbal sees this getting to something. His smiles fades.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
Now I know your testimony was sealed.
Ruby is well connected. He still has
people running errands for him. What
do you think he'd say if he found
out you dropped his name to the D.A.?45.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL
There's nothing in there about Ruby.
KUJAN
I'11 be sure to mention that to him.
Verbal is not smiling anymore. He stares at Kujan with utter
contempt, knowing he is being shafted.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
The first thing I learned on the
job, know what it was? How to spot a
murderer. Let's say you arrest three
guys for the same killing. Put them
all in jail overnight. The next
morning, whoever is sleeping is your
man. If you're guilty, you know you're
caught, you get some rest let your
guard down, you follow?
VERBAL
No.
KUJAN
I'11 get right to the point. I'm
smarter than you. I'11 find out what
I want to know and I'11 get it from
you whether you like it or not.
VERBAL
I'm not a rat.
Kujan puts his hand on the transcript of Verbal's confession.
Rabin walks in with a cup of coffee. Verbal takes it with
his good hand and sips it with a relish.
VERBAL (CONT'D)
Ahhh. Back when I was picking beans
in Guatemala we used to make fresh
coffee. Right off the trees I mean.
That was good. This is shit, but
hey...
RABIN
Can we get started again?
KUJAN
Now what happened after the line-up?
Verbal sneers at Kujan, unable to change the subject.46.
WHITE 05/25/94
30 30 EXT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT - NEW YORK - SIX WEEKS PRIOR
Keaton stops at the top of the front steps of the police
station and lights a cigarette. Edie comes out behind him,
fuming mad.
EDIE
...and the desk Sergeant is actually
trying to tell me he can't release
you? Can you believe that? You
weren't even charged. New York police -
Jesus. I want to take pictures of
your face to bring to the D.A. first
thing in the morning.
KEATON
Just forget about it.
He looks across the street and sees Fenster and McManus
talking by a newsstand. McManus is thumbing through magazines.
EDIE
Absolutely not.
Keaton looks to his right and sees Hockney trying to hail a
cab.
EDIE (CONT'D)
I'11 have this thing in front of a
grand jury by Monday.
KEATON
Edie, please. I don't want to hear
this right now. What did Renault and
Fortier say?
EDIE
They want more time to think about
investing.
KEATON
Goddamnit.
EDIE
They just said they wanted time.
KEATON
Time for what, Edie? Time to look
into me a little more, that's what.
No matter how well you cover my tracks
now, they'll find out who I am.47.
WHITE 05/25/94
EDIE
Give me some credit. I got you this
far, let's go to the grand jury.
This is never going to stop if we --
KEATON
No. It's never going to stop, period.
It won't take more than a week before
every investor in this city is walking
away from us. It's finished. I'm
finished.
Just then, Verbal bumps into him on his way out the door. He
excuses himself and hobbles down the steps, oblivious to who
he has bumped into as he tries to navigate the stairs.
EDIE
Don't give up on me now, Dean.
KEATON
They'll never stop.
EDIE
I love you.
KEATON
(to himself)
They ruined me tonight.
EDIE
Dean, I love you. Do you hear me?
Verbal gets to the sidewalk and stops. He turns, realizing
it is Keaton on the steps.
EDIE (CONT'D)
Let's just go to my place. We'll
worry about this tomorrow.
Keaton and Verbal look at one another for a moment. Keaton
then looks over to the newsstand and sees Fenster looking at
him.
KEATON
Huh?
McManus notices Fenster and glances up from his magazine to
see what he is looking at.
EDIE
Come home with me, please. Dean?48.
WHITE 05/25/94
Keaton looks at Hockney who has one foot in a cab. He is
looking at Fenster and McManus who are looking at Keaton.
This makes Hockney look up at Keaton as well.
SUDDENLY, Edie tunes in to what is going on. She notices the
others on the street. She reaches over and takes Keaton by
the arm, pulling gently. She glares at the others.
EDIE (CONT'D)
Come home, Dean.
KEATON
(distant)
Alright.
Verbal looks at everyone else from where he stands on the
street. Fenster, McManus and Hockney all look at him and
then at each other. It is a strange moment of unspoken
understanding.
All eyes finally turn to Keaton, high on the front steps of
the police station as he walks away with Edie.
31 31 INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Verbal stands in front of an apartment door. He hesitates
for a long moment before he knocks.
After a moment, the door opens and Keaton stands on the other
side of it. He is wearing a bathrobe and smoking a cigarette.
He looks at Verbal without any expression whatsoever.
KEATON
What are you doing here'! How did
you find me?
VERBAL
I just asked one of the detectives
downtown. He seemed pretty happy to
tell me.
Keaton curses under his breath and motions for Verbal to
come in.
32 32 INT. EDIE'S APARTMENT
Verbal walks in and sits down on the couch, watching Keaton
cautiously. He looks around the large apartment, beautifully
furnished and decorated.49.
WHITE 05/25/94
Edie walks into the room in a man's button-down shirt and
sweat pants.
EDIE
Dean, who was at the She stops when
she sees Verbal. Verbal stands and
smiles nervously.
VERBAL
How do you do?
KEATON
Verb - Roger, this is Edie Finneran.
Edie, this is Roger Kint, he was at --
EDIE
(cold)
I know who he is.
VERBAL
I hope I didn't disturb you.
EDIE
I hope so, too, Mr. Kint. Can I get
you something to drink?
VERBAL
A glass of water would be nice.
Edie shoots a look at Keaton on her way out of the room.
Keaton tries to hush his voice despite his anger.
KEATON
What the hell do you want?
VERBAL
I wanted to talk to you. The other
guys --
KEATON
I did you a favor by standing up for
you last night, but don't think we're
friends. I'm sorry, but I have other
things --
VERBAL
They're gonna do a job. Three million
dollars, maybe more.
Keaton is speechless. Verbal sits on the couch again.50.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (CONT'D)
They sent me to offer you a cut. We
could use a fifth man - a driver -
That's all you'll do.
Edie walks in with a glass of ice water and hands it to
Verbal.
VERBAL (CONT'D)
Thank you.
Verbal drinks slowly. Edie stands over him, her face blank.
It is an awkward moment. She deliberately makes Verbal
uncomfortable.
Long pause. - FINALLY:
EDIE
So what is it you do, Mr. Kint?
VERBAL
Umm...
EDIE
A hijacker like Dean, here? Or
something more creative?
KEATON
That's enough, Edie.
EDIE
(angry)
I don't know what you came here for,
but we won't have any part of it.
KEATON
Edie, please.
Keaton takes Edie by the arm and tries to guide her toward
the other room. She pulls away, anger turning to rage.
EDIE
I've spent the last year of my life
putting his back together again - I
won't have you come in here and -
What makes you think - GET OUT. GET
OUT OF m HOME. HOW DARE YOU COME
HERE!
Keaton is pulling her now. She yanks her arm away and shoves
him.51.
WHITE 05/25/94
EDIE (CONT'D)
Don't touch me. Just don't, She turns
and walks out of the room. Somewhere
in the back of the apartment, a door
slams.
Keaton turns and glares at Verbal. Verbal cringes.
KEATON
Get out.
VERBAL
If you'll just let me --
SUDDENLY, KEATON LUNGES. He grabs Verbal by the lapels and
lifts him off the couch, moving him effortlessly across the
room and slamming him into the wall next to the front door.
He opens it.
VERBAL
Don't hurt me.
KEATON
(seething)
Hurt you, you sonofabitch? I could
kill you.
Keaton starts to shove Verbal out the door.
VERBAL
(quickly)
They're going to hit the Taxi Service.
Keaton freezes. LONG Pause..
VERBAL (CONT'D)
New York's Finest Taxi Service.
KEATON
They - That's bullshit. They don't
operate anymore.
VERBAL
McManus has a friend in the Fourteenth
Precinct. They're coming out for one
job - Thursday. They're picking up a
guy smuggling emeralds out of South
America. Fenster and McManus have a
fence set to take the stuff.52.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
What fence? Who?
VERBAL
Some guy in California. His name is
Redfoot.
KEATON
Never heard of him.
Keaton moves to throw Verbal out. Verbal grabs Keaton and
holds tight.
VERBAL
You have to come.
KEATON
What's with you? What do you care
whether I come or not?
VERBAL
They - They don't know me. You do.
They won't take me unless you go.
Look at me. I need this.
KEATON
Tough break.
VERBAL
Don't tell me you don't need this.
Is this your place?
Keaton is unable to answer.
VERBAL (CONT'D)
They're never going to stop with us,
you know that. This way we hit the
cops where it hurts and get well in
the mean time.
Keaton lets Verbal go and steps back, thinking.
VERBAL (CONT'D)
As clean as you could ever get,
they'll never let you go now.53.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (CONT'D)
I'm not knocking you. You look like
you've got a good little seam going
with this lawyer --
WHAM. Keaton punches Verbal in the stomach and drops him to
one knee. Verbal coughs and tries to find his breath.
KEATON
You watch your mouth.
VERBAL
(Gasping)
Okay, okay. You say it's the real
thing? That's cool.
Keaton reaches for Verbal. Verbal flinches. Keaton gently
helps him up and guides him to the couch. They bath sit.
Keaton reaches for a pack of cigarettes and lights one for
each of them.
KEATON
I apologize.
Verbal takes one and has a few drags, catching his breath
and rubbing his stomach in pain.
FINALLY:
VERBAL
I was out of line.
KEATON
You okay?
VERBAL
I'll be alright.
KEATON
Well, I'm sorry.
VERBAL
Forget it.
(beat)
I'll probably shit blood tonight.
Keaton laughs. Verbal thinks about it for a moment and laughs
with him.
Keaton's laughter trails off. He thinks for a moment.54.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
How are they going to do it?
VERBAL
McManus wants to go in shooting. I
said no way.
KEATON
Fenster and Hockney?
VERBAL
They're pretty pissed off. They'll
do anything. Now I got a way to do
it without killing anyone: but like
I said, they won't let me in without
you.
KEATON
Three million?
VERBAL
Maybe more.
KEATON
No killing?
VERBAL
Not if we do it my way.
Long Pause.
KEATON
(lost in thought)
I swore I'd live above myself.
Verbal smiles, knowing he has him.
33 33 EXT. KENNEDY AIRPORT - DAY
VERBAL (V.O.)
New York's finest Taxi Service was
not your normal taxi service. It was
a ring of corrupt cops in the N.Y.P.D.
that ran a high-profit racket, driving
smugglers and drug dealers all over
the city. For a few hundred dollars
a mile, you got your own black and
white and a police escort. They
even had their own business cards.
OSCAR WHITEHEAD, a tall gray-haired man in his fifties comes
out of the international terminal in a white linen suit. He
holds a large suitcase in his right hand.55.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
After a while, somebody started asking
questions and the taxi service shut
down. Ever since then, Internal
Affairs had been waiting to catch
them in the act.
Oscar stands on the curb long enough to light a cigarette.
After a moment, a POLICE CRUISER pulls up to him. He opens
the back door and gets in.
VERBAL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
And that was how we started. McManus
came to us with the job; Fenster got
the vans; Hockney supplied the
hardware; 'I came through with how
to do it so no one got killed - but
Keaton - Keaton put on the finishing
touch. A little "Fuck you" from the
five of us to the N.Y.P.D.
The car drives out of the airport. A VAN follows at a
distance.
34 34 INT. POLICE CAR
SERGEANT JIM STRAUSZ, a meaty, imposing looking man in his
forties drives the car. Beside him is a thin, greasy looking
PATROLMAN, STEVE RIZZI. They are two drivers for New York's
Finest Taxi Service.
RIZZI
How was the flight?
Oscar hands Rizzi a thick envelope.
OSCAR
Will that get me to the Pierre?
Rizzi counts the stack of hundred dollar bills in the
envelope.
RIZZI
That'll get you to Cape God.
The two men laugh. Strausz watches the road, expressionless.
35 35 EXT. HIGHWAY
The cruiser heads towards the heart of Manhattan.56.
WHITE 05/25/94
36 36 EXT. STREET - LATER
The police car makes its way down a wide, abandoned street.
A WHITE MINIVAN pulls out behind it and heads the same way.
37 37 INT. POLICE CAR
Strausz looks in the rear-view mirror. The white minivan is
flashing his high-beams.
STRAUSZ
What the
RIZZI
LOOK OUT.
Strausz looks in front of him. A green minivan swerves in
front of them from out of nowhere. Strausz slams on the brakes
and skids to a halt. The white minivan rams them from behind.
Strausz and Rizzi are stunned for a moment as two more vans
screech up on either side of the cruiser, boxing it in with
only a few inches between them.
The cruiser is surrounded on all sides.
SUDDENLY, SHOTGUN BARRELS come through the open windows.
They come to rest, one on Strausz's left temple one on Rizzi's
right. RIZZI looks out of the corner of his eye.
He sees the driver of the van next to him holding the shotgun
with one hand. A stocking is over the driver's head.
Strausz looks straight ahead. The minivan in front of them
is missing a back window. Another man with a stocking on his
head aims a sub-machine gun at them from inside.
By the twisted right hand holding the front of the gun, we
know it is Verbal.
Strausz and Rizzi raise their hands without being asked.
38 38 EXT. STREET
The driver of the white van gets out with a gallon jug in
one hand and a sledge hammer in the other.
Moving like lightning, he jumps onto the roof of the police
car.57.
WHITE 05/25/94
He stands on the front of the roof and swings the hammer
down.
39 39 INT. POLICE CAR
SMASH
The hammer punches three huge holes in the windshield and
finally caves it in. Strausz and Rizzi are covered with
pebbles of broken glass. Whitehead clutches his bag in the
back seat. He trembles in terror.
The man standing on the roof doubles over and sticks a gun
in Strausz's face. His face hangs upside down and looks
gruesome - covered from the mouth up in a stocking. By the
voice, we know it is McManus.
MCMANUS
GIVE ME THE SHIT.
STRAUSZ
Give it up.
Oscar hands the suitcase up front and Strausz passes it to
McManus.
40 40 INT. FRONT VAN
Through the front windshield of the front van we see Keaton
at the wheel. Verbal is behind him leaning out the back
window.
Beneath Keaton's stocking mask we see he is trembling and
sweating - sickened by what he is doing.
He glances up at the rear-view mirror and looks at the scene
outside. He looks down at the floor in shame, shaking his
head.
41 41 INT. POLICE CAR
MCMANUS
The money.
Strausz looks at Rizzi.
MCMAMJS
THE MONEY. LET'S HAVE IT.
Rizzi hands the money through the remains of the windshield.58.
WHITE 05/25/94
McManus takes the money and stuffs it in his jacket. He steps
back and takes the cap off of the gallon jug. He quickly
pours some kind of liquid all over the roof of the car.
STRAUSZ
Do you know who I am?
A hand reaches into the driver's side window and rips
Strausz's badge off of his shirt.
Strausz dares to turn his head right at the shotgun pointing
at him through the window. On the other end is a masked and
smiling Todd Hockney.
HOCKNEY
We do now, Jerk-off.
McManus lights a pack of matches and drops them on the roof
of the car as he jumps off. THE LIQUID IGNITES, the roof of
the car is instantly in flames.
Strausz and Rizzi attempt to bail out, but the vans are too
close for them to open the doors.
The vans pull away.
Strausz and Rizzi escape from the car.
Oscar is trapped inside, SCREAMING.
Strausz and Rizzi stop, each expecting the other to go let
Oscar out.
42 42 EXT. STREET - LATER
The scene is swarming with fresh police cars. Strausz and
Rizzi are fielding questions from a dozen other cops.
Photographers are everywhere.
VERBAL (V.O.)
The papers got Keaton's call that
day and were on the scene before the
cops were. Strausz and Rizzi were
indicted three days later. Within a
few weeks, fifty more cops went down
with them. It was beautiful. Everybody
got it right in the ass, from the
chief on down.59.
WHITE 05/25/94
43 43 INT. GARAGE - NIGHT
Hockney, Fenster, McManus and Verbal are all laughing in a
secluded garage. They are still in their black clothes from
the robbery. Hockney is throwing everyone a can of beer.
Keaton sits off by himself. He watches the others, unable to
join in the festivities.
The others sit around a cheap card table. It is covered with
emeralds. Dozens of them. Everyone is in awe.
MCMANUS
There's more than I thought.
HOCKNEY
When does the fence come?
MCMANUS
Redfoot? He never comes to see me. I
have to go see him.
VERBAL
In California?
MCMANUS
Yeah. It'll take a few days. Me and
Fenster --
HOCKNEY
Hold the fuckin' phone. You and
Fenster? No, no, no.
MCMANUS
Guys, come on.
HOCKNEY
I'm sure you can understand my
hesitation.
FENSTER
Then who goes?
HOCKNEY
We all go. How about it, Keaton?
All eyes turn to Keaton. He comes out of his trance.
KEATON
We need to lay low for a while.60.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
Fine with me.
Pause.
Everyone looks at each other, their moment of distrust blowing
over. All eyes drift back to the emeralds on the table.
Hockney begins to snicker, then McManus, then Fenster. Verbal
joins in at last.
McManus grabs Verbal and hugs him, shaking him violently.
MCMANUS
My boy with the plan.
SUDDENLY, everyone yells and pours beer over Verbal's head.
He laughs as he is drenched in white foam, nearly choking as
the others chant his name.
Keaton watches from across the room, trying to smile in vain.
44 44 SCENE DELETED
45 45 INT. WAITING ROOM - LAW OFFICE - DAY
Keaton and Verbal sit side by side on a sofa. A sign on the
door behind them reads: MONTGOMERY and LaGUARDIA - ATTORNEYS
AT LAW.
VERBAL
We're going to miss the flight.
KEATON
We'll make it.
VERBAL
Don't do this. Send her a card -
something.
KEATON
We'll make it.
VOICE (O.S.)
Ms. Finneran will be with you in a
moment.
Keaton stands and paces across the waiting room. He comes to
a set of glass doors and looks through them.61.
WHITE 05/25/94
Keaton realizes he is standing on a balcony overlooking a
library below.
He sees Edie working in the library with an old woman. The
two women talk for a moment.
SUDDENLY, Keaton turns with a start. Verbal is standing behind
him.
VERBAL
We're gonna miss the plane.
(beat)
She'll understand.62.
WHITE 05/25/94
Edie is smiling and laughing with the old woman.
Keaton's face is marked with guilt and anguish.
Keaton turns and walks out of the waiting room. Verbal takes
one last glance at Edie and turns back to Keaton.
46 46 INT. LIBRARY
Edie seems to sense something behind her. She turns and looks
through the glass doors and up into the waiting room.
NOTHING IS THERE. She goes back to chatting with the old
woman.
47 47 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE -DAY - LOS ANGELES - PRESENT
KUJAN
Heartwarming. Really, I feel weepy.
VERBAL
You wanted to know what happened
after the line-up, I'm telling you.
KUJAN
Oh come on, Verbal. Who do you think
you're talking to? You really expect
me to believe he retired? For a woman?
Bullshit. He was using her.
VERBAL
He loved her.
KUJAN
Sure. And I'm supposed to believe
that hitting the Taxi Service wasn't
his idea either.
VERBAL
That was all Fenster and McManus.
KUJAN
Come on. Keaton was a cop for four
years. Who else would know the Taxi
Service63.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN (CONT'D)
better? That job had his name all
over it.
VERBAL
You keep trying to lay this whole
ride on Keaton. It wasn't like that.
Sure he knew, but Edie had him all
turned around. I'm telling you
straight, I swear.
KUJAN
Let me tell you something. I know
Dean Keaton. I've been investigating
him for three years. The guy I know
is a cold-blooded bastard. L.A.P.D.
indicted him on three counts of murder
before he was kicked off the force,
so don't sell me the hooker with the
heart of gold.
VERBAL
You got him wrong.
KUJAN
Do I? Keaton was under indictment a
total of seven times when he was on
the force. In every case, witnesses
either reversed their testimony to
the grand jury or died before they
could testify. When they finally did
nail him for fraud, he spent five
years in Sing Sing. He killed three
prisoners inside - one with a knife
in the tailbone while he strangled
him to death. Of course I can't prove
this but I can't prove the best part
either.
Kujan Pause's to drink some coffee.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
Dean Keaton was dead. Did you know
that? He died in a fire two years
ago during an investigation into the
murder of a witness who was going to
testify against him. Two people saw
Keaton enter a warehouse he owned
just before it went up. They said he
had gone in to check a leaking gas
main. It blew up and took all of
Dean Keaton with it. Within three
months of the explosion, the two
witnesses were dead, one killed
himself in his car and the other
fell down an open elevator shaft.64.
WHITE 05/25/94
48 48 SCENE DELETED
49 49 SCENE DELETED/DIALOGUE MOVED - BOTTOM SCENE 4765.
WHITE 05/25/94
50 50 INT. WORKSHOP
Rabin and Louis look at one another as they listen.
KUJAN
Six weeks ago I get an anonymous
call telling me I can find Keaton
eating at Mondino's with his lawyer,
and there he is. Now because he never
profited from his alleged death and
because someone else was convicted
for the murder we tried to pin on
Keaton, we had to let him go.
51 51 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE
KUJAN
He was dead just long enough for a
murder rap to blow over, then he had
lunch.66.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL
I don't know about that.
KUJAN
I don't think you do. But you say
you saw Keaton die. I think you're
covering his ass and he's still out
there somewhere. I think he was behind
that whole circus in the harbor. My
bet is he's using you because you're
stupid and you think he's your friend.
You tell me he's dead, so be it. I
want to make sure he's dead before I
go back to New York.
VERBAL
(blurting)
He wasn't behind anything. It was
the lawyer.
KUJAN
What lawyer?
Pause.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
What lawyer, Verbal?
Verbal stammers for a moment, looking around wildly.
VERBAL
Back when I was in that barber shop
quartet in Skokie, Illinois I used
to have Kujan grabs Verbal's shirt
and yanks him half out of his seat.
KUJAN
You think I don't know you held out
on the D.A.? What did you leave out
of that testimony? I can be on the
phone to Ruby Deemer in ten minutes.
VERBAL
The D.A. gave me immunity.
KUJAN
NOT FROM ME, YOU PIECE OF SHIT. THERE
IS NO IMMUNITY FROM ME. You atone
with me or the world you live in
becomes the hell you fear in the
back of your tiny mind. Every
criminal I have put in prison,67.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN (CONT'D)
every cop who owes me a favor, every
creeping scumbag that works the street
for a living, will know the name of
Verbal Kint. You'll be the lowest
sort of rat, the prince of snitches,
the loudest cooing stool pigeon that
ever grabbed his ankles for the man.
Now you talk to me, or that precious
immunity they've seen so fit to grant
you won't be worth the paper the
contract put out on your life is
printed on.
Verbal looks at Kujan with utter contempt.
VERBAL
There was a lawyer. Kobayashi.
KUJAN
Is he the one that killed Keaton?
VERBAL
No. But I'm sure Keaton's dead.
KUJAN
Convince me. Tell me every last
detail.
52 52 SCENE DELETED
53 53 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
(<< >> DENOTES LINES SPOKEN IN HUNGARIAN)
Kovash's room is now filled with people. Jack Baer stands
next to DANIEL METZHEISER, a balding man in his forties.
Next to him is Doctor Plumber. Across from her is Ridgly
Waiters.
Sitting beside the bed is TRACY FITZGERALD, a casually dressed
woman in her late twenties. She holds a 15x20 inch drawing
pad on her lap.
Police fill the hall. People are talking loudly outside.
LIONEL BODI, a cop in his mid-twenties pushes his way in.
BAER
Are you the translator?
BODI
Patrolman Lionel Bodi, sir.68.
WHITE 05/25/94
PLUMBER
Agent Beer, this is getting out of
hand.
BAER
I'11 see to it we're gone before he
blows his porch light, Doctor.
Baer gestures to Tracy.
BAER (CONT'D)
(to Bodi)
This is Tracy Fitzgerald. She's a
composite sketch artist from county.
The young couple smile at one another nervously.
BODI
Hi.
TRACY
Hi.
METZHEISER
(impatient)
I've got a noon meeting, Baer.
PLUMBER
Agent Baer, please.
BAER
Everyone calm down.
(to Bodi)
Ask this man about the shoot-out in
the harbor.
BODI
<<My name is Bodi. How are you'>>
Kovash smiles with relief when he hears his own language.
KOVASH
<<How am I? You are as stupid as
that one, but at least I can talk to
you.>>
BODI
<<You'll be alright. He is from the
F.B.I. He is here to help you. He
wants to know what happened in the
harbor.>>
(CONTINUED)69.
WHITE 05/25/94
53 CONTINUED: (2) 53
KOVASH
<<We were there to buy a man and
take him back to Hungary.>>
BODI
He says they were buying It doesn't
make sense. I'm sorry, I'm a little
rusty. They were there to buy
something.
BAER
Dope, we know.
KOVASH +
<<You don't understand me either?
God help me, they are all idiots.
(talking slowly)
We were there to buy a man, you simple
boy. A witness. I don't know his
name. A witness who knew the Devil.>>
BODI
Not dope. Something else. Some what?..
He doesn't know what they were buying.
But not dope... people.
KOVASH
<<I'll tell you everything. I'11
even say it slow enough for you to
understand it. Just tell this man I
want protection. REAL PROTECTION.>>70.
WHITE 05/25/94
METZHEISER
Your witness is whacked, Baer.
BODI
He says he'll tell us everything he
knows if we protect him.
BAER
Tell him fine.
BODI
<<He says that is fine.>>
KOVASH
<<No, no, no. I need a guarantee
from the ridiculous man. I am going
to be killed. I have seen the Devil
and looked him in the eye.>>
BODI
No good. He needs guarantees. He
says... his life is in danger... He
has seen the Devil... looked him in
the eye.
METZHEISER
I'11 be on my way.
Baer grabs Metzheiser by the arm.
BAER
(to Bodi)
Tell him to tell this man what he
was telling me before. Who is the
Devil? Who did he see?
BODI
<<Who is this Devil you keep talking
about?>>
KOVASH
<<Keyser Soze He was in the harbor
shooting everyone in sight.>>
Metzheiser is suddenly interested.
BODI
He says he saw him in the harbor. He
was shooting... Killing... Killing
many men.
METZHEISER
Did he say Keyser Soze? He saw Keyser
Soze?71.
WHITE 05/25/94
BODI
He says he saw him in the harbor. He
was shooting... Killing... Killing
many men.
METZHEISER
Did he say Keyser Soze? He saw Keyser
Soze.
KOVASH
<<Keyser Soze. Keyser Sate. I've
seen his face. I see it when I close
my eyes.>>
BODI
He says he knows his face. He sees
it when he closes his eyes.72.
WHITE 05/25/94
METZHEISER
Ask him what this Devil looks like.
BAER
(to Tracy)
Ready?
Tracy holds up her pad and pencil. She nods.
54 54 EXT. LOS ANGELES SKYLINE - DAY - FIVE WEEKS PRIOR
VERBAL (V.O.)
McManus' fence was this guy named
Redfoot. He had a good reputation
around L.A. Seemed like a good guy -
Looked like a cowhide full of
thumbtacks.
55 55 EXT. FRIENDSHIP BELL - NIGHT
All five guys stand in a group. It is utterly quiet.
An old but well kept Cadillac creeps into the lot from the
far end and idles up to them. The windows are tinted too
much to see in. The car passes within a few feet of them and
drives on.
A moment later, a chrome and leather monster of a Harley
Davidson pulls into the lot. The rider is dressed in an almost
comical array of leather, silver and suede.
He waves to the Caddy as it parks a few yards from Keaton
and the others. It sits quietly, almost menacing.
As he gets closer, we can see he is wearing one black boot
and one red. Keaton is still looking at them when the bike
pulls up to them and stops.
REDFOOT and McManus shake hands.
REDFOOT
How've you been?
MCMANUS
Good. You?
REDFOOT
Alright. How's it going, Fenster?
FENSTER
Getting by.73.
WHITE 05/25/94
REDFOOT
You got it?
McManus holds up a briefcase.
Redfoot takes it and gets off the bike. He walks over to the
Caddy. The door of the Caddy opens. Redfoot hands the case
to Someone inside that we cannot see. The door closes.
KEATON
(whispering)
Snazzy dresser this guy.
A moment later, the door of the Caddy opens again. Someone
hands Redfoot a different briefcase and he walks back over
to McManus.
He hands him the case.
McManus hands the case back to Hockney. Hockney opens it,
revealing the stacks of money inside.
REDFOOT
You must be Keaton.
MCMANUS
Jesus, I'm sorry. Redfoot, this is
Dean Keaton, that's Todd Hockney,
and that's Verbal Kint.
REDFOOT
(to Verbal)
The man with the plan.
Verbal smiles.
REDFOOT (CONT'D)
Are you guys interested in more work?
McManus moves to answer, but Keaton cuts him off.
KEATON
We're on vacation.
REDFOOT
I've got a ton of work and no good
people.
MCMANUS
What's the job?74.
WHITE 05/25/94
Keaton shoots McManus a foul look. McManus pretends not to
notice.
REDFOOT
A jeweler out of Texas named Saul.
He rents a suite at a hotel downtown
and does free appraisals. Buys
whatever he can. Word is he moves
with a lot of cash. I'11 take the
merchandise, you keep the green.
HOCKNEY
Security?
REDFOOT
Two bodyguards. Pretty good.
MCMANUS
Give us time to check it out?
REDFOOT
I'd expect nothing less.
MCMANUS
We'll call you.
REDFOOT
Take your time. Enjoy L.A.
KEATON
A friend of mine in New York tells
me you knew Spook Hollis.
REDFOOT
I hear you did time with old Spook.
Yeah, he was a good egg. I used to
run a lot of dope for him. Fuckin'
shame he got shivved.
KEATON
I shivved him.
Now McManus is shooting the angry look at Keaton.
KEATON (CONT'D)
Better you hear it from me now than
somebody else later.
REDFOOT
Business or personal?75.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
A little of both.
REDFOOT
Ain't it a crime? Call if you're
interested.
Redfoot fires up his bike and takes off with the Caddy close
behind.
MCMANUS
(to Keaton)
What's your fucking problem?
KEATON
One job, that was the deal.
MCMANUS
Take it as it comes, brother.
KEATON
This is bullshit.
McManus laughs and walks away. Fenster and Hockney follow.
Verbal turns to Keaton.
VERBAL
What is it Keaton?
KEATON
(distant)
Something - I don't know.
(shaking himself)
I ever tell you about the restaurant
I wanted to open?
Keaton walks off. Verbal follows him in confusion.
VERBAL (V.O.)
L.A., was good for about two hours.
We were from New York. There's no
place to eat after one; you can't
get a pizza that doesn't taste like
a fried fruit-bat, and the broads
don't want to know you if you don't
look like a broad. Within a few days
the last of us was ready to go back
to N.Y., but Keaton wouldn't have
it, so he really didn't have a choice.
We went to work.76.
WHITE 05/25/94
56 56 INT. PARKING GARAGE - NIGHT
McManus walks along a line of cars. He comes across a black
Mercedes and stops. He looks down at the license plate and
walks over to the next car, a green Honda. He pulls a slim-
jim out of his jacket and pops the lock an the Honda. He
reaches in and opens the hood. He walks around and sticks
his head in the engine.
57 57 INT. VAN
Verbal sits behind the wheel. Keaton is beside him. Hockney
and Fenster are in the back. They all watch McManus from
where they are parked a few dozen yards away.
58 58 INT. PARKING GARAGE
DING-DING
The elevator bell sounds at the far end of the garage. The
doors open. Two men in ill-fitting suits get out and look
around cautiously. The first is TUCCI, a big bellied, white
haired menace. The other is HIGHAM, lean and bad skinned.
They are bodyguards and give it away by their every careful
move.
They turn back to the elevator and motion to someone inside.
Out walks SAUL BERG, a slightly overweight man in his forties
with an open collar silk shirt and a thick gold chain on his
hairy chest. He carries a LARGE ALUMINUM BRIEFCASE.
He lets his guards do the worrying. He walks straight to his
car.
Saul passes McManus under the hood of the Honda. He takes
out his keys and pushes a button on his key chain. The
Mercedes beeps three times and tells Saul his alarm is off.
Tucci keeps an eye on McManus. Higham watches Saul.
McManus pretends to tinker with the car's engine. He has put
a pistol just inside the grill and keeps it within reach.
The van on the other side of the garage starts and pulls out
of the spot. It cruises over toward the Mercedes.
Tucci sees the van. He and Higham are suddenly busy trying
to keep track. They hear laughing behind them and turn around.77.
WHITE 05/25/94
ENSTER and HOCKNEY are walking towards them. They are sporting
mustaches and sunglasses in addition to matching suits, each
with loud plaid sport coats, decades out of style. Saul
glances at Tucci and Higham.
HIGHAM
Just get in the car Saul.
Under the hood of the Honda and out of sight, McManus pulls
on a black ski mask.
The van gets closer.
HOCKNEY
I get out of the car, and man if the
thing wasn't wrecked. And I see this
broad in the back seat with nothing
on.
Saul gets in the car quickly but calmly as Fenster and Hockney
laugh and talk louder. They look drunk - The desired effect.
HOCKNEY (CONT'D)
I'm laughing so hard I can't breathe -
Tucci and Higham try to take it all in stride. Saul's reverse
lights come on and he begins to back out of the spot.
HOCKNEY
...And the fat guy comes out of the
car with his pants on backwards and
says -
SUDDENLY, the van revs and screeches to a halt behind Saul's
Mercedes, blocking him in. Hockney and Fenster drop the drunk
act and snap to. They both pull out guns and start screaming.
HOCKNEY
DON'T MOVE, YOU FUCKERS.
FENSTER
RIGHT THERE. FREEZE.
McManus comes up from under the hood.
Tucci and Higham throw their hands in the air. Hockney and
Fenster grab them and reach into their belts to get their
guns.
Keaton jumps out of the van and runs up to Saul's car, his
face covered in a ski mask. He yanks on the door handle but
it is locked. Saul sits in terror behind the wheel. Keaton
pulls out a pistol and smashes the window with it.78.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
Give me the case.
Saul reaches over for the case. Keaton trains the gun on
him.
SUDDENLY, Saul comes up with a pistol and points it at Keaton.
Keaton sidesteps and grabs his wrist. The gun goes off into
the fender of the Honda.
Hockney and Fenster both look over at the sound of the gun.
Tucci and Higham seize the opportunity. Tucci grabs Hockney,
Higham grabs Fenster. The four men grapple for the guns.
Fenster's gun falls to the floor. McManus picks it up. He
trains a pistol on each bodyguard and takes a breath. They
are some ten feet apart and moving erratically. Hockney and
Fenster constantly fall in the line of fire.
McManus walks around the four men, keeping a pistol trained
on each of the guards. Finally he comes to an angle where
they are all in front of him. One guard is a few feet away,
the other is ten feet past him.
McMANUS' P.O.V.
The closer of the two moves in and out of the sights of the
pistol in McManus' right hand, the one farther away does the
same with the left.
Verbal gets out of the van and moves towards them to help.
BOOM
Both of McManus' guns go off like one shot. Tucci and Higham
collapse, each with a bullet in his head
Pause.
The only sound is Saul grappling with Keaton for the gun.
His arm is halfway out the window. His elbow rests in the
door frame.
Keaton cannot get the gun out of his hand. Finally, he pushes
down with all his weight. Saul's elbow breaks backwards on
the door frame. He screams in agony. The gun falls from his
hand.79.
WHITE 05/25/94
All five of the men look at each other for an impossibly
long moment. The confusion is only aggravated by Saul's
screaming.
SLOWLY, Keaton raises his pistol and aims it at Saul. His
hand trembles, his eyes squint to near slits. His finger
tenses and slacks off over and over again on the trigger.
BOOM
VERBAL SHOOTS SAUL. Keaton looks at him in surprise. Verbal
trembles more than he does.
The garage is silent.
HOCKNEY
What the hell?
MCMANUS
Bad day. Fuck it.
DING-DING
The elevator light comes on. All five men look.
KEATON
Move.
Keaton reaches into the car and grabs Saul's case. Everyone
else piles into the van. Keaton gets in as Verbal is driving
for the exit.
59 59 INT. VAN
The mood in the van is grim. Everyone is silent. Keaton pops
the clasps on the case and opens it.
KEATON
Son of a bitch.
Everyone looks in the case. It is filled with cash on one
side. The other side is filled with clear plastic bags of
WHITE POWDER.
60 60 EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Keaton and the others stand in silhouette in front of the
lights of an oncoming car in the distance. We can make out
McManus loading a gun.
KEATON
What are you doing?80.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
What does it look like? I'm going to
kill him.
KEATON
We did it your way. Now I'11 deal
with him.
MCMANUS
You gonna kill him?
KEATON
I'm going to deal with him.
The car, Redfoot's escort Caddy, is now in front of them.
The horn lets out three short blasts.
Redfoot comes around from behind the Caddy on his motorcycle.
He gets off the bike, trying to hide a faint smile.
McManus throws Saul's case on the ground in front of him.
MCMANUS
What the fuck is this, Redfoot?
REDFOOT
Get a grip. I didn't know.
KEATON
You didn't know.81.
WHITE 05/25/94
REDFOOT
The job got thrown to me by this
lawyer.
KEATON
Who is he?
REDFOOT
Some Limey. He's a middle-man for
somebody. He doesn't say and I don't
ask.
KEATON
We want to meet him.
REDFOOT
He wants to meet you. He called last
night and asked me to set it up.
What do I tell him'
KEATON
Tell him we'll meet.
MCMANUS
If you're lying, Redfoot...
REDFOOT
McManus, you're a real bad-ass, but
get off my tip.
McManus lunges for Redfoot.
The Caddy doors instantly pop open and rifle barrels come
into view from within.
Fenster and Hockney draw guns and aim at the Caddy.
Keaton and Verbal grab McManus and hold him back.
Redfoot gets on his Harley, smiling defiantly.
REDFOOT (CONT'D)
Real shame about Saul getting whacked.
Lot's of cops looking for the guys that did it. I'm sure
They'll get around to asking me.
He starts his bike.82.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
Fuck you.
Redfoot drives off... The Caddy waits until he is completely
out of sight before following.
61 61 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - DAY - PRESENT
KUJAN
So this lawyer...
VERBAL
Kobayashi.
KUJAN
Came from Redfoot.
VERBAL
Right.
KUJAN
And why leave this out when you talked
to the D.A.?
KNOCK AT THE DOOR
Rabin sticks his head in.
RABIN
Someone to see you, Agent Kujan.
Kujan steps out into the hall, shutting the door behind him.
62 62 INT. OUTSIDE RABIN'S OFFICE
Kujan smiles instantly, recognizing the man standing with
Rabin.
KUJAN
Jack. What are you doing here?
BAER
I've been looking all over for you.
You still after the coke that walked
out of that blood bath in the harbor?
KUJAN
Yeah.
BAER
You can stop looking. There was no
coke. I've been in L.A. county with
a guy they83.
WHITE 05/25/94
BAER (CONT'D)
pulled out of a drainpipe in San
Pedro yesterday after the shoot-out.
He came to this morning and started
talking. He was part of a Hungarian
mob there to do a deal with a bunch
of goats from Argentina. He says it
was definitely not a dope deal.
KUJAN
There was ninety-one million -
BAER
We know, but our man says no way on
the dope. This Hungarian tells me
the whole bunch was pulling stumps
for Turkey the next' day. They had
no time to negotiate that kind of
product and no means to move it.
KUJAN
What was the money for?
BAER
He didn't know. No one doing the
deal knew except a few key people.
This guy says they were real hush
about it. Whatever it was it was
highly sensitive.
KUJAN
I don't get it.
BAER
They tell me you got the cripple
from New York in there. He mention
Keyser Soze?
KUJAN
Who?
BAER
Bear with me here...
63 63 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - LATER
BOOM - The door bursts open.
KUJAN
Who is Keyser Soze?
Verbal looks up in shock. He drops his cigarette and trembles
at the mere mention of the name.84.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL
Ahhh fuck.
64 64 INT. HOLLYWOOD ATHLETIC CLUB - DAY - TWO WEEKS PRIOR
Keaton stands while the rest sit and listen.
KEATON
So I need to know if anyone can think
of anybody. Somebody with power.
Enough to possibly track us from New
York.
MCMANUS
Look. We've been over it for an hour
now. I say we pack up and run. Let's
go back to New York. At least get
out of L.A.
SUDDENLY, The sound of a man clearing his throat.
Everyone turns to the door behind them.
MR. KOBAYASHI a tall, slim, well groomed man stands in the
hall. He has a briefcase in his hand. He smiles politely.
KOBAYASHI
Mr. Keaton?
Keaton stands back and lets him in. Kobayashi looks them
over.
KOBAYASHI (CONT'D)
I am Mr. Kobayashi. I've been asked
by my employer to bring a proposal
to you gentlemen. That must be Mr.
Hockney. I recognize Mr. Fenster
from his mug shot, as well as Mr.
McManus.
(to Verbal)
I can only assume that you are Mr.
Kint. I believe you were the one
who disposed of Saul. My employer
sends his gratitude. A most
unexpected benefit.
Everyone looks at one another in shock that he would know
this.
KEATON
What can we do for you?85.
WHITE 05/25/94
KOBAYASHI
My employer requires your services.
One job. One day's work. Very
dangerous. I don't expect all of you
to live, but those who do will have
ninety-one million dollars to divide
any way they see fit.
KEATON
Who's your boss?
KOBAYASHI
My employer wishes to remain
anonymous.
KEATON
Don't jerk me off. We all know what
this is. You don't work with me if I
work with you without knowing who
I'm working for. Now let's cut the
shit. Who's the man?
KOBAYASHI
I work for Keyser Soze.
A strange look crosses Keaton's face. Skepticism, mockery
and just a hint of fear. Hockney, McManus and Fenster all
share similar looks.
KEATON
What is this?
VERBAL
Who's Keyser Soze?
KOBAYASHI
I am sure you've heard a number of
tall tales, myths and legends about
Mr. Soze I can assure you gentlemen,
most of them are true.
VERBAL
Who's Keyser Soze?
KOBAYASHI
Judging by the sudden change in mood,
I am sure the rest of your associates
can tell you, Mr. Kint. I have come
with an offer directly from Mr. Soze.
An order actually.
KEATON
An order.86.
WHITE 05/25/94
KOBAYASHI
In nineteen-eighty one, Mr. Keaton,
you participated in the hijacking of
a truck in Buffalo, New York. The
cargo was raw steel. Steel that
belonged to Mr. Soze and was destined
for Pakistan to be used in a Nuclear
reactor. A very profitable violation
of U.N. Regulations. You had no way
of knowing this, because the man
shipping the steel was working for
Mr. Soze without his knowledge.
(beat)
Mr. Fenster and Mr. McManus hijacked
a twin-prop cargo flight earlier
this year out of Newark airport. The
plane was carrying platinum and gold
wiring. Also set for Pakistan.
Kobayashi turns and points at Hockney.
KOBAYASHI
Two months ago, Mr. Hockney stole a
truck carrying gun parts through
Queens -
Everyone looks at Hockney. He smiles shyly. It occurs to
them all that he robbed the truck for which they were all
arrested in the first place.
KOBAYASHI
- guns allegedly set to be destroyed
by the state of New York. They were
to be "lost" in a weigh station and
routed to Belfast. Again, Mr. Soze
using pawns who had no knowledge.
(turning to Verbal)
Which brings us to Mr. Kint.
Verbal crumbles under his stare.
KOBAYASHI (CONT'D)
Nine months ago, one of Mr. Soze's
less than intelligent couriers was
taken in a complicated confidence
deal by a cripple. He was relieved
of sixty-two thousand dollars. Now -
(to all of them)
- It has taken us some time to find
you. Our intention was to approach
you after your apprehension in New
York.87.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
You set up the line-up.
KOBAYASHI
Mr. Soze made a few calls, yes. You
were not to be released until I came
to see you. It seems Mr. Keaton's
attorney, Ms. Finneran, was a bit
too effective in expediting his
release. Holding the rest of you
became a moot point.
KEATON
What about Redfoot?
KOBAYASHI
Mr. Redfoot knew nothing. Mr. Soze
rarely works with the same people
for very long, and they never know
who they're working for. One cannot
be betrayed if one has no people.
FENSTER
So why tell us?
KOBAYASHI
Because you have stolen from Mr.
Soze. That you did not know you
stole from him is the only reason
you are still alive, but he feels
you owe him. You will repay your
debt.
HOCKNEY
Who is this guy? How do we know you
work for Soze
KOBAYASHI
I don't think that is relevant, Mr.
Hockney. The five of you are
responsible for the murder of Saul
Berg and his bodyguards. Mr. Redfoot
can attest to your involvement, and
we can see to it that he will. He is
not of your "superior" breed.
MCMANUS
This is a load of shit.
KOBAYASHI
The offer is this, gentlemen. Mr.
Soze's primary interest, as I am
sure you all know, is narcotics.
He's been - competing shall we say,
with a group of88.
WHITE 05/25/94
KOBAYASHI (CONT'D)
Argentinians for several years.
Competing with Mr. Soze has taken
its toll. These Argentinians are
negotiating the sale of ninety-one
million dollars in cocaine in three
days time. Needless to say, this
purchase will revitalize the
diminishing strength of their
organization. Mr. Soze wants you to
stop the deal. If you choose, you
may wait until the buy. Whatever
money changes hands is yours.
The transaction will take place on a
boat in San Pedro. Mr. Soze wants
you to get to the boat and destroy
the cocaine on board. Then you are
free of your obligation to Mr. Soze.
KEATON
Give me one good reason why I
shouldn't kill you right now.
Kobayashi smiles and puts his briefcase on the table in front
of him.
KOBAYASHI
A gift from Mr. Soze gentlemen.
He turns and walks out of the room.
Keaton walks over to the case and opens it. He reaches in
and pulls out five thick manila envelopes, each marked in
bold black letters. "KEATON", "McMANUS", "HOCKNEY", "FENSTER"
and "KINT".
Keaton pulls out the files, revealing a map underneath.
Keaton hands each man his file. He opens his first. He pulls
out a thick stack of papers and thumbs through them.
KEATON
Jesus Christ. Open them.
All of the men open their files. Inside are mug shots of
each man in his respective file as well as a printout of his
criminal record. But there is more.
HOCKNEY
They know everything.
MCMANUS
This is my life in here. Everything
I've done since I was eighteen.89.
WHITE 05/25/94
FENSTER
Everybody I ever worked with, did
time with.
HOCKNEY
They fucking know everything.
Keaton pulls out a large black and white photograph of himself
and his lawyer EDIE FINNERAN. They are laughing arm in arm
by a fountain in New York. He hides the photo from the others.
KEATON
This is not right.
FENSTER
I don't know. Who was that guy that
used to talk about Soze in New York?
MCMANUS
Bricks Marlin.
FENSTER
Yeah. He said he did jobs for him.
Indirect stuff. Always five times
more money than the job was worth.
KEATON
Come on. The guy is a pipe dream.
This Kobayashi is using him for window
dressing.
FENSTER
I don't know. This is bad.
HOCKNEY
It's bullshit. This guy could be
L.A.P.D. I think it's a setup.
FENSTER
The way I hear it, Soze is some kind
of butcher. No pity.
KEATON
There' is no Keyser Soze.
Verbal thumbs through his file. A long list of names, numbers,
addresses. It is a detailed portfolio of his entire criminal
and personal life. He looks up at Keaton.90.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL?
Who is Keyser Soze
65 65 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - DAY - PRESENT
Kujan leans into Verbal's face. He hangs on his every word.
VERBAL
He is supposed to be Turkish. Some
say his father was German. Nobody
believed he was real. Nobody ever
saw him or knew anybody that ever
worked directly for him, but to hear
Kobayashi tell it, anybody could
have worked for Soze. You never knew.
That was his power. The greatest
trick the Devil ever pulled was
convincing the world he didn't exist.
One story the guys told me - the
story I believe - was from his days
in Turkey. There was a petty gang
of Hungarians that wanted their own
mob. They realized that to be in
power you didn't need guns or money
or even numbers. You just needed the
will to do what the other guy
wouldn't. After a while they come to
power, and then they come after Soze
He was small time then, just running
dope, they say...
66 66 SCENE DELETED
67 67 INT. SOZE'S HOME - DAY
Three of the Hungarians come bursting into Keyser Soze's
home. They grab his five children and round them up in the
front room. One of the men grabs his wife and back-hands her
across the face.91.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (V.O.)
They come to his home in the afternoon
looking for his business. They find
his wife and kids in the house and
decide to wait for Soze.
68 68 INT. SOZE'S HOME - LATER
The front door opens and in walks Keyser Soze. We are never
allowed to see his face.
Soze's wife lies in the corner, beaten and bruised. Her dress
is tattered to shreds. She cannot look up at her husband.
The three Hungarians stand to greet him. Two hold guns in
their hands. The third holds a straight razor. He grabs Soze
youngest boy and holds the razor to his throat.
VERBAL (V.O.)
He comes home to his wife raped and
his children screaming. The Hungarians
knew Soze was tough. Not to be trifled
with. So they let him know they
meant business.
The Hungarian smiles. Soze's wife SCREAMS IN HORROR.
The Hungarian holds up a BLOOD SOAKED RAZOR.
SUDDENLY, he grabs another child. A little girl no older
than six.
VERBAL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
They tell Soze they want his territory -
all his business. Soze looks over
the faces of his family... Then he
showed these men of will what will
really was.
SUDDENLY, Soze pulls out a pistol and shoots the two men
with guns. He turns and aims at the third man holding his
child.
The man threatens to cut the child's throat, slicing just
enough to draw blood.
SOZE FIRES.
The stunned Hungarian watches the child fall from his arms.
Soze turns the pistol on the next child, then the next and
the next. He kills his children one by one in front of the
Hungarian.92.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
He tells him he would rather' see
his family dead than live another
day after this.
SOZE walks over to his wife, crying and beaten on the floor
and holds up her head. She gives him the strangest look. One
of trust perhaps, saturated with fear and humiliation.
He puts the gun between her eyes and fires.
VERBAL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
He lets the last Hungarian go, and
he goes running. He waits until his
wife and kids are in the ground and
he goes after the rest of the mob.
He kills their kids, he kills their
wives, he kills their parents and
their parents' friends.
A dark and looming figure of a man walks in front of a wall
of fire - a black shadow blurred by waves of heat.
VERBAL (V.O.) (CONT'D)
He burns down the houses they live
in and the stores they work in, he
kills people that owe them money.
And like that he was gone.
Underground. No one has ever seen
him again. He becomes a myth, a spook
story that criminals tell their kids
at night. If you rat on your pop,
Keyser Sate will get you. And nobody
really ever believes.
69 69 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - DAY
KUJAN
Do you believe in him, Verbal?
VERBAL
Keaton always said: "I don't believe
in God, but I'm afraid of him." Well
I believe in God, and the only thing
that scares me is Keyser SOZE.
70 70 INT. WORKSHOP
Jack Baer and Rabin listen to Verbal on the speaker with one
ear.
RABIN
You give this any weight, Agent Baer?93.
WHITE 05/25/94
BAER
I can introduce you to Dan Metzheiser
from Justice. He has a file on Sate
in D.C. It's been a hobby of his for
a few years. A lot of guys equate
him to that reporter on the Incredible
Hulk.
RABIN
Had you heard of him before?
BAER
On the street? A few times. Outside
stuff. Somebody was working for a
guy who was working for a guy who
got money through Keyser Soze. That
kind of shit. Could be an old badge.
A hex sign to keep people from fucking
with you back when a name meant
something.
RABIN
But you're here.
BAER
Shit yeah. I got a guy trying to
walk out of the hospital on a fried
drumstick to get away from SOZE.
I'11 run it up the flagpole.
71 71 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE
VERBAL
I came clean. I told it like it
happened on the boat. So what if I
left out how I got there? It's got
so many holes in it, the D.A. would've
told me to blow amnesty out my ass.
So you got what you wanted out of
me. Big fucking deal.
KUJAN
And this is why you never told the
D.A.
VERBAL
You tell me, Agent Kujan. If I told
you the Loch Ness Monster hired me
to hit the harbor, what would you
say?
KUJAN
Turn state's evidence. Take the stand
on this and we'll hear it out.94.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL
I've got immunity now. What can you
possibly offer me?
KUJAN
If there is a Keyser Soze he'll be
looking for you.
VERBAL
Where's your head, Agent Kujan? Where
do you think the pressure's coming
from? Keyser Soze - or whatever you
want to call him - knows where I am
right now. He's got the front burner
under your ass to let me go so he
can scoop me up ten minutes later.
Immunity was just to deal with you
assholes. I got a whole new problem
when I post bail.
KUJAN
So why play into his hands? We can
protect you.
VERBAL
Gee, thanks, Dave. Bang-up job so
far. Extortion, coercion. You'll
pardon me if I ask you to kiss my
pucker. The same fuckers that rounded
us up and sank us into this mess are
telling me they'll bail me out? Fuck
you. You think you can catch Keyser
Soze? You think a guy like that comes
this close to getting fingered and
sticks his head out? If he comes up
for anything, it will be to get rid
of me.
(beat)
After that, my guess is you'll never
hear from him again.
72 72 INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
Doctor Plumber watches from out in the hall.
Kovash spits out a constant river of Hungarian while Bodi
tries to keep up, relaying everything to Tracy Fitzgerald.
She sketches frantically while Daniel Metzheiser looks on.
The composite sketch of Keyser SOZE is taking form.95.
WHITE 05/25/94
(<< >> DENOTES LINES SPOKEN IN HUNGARIAN.)
BODI
<<What sort of nose did he have?>>
KOVASH
<<It was smaller than that. Sharper.>>
BODI
(to Tracy)
The nose is sharper. Smaller too.
(t Arkosh in Hung.)
<<And what about the hair? You said
something earlier about it.>>
KOVASH
<<It is longer than that. And not so
dark. >>
BODI
<<Are you sure?>>
KOVASH
<<Don't be stupid.>>
BODI
(t Tracy)
He says the hair is longer and
lighter.96.
WHITE 05/25/94
73 73 EXT. BEACH - DAY
Waves pound across a stone jetty. A MAN sits fishing while
his young son, BRANDO strolls toward the open sea. He pokes
at rocks and seaweed with a fishing pole. He glances down at
Something wedged between the rocks beneath his feet. He pokes
at it. He notes the checkered pattern of the fabric entwined
with the twisted mess. It is the bloated carcass of THE MAN
IN THE CHECKERED BATHROBE. BRANDO pokes it's eye with the
fishing pole. It pops.
74 74 SCENE DELETED/DIALOGUE MOVED97.
WHITE 05/25/94
75 75 INT RABIN'S OFFICE
VERBAL
That was how I ended up in a barber
shop quartet in Skokie, Illinois.
KUJAN
This is totally irrelevant.
VERBAL
Oh, but it's not. If I hadn't been
nailed in Illinois for running a
three card monte in between sets, I
never would have took off for New
York. I never would have met Keaton,
see. That barber shop quartet was
the reason for everything.
KUJAN
Can we just get back to Kobayashi?
VERBAL
The quartet is part of the bit about
Kobayashi. The quartet was in my
file, along with every other thing I
had done since high school, see?
Aliases, middle-men. They knew me
better than I did. They knew all of
us.
Kujan looks at his watch.
KUJAN
You're stalling, Verbal.
VERBAL
Give a guy a break, huh?
KUJAN
What happened?
Verbal slumps a bit. He realizes his stalling tactic has
failed.
VERBAL
We woke up the next morning and
Fenster was gone. He couldn't handle
the idea of slumming for SOZE. He
left a note wishing us good luck and
took a chunk of the money we'd scraped
together.98.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN
Then what?
VERBAL
McManus was furious. He was talking
about tracking him down and ripping
his heart out and all sorts of shit.
That night we got the call.
KUJAN
What call?
VERBAL
Kobayashi told us where we could
find Fenster.
76 76 EXT. BEACH - NIGHT - TWO WEEKS PRIOR
Keaton looks out over the ocean and smokes a cigarette.
KEATON
What do you want to do with him?
McManus kneels in the sand. Hockney and Verbal stand behind
him, staring at something in front of them.
It is the body of Fred Fenster, literally peppered with bullet
holes. McManus stares at him, fighting any flicker of emotion.
MCMAMJS
I worked five years with Fenster.
More jobs, more money than I can
count.
KEATON
I'm sorry, McManus.
MCMANUS
I want to bury him.
KEATON
No time.
McManus springs to his feet and points a pistol at Keaton.
Keaton turns to face him and raises his head. McManus might
as well be pointing a feather-duster.
MCMANUS
YOU WILL FIND TIME. You're not the
only one with debts, man.99.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
No shovel.
MCMANUS
WITH OUR HANDS.
77 77 MT. BEACH
Everyone digs in the sand on the deserted beach with their
hands. They are up to their waists in the hole they have
scooped out. Fenster's body is a few feet away.
HOCKNEY
This is nuts.
MCMANUS
Dig.
HOCKNEY
This is fucking dry sand, man. When
he rots, the surfers'll smell him
from a hundred yards out.
MCMANUS
DIG, YOU FUCKER.
Hockney can see that McManus has truly gone over the edge
for now. Keaton gives him a look that says don't argue.
HOCKNEY
Keaton, we gotta go. They're gonna
find him.
KEATON
Dig.
VERBAL
What are we gonna do?
HOCKNEY
I can run. I got no problem with
that.
KEATON
They don't seem to have a problem
with it either.
MCMANUS
Nobody runs.
HOCKNEY
This ain't my boy we're burying. I
don't owe anybody.100.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
We got a deal here.
HOCKNEY
Since when?
MCMANUS
Since tonight.
HOCKNEY
Fuck that.
MCMANIJS
It's payback.
KEATON
IT'S NOT PAYBACK. I don't answer to
you. It's precaution. You want
payback? You want to run? I don't
care. I'm going to finish this thing.
Not for Fenster, not for anybody
else, but for me. This Kobayashi
cocksucker isn't going to stand over
me.
(beat)
All of you can go to hell.
Keaton turns and digs furiously with both hands. Hockney
takes a moment and slowly starts to do the same.
The four men dig for Fenster. The first to find some rest.
78 78 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - DAY - PRESENT
Verbal smokes with his good hand shaking badly.
KUJAN
And after they killed Fenster nobody
would run?
VERBAL
I wanted to. I thought we could makeit.
KUJAN
Why didn't you say anything?
VERBAL
I tried, believe me, but Keaton
wouldn't have it. It was too far-
fetched for him. Keaton was a
grounded guy. An ex-cop. To a cop,
the explanation is never that
complicated. It's always simple.101.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (CONT'D)
There's no mystery on the street, no
arch-criminal behind it all. If you
got a dead guy and you think his
brother did it, you're going to find
out you're right. Nobody argued
with Keaton. They just set their
minds on whacking Kobayashi.
79 79 EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT - TWO WEEKS PRIOR
Redfoot's Harley rests on the roof of the Caddy in a mangled
heap. The body of the Caddy is riddled with bullet holes.
Redfoot's dead body has been shoved head-first through a
hole in the windshield up to his waist, recognizable only by
the trademark red boot.
80 80 INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY
Kobayashi walks through the front door of a plush office
tower followed by two bodyguards. He heads toward the
elevator, failing to notice Hockney a few feet away, reading
a newspaper.
We see a wire running from Hockney's ear to his collar.
HOCKNEY
He's coming up.
81 81 INT. HALLWAY - FORTIETH FLOOR
Keaton, McManus and Verbal stand by the six elevators on the
fortieth floor. They are all wearing khaki overalls and tool
belts with walkie-talkies. They look like servicemen.
All of the elevators have been propped open and stranded.
McManus moves into one of the elevators. As the doors close
behind him, he scrambles for the ceiling hatch.
82 82 SCENE DELETED102.
WHITE 05/25/94
83 83 SCENE DELETED
84 84 SCENE DELETED
85 85 SCENE DELETED
86 86 INT. HALLWAY
Keaton and Verbal listen for anything on the radio.
87 87 SCENE DELETED
88 88 SCENE DELETED103.
WHITE 05/25/94
89 89 INT. LOBBY
The elevator opens. Kobayashi and his bodyguards get on the
elevator.
90 90 INT. ELEVATOR
The elevator is empty except for the three men. McManus has
vanished. Kobayashi presses a button and they are on the
way.
SUDDENLY, the ceiling hatch opens and McManus' arm comes
out.
POP - POP. Two shots from a suppressed pistol and the guards
drop to the floor, DEAD.
Kobayashi looks up with surprising calm into McManus' barrel.
MCMANUS
Press forty.
91 91 INT. HALLWAY - FORTIETH FLOOR
The elevator opens and Kobayashi is greeted by Keaton and
Verbal. McManus drops from the ceiling hatch and pushes him
out.104.
WHITE 05/25/94
Verbal and McManus grab the dead bodies and drag them out of
the elevator. They drag them to the next elevator which has
been forced open, revealing an empty shaft.
KEATON
The answer is no.
KOBAYASHI
Mr. Soze will be most --
KEATON
Listen to me, cocksucker. There is
no Keyser Sate. If you say his name
again, I'11 kill you right here.
KOBAYASHI
A strange threat. I can only assume
you're here to kill me anyway. Pity
about Mr. Redfoot.
MCMANUS
Fair trade for Fenster.
The elevator opens and Hockney steps out.
KOBAYASHI
Ahh, Mr. Hockney. Do join us.
KEATON
We know you can get to us, and now
you know we can get to you. I'm
offering you the chance to call this
off.
KOBAYASHI
Mr. So-- My employer has made up his
mind. He does not change it.
KEATON
Neither do we.
MCMANUS
You got Fenster, you may get more,
but you won't get us all. Not before
one of us gets to you.
KOBAYASHI
I believe you, Mr. McManus. I quite
sincerely do. You would not have
been chosen if you were not so
capable, but I cannot make this
decision. Whatever you can threaten
me with is... ludicrous in comparison
to what will be done to me if --105.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
Just so you know. I'm the guy. I'm
the one that's gonna get through to
you.
KOBAYASHI
I am sorry, Mr. McManus.
(to Keaton)
I implore you to believe me, Mr.
Keaton. Mr. Soze is very real and
very determined.
KEATON
We'll see.
McManus holds a pistol to Kobayashi's chin. The lawyer's
cool eyes never falter'.
KOBAYASHI
Before you do me in, you will let me
finish my business with Ms. Finneran
first, won't you?
SUDDENLY, Keaton grabs McManus' hand and pulls the gun away
before he can shoot.
KEATON
What did you say?
KOBAYASHI
Edie Finneran. She is upstairs in my
office for an extradition deposition.
I requested she be put on the case
personally. She flew out yesterday.
Everyone looks at Keaton.
KOBAYASHI (CONT'D)
No matter. Kill away, Mr. McManus.
KEATON
You're lying.
KOBAYASHI
Am I?
92 92 INT. HALLWAY - FIFTIETH FLOOR
Everyone follows Kobayashi quietly down a dimly lit, oak-
lined hallway. Verbal holds a small pistol discreetly in the
small of Kobayashi's back.106.
WHITE 05/25/94
They come to a glass office foyer. Kobayashi gestures and
everyone looks through the glass into the lobby beyond.
EDIE FINNERAN is talking casually with the receptionist.
93 93 INT. LOBBY
Edie glances toward the men in the hall.
Keaton turns quickly on his heels, facing the others. From
where Edie stands, it looks as though Kobayashi is talking
to a group of harmless maintenance men.
They see A LARGE MAN dressed very much like the two dead
bodies left in the hall downstairs. The man notices Kobayashi
and the others. He stands and stares menacingly.
KOBAYASHI
Ms. Finneran's escort in Los Angeles.
Never leaves her for a moment. I
thought you'd like to know she was
in good hands.
Keaton's mind races for an alternative. He can find none.
Verbal lowers his gun without being told.
KOBAYASHI (CONT'D)
Get your rest, Gentlemen. The boat
will be ready for you on Friday. If
I see you or your friends before
then, or fail to check in every half
hour with that unpleasant looking
man in there, Ms. Finneran will
find herself the victim of a gruesome
violation before she dies. As will
your father, Mr. Hockney. and your
Uncle Randall in Arizona, Mr. Kint.
I might only castrate Mr. McManus'
nephew, David. Do I make myself clear?
All of the men surround Kobayashi, aching to kill him.
KOBAYASHI (CONT'D)
I'11 take care of the dead men
downstairs. We'll add them to the
cost of Mr. Fenster. Now if you'll
excuse me.
Kobayashi walks into the office. Edie turns to greet him.
Keaton slowly turns and watches as they shake hands and talk.
Kobayashi says something they cannot hear and Edie laughs,
her back to the window.107.
WHITE 05/25/94
Kobayashi smiles over her shoulder at Keaton.
All the while, the bodyguard watches Keaton. He nods politely
before Keaton and the others leave. Verbal watches for a
moment more and follows.
94 94 EXT. HILLSIDE ROAD - DAY
Keaton, Verbal, Hockney and McManus sit in a rented sedan
overlooking San Pedro harbor.
Another file from Kobayashi's briefcase is laid out on the
dashboard. This has a map and a good fifty pages of
information in it.
KEATON
It's a logistical nightmare. Close
quarters, no advance layout, ten
men, maybe twenty.
HOCKNEY
Can we stealth these guys?
KEATON
Doubtful. With all that coke, they'll
be ready - which brings me to sunny
spot number two. Even if one of us
gets through and jacks the boat, we
get nothing.
MCMANUS
And if we wait for the money?
KEATON
Ten more men at least. In my opinion,
it can't be done. Anyone who walks
into this won't come out alive.
MCMANUS
I'm for waiting for the money.
HOCKNEY
Me too.
VERBAL
Did you hear what he just said?
HOCKNEY
If I'm going in, I want a stake.108.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
So do I.
Verbal is shocked by what he is hearing. He looks at Keaton
as if to ask him for his decision.
Keaton's cold stare is all the answer Verbal needs. He slumps
in his seat, resigned to the others.
VERBAL
I just can't believe we're just gonna
walk into certain death.
Pause.
They all suddenly realize the weight of their situation.
FINALLY:
MCMANUS
News said it's raining in New York.
No one knows quite how to respond.
95 95 EXT, PIER - SAN PEDRO - NIGHT
A large boat, sleek and yacht-like, but without finesse.
This is a boat for business - heavy and fast. It is moored
to the pier.
A large crane hoists a pallet of fuel drums from the dock.
It swings slowly over the boat. A man on the dock yells in
Spanish to the crane operator.
96 96 EXT. BOATHOUSE
Behind an old and weathered boat in dry-dock, Keaton and
Verbal watch the boat from the shadows.
VERBAL
What-are they speaking?
KEATON
Russian, I think. I don't know.
VERBAL
Hungarian?109.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
Knock it off.
DOLLY OVER TO REVEAL:
McManus climbing up the side of the boathouse.
CONTINUE PAST HIM TO REVEAL:
A large boat. A very large boat.
97 97 EXT. BARGE
Hockney maneuvers through a mesh of twisted steel, arriving
at a vantage point near the stern of the large boat.
HOCKNEY'S P.O.V.
A black van pulls up and parks near the crane. Four men in
suits get out. One remains with the van and the other three
walk toward the boat.
On the boat, five men come up from below deck. They are tense
and cautious around the men in suits. Someone speaks in
Spanish and someone else in Russian. It takes a moment before
anyone speaks the same tongue. They settle on French for
both negotiators.
Hockney sits in the van. He handles a large shoulder bag
stuffed with plastique. He tests a timer on top.
He picks up a walkie-talkie.
HOCKNEY
Are we ready, kids?
98 98 SCENE DELETED
99 99 SCENE DELETED/MOVED TO BOTTOM SCENE 97
100 100 EXT. BOATHOUSE.-- ROOF
McManus is positioning himself on the roof of the boathouse.
He stops and grabs his radio.
MCMANUS
If I didn't have to stop and answer
you, I would be.110.
WHITE 05/25/94
101 101 MT. BOATHOUSE
KEATON
(into radio)
Everyone shut up. I'm ready. McManus,
you better be set up in ten seconds.
MCMANUS
(on radio)
I'm there.111.
WHITE 05/25/94
KEATON
(to Verbal)
I want you to stay here. Understand?
VERBAL
But I'm supposed to --
KEATON
If we don't make it out, I want you
to take the money and go.
VERBAL
(confused)
Keaton, I can't just --
KEATON
I want you to find Edie. Both of you
find some place safe. Tell her what
happened - Everything. She knows
people. She'll know what to do. If
we can't get Kobayashi my way, she'll
get him her way.
VERBAL
What if I --
KEATON
Just do what I tell you.
Keaton turns and takes a few steps. He stops and looks back,
his face marked with guilt and agony.
KEATON (CONT'D)
Tell her I... Tell her I tried.
Keaton leaves before Verbal can respond. He walks down a
ramp toward the boat.
He is no more than a few yards out of the shadows before the
first man sees him.
102 102 EXT. DOCK
One of the men in suits starts to yell to the others. Men
pull out guns and try to look as cool as they can.
Keaton walks right into the face of all of these men,
undaunted. His hands are in his pockets.
Above him, in the darkness, McManus pokes his head out and112.
WHITE 05/25/94
spies Keaton. He pulls his head back and sticks out the barrel
of the rifle.
Keaton comes to a stop about twenty feet from fifteen men
all together.
103 103 EXT. BOATHOUSE - ROOF
McMANUS'S P.O.V.
McManus stares through the scope of his rifle at the scene.
The cross-hairs breeze past Keaton and find a target. A man
in a suit.
MCMANUS
Pow.
He moves to another and then another, picking up speed and
mock-shooting the men. He is steady and quick. It is clear
he could take all fifteen in a few seconds.
MCMANUS (CONT'D)
Pow-pow-pow-pow-pow-pow. Oswald was
a fag.
104 104 EXT. DOCK
The men shout questions at Keaton in a number of languages.
105 105 EXT. BARGE
HOCKNEY'S P.O.V.
A few men standing on the dock near the stern of the large
boat, move towards the commotion.
Hockney bails out and runs quickly and quietly through the
shadows, bringing the bomb with him.
106 106 EXT. BOATHOUSE
Verbal remains in the darkness, looking frightened.
107 107 INT. BOATHOUSE - ROOF
McManus still wanders with his scope.
MCMANUS
Old McDonald had a farm, ee-aye, ee-
aye, oh. And on this farm he shot
some guys. Ba-da-bip, ba-da-bing,
bang-boom.113.
WHITE 05/25/94
108 108 EXT. DOCK
Finally two men walk right towards Keaton. The rest train
guns on him. They reach for his arms, pointing their guns
right at him.
At the far end of the dock, Hockney throws his bomb onto the
stern of the large boat.
IT EXPLODES
The men surrounding Keaton, are distracted.
Keaton pulls a pistol out of each pocket and shoots the two
men closest to him.
109 109 EXT. BOATHOUSE - ROOF
MCMANUS
ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.
He fires as fast as he can.
110 110 EXT. PIER
The men from the boat and the men in suits try to peg Keaton,
but McManus' sniping has them running.
111 111 INT. CRANE
The crane operator opens the door to bails out, leaving the
crane in motion...
112 112 EXT. BOATHOUSE - ROOF
McManus runs across the roof of the boathouse and jumps down
to the pier. He arrives at a thick mooring cable and climbs
across to the boat.
MEANWHILE ON THE DOCK:
Keaton climbs up onto a small lifeboat hanging from the side
of the larger boat. From this he climbs aboard the large
boat.114.
WHITE 05/25/94
113 113 EXT. DOCK
Hockney is firing in all directions.
SUDDENLY, he realizes no one is left on the dock.
Pause.
FINALLY, he turns and runs back for the van parked on the
pier above. He finds a ramp leading from the dock to the
pier.
At the van, he finds the one man who has stayed behind to
protect it.
The man hears Hockney coming and raises his gun. Hockney
runs straight at him, screaming frantically.
HOCKNEY
(in Spanish)
<<DON'T SHOOT, DON'T SHOOT. LET'S
GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE. EVERYONE
IS DEAD.>>
BOOM
He shoots the man point blank in the face and runs over his
body as it falls.
He gets to the back door of the van and yanks it open.
The inside is stacked with large wooden crates.
114 114 INT. VAN
Hockney, suddenly oblivious to the sound of gunfire, opens
one of the crates and looks inside.
IT IS FILLED WITH MONEY. Cash and negotiable bonds of all
kinds.
He smiles.
BOOM
BLOOD sprays all over the money. Hockney looks at it, puzzled.
Hockney raises a blood-soaked hand from his belly.
He turns and stares in horror.115.
WHITE 05/25/94
BOOM - Another shot takes off the top of his head.
115 115 EXT. PIER
McManus runs like a wild man across the deck, heading for
the hatch .
He shoots in all directions as though he has eyes in the
back of his head. He sees Keaton climbing onto the deck of
the boat.116.
WHITE 05/25/94
116 116 EXT. WAREHOUSE
Verbal is wrestling with what to do. He finally makes a break
for the other side of the boathouse.
117 117 EXT. BOAT DECK
The crane continues to swing.
A single bullet hits one of the barrels on the suspended
pellet.
Gasoline pours out through the bullet-hole.
118 118 SCENE DELETED
119 119 EXT. BOAT
Keaton finds the hatch and goes below, shooting a man on his
way up the stairs. McManus jumps on board and runs down behind
him.
120 120 EXT. PIER
Verbal arrives at the top of the ramp leading from the dock
to the pier.
He ducks down behind a guardrail beside the ramp.
He turns and sees Hockney's dead body next to the van.
He looks around frantically, frozen in terror.
It is quiet, except for the sounds of screaming, far off in
the bowels of the boat and the hum of the crane.
121 121 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - DAY - PRESENT
KUJAN
Why didn't you run?117.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL
I froze up. I thought about Fenster
and how he looked when we buried
him, then I thought about Keaton. It
looked like he might pull it off.
A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.
Rabin steps in and motions for Kujan to come outside.
122 122 INT.HALLWAY
Rabin and Jack Baer are in the hall. Rabin hands Kujan a
thick manila folder. Kujan thumbs through it.
BAER
A boy came across a body on the beach
this morning. Thrown clear when the
boat burned. Shot once in the head.
Two guys from the F.B.I. just
identified him.
KUJAN
And?
RABIN
His name was Arturo Marquez. A petty
smuggler out of Argentina. He was
arrested in New York last year for
trafficking. He escaped to California
and got picked up in Long Beach.
They were setting up his extradition
when he escaped again. Get this -
Edie Finneran was called in to advise
the proceedings.
KUJAN
Kobayashi.
Bear nods.
RABIN
I called New York County and they
fared me a copy of Marquez's
testimony. He was a rat.
Kujan pulls out page after page from the file.
KUJAN
A big fucking rat.118.
WHITE 05/25/94
RABIN
Arturo was strongly opposed 'to going
back to prison. So much so that he
informed on close to fifty guys.
Guess who he names for a finale?
Kujan finds one sheet and notices a paragraph is highlighted.
KUJAN
Keyser Soze.
BAER
There's more.
123 123 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Kujan walks in and sits down in front of Verbal. He smiles.
KUJAN
I'11 tell you what I know. Stop me
when it sounds familiar.
Verbal is confused.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
There was no dope on that boat.
124 124 INT. BOAT - NIGHT - ONE WEEK PRIOR
Keaton is weaving through tight, low-ceiling corridors,
looking in every cabin, working his way towards the bottom
of the boat.
ELSEWHERE IN THE BOAT, McManus is tearing though the
corridors, seemingly less interested in securing the cargo
as he is in killing everyone on board.
He screams like a lunatic, shooting everything in his path,
killing some men with his bare hands, shooting others,
stabbing others still with a knife he has brought along.
125 125 INT. CORRIDOR
JAIME, one of the men from the boat, is half-pushing, half-
helping a thin and sweaty looking MAN IN A CHECKERED BATHROBE
towards a cabin at the end of the hall.
The man in the robe is trembling. He seems stricken with
fear.119.
WHITE 05/25/94
MAN IN ROBE
He's here. I saw him on deck.
Jaime pushes him inside the cabin and shuts the door.
A stereo playing softly in the room mixes with the man's
panicked breathing.
The man in the robe screams through the closed door, his
voice echoing off of the metal bulkheads.
MAN IN ROBE (CONT'D)
I'M TELLING YOU IT'S KEYSER SOZE.
Jaime stands outside the door of the cabin and turns to face
down the hall. Off in some other part of the boat, he can
hear McManus wailing like a banshee and the ever-less frequent
sound of gunshots.
126 126 INT. HOLD
Keaton has come to the four-foot-high door to the hold. The
door is open slightly. Keaton finds this strange. He pushes
the door open and steps inside. The hold is empty.
He hears a noise behind him. He wheels around to fire. He
sees McManus in the door. His face is covered with blood.
MCMANUS
Did you hear what I heard?
KEATON
What happened to you?
MCMANUS
Keyser Soze is on the boat.
KEATON
What?
MCMANUS
I heard somebody screaming his nuts
off.
He said Keyser Soze was on the boat.
KEATON
Are you alright?
McManus rubs some of the blood off with his sleeve.120.
WHITE 05/25/94
MCMANUS
Huh? Oh, It's not mine.
KEATON
There's no coke.
McManus looks around the hold as though he'll see four and a
half tons of dope in some corner where Keaton might have
missed it.
The two men look at one another. There is a long, pregnant
silence.
MCMANUS
Let's get the fuck out of here.
KEATON
Right behind you.
127 127 INT. CORRIDOR
Keaton and McManus step out of the hold, walking slowly and
cautiously back from where they came. They hear the sounds
of footsteps running on the deck above and the occasional
hollered sentence in Spanish.
KEATON
Where's Hockney?
MCMANUS
I don't think he made it to the boat.
They come to a corner. They can go left or right.
KEATON
I can't remember which way.
MCMANUS
Right -
BOOM - BOOM
Gunshots fill the hallway from behind them. They do not stop
to turn around. Keaton goes left, McManus goes right. They
run in opposite directions with the sound of gunfire right
behind them.
128 128 INT. HALLWAY - CABIN
Jaime squints and cocks his head.121.
WHITE 05/25/94
SOMEONE IS COMING. He raises a pistol and crouches by the
door.
129 129 INT. CABIN
The man in the bathrobe sits on the foot of the bed watching
the door. He hears the sounds of fighting somewhere not too
far away.
He crawls over the bed and squeezes between it and the
bulkhead. Only the top of his head is visible. He starts to
cry.
BOOM - BOOM - Two shots just outside in the hall.
SUDDENLY, the door bursts open. Jaime collapses in a heap on
the floor, a bullet hole in his eye.
FIGURE LOOMS IN THE DOOR
The man in the bathrobe looks up at the figure. We cannot
see him.
MAN IN ROBE
I told them nothing.
BOOM
The man in the robe falls dead.
130 130 EXT. DECK - MOMENTS LATER
The boat is quiet now. Keaton walks out onto the deck.
He looks out over the pier and sees Verbal standing in the
middle of the carnage, frozen. Their eyes meet. Keaton waves
at him as if to shoe him away.
131 131 EXT. PIER - TOP OF RAMP
Verbal hesitates and finally moves towards the van with the
money. He looks back over his shoulder and sees Keaton.
Keaton sees him looking and waves again, hurrying him along.
Verbal turns away and focuses on the van.
132 132 EXT. DECK
Keaton hears a noise behind him. He swings around and points
his gun at McManus again. He puts the gun down.122.
WHITE 05/25/94
McManus smiles. He walks slowly across the deck towards
Keaton. Something is not right about him.
MCMANUS
Strangest thing...
He slumps to the deck. Keaton rushes over to him. He kneels
down and sees a pipe sticking out of the back of McManus's
neck.
133 133 EXT. PIER
Verbal approaches the van, stepping over Hockney's body. He
closes the back doors of the van.
He looks to his left at the huge loading crane. He glances
upward along the giant' arm as it swings steadily on.
Somewhere, off in the distance, the sound of SIRENS can be
heard.
134 134 EXT. DECK
Keaton kneels by McManus, trembling with rage. After a moment
he stands, looking down at McManus' dead body.
135 135 EXT. PIER
SUDDENLY, Verbal realizes something. He turns and goes to
call out a warning to Keaton. He is too late.
136 136 EXT. DECK
Keaton never sees the crane coming.
WHAM
The pellet of barrels hits him square
in the back and sends him flying
into the wheel house of the boat.
Keaton is still for a moment. Finally, he tries to get up,
but finds he cannot move his legs.
137 137 EXT. PIER
Verbal runs down the ramp as fast as he can. He comes to a
rope ladder hanging down the side of the boat.
SUDDENLY, he stops dead in his tracks, looking up at the
boat.123.
WHITE 05/25/94
From where he stands, he can just make out the figure of a
TAU, THIN MAN walking along the edge of the deck. He moves
quietly and calmly in the shadows towards the crane, looking
out of place in his expensive suit.124.
WHITE 05/25/94
Something about this man terrifies him.
138 138 SCENE DELETED
139 139 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - DAY - PRESENT
KUJAN
And that's when you say in your
statement that you saw...
Kujan picks up his copy of Verbal's statement to the D.A.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
A man in a suit with a slim build.
Tall.
VERBAL
Wait a minute.
KUJAN
(looking at watch)
I don't have a minute. Are you saying
it was Keyser Soze? You told the
D.A. you didn't know who it was.
Verbal is drowning in Kujan's interrogation. He looks dazed.
VERBAL
I - there had to be dope there.125.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN
Don't shine me, Verbal. No more
stalling. You know what I'm getting
at.
VERBAL
I don't.
KUJAN
YES YOU DO. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING
AT. THE TRUTH. TRY TO TELL ME YOU
DIDN'T KNOW. TRY TO TELL ME YOU SAW
SOMEONE KILL KEATON .
For the first time, Verbal stands and tries to move away
from Kujan, but Kujan stays in his face, backing him into a
corner. Verbal shields himself with his hands and shuts his
eyes.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
TRY TO KEEP LYING TO ME NOW. I KNOW
EVERYTHING.
VERBAL
I don't know what you're talking
about.
KUJAN
YOU KNOW. YOU'VE KNOWN THIS WHOLE
FUCKING TIME. GIVE IT TO ME.
Verbal looks into Kujan's eyes with genuine terror. Kujan's
face is red, his body trembles. His locomotive breathing is
the only sound in the room.
VERBAL
I don't understand what you're saying.
I saw Keaton get shot, I swear to
you.
KUJAN
Then why didn't you help him?
VERBAL
I WAS AFRAID, OKAY? Somehow, I wassure it was Keyser Soze at that point.I couldn't bring myself to raise mygun to him.
KUJAN
But Keaton...
VERBAL
It was Keyser Soze, Agent Kujan. I
mean the Devil himself. How do you
shoot the Devil in the back?126.
WHITE 05/25/94
Verbal holds up a shaking, twisted hand.
VERBAL (CONT'D)
What if you miss?
140 140 EXT. BARGE - NIGHT - ONE WEEK PRIOR
Verbal is hiding in the tangle of girders and cables on the
barge.
VERBAL'S P.O.V.
Keaton's body is completely obscured.
The man in a suit strides across the deck over to Keaton,
stopping to relieve himself on a small fire on the deck.
He walks up and stands over Keaton. The two men exchange
words and the man in the suit pulls out a pistol. He points
it at Keaton.
RED AND BLUE LIGHTS FLASH BEHIND VERBAL
Verbal turns. He can just make out police cars coming in the
distance.
BANG
Verbal hears a shot from the deck of the boat. He turns in
time to see the man in the suit running across the deck toward
the gangway.
Verbal can barely see the man from where he is now. The man
in the suit is covered by shadows and the poor angle from
the barge. Verbal strains to see but he cannot.
The man in the suit stops long enough to pull out a lighter.
He turns and walks back across the deck and out of sight.
A moment later flames leap up from on the deck.
The mesh of steel and rubber leaves a dark and open cocoon
at its base.
MOVE INTO THE DARKNESS.
Sirens are close now. Almost here. The sound of fire raging
out of control.
SIRENS BLARING. TIRES SQUEALING. CAR DOORS OPENING. FEET
POUNDING THE PAVEMENT.127.
WHITE 05/25/94
MOVE FURTHER, SLOWER, INTO THE DARKNESS.
Voices yelling. New light flickering in the surrounding
darkness.128.
WHITE 05/25/94
141 141 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE - DAY - PRESENT
KUJAN
Arturo Marquez. Ever hear of him?
VERBAL
Wha- No.
KUJAN
He was a stool pigeon for the Justice
Department. He swore out a statement
to Federal Marshals that he had seen
and could positively identify one
Keyser Soze and had intimate knowledge
of his business, including, but not
exclusive to, drug trafficking and
murder.
VERBAL
I never heard of him.
KUJAN
His own people were selling him to a
gang of Hungarians. Most likely the
same Hungarians that Sate all but
wiped out back in Turkey. The money
wasn't there for dope. The Hungarians
were going to buy the one guy that
could finger Soze for them.
VERBAL
I said I never heard of him.
KUJAN
But Keaton had. Edie Finneran was
his extradition advisor. She knew
who he was and what he knew.
VERBAL
I don't --
KUJAN
There were no drugs on that boat. It
was a hit. A suicide mission to whack
out the one man that could finger
Keyser Soze so Sate had a few thieves
put to it. Men he knew he could march
into certain death.
VERBAL
But how - wait. You're saying SOZE
sent us to kill someone?129.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN
I'm saying Keaton did.
Verbal cannot grasp this. He squints, trying to understand.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
Verbal, he left you behind for a
reason. If you all knew Soze could
find you anywhere, why was he ready
to send you off with the money when
he could have used you to take the
boat?
VERBAL
He wanted me to live.
KUJAN
Why did he want you to live? A one-
time dirty cop without a loyalty in
the world finds it in his heart to
save a worthless rat-cripple? No,
sir. Why'
VERBAL
Edie.
KUJAN
I don't buy that reform story for a
minute. And even if I did, I certainly
don't believe he would send you to
protect her. So why?
VERBAL
Because he was my friend.
KUJAN
No, Verbal. You weren't friends.
Keaton didn't have friends. He saved
you because he wanted it that way.
It was his will.
Verbal grinds to a mental halt, trying to grasp the
implication.
SUDDENLY:
VERBAL
No...
KUJAN
Keaton was Keyser Soze
VERBAL
NO.130.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN
The kind of guy who could wrangle
the wills of men like Hockney and
McManus. The kind of man who could
engineer a police line-up from all
his years of contacts in N.Y.P.D.
Verbal stands on wobbly legs, shaking with anger.
VERBAL
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
KUJAN
THE KIND OF MAN THAT COULD HAVE KILLED
EDIE FINNERAN.
A strange look crosses Verbal's face. Shock perhaps, or
revelation.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
They found her yesterday in a hotel
in Pennsylvania. Shot twice in the
head.
It starts to sink in with Verbal. His eyes swell.
VERBAL
Edie...
KUJAN
He used all of you to get him on
that boat. He couldn't get on alone
and he had to pull the trigger himself
to make sure he got his man. The one
man that could identify him.
VERBAL
This is all bullshit.
KUJAN
He left you to stay behind and tell
us he was dead. You saw him die,
right? Or did you? You had to hide
when the first police cars showed
up. You heard the shot, just before
the fire but you didn't see him die.
VERBAL
I knew him. He would never --
KUJAN
He programmed you to tell us just
what he wanted you to. Customs has
been131.
WHITE 05/25/94
KUJAN (CONT'D)
investigating him for years. He knew
we were close. You said it yourself.
Where is the political pressure coming
from? Why are you being protected?
It's Keaton making sure you tell us
what you're supposed to. Immunity is
your reward.
VERBAL
BUT WHY ME? WHY NOT HOCKNEY OR FENSTER
OR McMANUS? I'm a cripple. I'm stupid.
Why me?
Verbal hears the weight of his words and falls back in his
chair, Kujan looks at him with some pity,; but he is too far
in to stop.
KUJAN
Because you're a cripple, Verbal.
Because you're stupid. Because you
were weaker than them. Because you
couldn't see far enough into him to
know the truth.
Verbal is crying now. He shakes his head, eyes closed.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
If he's dead, Verbal - if what you
say is true, then it won't matter.
It was his idea to hit the Taxi
Service in New York, wasn't it? Tell
me the truth.
VERBAL
(sobbing)
It was all Keaton. We followed him
from the beginning.
Kujan smiles with triumphant satisfaction.
VERBAL (CONT'D)
I didn't know. I saw him die. Ibelieve he's dead. Christ!
KUJAN
Why lie about everything else, then?
VERBAL
You know what it's like, Agent Kujan,
to know you'll never be good? Not
good like you. You got good all fucked
around. I mean a stand up guy. I
grew up knowing I was never going to
be good at anything 'cause I was a
cripple. Shit, I wasn't132.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (CONT'D)
even a good thief. But I thought the
one thing I could be good at was a
keeping my mouth shut - keeping the
code. I didn't want to tell you for
my dignity, that's all, and you robbed
me, Agent Kujan. You robbed me.
Kujan pulls the microphone out from under his tie and puts
it on the desk. Verbal actually manages to snort a laugh,
but only briefly, overcome by an apparent wave of nausea.
KUJAN
You're not safe on your own.
VERBAL
You think he's..?
KUJAN
Is he Keyser Soze I don't know,
Verbal. It seems to me that Keyser
Soze is a shield. Like you said, a
spook story, but I know Keaton - and
someone out there is pulling strings
for you. Stay here and let us protect
you.
VERBAL
I'm not bait. No way. I post today.
KUJAN
You posted twenty minutes ago. Captain
Leo wants you out of here a.s.a.p.,
unless you turn state's.
VERBAL
I'11 take my chances, thank you.
It's tougher to buy the cheapest bag-
man than it is to buy a cop.
KUJAN
Where are you going to go, Verbal?
You gonna run? Turn states evidence.
You might never see trial. If somebody
wants to get you, you know They'll
get you out there.
VERBAL
Maybe so, but I'm no rat, Agent Kujan.
You tricked me, that's all. I won't
keep my mouth shut 'cause I'm scared.
I'11 keep it shut 'cause I let Keaton
down by getting caught - Edie Finneran
too. And if they kill me, it's133.
WHITE 05/25/94
VERBAL (CONT'D)
because They'll hear I dropped dime.
They'll probably hear it from you.
Verbal stands, mustering his shattered dignity and walks
towards the door. Rabin opens it for him from outside.
For once Kujan cannot bring himself to look at Verbal.
Verbal turns to the door, stopping to look Rabin in the eye.
VERBAL (CONT'D)
Fuckin' cops.
He steps out of the room and into the hall. Rabin follows
him.
142 142 INT. HOSPITAL - DAY
Daniel Metzheiser comes out of Arkosh Kovash's room with a
single sheet of 15x20 inch paper in his hand. He inspects
the sketch with great interest. He folds the edges of the
paper back to make it smaller.
143 143 INT. HOSPITAL RECEPTION ROOM
Metzheiser walks behind the reception desk without asking
the nurse for permission and helps himself to the fax machine.
144 144 INT. DEPOT - LATER
Verbal is downstairs in the depot of the police station
picking up his personal belongings.
A FAT, WHITE-HAIRED COP is checking off the items as he takes
them out of the tray in which they are kept.
COP
One watch: gold. One cigarette
lighter: gold. One wallet: brown.
One pack of cigarettes.
Verbal collects his personal items and shuffles on his lame
leg toward the exit.
145 145 INT. DISPATCHER'S OFFICE
Jack Baer stands by a fax machine. A green light comes on
next to a digital display.
THE DISPLAY READS: RECEIVING134.
WHITE 05/25/94
146 146 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE
Kujan stares solemnly at the bulletin board, drinking from
Rabin's coffee cup. Rabin sits at the desk, sifting through
the mound of gapers as though considering organizing them
once and for all.
RABIN
You still don't know shit.
KUJAN
I know what I wanted to know about
Keaton.
RABIN
Which is shit.
KUJAN
No matter. He'll have to know how
close we came.
RABIN
Keyser Sate or not, if Keaton's alive
he'll never come up again.
KUJAN
I'11 find him.
RABIN
Waste of time.
KUJAN
(to himself)
A rumor is not a rumor that doesn't
die.
RABIN
What?
KUJAN
Nothing. Something I - forget it.
Kujan shakes his head. He gestures to the desk.
KUJAN (CONT'D)
Man, you're a fucking slob.
Rabin regards the mess of his office.
RABIN
Yeah. It's got it's own system though.
It all makes sense when you look at
it right. You just have to step back
from135.
WHITE 05/25/94
RABIN (CONT'D)
it, you know? You should see my
garage, now that's a horror show...
Kujan is not listening. He has been staring at the bulletin
board, lost in thought, his unfocused eyes drifting across
the mess of papers, not looking at anything at all.
147 147 EXT. STREET
Verbal steps out into the sunlight, putting on a pair of
cheap sunglasses. He looks up and down the crowded street.
People on their way to and from lunch, no doubt.
Cars choke the street in front of the police department as
they wait for pedestrians to clear the way.
148 148 INT. DISPATCHER'S OFFICE
A single sheet of paper comes out of the fax machine, face
down.
149 149 INT. RABIN'S OFFICE
Kujan still stares at the bulletin board.
SUDDENLY, Kujan's face changes. He leans in closer to the
bulletin board and squints his eyes. His face changes again.
First a look of puzzlement, then confusion - finally
realization.
The coffee cup tumbles from his hand. It hits the floor with
the SMASH of cheap porcelain. Coffee splatters everywhere.
Rabin snaps out of his droning and looks up in surprise.
KUJAN'S P.O.V.
Kujan is staring not at what is on the bulletin board, but
at the bulletin board itself.
His eyes follow the aluminum frame, mounted firmly to the
wall. One might note it's sturdy construction and it's
convenient size. Big enough to hold a lifetime of forgotten
and disregarded notes and facts. Years of police trivia that
has been hung and forgotten with the intention of finding a
use for it all someday. One might want such a bulletin board
for one's self. One would look to see who makes such a
bulletin board.
Kujan's eyes are locked on a metal plate bearing the
manufacturer's name.136.
WHITE 05/25/94
It reads: QUARTET - SKOKIE, ILLINOIS Kujan's eyes flash all'
over the bulletin board. He finds a picture of Rabin in the
far corner. He stands beside a scale in fishing gear. He
proudly holds a hand out to his freshly caught marlin. His
eyes skim quickly over and stop on an eight and a half by
eleven inch fax sheet of what must be a THREE HUNDRED POUND
BLACK MAN. Kujan glazes over his name, it is irrelevant. His
aliases stand out.
Slavin, BRICKS, Shank, REDFOOT, Thee, Rooster...
KUJAN'S EYES WIDEN with sudden realization. He runs for the
door.
His foot crushes the broken pieces of Rabin's coffee cup.
The cup that hovered over Verbal's head for two hours.
Kujan is in too much of a hurry to notice the two words
printed on the jagged piece that had been the bottom of the
cheap mug.
KOBAYASHI PORCELAIN.
150 150 EXT. HALLWAY
Kujan is sprinting wildly down the hall for the stairs.
151 151 EXT. STREET
Verbal looks behind him and sees ANOTHER COP standing just
inside the doorway, lighting a cigarette. The cop notices
Verbal and watches him in the way that cops look at people
they cannot place in the category of idiot citizen, or stupid
criminal.
Verbal smiles politely, meekly at the cop and walks down the
steps into the moving throng.
152 152 INT. DEPOT
Kujan runs up to the desk where Verbal had only moments before
picked up his belongings. Rabin is right behind him, a look
of absolute confusion on his face.
KUJAN
WHERE IS HE? DID YOU SEE HIM?
COP
The Cripple? He went that way.137.
WHITE 05/25/94
The cog gestures towards the door.
Kujan runs outside looking around frantically.
153 153 SCENE DELETED138.
WHITE 05/25/94
154 154 EXT. SIDEWALK
Verbal limps his way carefully across the sidewalk, avoiding
people as best as he can.
He looks over his shoulder, getting farther away from the
police station. He can see Rabin and the cop on the steps,
looking around with strange, lost expressions on their faces.
He does not notice the car creeping along the curb beside
him.
155 155 INT. CAR
DRIVER'S P.O.V.
The driver's hands tap the wheel patiently. His eyes follow
Verbal as he fumbles through the crowd.
156 156 EXT. SIDEWALK
Kujan pushes and shoves, looking this way and that.
157 157 EXT. STREET
LOW ANGLE on the feet of dozens of people.
Verbal's feet emerge from the crowd on the far side. They
hobble along the curb.
SUDDENLY, the right foot seems to relax a little, the inward
angle straightens itself out in a few paces and the limp
ceases as though the leg has grown another inch.
CRANE UP VERBAL'S BODY
Verbal's hands are rummaging around in his pockets. The good
left hand comes up with a pack of cigarettes, the bad right
hand comes up with a lighter. The right hand flexes with all139.
WHITE 05/25/94
of the grace and coordination of a sculptor's, flicking the
clasp on the antique lighter with the thumb, striking the
flint with the index finger. It is a fluid motion, somewhat
showy.
Verbal lights a cigarette and smiles to himself. He turns
and sees the car running alongside.
158 158 INT. DISPATCHER'S OFFICE
Jack Beer pulls the sheet out of the fax machine and turns
it over, revealing the composite sketch of Keyser SOZE.
Though crude and distorted, one cannot help but notice how
much it leaks like VERBAL KINT.
159 159 EXT. STREET
The car stops. The driver gets out.
IT IS KOBAYASHI, or the man we have come to know as such. He
smiles to Verbal. Verbal steps off of the curb, returning
the smile as he opens the passenger door and gets in.
The man called Kobayashi gets in the driver's seat and pulls
away.
A moment later, Agent David Kujan of U.S. Customs wanders
into the frame, looking around much in the way a child would
when lost at the circus. He takes no notice of the car pulling
out into traffic, blending in with the rest of the cars filled
with people on their way back to work.
BLACK: | screenplays |
Hobbit 1. Chapter 1
The Hobbit: Mud Fights and Confessions
The company had set up camp for the day since it was deemed that the path was too dangerous from the heavy rainfall that kept them all soaked to the bone for three days prior.
Today the rain had stopped, and left the ground muddy and the air cold
Bilbo had been given his bowl of lunch but noticed as he sat down to eat that Fili and Kili were missing. He knew that if they missed out on lunch they'd be more of a pain than usual, so he Bilbo Baggins but his bowl down with a sigh and went out to find the two trouble makers.
Fili sighed as he followed his brother a little ways away from the camp, he was hungry and in no mood to play whatever game his brother had come up with. Though he was glad that the wretched rain had finally stopped. Looking around he saw that Kili was nowhere to be seen.
"Kili? Where did you go?" asked Fili trying to see where his younger brother had gone.
The answer he got was in the form of a mud ball and it hit him square in the face, sputtering and wiping clumps of it from his eyes and mouth he saw that Kili was sticking his head out from behind a tree with a large grin on his face.
"What was that for?!" he yelled.
Kili just chuckled and sent another mud ball flying,
"It's just a bit of fun Fili! We won't have many chances like this later on."
Fili had successfully dodged the next mud ball and rolled over to the nearest tree for shelter. There he amassed a rather large mud ball and crept up behind his brother and dumped it on his head making sure it got down his shirt on both the front and back.
"Haa! I suppose your right dear brother."
Kili had yelped as Fili had bombarded him with a rather large mud ball, though he was prepared himself as Fili darted past him in order to get back to his base tree. They hadn't seen nor heard the poor hobbit come upon them and as Kili launched his next mud ball it landed squarely on the one person they least intended it too.
Bilbo had heard them laughing, He knew that he should not go to them because those two laughing meant nothing but trouble on who ever interrupted them, the smart thing to do was get them to come to him. He _knew_ this_, _but their laughter was so addicting, and before he knew it he walked into the clearing and found himself with a face full of mud, and his ass on the ground. Slowly he wiped the mud of his face and glared at the two idiots.
"Lunch is ready." He stated as he stood up, watching them as they walked over. His annoyance grew with them as he noticed the smug looks on their faces and the clear amusement in his eyes.
"But I guess it could wait." Before they could react he grabbed a hand full of mud in both hands and then smeared it on their faces.
Kili and Fili were slightly horrified that is was their burglar that had taken the mud ball to the face, but only slightly 'cause if it was Thorin then they'd both be chewed out and then dragged back to the camp by their ears, at least with Bilbo they'd just get an annoyed look and maybe nagged at. They both had their smug smiles plastered to their faces and Kili started to chuckle at the sight of the halfling with mud all over his face as they walked over to him in attempt to help him up and follow Bilbo back to camp for some lunch.
What they had not planed for was him joining in on their fun and smear mud all over their faces.
Both of the brothers sputtered and tried to wipe their faces clean with their sleeves, but it only served on dirtying themselves more.
"Ah so you do have some fun in you Mister Boggins eh?" A large smile spreading on Kili's face as he intentionally mispronounced Bilbo's last name, he rather liked the hobbit and seeing him fluster and stutter or even get mad at them always made him feel warm.
It was also a nice change from the other dwarfs who sometimes did look down on him and Fili since they were still young and seen as teens instead of adults.
But with Bilbo it was different; he treated everyone of them fairly even with the slight mothering he had adopted. On top of it all, their burglar has shown that he didn't really care that Kili only had a bit of stubble on his chin, or that his hair was braided.
"It's _Baggins_ for the umptenth ti-" He didn't even get to finish his sentence before they tackled him to the ground. Soon he was laughing loudly as they started to tickle him. He was thankfully able to get some wiggle room and move his arms around so he could better defend himself. Throwing mud and pushing them away,
They wrestled until they were caked in mud from head to toe.
"Bluh!" Bilbo rolled away from them finally sputtering and spitting the mud out of his mouth before trying to stand up, his soaked and mud covered clothes weighing him down and only served in helping him fall over.
Fili and Kili just laughed as Bilbo tried to clear his face from the mud and to stand up, only to fall over again due to the heaviness of the mud caked on his clothes, unlike them Bilbo was clearly not used to such things. Fili looked at his brother their eyes meeting sharing a silent conversation with themselves. The majority of the company would swear that they had some telepathic ability.
"You know, before we head back to go eat we should probably clean ourselves up. I saw that there were some hot springs a little further a ways from here, what do you think brother?" asked Kili loudly before standing up and creeping towards Bilbo, a mischievous smile plastered to his lips.
"Yes I think your right dear brother, we should clean up before heading back. Least we want to be scolded by uncle." said Fili in agreement.
Before Bilbo had even the chance to say anything much less do anything, Fili and Kili had grabbed him by his arms and dragged him towards the hot springs as he stuggled and yelled at them to let go; knowing full well that this could end up in a disaster for him.
When they got there they just simply tossed him into the water, clothes and all.
The springs weren't all that deep, and Fili and Kili had started to undress before jumping in as well, helping a sputtering hobbit to a sort of stone bench.
"We must get you cleaned up Mister Boggins." said Kili smiling widely.
"It's BAGGINS!"
2. Chapter 2
Bilbo was all but glaring at the two brothers as they 'helped' him to a rock that was high enough for him to sit on. "You both do realize that Hobbit's can't swim, yes? I know I've told you before." He grumbled out, looking down at the water as a blush started to form on his cheeks, remembering when the company had tried to get him to bath with them and someone (most lightly Nori, he was the closest to him, and the most annoyed) pushed him over the ledge to where the other half of the company was swimming. He could recall Gandalf's disapproving face as Dwalin carried him out of the water.
And now here he was; Fili and Kili were both naked. So far on this journey he had been very successful at bathing alone, using excuses like making the dwarfs lunch as they bathed, or stating that he liked to have a nap and would wash later.
It wasn't that he was subconscious of his body; most of his fat was gone now, and he was starting to get some muscle. It was just that he was a Hobbit and Hobbits don't strip down to nothing and bath with friends/strangers. That and he liked his alone time, the dwarfs were great and all but he was a solitary person and never had any siblings so he did feel overwhelmed at times.
"Yes we do realize that, but this spring isn't that deep you know, and we've placed you on a stone bench. Don't worry Bilbo, your safe with us." Fili's smile was warm and his eyes calm. He along with his brother noticed how the Hobbit always slipped away from them when he went to bath, and now they had him where they wanted him, hopefully this would turn out for the best and he'd accept them. He and Kili had spent many nights whispering together about the Hobbit. For he and his brother were attracted to the little thing, the feeling had moved to curious attraction, to friendly attraction, to sexual attraction and now it was just down right frustrating
Kili leaned down and whispered into Bilbo's ear, "Do we make you uncomfortable Mister _Baggins_? You should know that we really don't mean too." A smirk made its way onto his face as he gently placed his hand on Bilbo's shoulder.
Bilbo gasped and put his hands over his ears as a shiver ran through him, without thinking he quickly stood up, and turned so he could face the two, the blush deepening as he slipped and stumbled away from them.
Hobbit ears were very sensitive and as much as he was attracted to the brothers (they were very charming and beautiful in their own ways), it wouldn't do him any good to become aroused with them around; for one its wasn't very respectable and two they were dwarfs, royalty at that and he was sure they'd mock him.
"O-oh its q-quiet al-lright. 'm just going to s-sit over here!" He backed away from them and sat down on the other side of the hot spring. The rock he was sitting on was lower so only his head was out of the water.
Fili was slightly confused on to why the Hobbit moved away from them, but not Kili. No he felt Bilbo shiver as he whispered into his ear and saw the blush. It was perfect; one of the many fantasies he and Fili had thought up while talking late at night. This was the knowledge that made it so Kili was the first one to make a move towards the hobbit.
Very nimbly Kili moved from his spot to where Bilbo was sitting. He couldn't help but find it adorable in a way, when all they could see was the poor hobbit's head sticking out from the water; The Halfling was really so small.
"You know Bilbo, you should probably get out of those clothes if you want to wash properly." he whispered into the Hobbits ear again knowing full well what it did to the poor little creature.
Bilbo let out a small gasp as his body shuttered. "Y-yes I suppose I should." he mumbled as the blush deepened He couldn't say no, not now, he had a feeling that it would offended them greatly and on top of that fact was the worse realization he ever made; Kili knew what about his ears. He could see it in the dwarf's eyes.
Kili was the one who pushed and pulled at the boundaries more out of the two, he was the one with the wicked smiles and eyes that glimmered with a promise of mischief while Fili was more subtle, quiet and level headed, but that didn't mean the lion haired dwarf wasn't prone to getting into trouble on his own. Bilbo found that one out the hard way.
Kili decided it was time to take a chance and nipped playfully at Bilbo's earlobe smiling as he felt the hobbit shiver.
Fili now understanding what was fully going on between the two made his way over towards Bilbo. He sat down behind Bilbo and pulled him up into his lap, then he reached around and he helped the hobbit with the buttons on his shirt. "You only need to say so and we will stop little one." He whispered making it known to the Hobbit that he was in control of all of this.
Bilbo squeaked and tensed a bit, he was finding himself surprised and slightly overwhelmed "I-I...'m just a hobbit, nothing special... s-surely you're putting me on."
Fili frowned as he pulled Bilbo out of his shirt and kissed his ear. "Bilbo... What you are does not matter to us. We are also not leading you on. Our feelings are real. Little one you must understand that you are what we truly desire. "
Kili had started to pepper kisses along Bilbo's jawline softly. "My brother is right Bilbo, we really do like you and we really do want you. Can we please?"
"I-I… well If you wh-what you say is true…th-then umm… yes" Bilbo all but stuttered out his mind was whirling with the start of arousal coming into him and processing the this new information. He reached up; one hand forward and the other behind him and started to run his hands threw Fili and Kili's hair.
Both of them made pleased sounds at the back of their throats. Fili leaned forward and started biting the halfling's neck before running his tongue along the mark; soothing it. He was going to make sure everyone knew who he belonged too.
Kili started to kiss down Bilbo's front, stopping to nip and tweak his nipples, humming in satisfaction at the noised he pulled from Bilbo's mouth.
Fili gripped Bilbo's chin gently and turned his head so he could place a very chaste and sweet kiss upon the hobbits soft lips.
Kili smiled as he looked up and watched his brother and _their_ Hobbit kisses, before turning his attention to Bilbo's trousers and smallclothes.
Fili on the other hand, starts to deepen the kiss, dragging his tongue across Bilbo's lips to coax them open and letting a soft moan when he did.
Bilbo opened his mouth allowing Fili access to his mouth. Whining lightly as he felt Kili's hands brush teasingly across the front of his pants as he undid the bindings. He ran his hands through Kili's hair tugging ever so gently when the younger would tease him more.
Fili's kiss was starting to become more passionate and downright filthy as he fucked the Hobbit's mouth;
Bilbo's moans and gasps spurring him on. He felt Kili's hands on his thigh as a signal to help him. With no warning he pulled back, and placed his hands on Bilbo's hips; lifting the halfing up as Kili pulled off his pants and underwear. Both of them chuckling as Bilbo whined at the loss of contact.
Kili moved up and captured Bilbo in a kiss that was just as wild as it was demanding, his grip tightened on Kili's hair, He moaned loudly he felt Fili's hands move up his body and came to rest over his nipples; teasing them.
After a bit he broke the kiss, looking at the hobbit; his lips swollen and tinted a lovely red colour.
"We really do care for you Bilbo, we really do." He whispered into his ear, before biting his earlobe.
Bilbo keened and arched into Fili's hands, nodded his head in acknowledgement, not trusting himself to speak let alone form a sentence that wasn't filled with pleads.
"Speechless are we?" Murmured Fili, his own erection was rubbing against Bilbo's bottom.
"Oh, we can't have that now can we, brother dear?" Kili kissed and bit his way all along Bilbo's neck, down his chest, stopping at Fili's hands. With a smirk he moved his brother's hands and started to lick and nip the halflings nipples.
"Guess we need to help him." Fili's hands moved down to Bilbo's legs, where he moved them so they hooked over his own thighs and then spread them. Before shifting the hobbit so he was leaning back against him, so he was opened to them, lightly he started to tease the halfling's entrance with one hand while the other hand moved to pet the inside of Bilbo's thigh.
Kili continued to abuse Bilbo's chest, his free brushing against Bilbo's erection.
Bilbo moaned out loudly throwing his head back against Fili. The pleasure he was getting was good, but it wasn't enough he did not want to beg for he had some pride in him so he tried to buck into Kili's hand or move his hips down on Fili's finger(s). He needed more and the damn it they knew it and moved away every time he tried to gain more pleasure.
"Come now; use your pretty voice Bilbo." Kili whispered, looking up at him. His eyes wild and blown wide with untamable lust.
"…Please?"
"Please what, Halfing?" Fili smiled and licked Bilbo's neck, as he tease the entrance some more; added a little more pressure while Kili pumped Bilbo's cock harder.
"A-aah! Oh..." Bilbo wiggled and tried to push into Fili's hand again but the dwarf noticed followed the motion so he was still teasing his hole, then with frustrated growl as he thrashed, tugging hard on Kili's hair, but the thrashing and tugging did nothing but own him groans and moans; so he gave up his pride.
"Please _more_... please please please._ Fili, Kili_."
"Well now, we can't ignore that since you asked so nicely" chuckled Fili as he gently pushed his finger inside Bilbo and wiggled it about. Aulë he was tight!
"See that wasn't so hard now was it? All you need to do is ask, we are after all _at your service_" Kili Kissed his way down Bilbo's chest before dunking down into the water; swallowing his Bilbo's length.
Bilbo cried out and bucked his hips into Kili, not expecting the younger to do what he did. His whole body started to tremble as the brothers went to work on his body; Fili stretching him with his fingers as Kili sucked his cock.
With hands shaking he reached down and out. One hand finding Fili's cock and pumping while the other hand found its way to Kili's ear. There he gently ran his hand down the shell before gripping the dwarf's hair when he sucked harder.
Fili groaned as Bilbo bucked back into his hand, he continued to gently scissor him open, while adding another finger, he made sure to angle his figures just so they brush against Bilbo's prostate, and he knew he hit found it when Bilbo wailed in pleasure.
Kile had to come up for air, replacing his mouth with his hands, while he leaned forward and kissed Fili, Bilbo used this movement to wrap his arms around Kili's midsection, while bucking into them.
"_A-aah_! c...cll...close!" Bilbo held onto Kili tighter, his nails digging into the dwarfs flesh. He felt the pleasure start to build and then cried out at the sudden loss of contact as Kili pulled his hands away and Fili stopped moving his hands.
"N-Nooo!…Wh-why'd you stop?!" He wiggled his body, looking up at Kili with pleading eyes.
"Hush now, treasure. We're just getting started, don't worry you'll feel good really soon." Kili soothed, he ran his hands through Bilbo's hair as he watched Fili.
Fili groaned and pulled out his fingers, he then lifted the Halfling up and lined the tip of his cock up to Bilbo's entrance.
"Are you ready melekûnuh?" His voice low and filled with lust but there was certain tenderness to it. Fili kissed, suckled and bit all along Bilbo's neck.
"Yes" Bilbo whispered and then pulled Kili down for a kiss, while he wiggled his body. Fili to his credit pushed into him slowly, making sure that Bilbo got used to the size of him before edging on, He only let go of the hobbit's hips when he was all the way in.
"Oh, Aulë. You're so tight."
Kili moaned into the kissed hearing his brother in pleasure, he reached down and stroked his own cock while ravishing Bilbo's mouth with his tongue.
Bilbo keened his body shook and trembled, he broke the kiss in favor of resting his head in Kili's chest one hand still in his hair while the other made its way to Kili's cock, swatting his hands away and proceeded to pump him.
He moved his hips and moaned as the pain edged away and formed into dull, maddening pleasure.
"O-o...Oh...please move.._.please_..." He pushed himself into Fili, and it was as if the damn broke. He found himself being pounded into, Fili rolling his hip up to hit his prostate every time, making him wail and cry out in pure pleasure His hands grabbing and pumping Kili's prick as he leaned into the younger, head resting on his shoulder as he listen them kissing, Kili's own hands found Bilbo's cock and started to pump him again.
They set an almost frantic pace, and it wasn't long until Bilbo felt his climax rip him apart. He all but screamed both their names as his back arched off Fili's chest and his body convulsed violently. His eyes rolled up but all he saw was white.
Fili threw his head back and let out a loud roar, no longer able to control himself as Bilbo squeezed tightly around his shaft, and within a few more thrusts he himself coming undone; his cum filling up the tight hole of his, _their _hobbit.
Fili growled deeply and pushed his hips into Bilbo's hands, his own letting go of Bilbo's cock and wrapping them around both their burglar and Fili as he came. His body shaking and thrusting as he bit down on Bilbo's shoulder.
They sat against each other completely spent and trying to catch their breaths. Kili now nuzzling Bilbo's neck while Fili had started to run a hand through Bilbo's hair.
"That was certainly something." Bilbo whispered his voice hoarse and raw from all his screaming.
Twin chuckles filled his ears. "It certainly was, sanghivasha" Kili said kissed Bilbo's cheek before standing up and getting out of the springs.
"We should get back to camp before they send out a search party." His eyes twinkling with glee.
"Oh gods, Thorin will defiantly kill me." Bilbo hid his face in his hands, as images of an enraged Thorin slicing him to bits flashed through his mind.
Fili tightened his grip around their hobbit before slowly moving him off and standing up then helping Bilbo collect his clothes. "He'd have to get through us, but no worries I think he's taken quite a shining to yeah"
"Yes I you are correct brother dear, and besides you're our hobbit now Mister Boggins" Kili laughed as he dodged the rock that came flying in his direction, stumbling a bit for he was pulling his pants on.
"And what does that mean anyway?" Bilbo mumbled, a bit miffed at Kili for not dropping that joke as he got out of the springs (with Fili's help) and dressed.
"It means that we are courting you us dwarves as you can tell Bilbo are very possessive over many things that includes their lovers. If that is alright with you." Fili explained, leaning over and Kissing the top of Bilbo's head.
"Of course it's alright. If I didn't want you two I wouldn't have had sex with you, Hobbits only have sex with their intended."Hhe waited for the boys to finish dressing before making their way back to camp, shivering as his wet but mud free clothed clung to his frame but also smiling as he felt them wrap their arms around his shoulders and lead him back with the promise of warm fire.
End file.
| fanfiction |
The brokerage of HDFC Securities Ltd ranges between .05 to .5% while the brokerage of SMC Global Limited ranges between .03 to .3%. Both the brokers are Full Service brokers. HDFC Securities Ltd is having overall higher rating compare to SMC Global Limited.HDFC Securities Ltd is rated 4 out of 5 where SMC Global Limited is rated only 3 out of 5.
Here we present 1 on 1 comparison of HDFC Securities Ltd vs SMC Global Limited share brokers in India. The comparison is based on more than 50 attributes for clear decision making.To be precise, we have compared HDFC Securities vs SMC Global's on brokerage plans,Plan types,customer service, maintenance fees, tools, rating, reviews,trading features, margin/leverage, demat account and investment options provided to Indian financial market.This will help you in make up your mind and clear things for you so that you can choose the best broker for youself.
Plan Description HDFC Securities have % base brokerage plan, where Minimum brokerage is fix @Rs25 Per Order. They are second best in Currency derivatives plan. Equity Intraday & Option prices are on higher range and Equity Delivery & Future trading is on average brokerage level with compare to other full service brokers. This is a standard plan by SMS Global.This is % based brokerage plan.
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Equity Intraday Margin Upto 3x leverage for equity. Up to 10x leverage for equity.
Futures Margin Upto 3x leverage for futures. Up to 7x leverage for futures.
Commodity Margin Info Not Available Up to 3x leverage for commodity trading.
Demat Account Annual Maintenance Charges(AMC) For Non BSDA Individual a/c :- Rs.750/- p.a For BSDA Individual a/c :-Nil charges in case holding value 0 to 50,000/- Rs 100/- p.a in case holding value between 50,001 to 2,00,000/- Rs 750/- per annum in case holding value more than 2,00,000/- For Corporate a/c:- Rs.1,500/- p.a Individual Clients -General AMC Scheme Rs.300/- P.A. (POA Clients) Rs. 350/- P.A. (Non POA Clients) -One time AMC Scheme Rs. 1000/- P.A.(POA Clients) Rs. 1300/- P.A. (Non POA Clients) - No AMC Scheme Rs 3000/- Refundable Deposit Corporate Clients Rs. 1000/- P.A.
Advance Deposit Customer having only Depository relationship with the Bank has to pay an advance fee of Rs.7,500/- AMC will be charged in advance.
Statutory charges Stamp duty -Nil Service tax, other statutory levies and Stamp paper charges extra as applicable.
Transaction Charges on Debit (Per ISIN) a)0.04% of the value of txn subj to min Rs.20/-per txn done by EASIEST.For BSDA a/c-It is 0.06%, Min Rs. 40/- b)0.04% of the value of txn subj to Min Rs.25/-per txn done by HDFC secu.For BSDA a/c-It is 0.06%, Min Rs 45/- c)0.04% of the value of txn subj to Min Rs.40/-per txn undertaken by Manual txn.For BSDA a/c-It is 0.06%,Min Rs. 60/- d)For Debt txn 0.04% of the value of txn subj to Min Rs.40/-& Max Rs 5,000/-per txn.For BSDA a/c-It is 0.06%, Min Rs. 60/-& Max Rs 5,000/- (e) If instruction is submitted on the date of execution then 0.25% of the value of txn subj to Min Rs. 25/-per txn On Maket Transaction Rs.15/- (POA Clients) Rs. 20/- (Non POA clients) Off Market Instruction 0.03% subject to Min. Rs. 20/- & Max. Rs. 50/- Charges Per instruction.
Other Charges (a)Mailing charges for non-periodic statements & other communication, Rs. 35/- for inland & Rs. 500/- for foreign address. (b) Rs. 250/- for restoring services if account is suspended for non payment of charges (c) Reissuance of Delivery Instruction Booklet(DIB) - Rs 75/- per Booklet d )Settlement Charges:Rs.250/- p.m for CM Principle account & Unified Settlement account & Rs 500/- p.m for CM Settlement account. DIS Book Charges Rs. 30/- (20 leafs) Client Modification Charges Rs-25/- Additional Client master Charges Rs. 25/- Delivery Instruction by FAX will be charged Rs. 5/- per instruction. Additional Statement (Weekly/Daily/Fortnightly) Rs. 5/- per page.
Pay-out/Fund Withdrawal - Bank Transfer only. Pay-in/adding funds - Cheque, Online Bank Transfer via IMPS,NEFT or RTGS, UPI, Netbanking/Payment Gateway from ODIN Diet/Net Net Trading Platform.
Payout Time Instance to HDFC Bank. Upto 24 Hrs except Bank Holidays. | slim_pajama |
Capacitance in a parallel plate cap with the real electric field
In many books of general physics, they prove the equations for capacitance of a cap of parallel plates as if the electric field where constant everywhere but what would happen if we take the real electric field that is non uniform at the edge of the parallel plates, would the capacitance be greater of smaller?
First think of initially putting charges $\pm Q$ uniformly on the two plates and then letting the system arrive at the final configuration in isolation. If fringe effects were ignored, the initial uniform charge distribution on the plates will remain unchanged. In this case, the potential difference between the two plates will be $V\_\infty=Q/C\_\infty$, where $C\_\infty$ is the capacitance ignoring the fringe effect. Now let us put fringe effects into the argument. The charges will re-distribute such that the initial uniform charge density will become non-uniform. The total energy stored in the capacitor will necessarily decrease. This implies
$$
\frac{Q^2}C < \frac{Q^2}{C\_\infty}\implies \quad \boxed{C > C\_\infty}\ ,
$$
where $C$ is the (true) capacitance that takes fringe effects into account. [Here](http://people.fas.harvard.edu/~lucas/Edge%20Effects%20in%20a%20Capacitor.pdf) is a more quantitive computation. (I have implicitly assumed that $d< \sqrt{A}$, where $d$ is the separation of the plates and $A$ the area.)
It is possible to exactly solve for the exact potential difference using the method of conformal mapping when the geometry of the capacitor is that of a long strip.
| stackexchange/physics |
Brad Terrence Jordan born November 9, 1970, better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, record producer, and politician, best known as a member of the Geto Boys, a hip hop group from Houston, Texas. He grew up in Houston and is originally from the city's South Acres Crestmont Park neighborhood. In 2012, The Source ranked him #16 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time, while About.com ranked him #6 on its list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time 19872007.
Early life and education
Scarface attended Woodson Middle School in Houston, Texas. He dropped out of high school and worked as a drug dealer. As a teenager, he attempted suicide, and subsequently spent time in a hospital psychiatric ward.
He was brought up as a Christian, and converted to Islam in 2006.
Career
He began his career as DJ Akshen pronounced Action recording and deejaying for Lil' Troy's Short Stop, a local record label in Houston. After releasing the 12 single Scarface/Another Head Put To Rest 1989, written by Chris Mr. 3-2 Barriere and produced by Def Jam Blaster, Bruce Grim Rhodes, he would go on to sign with Rap-A-Lot and join a group who were collectively known as Geto Boys replacing a member who left, and released the group's second album Grip It! On That Other Level 1989, a highly successful album that garnered the group a large fanbase, in spite of their violent lyrics keeping them from radio and MTV. He took his stage name from the 1983 film Scarface.
In 1992, Scarface appeared along with Bushwick Bill on the Kool G Rap & DJ Polo album Live and Let Die.
The album Mr. Scarface Is Back was a success, and Scarface's popularity soon overshadowed the other Geto Boys. Scarface remained in the group while releasing a series of solo albums that kept him in the public view with increasing sales, making him the only Geto Boys member that has always remained with the group since the group personnel was revamped in 1989. This peaked with The Diary and The Last of a Dying Breed, the latter of which received positive reviews and sales, and earned him Lyricist of the Year at the 2001 Source Awards.
In 2002, he released The Fix, the follow-up to The Last of a Dying Breed and returned to the studio with the Geto Boys for their album, The Foundation. He was also featured on The Biggie Duets alongside Big Gee and Akon. He guested on Ray Cash's debut single Bumpin' My Music.
In addition to his career as a rapper, Scarface was the coordinator and president of Def Jam South from 2000 to 2005, where he has fostered the career of rapper Ludacris, whom he originally signed to the label.
Scarface has appeared on Freeway's album Free at Last and on Beanie Sigel's album, The Solution. Scarface has produced three tracks on UGK's Underground Kingz including Life Is 2009, Still Ridin' Dirty, and Candy.
Some of Scarface's early music videos A Minute to Pray and a Second to Die featured community activist Quanell X in supporting roles.
In 2008, Scarface collaborated with rapper Tech N9ne on his album Killer on the song Pillow Talkin'.
Despite limited commercial appeal, he remains out of the norm and popular among those in the industry, and has been described as your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. On August 6, 2009, Scarface performed at the 2009 Gathering of the Juggalos. In 2005, comedian Chris Rock praised Scarface as one of the best three rappers of all time on his list of the Top-25 Hip-Hop Albums ever.
On June 30, 2010, Scarface announced that he was working on a new album entitled The Habit, which would include features from John Legend and Drake, and that it was scheduled for release that fall. For one production on the album, Scarface co-hosted a worldwide producer showcase with iStandard from which thousands of producers were considered and after a selection of the top 8, Alex Kresovich was named winner. The album would feature a production from Eminem. In February 2011, news came that he had been held in jail without bail since September 2010 for failure to pay child support in four different cases. As of August 2011, Scarface was released from jail. In 2012, Scarface collaborated with Ice Cube on an Insane Clown Posse remix called Chris Benoit on The Mighty Death Pop!'s bonus album Mike E. Clark's Extra Pop Emporium.
Media appearances
Scarface also appeared in the Mike Judge film Idiocracy as a pimp named Upgrayedd. Judge also used the Scarface track No Tears and Geto Boys tracks Still and Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta in his 1999 film Office Space.
He has appeared in the two video games: Def Jam Vendetta and its sequel Def Jam: Fight For NY.
At the 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards, he received the I Am Hip Hop award.
Public service
On June 10, 2019, Scarface launched his campaign to be elected as the Councilperson for District D of the Houston City Council when the current seat holder, Dwight Boykins, decided to run for mayor. Jordan, whose rap moniker was Scarface, announced his candidacy a day after the death of his friend and bandmate Bushwick Bill. His campaign is defined by the vision of putting the neighbor back in the hood, which is the motto of Positive Purpose Movement, an organization founded by Jordan. The organization works with area schools to promote education and empowerment among children from underrepresented communities.
Jordan was quoted in The Washington Post stating that Scarface is dead. Positioning himself as a viable candidate for City Council, he emphasized his desire to build a legacy of public service when he added, Im not going to be a 75-year-old rapper... Im going to be finishing my last term in office as president when Im 75. Jordan was defeated by former educator Carolyn Evans-Shabazz in a run-off election on December 15, 2019.
Personal life
Scarface claims to be a cousin of singer Johnny Nash.
He also owns and collects Gibson Les Paul electric guitars.
In March 2020, he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Bibliography
Scarface released a memoir on April 21, 2015, which details various moments from his childhood, getting his first record deal from Rap-A-Lot, and his tenure at Def Jam South.
Diary of a Madman 2015
Discography
Studio albums
Mr. Scarface Is Back 1991
The World Is Yours 1993
The Diary 1994
The Untouchable 1997
My Homies 1998
The Last of a Dying Breed 2000
The Fix 2002
My Homies Part 2 2006
Made 2007
Emeritus 2008
Deeply Rooted 2015
Collaboration albums
The Other Side of the Law with Facemob 1996
One Hunid with The Product 2006
Compilation albums
Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files 2017
References
External links
Scarface's official website
Scarface interview at Complex.com
Category:1970 births
Category:Living people
Category:African-American Muslims
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:Asylum Records artists
Category:Def Jam Recordings artists
Category:Entertainment One Music artists
Category:Converts to Islam
Category:Rappers from Houston
Category:Rappers from Texas
Category:Southern hip hop musicians
Category:Gangsta rappers
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century American male musicians | wikipedia |
we would like to acknowledge b.l .
altshuler for suggesting this experiment and v.e .
kravtsov for fruitful discussions on the subject .
this work was supported by the israeli science foundation and the united states - israel bi - national science foundation . | arxiv |
Skins 1. The Missing Redhead
**A/N: Been a while since I've written anything but since series 7 is around the corner I thought I'd give this a go. I apologise for any rust in my writing. To anyone that reads this, I hope you enjoy it and thank you.**
**Disclaimer: I don't own Skins or Doctor Who, just borrowing their characters for a while. **
**Chapter One: The Missing Redhead**
Naomi can't help but chew feverishly at the end of the pen. She is tackling a particularly open question on her latest politics mock exam. "Bloody Brown…" she mutters to herself and recoils as Kieran sends a sharp tut her way. She glares at her 'step-dad', although she refuses to call him that, he will always be Kieran, the pervy old guy who tried it on, to her.
Naomi leans back in her chair and sighs. She's usually so much more into this. She loves politics, she really does, but right now she doesn't care about the misdoings of overpaid politicians or the receding economical climate that they've created. Because something…something has changed lately. She's not a self-centred person, she doesn't analyse every aspect of her life, or fret over past mistakes or care about grudges or arguments…but the world has changed and that's something even Naomi, the Ice Queen, can't ignore. We are not alone in the Universe…or at least it would seem that way. A couple of years ago a ship of unknown origin crashed into the River Thames, then there was the ship on Christmas day, the Star over London, the little marshmallow men that she'd seen all over the news and so much more. Everyone pretends like it's okay, that the universe hasn't become instantly bigger, but they're all liars. The Human Race never changes.
Naomi lets her eyes dart around the classroom. Its occupants are the same familiar faces that she sees everyday. Her gaze falls on Cook who is sending a suggestive wink her way, she raises an eyebrow at him, and he brings his hand to his mouth, pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek and giving her the universal sign for a blowjob. Her eyes drop down to the pen, which is resting between her lips, and she pulls it away, sending him a look of disgust. He laughs mutedly, even then it's a big dramatic motion, but Kieran doesn't notice. He winks at her and she returns the gesture with her middle finger. He nods towards the clock on the wall, taps his wrist and cocks his hand towards his mouth in a drinking motion. She nods. She'll go for drinks with him after this.
Her eyes move over to Katie, who, in her second year of Roundview, has changed a lot. Not that Naomi knows her; in fact, she's never spoken to the girl. It's pretty much a well-known fact that Katie Fitch is a massive bitch, but this year she's been quiet, a shell of herself ever since her twin dropped out of college. Emily. Now, that is a girl that Naomi has had some conversations with…one conversation with. Naomi shakes her head, refusing to relive that memory or any that may relate to the redhead. Katie must feel her gaze because the brunette snaps her head towards the blonde, a steely gazed fixed upon her features. Naomi's eyes snap back down towards her mock paper. She sighs and leans forward, half-heartedly starting to scribble an answer to the question.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cook howls and slams his empty shot glass down onto the table. Naomi follows after him, but with a tad more grace. Cook sends her a wink before he clicks at the barmaid to get the same again. "So, Blondie, how'd you do?"
Naomi is wiping away the remains of a rather disgusting batch of Sambuca when he asks her the question. "Aced it."
Cook claps his hands together and laughs. "Knew you would. Ready for the real thing, then, yeah?"
Naomi nods. "What about you?"
"Me? Ah, you know me, Naomikins, didn't even open the paper, did I? I'll be fine." Naomi swallows her concern. They don't really talk about the important stuff, it's an unspoken agreement. Best friends, always there for each other, but never to push each other. Cook's hand is already sliding round the empty shot glass. He brings it to his mouth, using his tongue to rescue every drop of alcohol from its glass prison.
"You're disgusting." She grimaces at his shameless antics and can't help but playfully push at his shoulder.
"You love it." His grin is cheeky.
"No, I tolerate it." Naomi looks away from her best friend, around to the other occupants of thepub. Keith's usual lot is in. Old fuddy duddies and a couple of underage chavvy fucks that Keith doesn't mind serving as long as they keep themselves to themselves.
"What you thinking about?" She doesn't know. Not really.
"The world."
"Up in the clouds again, are we, Blondie?" the barmaid hands Cook a pint from of the counter and he takes a hefty gulp. "What you thinking about the world, then? How you're gonna change it and all that?"
"No. I don't know. Maybe?" Naomi hates to be uncertain. All her life she's known one hundred percent where she wanted to end up. She knew A to B, but now, now that's all slipping away from her.
"Well, that's deep and shit."
Naomi can't help but laugh at how simple Cook can make things sometimes. She rolls her eyes. "You wouldn't know depth if it bit you on the nose, James."
"Oh, trust me, Naomikins, I've been up to my nuts in guts plenty of times. I know deep." He waggles his eyebrows at her suggestively. That's when Naomi realises her mistake. Naomi has chosen the wrong moment to take a large mouthful of Cook's beer and chokes on it, spitting it back onto the counter in shock. She can hear the sound of Cook's hand thumping on the table and his roaring laugh. She composes herself and eyes him steely. He's not fazed though.
"You're vile."
"Love you too, Blondie," Cook reaches for his pint and takes another hefty gulp. He then pats Naomi on the shoulder. "What's eating you?"
"Nothing." She insists.
"Fuck off, something ain't right with you. So, out with it. Fed up of you being more a grumpy fuck then you usually are."
Naomi doesn't reply, well, she doesn't reply initially. Cook just gives her a pointed look and she caves. "Why doesn't anybody talk about it?"
"About what, Blondie?"
"Aliens." She almost snaps at him because she's just been dying to say it**.** Cook's eyes widen in surprise and he leans closer to his friend.
His tone lowers. "Oi, keep it down, no one wants to hear about that stuff."
Naomi follows suit. "But why? It's not like it's some massive secret." Cook leans back in on his stool. His lip twists in thought. He grabs his pints and downs the rest of it, slamming it on the table and collecting his jacket in the same motion. It's quite smooth, Naomi can't help but think, but she doesn't have time to dwell as his hand wraps round her arm and pulls her from her seat.
"Oi."
Cook doesn't answer just pushes open the door to the pub and throws a hand towards Keith. Once outside Cook releases Naomi and zips up his jacket.
"What the fuck was that about, James?" Naomi glares at the boy.
"Calm it, Blondie, just didn't wanna have that conversation in there, 'tis all," He holds up his hands. "Now, let's go for a walk, shall we? It's a lovely evening." He holds out his bent arm towards her. She slips her arm through his and they start to stroll down the street towards nowhere in particular. "So…" he starts.
"Aliens."
"Yep, aliens. Big old green blokes and lasses that live in the sky."
"Really helpful."
"Well, what do you expect Blondie? I'm no expert on…this sorta thing."
"Neither am I! I don't even know why I care." Naomi bites her lip in thought. She's not a fanatic. Sure, she loves a good conspiracy as much as the next person but…it's like it's frustrating because everyone is just being stubborn. Ignoring the truth. I guess that's why she cares…because her mum cares as well. That's who they are. Protest rallies, uncovering the truth and justice have always been important things in her upbringing. Thanks Mum…
"It ain't a bad thing that you do. People like to hide, it's safer that way, to ignore all the crazy stuff so that their lives ain't as boring." He has a point and Naomi can't argue. Everything seems so small in comparison now…so…so pointless.
"It's too big."
"What is?"
"The world, James."
"Don't think about it, Blondie." It's at this point that Naomi realises that the most emotionally deep conversation the pair have had is about extra-terrestrials. She should really roll her eyes at this moment because it's so completely mentalbut she can't.
"I can't help it. It's so obvious." Naomi finds herself looking up towards the stars in the night sky. She watches them as they slowly flicker, taking in their vast scope and capability. She rests her head on her best friend's shoulder. She doesn't know why she can't let this go.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It's two weeks later when Naomi's working a shift in the local corporate coffee shop - yes she does feel like a sell-out but all those protests don't pay for themselves - that she sees Emily for the first time in months. She's hardly paying attention, it's hard to when a queue is lining up outside the door; everyone begins to look the same. A small hand gently waves in front of her distant gaze, breaking her from her thoughts.
"Hey, Naomi." It's not the Emily she knew. This Emily wasn't the girl she'd seen months before. That girl had been shy, closed off, practically attached to her sister…this girl was bold, confident and happy.
"Oh…hey, Emily." Naomi can't help but shift uncomfortably. She always has done round this girl…ever since…no. Silence falls over the pair. Emily looks at the blonde expectantly and Naomi's eyes snap open in realisation. She grabs an empty cup from the side and turns towards the redhead. "What…what can I get for you?"
She tries not to notice the way that Emily bites her lip in thought. It's adorable. Naomi's eyes shut in frustration. "I think I'll have the…" Emily trails off. Naomi grabs her black marker, pulls off the cap and holds it over the empty cup. "…the soy vanilla latte. Yep, that's what I'd like, please." Emily's smile is so full. Naomi scolds herself.
"Okay, cool." She doesn't mean to come off as bitchy…well, she usually does, she's a bitch, she knows that, but she doesn't want to be at this precise moment. Naomi writes down Emily's name on the empty cup, lingering a bit longer than necessary hoping that Emily will move along and she can serve the next customer, but apparently Emily has other ideas.
"So…how are you?" It's awkward. They've never really spoken so Naomi doesn't really understand why Emily's making such an effort.
"Fine," Naomi bites her lip. "You?"
"Me? I'm great. Fantastic, even," Emily says with an almost distant smile. Naomi can't peg this girl. What's happened to her? "How's college? Nearly finished now?"
"Not long now. Final exams round the corner." Naomi nods her head slightly along with what she is saying.
"You'll do great," Emily offers. They slip back into silence as Naomi begins to prepare Emily's coffee. No more words are spoken, her hands go to work. Naomi finishes placing the lip on top of the coffee cup and hands it to the shorter girl, who takes it with a sweet smile.
"Thank you." Naomi watches the redhead as she heads towards the exit, she doesn't care that the next customer is becoming impatient, in this moment it's almost as if Emily has become the most alluring thing in the world to Naomi.
She doesn't feel her lips move, but they do. "Emily!" the redhead turns towards the blonde with an amused expression on her face.
"Yes?"
"What… about you? What are you doing these days?" She's curious.
Emily smirks. "Many things, Naomi. Many, many things." And then she's gone. Naomi can't help but feel disappointed by the answer.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
That's where it begins. Naomi doesn't really want to call it obsession. Because she's not obsessed. She's not. She's just curious…curious about Emily. Ever since the day at the coffee shop she hasn't been able to get the petite redhead out of her mind. So, she starts off small and sends a couple of emails to her tutor enquiring about Emily's disappearance. She's frustrated by her tutor's reply that the information is confidential and they can't tell her any more.
Her mother tries to help, and really she does feel a bit pathetic for asking, but she doesn't really know where to start. Her mum doesn't ask questions and she appreciates that.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Why don't you just ask her sister, dear?" Gina asks her over a cup of tea.
"Her sister's a bitch." Naomi grumbles and scrapes butter onto her toast, a tad more forcefully than necessary.
"Naomi," Gina scolds and the younger blonde rolls her eyes. "If you want to know the truth you're just going to have to bite the bullet, aren't you, dear?"
"Katie can bite the bullet." Naomi grumbles to herself but concedes. She rises from the chair, stuffing the remains of her toast into her mouth and waves her mother goodbye.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The stub of her cigarette hitting the floor is like a starting gun for Naomi. She takes a second to crush the end of her death stick into the ground with her heel before advancing on the petite brunette. She's all alone, which is what Naomi had been waiting for, they've just got out of class and Katie is retrieving something from her locker. Perfect.
When Katie slams her locker door shut Naomi is leaning on the other side. "Hey." Katie takes a step back in shock and glares at the other girl.
"What the fuck are you doing? You scared the shit out of me!" Naomi doesn't say anything just watches the other girl cautiously. "What do you want, freak?"
"I…"
"Jesus, spit it out! I haven't got all day, you know?" Katie practically growls and Naomi feels like retracting her previous analysis. The bitch was still very much in there.
"Your sister."
Katie's demeanour suddenly changes. "What about her?" It's almost protective.
"I was…She…" Naomi doesn't really have a clue what she's going to say. She's never really been a liar. "I…she was supposed to be working on a project with me earlier in the year. Yeah…she had some important files that I need for my portfolio otherwise I'm not going to pass…." Katie seems to buy it. Well, she seems to back down.
"Tough." It's not nasty or laced with venom, it's as if Katie is stating a fact. Naomi's eyebrows crease in confusion.
"What?"
"She's gone, Naomi. You know, travelling. She's not around anymore. I can't help you…sorry." She does seem sorry. And that's when Naomi notices how tired Katie really looks up close. Heavy bags lay under the girl's eyes, her make up is poorly applied; the blemishes on her skin almost uncared for and her body language; there's no fight. Her shoulder's hang low, her arms are closed off and her face is hard.
"Oh…okay, well, thanks anyway." Naomi wants to be out of here now. It feels like she is almost intruding on something very secretive. She wants to know more, but now isn't the right time. She throws the strap of her bag over her shoulder, flashes Katie a tight smile and starts to retreat from the brunette.
"She left some stuff…" Katie calls. "You can, like, come and have a look, if you want?" Katie offers and it's good enough for Naomi. "Come round later tonight, yeah? Round sevenish?"
"Cool."
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Katie's right. When she arrives at the Fitch's house it seems like Katie is the only occupant of the house for the evening, but when the brunette leads her up to her room it becomes clear that Emily is as long gone as Katie says. Emily's half of the room lays completely bare, no posters on the wall, no sheets on the bed, every single inch of the redhead's half of the room is completely gone, well, from what she can tell it has. She's never been here before. Katie starts to search around in her cupboard and pulls out a large box, placing it on Emily's bed. "Here's all the stuff she left behind. What you're looking for might be in here."
Naomi sends Katie a grateful smile and begins to empty the contents of the box. It's nothing of importance, she can tell that after the first couple of tacky bracelets leave the box. It's bits and bobs, nothing complete, all missing something. It's symbolic; Naomi can't help but feel, of how Katie is obviously feeling without her twin now. She feels sorry for Katie Fitch for the first time in her life.
She doesn't know what she's looking for…in fact…she isn't looking for anything specific because there isn't anything of importance to Emily in this box but she continues to look regardless.
"What course did you say this was for?" Katie questions from her bed.
"Errr…Politics." Naomi says without thinking.
"Emily doesn't take politics." It's sharp, Katie's rage coming back in full force. Shit, she's been careless. Naomi decides it's the time to be honest. She turns towards the twin, whose face is one of thunder.
"Listen, Katie…" she begins.
"Get out." Katie hisses. Naomi wants to stay and argue with the twin. To find out where Emily has been or where she is because she can't help but feel that it's important…but she doesn't. Retreats with her tail between her legs back to the safety of her bedroom and ponders more on the whereabouts of the little redhead.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Oi, oi, Blondie, have I got news for you!" Cook hollers down the phone at her. Her groggy eyes shoot to the alarm clock on her nightstand. It reads 4:12am. She rubs with her hands at her tired eyes and sits up with a sigh.
"It's four-fucking-am, James! What the fuck do you want?" She snaps. She really isn't a morning person, especially not this early.
"Calm it, Naomikins, I'm only calling cuz Gina told me about your new obsession. Wondered where you'd been lately. Letting out your inner lezza?"
"Goodbye, Cook." She'd be having words with her loose-lipped mother in the morning. She goes to hang up.
"Hold your fucking horses, Blondie! Reason I'm calling is cuz I've seen her! I've seen Emilio and, fuck me, if she aint looking banging tonight, man." Cook calls and Naomi slowly brings the phone back to her ear.
"Jeggers, man. She's been here all night apparently or so Thommo says. I've only just got here cuz I was off getting me end away, but I've seen her. She's just about to get in a taxi, man. Thought I'd let youse know. Tell your mum I'll be round for dinner tomorrow, yeah?"
"You're a leech."
"I'm your leech." He replies smugly and Naomi can't help but laugh with him.
"See you, Blondie." Slowly lowering her phone back down to the bed. She bites her lip…. it's verging on obsession now. Fuck it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Come on, hurry up, you cow!" Emily pushes Katie out of the taxi and onto the pavement. Emily flashes the taxi driver a smile and hands him a couple of notes. "Sorry about her."
She jumps out onto the pavement and wraps her arm around her sister's shoulders. "Come on, Kay, let's get you home and into bed." Katie's head lulls onto her shoulder and kisses her sister on the cheek causing both girls to burst out into laughter. "You're drunk."
"I'm not drunk!" Katie insists, pushing her sister playfully. "I just missed you, bitch!"
"I think the lady doth protest too much!" Emily slurs back at her sister and the pair laughs as they make their way towards their house. Katie stumbles up towards the door, but Emily stops a flash of blonde.
"What are you doing here, Naomi?" Emily's voice is a mixture of shock and contempt.
"I…" She can't find her voice. It's lost. She doesn't even know why she's here. "I just wanted to see you…" It's pathetic, all three of them know it is, but it's all she's got.
"Why?"
"I…don't know." She feels like a fool.
"She's stalking you, Ems. It's weird. She lied to me so she could get into your room as well. Stupid lezza with a crush." Katie's words evoke something long forgotten in both of the girls and their eyes instantly snap away from each other. Naomi swallows hard. She can't think about that.
"Is that true, Naomi?" She can't stand the tone in Emily's voice. They're not friends, but everything about that tone suggests that they may never be now. Disappointment.
"Yeah, she's fucking mental, Ems! She's been asking everyone about you and—"
"Shut up, Katie,'" Emily snaps and her twin goes silent. "Katie," her voice is softer now. "I'll see you upstairs, okay? I'll deal with this." Katie looks like she wants to argue but she nods, heading towards the house. Emily eyes Naomi wearily while they wait for the other twin to enter the house. At the click of the door closing Emily takes a couple of slow steps towards the blonde.
"What are you doing here?"
"I…I don't know." She repeats because she honestly doesn't, but something is driving her towards Emily. Some unrelenting force and better it be this than her curiosity about the ever expanding universe…
"You need to stop."
"Stop what?" Naomi's face contorts in confusion.
"This. Coming here. Looking for me." Naomi's gaze drops.
"Why?"
"Because…it's weird…and because you'll regret it, Naomi. I know you don't think you will, but you will. I promise." It's Emily turn to bite her lip this time.
"What if I don't care?" She's always been stubborn, one trait that she is most definitely proud of.
Emily smirks, it almost looks like admiration but she can't be sure. "This is bigger than you."
"The world's a big place."
"So is the universe," Emily's face becomes sad. Emily reaches into her pocket and wrestles out the keys to her house. She looks towards the door, towards Katie and her family, but turns back to Naomi with a sigh. "You don't know me…"
"I know."
"You won't see me again." Emily generally looks upset by this. Her eyes are sad as she looks at Naomi one last time. "Goodbye, Naomi."
"There's something…. something drawing me to you, Emily." She hopes it'll convince Emily to stay, but it doesn't.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It's surprising how crushed Naomi feels by the whole thing. She had been so close…so close to…well, she's not sure what but she was close to something. Close to Emily. She lies in her room for the next two days, music blaring loudly through her speakers as she tries to fathom some sort of explanation for her behaviour. She's not an obsessive person. She doesn't even like people that much really. There's just Mum and James and at the best of times they'll piss her off, but this is strange.
Her and James decide to go out for a night on the town. She thinks she sees Emily in the club, even follows a small redhead to the bathroom before she realises that it's not Emily after all. They drink way too much Sambuca and she pukes up her guts in the back alley of Jeggers. Cook still tries it on, though; she thinks she'd be disappointed if he didn't. She expects it now. It's a part of their friendship. He helps her walk home, her legs getting the better of her and carries her up to her room. This is the part where he doesn't try anything on because they are friends and she loves him for it. "Sleep tight, Blondie." He kisses her on the head and heads downstairs to the sofa.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"G, pass us the kettle, will you?" Cook calls, ushering the blonde woman with his hand while balancing his cigarette in his mouth. Gina is animatedly talking on the phone to one of her friends but hands the boy the kettle, then he pours two cups of tea and sets one down on the table. He looks towards the clock on the wall and smirks. Naomi is always up at the same time with a hangover everyday: 11.45. No reason. Just a fact. Cook smirks as he hears the sound of the floorboards creaking above his head as the clock strikes quarter to twelve.
He watches as the incredible hungover blonde with the frazzled hair sits down at the table across from him. Cook is pouring a bowl of cereal; Frosties. "Feeling peachy, Naomikins?"
"Oh, yeah, fucking perfect, James." Naomi grumbles, sipping at the tea.
"Language, Naomi, I'm on the phone." Gina calls from the other side of the kitchen causing her daughter to shoot daggers at her mother. Cook chuckles at his friend's scolding.
"Mummy's girl."
"Cunt." She shoots back and Cook's eyebrows shoot up.
"Feeling extra bitchy today, eh?" He offers her the packet of cereals but she shakes him away with her hand.
"Cheers for the tea," She mutters and Cook gives her a wink. "I saw Emily the other day."
"Still stalking your lesbian lover, then?" Gina passes by Cook and head's for the living room where she can get a bit of peace and quiet. Cook's hand is toying with the handle of his cup.
"I think she knew I'd been looking for her."
"Why are you looking for her, Blondie?" Naomi's face drops. "Now, don't get me wrong, man, those Fitch twins are booming but I thought you hated them. Why the change of heart?"
Naomi opens her mouth to speak but never gets the chance to finish because the look on her mother's face when she rushes back to the door instantly takes her from her seat. Cook follows quickly after. Gina stops in front of the TV, where images from the daily news are flickering on the screen.
"Jesus." It's not clear who said that. It's a report from a news helicopter; the large aircraft is circling what looks to be a whirlpool that has formed in the middle of the Thames.
"It is unclear what has caused this phenomenon to form in the middle of the River Thames, but one thing is clear: No damage has come to the City of London or its residents. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is meeting with the President of the United States as we speak to discuss how to deal with the situation. No one seems to be able to get close to the whirlpool apart from one person, a girl with red hair, who was seen on a platform above it. If anyone has seen this girl," a blurry picture flashes on the screen and Naomi's hand slapped to her mouth in shock.
"Emily…" she breathes and feels Cook's hand gripher shoulder in comfort.
"Please contact us with information." The report ends and flicks back to live coverage of the whirlpool. Naomi stumbles backwards, dropping into the empty armchair behind her and staring at the screen.
"Well, they can't hide it anymore. They just can't expect things like this to keep happening and people not ask questions…" Gina returns to her conversation on the phone. Cook takes a seat next to her and pensively watches the screen. They don't say anything; there isn't anything to say.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
While on shift two weeks later, Naomi finally starts to get some answers. The whirlpool that had occupied the River Thames for three days was gone. One morning when she'd woken up it had just disappeared. The papers all say it was a freak weather accident but she knew better. Everyone knew better, but they still went back to pretending the truth wasn't out there. It's a particularly dull day at work, hardly any customers and Naomi has decided to have a go at the crossword in the Guardian. Pulling her stool closer to the counter, she leans over the paper and begins to consider the list of clues. She's so lost in thought that she doesn't hear the door to the shop open, the bell ring or see the eager hands that rest on the counter in front of her. The fingers begin to drum impatiently but she doesn't notice. Too lost in her crossword. One of the hands reaches for the bell on the desk and presses it, leaning down to meet Naomi's gaze.
Naomi looks up startled at the raggedy man that was standing before her. She wasn't one for fashion but even this man's was questionable. A bow tie, really? And suspenders? In her analysis of the man she hadn't notice at how deeply he was looking at her. "Errr…can I help you?" she asks raising an eyebrow.
"Yes…yes, I believe you can," the man takes a step back and quickly running his eyes over the options of a drink. "Ah! Tea! I love tea. Earl grey, please, two sugars, a squidge of milk and tea bag first! Always tea bag first!" A large, joyful smile now covered his features.
Naomi stares at the man for a couple more seconds before reaching for an empty cup. "Name?"
His face seems to burst into an even bigger smile. "The Doctor," Naomi can't help but admire a man in that profession, it's a noble one, saving lives and helping people. Even if the NHS has been a pile of wank these days. "Pleased to meet you." He holds out his hand over the counter and Naomi hesitantly takes it. His grip is firm and erratic.
When he finally lets go of her hand she goes to work on his tea. He doesn't say anything, just bends down and starts to inspect the contents of the glass cake tray. When Naomi reaches the end of the counter and asks for money he almost looks confused.
"Ah, yes! Money, I always forget the money," he starts fumbling around inside his jacket and then pulls out a fifty pound note. Handing it to her with a smile. Rich prick, is what crosses her mind as she gets the man his change. "Thank you…Naomi. The service has been fantastic." He turns away from the girl, tea in hand, but then she realises…
"How do you know my name?"
"Well, it is your name, isn't it?" he swivels back towards the girl. "Says it on your name tag there," She glances down to the nametag that is resting on her chest and feels a sense of relief fill her. "But that isn't the reason. You are the Naomi Campbell, correct?" She slowly nods her head. "Well, not THE Naomi Campbell, little mistake on my part, thought she'd meant the supermodel, very temperamental woman and she loves to throw shoes, doesn't she?" Naomi is staring perplexed at the man. "Anyway, the point is…is your name Naomi Campbell?"
"Yes."
"Brilliant," the Doctor beams. "Well, Miss Campbell, you need to come with me."
"I don't make a habit of going anywhere with strangers, thank you." Naomi snips. She's growing impatient of this man. How does he know her name? And her place of work?
"And rightly so, but this time we're going to make an exception."
"I think you should leave." Naomi moves to collect the utensils she's just used to make the man's coffee.
"She said you had some fire in you." he leans on the counter, refusing to leave.
Naomi sighs. "Who did?"
"Emily." His face has turned deadly serious at the mention of the redhead's name. It unsettles her.
"You…you know Emily?" The Doctor nods. "Where is she?"
"A good question…" he replies. "Want to know the answer?"
She does. More than anything she really does. "Yes!" She doesn't mean to sound so eager.
"Emily is in trouble. She's trapped and I need your help to get her back." His words are serious.
"What kind of trouble?"
"The kind you couldn't even dream of," he pushes away from the counter and the massive smile returns to his face. "So, are you coming, Naomi? Emily's waiting! "
She doesn't know why she follows this stranger with no more than Emily's name thrown at her, but she does. Because she's obsessed and she needs to find the missing redhead.
2. Liquid Love
**Disclaimer: I don't own Skins or Doctor Who…I'd be the happiest person alive if I did! **
**A/N 1: So, Skins Fire, eh? Some interesting stuff happened there. Like myself, I imagine, that you are looking for some fics to pass the time till next week and the Naomily we all crave. Well, if you have chosen to read this, thank you ever so much! A big thank you to my BETA as well: Miss Peg. She is a star. **
**Chapter Two: Liquid Love**
Naomi can't help but think he's very nimble. Incredibly so, she's a fast walker, but she's struggling to keep up with him without breaking into a run. She almost falls over as she races into someone, an apology tumbling from her lips but she's determined not to lose this mystery man. This Doctor. Should she take him on his word that he knows Emily? Maybe he's lying…it doesn't matter. She has to know. He rounds a corner. Naomi stops for a second…for the first time in her life she's genuinely unsure of something. She bites her lip. The Doctor pops his head around the corner with an impatient expression. "Well, come on, then!" He ushers her with his hand.
Fuck it. Leap of faith, why not? She rounds the corner and comes across one of the strangest sites she's ever seen. The Doctor is stepping inside a large blue police box. She's already regretting her leap of faith. Her feet carry her towards the box regardless. What sort of lunatic inhabited a large blue box? Is that what this man was? Insane? It sure as hell looked like it. He was starting to remind her of one of the regulars at Uncle Keith's pub, Mad Bob. Mad Bob was, well, he was mad. Donning a high phisvisjacket and a bike, Mad Bob made it his mission to direct the traffic of Bristol at any junction he could find…thing was that all the traffic he directed was perfectly fine and he caused more problems than solutions. Mental. A laugh, but mental. Naomi found herself reaching forward to open the doors of the police box, to confront its occupants about the ridiculousness of this situation, but she is beaten to the punch as the handle slips away from her grasp and the Doctor's face meets hers.
"Hello." he beams.
"Hi," she shifts uncomfortably. This man is something else. He spins around exposing the interior of the blue box to Naomi's eyes. She can't stop the shocked gasp that escapes her lips. She hates herself for the cliché but her hand slaps over them too. Almost zombie-like, she staggers after the Doctor. "It's…bigger on the inside."
"Yes," He confirms proudly, standing with a smug look at the centrepiece of the…chamber. That's the only world Naomi can think of todescribe it. A chamber filled with vibrant colours, glowing buttons and a shimmering tower in the centre. "Brilliant, isn't it?" He extends his arms proudly, presenting his ship to the blonde.
Naomi doesn't answer him. She's too overcome with what she's seeing. She knows the logical answer to all of this. She's seen it on the news and in the papers…this is a spaceship. She's in a real life fucking spaceship! She doesn't know when she started leaning against the blue rallies on the inside of this…ship, but she is. "You're a…you're a…"
"I am," the Doctor advances on her with a gentle smile and his arms held open in a friendly gesture. "Completely and utterly, an alien. A Time Traveller, A Time Lord to be precise, but we can talk about that later."
"Oh, fuck." The Doctor's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but an amused expression has settled on his features.
"She warned me about that too." He's eyeing her curiously now.
"W-what?"
"Your foul mouth." He steps towards the tower in the centre.
"Hey!" Naomi's shock is starting to wear off. She glares at The Doctor as he starts to turn knobs and press buttons on what Naomi can only fathom is a control panel. Naomi goes to speak but The Doctor cuts her off.
"Now, before you ask," He's still busy pressing buttons. "Yes, this is a spaceship, well, kind of, not really, it's a spectacular one. A TARDIS. Time and Relative Dimension in Space. Yes, it can travel in time and yes it can go anywhere in the entire universe," He turns back towards the blonde and rubs the control panel almost lovingly. "But more can be explained later, I love talking, but there's no time. It's time for action. We have a redhead to save and you, Naomi, are the key." The Doctor turns to her with a serious face. "I'd hold onto something if I was you."
Naomi stares at the man in utter astonishment. "Err…why?" Her question is answer when the room juts roughly and launches her to the ground. She grunts in pain. Fucking TARDIS. A large whirring sound fills the room and the Doctor is laughing enthusiastically as he clings to the control panel.
"Geronimo!" is one of the most ridiculous things Naomi has heard coming out ofa person's mouth ever.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She feels sick. Her stomach is tossing and turning and she's struggling to hold herself up against the rails of this 'TARDIS'. She nearly falls over again when it comes to a halt; the rocking stops and she can finally steady herself. The Doctor is already rushing towards the doors.
"Stop! Just wait afucking second!" He does as she commands and swivels towards her. "This…this is ridiculous! I mean…fuck!"
"Naomi." His voice is soft and he slowly walks towards the girl.
"No. Just don't, okay?" Her hands fly up to keep him at bay. "I just need a second, yeah? It's a lot."
"Of course, it is…" It's almost as if he's scolding himself with that gentle mutter. "I am sorry that it has come to this, I truly am, believe me, but I had no other choice."
"And that's another thing," she's getting angry now. This is all too much at once. Aliens? Spaceships? Time Travel? Emily? Fucking Emily. "How do I even know that you know Emily? Or that she even needs my help? I don't even know why I'm here!"
"You are here because you're important, Naomi. You're important to Emily and you are the only one she trusts." The Doctor simply states like it is the most obvious thing in the universe.
"Important? I hardly know her!" It's outrageous. All of it. Especially because she's standing in the middle of a spaceship. Her revelation doesn't seem to unnerve the Doctor. He is just looking at her with those incredibly gentle eyes.
"But you are." He's so passionate. Advancing on her, gripping her shoulders gently. "Oh, Naomi Campbell; wonderful, fiery, passionate Naomi Campbell, you're so very important." It's almost as if he knows something that she doesn't. Something about herself that she can't even see. That she knows isn't there. She pushes his hands away and takes a step back.
"Are you always like this?"
"Like what?"
"So full on?"
"Absolutely." He does take a step back from the girl, though. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small device, almost like a blackberry and hands it out to the girl. "I promise you, Naomi, I will explain all of this to you but not until we've got Emily back. She is in grave danger."
Naomi bites her lip and eyes the device suspiciously. Her hand hesitantly takes it from the Doctor's grasp. She holds it in front of her face and inspects it. It is a Blackberry, well; at least she thinks it is. She confirms this when she sees the company's faded logo on the back and looks up at the Doctor in confusion. "This is a phone?"
"Emily's phone. I've modified it using bits and bobs lying around here. It's a tracker, it'll help you find Emily."
"Won't you be helping me find her?" The Doctor slowly shakes his head.
"This is where it gets complicated." He walks back towards the control panel and motions for Naomi to follow. She does, he's pointing at something on the blue screen he's holding in his hands. "You see that there?" She nods as he points to something she recognises as the Milky Way. "As you know that galaxy contains your Solar System and thus Planet Earth, as well as, your home. Well, we, we are over here." He drags his finger across the screen in a motion that is very similar to something that Naomi has done on Google Maps many times and highlights another Galaxy.
"Another Galaxy?" She breathes.
"'UDFj-39546284' is the name that human's have given it. I know it by another name, Crassna."
"And that's where we are? In another world?" Naomi feels like she's going to be sick again.
"We are on the Ice Planet of Sifetec" He pushes away from the counter and runs out of the room, leaving Naomi to deal with the news that she, Naomi fucking Campbell, the strong headed, political idealist was billions of light years away from her home. From her best friend. From her Mother. "Now, Naomi, it's very cold outside and it'll take some time for our bodies to adapt to the rapidly cooling temperatures outside, so I suggest that you wear this." Naomi isn't even looking at him. She isn't really looking at anything, but she does feel the large coat that is thrust into her hands. The Doctor is oblivious to her internal battle and starts pulling on his own large coat. He also pulls out a pair of large protective goggles and snaps them to his face with a large grin.
Naomi seems to regain herself a little. "You look ridiculous."
The Doctor frowns at her. "Goggles are cool." He states as a matter of fact.**"**
"Oh right, and I suppose bowties are too?" Naomi rolls her eyes and begins to pull the large coat on.
The Doctor is oblivious to her insult and just winks at the girl. "Bingo," He straightens his bowtie and then holds out his hand to Naomi. "Ready?" Naomi nods her head, reassuring herself.
"Yes, but I'm not wearing any bloody goggles." She takes his hand. The Doctor pushes the door to the TARDIS open and Naomi can't help but gasp. The Doctor seems to be unaffected by the beauty of their surroundings. They seem to be in some sort of tunnel from what she can see, but the walls are made of beautiful, shimmering ice. Her eyes dance curiously over its surface and the engravings that lie there. She unconsciously takes a step towards them and looks back towards the Doctor hesitantly.
"Go ahead." Her feet carry her over. The closer she gets to the wall the more prominent her breathing becomes; a small cloud forming as her breath leaves her mouth. That's when she realises how cold it is. Incredibly so, she wets her lip and presses her hand against the tunnel wall. Her fingers jump back in shock at the bitter coldness that she's met with. They still return to the surface though, gently tracing the etched lines that mar the wall of ice.
"What is this place?" She asks.
"The Mines of Sifetec. It's too cold to occupy the surface of the planet so the Sifetecsbuilt large tunnel systems so they could survive the planet's harsh conditions. They're colonists. Their home world was lost to them long ago."
"What do these mean?" Her fingers are almost glued to the symbols. The Doctor reaches into hiscoat and pulls out a long silver device that looks almost like a pen minus the green light at the end. Naomi eyes it curiously. The Doctor holds it up to Naomi's face and smiles at the girl.
"Sonic Screwdriver, like a screwdriver, but sonic," and with that he holds his sonic screwdriver to the engravings on the wall. They begin to light up in a light pink glow, the wall changing from an icy cold blue to a vibrant, warm pink. Naomi steps back.
"Love."
"What?"
"It's a religion to these people. You have Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, yadayadayada and the same principles apply to the Sifetec. They have faith, not a God necessarily, but something they believe in to the core of themselves." He steps back and pokes at Naomi's chest feverishly. "The heart. We all have one, well, I have two, but we all have one. All organic life. Even the evilest of creatures are fuelled by the desires of the heart. The Sifetecbelieve that love, the strongest of all the possible emotions, is something worth believing in. Worshipping. It's precious to them, like a bottle is to a baby. They rely on it. It is their crutch, but also," his face darkens. "Their one vice."
"But isn't love a good thing?" Naomi's face contorts in amusement at how the man rambles on. It is fascinating, it really is, how knowledgeable one man can be. He has a certain charm about him that even Naomi is starting to fall under. Her eyes are drawn back to the lull of the pink wall as it slowly spreads down the large tunnel system.
"Of course, love is amazing!" The Doctor laughs and presses his hand against the wall. The glow brightens around his touch. "It's something that should be powerful, unrelenting and universal because we all need that feeling of loving someone and being love in returned, but something it isn't, is something that should be bottled."
"Bottled? What like Shampoo?" Naomi snorts.
"Like a shampoo. Cap off, love out, cap back on, love gone. That's what the Sifetec do. They capture love. Harbour and use it to power their planet and as nourishment, they don't need food to survive, they evolved to survive on the one thing they've worshipped for so long. Liquid love." Naomi's face is one of confusion. "Emotions are powerful things, they have endless possibilities, they motivate and drive us our entire lives so why can't they be used on a grander scale?"
"So, that's what this is? Love?" Naomi points to the wall and the Doctor nods his head.
"But not just anyone's love. Emily's." He rubs his hands over his mouth. "She's so full of it. So many emotions contained in such a tiny little girl. The Sifetec have hit the jackpot."
"They have Emily?" Naomi gasps.
"But we're going to get her back." It's only at this point that Naomi realises that the Doctor has had his hand pressed against the wall this entire time.
"Doctor," it's the first time she's said it. "Why have you got your hand pressed against the wall?"
He beams at her. "Clever girl," and with that he tears his hand away, the walls begin flashing red. A piercing alarm starts to sound around the tunnel system causing Naomi toslam her hands over her ears. She groans in pain because fuck, it's loud. The Doctor grabs her shoulders and pulls her to him. "Naomi, listen to me, Emily and I came here so I could show her the wonders of the Sifetec race but this place has changed, it's changed since the last time I was here; they were waiting for us, they took Emily, took her from me and are using her love as a source of power. It's killing her. I've just uploaded my genetic code into their system. I've erased any form of human DNA from their system so they won't be able to track you. Take the phone, use it, it'll help you find Emily. Find her and free her."
Naomi stares back at the man in panic. "But what about you? What are you going to do?"
His smile is big. "Be a distraction, of course." The sound of marching footsteps makes Naomi's head snap towards them. "They're coming. Run." Naomi doesn't. The Doctor reaches forward into Naomi's pocket, retrieves the phone and places it in her hand. He closes her fingers around it. "Run, Naomi." She runs, runs away from the oncoming storm and leaves the Doctor to fend for himself. She doesn't know if she trusts him, but she knows she doesn't want to leave him,
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Her feet pound hard against the icy floor, her breath is ragged as she runs from…from the Sifetecs. Aliens. Actual fucking aliens! Amazing! A sense of adrenaline has filled her like never before and she even laughs a bit at how surreal this day has really turned out. Two hours ago she'd been doing her shift at the coffee shop and now she was in another galaxy!
Her eyes are darting back and forth as she follows the dot that is blinking on the phones screen. "Naomi….Naomi…can you hear me?" The Doctor's voice emits out of the phone mixed with harsh bursts of static.
"Yes, yes, I can hear you."
"Keep following…the dot…it'll lead you…to…Emily." She rounds the corner and stops in shock. So much so that she drops the phone to the floor.
"Shit." she mutters as quietly as she can manage. A group of figures are standing at the end of the tunnel in front of her. They are huge creatures wearing large suits of armour and a glass helmet on their head; rather similar to a fish bowl. Two large canisters are attached to the back of the creature. She freezes. She can't move. Aliens. Real life fucking aliens! She regains herself though. They don't seem to have noticed her but she can hear them talking amongst themselves.
"Intruder in Sector four." One of them whispers.
"Is it him?" Another asks in return.
"Who?"
"The Doctor." the third one hisses with venom.
"Well, if it is, he won't be escaping this time, that's for sure." The largest, presumably the leader of the pack, booms with a cock of his gun. That's when Naomi notices the gun. They're all carrying large, futuristic firearms. Naomi's eyes bulge. She's scared, fuck, she's terrified!
"Naomi…Naomi…can you hear me? Hello!" She slowly edges down, trying not to alert the guards and reaches for the phone on the cold, icy floor. She grabs it and then brings it slowly to her mouth. Being as quiet as possible.
"Doctor, I…I can see them."
"Who…the Sifetecs? How many of them?"
"Three. I can't get pass them. They have guns; big guns." Her voice cracks a little in fear and she hates herself for it. She's never really been scared of anyone or anything, but that seems so small in comparison to what she's facing now. The scale of what she's facing now.
"The Sifetecs…don't actually have eyes… they trace DNA signatures. When I uploaded mine…I made it possible for them to only see….mine. They…can't see yours. You're…" static breaks up the conversation and silence fillsthe tunnel again. Naomi's head rises in realisation.
"Invisible." she finishes. She slowly starts to make her way down the hallway. Her foot scuffs loudly against the icy floor and the Sifetecs turn towards the noise, alert, with these guns raised.
"What is it?" the leader huffs.
"I can't see anything." another replies with his gun still pointed down the tunnel towards Naomi. A slow smile spreads over the blonde's face. They really couldn't see her. Naomi's confidence grows tenfold and her feet carry her further down the tunnel till she is standing only a few feet from the creatures. The creatures look around in confusion as they hear the footsteps of the blonde slowly pass them by and slip around the corner. She doesn't realise until she's resting against the wall at the other side that's she's actually been clenching her fistso tight that she's drawn blood. She presses her lips together and then looks back to the dot. She's got to find Emily.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Surrender." The Doctor holds up his hand as a large gun is held in front of his face. "Under Sifetec law 3:14 you are counteracting the Sifetec primary directive. Punishable by death."
"Don't throw your laws at me." The Doctor says and lowers his arms. Alerting the leader and the rest of his squadron. "Why should I answer to yours when you don't answer to the Shadow Proclamation?"
"We are our own law." The leader replies. "You will come with us."
"Oh, are you now?" The Doctor's voice rising. "Well, alright! The high and mighty Sifetecs! How far you have fallen." He advances on the man eyeing him with disappointed and disdain. "I remember a people who wanted to cherish love. To help it thrive in all corners of the Galaxy. What happened to you?"
"You will come with us." He ignores the Doctor's question.
"Come with you where?"
"To the Grandmaster." The Doctor's eyebrow arches in surprise.
"You're not just going to shoot me here?"
"No. The Grandmaster wishes to see you. Then you will be harvested." The remaining members of the Sifetec squadron surround the Doctor with all their guns aiming at his back.
"Well, looks like I don't have a choice, do I?" He holds up his hands in surrender and allows himself to be escorted down the tunnel system.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Naomi's eyes widen as she steps out of the never-ending tunnel. The tunnel has branched out into a larger tomb, the engravings even larger and brighter on the walls. Naomi closes her eyes for a second. It's overwhelming; the walls are almost impossibly pink here. So bright. She must be close to Emily. It's almost as if the walls are humming with her. A flash of red fills her vision and she presses her hand to her head. She can feel Emily. Shelooks down to the phone in her hand and slips it into her pocket. She doesn't need it now. She knows where to go.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The small squadron of Sifetec lead the Doctor into a large chamber; one which he can only fathom is used as a 'throne' room for the Grandmaster. Whoever that may be. He takes in his surroundings, his eyes darting over everything and anything that they can see. The cogs in his brain are working overdrive as he tries to piece together another impossible puzzle. His lips twitch along with him as he analyses. The three squadron around him, the half empty throne room, the chair at the centre of it all with the obese, grotesque creator that sits in its centre, the large canisters which are attached to the throne and the tubes that connect to them. It all fits together. Everything does. He just has to figure out how.
"Doctor." The Grandmaster rasps as he's thrown to the floor in front of the throne.
"Grandmaster." The Doctor replies.
"You're a difficult creature to catch, Doctor." The Grandmaster motions for one of his minions to bring him something. He begins to wheeze dramatically, coughing and spluttering until a glass of pink liquid is placed into his hand. He gulps it down greedily and throws the glass back at theminion. His breathing begins to settle and he turns back to the Doctor. Although he doesn't have eyes he can sense where the Time Lord is. "But you have been caught. The elusive Time Lord. Famous throughout the Universe. How pathetic you really are. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"So, that's why I'm still alive, is it? So that you can gloat? In front of all of your people? This is all of them, isn't it?" He motions to those standing around him.
"No, we are vast." The Grandmaster snorts back.
"Oh, no, no, I don't think so. No," he turns on the spot and inspects them all. There must be twenty in total. They look haggard, almost starving. He turns back to the Grandmaster. "How long has it been since you've fed them?"
"They feed me!" The Grandmaster slams his arm down on the chair. "I am the Grandmaster. They obey me as it is decreed by Sifectec law. They do as they are told."
The Doctor's face darkens. "Even at the cost of their own lives?"
"Even then." The Grandmaster begins to wheeze again and motions for another glass of the pink liquid. Gulping another down making the Doctor's face contorts in disgust but in that moment he realises. He makes sense of it all and he smiles broadly. He reaches into his coat pocket and presses a button on his sonic screwdriver silently. "You will be harvested, Doctor. Just like your companion. You will help the Sifetec race to live on."
"Ah, 'Sifetec race', it's funny that you should say that, isn't it?" The Doctor steps towards the Grandmaster and points his finger at him. "Because you're not part of the Sifetec race, are you, Grandmaster? Are any of you?" He turns, taking in all of them. "You're outcasts! Strays! Vermin! You've been exiled! That's what this is. You know, when I brought Emily here I told her of the intricate wonders of magnificent people who treasured love, who had found a way to thrive because of such a pure emotion." He rounds on the Grandmaster and advances on him again. Anger clear on his features. "But you tainted it. You took something so completely good and used it for evil. Oh, you, you!" He's almost gnashing now. "But the rest of your people, the others that left, they didn't want to, did they? So they left you here. Marooned. Because they believed that love should be given willingly and not taken from people. Like you have done. Like you're doing to my friend!" The last part echoing around the chamber. "But I promise you this. I promise you, Grandmaster, this one thing. She is protected." He eyes the creature darkly.
Silence fills the room for a while and then a large cackle emits from the Grandmaster's lips. "Protected? You've been captured! What are you going to do? You're surrounded."
The Doctor continues to stare at the creature and then reaches into his pocket pulling out his sonic screwdriver. "If you know me, my name, Grandmaster, then you know what I'm capable of. Do you honestly think I would come here without a plan? Without a certain way for my friend to be freed and for me to stop you? If so, then you truly are a fool. Right now, a friend of mine is making her way through your tunnel systems to free Emily and when she does, well, judging by the lack of liquid love in your canisters I say you're about out, wouldn't you?"
The Grandmasters face has become serious and his minions are starting to look round in panic. "We have more people to feed from!" He declares trying to settle his people.
"No, you don't. Judging by your waistline you've devoured every last one of them yourself. When Emily is freed this facility will be shut down and you won't hurt anyone else." The Doctor points his screwdriver towers the Grandmaster who holds up his hands in defence.
He snarls at the Doctor. "So, what if she's freed? We still have you. A Time Lord. We could feed off you for generations."
The Doctor continues to glare at the creature as he is restrained by its minions. The Sonic screwdriver is removed from his hand. "If I was to stop you all I would need to do is destroy the link between the extraction chamber and this room. You are nearly out of supplies as it is and that would stop anymore love being transferred to you or your minion's life preservation suits. Disabling you."
"But you're here, Doctor." The Grandmaster cackles again.
"I am, but Naomi's not." He smiles at the Grandmaster whose face contorts in realisation.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On her way to the extraction chamber, which she now knew it was called, The Doctor had decided to bring her in to the conversation he was having with someone called 'The Grandmaster'. Naomi didn't understand all of what was being said but one thing was clear to her. The Doctor trusted her to disable the connection between the extraction chamber and the room he was in. Now, that was easier said than done. She didn't know anything about alien technology or disabling it! Or the fact that she hadn't found the extraction chamber yet was another problem factor.
Naomi turned a corner and her eyes widened as she reached a room with a large steel door at the centre of it, blocking her from advancing any further. She eyed it cautiously as she advanced on the steel door. A large heart was etched into it. Pressing her lips together she pressed her hand against the door. She didn't know why, she just knew it was the right thing to do and to her surprise a mechanical churning could be heard and the door slowly started to lift. She stepped back, her eyes being exposed to the extraction chamber for the first time. It was breath-taking. A large domed room filled with hundreds of the etchings all-leading to a large glass chamber in the centre. Inside the chamber was the redhead she's been searching for. A feeling of relief fills Naomi as her fears are finally put to rest. He wasn't lying. He does know Emily. The Doctor was telling the truth. Naomi's eyes dart to the tubes, which are attached to the top of the chamber. A pink liquid is being sucked up and out of the chamber while Emily lies in the centre. Her eyes bulge. She's being extracted. She panics and runs over to the chamber and slams her hands on the glass. "Emily! Emily!" She calls out hoping that the redhead can hear her. She doesn't. Her eyes snap around the room hoping to find something she can break the chamber with. Nothing. "What would the Doctor do?" she asks herself.
She can feel Emily. Feel the pain that she is feeling. She needs to get her out of there as soon as possible. Her breathing becomes ragged, as she looks around in her panicked state, realising that the Doctor also needs her help. Her eyes fall on a small panel on the left side the chamber with a mould big enough for a human hand to fit in. Rubbing her fingers over her palm she hesitantly reaches out for it, extending her fingers till they touch the cool metal. She swallows hard. It's almost as if Emily's guiding her, showing her how to free her. As soon as her hand presses flat against the panel, a large light emits from it and she cries out. The glass doors of the chamber slowly start to open, mist bellowing out, causing her to cough and splutter as she tries to free her hand from the mechanical device. With one last hard pull she manages to do so almost collapsing back onto the floor behind her. After steadying herself she forces herself over to the chamber, wiping her hand through the smoke and finally lays hereyes on the sleeping redhead. Even under the circumstances Naomi couldn'thelp but note how breathtakingly beautiful the redhead looked. Wetting her lips, she reaches forward and shakes the redhead gently. "Emily, hey, Emily." Emily slowly stirs, her eyes opening for a second before closing again. Naomi shakes her once more.
Dark eyes. Beautiful dark eyes snap towards her open in panic. "Naomi?"
"Hey." She can't help but smile at the redhead. She's so pleased to see her. To finally know what Emily has been hiding from her all this time. Realisation seems to kick in and Emily's eyes open in panic.
"Naomi! What are you doing here?" She launches herself forward, her legs aren't ready for it though and she stumbles in to the blonde's arms, keeping her upright.
"I got you. I got you." Naomi reassures. God, Emily smells good. Like strawberries. Naomi's eyes nearly drop closed for a second as she takes in Emily's scent. Her moment is ruined however as Emily retches hard, spilling her guts all over the floor and covering Naomi's Converse. The blonde's easy-going mentality is pulled from her and can't help but clench her jaw in frustration. Breathing deeply she pulls Emily's arm up and over her shoulder, supporting her and ignoring how close Emily is to her and how uncomfortable that makes her feel.
"Naomi…" Emily's voice is weak. "What are you doing here?"
Naomi eyes the girl with concern. They really need to get out of here. "The Doctor came to me. He said you needed help and, well, here I am…"
Emily's eyes become panicked again. Naomi can see the deep brown pools connecting the dots and she grips Naomi's arm. "The Doctor! Where is he?" Her voice full of concern.
"He's fine. Well, he will be. There's something else I have to do." Naomi leads Emily to the side of the glass chamber and gently sets her down on the floor. "The Doctor. He told me that if I disconnected this room from where he is then it would stop these…creatures—"
"The Sifetec." Emily fills in, her voice still weak. She is rubbing at her head while Naomi explains.
"Yeah," Naomi lets it go. "And I think I know how." She reaches out again and places her hand on the panel. The device begins to glow and she cries out in pain. Emily's eyes find hers. Those brown pools are filled with concern.
"Naomi! What are you doing?"
"Helping the Doctor," She focuses on what she needs to find inside the system because that's where she is. She's inside this huge extraction system and looking for what the Doctor needs…and then it's there. The pipe above her begins to overheat and she looks to Emily in panic. The sound of the pipe begins to get louder and she reaches for the redhead, letting go of the machine and helps her to her feet again. "Time to go." Together, and with the Blackberry in Naomi's hand, they make their way out of the chamber and back towards the TARDIS
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The squadron leader screams and drops to the floor in agony, the canister on his back exploding violently. "Ah, ha!" The Doctor cries as the others around him drop like flies as well. "I knew she could do it. Clever girl!" He walks towards the Grandmaster as he cries in pain as well.
"Help me!" The Grandmaster hisses.
The Doctor's face is grave. "Help you? Why should I? You took my friend from me and had every intention of killing her. Why should I help you? What would it serve other than pain and misery for anyone else who is unfortunate enough to cross your path? No, no… I would, however," he turns towards the minions who are crying in pain on the floor. "Recommend to you guys to get the hell off this planet. Your Grandmaster is dying and there is no love left for you to survive on." He turns back to the Grandmaster. "It's over. Liquid love, a brave concept, but a dangerous drug." And with that he storms from the room, watching as they writhe on the floor in pain. The Grandmaster crying out for him to stop.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Where is he?" Emily's voice is concerned again. She's stronger now, but Naomi can tell how much she cares for the man. Naomi does understand where she is coming from. He's very…enigmatic.
"I don't know…he said he'd be here." What if he's dead? What if he never came back? They'd be trapped here…alone. Her and Emily; together. That's a thought she wanted to be the furthest away from.
"Shit. I hope he's okay." Emily breathes.
"Are you okay?" Naomi sounds concerned and Emily smiles at her sweetly.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks to…you. Thanks for, you know, saving me." Emily dips her head as she says it not wanting to meet Naomi's eyes. Adorable.
"Errr…No problem." What is the etiquette in the situation? Do you take all the glory or play the modest? Toughie. "So, this is where you've been, eh?"
"Yeah," Emily replies awkwardly and bobs her head. "Yeah, kind of hard to explain, huh?"
"Definitely." Emily's hand gently brushes against Naomi's but she doesn't pull away. It's a slow fumble of fingers, nothing more, but it's nice. It shouldn't be this awkward to make conversation. You've travelled across the universe to save this girl from unknown trouble, but it is. "So, the Doctor…he's something…"
"Yeah, definitely something…"
"Something good, I hope!" The Doctor's cheery voice breaks them out of their spell and Naomi pulls her hands away from the redhead. She smiles brightly at the Doctor who is advancing on Emily with open arms. He pulls her into a big hug. "Emily Fitch. Am I pleased to see you!" She giggles as he spins her around and places her back on the ground, cupping her cheek and looking at her with concern. "You are okay, aren't you?"
"Yes, I'm fine! Are you?"
The Doctor smiles at her fondly.
"Of course you are."
Suddenly he's rushing over to Naomi and pulling her into a tight hug.
"And you, you brilliant, clever girl, you! I knew you'd do it." Naomi is laughing at him while he praises her. She glances over to Emily who is smiling at the pair. "Right, shall we, then?" He leans on the door of the TARDIS and it springs open. The girls smile.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Naomi eyes the pair as they float around the TARDIS together. It's a peculiar sight, how at ease they seem with each other…and Naomi feels quite sad about that. Quite lonely…like she doesn't belong. She leans back against the rails and watches them. She's itching for a cigarette, the stress of all this has got her cravings going into overdrive…fuck, she needs one bad. "Naomi! Hello, Naomi…?" Emily's waving at her from over near the control panel where the Doctor seems to be dangling some trinket in front of the redhead's face. "Come look at this!"
Naomi crosses the room and eyes what the Doctor has in his grip. "What is it?"
"Ancient Roman Medallion, actually belonged to Julius Caeser and was given to me by a dear friend of his before he was assassinated, well, assassinated, it was more of a sacrifice because the Cyber...Nevermind about that. So, yes, behold! Julius Caesar's medallion!" The Doctor hands it to the girl and she snorts.
"No way."
"Naomi!" Emily scolds. "After everything you've seen you still have doubts?" She raises a sceptical eyebrow.
"It just doesn't seem possible…" Time travel…yeah, okay, maybe she had been to the other side of the Universe today but… "Okay, fine, say I believe you, which I'm not saying I do, but if I did believe you…what's so amazing about that? He was a twat anyway." Emily snorts hard and tries to control herself. The Doctor's face drops.
"Sorry about her Doctor. She can be a bit full on." Emily apologises. The Doctor waves it off and returns to the panel.
The TARDIS'sgentle rocking comes to a halt. "Here we are, Bristol, Sweet Bristol."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Naomi looks at the pair as they stand in the doorway of the TARDIS together and that's when she gets it. This is Emily's home. This is always going to be Emily's home. She isn't the girl she used to be, in fact, she's far from that. She's a new Emily. A confident, brave, sassy Emily and Naomi finds her absolutely fascinating. The Doctor steps towards the blonde and pulls her into an awkward hug.
"Well, Naomi Campbell, it's been a pleasure." He steps back and holds out his hand awkwardly. She raises her eyebrow at him, amused, but shakes it. What was the point? They just hugged. "I'll let you girls say goodbye." And with that he's gone. The TARDIS doors closing behind him.
"Emily—"
"Naomi—" They both laugh.
"You first." Emily offers.
"Why me?"
"What?" Emily looks at her in confusion.
"I…er…why me? Why was I the one you chose? Why not Katie or Effy? Or even Cook?" Emily's head dips down as she tries to fight the urge to blush.
"I…I didn't choose you. I mean, at least I don't think I did." The redhead wraps her arms around herself. "The Doctor told me that he…that he…needed another human to open the door, yeah, that only another human could release me from the chamber."
Naomi eyes her suspiciously. "Really?"
"Yeah. You must have been the last human I spoke to the Doctor about before I was taken." Emily nods her head, almost reassuring herself.
Naomi doesn't buy it. She knows that Emily isn't telling her something, but she decides to let it go this time. She's had enough of the truth for one day. "Okay, cool, so what did you want to say?"
"Oh…I just wanted to say thank you again really. Without you I'd still be trapped in that chamber." Emily holds out her hand to Naomi. "So, thanks…" Naomi takes it and shakes it awkwardly.
"No problem." Naomi retracts her hand and bites her lip. "So, you off, then? Back into the stars with 'The Doctor'?" She can't help how her fingers come up and extenuate how ridiculous his name really is.
"Yep, pretty much." It's awkward again. "So, I guess this is goodbye, then?"
"Yeah, guess so." Naomi turns away from the girl, but spares one last look back. "Well, bye, Emily." She begins to walk away from it all. From the missing girl with redhead hair. From the mystery, enigmatic Doctor. From the blue box spaceship. From the Universe…but then…
"Naomi!" She turns back to Emily who is looking nervous for the first time since she'd seen her again. "Did…did you want to come with us?"
Naomi bursts into a big smile. Because she does, she really fucking does.
**A/N 2: More Naomily times soon, guys! Thank you to anyone that is reading. This is going to be a slow burner, but it'll be worth it, I hope! Thank you again to anyone reading and if you review. Also, if any of you readers or reviewers want to suggest possible destinations, time periods, etc for the trio to travel to by all means! **
3. The Beastie in the Gloom: Part 1
**Disclaimer: I don't own Skins or Doctor Who. That'd be lovely though, wouldn't it?**
**A/N 1: Hello! So, surprise! Let me start off by saying thank you to all you guys that have reviewed. You're awesome. So, basically I'm updating this tonight and not on Tuesday because I'm going away next week and won't be back till next weekend. This is part 1 of the chapter I was going to post on Tuesday but I will post part 2 as soon as I can. So, thank you to anyone reading and enjoy!**
**Chapter Three: "The Beastie in the Gloom Part 1."**
She can't really say it's surreal. That word doesn't even begin to describe how all of this feels. As soon as she steps back inside that blue box the Doctor has her under his spell, she knows that. He welcomes her with a big grin and then winks at the redhead.
"I know just the place to get us started!" He exclaims to the pair of them and reaches for a dial on the control panel, spinning it enthusiastically.
Before she even has the time to ask, Naomi's stumbling, her feet struggling to hold themselves up as the TARDIS begins to rock again. Emily's gripping onto a nearby bar. When the blonde looks up, Emily's eyes catch hers and they promise her one thing: adventure. She's filled with excitement. She can't help the laugh that escapes her lips and Emily joins her. It's nice.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Doctor takes them to a beach resorts in the stars, thousands of years into the future, and they are relaxing on the beach. It's breath taking. The Doctor also gets the chance to explain some finer details about the TARDIS to Naomi.
"The TARDIS is huge, ever expanding; there are thousands of rooms and compartments. Emily can show you sometime."
Naomi can't really come to terms with the scope of this tiny little box. There's a swimming pool, a bloody swimming pool! It's bonkers, it really is, and she hates herself for thinking that because she sounds like one of the girls in her politics class; Pandora. It's the first time she's really thought about home. Her home. Cook. Her Mum. Were they worried about her? She hoped not.
The beach really is beautiful. Hundreds of creatures and humans littler the golden sand, which is soft to touch, unlike the beaches back on Earth. Her lips lift up as a light chuckle escapes her. Earth. She doesn't think she'll ever get used to saying it. Emily's not with them, she's getting changed on the TARDIS. Naomi isn't too fussy, she picked something out of the wardrobe that the Doctor showed her too and wacked it on. The Doctor is wearing a ridiculous one piece bathing costume for men from the 1960s which even has a bowtie attached to it. She stands by her assessment. He is insane, but…he's…well, he's amazing. Absolutely amazing. Probably the best man she has ever met and that's saying a lot because the only man she could stand in her life up until this point is Cook and he's something else entirely.
"So, how are you finding it all, Naomi?" The Doctor asks breaking her from her thoughts. She watches as he grabs a handful of sand and scoots closer to her. He drops the sand through his fingers, inspecting it closely as the tiny grains slide over his skin and back to the floor.
"Erm…yeah, it's lovely. Fantastic." She's never really been good with words. Not when it comes to talking to people. A protest? She's the loudest, boldest and the strongest of the lot, but when it comes to simple conversations she's never really been able to make it work. A pair of aliens walk past the pair and Naomi overhears their conversation, understanding every word. Then it hits her, she can understand what aliens are saying… "Doctor?"
He's still playing with the sand but looks up at her. "Yes?"
"How come I can understand aliens? What they're saying, I mean? Do they speak English?"
The Doctor smiles to himself and begins to bend the sand into the shape of a small castle, patting it down with his hands. "No, they don't speak English. You're speaking their language."
"How?"
"The TARDIS is a universal translator. Anywhere in the universe you go, the Tardis will translate the language for you."
"Wow." Naomi breathes.
The Doctor's castle is beginning to take shape. "I love sand," His hands bend round a tower that he's starting to form. "It's so flexible. It can be changed into anything. Take any form. Very much like time. How much do you know about time, Naomi?"
"That I can read it from my wrist." The Doctor chuckles at her sharpness and smiles at her.
"You understand time as a linear concept, but it's so much more than that. So much grander. Where would you go, if you could? If it was something more than linear? Where would be the first place you'd want to go first?"
Naomi leans back in contemplation for a second; her tongue runs over her bottom lip as she considers this. She knows. She knows the one place she would want to go if given the chance. "France. Calais. 1938."
"Just before the war. Very specific. There's a reason. Why?" He's nearly finished his sand castle now.
"My great granddad was stationed there as an escort for ships between Calais port and the UK. During the war he was stationed on a naval ship that patrolled the channel. He was a great man…that's what my nanna told me." Naomi's voice is filled with pride, but also a hint of sadness.
"Was?" The Doctor's tone is soft.
"He died. There was a freak storm or something…the ship and its crew didn't make it. He was the only survivor but he his leg was infected with gangrene. He didn't make it back to nanna. She was only a small kid then." Naomi's voice is heavy now.
"I'm sorry. War is an awful thing." The Doctor suddenly smashes the sandcastle under his hand.
"What did you do that for?" Naomi's voice is lighter now, their previous conversation forgotten.
"Sand, Naomi, is very much like time because it can be reformed, reshaped and recreated. It's something that we will never truly understand, well, except me, of course." He explains and slowly begins to rebuild the sandcastle.
"Because you're a 'Time Lord'?" She says it like it's the most ridiculous thing in the world.
The Doctor ignores her snipe and continues. "There are many layers to time, some things can't be changed, but some things…can be revisited. If you understand what I mean?" He pats down on the now finished sandcastle and spreads his hands out over it again.
"How does anyone, ever?" She kind of understands what he's saying, but not really, because he's so scatty. His words tumble over each with seemingly no direction and then culminate in a fantastic conclusion that she'll never see coming.
"You will in time, clever girl!" He stands up, clapping the sand from his palms and grinning off into the distance. Naomi turns to take in the sight he's looking at and the breath almost leaves her. Emily, the feisty little redhead, is slowly making her way towards them across the sand. Her tiny form now draped in a perfectly fitted two piece, a jet red one, that screams against her creamy white flesh. Unconsciously the blonde wets her lips. God, she's fucking beautiful. Emily waves at them as she approaches and the Doctor pulls her into a big hug. Emily giggles in his arms as he spins her. The redhead slaps him playfully on the shoulders as he places her back onto the ground. "Right, how do you girls feel about ice-cream?" They nod their heads. "Okay, two ice-creams coming up. Enjoy the sun, girls, and don't wander off!" He calls with a hint of warning in his voice.
"Does he always say that?" Naomi asks as the redhead sits down on the sand next to her.
"Pretty much."
"Does he have reason to?" Emily winks at the other girl and lies back onto the sand, closing her eyes, shielding them from the harsh light of the sun. "Emily Fitch. Troublemaker. Who knew?" She laughs and lies down beside the redhead. "You know, I remember the quiet girl who was stuck in her sister's shadow. What happened there?"
"What can I say? A lot has changed," Emily replies.
"You're an enigma, Emily Fitch, do you know that?" Emily doesn't reply. Naomi laughs. They slip into silence and for the first it's not awkward. It's the first comfortable silence they've had in their friendship…. yeah, they're friends now…you've got to be friends with your travel companions, haven't you? Her pondering slowly sends the peroxide blonde off into a light snooze.
Sometime later she slowly opens her eyes to see Emily staring down at her. She swallows lightly, her throat constricting under the redhead's deep gaze. "Hey," it's huskier than any greeting should be. "You drifted off for a while there."
"No, I didn't." Naomi pushes herself up and adjusts her position. She looks away from the redhead, trying to hide the smirk that is donning her features. Emily laughs softly at Naomi's denial.
"You snore." She's teasing the other girl.
"I do not!" Naomi's head snaps back to Emily, glaring daggers.
Emily holds up her hands in defensive. "Just calling it as I hear it, Nai. It wasn't too loud, though, so I wouldn't worry. It was like a cat purring."
Naomi pushes the other girl lightly on her shoulder. "Shut up! I don't snore!"
"Alright, calm down, dear, it's not the end of the world. You'll just have to sleep on the other end of the TARDIS that's all!" She continues to tease. Naomi hates herself for doing it but she begins to pout, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I don't" the blonde grumbles again.
"You're still here! Excellent! Now, who doesn't what?" The Doctor's voice rings out as he crouches down beside them. He's holding two bright orange ice creams out towards the girls. Emily takes it happily from him. Naomi is a bit more hesitant…this is alien food…
"Nothing. Don't worry." She takes the cone from him, holding it in front of herself and inspects it. "Is it safe?"
"Safe?" The Doctor repeats like it's the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard. "Of course it's safe, it's orange peel! The best flavour there is. You've never eaten orange peel in your life?" Naomi slowly shakes her head. "Pfft. You're missing out. Now budge up, will you?" The Doctor taps her on the arm and she slowly scootches over so that he's sitting on her towel as well. "That's better."
"If it's so good why haven't you got one?" Naomi enquires. The Doctor doesn't reply just watches the sun set. "Do you ever answer any bloody questions?"
"Not always. Half the fun is not knowing," he muses. Naomi lets out a large huff, but nevertheless decides to trust the Doctor and try some of the iffy looking ice-cream. It tastes amazing, it's not rancid, or sour, or poisonous. It's literally out of this world. She hates herself for that sort of punning, but the moment got away from her. She's not a glutton, but God, it's hard not to scoff the whole thing down.
"Delicious, isn't it?" He's smug. Christ, she wants to smack him.
"I've had better." She won't let him have this victory.
"So, where are we heading next Doctor?" Emily asks wiping away the last remains of her ice-cream from the corner of her mouth. "How about Italy? I've never been there. Oh! In the 16th century! I've always wanted to go to Verona. Or…erm…what about France in the 17th Century? Or France in the future! I wonder what France is like in the future…how sophisticated can a people become?" Emily begins to ramble on. She's adorable when she's blabbering away. Naomi just watches her. Her eyes are drawn to the way the redhead uses her hands to talk, flicking them to and fro, how animated her features are as her and the Doctor debate their next destination.
She's pulled back to reality. "Ah, Naomi! That reminds me! Give me your phone." The Doctor holds out his hand expectantly.
"What? Why?" Her brow creases in confusion. The Doctor clicks his fingers at her. "You can be a right pig sometimes, you know that?" She huffs and crosses her arms. "Hey!" Naomi cries as she watches the redhead hand her phone over to the Doctor. "Where did you get that?"
"Your bag," the redhead says with a mischievous smile and points to Naomi's open bag.
"Don't enable him! He's bad enough as it is." Naomi scolds.
Emily laughs. "You get used to it. He's got big hearts, but an even bigger brain. It's always thinking ten times faster than anyone else's. Sometimes I don't even think he hears me."
The Doctor looks at the girls confused for a second. "Are you two talking?" He peers at them, but then returns to the phone in his hand. Both girls laugh at how ridiculous he is. The Doctor pulls out his sonic screwdriver from God knows where and proceeds to run it all over Naomi's phone. She watches as he takes out the battery and flicks something. He hands it back to her and she stares at it curiously.
"What did you do?"
"A little upgrade," he taps the phone with his finger. "Now you can call anyone in the universe any time you like, no matter where you are. Your mum, your friends, anyone. I put the TARDIS's number in there as well, just in case."
"The TARDIS has a phone number?" Naomi's eyebrow arches.
"Well, she is a phone box, Nai!" Emily exclaims with a light laugh. Naomi scowls at the girl. When did they get to nickname level?
She turns to the Doctor. "She? It's not like it's a person!" She exclaims, but when the Doctor doesn't answer her, her face drops and she stares at him in disbelief. "It's not a person, is it?"
"She is alive. Very much alive," he explains. "But enough of all this technical talk for today. I'll get Emily to explain it all to you when we're back at the TARDIS later, but for now, let's just enjoy this, eh?"
Naomi looks for confirmation with the redhead and Emily nods slowly at her, a promise that all will be explained later. A small, round ball hits Emily's foot and she yelps in shock. The redhead looks over to small alien child who is shyly looking over towards it's ball. She picks up the ball and slowly makes her way over to the child. "Hey, hey, it's okay, don't worry. Here." Emily holds out the ball to the shying away child, but slowly and hesitantly, the child takes the ball from her grasp. She smiles sweetly at the child. "What's your name?"
"Astra."
"That's a lovely name. Are you here with your mummy and daddy?" Astra looks over to the two large alien creatures sunbathing on a towel nearby. She waves over at them and gets waved at in return. "So, Astra, would you like to play a game?" the child nods eagerly and hands the ball out towards Emily. "Come on, then!"
Naomi's watching the redhead bounce the ball around the sandy shores with the alien child. Emily is relentlessly friendly. Naomi's never known anyone like it. Even on another world she treats everyone exactly the same. There isn't a bad bone in her body.
"Absolutely amazing, isn't she?" the Doctor comments.
"Who?"
"Oh, don't be coy," The Doctor points over to Emily. "Emily Fitch. The feisty redhead."
Naomi doesn't want to think about it. How amazing Emily Fitch really is because she can't even begin to fathom it. How prolific the redhead has become in her life. How desperately she trailed after her. How much she craves her friendship. It's too much. "I suppose. How did you two meet, by the way? How did this all come about?"
"Oh, that's Emily's story to tell, not mine. You'll have to ask her."
"Doubt she'll tell me. I hardly know the girl," Naomi mutters.
The Doctor sends her a knowing look. "Time, Naomi, is the only thing that can withstand itself. Time will exist and stretch on far beyond you or Emily or even me. It shouldn't be wasted on trivial things, dos, don'ts or uncertainties. It's very rare to be completely sure of something. Time; it should just be cherished." The Doctor lays back placing his hands behind his head. "So, why don't you stop wasting time and go play some football, eh? I'll stand watch here."
Naomi swallows hard. She's only just starting to realise how perceptive the Doctor is. Against her better judgement she decides to follow his advice. At least she thinks it's advice or maybe he just wants some time alone?
"I'd hardly call that standing."
"Don't be pedantic, clever girl. Now, clear off! I've got some rays to catch up on." He ushers her off and before she even realises it her feet are carrying her over to the smiling redhead and the giggling child.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Can we go somewhere where I don't get held captive this time, please?" Emily teases as she stands around the control panel. The Doctor smirks at her cheekily, but continues to push levers and twirl dials.
"Danger is everywhere, Fitch! But don't worry, this time we're going somewhere for Naomi!"
"Me?" her voice is full of shock. Where the bloody hell could they be going for her?
"Her?" Emily's voice sounds almost disappointed as it comes out the same time as Naomi. Naomi eyes the girl curiously. Was she jealous? Of what? The Doctor's attention not being on her?
"Buckle up, kiddies! It's gonna be a bumpy ride!" The Doctor cries and latches onto the control panel with a hearty laugh. The TARDIS begins to whirr loudly and that gentle rocking, which is becoming familiar to the blonde, sets in.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"This is Captain Vincete Jarre of the H.S.S Blanche 2. You are surrounded. All occupants of the blue…vessel…will surrender themselves. Whatever weapons you may have place them on the ground in front of you and then exit the vessel with your hands raised above your head. If you do not compile with this instruction you will be fired upon." Bursts through the TARDIS control panel. All occupants eyes dart from one another as the message is played out.
"Who's that?" Emily asks.
"I don't know!" The Doctor exclaims happily. "Shall we go find out?" He's already heading towards the door. Naomi looks at Emily nervously and is surprised when the redhead offers her hand. Fuck it. Naomi takes it and smiles reassuring back at Emily. The Doctor tuffs up the collar of his suit, rubs a hand through his long, thick curls and checks his bowtie. He smiles broadly at his two companions. "Welcome, girls, to 1938. Calais,France." He leans back against the doors, opening them as he does this and steps outside. Emily and Naomi glance at each other before following him eagerly. Naomi gasps as she steps outside onto a cold hard surface…it's a ship. They're on a ship. It's a huge grey vessel that she recognises from the pages of many of her World War II history books. Large tin spirals tower above her head, she can hear the loud sloshing of the ocean and the milling of busy crewmen making there away around the deck. Another thing she notices is the large group of naval officers in front of her that are pointing guns at her. Guns! Shit!
"Doctor…" Naomi hisses. He looks at her with a reassuring smile and a wink.
A large ginger man, donning a beret and a neatly pressed uniform is holding a revolver towards the Doctor. "Identify yourselves," he demands, thrusting his revolver aggressively towards them. The group of naval soldiers that are standing around him shift uneasily, but keep their rifles aimed at the trio.
"Hello, chaps! Now, whom have we got here? Judging by the uniform, the year, the make and model of those rifles and," the Doctor licks his finger and holds it up to the sky, his eyes closing to half lids in consideration. "Salt in the air," The Doctor licks his lips. "Yes, definitely 1941…appears I was a bit off." He turns to Naomi and Emily. "Sorry about that. I'd say we're on an escort and/or battleship on the coast of France, near the English Channel. Isn't that right, Captain? It is Captain, isn't it?" He asks the large ginger man.
"Identify yourself," the ginger man barks again. The resonating sound of the bolts of rifles being locked into place rings around Naomi's head. She's scared. They all should be. These are soldiers!
"Doctor." It's Emily who hisses it this time. It's only then that Naomi realises that her hand has been clutched, nervously, in the redhead's this whole time. She glances down to their entwined hands. Her eyes catch Emily and the redhead dips her head in embarrassment. They don't let go, though.
"Ah, yes, of course! Sorry about the mix up," the Doctor reaches inside of his jacket and pulls out a small leather wallet. Flicking it open he walks towards the ginger man. "I'm the Doctor. Special reconnaissance for Great British government. These are my companions Naomi Campbell and Emily Fitch. We're here to do routine checks and such. Make sure that everything is going according to…plan."
The ginger man takes the wallet from the Doctor's hand and inspects it. "Everything seems to be in order…expect the fact that your…vessel materialised in front of my men here. How do you explain that?"
"I can't. It's top-secret stuff, you know? Can't be giving away all our government secrets." He leans forward and pats the man on his chest friendly. "You understand how it is."
"At ease men." The soldiers around them relax, taking their aimed rifles off of the trio and return to their duties on the deck of the ship. The ginger man holds out his hand to the Doctor. "Captain Vincete Jarre. Pleasure to meet you Doctor."
"The pleasure is all mine, Captain. Now, please," the Doctor turns towards Emily and Naomi and ushers them towards him. "Let me introduce you to my companions. Naomi Campbell and Emily Fitch. Girls, this is Captain—"
"Vincete Jarre," the Captain interrupts. His voice has switched to an almost alluring purr as he takes Emily's hand. He pulls her small hand to his lips and presses a chaste kiss upon it. "Lovely to make your acquaintance." Emily eyes the man in shock, but smiles bashfully nonetheless.
"Nice to meet you, Captain Jarre," she replies. Naomi grinds her teeth. Look at this obnoxious pig…Christ, sometimes men can be vile creatures.
"Please call me, Vincete," he insists. Emily blushes, but nods. His hand hastily grips Naomi's as well, but only for a second. He isn't interested in her at all and she can't say she's not happy about that. The Captain clicks his fingers and a soldier runs over to his side. "Piers. Please escort," he turns to Naomi. "Naomi, is it?"
"Yes. Yes, it is." It's sharper than she intends it and she swears she almost sees the Captain recoil at her tone, but he plasters a fake smile on his face anyway.
"Please escort young Naomi here to our accommodation. I assume you intend to stay Doctor? Since you and your magical box are here I can only guess you intend to stay?" Captain Jarre's voice is friendly.
"That'd be lovely. Emily, why don't you go with Naomi and get yourself settled in? The Captain is going to give me the grand tour, aren't you, Captain?" the Captain's face doesn't hide his disappointment.
"Yes. Piers." he turns towards the soldier standing at his side.
"Yes sir?"
"Escort Miss Campbell and Miss Fitch to the bunks. The Doctor and I will reconvene with them after we've walked the ship." Captain Vincete orders. Piers salutes his Captain and motions for the girls to follow him.
The Doctor leans towards the girls. "I'll meet up with you later. Enjoy the sites." He turns back to the Captain. "Now, where can I get one of those hats? They are cool." Naomi rolls her eyes. The Doctor wouldn't know cool if it bit him on the nose. She watches as one of the soldiers brings him over a beret and he places it on his head with a big grin. He gives them both a thumbs up.
What sites? The sea. Oh, bloody terrific. "Prick." Naomi mutters under her breath as she brushes past the Captain. Emily bites back a laugh and reaches for the blonde's hand again, entwining it with her own. (Perhaps add something like, Naomi doesn't decline, or something similar, onto the end.)
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Her footsteps ring out in loud clangs as Piers leads them further into the ship. Naomi frowns. Every soldier they've walked past has eyed them up. Fucking pigs. Keep on leering. "Sorry about the men. It's not every day we have females aboard. So, you ladies are English? Your French is impeccable."
'French'? Naomi mouths to Emily in confusion. Emily nods her head to confirm. "Erm…thank you, Piers. Yes, we're English. What do you do on the ship?" Emily asks.
"I'm just a deck hand. I check the maintenance of the ship, make sure it's clean and do whatever the Captain asks. It's an easy life." A loud, thundering crash rings out above their heads and Emily lets out a loud gasp.
"What was that?" the redhead squeaks. Piers suddenly becomes on edge. Naomi eyes him suspiciously.
"Err…Just aeroplanes. You'll get used to the sound of it. We all have now." Piers opens the door to a small room filled with two bunk beds. "Here we are. The best suite on the ship. What it lacks in comfort, it makes up for in reinforced steel." He taps his knuckle on the steel wall and smiles at the girls. "Now, if you girls need anything at all just come and fine me, okay?"
"Thanks, Piers." They say in unison and he salutes the girls, causing them both to laugh. He sends them a wink and then makes his way down the tunnels.
"It has been a pleasure, ladies!" he calls again.
"He was nice." Naomi comments.
"Yeah, he was." It's awkward.
"So…which of us is going to sleep with the Doctor?" Naomi's eyes close in embarrassment. "Oh, God, that came out wrong. That's not what I meant at all…"
Emily laughs. "It's okay. I know what you meant." Emily shuffles awkwardly. "You know, I don't think the Doctor ever sleeps…I've never seen him sleep."
"Surely he must do," Naomi rationalises. "What was that thing with the paper book thing by the way? Is he really affiliated with the British government?"
Emily chuckles, shaking her head. "No. It's psychic paper. Basically anything the Doctor is thinking is imprinted on it. It's quite the handy trick."
"Bag of goodies, isn't he?" They laugh lightly together. "So, speaking French, that's weird, huh?"
"Didn't the Doctor explain…" Emily starts.
"No, I mean, yeah, he did. I just…I don't know how I'll ever get used to this…" Naomi ponders, mostly to herself, but Emily has a knowing smile on her features. "How do you do it?"
"Oh, I'm not used to it. Not at all. You just kind of adapt. Expect the unexpected. Always something new with the Doctor." Emily shrugs it off like it's the simplest thing in the world.
"I guess…"
"Wanna explore?" Emily suggests.
"Oh, God, yes!" She exclaims. Their hands find each other again. This is becoming a regular occurrence now.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"And this is the control room. Here we can co-ordinate with other ships in our fleet and prepare movements or course deviations." Captain Jarre spreads his arms out, presenting the room and his men to the Doctor. "Soldiers, this is the Doctor." Lots of salutes follow this statement.
"Hello, chaps!" he waves at a couple of them. The Doctor turns on Captain Jarre. "So, Captain, tell me about your mission."
"Mission?" The Captain looks surprised.
"Come on now, Captain, you hardly expect me to believe you don't have a mission." The Captain starts to lead the Doctor out of the control room and down towards the deck of the side.
"There's only one mission for my men and I, Doctor and that is topreserve the safety of these waters. Defend them as best we can. Whether that is from land, sea or sky. No German ship or plane shall enter British waters."
"British waters…why are you working for the British and not your own people?" The Doctor enquires.
With a grave face Captain Jarre turns on the Doctor. "France is invaded, Doctor. You know how bad it is out there. There have been…so many casualties. The British offered us refuge…the very least we can do is protect their waters." The Captains rests his hands on the rail of the boat and peers out over the murky water. The Doctor leans next to him gazing upon the battle, which is taking place in the distance. Planes are falling, the rat-tat of bullets being fired ring out across the vast scape of the sea and large towers of smoke, spiral endlessly up towards the heavens. "These waters have taken too many lives."
"Why do I get the impression you're not talking about the war here, Captain?"
"You ask a lot of questions, Doctor," Captain Jarre avoids. He pushes away from the rail.
"What is it? What have you seen?" The Captain won't catch his eye. "Don't play coy with me, Captain. You and your men watched my ship appear on the middle of this deck and didn't even bat an eye which means one of two things." He holds two fingers up. "One, you're all insane. Absolutely cuckoo. You saw something materialise out of thin air and it's all just another delusion to you or two, two, you…you've seen something worse. Something even strangest then a magical, teleporting blue box." The Doctor tries to catch the Captains eye.
"I…I don't know what you're talking about, Doctor. We are but a simple escort ship." The Captain coughs and straightens up. "Now, I've given you your tour Doctor as you requested. Under British allegiance you are welcome aboard this vessel for as long as you require. But all the same, I'll say good evening." Captain Jarre nods his head at the Doctor and leaves the raggedy man starring out towards the sea. A pensive look settled on his features.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emily waves at a group of soldiers that pass them by. They wave back. After they've disappeared Emily drags Naomi further down the ship. Naomi shifts nervously as Emily pushes open a large steel door leading into a cautioned off part of the ship.
"I don't think we should be here!" Naomi hisses as she tugs on Emily's arm. Emily sends her a pointed look.
"When did that ever stop you?" Naomi can't argue. She'd hounded Emily. Practically stalked her at times. She shrugs at the other girl, almost apologetically. "Exactly. Come on, then!"
They slowly begin to make their way down some steel stairs into the lower part of the ship. "Naomi," Emily asks as she looks around, her hands running over the cool steel of the ships wall. "Why did the Doctor bring us here? He said it was for you."
"I didn't think he'd actually do it…" Naomi replies. It's cold in this place. The further they decent into the ships depths the colder it becomes. "My great grandfather was based in Calais during the war. I never got to meet him."
Emily turns her head back to smile at the blonde. "The Doctor likes to do that."
"Do what?"
"Make things that are impossible become possible. He likes you."
"You think so?" She's not sure. Sometimes she feels like the only reason she ended up here was because the Doctor made a mistake and doesn't have the heart to tell her to get lost. "Sometimes I feel like I'm only here because of…"
Emily stops and turns to the girl in curiosity. "Because of what?"
"You." Naomi closes her eyes in embarrassment as she says it. Fuck sake. "I mean because you needed help and he just happened to bump into me…" She begins to babble. When did she babble?
"Well, you are," Emily confirms.
"Oh."
Emily chuckles and reaches for Naomi's arm, squeezing it reassuringly. "Because I want you here." Naomi's hand trails up to rest over Emily's. She can't fight the smile that tugs up on her lips. When did talking to Emily become so easy? When did she stop caring about the past? About what had happened….
"You told me to stop looking," Naomi almost accuses.
"I did." Emily nods her head in concession. "But I'm so glad that you didn't." Naomi can't help it, she tries to fight it, she really does, but those dark pools are so alluring. It's almost like they are pulling her int. Emily bites her lip nervously and glances down towards Naomi's. Fuck. Naomi's breath hitches; the redhead is most definitely leaning towards her. Emily Fitch is going to kiss her…and the scariest part is…she's not sure she can stop her. Her eyes slowly start to drift to half lids. She's going to get lost, fuck it; for once in her life she's going to get lost. Who cares about the past…what happened at the party…maybe…just maybe it was all supposed to lead up to this….
**A/N: So, there it is! Hope you enjoyed it and thank you every much again for reading. As I said before feel free to recommend any places you'd like the trio to go! Also, I'm currently going over some other Skins characters that will appear for a chapter or two. Any characters you guys would particularly like to see? Let me know. Thanks again. You rock. **
4. The Beastie in the Gloom: Part 2
**A/N: So, that was hard to swallow, eh? At least they loved each other in the end. So, I hope this helps with whatever you're feeling at the moment and was worth the wait. Please enjoy it and hope to hear from you guys. I am open to suggestions! **
**Another quick thing, I'd like to thank KeffyRules for pimping me out in her authors note the other day. That was amazing. She is amazing and you should definitely go and check out anything she's written because they are all incredibly fantastic and worthwhile! **
**Another story I recommend to you guys is: A Stake to the Heart by jaybonesss23. If you're into crossovers (I assume so since you're here!) then this is a Buffy the Vampire Slayer one. It's awesome. Give it a go.**
**Disclaimer: I don't own Skins or Doctor Who. I can dream though.**
**Chapter Four: 'The Beastie in the Gloom: Part 2.'**
A large, harrowing screen ricochets off the large steel walls of the ship. The pair spilt apart, their tentative moment ruined by the shrill intrusion. "What the fuck is that?" Naomi asks, her hands clasping desperately over her ears trying to stop the harrowing sound from invading her head.
"I don't know!" Emily calls back over the noise, clutching at her ears too. Emily grips Naomi's hand and starts dragging her down the hall, trying to find somewhere away from the shrill sound. Their feet pound hard on the steel floor, echoing around them, mixing with the noise. "In here!" Emily cries as they reach a door, pulling it open, they bundle inside. Emily pulls the handle closed behind them and locks it, the sound is still ringing out, but is dulled somewhat. The redhead slides down the wall, sighing as she reaches the bottom. Naomi slides down next to her. Emily smiles at the blonde.
"Hey." It's the only thing she can think to say.
"Hey." Emily leans her hand on Naomi's shoulder. Naomi's head is reeling. Emily had just tried to kiss her! Actually tried to kiss her. Fuck. Fuck! She bites her lip and glances down at the small head that is now resting on her shoulder. This is all fucked. She's not even gay…but she can't stop thinking about Emily.
Swallowing hard Naomi tries to clear the air. "We need to find the Doctor." Emily nods her head in agreement. "Where are we?"
Emily has a chance to take in her surroundings finally. They're in a small dark room similar to the one that Piers had taken them to.
"What's that?" Emily's pointing towards a long object on the floor that's covered by a blanket. Naomi watches curiously as the redhead pushes herself to her feet and slowly makes her way over to it. Emily grimaces as she steps in something warm on the floor, the room is dark so she can't quite make out what it is, and wiping her foot on the floor she slowly bends down.
"Emily…" Naomi calls but the redhead ignores her. As the sheet is pulled back Emily's hands snap up to her face, covering her mouth in shock. "What is it?"
"It's…it's a body." It's heart-breaking how horrified Emily's voice is. Naomi just wants to hug her. The blonde starts to push herself up but she doesn't get the chance to.
The door to the room swings open and in steps a fierce looking bald man. Naomi cries out as a large hand grips her hair and yanks her to her feet. She cries out, slapping at the hand viciously.
"Let go! Let fucking go!" The owner of the large hand delivers a vicious strike across her cheek.
"Shut your mouth!" the man barks. Naomi isn't a coward but this man is almost gigantic. Her eyes dart over to the redhead. Emily remains crouched, almost like she's in some sort of trance.
"Emily!" Emily looks blankly over to them.
"Oh dear, ladies, looks like we've got ourselves into some trouble, doesn't it?" He's pointing the gun at Emily's head. He looks between them, a menacing smile fixed upon his features. Naomi stares helpless at Emily whose face has begun to pale. What the fuck is going on here?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Come on, Gerard, pick up the pace. It's nearly time for dinner," Harry calls, picking up a bundle of ropes and heaving them over to this partner.
"I'm going as fast as I can go, Harry! We'll get some dinner, don't you worry." Clapping his hands together Gerard makes his way over to his friend and places his hand on his shoulder. "It's not true. What they're saying. You're not next."
Harry looks nervously round the deck. He lowers his tone. "You don't know that, Gerard. Look around us. We're running out of time here."
"Well, what do you suggest, then?"
"We…we could run. Take the lifeboat and leave." Harry looks as uncertain as he sounds.
"We wouldn't last a day in these waters. The Germans would pick us off like flies." Gerard looks sympathetically at his friend.
"We're sitting ducks here, Gerard!" It's louder. Much louder than Harry intends it to be but it bursts from his lips. He looks around, aware that the rest of the soldiers on deck are now staring at the pair. Gerard wraps his arm around his now panicking friend and leads him towards the rail of the ship. He gently rubs his hand.
"You have to calm down. Don't give them a reason to choose you. Stay under the radar, remember?"
"I know, I know, I know!" Harry mutters. The sun is slowly beginning to set towards the horizon. Harry's hands shake furiously. He looks over to Gerard who is anxiously staring at the ocean. "Why did this happen to us? What did we do?"
"We didn't do anything."
"I'm scared."
"So am I." Gerard leans down on the rail next to his friend.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Naomi cries out in pain as she is thrown to the floor, her body crashes down hard next to Emily's feet and she feels the redhead's hands latch onto her, pulling her close.
"Doctor!" Emily cries out in shrill panic. It's the sound of Emily's voice that makes Naomi realise that the shrill screech has stopped.
"No one is going to help you down here, girls. Should have kept out of our business!" He hisses, thrusting the gun at them, causing both girls to flinch in fear.
Naomi decides to not accept this. To not give in to the demands of this crazy solider. She doesn't even know what's going on here and she doesn't care…she knows one thing for sure. She's not dying here. Fuck that. She grabs the sheet at their feet, launching it up and over the bald man's head. He staggers back in surprise and fires a bullet into the wall next to him. His hands grasp desperately at the sheet that is blinding him.
"Fucking bitches!"
Naomi's hand slips into that all too familiar space that is Emily's and they run. Hand in hand they fly down the corridor of the steel ship towards the stairs. Towards the Doctor. They can hear the man behind them, hot on their tails, chasing them relentlessly. She doesn't know what they stumbled onto but it's obviously worth killing for. She turns to Emily and flashes a fantastic smile at her because, in this moment, this crazy out of this world moment, she's realised that she want to share it with anyone else but the quiet girl who sat two rows down from her. How things have changed. Emily sends a meek smile back, obviously still upset about what she'd seen in the previous room. They round the corner, feet pounding hard against the floor, but then, in a moment of true horror, Naomi realises something awful. They've reached a dead end.
"Shit. Fuck. What do we do? What do we fucking do, Ems?" She's panicking now. Gripping desperately at the other girl's shoulders. Emily looks as terrified as her. They can't get caught. She's pissed this guy off enough already. A dark chuckle causes the pair to turn away. The man is slowly advancing on them.
"You're fast. I'll give you that, but it's over now, girls." He points the gun at them.
"What do we do?" Naomi echoes.
"We can take him," Emily whispers, her eyes gleaming with courage. It takes Naomi aback how drastic the change in Emily has come. The bald man has nearly reached them now. "We can take him, Naoms." That pet name is enough to inspire the belief in her. She turns and as he raises the gun brings her leg up to the man's bollocks. He grunts loudly, his face turning a light shade of purple as he slouches to his knees. She grabs the gun out of his hand, pointing at his head. It's the first time she's ever held a gun in her life.
"Why did you attack us?" Her voice carries a forcefulness she's not used to. Emily looks at her with a look of admiration, but tucks herself behind Naomi, her hand resting gently on the blondes. "Answer me, you prick!" He spits on the floor and stares at them grimly.
"Fuck you."
Naomi cocks the gun. "I've got the gun now, dickhead." The door to their left opens with a slow churn of metal. Naomi quickly snaps the gun towards it, her hands are starting to become clamming under the unfamiliar roughness of the metal. Piers steps out of the opening his eyes dart over the situation rapidly before he pulls his gun and points it towards the blonde.
"La Monte! Am I pleased to see you! These girls have been trespassing below deck. They found the body." the bald man pushes himself to his feet and warily steps around the girls towards the soldier holding his gun.
"La Monte? Did you say your name was La Monte?" Naomi asks, her voice half shocked, half curious. He doesn't reply just continues to aim his gun at the two females.
"Finish these two off, La Monte. It'll be just in time for the sacrifice as well," the bald man orders. Piers's eyes flick between the man and the girls again and he readjusts his grip on the revolver. "Well? What are you waiting for? Do it!"
"We didn't see anything, okay?" Emily calls while reassuringly squeezing Naomi's waist. "Just let us go! We won't tell anyone anything."
The bald man lets out a frustrated sigh and grabs the gun from Piers's hand, cocking it and pointing it at the girls.
"Jesus, La Monte! You really are a coward." He moves to pull the trigger. Crack. Naomi throws herself in front of the redhead, shielding her body with her own as she waits for the expected bullet to pierce her soft flesh…but it never does. Naomi's brow creases in confusion. She can feel Emily's breath lightly on her neck. Slowly she begins to unravel herself from the other girl, noting that Emily's face is equally marred with confusion as they turn towards the source of the sound. Piers is standing above the bald man with a knife held in his hand. His face is one of disdain as he looks down at his fellow soldier. He tucks the knife back into his waist and smiles timidly at the girls.
"I am sorry about that. Many atrocities have been committed on this ship, but no more. I will not let you ladies become one of them." He reaches down and retrieves the gun from the unconscious bald man. He gently holds it in his palm for a second before handing it out to the girls in a gesture of good faith; butt first.
"Thank you." It's Emily who says it first. Her small hand curls around the butt of the gun and sends a soft smile towards Piers. "I think it's time you told us what's really going on here, don't you?" Piers nods his head slowly.
"Follow me." He motions for them to follow him through the door. Emily glances over to the blonde on her left. She is staring blankly after the man.
"Naoms, are you okay?" Her soft hand on her arm is enough to reinvigorate Naomi some and she sends a small smile the redhead's way.
"I think…I just met my great-grandad." It's almost amusing how wide Emily's eyes become.
"Oh, wow." What else can be said? It's not like it's a regular occurrence. Meeting your great granddad in his early thirties. She doesn't know how to react. A blank and vacant expression has become fixed upon her features.
"Are you coming?" Piers calls, popping his head back through the door.
"Yeah, we are." Emily tugs lightly on Naomi's arm. "Come on." It's gentle and understanding and Naomi really does appreciate it.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Doctor continues to watch the two soldiers, who were stationed by the rails at the side. The shorter one's outburst had not gone unnoticed by the bowtie donning Doctor. He wondered where Naomi and Emily had got to. Knowing his choice in companions they would have no doubt got themselves into trouble. A lazy smile slowly spreads across his features as he thinks about the pair. So blind. He shakes his head, reaching into his pocket he retrieves his sonic screwdriver and holds it up in front of him, scanning the air for any anomalies. The sonic device begins to let out a high-pitched wail.
"What? What?" He exclaims, staring perplexed at the device. "No…no, it can't be. It's not possible. Stop it!" He smacks the device with his hand. "I just told you it's not possible!" A loud high pitch screech rings across the deck and the Doctor leads out a roar of pain as he clasps his hands over hisears. He laughs heartily and looks around himself, all the soldiers are continuing on with their duties like nothing has happened. Hands clasped over ears he makes his way over to one of them.
"Can't you hear that?" He asks but the deckhand just continues to mop, not even acknowledging the Doctor. "Hey, I'm talking to you!" he taps the soldier on the shoulder in annoyance and the man glances up to him in surprise. Realising that he's been ignoring the Doctor he stops what he's doing immediately and salutes the Doctor.
"Sorry, Sir! I did not see you, sir!"
The Doctor points his finger in the soldiers face. "You can stop all that 'sir' rubbish right now, I'm the Doctor, just the Doctor, understand?" the soldier nods. The Doctor's hands slap back over his exposed ears. "Good, now, why can I hear that but you can't?"
The soldier reaches inside his ear and pulls out some cotton wool. "Protection, sir, I mean Doctor." He holds it out to the Doctor who smiles at him in return.
"Clever! Very clever! Thank you." Hepeers down to the soldier's nametag. "Private Pucard." He's racing off, up the stairs towards the control room. His face is practically ecstatic as he pushes open the door. "You've got a Topac!" he exclaims, confusing the contents of the room, and blank faces stare back at him. Captain Jarre stands up from where he is seated. The high pitch screech suddenly stops.
"Doctor, what is the meaning of this interruption?"
"A Topac." The Doctor drifts across the control room to the Captain and perches on the edge of his desk.
"A Topac? What is that?"
"A sea beast from the planet Ecra. Huge things. Massive. Large exoskeleton. Rather like whales except nothing like them at all, but if it helps with the mental image then you are welcome!" The Doctor begins rummaging through the Captain's desk. Two soldier's move towards the Doctor to stop him, but the Captain holds up his hand instructing them not to.
"A planet? As in not from Earth?" The Captain's voice is meek.
"Oh, come now, Captain, you're an intelligent man. You must have put the pieces together. Large, invincible sea beast, twice the size of an average whale circling your ship for, I'd say months, judging by the lack of crew around us. Just how many has it killed?" The Doctor looks up from his rummaging, but the Captain doesn't meet his eye. He returns to his search. "And then a magical blue box just appears in front of you and your entire crew and no one bats an eye? Oh, no. You know there are bigger and deadlier things out there, Captain." He turns to look at all the soldiers occupying the room with him. "And so do all of you! Now, when was the last time the Topac appeared?"
The Captain looks like he's going to disagree with it all. He opens his mouth but takes a second, swallowing his voice before looking the Doctor square in the eye. "The Beast…"
"Ah, so you do know what I'm talking about. The beast. The Beastie." The Doctor nods to himself. "Carry on…" he ushers.
"The last time the Beast was sighted was a week ago just after we'd reached deep enough waters. It claimed three of my men." The Captain's voice is filled with guilt. His eyes are filled with regret. The Doctor takes a second to console the man, reaching out to him and patting him on the shoulder.
"It wasn't your fault. Topacs are almost unstoppable and are always famished. You're lucky to have survived as long as you have. Especially since it's out of its natural habitat. You prepared these men. Protected them from its screams." He taps his ear. "You've set up defences as best you could. " The Captain nods his head in thanks. The Doctor returns to his foraging.
"What are you looking for?" The Captain's face becomes outraged when he sees what the Doctor has in his hands. "Hey! That's mine!"
"Ah ha!" The Doctor pulls a small book out from one of the desks. "Your journal! Excellent!"
"What do you want with my journal?"
"The longer a Topac inhabits an unfamiliar environment, the more powerful it becomes. It's evolution at its finest. It can literally alter its location to match one suitable for itself, essentially transforming earth's atmosphere and environment into Erca's and that would—" The Doctor is already flicking through the pages rapidly, his large grin quickly turning into grim solace as he takes in the contents of the book. "Doctor?" The Doctor is eying the man now, staring unrelentingly.
The Doctor opens the book and starts to read. "A loud, almost deafening cry is haunting my dreams. It's the call. The call of the Beast, but I will not waver…not now…after so much has been lost," The Doctor licks his lips but continues, glancing towards the Captain's face which has become a pale white. "It may be a nightmarish figment…but the call is real. It's taunting me…letting me know when it's coming to claim more lives. Once the call is heard it is inevitable. We must sate its desire or…all perish in its wrath. What have you done, Captain?" The Doctor's voice is heavy. He glances around at the occupants of the room, looking for some indication that they are as horrified as he is, but they aren't. They know. "What have you done? You've let it get into your head. They are telepathic, Captain! It's what they do! What have you done!?" It's almost a roar as he hurls himself towards the Captain. Two soldiers wrap their arms around his shoulder's restraining him. He fights it. Kicks out in desperation.
"What is necessary, Doctor." The Captain hesitates just for a split second. "Take him away."
The two soldiers lift the Doctor off his feet and start to carry him away. "You can't! Don't feed it, Captain! Not anymore! It's getting stronger! Captain, please, listen to me!" The Doctor is escorted from the room, his voice but a hallow echo to the occupants.
"Prepare the…sacrifice." Captain Jarre looks sick as he says it, but the crew get on with it. They always do.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Do you believe in monsters? Not myths or legends or even bedtime stories your parents told you. Real monsters." Piers glances back at the girls briefly as he leads them through the depths of the ship.
"I've seen some things in my time," Emily comments with a small smile.
"What if I told you that…this ship is the home of a monster." Naomi is glancing strangely at the young French soldier. He eyes her cautiously, but reaches a door, spinning the handle and opening it for them. "Are you okay, Miss Campbell?"
"Yeah, fine, err…sorry," she murmurs and steps through the doorway. In front of her lies the engine room. Emily follows shortly after and nudges Naomi, sending her a pointed look and mouths 'Stop it'. Naomi just gives her the finger. Emily can't help but bite back the laugh that wants to escape her. "So, Piers…Piers La Monte, you were talking about monsters?" Naomi asks.
"Yes, a monster lies on this ship…but it is not the only monster I have seen in my life. A beast…" his voice wavers. "So gigantic. So…horrid. I cannot even put it into words."
"A beast?" Emily questions. "Like…a shark or a whale?"
"No. It's like nothing I have ever seen before." Piers' face is etched with guilt and Emily can't help but pick up on it. The blonde to her left is still staring at Piers with a look of complete confusion.
"Piers…you said there were two monsters on this ship. Who's the other one?" Emily knows she's asked the right question when Piers looks up at her with sad eyes, his lips pulling up in an almost devastated smile.
"You saw the body."
"We did," Emily confirms.
"The beast. It wouldn't leave us alone. We survived for days while it was on our trail, but until it was fed…until we fed it…it wouldn't leave us alone."
"Fed?" Naomi's confused voice rings out against the steel walls and Piers looks at her guiltily.
"It's almost like it was taunting us. Following us and showing itself at certain moments to members of the crew, enough to scare us, but not harm us, but then one night that all changed. The beast started to attack, rocking the ship back and forward; it felt ten times worse than a shelling or an enemy attack. That we could cope with, but the power that this monstrosity had was unbelievable." Piers holds up his hands for the girls to stop. They have reached their destination. "The Captain changed…he used to be such a kind man, but that changed as soon as the beast started to hound us. His eyes became restless, his resolve was tested and failed…he became a shell of a man, but he is the Captain and we are his crew. We do what he commands." He opens the door to the engine room and steps through.
"You're feeding it." The dark realisation fills the blonde's eyes and she looks upon her great-grandfather with disappointment. He glances back at the blonde almost like a scared child.
"I will never forgive myself for my part in all of this. I helped at first." He swallows hard. "I won't be anymore."
"Where are you taking us?" Emily steps through the entrance, leaving Naomi the only one not to have stepped through, and pass Piers taking in the contents of the engine room.
"The beast has a routine and tonight is the night it will take another of us."
"How do you choose?"
Piers laughs meekly. "How do a crew of soldier choose to take a life? They follow orders, of course." Emily's eyes soften and she reaches out to comfort the man, squeezing his arm. "I hide down here now when the beast comes. I refuse to compromise myself anymore for the delusions of one man. This is the engine room. The only place that the beast can't seem to harm." He holds out his arms, presenting the room to the girls. Turning to Naomi, he holds out his hand for her to take but she is staring at Piers peculiarly.
"You helped them…" It's disbelief. She thought she knew this man. She thought she knew him from stories that she'd been told; from the kind and loving words of her great Nanna and from the medals she'd see. War wasn't something she ever thought was a necessity, but she understood the necessity of him joining. Occupied France, he had to get out of there and if there hadn't been a war then maybe Naomi would be speaking French right now…but this was so much worse than that.
"I did and I am sorry."
"Naomi?" It's Emily. Her eyes are full of concern. Naomi glances at her and she knows her eyes give away what she's feeling. It's sometimes like Emily knows her better than she knows herself, which is terrifying because she's only been in the girl's company for a short amount of time. At this point in time everything is too much and she takes a step back, her hand coming up over her mouth and moves to turn. "Naomi!"
At precisely the same moment the ship shakes violently throwing the redhead to the ground. "Naomi!" this time it is Piers who roars and he hurls himself towards the girl, pushing her out of the way of a sliding, steel emergency hatch which drops from the ceiling. The wall next to the pair bursts with a metallic crack and water starts to pour into the room. Naomi splutters. She's choking. Water is violently pushing its way down her throat and she fights with all she has to sit up. She can taste something in her mouth…something familiar, but also unfamiliar at the same time. It's metallic. Blood. Her face contorts in horror and her mind jumps to horrible conclusions. Emily. "Emily!" She calls out over the rush of water flooding the room.
"Naomi!" She can't make out where Emily's voice is coming from.
"Where are you?" Naomi calls, standing now in the water, which is slowly beginning to rise. It's up to her ankles now.
"Over here!" A few strong bangs against themetal hatch that Piers had saved her from let's Naomi know that Emily isn't in the room with her. As she makes her way towards the hatch she notices something in the corner of her eye. A large pool of blood and her eyes begin to trail it to the source. Her eyes open in panic as she sees Piers resting against a wall, the pool of blood coming from his leg. "Naomi, are you okay?" Emily calls again her voice becoming distressed.
Her feet carry her over to her great-grandfather and she hunches down next to him. "Oh, fuck." He's really pale. His breaths are coming out in short bursts. Naomi bites her lip and pulls the wounded figure into a hug, a sob escaping her, which she didn't even know she was holding. "I'm sorry."
"Don't…apologise, Miss Campbell." He replies.
"You saved me. You didn't have to save me." His head slowly turns towards her. Her eyes can't meet his so they drop down to his leg. It's missing from just below the knee down. He grimaces and shifts.
"But I did. I…don't know what it is, Miss Campbell, but I feel protective of you. I promised you that I wouldn't let this ship claim you. You remind me of someone I love very dearly…" Naomi's eyes are shining with tears. "I am not an evil man, just an impressionable one, but no more…no more…" his head lulls to the side. It all hits her then. The stories, the pictures, her great nanna's sad face. It's all too much and she can't help but bury her head in hergreat-grandfather's shoulder and weep. Weep in grief, weep for her nanna and weep for her great-grandfather. The impressionable man.
"Naomi, are you okay?" Emily voice calls again. It's softer this time. She's probably heard what happened.
"No." It's heavy, but honest. "He's dead. He's fucking dead." Her voice breaks on the final word. She wants Emily to be in touching distance.
"I'm sorry." Naomi slouches down next to Piers' body. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"No. I'm trapped though…and the water is piling in really fast." It's up to her stomach now, but she won't leave him. Not here. Not like this.
"I'm going to find the Doctor, okay? We…I will get you out of there…I promise, Naomi." She doesn't want to hear any more promises right now. Not if this is the cost but she doesn't say anything. She just listens to the patter of the redhead's feet as they go in search of the Doctor.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
A frustrated sigh leaves the Doctor as he slams his hands against the door of his cell. He begins to pace back and forth. It's not really a cell, just one of the bunks, but there's hardly anywhere to move or think. Emily. His Emily…and Naomi. Where are they? His hand comes up to his forehead and he scrunches his brow in frustration. The steel on this ship is tradition. There is no electricity running through the doors so his sonic screwdriver can't manipulate them in anyway.
"Topac, Topac, Topac…" he mutters to himself. "But how did it get here? A stray?" He energetically runs his fingers against his thumb. "No, Erca…" He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his sonic screwdriver and holds it up towards the ceiling. "Not gone. It's still there. So, why are you here? A disruption in time? Or…oh…" Looking back at the readings on his screwdriver The Doctor's eyes shine with realisation. A meteor. The Topac's gravitational field had got caught on an incredibly low flying meteor. That's what it was doing here. It's been marooned, not by choice, but by circumstance. They may be vicious creatures by nature but he wasn't about to condemn a beast for being home sick.
The Doctor stumbles as the ship shakes. A loud commotion can be heard from above and he carefully places his sonic screwdriver back into his jacket. "The Beastie." The ship rocks harder this time. The handle on the door to his cell turns and the small soldier he recognises as Harry is standing in the archway.
"You have to help us. Please, help us!" Harry's eyes are filled with fear. His gun is fiercely in his hand.
"Impeccable timing, then!" The Doctor advances on the soldier and shakes his hand. "Harry, was it?" The soldier nods his head.
"Yes."
"Did the Captain send you?"
"No."
"I thought not. The beast, it didn't accept the sacrifice this time, did it?" The Doctor says knowingly.
"No! It's mutilating the ship! It's destroying everything. Captain Jarre has gone missing and we can't defend ourselves." The Doctor's hand falls on the soldier's shoulder and calms him.
"Listen to me, Harry, I'm going to do everything I can to stop it, okay? But what I need from you now is to calm down." Harry slowly nods, his eyes never leaving the Doctor's. "Harpoons and rope. Bring me them and give them to all of the crew."
"It won't work. It can't be harmed!" Harry protests.
The Doctor cracks a smile at the nervous man. "Who said anything about hurting it?" He beams and runs out of the room. He pops his head back in and points to the beret on Harry's head. "Can I have that? I lost my one." He hands over the beret and watches as the Doctor adjusts it on his head. "Brilliant! Right, shall we save the world, then?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"The stairwell is blocked." Emily's voice rings out from the other side of the steel hatch. Naomi could almost laugh. Everything all at once, eh? The water is now just about her chest and Piers' body has slowly begun to slump further down into the seawater. The ship is going down.
"Is this what this is all usually like?" Naomi tries to prevent herself from being bitter but it's hard when she's ended up here. Next to a dead family member.
"What do you mean?" She can hear Emily sliding down the other side of the hatch. She can only assume the girl is leaning back against it.
"How many times have you nearly died in his company?" It's bitter. She tries to stop it, but she can't. Emily doesn't reply straight away though.
"I've lost count." Emily says it in a different way though. Not like Naomi. She's not bitter. She's just accustom to it.
"Why do you stay with him then?" She just doesn't understand. Yes, she's here right now and that makes her seem like a giant hypocrite, but right now she's starting to doubt her decision.
"Because the Doctor gives you something unlike anything else in life. Yes, okay, maybe I have had too many close calls or something awful has happened, but seeing all this stuff. Different worlds, different times, and different people…it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I feel privileged that he lets me travel with him."
"Privileged? He's not a God, Emily. He just seems to cause pain and suffering wherever he goes. Why can't you see that?" Naomi's eyes are brimming again now as she looks down at her departed great-grandfather. She bites her lips and rests her head back against the cool steel. It won't be long now until she'll have to stand and leave him here. God, she doesn't want to leave him here.
"I'm sorry." But it's the heart-wrenching sob that's attached to it which breaks Naomi's angry resolve. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I just wanted you to come with us because…because…"
"Because what?" She needs to know.
"And now someone you love has died because of me. I'm sorry." Her sobs become louder. More deafening to Naomi.
"Emily, please…" Her voice is breaking now as well. "Don't cry. It's not your fault! It's really not. I'm just being the stubborn moody cow that I am. I don't really blame the Doctor either, although," she raises her voice. "I really wish he would hurry up and save us already!" She looks back down at Piers and smiles sadly. She pulls at the fabric of his jacket and pulls him towards her. Her hand traces lightly over his unshaven chin and she smiles down at him. She didn't want to meet him this way, she didn't want this to happen at all, but Emily's right. The Doctor gave her the chance to see something in the flesh that she would never have had the chance to see before. She reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a soaking wallet, thumbing the leather clips off it she opens the contents and smiles at what she sees. Her Nanna. A younger, more beautiful version of her, but she'd recognise that face anywhere. "You always kept her close, didn't you?" She whispers. "I'm sorry." She presses a kiss to his temple and slips the wallet back into his jacket…and with that…she lets him go.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On the deck of the ship the Doctor is busy commanding the soldiers. The water around the boat is almost like a whirlpool, lashing and hissing back at the men who wield harpoons on the sides of the ships. A large, purple tentacle surfaces from the water and then hammers back down sending a huge wave of water crashing down over the men. The Doctor wipes the water from his brow, takes off his beret and twists the fabric in his hand, squeezing the water from it.
"We've got ourselves a beastie, chaps! Do as the Captain Doctor, The Captain Doctor? No, that's rubbish. Do as the Doctor tells you and we'll make sure all of you live to set sail again!" He calls to the soldiers who all raise their harpoons in salute to him. "If you see it! Harpoon it! Now," he clicks his fingers and turns towards Harry who is holding a reel of rope in his arms. "Tie me up, Harry boy!" The Doctor holds his arms out and Harry coils the rope around the man, securing it.
"So what's the plan?" Harry asks.
"The plan? Well, you know, climb up on top of that cylinder over there," he points at the cylinder, which is rocking precariously in the assault of the Topac. "You see the Topac is getting ready to change this worlds climate to match it's one. Those waves? That's just the start. So, to summarise," The Doctor adjusts his beret. "Stop the beastie, make sure all of you live to see another day, find my friends and then…well, maybe go meet the parents…yeah, it's been a while since I've done a house call." The Doctor nods to himself and then tugs on the rope. He grabs the other end and wraps it around his shoulder. "You've been brilliant, Harry." He pats the soldier on the arm. Harry picks up the harpoon to his left and heads over towards the side where a large tentacle is snapping at the men. One of them screams out in agony as it wraps around his ankles and flings him into the abyss, a large abyss, with jagged teeth, swallows him whole. Harpoons bounce harmlessly off its exoskeleton and it roars, that high pierce scream, which is all so familiar. The Doctor glances back at the brave men one more time before advancing on the cylinder.
His hands latch on to the bottom of the ladder which leads to the top of the cylinder and he looks up. It's begun to rain now. The spittle lashes down upon the Doctor and he closes his eyes for a second, taking it in. He won't let anymore people perish. "Geronimo." He mutters to himself before hoisting himself up onto the ladder and starting the slow climb.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Emily…" The water is icy and bitter and her bottom lip is trembling. "I'm so cold."
"Hold on, Naomi, just hold on, okay? He's coming! I promise you he's coming!" She hears the bang against the steel door, which reminds Naomi that the redhead is still there. Still with her. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm never going anywhere."
"Never is a long time." Bitter to the end. Naomi can't help but feel that's a label that's appropriate for her; her ending is looking a lot closer than she imagined but at least Emily is with her. At least someone is with her.
"I'd happily spend it with you." Even in this situation it's those words, and not the impending death, which make Naomi feel like she can't breath. There's barely any room left now and the water is filling up faster and faster, but still she swims towards the hatch pressing her hand against it.
"Thank you." She can hear Emily moving on the other side even over the rushing of water. Emily places her hand over where Naomi's would be on the other side and rests her head against it. "I…I wouldn't take any of it back. I'd do it all over. To be with you."
"Be with me?" Emily questions.
A large screeching howl disturbs the question hanging in the air and Naomi can't help but be the tiniest bit thankful for that. Resting her head against the steel she continues to pump her tired legs to keep herself afloat.
"Do you ever miss them? Everyone back home?" Naomi is definitely missing Cook right now. Her best friend and her mother. Her intolerable, overbearing hippy mother…she just wants to hug them both right now. All four of them…she didn't realise it until now but Emily and the Doctor are there too in her vision of a perfect gathering. All five of them, including herself, sitting in the garden, in the sun, sipping on cocktails, the Doctor has a cup of tea and…Naomi laughs. The Doctor and her mother? That's a sight she'd pay to see. The bloody tweed wearing bastard.
"I miss Katie. So much sometimes. I think it's a twin thing. I call her a lot though…but it's not the same. We always used to do everything together and now she's so far away. I miss my family too but there's issues there and it's been really nice to be away," Emily replies. Issues? Naomi would like to know more. No time like the present.
"Issues?"
"I…erm…" Emily stutters. "I'm gay, Naomi. I'm…gay." Emily laughs to herself in pride. "There! I said it! I'm gay! I love fanny!" Naomi chuckles on the other side. "Sorry." Naomi doesn't have to see the other girl to know that she's blushing.
"No judgement here. Express yourself all you want." Emily laughs in response
"I think I'm good for now, thanks." Emily replies. "What about you? Are you missing anyone?"
"My mum. Christ, I never thought I'd say that and really mean it." She rests her forehead against the steel. "And Cook."
"Cook, really?" Emily sounds surprised.
"Really. He's got a big heart. He's a pig, but he's my pig." Naomi smiles. If he'd been here to hear her say that…
"Sounds like you live on a farm." They laugh together. It's bittersweet they know. Emily's eyes are starting to tear up because she knows that Naomi hasn't got long left. The Doctor really isn't going to make it this time. "How's mother hen?" Naomi rolls her eyes.
"I wish we'd become friends sooner…" and she means it, she really does. She has to say it now. She takes a deep breath. "Because these last couple of days have been amazing. There's not a lot of time left and the water is rising and, just fuck it, fuck it! I'm just going to say it. Emily Fitch—"
"Naomi?" Emily can almost feel like Naomi's hand isn't on the steel anymore. The absence is unbearable. The tears welling in her eyes begin to bubble over and slide down her cheeks. A harsh sob rips from her throat and she begins to sob. Naomi. Naomi's gone. Hunching over she slides down the steel. There's nothing anymore.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Doctor pulls the knot tight on the rope he has fastened around the middle of the cylinder tower. He combs his hair back neatly with his fingers and then steps back out to the centre of the platform. He reaches into his jacket and pulls out his sonic screwdriver. Taking a second to glance below he looks down to the scene. Half the ship has been devoured by the Topac, its huge gaping mouth laying at the far side. The Doctor stares into its glimmering purple eyes. The swirling pools almost hypnotic, but his mind is stronger than most. Shaking his head he goes back to the job at hand. "It's started." He recognises the voice as Captain Jarre. He's right though…The Doctor can see it. Large chunks of earth are being pulled from deep below the sea's surface, now floating in the sky, and the wind is picking up…causing all of the clusters beginning to rotate. The environment is changing to reflect the Topac's natural habitat. Captain Jarre is standing at the top of the ladder, which The Doctor has just climbed. "You can't stop it." Jarre's eyes are glowing the hypnotic purple…just like the Topac's.
"This isn't you, Captain. You can stop this." The Doctor bellows over the wind, his hair being lashed around furiously.
"I don't want to do that, Doctor. This is it. This is the end." The Captain begins to advance on him with a harpoon in hand.
"That's the Topac speaking! It's infected your mind! You have to push it out Captain, _please, _you have to let me help you!" The Doctor implores. His finger slowly edges over to the button of his sonic screwdriver and he holds it up to the sky.
Jarre raises his harpoon. "Put that down."
"Never." The Doctor has a viciousness about him that seems to unsettle Jarre. Jarre charges towards the Doctor but as he does the Topac's tentacle snaps against the tower, causing both of them to topple under its wrath. The Doctor stops. Just for a second he stops. He closes his eyes and grimaces in pain as the rope around his waist prevents him from toppling over the edge of the tower. He listens to everything. The crashing of the waves, the unrelenting cry of the Topac and the shrill screams of the dying below and then he moves. Pushing himself to his feet he glances over to the screaming Jarre as he falls to his death from the top of the tower and he plunges his sonic screwdriver into the air. "No more death." His words are laced with determination. A green beam ejects from the top of his screwdriver and flies into the sky. "Come on! Come on! Come on!" He eyes the sky but nothing happens. His face drops. No. His feet slowly stagger towards the edge of the tower, as far as the rope will let him, and peers down. His eyes fill with sadness but they find their target. Harry is clinging onto a rail as the ship slowly begins to topple into the mouth of the Topac. He promised he would save them…Emily and Naomi. He's failed everyone….No. A slow smile spreads over his face. No.
The sun breaks through the clouds and it's the best thing the Doctor's seen in a long time. A huge blue beam follows shortly after and latches onto the Topac. It's cries stop. It's tentacles retract. "That's it! Yes! Ha-ha!" The Doctor throws his hands up in the air and laughs happily. "Come and take him home!" He salutes towards the sky and spins on the spot. The ship slowly begins to drop back into a level setting in the water as the gigantic beast is slowly lifted in the sky, consumed by the blue light. The Doctor unties the rope from around his waist and chuckles to himself. The sun is rising onthe horizon. "What a beautiful day." He takes off his beret and throws it down towards the cheering men below him. Time to save his girls.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emily's eyes are red raw when the whirring of the TARDIS rings out and the Doctor's arms wrap around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace. She buries her head into his shoulders and slaps viciously at his chest.
"Where were you? She's dead! Naomi's dead and you weren't here! You didn't come! You always come!" She pushes away from her beloved Doctor and turns her back on him.
"I'm so sorry." The Doctor's eyes begin to gleam with tears as well. "Emily, please…" It's in moments like this that Emily sees how desperately the Doctor really needs companionship.
"Don't." Emily's voice is harsh and this is the first time she's ever spoken to him like that. The Doctor's shoulders sag. His hand dropping back down to his side.
"Sorry to break up the pity party, but who died?" Emily gasps and turns towards the voice. A thoroughly soaked Naomi is standing staring at the pair. Emily's feet carry her over to the blonde and pull her into a crippling hug.
"You're alive! How?" She pulls back and cups the other girl's face. "I thought you'd died." She hugs her again. Naomi laughs into the redhead's shoulder.
"So did I." Naomi lingers longer than she should in the hug. She takes a deep breath and takes in that all too familiar smell that is Emily Fitch. Christ, is she glad she's lived long enough to smell this again. Emily pulls back and smiles timidly at the blonde, Naomi's eyes are consuming her features with a loving smile, and the blonde doesn't care if Emily knows it.
The Doctor taps Naomi on the shoulder and holds open his arms expectantly. "Sorry to interrupt."
Naomi glares at the man dressed in tweed and crosses her arms. "Don't you ever let me die again." He nods his head solemnly and lowers his arms. Naomi surprises him by throwing herself into the Doctor's body her arms circling his neck in a fierce embrace. "And thank you. For letting me meet him."
"Meet who?" The Doctor asks perplexed. Naomi pulls back and rolls her eyes at the alien in front of her.
"For someone so clever you really can be completely clueless sometimes, can't you?" The Doctor frowns.
"Hey! I resent that! I am not clueless." He peers at both of the girls. "Who are you talking about? Did you meet someone?"
"It doesn't matter." Emily is still beaming at the blonde. "Is it over, Doctor?" The girls are smiling coyly at each other and the Doctor is totally oblivious. He's looking through his pockets in a rushed, confused state.
"Yes, yes, it is. The Beastie has been—have you girls seen my sonic screwdriver? I had it a second ago!" They both shake their head and laugh at his antics. "Hey! None of that laughing business! That Sonic screwdriver is precious to me! It has saved ours, and my, lives more than you could know. Where is it?" He pulls it out of his back pocket with a triumphant grin and places a kiss on it. "There you are, you beautiful thing! Right," he claps his hands and looks between the two girls. "What? What is it?"
"Did you just kiss that screwdriver?" Naomi's eyebrow is arched in surprise.
"Err…well." The Doctor mumbles.
"I think he did." Emily nods and winks at Naomi.
"I think this the first time I've seen you speechless as well. First time for everything, I suppose." The Doctor looks between the two girls.
"Stop it." He warns and they both hold up their hands in defence.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Emily turns away from him with a grin and winks at Naomi again.
"No. This isn't happening. We're not doing the whole the two of you gang up on me routine. It's _my_ TARDIS and there will be no teaming up! Now, come on, let's get off this ship before it sinks to the bottom of the sea. I'll let you know what happened when you get on the TARDIS. Humans." He throws his hand over his shoulder and returns to his ship.
"Think we annoyed him?" Emily asks.
Naomi laughs. "Oh, yes."
"Let's go wind him up some more?" Naomi laughs. Apart from the near-death experiences this was going to be bloody amazing. She takes the redhead's hand and lets her lead her back into the magical blue box.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"A house call?" Emily asks sceptically.
"Yes, 'a house call'," The Doctor shakes his head at Emily disapprovingly. He starts to energetically spin a dial. "We've just saved the world from total destruction, sent a marooned Topac back to it's home world, saved half a crew of a sinking ship and returned them all to their families. I think that that, Miss Fitch, earns us a break, don't you?"
Emily is still staring at the Doctor in confusion as he dances around the TARDIS control panel. "But you've already met Katie."
The Doctor grimaces and Naomi bites back a laugh. "Yes…and she was quite the character indeed, enough for one lifetime in fact," Emily scowls at him. "But I'm not talking about you, missy. I'm talking about the other one." He slings his thumb in Naomi's direction.
"She doesn't particularly either." Emily mutters to herself and crosses her arms.
"The other one? We're not objects!" Naomi pipes up but the Doctor ignores her. Pig. She crosses her arms. "Who says I want to do a…house call or whatever?"
"Wasn't asking permission." He sends a playful wink her way and pushes down on a level hard. "Plus being all seeing I already know that this is a fantastic idea that you can thank me for later. Now, let's go meet the family, eh?" He smiles happily as he grabs onto the control panel. The TARDIS rocking viciously.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The middle aged blonde woman dressed in floral puts the kettle down on the side and smiles to herself. Nothing better than a perfectly brewed herbal tea. Picking up the china cup she brings it to her mouth and takes a long gulp.
"Mmmmm. Lovely." She doesn't have much time to enjoy it though because ofa loud banging on her front door. "James!"
"Yeah, G?" Cook calls from the other room.
"Will you get that for me, love?"
"No chance." Rolling her eyes she puts the tea back on the side and makes her way over to the front door. She see's that a man is waiting on the other side.
"Hello?" She calls opening the door.
"Hello! You must be Naomi's mother, Gina! I'm The Doctor It's lovely to meet you. Naomi's told me so much about you." Now, Gina is known for being a friendly woman but this mysterious man is something else. His eyes are already scanning over every single inch of the house they can fix onto. She looks behind him, confused, to her daughter and her redheaded friend. "Now, have you got any fish fingers and custard? I love fish fingers and custard." He steps past Gina and into the house.
"Naomi. Who is that man?" Gina is watching him in amazement.
"That's The Doctor and this is Emily." Emily steps forward with a tentative smile and holds out her hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Campbell."
"Lovely to meet you, Emily, dear. Please come in. I've just finished making tea." She pulls the girl in by the hand and Naomi follows with an eye roll. "Naomi's told me so much about you." Naomi's eyes bulge and she sends her mother a death glare, not missing the fact that Emily eyes her curious. Her mother is already leading Emily into the kitchen for what Naomi is sure will be a long chat.
"Naomikins!" Cook's arms wrap around her. "Where the fuck have you been girl?"
"Hey Cook!" Naomi pulls the polo-wearing boy into a fierce hug.
"Who's this?" The pair breaks apart and Cook breaks out into uproarious laughter at the sight of a tweed wearing man eating fish fingers in custard.
"Doctor, this is Cook. Cook this is the Doctor." Cook's still laughing as the Doctor approaches and takes the boy's hand.
"Hello Cook. Naomi's told me absolutely nothing about you. It's lovely to meet you. Fish finger?" He holds it out towards the boy who is still howling with laughter. He shakes his head.
"Nah, I'm alright thanks, "Doctor"."
"Naomi! Bring your friend in here! I've made tea for us all!" Naomi sighs. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. She watches as the Doctor makes his way back over and sits down next to Gina and sniffing at the tea that has been handed to him. Well, she did want this after all. She looks at Emily and suddenly…everything seems fine.
**A/N: Okay, so that turned out to be a lot longer than I anticipated. Well, I hope this helps everyone with the post Fire blues that are going around. Let me know what you think! I appreciate anything you guys have to say. I love you all. See you next time. **
5. The Devil Inside: Part 1
**A/N: Let me start by apologising for taking so long to get this chapter up! In real life I study film and I'm working on a summer project and it's got very time consuming. I hope you guys like this chapter and thank you all so much for the reviews. I hope this one isn't too complicated, I was just trying to be as Doctor Who as possible **
**Sorry to split the chapters again but these 'episodes' just get bigger and bigger the more I write. I will try and be quicker! Promise!**
**And most importantly, thank you to Miss Peg for betaing. You star.**
**Disclaimer: I don't own Skins or Doctor Who. That'd be nifty, huh?**
**Chapter Five: 'The Devil Inside: Part 1'**
Naomi's eyes close in frustration as she listens to her mother prattle on about the benefits of organic produce. It's not that she doesn't think it's a noble cause, it totally is, but she can't help think that it's the last thing the Doctor wants to hear about.
"Tell me more of this 'rainforest alliance'." The Doctor leans forward, his face laced with fascination.
They are all sitting around the table in the kitchen it's incredibly cramped, but The Doctor and her mother are on one side and the teenagers are on the other. Naomi rolls her eyes. Maybe she was wrong. The Doctor and her mum are getting on like a house on fire. She hears Emily let out a soft chuckle next to her and her eyes snap towards the girl. Emily's hand squeezes her thigh, it's soothing, it really is. She's not good at this…social thing. She doesn't bring people home, not even when she was a small child, and never someone quite as bizarre as The Doctor. Not that her mum isn't used to the bizarre sort.
"Chill out." Emily mutters and she tries to send a reassuring smile back in return but she can tell that Emily doesn't buy it.
"Do you wanna get out of here?" Naomi nods. Cook's up for it. More than up for it, he's bloody ecstatic. Emily suggests clubbing. The Doctor has no interest and Gina just waves for them to piss off already.
What could go wrong?
**xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx**
The Doctor energetically stirs his teaspoon against the walls of the small china cup that is lying on the table in front of him. He smiles warmly at Gina, who is sipping at her cup of tea, and taps the teaspoon on the rim of the cup when he's finished. Taking a sip he lets out a contented sigh. "Marvellous. Always tea bag first. It's simple."
"Connoisseur of tea, are we, Doctor?" Gina teases.
"Well, I've had my fair share in my days. So, where were we? Oh, yes, I remember," The Doctor shakes his head and laughs to himself. "You were telling me about your travels."
"Well, that was a long time ago now, but it was amazing. How did you know I'd travelled? The world is absolutely fascinating, don't you think? It can be a bit shit sometimes, but most of the time it's—"
"Fantastic," The Doctor finishes for her. Gina laughs along with him and nods.
"Took the words out of my mouth."
"I know a fellow traveller when I see one." He takes another hefty gulp of his tea and then places the empty cup down on the table.
"Ah, yes. Naomi said you were a traveller. Or, well, that she'd been travelling with you. Anywhere exciting? I've been dying to see that girl get out of the house and do something with her life! College and education is great, but there's only so much time you can spend locked in a small room with all that teenage angst bollocks." Gina pushes herself up from out of her seat and takes the two empty cups over towards the sink and begins to wash them.
"Oh, you know, here and there, many beautiful and exotic places but I'd much rather hear about your travels." The Doctor moves over to the counter and stands next to Gina. He picks up a rag that is lying on the counter and takes one of the cups from Gina's hand and begins drying it.
"Me? Oh, there's not much to tell, Doctor. I did a bit of travelling, met a few people, a few pricks, had some good times and then came back to Bristol and had Naomi and, well, here we are." The Doctor looks at the woman with sad eyes. Surely she can't feel so…unimportant. There's no such thing. Not in the Doctor's eyes.
"Don't you want to travel again?"
"Me? No, no…there's nothing out there for me in this world anymore. I'm happy here." Gina nods to herself, almost reassuring. She smiles at the man when he places a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"There's always something more out there, Miss Campbell. Don't you think there isn't." Gina smiles bashfully.
"I can see why she likes you."
The Doctor's face twists in confusion. "Who?"
"Naomi. You're a right charmer, aren't you?"
"I don't know what you mean." The Doctor stumbles back and attempts to return to his seat. He clatters down into it rather unceremoniously and reaches into his jacket pocket, fiddling with something. Gina returns to her seat across from him and smirks at the man.
"Warm smiles, big eyes, charismatic, strong jaw, incredibly intelligent. God, anyone could just eat you up, couldn't they? Bet my daughter's top of that list." The Doctor refuses to catch the blonde woman's eye.
"I…er…" It's rare that The Doctor can't find words to say, in any situation, but this one is particularly perplexing. "No, I don't think I am. Sometimes I'm not even sure Naomi likes me just tolerates me for…" He pauses, realising that he's said too much. There's some truth to what he says though.
"For?" Gina's curiosity is piqued. "For Emily?" Gina flashes The Doctor a knowing smile and he feels himself relax. He's not used to feeling uneasy.
The Doctor smiles back. "I don't know what you mean, Miss Campbell." Of course he does, he's no idiot, but he doesn't betray his friends trust. Not ever. Not even to her mother.
"Please, call me Gina, and I think we all know, Doctor, apart from Naomi herself."
"She'll come around, Gina. She's a clever girl." He says it with genuine affection which makes Gina's heart swell with joy. She's happy for her daughter. Happy that she's finally opening up and making friends. The Doctor's head subconsciously twitches. Something is wrong.
**Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx**
"Fucking aliens, Blondie! You've got to be kidding me!" Cook slams his hand down on the bar of the noisy club that the trio is currently occupying. Emily had suggested it, not Cook, which was incredibly surprising to the blonde but ever since they'd all had dinner earlier Naomi had been itching to get out of there. Emily could tell. That's something she was growing to love about the small redhead. She just knows what Naomi needs.
"I kid you not. Sifetecs, I think the Doctor called them. The most disgusting things I've ever seen in my life!" She's feeling the effects of the alcohol now. Emily's hazy eyes burn into her from the other side of Cook. It's almost hypnotic, she thinks, as those eyes gently lull her into a comfort buzz.
"So, you did it? You went out and saw yourself some real life fucking aliens." Cook leans against the bar in disbelief. "And with Emilio here!" He wraps his arm around the redhead who is silently watching the pair. She doesn't protest, though. "Fuck me, Naomikins. Way to take charge of your life." He reaches out and pats Naomi on the back of the neck playfully. She swipes his hand away with a friendly smirk.
"Jealous?"
"Of you? Nah, Blondie, you're alright and all but you ain't got nothing on the Cookie monster." Emily snorts at this comment. Cook doesn't take any notice though. "Charm, good looks and a massive cock! The ultimate package!" He waggles his crotch towards Naomi. She grimaces.
"Pig!"
"Your pig," Emily interjects and Naomi glares at the other girl. Cook looks back in surprise at Emily.
"Oh, yeah?" He glances back to Naomi with his eyes almost dancing. "Been talking about me with your new girlfriend, Blondie? All good, I hope?"
Naomi shifts uncomfortably at the use of the word 'girlfriend'. Cook notices it, he may be a dick, but he's not going to dwell and make it awkward for his best friend. He turns back towards Emily and leans on the counter next to her.
"So, Emilio, what's your preference?" He takes a second to gauge her, gently slapping his hands on the edge of the bar. "I'd say you're a Sambuca lass, am I right?"
Emily smirks. "Flaming, actually."
Cook turns his head towards Naomi, who has settled next to him on the bar. "I like her."
Naomi's glad. She really is. She was so worried about Emily's impression of Cook. She could tell the girl had doubts about the kind of person he was, or could be, when it came up…back in 1938. It's ridiculous. All of this, but she's glad it's happened. She watches as Cook wraps his arm around Emily's shoulders and motions for three shots of Sambuca from the barmen. Could this really be her life now?
Cook thrusts the shot glass towards her and she begrudgingly swallows down the sickly sweet tasting shot. She fucking hates Sambuca. It never settles right with her, but she's learned not to argue with Cook when it comes to alcohol because it's about the only thing in life he seems to be right about. "Shall we go and show these fuckers how it's done then, eh? Up for a dance with the Cookie Monster girlies, I promise not to bite…hard." And just like that he's grabbing both of their hands and pulling them onto the crowded dance floor.
He doesn't stick around for long and Naomi doesn't expect him to. Out of the corner of her eye she notices him slinking towards some unsuspecting brunette who is about to come under his thrall.
Her thoughts don't linger on Cook long though because there is the enigma that is Emily Fitch dancing in front of her. Naomi doesn't like to dance. It's just one of those things that she does when she's drunk, but right now, the way Emily is moving her hips, the way the girl is so effortlessly giving herself to the pounding beat of the bass. She's not looking at Naomi, she's not really looking at anything, she's just being. It perplexes the blonde, it really does. She doesn't know how anyone can let go so easily. Her eyes dart over to Cook. He's not the same. He's so insecure, so desperate to hide from the truth, that he pretends to not care with this massive front, but she knows he does. No. There's no one quite like Emily Fitch. So kind, so caring, so unrelentingly brave…not a signal bad bone in her body. No fear about what is happening…or what is to come.
"What?" Emily looks slightly uncertain.
"I…" Naomi's close. There's something different here. It's not the alcohol. She's pretty sure of that, it's like something is flooding her. She feels her inhibitions fading away. She can't help it. "You're so beautiful." She just puts it out there.
"Oh." Emily's head dips in that polite bashful manner that she has and she smiles shyly at Naomi.
Naomi shakes her head, her brow crunches as a sharp pain goes through her head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to…"
"Oh, right, yeah…of course…" It's awkward now. They've stilled on the dance floor, but the club continues to move around them. Her brow scrunches again and she grits her teeth together.
"No, I meant it. I mean it. You're so fucking gorgeous."
Emily's face becomes etched with concern. She reaches out and grips the blonde's arm. "Naomi, are you okay?"
"No." Naomi slowly shakes her head from side to side. It's like something's trying to push itself into her brain. What the fuck is going on? "Yeah, no, sorry, I'm fine." Emily eyes her suspiciously.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing! Come on, let's dance." Naomi pulls Emily towards her by the hand. Emily looks unsure but lets the blonde guide her back towards the centre of the dance floor. She can't let herself go completely this time because Naomi's keeping something from her. She just sways next to the blonde, who is now smiling at her reassuringly, and tries to put her finger on what's different.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Doctor's eyes snap towards the clock, which is hanging above the kitchen door. "Did you see that?" He doesn't look at Gina as he asks it because he's already moving towards the clock, eying it curiously. Gina seems unfazed and continues to sip at her tea. The Doctor's eyes widen. Tea. Of course. He swivels towards Gina and points his finger at her.
"How much tea have you had? In the last hour or so?"
"I'd say around six cups. Why?" Gina cocks her eyebrow at him and even in this moment where he's trying to figure out something he can't help but think she looks incredibly like her daughter right now.
"Six cups of tea. That's a lot, isn't it? Maybe too much." He strokes his chin thoughtfully.
"You can never have too much, Doctor. Trust me I've tried." She doesn't put the tea down; in fact The Doctor can't help but notice how she sips at her tea again. It's too perfect.
"What time did the girls leave?" He's pacing back and forth now, arms behind his back, slightly hunched forward as his eyes search for the answers that are laid out in front of him.
"Around 10."
"Ah-ha! Yes!" He points to the clock now. "Look! Look at the time!"
"What about it?" Gina's confused.
"We're locked. Trapped in a tiny little bubble of time," He advances on the woman. "Every time the clock strikes three am it reverts back to twelve."
Gina snorts. "My daughter sure does know how to find the crackpots, doesn't she?" The woman laughs shaking her head.
The Doctor's head dips but he makes sure when he looks back up that he catches Gina's eyes. "I'm afraid that I haven't been completely honest with you."
"What do you mean?"
"When Naomi said she'd been travelling…I don't believe she told you to what extent." He gets cut off by his phone ringing in his pocket. He wrestles it from inside his jacket and regards it with an annoyed expression. He opens the flip phone. "Alright! Alright! Hang on!" He presses it to his ear. "Yes? What is it?"
The Doctor's face darkens. "You're sure?"
"What is it? Is it the girls?" Gina's concerned by the look on the Doctor's face. She closes her eyes for a second, her brow scrunching up in pain as a sharp piercing sensation floods it. Leaning forward, she weakly grips at the edge of the table for support.
"Right! Stay there! I'm coming to get you." The Doctor announces, but doesn't know that the blonde woman isstaggering her way towards the kitchen sink. "What do you mean this time? Hey! You shouldn't get yourselves into trouble all the time then I wouldn't have to keep saving you!" The Doctor snaps into the phone and slams it closed. Shoving it back into his pocket he stands. "Your daughter is intolerable at the best of times."
He walks back over to the clock and reaches up for it, wrenching it from it**'**s home on the wall and into his examining clutches. He reaches behind it and slowly tries to adjust the time. The hand just springs back and forth between the hours of 12 and 3. He licks his lips in curiosity.
"What is it, Doctor? What's going on?" Gina's smiling brightly at the man now. She's moved next to him and places a comforting hand his shoulder. The Doctor looks down to the hand and back up to Gina. "You look worried."
"I am worried. We're trapped in time, Gina. Someone or something is trying to encase us, like a trinket in a museum. To be inspected and looked upon whenever the owner deems fit. We have to get out of here and soon. It's all here. The tea, the never-ending conversation, the picture perfect evening. It's all imagined. A mirage of sorts. We've been in here for hours, far longer than we actually realise. It's created to try and lull us in, oh, you are clever whatever you are, but I'm not falling for it!" He cries towards nothing in particular. Gina's hand moves up and curls into the hair on the back of the Doctor's hair
"What are you doing?" He asks in panic.
"Relax, Doctor. You think too much. You've always thought too much." She leans towards the Doctor bringing her lips closer to his but the Doctor puts his fingers onto her lips, abruptly halting their journey towards his.
"'Always'. That's a funny word, isn't it? Words are absolutely amazing things! They convey emotions, meaning and suggestions. 'Always' suggests knowledge; an experience, a knowledge of me, which means we must have met before," The Doctor smiles knowingly at Gina. "Because you're not really Gina Campbell at all, are you? You don't recognise me and I don't recognise you, new faces, but we've met. So, whoever you are, whatever you are, that is choosing to use my friend's mother to try and keep me here I have only one thing to say to you!"
Gina smirks, almost maliciously at the Doctor. "And what's that?"
The Doctor beams at her in return. "Bye!" He waves at Gina and then heads towards the door, reaching for his sonic screwdriver, holding it over the lock of the door. She turns towards him with an amused laugh.
"Oh, Doctor, you are so terribly predictable. A sonic screwdriver? Really? You think I didn't prepare for that. No, that won't get you out of here. You're have to be even bigger and better than that." The Doctor's movement stills and he turns back towards the possessed Gina with a dark look. He slips the screwdriver into his pocket. "So, now that's out of the way," Gina takes her seat back at the table and picks up her cup. "Shall we have another cup of tea?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Naomi! Naomi, stop!" Emily pushes the blonde away. Naomi pulls the girl closer to her again, needing her closer, taking in her scent. Emily struggles away again. "Stop it!"
"Ems, stop being a spoilsport! I'm just trying to have fun!" When Naomi reaches for her this time Emily's hand lashes out and slaps against the blonde's cheek hard.
"What's wrong with you? This isn't you." Emily tries to walk away, but Naomi grabs her wrist again. Emily's hand comes round to meet Naomi again, but Naomi stops it. Wrenches the redhead close and slams their lips together. Emily's eyes open in shock. She's imagined this situation in so many different scenarios, but this isn't one of them. Her eyes become half lidded, she doesn't want to give in…not like this…but Naomi's soft lips are pressing gently against hers, seeking deeper access and, fuck, if it isn't what she wants so badly. She feels her hand gently trail up the exposed skin of Naomi's arm, resting it gently on her shoulder as the blonde scoots closer to her. Naomi is pressed fully against her now. Her hand is gently tugging at the soft locks that rest on Emily's neck. Emily gives in. She pulls Naomi closer and kisses her deeply in return. She's wanted this for so fucking long.
"You taste amazing, Emsy." Naomi breathes, pulling away for just a second before hungrily attacking the redhead's lips again.
A loud scream erupts from the other side of the dance floor causing Emily to pull away from the blonde. "Did you hear that?" She calls over the beat of the music.
"Hear what?" Naomi looks as if she's in almost a dream like state now. She's started twirling Emily's hair in between her fingers.
"Something's wrong. This is all wrong." Emily's fears are confirmed as the dancing mass still, loud cries and screams spill out of the pulsating beat. People start to back towards the pair. Emily grips Naomi's hand. "We have to run now."
"Don't be silly, Ems! Come on, let's dance!" Naomi giggles.
Emily nearly lets out a growl of frustration, but bites it back. She calms herself and forces a smile. "Yeah, okay, let's dance, Nai, but…let's go somewhere else, yeah? Somewhere private so that it can be just the two of us? How does that sound?"
Naomi bites her lip and considers this. Emily looks frantically towards the source of the scream; the crowd is now slowly starting to push back towards them. Emily rubs her thumb gently over Naomi's hand and presses a brief kiss on the blonde's lips.
"Okay. Let's go." Naomi nods.
Emily leads her towards the stairs. The crowd has begun to erupt into panic now. People are running and screaming. Emily tries to get a good look at what's going on but she's decides to be different. Everyone runs towards the exit, a mass of screaming, fearful people banging at the metallic door, but it doesn't budge. It won't open.
And that's when she sees it. Naomi's behaving too blissfully ignorant to notice, but Emily does. It's so horrifying that she stills herself, midway up the stairs, and just takes it in. She's seen aliens, different planets, different times…a whole world of possibilities…but this is something else. This is something so clichéd that it should never be seen in real life…but it's there. Staring at her, almost hungrily…a zombie. Zombies. Fuck.
"You smell so good, Emsy," Naomi purrs into Emily's ear. Emily backs towards the girl, keeping her eyes on the sight below them, and pulls her close.
"Don't make a sound." Emily's hand comes up to press her finger against Naomi's lip, in an effort to silence her, but Naomi just seductively takes it into her mouth, gently suckling on it. Emily's eyes are still on the group below her. The zombies are ferocious. Gnawing and gnashing at any exposed flesh and bone, ripping the life from youths. Emily's hand slaps over her mouth. She feels sick. There's so much blood. Naomi giggles. Emily's eyes snap open. A lone zombie, on the outskirts of the pack, looks up towards the pair and then hisses at them.
"Run! We've got to run!"
Their feet patter hard against the hallway floor as the zombie follows them. Bursting through the nearby door Emily's eyes dart around looking for a safe place to hide. She spots an open office at the end of the hall, the door is slightly open and Emily surges towards it, dragging the giggling blonde with her. Emily slams the door shut behind her, which slaps straight into the face of zombie that had been chasing them, it's bile spewing all over the small glass window in the door. Emily's hand hastily finds the lock and turns it. She lets out a big sigh of relief and turns her back towards the door, leaning against it for support.
Naomi is sitting in the desk chair, her feet up in the air and she spins herself round and round. She's giggling like a schoolgirl and Emily tries not to lose her temper. She rubs her forehead and breathes out a sigh. What the fuck is wrong with Naomi?
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out her phone. "The Doctor…" She presses the dial button and holds the phone to her ear. "Come on…Come on…Hello? Doctor?"
The door thuds loudly. The zombies are trying to get in. "Listen, I haven't got very long. We're not safe. Something has happened. The people have changed….into zombies." She almost cringes as she says it. It just sounds…rubbish.
"Yes, I'm sure. I know what they look like. Something's wrong with Naomi as well. She's…. acting like she's carefree, which is weird because she's the most uptight person I know. What is this Doctor? What's happening?" The thudding begins to get louder. A low, gormless moan can be heard from the other side of the door"They're trying to get in!" Emily presses her weight back against the door. "Naomi, help me!" Naomi isn't listening. "You've got to come, Doctor. We've got to figure out what's going on! And make sure you come this time!"
She shoves the phone into her pocket and looks around atthe contents of the room for a weapon. Her eyes are drawn to the bright red fire extinguisher hanging on the wall next to the door. Ripping it from its home she takes a step back, waiting for the door to open, raising the fire extinguisher up in a defensive stance. She takes one quick glance back at the blonde who is spinning in her seat before taking a heavy breath. "Come on, you fucks."
The door bursts open, wood chippings splintering off the frame as the decomposed body on the other side throws itself towards the redhead in a hungry rage. Emily swings the extinguisher, driving it hard into the skull of the zombie. Another one roars and launches itself towards her. Her fumbling hands find the nozzle and without thinking she unleashing the contents of it right into the face of the oncoming ghoul. It's no good though. Emily is tackled to the floor; blood-covered teeth are gnashing just a few inches from her exposed neck. She tries to push the zombie off, but it's too strong, all she can do is prevent the inevitable for a few seconds longer.
"Get the fuck off of her!" Naomi's voice rings out smashes a snow globe into the zombie's skull, penetrating its cranium with freshly shattered glass. The being collapses on top of Emily, lifeless. Naomi grabs onto the girl, pulling her out from under the body and into a reassuring hug. "Are you okay?"
"I am now. Thanks." Emily nods. Naomi pulls the girl close and presses her forehead against her own. Her shallow breaths gently mingle with Emily's and she presses a loving kiss to her lips. Emily pulls back, recoiling from the touch. "Stop it. This isn't you."
"This is me," Naomi brings her hands up to cup Emily's cheek. "Before it wasn't, but this is me, Emily. Believe me. I won't let anything happen to you, ever." Emily eyes her suspiciously and in return Naomi kisses her again, tenderly, trying to convey what she's feeling. Naomi brow scrunches in pain and she steps back from the blonde.
"Naomi, what is it? What's wrong?"
"There's something in my head," Naomi sounds so scared and Emily reaches out to grab her, to squeeze her reassuringly. "I can't stop it. It keeps taking over. It's telling me what to do and what to think and…" She stops.
"Naomi?"
Naomi smiles seductively. "Come here, you." Emily pushes her away again. No. This isn't the Naomi she wants. She wants the honest Naomi. The one who was with her just seconds ago. A roar from the other end of the corridor snaps Emily away from the blonde and she rushes for the fire extinguisher. It's not just one though. It's two again this time and they are racing towards her faster than she can anticipate.
A door further down the corridor opens and a sharp whistle echoes down the corridor. One of the zombies continues on towards Emily and Naomi, but the other turns back with a snarl. It runs towards the source of the sound in a vicious rage.
"Naomi! Snap out of it! I need you here now!" Emily hisses, but the blonde isn't listening. "Right, just me, then." As soon as the zombie lunges for her she ducks under it's reach and cracks it over the back of it's head. It drops to it's knees and sinks to the floor. She smirks. Easy.
Wrong. The zombie grabs a hold of her legs and grabs her feet from under her. She groans as her back collides with the hard floor, winding her. She grabs her sides and tries to spin away but the ghoul has a vicelike grip around her ankle, pulling her towards it. She starts to panic, crawling desperately at the carpet in front of her, reaching for everything and anything that she can latch onto to get her away.
"Hey, dickhead. Up here." She recognises that voice. She looks up to see Cook swinging a red fire axe above his head. He brings it down viciously across the zombie's neck, severing it cleanly. The blood oozes out of the wound, leaking so quickly that Emily can feel it pooling around her exposed ankles. With a yelp she crawls away from it. "You alright, Emilio?" Cook's crouching next to her now.
"Yeah, yeah, thanks. Where the hell have you been?" It's not malicious and Cook knows it.
"Doing what I do best. Getting my end away with some lass in the side alley and then boom, all of a sudden all these ghoulies are coming at me left, right and centre. Came looking for you guys soon as." He turns to look at Naomi who's now back in the chair, spinning herself around. "What's up with Blondie?"
"No idea." Emily pushes herself up and gratefully accepts Cook's hand. "She's said something's in her head. Telling her to behave that way."
"Oh yeah?" He looks sceptical. "This the sort of thing that happens around that Doctor of yours?"
"More than I'd like to admit."
"How'd you know that she's telling the truth at all? I mean," He walks over and waves his hand in front of Naomi's face but she doesn't respond. "I ain't ever seen her like this."
"I just know, okay? I know." It comes out a bit more forceful that Emily meant for it to, but Cook doesn't bite, just nods his head.
"Alright, Emilio, what's the plan then?" He scratches his head with the back of the axe.
"Me? Why have I got to come up with the plan?"
"Well, fucked if I know what to do. From what youse two told me this is the sort of shit you deal with all the time. I ain't seen no aliens or other worlds. This is crazy, man, but I figure, you'll know what to do because you've got experience, you know? So, Captain, what's me orders?" He salutes and winks at the redhead. She can't help but think he's ridiculously easy going.
"We've got to find the Doctor."
"Easy peasy. Back to Naomikins' we go then." He moves over to the blonde and starts to lift her out of the chair, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Cookie!" She coos and presses a kiss against his cheek. "You're my best friend."
"You sure she isn't just sloshed? She gets like this when she is," Cook comments but moves towards the hallway.
"No, she hasn't had that much to drink. The Doctor will know what this is. We've just got to figure out how to get out of this building." Emily picks up the extinguisher and follows the pair up the hallway.
Cook raises the axe with a cheeky grin. "Don't worry your pretty little head, Emilio, I got this. Any Zs come our way I'll be putting them down, you can count on that." She believes him as well. Maybe Naomi was right? Maybe he wasn't so bad after all?
"Oh shit," Emily gasps.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I called Katie and told her to come meet us. She could be out there with them right now!" Cook's face darkens. Emily's already reaching for her phone.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"How long are you going to keep me here?" The Doctor is tapping at the table impatiently.
"It's not a nice feeling, is it, Doctor? Hopelessness." Gina, well, she's not really Gina at all, but the being inhabiting Gina leans closer to him, in a taunting. "You feel it so much worse when you don't experience it very often…and you rarely experience it. You must be very frustrated."
"Would you like me to be frustrated?" The Doctor replies.
"The only like I'd like for you to be Doctor is here and you have no choice on that matter."
The Doctor lets out a frustrated growl. He pushes himself away from the table. "Zombies? Why zombies? What's specific about them? I mean, they're not real. They're fictional. Out of all the fantastical beings in the galaxy, why them? Why something so mundane?"
"You think it's only zombies? Oh, Doctor, you really are out of your depth, aren't you?" She replies smugly and it irritates the Doctor. That's not easy task, either. What is this 'being'? Think, Doctor, think.
He sits down again. "Okay, so it's not one singular thing. It's not zombies or the mind possessing." Gina opens her mouth to deny it, but the Doctor waves it off. "Oh, don't pretend I don't know what you're doing. You've infected certain people's mind, Gina is the prime example, but what's the catalyst? Why them and not others? You can't infect me because I'm too intelligent for that, but why not Emily or anyone else? What's so special about them?"
"Barking up the wrong tree, Doctor."
"No, no, no…I'm not. You didn't smirk," he points out.
"What?" Gina asks.
"A micro-expression. It's like in a game of cards, when someone is lying or telling the truth, their subconscious reacts to it. You have a slight smirk. You enjoy being smug, and let's face it so do I, but the reason I'm better than you is because I can control my subconscious, it's the benefit of being a Time Lord. You on the other hand, have a tell." Gina's face drops. She's not pleased at all. "And that tells me that I am in fact 'barking up the right tree'." He stands.
"Sit down, Doctor." He waves her off.
"Shut up, I'm trying to think!" He grumbles in an irritated voice. "What is it? What is it? It's right there, right there and I just can't get it."
"I think you should sit down, Doctor." Gina rises from her seat now, her expression becoming dark.
"Gina is dissatisfied with her life. She wants to travel again, see the world through fresh eyes. Naomi's the same, but younger, it's life imitating life. Ah-ha! Yes! It's inhibitions. You're telling people to let go of them, to take life to the fullest, to devolve into their desires. That's how you're controlling them. They're easily swayed because you're acting as a beacon," The Doctor gasps. "Oh, you are clever."
"Sit down!" Gina roars.
"Or what? You're not going to kill me. If you wanted to you would've by now, no, no, no…for some reason you need me. How are you doing this? It's a beacon. You're the beacon, but you're not the host. My telepathic paper would've felt it if you were. You're projecting a telepathic field supplied by one host onto the human population. You're letting the dark nightmares or fantasies of one individual manifest onto the whole population. Zombies? Oh, that's just start, isn't it? They're going to keep imagining horrors upon horrors and you're just gonna let the world burn! You're the mastermind, but the instrument is elsewhere. You're just the distraction. You're the white rabbit and this is where you lead me on the chase! Well, not anymore!" He walks up to Gina and points directly in her face. "You think you're clever and in some ways you are, but there's one thing, you didn't think about when you choose to lock me in a time loop."
"What's that?"
"Time Lord," he shouts like she's the most idiotic thing in the universe. "Time isn't linear, it's a big ball of time-whimey stuff and because of that it's easy toshape and change. For anyone other than me this would be the perfect prison, but I'm a time traveller." He moves over to where the clock is lying on the kitchen table and picks it up, focusing on it hard.
Gina lets out a harsh cackle. "Oh, Doctor, you think you can will time to change with your mind? Oh, what an ego you have."
"Ego? Oh, yes, but I know that I have enough residual time energy stored in my body to know that I can just think, think long and hard, and will it just enough, that just maybe, maybe, that time energy will allow me to shift time for a second, just for a second, fragmenting the time loop and unlocking it." Gina continues to laugh. She returns to her seat. The Doctor watches the seconds on the clock counting down. His brow creases in concentration.
"Oh, give over already with you. You talk a good game, but it just sounds like a load of bollocks really. You may have figured out some of my plan, but you're too late to stop all of it. So, what? You figured out about my telepath. You'll never find her. Not in time." Gina sips at her tea.
"That's where you're wrong. I will find your telepath. I will stop these nightmarish figments. I will save my friends. I will save this world, and I will be back for you. Whoever you are," he viciously promises, his eyes never leaving the clock. His hand starts to glow with a slight yellow tinge and he presses it against the clock as it strikes three am.
"It's over, Doctor! It's going to revert."
"No," He smirks, throwing the clock towards Gina on the table. "It's not." She looks up towards the Doctor in horror. "Bye!" He beams and launches himself towards the kitchen door and out into the streets of Bristol. Gina lets out an angry roar.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Duck!" Cook roars. Emily follows his command, ducking under the oncoming zombie and his blade as he severs the zombie's head from his torso. "Fucking ace! Go! Go now!" Cook points towards the door at the front of the club. Emily heaves herself and Naomi towards it. Cook runs ahead and boots the door open. He waves them through.
The cracking of bones makes Cook turn back to the interior of the club. A group of zombies are slowly descending towards him. He gives them the finger and slams the door closed. He holds it with one hand and looks around for something to lock in with. "Emilio! Get me something to block this door with! Now!" He hisses. Emily scampers round to the side of the building and returns with a plank of wood. He wedges it through the handles and lets out a sigh of relief…but it's not over yet.
They're on the streets of Bristol now and it's complete chaos. Cars are aflame, people are running and screaming and even more hordes of the undead are roaming the streets. "Fuck this…" Cook breathes and then grabs Emily's hand, leading her into the side alley of the clubs. "Listen up, Emilio, cuz I'm only gonna say this once. We've gotta split."
"What? No, Cook. We've got to stay together. Naomi can't fight." Emily's shaking her head. No way is Cook going anywhere.
"Exactly, Red. There's no way we're getting past that group of them out there if we stay together. Naomikins is my best friend, yeah? I don't wanna hurt her, ever, and she doesn't wanna see you hurt. If I let that happen she'd find a way to come back and kill me herself, yeah? So this is what's gonna happen and no arguments. I'm gonna go out there and distract them and you're gonna take Blondie to your Doctor and fix all this shit."
"No." Emily grabs his hand. "You'll die."
"Nah, no one can kill the Cookie Monster, babe, trust me." He pats her on the shoulder and turns to Naomi. He presses a brief kiss to her forehead. "Stay safe, Blondie." He pushes himself to his feet. "Oh, you take this. Just in case, yeah?" He hands Emily the axe.
"You don't have to do this." Emily's eyes are watering now. She never knew he could be like this. She doesn't want him to die, no matter how bad people say he is.
"Yeah, I do," he nods to himself. "I really do."
"You're a lot nicer than people make you out to be, aren't you?" Cook winks at her.
"Our little secret, yeah?" Emily nods with a watery smile. She stands and wraps her arms around the boy.
"Don't die…and if you see Katie—"
"I'll make sure to send her your way, Red." He unwraps himself from the little redhead's embrace. "She chose wisely." And like that he's gone. Emily watches the boy as he exits onto the street, finds a rock, throws it towards the zombies and waves his arms frantically. They chase him. What did he mean by that? She doesn't have time to dwell though she's got to get Naomi to the Doctor and fix all this mess…whatever it is.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Her. The being had slipped up and said it was a her. So the telepath was a her. If I was an evil being looking to plague the world with evil figments where would I hide the telepath that was producing those visions? The Doctor runs his hand across his jaw as he makes his way through the manic streets. Keep her close? No. That's too obvious. In their human? That was assuming they were human, of course. Maybe they weren't? No. They were. The Doctor just had a feeling. Out of sight, out of mind…where would you never look for someone? You'd check their homes, all their known addresses, ask the police, contact their friends, their job….but there's nothing to go on. Damn.
His eyes widen. He sees a ferocious little redhead fighting back and forth with a zombie. "Emily! Emily!" he roars as he runs towards the figures. The redhead pushes the zombie to the floor and then stamps her high heel through his skull.
"Gross! I just got these you twat!" He stops dead in his tracks. Oh no. Not Emily. Katie. Katie Fitch. Katie is shaking brains off the heel of her shoe with a look of disgust when she spots the Doctor. She marches towards him with anger etched on her face. "You! I knew you'd show up sooner or later! Where the fuck is my sister?"
"Hello Katie," He waves meekly.
"Don't 'hello' me. We're not friends, you raggedy twat. How did I know you'd be responsible for this? Take me to my sister, like now, yeah?"
The Doctor shakes his head. Katie Fitch… hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
**A/N 2: Okay, so that's it for now. Katie and The Doctor, what's happened there previously? I hope you guys liked this chapter. The second part will be up next week. Thank you for any reads and reviews, they are really awesome and I love you all. Please let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions. **
End file.
| fanfiction |
Join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 20 at 1pm – RAIN OR SHINE!! The kids will hunt for Easter eggs around the church, with some eggs containing fun prizes! Afterwards, the kids will decorate sugar cookies. | slim_pajama |
Wadalba Community School is a K-12 school in Wadalba, New South Wales, Australia. The school has a logo of a possum which appears on the school newsletters, posters, banners and other places around the school, the possum also appears on the junior school uniform which is the white polo shirt which is available for students in Years 6 - 10 to wear. The possum is also on the former sports shirt which was a light blue polo that was the sporting uniform for all years K - 12, although this is no longer the sporting uniform, it is still acceptable for students to wear the light blue polo as normal uniform now. Students in Year 11 & 12 wear a logo of the letters WCS on their white blouse, the WCS logo is also on the navy blue polo sports shirt and the navy blue sport shorts which is available for all students K - 12 to wear. The school is notable for its many sporting achievements. These are celebrated at a sports presentation night which occurs annually. It is also notable for its academic opportunities that it provides students. The school has an annual talent show called Wadalba's Got Talent which is where students get the opportunity to audition and showcast their talents for the school. Wadalba also hosts CAPA Creative and Performing Arts nights a few times a year where students in CAPA subjects which include Drama, Dance, Music, Photography and Art showcase their pieces they have worked on in their classes.
School values
Wadalba Community School has three core values: Respect, Responsibility and Excellence. The school believes that these values go hand in hand. When you show respect, you are showing responsibility which leads to excellence.
Executive
The current Principal of Wadalba Community School is Jason McGrath. Previous Principals have included Sally Conn, Nigel Brito and Lance Goodwin . The Deputy Principals are Brad Glachan, Erica Burge, Melinda Brown and Roxanne Sanday primary.
References
Category:Educational institutions established in 2000
Category:Public primary schools in New South Wales
Category:Public high schools in New South Wales | wikipedia |
Why does pouring soda slowly and smoothly seem to keep more of the carbonation?
So, I caught myself gently pouring a can of soda into a cup of ice (making sure that there was room for air to move through so the stream of soda from the can to the cup was consistent and even) instead of just haphazardly tilting and dumping the entire thing in there as quickly as possible. I was doing this in part to prevent spills at my desk, but also to keep the carbonation present in the soda. This got me wondering: why does pouring soda quickly cause it to fizz more and lose carbonation?
Because your soda is a [supersaturated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersaturation) solution of $\ce{CO}\_2$, and such solutions are non-equilibrium and hence unstable. Any physical disturbance (shaking, touching a rough surface, etc.) causes it to emit the gas and return to equilibrium state. Throw in some salt, and you will see a reaction even more vigorous.
Supersaturated solutions of solid compounds exhibit similar behavior, but they are not that easy to come by (I mean, starting from the typical household items). Sugar solution is too viscous, and table salt is no good because its solubility does not depends on temperature all that much, so you can't really supersaturate it.
There is, however, another pretty common example of non-equlibrium state, and that is [superheated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superheating#Occurrence_via_microwave_oven) water. If you pour some bottled water into a clean cup, heat it in a microwave for a while, and then touch it not too gently, it may almost literally explode in your face, so beware.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul is the twentieth studio album by American musician James Brown. The album was released in August 1968, by King Records.
Track listing
References
Category:1968 albums
Category:James Brown albums
Category:Albums produced by James Brown
Category:King Records United States albums | wikipedia |
What is the theoretical reason for the dependence of the surface tension on the alcohol concentration in water?
>
> The qualitative sketches I, II and III given
> below show the variation of surface tension
> with molar concentration of three different
> aqueous solutions of$ \ce{ KCl, CH\_3 (OH) }$and
> $ \ce{CH3(CH2)\_{11} O SO\_3^{-} Na^+}$
> at room temperature
>
>
> [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Y0B6E.png)
>
>
> What is the correct assignment(s) of sketches?
>
>
>
It is understandable that $ \ce{CH3(CH2)\_{11} O SO\_3^{-} Na^+}$ will have a sharp reduction surface tension with concentration ([reference](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/35840/why-does-soap-reduce-surface-tension-of-water)) and $\ce{KCl}$ [increases surface tension](https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/67271/how-does-nacl-or-any-inorganic-salt-increase-surface-tension) with concentration since it is an inorganic salt. Through option elimination, we conclude that I must be methanol but would there be an independent way to conclude the same (without option elimination)?
I found [this](https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/203289/why-does-surface-tension-of-water-ethanol-binary-mixture-decrease-with-increasin#:%7E:text=Water%20has%20a%20high%20surface,the%20mixture%20will%20be%20lower.) but the answers are not really authoritative.
Curve I could be that of a detergent, but sodium dodecyl sufate decreases the tension faster than methanol and displays a very distinct change in behavior with onset of micellization at the critical micelle concentration. Above that concentration the amount of free solute - the concentration of which is accountable for the change in surface tension - remains approximately constant.
Methanol on the other hand is not a detergent and does not micellize. It does however reduce the surface tension of water, presumably because it disrupts the hydrogen bonding network in water. The boiling point of water is similarly decreased by addition of methanol.
Note that a similar decrease is observed for ethanol solutions, but that in some regards the ethanol-water system is more complicated (forming for instance an azeotrope).
Beyond this it is not possible to generalize, as hydrogen bonding renders water a very complicated liquid. There are something called structure forming (kosmotropic) and structure destroying (chaotropic) solutes. The ions dissociating when $\ce{KCl}$ dissolves jointly appear to have a net kosmotropic effect, but you'd have to distinguish this from the boiling point elevation expected on statistical grounds (Raoult's law). For any non-associating (eg associating by H-bonding) liquid adding a solute is expected to raise the boiling point. But in the case of water the effect of adding a solute might be that you enhance H-bonding. So it can be an effect beyond the statistical one.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
in relativistic heavy - ion collisions at top rhic and the lhc energies , a hot and dense matter the quark - gluon plasma ( qgp ) has been created . during its expansion ,
the qgp fireball quickly cools down , which then undergos the phase transition and produces a large amount of hadrons .
these hadrons subsequently experience frequent inelastic and elastic collisions during the hadronic evolution . with the termination of inelastic and elastic collisions ,
the evolving system reach the chemical and thermal freeze - out , respectively . traditionally , the chemical freeze - out temperature @xmath2 and the baryon chemical potential @xmath3 are extracted from the particle yields of various hadrons using the statistical model @xcite , which gives a uniform @xmath2 and @xmath3 for all hadrons species .
similarly , pure hydrodynamic simulations implement a uniform thermal freeze - out temperature to construct the freeze - out hyper - surface , which decouples various hadrons from the bulk matter @xcite .
microscopically , the related inelastic and elastic scattering channels are different for each hadron species . as a result ,
the chemical and thermal freeze - out procedures are very possibly hadron - species dependent . in this proceeding
, we will briefly summarize our recent investigation on the chemical and thermal freeze - out of various hadrons in 2.76 a tev pb+pb collisions @xcite , based on dynamical simulations from vishnu hybrid model . , @xmath4 , @xmath5 , @xmath6 , @xmath0 , and @xmath1 in the most central pb+pb collisions at @xmath7=2.76 tev .
the experimental data are from the alice collaboration @xcite .
theoretical curves are from vishnu hybrid model calculations , using mc - kln initial conditions , @xmath8 and @xmath9.,scaledwidth=80.0% ]
our calculations implement vishnu hybrid model @xcite that combines ( 2 + 1)-d relativistic viscous hydrodynamics ( vish2 + 1 ) @xcite for the qgp fluid expansion with a microscopic hadronic transport model ( urqmd ) @xcite for the hadron resonance gas evolution .
the hydrodynamic calculations input the equation of state ( eos ) s95p - pce @xcite with the transition to urqmd at a constant temperature of 165 mev . following ref .
@xcite , we input smooth initial conditions generated from the mc - kln model @xcite , where the normalization factor of the initial entropy density profiles is tuned to reproduce the multiplicity of all charged hadrons in the most central pb+pb collisions @xcite .
the hydrodynamic simulations start at @xmath10 with the specific shear viscosity @xmath11 set to 0.16 , and the bulk viscosity set to zero @xcite .
the chemical and thermal freeze - out of the evolving system are respectively related to the terminations of inelastic and elastic collisions .
after the chemical freeze - out , the hadron yields no longer change .
after the thermal freeze - out , the momentum distributions of various hadrons no longer change . in this section
, we will briefly summarize our recent investigations on the chemical and thermal freeze - out of various hadron species at the lhc , based on dynamical simulations from vishnu hybrid model .
figure 1 presents the vishnu calculations of the particle yields for @xmath12 , @xmath4 , @xmath5 , @xmath6 , @xmath0 , and @xmath1 in the most central pb+pb collisions , which nicely fit the corresponding experimental data measured by alice .
it was found that the baryon and anti - baryon ( @xmath13-@xmath14 ) annihilations during the hadronic evolution reduce the proton and anti - proton ( @xmath15 ) yields by @xmath16 , largely improving the description of the @xmath15 data @xcite .
@xcite and @xcite also showed that vishnu hybrid model also nicely fit the multiplicities , @xmath17 spectra and differential elliptic flow of @xmath12 , @xmath4 , @xmath5 , @xmath6 , @xmath0 , and @xmath1 at various centrality bins . with the good descriptions of these related soft hadron data , it is meaningful to further investigate the chemical and thermal freeze - out procedures of various hadrons at the lhc . for @xmath12 , @xmath4 , @xmath5 , @xmath6 , @xmath0 , and @xmath1 during the urqmd expansion of vishnu . here ,
@xmath18 and @xmath19 denote the particle yield density at mid - rapidity at later evolution time and at the starting time , respectively .
right panels ( g ) and ( h ) : time evolution of the changing rates for the corresponding particle yield densities .
solid / dashed lines denote the vishnu simulations with / without @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations.,scaledwidth=98.0%,height=340 ] figure [ fig : timedndy ] shows the time evolution for the particle yields of @xmath12 , @xmath4 , @xmath5 , @xmath6 , @xmath0 and @xmath1 during the hadronic evolution , simulated from vishnu hybrid model with and without @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations . for the simulations without @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations , the yields of these two multi - strange baryons @xmath0 and @xmath1 almost do not change . we also notice that their yields quickly reach saturation for the case with @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations .
this reveals that @xmath0 and @xmath1 experience early chemical freeze - out after the hadronazition .
in contrast , the yields of @xmath5 slowly decreases during the hadronic evolution especially for the case with @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations , indicating later chemical freeze - out of protons . on the production of @xmath6 and @xmath4 , the @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations almost balance with other inelastic collision channels . as a result ,
the yields of @xmath6 and @xmath4 only slightly change during the hadronic evolution with @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations @xcite .
the right panels of fig . 1 presents the changing rates of the particle yields of these identified hadrons . for the simulations without @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations , the changing rates for @xmath4 , @xmath5 , and @xmath6 show wide peaks along the time axis , illustrating that the associated inelastic collisions are still frequent after 10 - 20 @xmath21 . due to small hadronic cross sections , multi - strange hadrons @xmath0 and @xmath1 rarely interact with other hadrons . while , the annihilations with their own anti - particles lead to wide peaks of the changing rates for @xmath0 and @xmath1 in panel ( h ) , which delay their chemical freeze - out , when compared with the case without @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations .
however , these multi - strange hadrons still experience earlier chemical freeze - out in the full vishnu simulations compared with other identified hadrons @xcite .
figure [ fig : wbb05 ] presents the thermal freeze - out time distributions of @xmath12 , @xmath4 , @xmath5 , @xmath6 , @xmath0 and @xmath1 in the most central pb+pb collisions . here
, the thermal freeze - out time distributions are extracted through analyzing the space - time information of the last collisions for various hadron species . for @xmath0 and @xmath1 ,
the peaks of their thermal freeze - out time distributions are located around 10 @xmath21 . while the peaks of @xmath5 and @xmath6 distributions are around 20 - 30 @xmath21 .
due to a large amount of hadronic scatterings during the late urqmd evolution , the thermal freeze - out time distributions of @xmath12 and @xmath4 widely spread along the time axis .
3 thus illustrates that thermal freeze - out procedures are hadron species dependent .
compared with other hadrons , the two multi - strange hadrons @xmath0 and @xmath1 experience early thermal freeze - out due to their much smaller hadronic cross sections @xcite .
in this proceeding , we briefly review our recent investigations on the chemical and thermal freeze - out of various hadron species in 2.76 a tev pb+pb collisions within the framework of vishnu hybrid model .
we found that the chemical and thermal freeze - out procedures are hadron - species dependent . due to their much smaller hadronic cross sections , the two multi - strange hadrons @xmath0 and @xmath1 experience earlier chemical and thermal freeze - out than other hadrons . to extract the possible effective chemical freeze - out temperatures of various hadron species
requires detailed analysis of the space - time distributions of the last inelastic collisions , which we would like to leave it to future study .
this work was supported by the nsfc and the most under grants no .
11435001 and no . 2015cb856900 and the china postdoctoral science foundation under grant no .
we gratefully acknowledge extensive computing resources provided to us on tianhe-1a by the national supercomputing center in tianjin , china .
, k , p , @xmath6 , @xmath0 and @xmath1 in the most central pb+pb collisions , calculated from vishnu with @xmath20-@xmath14 annihilations.,scaledwidth=80.0%,height=264 ]
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obstructive sleep apnea syndrome ( osas ) is a common disease that involves at least 4% of males and 2% of the female adult population .
the epworth sleepiness scale describes the patient`s own , subjective experiences and is based on a questionnaire and patient interview .
polysomnography , which is carried out using highly specialized equipment , measures several vital functions , the most important of them being the apnea - hypopnea index ( ahi ) . in this index
a pause of non - breathing greater than 10 seconds or a reduction of breath airflow which is greater than 50% scores one point .
points are counted on an hourly basis as described in the american academy of sleep medicine classification .
the grade or severity of osas according to ahi has been categorized as follows : ahi less than 5 - no disease ; ahi 5 to 15 - mild disease ; ahi 15 to 30 - moderate disease ; ahi greater than 30 - severe disease .
conservative treatment includes weight loss and the regular use of continuous positive airway pressure ( c - pap ) equipment and a variety of devices that attempt to keep tissues in the anterior part of the upper airway forward .
c - pap treatment has been regarded as the gold standard in the treatment of osas . it has been recommended as an initial treatment in the presence of severe disease .
many patients , however , complain that c - pap is cumbersome and difficult to tolerate .
this is especially so among elderly patients in whom c - pap is regarded as the treatment of choice .
bimaxillary advancement surgery ( bmas ) has been shown in a number of studies to be an effective surgical modality to treat osas and bma`s effect was comparable to c - pap treatment . in our own previously published study
we showed that bmas of the jaws improved osas airway parameters and relieved the symptoms of osas . a conservative non - surgical technique involving a tooth - borne appliance to advance the mandible without surgery also known as the mad has already been introduced in the late 1990`s .
mad has been shown , to provide satisfactory treatment of mild to moderate osas . however , there is a limitation in using mad in completely edentulous patients or those patients with pre - existing temporomandibular joint diseases .
mad has also been recommended in the treatment of severe osas [ 17 - 19 ] , especially if the patient is unable to tolerate a c - pap device [ 20 - 22 ] .
intolerance towards c - pap equipment occurs in many cases , particularly in obese patients .
the weight of osas patients is problematic as overweight patients have more severe disease and respond poorly to all forms of treatment .
the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a mandibular advancement device on different grades of obstructive sleep apnea using a relatively simple test for the apnea - hypopnea index ( which represents the number of apneas or breathless episodes which occur per hour while a subject is sleeping ) to determine if a mandibular device will be effective .
in addition , the study aimed to observe whether the patient s body mass index , age or gender had an influence on the effect of treatment with a mandibular advancement device .
the study material consisted of 68 consecutive osas patients ( 19 females , 49 males ) for whom a mad was prepared .
the retrospective study was carried out with the permission of the the ethical committee of the oulu university hospital using patient registry data .
the data were analysed without personal identifying details and the data were treated with the principles of the helsinki declaration .
osas patients were referred to the oral and maxillofacial surgery department ( omfd ) of oulu university hospital for consultation and treatment mainly by the pulmonary division of the department of internal medicine , oulu university hospital ( pddim ) or the otolaryngologic department ( ent ) of the same hospital .
the initial examination of the patients and determination of the osas diagnosis was performed by the pddim as well as the decision to start the treatment by c - pap or refer the patients further either to ent clinic or directly to omfd .
c - pap treatment was started for all severe cases of osas according to the pddim protocol .
mild and moderate cases are mostly sent from pddim to omfd for evaluation and the possibility of providing either conservative mad management or oral and maxillofacial surgical treatment .
patients , who could not tolerate c - pap , were also referred to omfd .
the decision to use a mandibular advancement plate is made by the omfd in every case .
some of the revised patients were also evaluated for surgical - orthodontic treatment with bimaxillary surgery .
a total of 68 consecutively referred osas patient for whom the mad treatment was selected , were therefore included in this study .
the initiation of the treatment was from july 2005 to december 2013 . in all cases
patients were also judged as not suitable for mad treatment , if they suffered from pre - existing active temporomandibular joint dysfunction or if their dental status or periodontal health precluded them from wearing an oral appliance .
patients age , bmi , general health and such did not influence the selection .
complaints such as minor occlusal changes or temporomandibular joint problems during the treatment did not affect the study course in any case ( figure 1 ) .
flow diagram illustrating cases included , excluded and assessed with polysomnography in study . in this study the mad patients were divided into three groups according to their pre - treatment or baseline polysomnography results : the gender , ahi , ahi in the supine position , mean ages and bmi of these patients are presented in table 1 .
demographic and clinical characteristics of 68 patients with various severities of obstructive sleep apnea
n = total number of patients ; ahi = apnea - hypopnea index ; sd = standard deviation . in this
mad was a custom - made acrylic monoblock splint which was specifically manufactured for each patient .
each device was fabricated by a dental technician at the same dental laboratory ( hammas - sampo , oulu , finland ) .
mad were made using individually made plaster casts of the teeth , and a bite registration taken using the george gauge instrument ( dr . peter t. george , honolulu , hawaii , usa ) by a hospital dentist .
the mad was designed so that the mandible was in an advanced position of 50% of its maximum protrusive capacity . the device provided occlusal coverage of all the teeth .
a vertical distance between the maxillary and mandibular portions of the device was designed to allow for a breathing opening in the anterior region of the device ( figures 2 and figure 3 ) . a mandibular advancement device designed with an opening in the anterior region of the device for breathing . a mandibular advancement device in position in the mouth .
a standardized polysomnography was performed to determine the pre - treatment diagnosis and for the intra - treatment control after the mad treatment was initiated .
the mean between the onset of mad treatment and the first control measurement was 0.72 years with a standard deviation of 0.61 and a range of 0.4 to 2.9 years .
the influence of this variable period was also studied by the authors . the testing device used for this purpose was a portable embletta goldtm ( resmed , broomfield , colorado , usa ) polysomnography system .
the following criteria were observed during polysomnography : flow pressure ( nasal cannula ) , oral pressure ( thermistor ) , snore ( nasal pressure ) , abdominal movement , thoraracic movement , spo2 average ( oximeter ) , pulse rate ( oximeter ) , body position , activity , event marker , leg movements .
the registered data were analyzed using remlogictm psg software ( natus medical incorporated , san carlos , california , usa ) by the same experienced clinical neurophysiologist for each case .
descriptive statistics were prepared with means , standard deviations and ranges ( m [ sd ] , [ r ] ) .
chicago , il , usa ) . the significance level was set at p 0.05 .
the patient s pre - treatment mean ahi in the classification groups of mild , moderate and severe , was registered and counted .
the changes in ahi ( both mean and supine ) were followed in the different severity groups both in ordinal numbers and in percentages according to pre - treatment classification groups ( table 2 ) .
those , whose ahi fell below 5 with mad treatment were considered to be cured ( tables 3 and 4 ) .
since some studies consider responders to experience an improvement of ahi of 50% or more to be a success , these results are also tabulated to reflect to this concept for an additional comparison ( table 5 ) .
post - treatment apnea - hypopnea index ( ahi ) results of 68 patients with various severities of obstructive sleep apnea treated with a mandibular advancement device
n = 68 represents 68 patients in this study having ahi > 5 .
n = 59 represents the 59 patients that were capable of tolerating ahi measurements in the supine position .
improvement in post - treatment obstructive sleep apnea severity classification
n = total number of patients with either mild , moderate or severe grades of obstructive sleep apnea .
patients with post - treatment apnea - hypopnea index ( ahi ) scores of less than 5 were considered to be cured .
apnea - hypopnea index ( ahi ) in supine position in 59 of the 68 patients who were able to assume a supine position during polysomnography for ahi determination
n = total number of patients with either mild , moderate or severe grades of obstructive sleep apnea .
patients with improvement of their apnea - hypopnea index ( ahi ) scores by at least 50% used as the criteria to assess responder patients
the influence of the patient s age , sex , bmi and the time interval between the onset of the mad treatment and the control measurement to determine the decrease of ahi were analyzed statistically in table 6 where a logistic regression model was used to estimate the probability of treatment success .
those patients whose ahi fell to a level below 5 were considered as cured of their osas condition .
the patients with mild pre - trial sleep apnea symptoms were predicted to have odds of healing as 14.92 ( p = 0.0004 ) times the odds of healing in the group of patients with severe pre - trial symptoms .
the odds for healing in patients with moderate pre - trial symptoms were predicted to be 5.42 ( p = 0.077 ) times the odds of healing for the severe group .
an increase in the bmi index of one unit was expected to cause a statistically significant decrease in the odds for healing ( or = 0.83 , p = 0.027 ) .
no statistically significant change in table 6 was noted when the patient s age ( p = 0.145 ) or time between the start of mad therapy and the control intra - treatment measurements was added to the model ( p = 0.211 ) or when the bmi index in the model was replaced with predictors such as age or time between the measurements . logistic regression model
a logistic regression model used to estimate the probability of treatment success .
those subjects whose apnea - hypopnea index fell below 5 were considered to as cured . body mass index ( bmi )
in this model the differences between groups mild , moderate and severe was slightly greater and the effect of bmi was not significant ( p = 0.8 ) .
the mandibular protrusion was set at 50% of the maximal protrusion because this amount of advancement has been shown to be effective by other authors .
while more pronounced mandibular advancement has been shown to be more effective in reducing ahi , the untoward effects are increased with excessive protrusion and compliance is reduced .
this 50% of maximal mandibular protrusion is therefore accepted as a good compromise . according to the results of this study an average fall of 65% in ahi
the results of mad treatment in the mild group were positive with 25 out of 31 patients achieving an ahi reduction to the cured levels .
mad treatment also improved the condition of 5 of the other 6 remaining mild ahi patients , although they were not cured .
for an unknown reason , one female patient s ahi classification deteriorated as it rose up to moderate disease . in the case of moderate osas 15 out of 23 patients
were cured ( with an odds ratio of 5.42 ) , 7 others experienced an ahi reduction which allowed them to be reclassified to the mild group .
. these results of this study are in agreement with many previous studies [ 3,4,14 - 19,24,25 ] .
in fact mad treatment cured the majority of the patients and improved the ahi of many of those who were not cured . in this material 46 patients of the mild and moderate groups ( totalling 58 patients ) became cured and the remaining 12 patient`s conditions were significantly improved .
the mean residual ahi in these groups was below 5 ( being 3.1 and 4.5 ) .
the odds ratio showed that a patient with mild osas has 15 times and one with moderate has a 5.4 times better chance of being cured with a mad than a patient with severe disease .
the results also showed that ahi can be used to determine the effectiveness of a mandibular positioning device in mild to moderate ahi .
the mean numerical decrease of ahi in this severe group was a mean of 20.8 , with remaining residual ahi of 26.7 .
two patients out of 14 patients became cured , 3 patients improved from severe to mild and 4 patients improved from severe to the moderate group , while 5 patients remained in severe group .
the mean percentage decrease in ahi was less than in the groups with initially moderate or mild osas .
this could be , at least partly , explained by a higher mean bmi in this severe patient group .
the results show that mad had a less positive effect on patients with bmi > 30 . on the other hand some of the patients in the severe group had a considerable decrease of ahi .
the results of this study show the same phenomenon , that people with high supine ahi and lower mean ahi get an especially good response from mad . when supine ahi values are considered and the patients are divided in groups ( table 4 ) then there were 13 patients in the mild group , 14 in the moderate group and 32 in the severe group . from the 13 mild supine patients 8 were cured and 5 remained at their initial ahi severity grouping .
patients with higher supine position classification for example moderate and severe showed a favourable trend ( table 4 ) .
the patients in severe group ( 46.4 years ) were younger than the patients in the mild ( 53 years ) and moderate ( 55.3 years ) groups .
it might be worthwhile to note that the patients with severe disease were heavier and younger than the average of the entire study group .
the data of this study indicates that age did not have a significant influence on the outcome of mad treatment . in patients with mild or moderate osas
the bmi was near normal ( 26.9 and 26.8 respectively ) while the patients with severe osas were considerably heavier ( mean bmi 30.9 ) .
also the decrease in ahi with mad treatment was worse in patients with high bmi values .
the bmi had a significant influence on the effect of mad ( table 3 ) .
this does not mean , however , that the treatment of obese patients with mad would be unjustified .
patients with severe osas were all men and their bmi was significantly higher than the rest of the study material . in this study the mean decrease in ahi was 65.2 with 76.2 in females and 52.2 in males . while the females had a better response , it was not statistically significant
. responder patients versus cured patients patients with osas were considered cured if their ahi scores dropped to less than 5 and these cases are presented in tables 3 and 4 .
responders were defined as patients with a reduction in ahi following mad treatment of greater than or equal to 50% compared to pre - treatment ahi scores .
non - responders were defined as patients with a reduction in ahi of less than 50% .
the results in table 5 show that an improvement of more than 50% can be expected in the majority of osas cases treated with mad , particularly in the mild and moderate groups where there is an improvement of 75% .
the same pattern follows in the supine position where there is a 74% improvement in the mild and moderate groups .
the results of treating severe osas with mad appear less predictable . in some severe osas cases
treatment with a mandibular advancement device is very effective in treating mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea and this is supported by numerous previous studies .
one unique feature of this study is that with the simple test of the apnea - hypopnea index the authors were able to determine if the use of a mandibular repositioning device will be effective , thus saving time and costs associated with further more complicated diagnostic tests .
treating severe obstructive sleep apnea with therapy using a mandibular advancement device is more controversial .
the expectation for full recovery is not very high with severe obstructive sleep apnea patients , but considerable improvement in the apnea - hypopnea index levels may occur .
a control polysomnography to assess treatment outcome is necessary especially in severe obstructive sleep apnea cases .
further treatment is required if therapy with a mandibular advancement device does not produce satisfactory outcomes .
if continuous - positive airway pressure , which is another alternative , is not tolerated by the patient , then very limited conservative treatment modalities remain .
it is equally worthwhile to treat both females and males with a mandibular advancement device disregarding the age .
the results of the study also show that treatment with a mandibular advancement device is less effective in patients with higher body mass index values ( bmi > 30 ) .
this does not mean that treating overweight patients with a mandibular advancement device would be contraindicated . | pubmed |
laparoscopic appendectomy has been used as a more favorable minimally invasive method compared with an open procedure because of its clinical advantages , including less pain , shorter hospital stay , and less risk of wound infection , as demonstrated by randomized trials ; however , la is also associated with an increased risk of intra - abdominal abscess , an increased risk of serious vascular injury and bowel perforation , and higher hospital costs , following appendectomy , adhesions subsequently may cause a small bowel obstruction ( sbo ) .
previous studies reported differences in the rate of postappendectomy sbo , and conveyed conflicting recommendations , studies addressing this question are small single - center retrospective studies , in which observations have been confounded by previous abdominal surgery and loss to follow - up , or included only patients who underwent an open appendectomy , we matched the open and laparoscopic appendectomy cohorts by propensity score to reduce the selection bias . from a population - based register database
in addition , we did not encounter the problem of loss to follow - up that may be more prevalent in a single institution .
the purpose of our study was to determine the true risk and predictors of postappendectomy sbo .
the national health insurance program in taiwan is a universal health care system established in 1995 that covers 99% of this country 's population of 25.58 million people .
the data used in this analysis originated from the national health insurance research database ( nhird ) .
this database contains all claims data ( from 1996 to 2012 ) for 25 million beneficiaries randomly selected in 2000 .
the database contains encrypted patient identification numbers , international classification of diseases , ninth revision , clinical modification ( icd-9-cm ) , which codes for diagnoses and procedures ; prescription drug details ; dates of admission and discharge ; and basic socio - demographic information , including sex and birth date .
a retrospective cohort study was conducted with 2 study groups : a laparoscopic appendectomy ( la ) group and an open appendectomy ( oa ) group .
hospitalized adult patients with a discharge diagnosis of acute appendicitis ( international classification of disease , ninth revision , clinical modification ( icd-9-cm ) codes 540 , 540.0 , 540.1 , and 540.9 , 542 ) between january 2006 and december 2008 were selected from the nhird .
patients with a history of abdominal surgery and small bowel obstruction before the index operation , or abdominal surgery between the appendectomy and initial diagnosis of bowel obstruction as an identifiable cause of small bowel obstruction ( icd-9-cm codes : 560 , 568 ) were excluded .
the claims data from 1996 to 2006 were used to confirm that none of the enrolled patients had undergone any abdominal operation , nor had any of them had a small bowel obstruction before 2006 . in our study , patients younger than 18 years of age were also excluded .
demographic data including age , sex , charlson comorbidity index score ( cci score ) , surgical methods ( open or laparoscopic ) , pathology , and hospital status were collected .
person - years ( py ) of follow - up time were calculated for each person until sbo diagnosis , death , withdrawal from the insurance system , or the end of 2008 . to decrease selection bias , we matched the open and laparoscopic appendectomy cohorts by propensity score .
propensity - score matching was used to reduce selection bias because it can bundle many confounding covariates that may be present in an observational study with this number of variables . in our study ,
propensity scores were computed by modeling a logistic regression model with the dependent variable as the odds of diagnosis of open appendectomy ( vs. laparoscopic ) , and the independent variables as the age of surgery , sex , charlson comorbidity index score ( cci score ) , pathology , and hospital status . subsequently , an sas matching macro
% onetomanymtch proposed by proceeding of the 29th sas users group international ( sugi ) was used in this study .
it allows propensity score matching from 1-to-1 to 1-to - n based on specification from the user .
best matches first and next - best matches next , in a hierarchical sequence until no more matches can be made .
the final matched - pair samples contain both closely matched individual pairs and balanced case and control groups . after propensity score matching , 11,289 patients who underwent la , and 11,289 patients who underwent oa were selected as the study sample .
no individual patient medical records have been studied , and results are presented only for groups .
no individual patient can be identified ; thus , no approval from the ethics committee was required or obtained .
all statistical analyses were performed by using the sas 9.3.1 statistical package ( sas institute inc , cary , nc ) .
we used pearson tests to compare differences in the baseline characteristics , charlson comorbidity index score ( cci score ) , surgical methods ( open or laparoscopic ) , pathology , and hospital status between la and oa groups before and after propensity score matching .
the incidence rate was calculated as the number of sbo cases identified during the follow - up , divided by the total person - years for each group by sex , age , and follow - up months . moreover , stratified cox proportional hazard regression stratified by 0 to 3 month and 3 month3 years was performed to calculate the risk of sbo between la and oa groups during the follow - up period .
a kaplan meier analysis was used to calculate the cumulative incidence rates of sbo between 2 cohorts , and the log - rank test was used to analyze the differences between the survival curves .
all statistical analyses were performed by using the sas 9.3.1 statistical package ( sas institute inc , cary , nc ) .
we used pearson tests to compare differences in the baseline characteristics , charlson comorbidity index score ( cci score ) , surgical methods ( open or laparoscopic ) , pathology , and hospital status between la and oa groups before and after propensity score matching .
the incidence rate was calculated as the number of sbo cases identified during the follow - up , divided by the total person - years for each group by sex , age , and follow - up months . moreover ,
stratified cox proportional hazard regression stratified by 0 to 3 month and 3 month3 years was performed to calculate the risk of sbo between la and oa groups during the follow - up period .
a kaplan meier analysis was used to calculate the cumulative incidence rates of sbo between 2 cohorts , and the log - rank test was used to analyze the differences between the survival curves .
we identified 11,317 patients ( 28.1% ) who had undergone laparoscopic appendectomy based on insurance claims data collected between the years of 2006 and 2008 .
the demographic characteristics were different in age distribution , sex distribution , charlson comorbidity index score , pathology , and hospital status ( table 1 ) for patients in the la group versus the oa group . compared with patients in the oa group ,
patients in the la group were younger on average ( 39.06 years of age vs. 40.03 years of age , p <
0.0001 ) , and had a lower charlson comorbidity index score ( p < 0.0001 ) .
in addition , the la group had a smaller proportion of female patients ( 47.98% vs. 52.02% , p < 0.0001 ) , more patients with simple appendicitis ( 84.24% vs. 78.34% , p <
0.0001 ) , and more patients treated in medical centers ( 48.05% vs. 28.83% , p < 0.0001 ) . demographic characteristics and clinical information of patients in oa and la groups from 2006 to 2008 in taiwan and
matched by propensity score among patients who met the eligibility criteria for this study , 11,289 patients who underwent la , and 11,289 patients who underwent oa were selected .
after propensity , all of the p values of variables were > 0.05 , demonstrating that there was no significant difference in average age , age stratification , sex , cci score , severity of acute appendicitis , and hospital status .
we compared the differences in the risk of developing postappendectomy sbo between the oa and la groups with regard to age , sex , and follow - up year .
sbo incidence was significantly greater in the oa group ( 34.95 per 10,000 person - years ) than in the la group ( 22.59 per 10,000 person - years ) ( p = 0.0472 ) .
no significant differences in the incidence of sbo were noted in la patients 18 to 35 years of age , 35 to 50 , and 50 years or older ( p = 0.0524 , p = 0.1208 , and p = 0.9636 , respectively ) compared with patients of similar age in the oa group ( table 2 ) . risk of small bowel obstruction in patients after oa or la although in all groups of patients 18 to 35 years of age , 35 to 50 , and 50 years or older , patients who had undergone oa had a greater incidence of sbo than did those who had undergone la ( 28.38 vs. 13.35 per 10,000 person - years ; 31.34 vs. 14.91 per 10,000 person - years ; 54.93 vs. 54.1 per 10,000 person - years ) ; however , there was no statistically significant difference .
patients 50 years of age exhibited the highest incidence of sbo , and patients 35 to 50 years of age the second highest among patients in both the la and oa groups .
male and female patients having undergone oa had a greater incidence of sbo than did those in the la group ( 27.09 vs. 14.09 ; 43.48 vs. 31.69 per 10,000 person - years ) ; however , there was no statistically significant difference , p = 0.08 , 0.2468 , respectively .
the greatest incidence of sbo occurred within 3 months postoperatively , and there was a significant difference between the oa and la groups ( 117.29 vs. 41.20
per 10,000 person - years p = 0.0028 ) . in the follow - up
time periods of 3 months to 3 years , patients in the oa group had an incidence of sbo similar to that of patients in the la group ( 19.99 vs. 18.1 , p = 0.7308 ) ( table 2 ) .
the ratio of the slopes of the curves describing cumulative incidence of sbo over time for patients in the oa group versus that of those in the la group is constant .
it also corresponds to the assumption of proportional hazards in the cox regression ( figure 1 ) .
the ratio of the slopes of the curves describing cumulative incidence of sbo over time for patients in the open appendectomy ( oa ) group versus that of those in the laparoscopic appendectomy ( la ) group is constant .
patients who underwent open appendectomy ( adjusted hr of 1.7 , 95% ci , 1.112.63 ) , female patients ( adjusted hr of 1.79 , 95% ci , 1.172.72 ) , those with a cci score = 1 or 2 ( adjusted hr of 3.16 , 95% ci , 1.765.67 ; adjusted hr of 4.03 , 95% ci , 1.5710.34 ) , patients who underwent appendectomy in a district hospital , and those with complicated appendicitis ( adjusted hr of 1.68 , 95% ci , 1.052.69 ) had a significantly greater cumulative hazard rate ( table 3 ) .
crude and adjusted hazard ratios of cox proportional hazard regressions and 95% confidence interval for the development of small bowel obstruction during 3 years for the study cohort
in our study , the incidence of sbo in populations who had undergone oa and la was 34.95 per 10,000 person - years , and 22.59 per 10,000 person - years , respectively . the incidence ratio 1.55 ( 95% ci = 1.012.38 ) , p = 0.0472 , oa vs. la ) indicated the significant difference in the incidence of sbo after laparoscopic versus open appendectomy .
leung et al enrolled 1777 patients , and found 0.0069 cases per person - year by using data from an adult hospital in the calgary health region . using the national library of medicine medline database to identify all reports related to the incidence and risk factors associated with adhesive sbo , barmparas et al reported a similar rate of adhesive sbo after open or laparoscopic appendectomy ( 1.3% vs. 1.4% ) . from the swedish national patient register database ,
andersson concludes that laparoscopic appendectomy leads to fewer adhesions and is therefore expected to lower .
the risk of this long - term complication ; however , neither of these studies excluded those patients who had undergone abdominal surgery before or after appendectomy .
due to the unique taiwan 's national health insurance ( nhi ) system providing universal coverage and guaranteed equal access to health care services , patients being admitted to other hospitals for sbo are ascertained , and patients receiving any medical care are not lost to follow - up in this nationwide population - based study . in our study , the risk of sbo was related not only to the surgical approach , but also to sex , hospital status , severity of initial appendicitis , and comorbidities .
open surgery seems to increase the risk of sbo at least 4-fold compared with laparoscopic surgery for most of the abdominal surgical procedures studied .
the laparoscopic approach appears to decrease the risk of adhesion formation by 45% as well as decreasing the need for adhesion - related reintervention to 0.8% after appendectomy . a recent study by isaksson et al found a significant difference in the rate of postoperative sbo : 1.0% in the open group , and 0.4% in the laparoscopic group ( p = 0.015 ) .
our findings were similar and the overall incidence of sbo after laparoscopic appendectomy was significantly less than after open appendectomy ( 22.59 vs. 34.95 per 10,000 person - years ) . although la is associated with a greater incidence of intra - abdominal abscess after operation than is oa , however the influence of intra - abdominal abscess on small bowel obstruction is not obvious in this study .
andersson found that of all patients undergoing appendectomy , those 20 to 39 years of age had the lowest risk for sbo requiring surgery , while patients > 70-year old had a 2-fold higher risk compared with patients < 20-year old . from the scottish national health service medical record linkage database , parker et al reported that patients 16 years of age undergoing an appendectomy were at higher risk for readmission directly related to adhesions over the following 5 years , when compared with young patients , those < 16 years of age .
however , our data showed that age is not an independent risk factor for sbo .
differences in age stratification between studies , and selection bias in patient groups account for differences in study conclusions . the role of sex in the development of sbo is still controversial and is not conclusive .
riber et al examined the role of sex in patients undergoing open appendectomy , and found that female patients had an almost 4-fold higher overall risk for sbo requiring surgical intervention .
in contrast , andersson found that female patients were at a slightly lower risk for developing this complication [ adjusted hazard ratio 0.8 ( 0.80.9 ) ] in a similar population . in our study ,
occult etiology causing sbo such as subclinical pelvic inflammatory pelvic disease , endometriosis , or inflammation of adnexa may be misdiagnosed as adhesive small bowel obstruction .
such misdiagnosis may be the reason why woman exhibited a higher risk of postappendectomy small bowel obstruction in a population - based study .
charlson comorbidity index ( cci ) has been used to predict outcome in many kinds of surgery and treatment modalitities.although preoperative comorbidities were not very common in our study groups , with only 6.25% of patients having cci score 1 .
our study still confirmed that a high comorbidity burden was associated with increased risk of small bowel obstruction after appendectomy .
disorders that may influence bowel motility may be more common in a population with higher cci scores .
application of the cci to the population undergoing appendectomy is a strong predictor of subsequent small bowel obstruction .
not only the type of surgery , but also the extent of peritoneal damage resulting from surgical trauma , dissection , infection , or inflammation could be a risk factor for bowel obstruction .
complicated appendicitis results in increased risk of postoperative intra - abdominal infection , increased surgical complexity with a larger rough surface , and inflammation .
therefore , disease severity can play an important role in the development of small bowel obstruction .
high - volume hospitals and experienced surgeons had significantly better surgical outcomes . in our study , approximately 91% of patients who underwent appendectomy did so in a medical center or regional hospital .
our results showed that patients in district hospitals had increased risk of postappendectomy small bowel obstruction .
although laparoscopic appendectomy is safe , even in the case of complicated appendicitis and when performed in a low - volume setting . a high volume of appendectomies and consequently a high degree of experience may be important in reducing postoperative small bowel obstruction .
the identification of high - risk patient subgroups may assist in the development of strategies to prevent adhesions , and in the proffering of preoperative advice on adhesion risk . the large , nationwide , population - based data set from taiwan allowed us to examine risk factors for the development of sbo with a low risk of selection bias .
the large sample size enhanced our statistical power as well as the precision of risk appraisal .
first , several suspected risk factors for sbo were not available from the insurance data , such as nonsurgical abdominal pathology , including subclinical gynecologic pathology , abdominal trauma , or intra - abdominal infection .
thus , the lack of access to this information might have resulted in some degree of bias .
second , the database did not include information regarding the severity of sbo . some patients may have sustained only mild self - limited partial bowel obstruction , and may have been treated in the er or opd .
third , the diagnosis of adhesive small bowel obstruction was based on icd-9-cm diagnosis code only .
our study lacks the imaging findings to confirm diagnoses , thus allowing potential misclassification of disease .
an open surgical approach , female sex , cci score 1 , complicated appendicitis , and appendectomy in a district hospital were factors associated with a higher risk of postoperative sbo .
thus , clinicians managing patients with acute appendicitis , especially those patients who have risk factors , should be aware of the potential for the development of sbo . | pubmed |
Vampire Diaries 1. Chapter 1
**Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries**
**If anyone is a bit confused or if you don't live in the UK and don't understand the story line then go onto YouTube and type in Waterloo Road series 4 episode 1 part 1 and that's when the Kelly's arrived in Waterloo Road**
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A brand new black Mercedes pulled up outside of the school yard. Bill Forbes pulled the keys from the ignition before turning round in his seat to face his three daughters. Seventeen year old Elena, fifteen year old Caroline and thirteen year old Bonnie as they each sat staring up at the school. Elena sat in the passenger seat. Her straight brown hair reaching just past her shoulders as she huffed before undoing her seat belt as her dark brown eyes stayed glued onto the school, she leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek before leaving the car. Caroline twirled one of her light blonde locks around her finger as her blue eyes scanned the floor for her school bag before she picked it up from the floor of the car before opening the door, saying a half-hearted goodbye to her father and climbing out. Finally a twelve year old Bonnie who's dark brown hair was scraped back into a side ponytail done by Caroline. Her brown eyes lit up with excitement as she saw her friends standing waiting for her, she left the car without even so much as a goodbye to her father or sisters. Bill chuckled as he climbed out of the car and made his way towards the front entrance of the school. He knew it must be hard for his daughters having their father as their principal, which is why he tried to give them as much space as they wanted.
The school yard was littered with pupils as he stared out of his office window. The gate slowly began to open again, causing almost every pupil to turn around as a family walked through the gates and into the school yard. He sighed as he looked down at the file in his hand.
The Mikaelson's, it read.
Elena's friend Vicki gasped, staring over her should causing her to spin round to face towards the gates. A family walked into the school yard with four boys, a young girl and a woman pushing a toddler in a buggy
Who the hell are they?' was the question on Caroline's mind as she watched the family pass by her, trying to keep their eyes upon the school.
''Look's like trouble'' Bonnie smirked over towards her friend Anna as they both watched the family make their way towards the main entrance.
The eldest boy looked roughly around seventeen or eighteen with short dark brown hair with matching dark brown eyes. His tie hung loosely around his neck as he carried hi bag on one shoulder and his little sister's school bag on the other shoulder. The second eldest boy looked around sixteen had short blond hair and light blue eyes that cut like glass as he glared at everyone staring at them. Instead of a tie he wore a light blue Lacoste jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The youngest boy looked around fourteen and looked very much like the oldest with slightly lighter hair but the exact same eye colour. However he copied the second boys actions and glared round at everyone making sure to keep his sisters hand tight in his. The only girl looked around the same age as the youngest boy or slightly younger. Her blonde hair fell into curls that were tied up into a high ponytail as her blue eyes looked around at everyone in a nervous and slightly terrified manner. The youngest child - who was about three - in the push chair had jet black curls and light blue eys that beamed at everyone around him. The woman had light blonde hair that was cut into a bob with daring blue eyes.
Bill Forbes held open the door as she walked in with the stroller and the line of children after her.
''Elijah help me with this would you. Here take Henrik'' The woman asked calling to her eldest son whilst handing the toddler over to the second youngest who groaned as he lifted the youngster from his mother's arms. Bill had read that the woman's name was Ester.
''The Mikaelson's I presume'' the young boy nodded as he stared up towards him. ''Welcome to Mystic High. I am your principle Mr Forbes, if you could all please step into my office and I'll issue you with your timetables''
They all shuffled into his office after the eldest as placed the buggy down outside the door. His office was in a diamond shape with a massive black desk that sat in the corner with two black leather couches at the far wall. Ester smiled up towards him as she placed her youngest on her knee.
''Hello Mr Forbes, I'm Ester Mikaelson, these are my children'' Ester smiled looking round at all her children. They each had trouble written all over them.
''Mum I don't see the point in coming to his stupid school. Why can't we just go back to our old school, back to dads'' the second youngest boy snapped looking down towards his mother.
''Nik, don't start please. You know why we can't, your father doesn't want us anymore. He made that pretty clear when he threw our bags out into the street'' Ester sighed as she narrowed her eyes up at her second eldest son.
''No he threw your bags out, you just made us follow'' the boy snarled back in reply only to earn a nudge and a glare from his older brother.
''Niklaus I presume'' Bill said as he looked towards the boy. From what he'd read Niklaus was the most destructive, aggressive and troublesome of the Mikaelson's
''It's Klaus'' the boy snarled towards him earning a glare from his mother.
''Don't you dare be so rude, apologize to Mr Forbes'' Ester snapped. Klaus just glared towards Bill and scoffed.
''this is bull, I'm out of here'' Klaus sighed as eh turned and made for the door.
''If he's leaving then I get to go'' the youngest boy whom Bill believed to be Kol said rushing after Niklaus towards the door. Bill went to stand up but Elijah beat him to it as he slammed the door blocking his brothers from leaving the room
''you two playing up like this is making mother and the rest of us look bad. So sit down and shut up'' Elijah warned glaring mainly towards Klaus. Kol shrunk back into his original spot but Klaus refused to move as he glared towards his older brother. ''Now Nik!'' Elijah growled.
Klaus moved slowly back to where he was standing behind his mother on the couch. Ester breathed a sigh of relief and shot Elijah a thankful look before sending Bill and apologetic one. He smiled softly towards the woman, it was obvious she hadn't had it easy.
He kept his gaze upon Klaus as he spoke of the rules of this school, he could tell this boy would be trouble.
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**Hope you like it.**
**As you can see Klaus is meant to be Earl except Klaus' less psychotic haha**
**Elijah is mean to be Marley**
**Kol is meant to be Denzil**
**Rebekah is meant to be Sambuca **
**and Henrik is mean to be Prince**
**I didn't make Ester like Rose because it seemed a but ridiculous**
**Please let me know what you think **
**xoxoxox **
2. Chapter 2
**Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire diaries or Waterloo Road**
* * *
After half an hour of sitting in the office, they managed to get almost everything in the record up to date.
''Last question Mrs Mikaelson, why did your children have to leave their previous school?'' Bill asked. He immediately noticed Kol and Rebekah glance over towards Klaus who glared up towards him. Ester fidgeted slightly as she began to stumble on the answer.
''Erm….well…there was a bit of a fight between Niklaus and another boy and the boy sort of ended up in hospital'' Ester replied looking slightly embarrassed as she answered the question. Bill tried hard to fight his shock. He knew the kid was bad; he had no idea just how bad.
''Why? What happened?'' Bill asked
''Niklaus' temper sort of got the better of him and he hit the boy with a chair'' ester replied. He heard Kol snigger slightly from the seat beside Klaus who smirked slightly towards his younger brother but a glare from Elijah wiped the smirk off his face.
''But Nik didn't mean it. Did you?'' Ester smiled looking round towards her son in desperation. Klaus could see the pleading look in his mother's eyes and decided to play along.
''No of course, it was all a bit misunderstanding that got out of control'' Klaus replied. Rebekah looked round at him with her eyebrows raised, she knew he was lying.
''Well I'm afraid Mrs Mikaelson that we do not tolerate violence here so Niklaus must be on his best behaviour'' Bill said
''Oh believe me he will be'' Ester warned looking up towards her son.
Bill printed off each of the children's time tables and shows Ester the way to the nursery to drop off Henrik.
He led the children off one by one to each of their classes, being sure to keep Elijah last so he could have a talk with him.
* * *
Stefan Salvatore sighed as he began scribbling yet another drawing into the back of this history jotter. His jotter was almost full of drawings as history was not one of his strong subjects.
His had snapped up as he heard the door to the classroom open to reveal the principal Mr Forbes. He walked in confidently with a girl behind him. Her blue eyes looked around the class. They heard a certain harshness that held slight nerves as well.
''Mr Saltzman, this here is Rebekah Mikaelson, she just started here today. Here is her history report from her old school.'' Mr Forbes smiled signalling to Rebekah to come forward.
''She's the one with the fit older brothers'' he heard a girl named Stacey whisper from behind him. He smiled as he saw Rebekah glare towards her.
''Just go and sit near the back. Next to Mr Salvatore, Stefan raise your hand'' Mr Saltzman smiled towards me. He raised his hand slowly and smiled towards her. She offered him a small smile as she made her way towards the empty seat beside him.
Mr Forbes nodded towards Mr Saltzman before venturing out of the classroom and down the hallway.
Everyone kept their eyes glued onto the board while Rebekah just kept her eyes down onto her desk.
''You okay?'' Stefan asked leaning over to tap her lightly onto the shoulder. She looked up towards him with a slight glare in her eyes but he could see tears welling up at the bottom. ''What's wrong?''
''Good god Stefan don't talk to it, you might catch something from it'' a girl named Lexi chuckled from the other side of him. Rebekah glared over to her but Lexi pretended not to notice. ''I mean did you see how many kids her mother had trailing behind her, she's bound to be a skank''
''I'm not a skank'' Rebekah snapped towards her causing everyone in the classroom to turn round and face them. Rebekah's cheeks turned pink with embarrassment.
''Rebekah Mikaelson, you've been here less than five minutes and you're already disrupting the class. What is the problem?'' Mr Saltzman asked
''Nothing sir'' Rebekah mumbled as she spun back round to face the board. Mr Saltzman looked between her and Lexi before turning back round to the board.
''See told you she was a skank. Only skanks get kicked out on their first day'' Lexi snapped back towards Rebekah.
''If you don't shut your mouth then the next thing to come out of it will be your teeth'' Rebekah growled spinning right round in her seat to face Lexi with a deadly glare in her eyes.
''Rebekah Mikaelson, outside now'' Mr Saltzman snapped pointing towards the door. Rebekah turned back round shocked.
''But sir she…'' Rebekah started
''Now!'' Mr Saltzman cut her off. She growled as she stood from her chair and made her way to the door. ''Right back to work''
* * *
Bonnie sighed in boredom as she began to pick at her nails. English had to be the most boring subject ever. Mrs Lockwood sat at the front desk helping someone with a question that they didn't understand while the rest of the class got on with the question sheet they had been given out.
Everyone turned to face the door as her father walked into the room with one of the boys she'd noticed walking into the playground beside him. He had a slight smirk on his face and an arrogant gleam in his eyes.
Every girl kept their eyes upon him while every boy in the classroom glared towards him. He seemed to ignore both.
''Mrs Lockwood, this is Kol Mikaelson, he'll be joining your class as of today. Here are his previous English results. If you have any trouble you know where I am'' her dad said handing a blue file towards Mrs Lockwood who nodded in reply.
''Erm hello Kol. Why don't you take a seat and try and catch up on some of the work we've been doing'' Mrs Lockwood smiled handing him a book and a copy of the question sheet before pointing to the chair next to the window. He nodded before making his way over towards the desk.
Bonnie kept her eyes onto the blackboard writing down the important points the teacher had pointed out before she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.
She picked it out a grinned as she saw it was from Anna.
New hottie just spoke to me. OMG his accent is to die for
A
x
I giggled slightly before placing my phone back into my pocket and carrying on with my work. I felt someone's gaze on my back. I spun round slightly to see Kol smiling over at me. The moment my eyes met, his he quickly turned his attention to the board. Anna looked down at me and winked towards me causing me to laugh under my breath.
* * *
Caroline stared out of the window as Mr Salvatore began explaining the question on the board to the people who were struggling to understand it. To everyone's surprise she was one of the best in her year at Maths.
She glanced over her shoulder to see her boyfriend Tyler Lockwood grinning towards her. She smiled back. She noticed his eyes move towards the classroom door as a glare was held in his eyes. She turned round to face the door and saw her dad standing there. Fear gripped her stomach
What did he want?
She sighed in relief when she saw one of the new boys standing slightly behind him. She smiled towards him slightly as her eyes met his through the window. He offered her a small smile before walking in behind her father. Mr Salvatore spun round to face her father and the new boy.
''Klaus, this is Mr Salvatore, he's our head of Maths. Mr Salvatore this is Klaus Mikaelson, he's new to the school. Here are his old maths results'' Bill said handing over the red folder to Mr Salvatore who nodded in thanks.
''Welcome Klaus. Why don't you take a seat and I'll be over to give you a text book in a minute'' Mr Salvatore grinned. Klaus nodded before walking up towards the seat in front of Caroline's where Mason usually sat.
''Someone's already sitting there'' Carline said looking up towards him. Klaus smirked down at her as he towered over her desk.
''Well they'll just have to move then won't they'' a British accent escaped his lips causing Caroline to gasp. Damn that boy's accent was hot. Klaus winked towards Caroline before sitting down on the chair and facing the board.
''Oh and Klaus. Make sure you are wearing a tie tomorrow and that jacket is not school uniform so take it off please'' her dad said looking towards Klaus who sighed as he pulled off the jacket. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to just above his elbows. Caroline could see a scar that started just above his elbow and travelled down his forearm.
Caroline smirked as she kept her eyes on the scar before looking up to see him staring over his shoulder at her. He winked once more before turning back round. Caroline grinned back in response; she could never resist the bad boys.
Bill narrowed his eyes towards Klaus who smirked up towards him. He would die before he let his daughter be with someone like Klaus.
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**Please let me know what you think :D**
**i might scrap this story so please review and tell me if i should or not**
**xoxoxox**
3. Chapter 3
**Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Diaries or Waterloo Road**
* * *
Bill walked back into his office as Elijah stood waiting for his turn to be shown his class. But bill said nothing as he closed the door behind him causing confusion to appear in Elijah's eyes.
''Elijah I want to have a chat with you. Please take a seat'' he said signalling to the couch the teen was standing next to. He walked round the table and took a seat upon the other sofa. Elijah looked around cautiously before sitting down and placing his school bag back onto the floor.
''If you don't mind, I'd like to talk about your father'' Bill saw the teenager tense as he mentioned his father. Unlike Klaus, Elijah was not as forgiving towards his father. ''Now I have down on your records that your mother was ill a few years ago and you had to stay with your father while she was in hospital. I have nothing on him in your records but I do need his address and number incase we need to contact him, in case it happens again''
''Trust me you don't want to contact him. What happened with mother, it won't happen again, the doctors cleared her. The man was a waste of space. If anything happens either me or Nik will step up and it will be fine but I beg you sir, do not contact my father'' Elijah said his eyes meeting with Bill's for only a few moments.
''You're scared of him aren't you. Why?'' Bill asked
''Because it's his fault my mother was in that hospital'' Elijah snarled. Bill sighed, he knew there was more to the father than the mother led on.
''What happened?'' Bill asked leaning back in the couch.
''I'm not really sure. Mum and dad were always arguing, something things would get smashed or doors would be slammed waking me or Nik up, sometimes even Kol. Until one night we were all sitting while father was at work then he stormed in with a crazed look in his eyes. He screamed at us all to get upstairs. I told Nik to get everyone up into my room and warned him to stay there and not let any of the others out. I hid in the kitchen and listened all I heard was him shouting things that I didn't understand, and then I heard my mother screaming and crying. Then I heard the front door slam. When I went in my mother was on the floor, she wasn't moving. I shouted on Nik and told him to keep everyone away from the windows while I phoned the ambulance. I was thirteen years old and I had to sit in that hospital for four hours on my own thinking my mother was dead'' Elijah said as tears began to well up in his eyes. Bill looked towards him in sympathy.
''Did he ever hit you or your siblings?'' Bill asked looking towards Elijah who sniffed and shook his head.
''I'd have killed him if he did. He tried to get mother to put Henrik up for adoption but she wouldn't'' Elijah said looking towards Bill.
''Why Henrik?'' bill asked looking in confusion towards the youngster.
''Because, Henrik is not his son. That's what my father was angry at the night he beat my mother'' Elijah said. Bill nodded in understanding, this family had been through a lot more than he thought.
''Thank you Elijah. If you would like to follow me and I shall show you to your class'' Bill smiled standing to his feet.
''Sir? Can you please not tell my mother about this. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone. Not even Nik knows what I know, as far as they are concerned mother was ill and father came with me to the hospital and Henrik is their full brother instead of their half'' Elijah said. Bill smiled slight and nodded before walking through the door with Elijah following him.
Elijah followed him up the stairs and along the corridor to the science department. All the other kids watched him as they passed by classroom window. Bill knocked twice before pushing the door open.
''Miss Sommers, may I please speak with Elena?'' Bill smiled looking up towards his daughter who was sitting beside her boyfriend Matt Donovan. Elena's face paled as she looked up towards her father. Miss Sommers nodded before looking to Elena who had already risen out of her seat and was making her way towards her father.
Elijah and Elena smiled slightly towards each other in a sort of greeting before they both turned to look towards Mr Forbes.
''Elena this is Elijah Mikaelson, he just started today. Elijah this is Elena Forbes, she is our head girl here at the school and will be showing you around all your classes for the rest of the day and helping you catch up on some of the work. I'll be back to check on you later'' Bill smiled before walking off down the hallway.
''So is he your dad?'' Elijah asked looking down towards Elena whose colour had returned slightly. Elena chuckled slightly before nodding
''Wow boy do I feel sorry for you'' Elijah laughed as Elena made her way back towards the door.
''Miss Sommers this is Elijah Mikaelson. He's new to the school'' Elena smiled signalling to Elijah who offered a nervous smile towards te teacher.
''Okay well Elijah why don't you sit up the back and try to catch up. Elena would you mind helping him get up to date on the topic?'' Miss sommers asked. Elena looked towards Elijah smiling.
''Of course not Miss'' Elena said before walking up her desk and grabbing her work. Matt looked up towards her with his eyebrows raised
''To keep my dad happy'' She sighed before making her way up to sit with Elijah who felt Matt's glare on his as he walked behind Elena to the back of the classroom.
* * *
**Please review and let me know what you think. **
**Don't know if i should carry on this fic but i might **
**xoxox**
4. Chapter 4
**Disclaimer :I do not own Vampire Diaries or Waterloo Road**
* * *
Elijah sighed as the bell rang for break time. Elena had helped him catch up on Science and French. She offered him a small smile before rushing off after warning him to meet her outside her dads office when the bell rang for the end of break. He walked downstairs and came face to face with Rebekah.
''You alright Bekah?'' he asked looking down at his younger sister who was looking at her time table in her hands. Rebekah looked up upon the sound of her older brother's voice and nodded with a small smile but Elijah could see the sadness in her eyes as she looked up at him. ''No one has given you grief have they?'' Elijah asked
Rebekah looked towards the floor as she began to fidget with the zip on her jacket. Elijah knew all too well that someone had upset her. ''Who was it?'' Elijah asked looking down at her. She just shrugged her shoulders in reply.
''Well it would help if you'd talk Bekah. I can't help if you won't talk to me'' Elijah said placing his hands on his younger sisters shoulder
''I don't know her name but she called me a skank then the teacher blamed me for disrupting the class and I got sent out'' Rebekah said with a slight sniff.
''Which teacher was it?'' he asked looking down towards her.
''Mr Saltzman'' Rebekah replied. ''I hate this school 'lijah. I want to go home''
Elijah pulled his baby sister into a hug trying his best to comfort her. ''I know you do Bekah, we all do. But we can't go back there. Dad would only take us from mum again and we don't want that to happen'' Elijah sighed stroking the back of Rebekah's hair softly. ''Look I have Mr Saltzman next so I'll have a word with him and if not then point to the girl at lunch and I'll deal with her and if she says anything just walk away and let me handle it''
Suddenly commotion came from the corridor to their right. They both looked startled as Kol came flying round the corner.
''Elijah, you'd better come quickly. Nik's fighting again'' Kol said. Elijah growled as he released Rebekah from his embrace before dumping his school bag at her feet and running off down the corridor. He could see Klaus in the middle of a group of people. He appeared to be fighting a boy with dark brown hair.
Elijah quickly pushed his way through the crowd to the middle where Klaus had the boy pinned to the floor continuing to punch him. Elijah growled as he ripped Klaus from the other boy and hauled him to his feet causing Klaus to snarl in reply. Two other boys helped Tyler Lockwood to his feet as Elijah pushed Klaus back as he made and attempt to lunge at Tyler again.
''You go near Caroline again and I'll kill you'' Tyler shouted before the two boys managed to wrestle him through the doorway. Klaus went to charge him again but was stopped by Elijah.
''You want to fight then you fight me'' Elijah growled glaring down at his younger brother. He could see Mr Forbes and Mr Salvatore making their way towards them so he acted fast and grabbed Klaus' upper arm before dragging him into the boys toilets.
''Sit'' he ordered pointing to a sink. He had to get the blood from Klaus' nose before Mr Forbes spotted him or they would all be expelled for sure. He rang out a paper towel, before showing it to Klaus' forehead, causing Klaus to hiss in pain. He grabbed another paper towel and wet the corner before dabbing it lightly under Klaus' nose to clear the blood along with his burst lip.
''What the hell is wrong with you. Not even a full day at this school and your already picking fights. Nik you promised us that you weren't going to do that again'' Elijah sighed as he cleared most of the blood from under Klaus' nose before wrapping another paper towel around his brothers cut and bruised knuckles.
''In my defense he started it Elijah'' Klaus chuckled wincing when Elijah slapped him on the back of the head.
''Maybe if you weren't perving up Caroline then maybe he wouldn't have hit you, did you ever think about that? You know I just hope that one day someone gets you good and I'm not there to pick up the piece because it's getting too fucking tiring Niklaus. You need to grow up before you get yourself killed'' Elijah snarled
''Well sorry we all can't be like you Elijah'' Klaus snarled with a hint of Jealousy in this voice. Elijah growled as his fist connected with Klaus' jaw who sprang up so he was face to face with his brother, daring for a fight.
''If you screw our chance in this school then I swear to god, I will beat you within an inch of your life. Then maybe you'll grow up. You can clean the rest of yourself up, I'm done cleaning up after you'' Elijah growled throwing down a paper towel before walking out of the toilets to see Kol and Rebekah standing just outside the door. Elijah offered Rebekah smile as he took his school bag from her hands.
''How's Nik?'' Kol asked trying to peek into the toilets to get a glimpse of his older brother.
''Not as bad as last time'' Elijah sighed remembering how he had to help Klaus home last time he got into a fight.
''Why does he always do this Elijah. He promised us that we wouldn't show us up again, now we'll just be known as the kids with the psycho of a brother'' Rebekah huffed leaning against the wall with her arms folded.
''Just like last time'' Kol sighed.
''I don't know but I promise you both he will not get us kicked out of here, I won't let him'' Elijah said just as the bell rang. ''Now come on get to class'' he said ushering them out of the corridor. ''Hurry up Nik'' he called into the toilets before he walked off to meet Elena outside the principal's office. He smiled as he saw her leaning against the wall next to her father's office door. Her expression became worried a she looked down at his hands.
''What the hell happened'' she asked grabbing his hand. He sucked in a breath as he saw one of his knuckles had burst – possibly from punching Klaus – and blood was all over his finger.
''I must have cut it on something. Never mind'' Elijah said pulling his hand from Elena's before they made their way towards the History department.
* * *
Kol smirked as he glanced out of the classroom to see Tyler Lockwood outside with Mr Forbes and Mrs Lockwood. Tyler caught his eye causing his smirk to widen into a grin. Tyler glared towards him while his mother and Mr Forbes continued to speak. His eye had already began to swell up along with his bottom lip. He could see dried blood all along his top lip from where Klaus had burst his nose. Kol chuckled as he knew how ruthless Klaus was when it came to fighting, that boy had clearly learned his lesson.
''Kol, a word please'' Mr Forbes called into the room causing all the kids to spin round and face Kol who looked up slightly sheepishly. He stood slowly and made his way towards the door before stepping outside to see Mrs Lockwood glaring at him along with Tyler.
''Did Niklaus do this to Tyler?'' Mr Forbes asked. Kol looked over towards Tyler, the boy was glaring towards him in hatred. Luckily Kol had picked up a few tips from Elijah about how to keep Klaus out of trouble as it seemed to be a regular thing for the rest of the family.
''Sorry sir, I wasn't there. I don't know'' Kol lied smoothly looking up towards the principal who looked down towards him.
''You little liar'' Tyler snarled lunging towards Kol. He managed to get a punch in a Kol before he was held back by Mr Forbes. Mrs Lockwood looked at her son in horror as Kol wiped the blood from his lip and got to his feet.
''I'll get you and your freak of a brother'' Tyler shouted as Mr Forbes pushed him through the doors and down another corridor
''Cooler now! Kol, do you know what class Elijah is in just now?'' Mr Forbes asked looking down at him. Kol shook his head causing Mr Forbes to sigh. ''Okay Mrs Lockwood, could you please come with me. Kol get Bonnie Forbes to help you find your way around then go down to the office and ask for a copy of Elijah's timetable. Find him and tell him to wait outside my office. If you find Klaus then tell him the same'' Mr Forbes said. Kol turned back to the classroom door to see Bonnie already standing beside him as she'd probably already heard what her father had said. She smiled up towards Kol before exiting the classroom and walking down the corridor. Just as she reached the double doors she turned back to face him.
''Well? Are you coming?'' she smiled over towards him. Kol nodded before following her down the corridor.
* * *
**Promise the next chapter will be longer, just wasn't sure how to continue this one **
**xoxo**
End file.
| fanfiction |
(-) Published (4)
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Actions for Service NSW's handling of personal information
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The Auditor-General for New South Wales, Margaret Crawford, released a report today examining the effectiveness of Service NSW's handling of customers' personal information to ensure its privacy. The audit found that Service NSW is not effectively handling personal customer and business information to ensure its privacy. Service NSW continues to use business processes that pose a risk to the privacy of personal information. This includes the routine ema
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The Auditor-General for New South Wales, Margaret Crawford, released a report today examining the effectiveness of the financial arrangements and management practices of four integrity agencies: the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the NSW Electoral Commission, the NSW Ombudsman, and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. The audit also included NSW Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) because both departments are involved
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In a report released today, the Auditor-General for New South Wales, Margaret Crawford, identified two instances where Members of Parliament did not materially comply with the Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal's Determination relating to additional entitlements. The Department of Parliamentary Services has subsequently requested that the two Members concerned repay amounts that were incorrectly claimed. One claim was made under the Electorate to Sydne | slim_pajama |
String-net models on non-trivalent lattices
I have just started reading about string net models. The following aspect
wasn't entirely clear to me:
String net models are most naturally defined on trivalent networks,
that is to say networks where we attach 3 "legs" to each "point" of the lattice.
The model is then fully specified by defining the string types, branching rules
(the "$N\_{ij}^{k}$") and the orientation of the strings.
While this approach appears natural (especially based on what I have read
on Tensor categories) most of the "simplest" String net models
(such as the $Z\_2$ Kitaevs Toric Code or more generically the $Z\_N$ Wen Plaquette Model) can also be defined on square lattices where we seem to have 4 "legs" attached to each "point".
I was wondering how and whether one can always "reduce" a String net model
on an arbitrary N-valent lattice (N "legs" attached to each "point") to a String Net Model on a trivalent lattice. Similarly: Can one construct arbitrary String Net Models on N-Valent lattices by understanding the model on some trivalent lattice?
But in order not to complicate things: What is the "recipe" to reduce the Z2
Kitaev Toric Code on a planar square lattice to some "trivalent lattice"?
I am looking forward to your responses!
All the non-trivalent graph can be obtain from the trivalent graph by combining some vertices together. For example, the Z2 string-net model is defined on a honeycomb lattice, which is a trivalent lattice. But if you combine the two sites in each unit cell together, and consider the whole unit cell as your "site", then the honeycomb lattice simply becomes the square lattice, and the resulting model is exactly the Kitaev toric code on square lattice. In fact Kitaev deduced his square lattice toric code model from a honeycomb model in his original paper following the same way.
In general, for any site that is non-trivalent, you can consider it as a composite site and split it into several trivalent sites connected together. Such a reduction is just like the triangulation of 2d manifold in topology (the center of the triangle is dual to the site in the trivalent graph). Since there are actually more than one ways to split the sites, you may worry that if all different splitting will give you the same physics. The pentagon relation of the fusion category actually guarantee that different splitting will be equivalent to each other. So we can always reduce the non-trivalent lattice to the trivalent one. So once we know the physics of string-net on the trivalent lattice, we know it on all lattices, that is why we only need to study the trivalent lattice. Also there is no ambiguity of how the strings are fused at the vertex on the trivalent lattice, so it is much more convenient to work with trivalent lattice.
| stackexchange/physics |
stroke is a neurological disease caused by the cutoff of normal blood supply due to vessel
rupture or thrombosis , and it causes brain tissue damage .
motor , sense , recognition ,
language , and perception deficits are typical symptoms of the disease , depending on the
affected areas , size , and the cause of damage1 .
stroke patients mainly experience motor disorders and degeneration
of balancing ability due to unbalanced posture ; this is caused by asymmetric arrangement and
hemiplegia , and this disrupts independent activities of daily living ( adl)2 . the ability to balance is an individual s ability to maintain the center of gravity within
a base region , keeping the body in a balanced state3 .
stroke patients lack balancing ability and show degeneration of
physical function due to a reduction in walking and activity caused by an inappropriate
posture , proprioception malfunction , and abnormal muscle tension4 . to resolve balance problems caused by stroke , the
brunnstrom approach , bobath approach , or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation ( pnf ) is
used ; such methods focus on enhancing physical functions and balance by improving active
motor control5 .
pnf utilizes a typical helical or diagonal pattern to stimulate proprioceptive sensation
promote a nerve root response , enhancing functional movement5 , 6 .
it improves muscle
strength , flexibility , and balance ; by applying it on the non - paretic side , force is
transferred to the paretic side , effectively promoting muscle activity6 .
davis7 suggested aquatic pnf lower
extremity patterns for reinforcing muscular strength and enhancing muscle reeducation .
song
and kim8 applied aquatic pnf lower
extremity patterns to patients who had a stroke , which stimulated proprioceptors , thus
improving control and function of the nerve roots while enhancing balance . in an aquatic environment
, the buoyancy allows limbs to be moved more easily with little
strength , enhancing coordination of motion9 .
water resistance also enables the body to move , helping increase
muscle strength , joint movement , and balance10 .
multiple studies had reported pnf lower extremity patterns during
ground - based exercise for stroke patients , but few had reported aquatic pnf .
this study aimed to investigate the effects of aquatic pnf lower extremity patterns on
balance and adl of stroke patients .
six months after receiving a stroke diagnosis via either computed tomography or magnetic
resonance imaging , 20 patients were randomly assigned to a control group ( n = 10 ; 5 males
and 5 females ) or an experimental group ( n = 10 ; 5 males and 5 females ) ; the control group
was assigned to conduct pnf lower extremity patterns on the ground , and the experimental
group was assigned to conduct pnf lower extremity patterns in water .
all participants scored
> 24 points on the mini - mental status examination ( mmse ) , could perform assignments , were
capable of walking 10 m independently , and were classified as > 4 on the brunnstrom scale .
the
protocol was approved by the institutional review board of nambu university and was
conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the declaration of helsinki .
the
general features of the participants are listed in table 1table 1.general characteristics of subjectseg ( n=10)cg ( n=10)gender ( male / female)5 / 55 / 5age ( years)69.1 3.268.0 3.1height ( cm)167.6 8.2165.9 6.9weight ( kg)67.9 5.966.7 6.7paretic side ( right / left)5 / 55 / 5onset ( months)9.8 1.310.3 1.4meansd , eg : experimental group , cg : control group .
the age of the experimental group was 69.1 3.2 years , height was 167.6
8.2 cm , weight was 67.9 5.9 kg , and time since stroke onset was 9.8 1.3 months .
the age
of the control group was 68.0 3.1 years , height was 165.9 6.9 cm , weight was 66.7
6.7 kg , and time since stroke onset was 10.3 1.4 months .
meansd , eg : experimental group , cg : control group the experimental group conducted pnf lower extremity patterns using the rhythmic initiation
( ri ) method 110 cm below the water surface ; the water temperature was 3133 c .
exercises
were performed in a supine posture after simple stretching ; subjects wore a body ring
between l5 and s1 and a neck collar .
the control group conducted pnf
lower extremity patterns on the ground in a supine posture after simple stretching .
the ri
method starts from passive exercise , proceeds to active resistance exercise , and helps
increase coordination , motor sensation , and balance . the pnf lower extremity patterns
consisted of patterns d1 and d2 .
the d1 pattern ends at
either flexion - adduction - external rotation knee flexion or extension - adduction external
rotation knee extension .
the d2 pattern ends at either flexion - adduction external
rotation knee flexion or extension - adduction - external rotation knee extension .
pnf lower
extremity patterns were conducted 30 minutes / day , 5 days / week for 6 weeks .
balance was measured with the berg balance scale ( bbs ) , timed up and go test ( tugt ) ,
functional reach test ( frt ) , and one leg stand test ( olst ) .
the bbs consists of 14 items and
can be categorized into sitting , standing , and postural changes .
scores in each category
range from 04 , with 56 possible total points ; higher scores indicate better balance .
the
tugt measures the time required to stand up from a chair and shuttle back and forth between
the chair and a spot in front of the subject three times .
the frt measures the distance one
can reach with an arm from a standing posture .
the olst measures how long one can stand on
one foot with the eyes open without placing the other foot on the ground .
adl were measured with the functional independence measure ( fim ) , which consists of 13
items related to mobility and 5 related to recognition .
the items were scored on a scale of
17 with 126 possible total points ; higher scores indicate better independence .
data were analyzed using spss 12.0 ( spss , chicago , il , usa ) for windows .
descriptive
statistics were used for the general features of the participants . a paired t - test was used
to determine pre- and post - experiment differences , and an independent t - test was used to
determine between - group differences .
the changes in the result of the bbs , tug , frt , olst , and fim are listed in table 2table 2.comparison of the results of the bbs , tug , frt , olst , and fim between the
experimental and control groupsgroupprepostd - valuebbseg42.8 1.644.9 1.7 * 2.1 1.7*cg39.9 2.040.6 1.7 * 0.7 0.8tugteg21.9 1.320.1 1.9*1.8 1.3*cg20.4 1.019.7 1.0*0.7 0.6frteg17.7 0.919.0 1.4 * 1.3 0.9*cg16.7 0.617.2 0.4 * 0.5 0.6olsteg4.3 0.85.7 1.1 * 1.4 0.9*cg3.4 0.54.1 0.7 * 0.6 0.7fimeg82.3 2.587.5 3.7 * 5.2 5.3*cg80.1 1.281.4 1.4 * 1.3 1.3meansd , * p<0.05 , d - value : difference value , eg : experimental group ,
cg : control group , bbs : berg balance scale , tugt : timed up and go test , frt :
functional reach test , olst : one leg stand test , fim : functional independence
measure .
the experimental and control groups showed significant differences for all
pre- and post - experiment variables ( p < 0.05 ) . in the between - group comparison ,
the
experimental group was significantly different from the control group ( p < 0.05 ) .
meansd , * p<0.05 , d - value : difference value , eg : experimental group ,
cg : control group , bbs : berg balance scale , tugt : timed up and go test , frt :
functional reach test , olst : one leg stand test , fim : functional independence
measure
the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aquatic pnf lower extremity
patterns on balance and adl of stroke patients .
the experimental group showed a significant
improvement in balance and adl after the aquatic pnf ( p < 0.05 ) and had significantly
better balance and adl relative to the control group ( p < 0.05 ) .
for example , performance of 10 weeks of aquatic proprioception exercise by
seniors enhanced their motor abilities11 .
in addition , kim and lee12 pnf reported
that aquatic lower extremity patterns enhanced balance in healthy adults .
moreover , song and
kim8 reported that aquatic pnf
effectively affected the balance of stroke patients .
these results indicate that aquatic pnf
lower extremity patterns help enhance the balance of stroke patients .
pnf , used as a gradual
resistance exercise that employs a helical pattern , maximizes motor unit recruitment through
proprioceptive stimulation5 , 13 .
aquatic pnf promotes the maximum usage of muscle fibers
due to the intense circumstances caused by buoyancy and turbulence ; moreover , the water acts
as a form of resistance , stimulating proprioception and thus helping to improve postural
control and balance8 , 13 , 14 .
the most common method for examining the adl of stroke patients is to use the fim . in the
present study ,
the experimental group showed significant enhancement of adl after the
aquatic pnf ( p < 0.05 ) .
suomi and collier15 reported that the adl of arthritis patients were enhanced after
conducting aquatic exercise , and sato et al.16 reported that the adl of abnormal adults were enhanced after
conducting water exercise .
similar to other studies , enhancement of adl was observed after
conducting aquatic exercise in the present study .
the enhancement of adl was the result of
enabling movement with even a small amount of force .
this was due to the assistance of the
water buoyancy and decreased gravity , reducing the burden on muscles and joints10 , 15 . to promote functional recovery , the paretic side was spontaneously
enabled , thus enhancing the adl and improving functional independence15 , 16 .
the movements
also stimulate shortened muscles , promoting a training effect and enhancing adl17 .
a limitation of this study was that it utilized a small number of participants , and it was
not confirmed that the positive effects persisted .
future research should address these
things when investigating the effect of aquatic pnf lower extremity patterns in stroke
patients . | pubmed |
Why some materials are transparent, but other ones aren't?
We have two materials; say glass and wood. Light passes through glass but it doesn't pass through wood. Is it caused by atoms and molecules arranged in glass and wood such that they interact differently with light?
A brief summary: It is caused by the electrons in the particles in the substance. When electrons are orbiting the nucleus of an atom they can move to higher and lower energy levels. They do, however, need energy in the form of photons to do this, this means that when a ray of light hits the atom, the electrons in it will absorb some of the energy from the light ray. It needs a specific amount of energy to move up to the next energy level so will only absorb light from a specific part of the spectrum. This means that in some materials most of the light can pass through it and it may only absorb light waves not of visible light.
So wood, to some frequencies of light, is see through but not to the light waves we can see. That is why we can have mobile and radio signal from inside houses but only see through glass.
(Electrons are actually much more complicated and theoretical than this suggests but this)
Try watching this: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omr0JNyDBI0>
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Triton is a town that lies on Big Triton Island just off the coast of northeastern Newfoundland, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Triton is the economic center of Green Bay South. According to Statistics Canada, Triton's population fell from 998 in 2011 to 983 in 2016. The town of Triton has grown more with new businesses and buildings opening in 2017. Triton also has a state of the art swimming pool and skatepark and a small basketball court, there are trailer campsites nearby too.
History
Little Triton Harbour or Triton East was the earliest area of settlement, in the 1830s or 1840's. Little Triton Harbour and Big Triton Island were earlier used as seasonal fishing stations by fishermen from Twillingate. The first time Triton appears in the Census was in 1845, with a population of 17. There was a few families living southeast of the harbour but these families eventually moved to Triton.
In the earliest days of settlement ties were strong with Twillingate, where fishermen traded cod. In the 1890s the first stores were kept by families at Little Triton as agents of merchants at Little Bay Islands. A business was established at Great Triton which supplied many fishermen in the area and became involved in supplying schooners for the Labrador fishery. With a strong inshore fishery, a growing involvement in the fishery in Labrador and winter logging for lumber and pulp and paper industries, the population of Triton grew considerably to 470 in 1935 and 625 in 1951. Triton East and West incorporated in 1955 and Jim's Cove and Card's Harbour incorporated in 1958. In 1961 the two municipalities amalgamated as a rural district.
After the causeway was built in 1968, linking the island to Pilley's Island and the mainland, the community continued to grow. Because of the increasing dependency on the road it was the end for Little Triton, which was declining in population. Since it was not on the road it was soon abandoned. In 1980 a new fish plant, Triton Seafood's, was opened at Little Triton Harbour, and a road was built to it. In the same year the rural district was re-incorporated as the town of Triton.
See also
List of cities and towns in Newfoundland and Labrador
References
Category:Populated coastal places in Canada
Category:Towns in Newfoundland and Labrador | wikipedia |
there is always a semantic question as to what we mean by _ key issues _ , especially because our perception has evolved over the past decades . at this instant of time ,
i will define them to be the set of all issues necessary to elucidate one class of experiments that will be collectively described to be magnetic quantum oscillations @xcite , which took the community by surprise in 2007 .
it is my view that these experiments have the potential to change the landscape of high-@xmath0 research , because they hint at a degree of simplicity that was previously unrecognized @xcite .
historically , emergent simplicity in a complex field has been a real breakthrough .
it is in this spirit that this article is written , and it emphatically does not pretend to be a review .
i make no apologies ; the reader , if he so chooses , may construe this to be downright malice on my part , but i hope that he will recognize that having a clear focus can be more illuminating than otherwise .
the question posed here is quite simple . is the normal state from which superconductivity develops a fermi liquid ? before 2007 such a question would have been at the very least heresy , if not simply silly .
the answer to this question will take us into addressing pseudogap , competing order , non - fermi liquids and effective hamiltonians .
why should we be carrying so much baggage with us ?
the prevailing dogma has been that these superconductors arise from the mott insulating state of their parent compounds @xcite .
never mind the fact that we do not know what the wave function of a mott insulator is and what local hamiltonian it solves .
never mind the fact that one can equally well view superconductivity as arising from the overdoped regime of the phase digram , which can not be viewed to be in the proximity of a mott insulating phase by any stretch of the imagination @xcite .
nonetheless , the same superconductors can be said to develop from the overdoped regime and are killed as we approach the mott insulating regime . paradoxical ?
you are right to think so .
it would be a blast if we could prove that right in the heart of the strange metal - mott insulating regime , the system in reality is a fermi liquid a blow to postmodernism . to confront the postmodernists we need crystal clear experiments that can be interpreted beyond a shadow of doubt . alas ,
there lies the rub .
the quantum oscillation experiments have not so far risen to that level , although they are quickly achieving that status .
in section 2 , i outline the importance of recognizing a multiplicity of mechanisms , both competing and cooperating , that may be responsible for high temperature superconductors ( high-@xmath0 ) .
section 3 is a brief overview of quantum oscillation measurements . in section 4 ,
i discuss broken symmetries in the context of high-@xmath0 superconductors , and in particular density waves of higher angular momenta .
the section 5 contains the definition of a non - fermi liquid necessary for an overall understanding .
kohn s theorem regarding quantum oscillations provides a robust perspective in section 6 . a short
aside about @xmath1 quantum hall effect is provided in section 7 .
this brief section serves as an warning that there may be more to it than meets the eye .
the concept of fermi surface reconstruction as an explanation of the quantum oscillation experiments is discussed in section 8 .
section 9 contains some the unresolved puzzles .
from the very beginning of high-@xmath0 research the presumption has been that there is a magic bullet that will lead to the secret of these materials .
we have witnessed many such attempts : resonating valence bonds , spin fluctuations , interlayer tunneling , gauge theories , stripes , electron - phonon mechanism , quantum criticality , etc .
but the search for a magic bullet has turned out to be an ineffective strategy and may even be a false premise .
this may be unique to the new unconventional superconductors in contrast to old conventional superconductors .
in fact , the conflicts between experiments , especially in the normal state , and the lack of universality point to the importance of a set of mechanisms , as opposed to a single mechanism .
therefore the solution to the high-@xmath0 problem may be a combination of mechanisms .
the lack of a unique mechanism may be unsatisfying to a reductionist , but it is not so uncommon from the perspective of emergent phenomena ; especially serious bottlenecks exist in a number of outstanding problems in biology or medicine .
we basically know what causes superconductivity : a suitable attraction between electrons can form a ground state with a broken global gauge symmetry , with a number of remarkable consequences .
what we do not know is how this attraction arises , when it is sizable and when it is not , and what factors are detrimental to superconductivity .
we hope that it is not as complex as problems in biology and an effective low energy hamiltonian that contains the main ingredients can be found .
this principle of multiplicity behooves us to take seriously non - partisan views of * conflicts within theories and experiments . barring highly idealized many particle systems , it is impossible to find a complete mathematical solution of a complex problem , nor is it necessary
. history is replete with such examples .
each approximation must be placed in its proper context and both pro and con should be weighed .
similarly , experiments should be scrutinized .
a burning question now is the quantum oscillation experiments indicating the existence of fermi pockets in the putative normal state as opposed to the angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy ( arpes ) @xcite exhibiting so - called fermi arcs @xcite . *
complexity of the phase diagram .
the so - called unconventional superconductors , of which high-@xmath0 cuprates are examples , are distinguished from their conventional cousins by their complex phase diagrams with many competing ground states with quantum phase transitions between them .
a complex phase diagram implies competing interactions in the reduced hamiltonian , which in turn imply broken symmetries .
it is remarkable that even buckyball superconductivity that was once declared to be a conventional electron - phonon superconductor @xcite , with one serious exception @xcite , is now found to be unconventional in the most recent experiments @xcite compare the phase diagram of @xmath2 with a15 structure and a phase diagram of cuprates in fig .
[ fig : ddw ] .
the complexity of the diagrams and the multiplicity of phases is evident .
+ there are many proposed phase diagrams for high-@xmath0 cuprates with a multiplicity of phases . here
is my favorite one , as a function of doping @xmath3 , with emphasis on broken symmetries .
the symbols are : 3d af three dimensional antiferromagnet ; ddw is @xmath4-density wave ; dsc is @xmath4-wave superconductor ; @xmath5 stands for a tetracritical point ; @xmath6 stands for a suggested quantum critical point ( qcp ) in the overdoped regime separating superconductivity from ferromagnetism @xcite , f , and @xmath7 and @xmath8 are two other qcps .
qcr is a depiction of the quantum critical region , and ( a ) , ( b ) , and ( c ) are possible experimental trajectories that should exhibit different behaviors as a function of temperature .
the region termed competing phases may be composed of a cascade of various charge ordered states . ]
+ [ fig : ddw ]
the purpose of these experiments is to crush the superconducting dome by applying a high magnetic field and to study the resulting normal state at low temperatures .
after all , it is essential to understand the normal ground state if we are to get to the secret of high transition temperatures .
the field range has been generally very high , @xmath9 t , and in some cases even higher , up to 85 t. nonetheless , as far as the energetics are concerned this is still very small compared to the electronic energy scale @xcite .
there have been de haas - van alphen , shubnikov - de haas , and hall measurements .
the materials are hole doped @xmath10 ( ybco ) close to 10% doping , @xmath11 ( y124 ) corresponding to 14% doping and overdoped single layer @xmath12 ( tl2201 ) .
further doping levels of ybco have also been explored @xcite .
more recently shubnikov - de haas oscillations in the @xmath13-axis conductivity have also been observed in optimal to overdoped electron - doped @xmath14 ( ncco ) at 15% , 16% , and 17% doping @xcite .
this is significant for at least two reasons : ( 1 ) the material involves substantial cation disorder and ( 2 ) the measurements are carried out in the field range @xmath15 t , far above @xmath16 that is less than 10 t. the field range implies that in ncco there is hardly any fluctuating order to speak off .
the similarity of the observations with the hole doped cuprates is so striking that it is unlikely that mechanisms in electron and hole doped materials are different , _ ipso facto _ pairing fluctuations could not possibly play a major role in these experiments @xcite .
there has been some controversy as to whether or not the quantum oscillation measurements in ybco are carried out in the `` normal state '' @xcite , although it is certain that they are carried out in the resistive state .
in this brief space i can only highlight some striking features of the relevant experiments .
i shall return at the very end to some of the unresolved puzzles .
* the first experiment detected oscillations of the hall coefficient @xcite .
this is dramatic because within fermi liquid and boltzmann transport theories the scattering rate cancels out in the hall coefficient as long as there is only one type of pocket , electron or hole .
at least two types of pockets with differing mobilities are necessary to observe oscillations of the hall coefficient @xcite , let alone its negative sign in a hole doped material .
the existence of oscillation in the hall coefficient is therefore indicative of two types of charge carriers .
* the most plausible explanations of these oscillations in my opinion have involved reconstruction of the fermi surface involving a density wave order @xcite . whether or not the order is commensurate or incommensurate is important but not the primary issue . *
measurements in a tilted field have yielded conflicting results . in one case
no interference effects leading to spin zeros in the oscillation amplitudes were reported @xcite and in the other spin zeros were found @xcite .
the authors of the latter experiment ascribe the difference to greater resolution in separating two close frequencies that have spin zeros at two different angles .
one of them may reach the zero at an angle where the other is finite .
thus if these two frequencies are not resolved , it would appear that there are no spin zeros .
excessive tilting of the field may drive the the system deep into the superconducting state that possibly can not exhibit quantum oscillations . while the normal component couples to the supercurrent , the zeeman coupling is to the full field .
these experiments are terribly significant : the existence of spin zeros implies that the quasiparticles carry charge @xmath17 , spin-@xmath18 , a @xmath19-factor close to 2 , and an effective mass @xmath20 within a factor of 2 of the free electron mass in underdoped cuprates shocking after some three decades of complex mott physics .
one can go further and provide strong argument @xcite that whatever density wave order is causing the fermi surface reconstruction has to be of the singlet variety .
conversely , non - existence of spin zeros implies that the order parameter is likely to be a spin triplet .
a fundamental organizing principle of matter is the notion of broken symmetries .
when a symmetry is present in the hamiltonian but not in the ground state , we say that the symmetry is broken .
for example , a liquid has all the symmetries of the hamiltonian , rotation , translation , etc .
in contrast a crystal has only a set of discrete translational and rotational symmetries .
this definition is found to be counterintuitive by an artist who typically finds no symmetries of a featureless liquid but beautiful symmetries in a crystalline state or in an isicle . broken symmetries often have their key signatures , if those are not hidden from our common sense experience .
for example , a magnet breaks time reversal and spin rotational symmetries , a crystal symmetries of the space group , ferroelectrics the inversion , and superconductors the global gauge symmetry .
nonetheless , the roster of observed broken symmetries are far too small compared to the multitude of possibilities . in fact , it is a truism that any symmetry that can be broken , must be broken .
so why are so few broken symmetries observed in nature ?
i would like to argue that in high temperature superconductors certain broken symmetries and the consequent order parameters are hidden from the common observational techniques .
this does not imply that these hidden orders are unimportant , but only that we do not have the tool to observe them .
they work behind the scene .
broken symmetries offer protection from irrelevancies .
deep inside a broken symmetry state elementary excitations are uniquely known .
this , in turn , allows us to understand and predict the properties matter
. often mean field theory and small fluctuations about it are sufficient theoretical tools .
deep inside a broken symmetry phase critical fluctuations are absent and even the collective modes can be physically identified from the symmetries of the order parameters . moreover , those properties that are determined by symmetries can be determined in the weak interaction limit , where the calculations are better controlled , from a suitable effective hamiltonian .
the results thus obtained should be at least qualitatively valid even in the strong interaction limit .
@xcite however , the thermal properties in low dimensional systems are badly predicted by the hartree - fock theories of broken symmetries , because fluctuations are often very important .
nonetheless , it is expected that the results at zero temperature retain a considerable degree of validity , except close to quantum critical points where quantum fluctuations become important .
this leads us to the discussion of what dominant symmetries are broken in unconventional superconductors .
as there are excellent review articles of certain classes of broken symmetry phases @xcite , i will concentrate here on a class that i favor , about which there are no review articles .
additionally , understanding of these states may be important in understanding the quantum oscillation experiments , the major focus of the present article .
a whole class of density wave states relevant to cuprates can be defined by the angular momentum quantum number and the fundamental nature of the condensates @xcite .
a superconductor is a condensate of cooper pairs , that is , the condensation is in the particle - particle channel .
thus , the overall antisymmetry of the wave function results in strict restrictions .
if the orbital function is symmetric , the spin function must be antisymmetric and vice versa .
in contrast , the density wave states are condensates of bound pairs of electrons and holes .
since there is no requirement of exchange between the two distinct particles , the orbital function can not constrain the spin function .
although angular momentum is not a strict quantum number in a crystal , we will continue to use it as a metaphor the proper classification is in terms of the symmetry of the point group . for
a superconductor @xmath21 define @xmath22-wave ( spin singlet ) , @xmath23-wave ( spin triplet ) , and @xmath4-wave ( spin singlet ) condensates , etc . for a particle - hole condensate , that is , a density wave
, @xmath24 comes in two varieties , a spin singlet version and a spin triplet version .
the spin singlet version is the familiar charge density wave ( cdw ) and the triplet version the spin density wave ( sdw ) .
the @xmath25 comes also in two versions and involves bond order .
the focus of this article is the case @xmath26 . here
the spin singlet version is not a wave of density at all but corresponds to a staggered pattern of circulating charge currents , dubbed the @xmath4-density wave ( ddw ) .
the @xmath26 spin triplet version corresponds to a staggered pattern of circulating spin currents .
the two - fold commensurate ddw breaks translation , time reversal , parity , and a rotation by @xmath27 , while the product any two symmetries is preserved .
more specifically , the ddw order parameter is defined by ( @xmath28 being the lattice constant ) @xmath29 where @xmath30 .
note the similarity of the form factor with the @xmath4-wave superconductor ( dsc ) and the crucial factor of @xmath31 signifying the breaking of time reversal symmetry .
the kronecker @xmath32 reflects the fact that the order parameter transforms as identity in the spin space , hence a singlet . as mentioned above the order parameter in the real space
corresponds to a staggered pattern of circulating charge currents shown in fig .
[ fig : ddw - current ] .
it has been proposed @xcite that the ddw gap is proportional to pseudogap @xmath33 ; see fig . [
fig : ddw ] . from this proposed identification one can estimate that the largest magnetic field corresponding to current circulating around a square plaquette is about @xmath34 gauss .
a triplet ddw order on the other hand is given by @xmath35 which clearly transforms as a triplet under rotation in spin space .
in the real space this order parameter corresponds to circulating staggered spin currents .
the unit vector @xmath36 defines the direction of the spin .
the singlet or the triplet ddw order are hidden from most common probes because they do not result in a net charge modulation nor a spin modulation .
the reason is that @xmath37 contrast it with a d - wave superconductor , where the meissner effect follows directly from the broken @xmath38 symmetry , irrespective of the pairing channel .
thus , even though the integral over the brillouin zone is zero , the superconducting order can be detected by an applied uniform magnetic field @xmath39 through the meissner effect .
we have no such luxury in the case of ddw .
even specific heat is smooth as a function of temperature , unlike a superconductor @xcite .
experiments seeking to uncover such order must ( a ) be sensitive to spatial variation of the kinetic energy or currents , ( b ) measure higher order correlations of charge or spin densities ( 2-magnon raman , nqr , etc . ) . for triplet ddw , we have broken spin rotational symmetry and the corresponding goldstone mode , which can be picked up in neutron scattering measurements , as can the staggered magnetic field for the singlet ddw . a triplet ddw does not even break time reversal and so it is hidden further .
the effect of potential disorder is rather subtle in the ddw state ; it is rather robust in comparison to a @xmath4-wave superconductor ( dsc ) @xcite .
this legitimizes the use of a mean field hamiltonian with a given order parameter along with disorder without performing a self consistent determination of the order parameter .
the reason , in essence , is that ddw involves current modulation as opposed to density modulation .
there is a great schism : a class of experiments undoubtedly point to non - fermi liquid behavior and a class of experiments that tantalizingly resemble , even quantitatively to some degree , a fermi liquid normal state at low temperatures when the superconducting dome is crushed by a high magnetic field , namely the quantum oscillation measurements .
the distinction between a fermi and a non - fermi liquid is sharpest in the ground state , not at finite temperatures . from this perspective
it does not matter whether or not there are sizable superconducting fluctuations above @xmath0 , which i believe is perfectly reasonable , especially for superconductors with high pairing scale .
the most convincing experiment that points to a fermi liquid is a recent shubnikov - de haas experiment involving multiple oscillation frequencies @xcite that are interpreted as conventional quantum oscillations as though the quasiparticles have charge @xmath17 , spin @xmath18 , and a @xmath19-factor close to @xmath40 , more precisely @xmath41 . in order to appreciate this issue
, we need to take a step back and discuss what is and what is not a fermi liquid .
since much is known about fermi liquids , i will concentrate on what is not a fermi liquid .
only non - analyticity of the time - ordered one - particle green s function on the principal sheet , in the infinite volume limit , is a cut along the real axis . to describe a fermi liquid , galitskii and migdal@xcite
proposed a model of the one - particle green s function , which has simple poles , sufficiently close to the real axis in the second and the fourth quadrants on the second sheet .
the pole in the fourth quadrant corresponds to a long - lived quasiparticle and that in the second quadrant to a long - lived quasihole . according to this model the matrix elements of a fermion operator between the ground state and the exact eigenstates
is sharply peaked at an energy depending on the wavevector * k*. the quasiparticle pole in the complex plane is the representation of the physical phenomena on the real frequency axis , as the theory of analytic continuation implies .
a simple pole implies a unique energy @xmath42 for a given @xmath43 . with proper normalization of the wave function
, a quasiparticle can be made to resemble a bare particle for energies asymptotically close to the fermi energy .
other properties of quasiparticles also follow from the assumptions of the model .
the charge of the quasiparticle is @xmath17 and its spin @xmath18 .
the galitskii - migdal model can be summarized by the spectral function @xmath44 where @xmath45 is the retarded green s function , @xmath46 is the quasiparticle residue and @xmath47 is the interacting chemical potential . as
this model is valid only for quasiparticles close to the fermi surface , we can linearize : @xmath48 , where @xmath49 is the point on the fermi surface nearest to @xmath43 ; for a fermi surface with spherical symmetry @xmath50 , the fermi wave vector , and @xmath51 , the fermi velocity
. then , the asymptotic spectral function has the scaling property @xmath52 reflecting the gaplessness of the elementary excitations .
the system is poised at criticality . that a normal fermi system represents a critical system is , of course , well known , but usually this criticality does not lead to serious dynamical consequences .
this is because the modes ( the fermionic excitations ) decouple , as in the gaussian model of classical critical phenomena .
an exception is the kondo problem where the criticality leads to non - trivial coupling between the modes , resulting in a breakdown of the single particle picture @xcite . what would be the corresponding model of a non - fermi liquid
? a well defined model could be one where the analytic continuation of the green s function to the second sheet have branch points instead of simple poles @xcite .
thus , the corresponding scaling relation for the asymptotic spectral function is @xmath53 where @xmath54 , @xmath55 , and @xmath56 are the exponents defining the universality class of the critical fermi system .
the exponents other than @xmath57 , @xmath58 , and @xmath59 have been termed anomalous .
the notion of a spectral function with anomalous exponents was termed _
spectral anomaly_. spectral anomaly implies that a given @xmath60 does not correspond to a single frequency but a continuum of frequencies .
a creation operator of wave vector * k * , applied to the ground state , creates a state that couples to many eigenstates of the unperturbed system that can no longer be considered a damped quasiparticle .
the analytic property of the green s function is completely changed .
continuity with the fermi liquid model requires that the location of the branch point be in one - to - one correspondence with the poles .
this is by no means an obvious assumption , but holds for one - dimensional electron gas @xcite , and also for gauge models@xcite in higher dimensions .
we have not incorporated spin - charge separation in our definition . at the level of generality stated above the inclusion of fractionalization
is straightforward , but simply more elaborate .
from the dispersion relation we can now determine the real part of the retarded green s function , i.e , @xmath61 thus , the real part also satisfies the same scaling relation given by @xmath62 from the generalized homogenity assumption , we also get @xmath63 and @xmath64 the momentum distribution function @xmath65 is given by @xmath66 using the scaling relation , we can write @xmath67,\lambda^{y_2}\omega).\ ] ] because @xmath68 is an arbitrary scale factor , we can chose @xmath69 .
then , @xmath70 the discontinuity present in a fermi lquid is destroyed due to spectral anomaly . in a fermi system ,
the occupation of a state can not diverge , and the inequality @xmath71 must be satisfied . there is a superficial difficulty with the scaling argument above : the integral does not converge .
this is a minor point and is true for any leading asymptotic scaling function ; we need to restore the cutoff to correct it .
however , the critical exponent is still given correctly by the above scaling argument .
fermi liquid theory is an effective low energy theory of metals@xcite .
we shall briefly recapitulate the arguments due to polchinski@xcite .
imagine that we are considering an effective field theory below an energy scale @xmath72 at which there are strong coulomb interactions .
consider first the free action ( the repeated spin index @xmath73 is summed over ) : @xmath74 as we scale all energies by a factor @xmath75 , the momenta must scale to the fermi surface . to accomplish this scaling ,
we write @xmath76 as we scale the energies and the wave vectors , @xmath77 , @xmath78 , and @xmath79 , and the action remains fixed provided the dimension of the fermion operators is @xmath80 .
if there are no relevant operators , the effective low energy theory is self - consistent .
the generated mass term can be absorbed by redefining the fermi surface to be the true interacting fermi surface .
the most important interaction is the four fermion operator : @xmath81 where we have assumed that the interaction is short - ranged .
it can be seen that the interaction scales as @xmath22 times the dimension of the delta function .
let us assume , for the moment , that @xmath82 where we have ignored @xmath83 in comparison to @xmath49 , because @xmath84 all scale to zero .
now the argument of the @xmath85-function does not depend on @xmath22 , and the four fermion interaction scales as @xmath22 , vanishing in the limit @xmath86 .
the interaction is irrelevant !
however , the argument fails for the special kinematics implied by the forward , the exchange , and the cooper channel scattering processes . for these processes ,
the delta function can be seen to be of order @xmath87 , transforming the dimension of the interaction to @xmath88 .
the net result is that the interaction is marginal@xcite .
the argument also fails in @xmath89 because the @xmath85-function is always of order @xmath87 and the interaction is always marginal .
we now turn to the consistency of our non - fermi liquid model @xcite .
let the action be @xmath90 where the green s function @xmath91 corresponds to that of a non - fermi liquid defined above .
the dimension of @xmath92 is @xmath93 .
if we follow polchinski , we see that the the four fermion interaction is irrelevant ; even for those exceptional kinematics for which the interaction was marginal in the fermi liquid case , it now scales as @xmath94 , hence irrelevant as long as there is spectral anomaly , that is , @xmath95 .
a non - fermi liquid is more stable than a fermi liquid !
in fact , in the weak coupling regime , it does not even allow a superconducting instability .
the coupling has to reach a threshold before superconducting instability occurs .
this is a remarkable result .
_ in a fermi liquid - bcs theory , arbitrarily weak attractive interaction leads to a superconducting instability , hence there is no chance of a quantum critical point , as long as the interaction is attractive .
in contrast , in a non - fermi liquid there can be a quantum critical point because the coupling has to reach a finite threshold before superconductivity sets in .
the periodicity observed in all quantum oscillations has its root in the landau levels .
there is an instructive theorem due to kohn @xcite that exemplifies the robustness of the effect .
consider a continuum two - dimensional electronic system with arbitrary short ranged velocity independent electron - electron interaction , but without disorder .
the hamiltonian is @xmath96 here @xmath97 is the hamiltonian for individual particles of mass @xmath98 , charge @xmath17 , magnetic moment @xmath99 , spin @xmath100 , moving in an external magnetic field @xmath101 . here
@xmath102 is assumed to be a spin independent static potential , so any explicit spin dependence can be dropped .
moreover , for simplicity we shall also drop the zeeman term @xmath103 in the hamiltonian .
the single particle energy is @xmath104^{2}.\ ] ] we choose the landau gauge @xmath105 .
note that since magnetic field is _ never _ a small perturbation , as it increases indefinitely with the size of system , it is sensible to begin with the noninteracting system but in the presence of the magnetic field and then consider the effect of the interaction term .
the solution to the single particle problem is the well - known landau levels with energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions given by @xmath106 where the frequency @xmath107 and the degeneracy of each energy level is @xmath108 where @xmath109 and @xmath110 ; the factor of 2 is for spin .
the functions @xmath111 are the one - dimensional harmonic oscillator wave functions . in a magnetic field momenta are not good quantum numbers , but it is still useful to depict the energy levels on the two - dimensional @xmath112-plane .
the spectra , of degeneracy @xmath113 , lie on concentric circles in this plane separated by @xmath114 .
the total number of available states in an area @xmath115 between the two energy surfaces is unchanged despite the landau quantization : @xmath116 let the fermi level , @xmath117 , at @xmath118 be situated on one such concentric level .
then all states with energy @xmath119 are completely filled and all states for @xmath120 are completely empty .
the area enclosed by the fermi level , @xmath121 , follows trivially from eq .
( [ eq : degeneracy ] ) and is @xmath122 where @xmath123 is the _ fixed _ total number of particles including both spin directions .
that is none other than the luttinger sum rule @xcite , relating the volume of the fermi surface and the density of particles despite the magnetic field . the magnetic field with an integer number , @xmath124 , of the lowest landau levels completely filled and
the rest empty will satisfy @xmath125 or @xmath126 this isolated nondegenerate ground state is separated by a gap @xmath127 from the excited state .
as we increase @xmath39 , the quantized orbits are drawn out of the fermi level , and sequentially pass through essentially -th filled landau level and @xmath128-th filled landau level is substantial and can not be dropped as a small correction . ]
identical set of nondgenerate isolated ground states , resulting in the periodicity of the properties of the electron gas .
the frequency , @xmath129 , of the oscillations when analyzed in terms of @xmath130 is then the universal relationship @xmath131 periodicity of course does not imply a sinusoidal wave form .
the interesting question now is what we can say about the interacting systems .
now , fix @xmath132 to a completely filled landau level and turn on the electron - electron interaction adiabatically .
this is clearly possible for this incompressible state because there is a gap in the spectrum : @xmath127 .
then to all orders in perturbation theory an isolated nondegenerate ground state will remain so
. therefore the sequence of states corresponding to fully filled landau levels as a function of the magnetic field will be the same , as in the noninteracting case .
the periodicity is therefore unchanged and is determined by the enclosed area @xmath121 , which in turn is fixed by the luttinger sum rule .
note that the theorem makes no statement about the amplitude of the oscillations , nor about the waveform of the periodicity .
it appears that we have only made use of the adiabatic theorem and as such kohn s theorem may be true non - perturbatively and perhaps can be generalized to a non - fermi liquid state . despite motivated effort
the present author was unable to generalize this theorem .
the real question is do non - fermi liquids have landau levels ? perhaps a phenomenological illustration is useful . for a fermi liquid ,
the quasiparticle spectral function is a series of @xmath85-functions , which is trivially ( considering for illustration for the @xmath133 case ) @xmath134\ ] ] with appropriate renormalization of the effective mass .
considering that the ground state corresponds to all landau levels filled up to an energy @xmath135 in the @xmath112-plane denoted by @xmath136 , as discussed above , we immediately obtain @xmath137 one might wonder if a generalization to a non - fermi liquid might not exist . we could write @xmath138^{y_{a}/y_{2}}\ ] ] where the appropriate anomaly exponents were defined earlier ; note that @xmath139
. this will imply once again that the spectral functions have periodic branch points at the same values as in eq .
[ eq : onsager ] . despite its intutive appeal
, it remains to be proven that a non - fermi liquid has landau levels . in an often quoted paper by luttinger
@xcite a derivation of the lifshitz - kosevich ( lk ) formula @xcite is given .
but this formula is valid _ if and only if _ the fermi liquid theory is valid .
the modification of lk formula by luttinger may include fermi liquid corrections , but can not be used for a non - fermi liquid .
it implies in turn that if the lk formula holds , we are very likely observing quasiparticles , perhaps with renormalized masses and with fermi liquid corrections to the spin susceptibility if we are considering interference due to spins .
it is useful to recapitulate what luttinger really proved .
the range of interest is @xmath140 and @xmath141 not much larger than @xmath114 .
the self energy @xmath142 is separated into three parts : @xmath143 here @xmath144 is a _ field independent _ part taken at @xmath118 and @xmath145 is the first temperature correction , which by the sommerfeld expansion is @xmath146 moreover luttinger estimates that @xmath147 and therefore @xmath148 allowing us to drop @xmath145 .
an assumption here is that the system is three dimensional and the sommerfeld expansion is a meaningful asymptotic expansion .
these estimates allow him to drop @xmath145 .
if we now assume that the electron - electron scattering rate vanishes as @xmath149 , which is a fermi liquid assumption , the leading oscillatory part of the thermodynamic potential is @xmath150,\ ] ] which is exactly the thermodynamic potential for independent fermions but with the renormalized quasiparticle energies @xmath151 determined from @xmath152 where @xmath153 is the real part of the self energy . except for that it is exactly the lk formula .
the final formula of luttinger can of course be cast in terms of fermionic matsubara frequencies , @xmath154 , and a self energy dependent on it .
it then reads @xmath155\}.\ ] ] it appears that the non - oscillatory part of the self energy @xmath156 can be phenomenologically assigned whatever we wish , in particular a non - fermi liquid or a marginal fermi liquid form .
this procedure @xcite seriously lacks consistency , as there is no proof that such systems exhibit landau levels , which i believe is the _ sine qua non _ of quantum oscillations ( cf .
below ) .
any amount of impurities will break translational invariance and kohn s theorem can not , strictly speaking , hold . a moderate amount of disorder can be understood in terms of a self consistent born approximation and has been discussed extensively @xcite .
landau levels will be broadened and will overlap , but as long as the states within a landau band are not fully localized , magnetic oscillations persist .
can we understand , on dimensional grounds , how the oscillations are affected by disorder .
of course , impurity broadening must lead to the decay of the amplitudes characterized by the dingle factors .
how about the frequency ?
with disorder we have a new dimensionless parameter , @xmath157 , that is expected to affect the frequency as well .
the electron will take longer to complete a cyclotron orbit , so the frequency should be shifted downward , but by what amount ?
the downward shift in the energy @xmath135 of an extremal orbit can be estimated to be @xmath158 where @xmath159 and @xmath160 . when averaged over the distribution of disorder , @xmath161 is smooth and independent of energy , and therefore the principal value integral vanishes .
a more refined self consistent argument @xcite shows that the correction to the frequency is of order @xmath162 , which is a small correction in most cases .
there are examples where quantum oscillations arise from a nearby non - fermi liquid state .
a remarkable example is the @xmath1 quantum hall state . as the filling factor moves away from @xmath1 , shubnikov - de haas oscillations
are observed @xcite and the lk formula provides a good description , given suitable redefinitions of the parameters of a landau fermi liquid by the parameters corresponding to composite fermions @xcite . in particular , it is believed that the state at @xmath1 is a non - fermi liquid with a logarithmically divergent effective mass due to an emergent transverse gauge field @xcite .
that transverse gauge fields are special in this respect and was first discovered by holstein , norton , and pincus @xcite .
in fact , certain aspects of the de haas - van alphen oscillations were also noted by them , but the oscillations considered there were hardly affected by the non - fermi liquid state because the gauge coupling constant was negligibly small . in recent years
emergent transverse gauge field in strongly correlated electron systems has been widely discussed @xcite where the effective coupling constant can be of order unity @xcite .
it is an interesting question if there may not be an underlying fermi liquid ( not necessarily a landau fermi liquid ) responsible for the quantum oscillation experiments .
that the normal state of high temperature superconductors are anomalous is well known , and it may be worthwhile to pursue this idea in some depth , if only to prove its invalidity .
i will use the example of singlet ddw to illustrate how fermi surface reconstruction takes place , but any other two - fold commensurate order at the mean field level will do .
the hamiltonian in terms of the fermion creation and destruction operators , @xmath163 and @xmath164 , is ( the spin index is ignored ) @xmath165 where @xmath166 is the single particle spectrun . the reduced brillouin zone ( rbz ) is bounded by @xmath167 .
we define the ddw gap by @xmath168 which is obviously proportional to the order parameter @xmath169 defined earlier .
the resulting fermi surface reconstruction is shown in fig . [ fig : reconstruction ] . the diamond in ( * a * )
is called the reduced brillouin zone ( rbz ) and contains exactly half the number of available states . in ( * a
* ) the unoccupied states are colored red .
the constant energy contours are shown as the set of black curves .
the filled diamond corresponds to one electron per unit cell . in ( * a * ) the red area corresponds to @xmath170 holes per unit cell of the crystal lattice .
the excess , @xmath3 , is called the doped holes .
consider shifting the fermi surface in ( * a * ) by vectors @xmath171 , which will give rise to ( * b * ) , ignoring the shading for clarity .
matrix elements at the degeneracy points open up gaps , reconstructing the fermi surface shown in ( * c * ) , as in a kaleidoscope . however , if we continue to consider the full bz , we would double the number of states .
all distinct states are contained in the rbz , but there are now two distinct sets of energy levels , the upper band and the lower band .
however , we continue to use the full bz in ( * c * ) , as a better aid for visualization . because the rbz is the fundamental unit in the wave vector space
, the new unit cell of the crystal lattice is doubled , given by a square @xmath172 , and the full translational symmetry of the original lattice is broken .
the fermi surface now consists of _ disconnected sheets _ of blue and red areas .
the remarkable fact is that the charge carriers in the blue region behave like electrons of fraction @xmath173 and in the red region like holes of fraction @xmath174 .
the doped holes are given by @xmath175 , as there are two hole pockets and one electron pocket in the rbz from luttinger sum rule ( cf .
below ) . the broken symmetry invoked here
is called commensurate , strictly two - fold commensurate , as the translational invariance of the crystal of integer multiples of the next nearest neighbor lattice vectors of the original lattice is still preserved .
it would appear that broken symmetry density wave states will lead to problems regarding the count of the charge carriers because the system is no longer in one - to - one correspondence with free fermions .
this is not the case @xcite . at the mean field level a whole class of density wave states with broken translational symmetry in the particle - hole channel , such as the spin density wave ( sdw ) , the singlet and the triplet @xmath4-density waves ( ddw ) ,
are fermi liquids in disguise when viewed in terms of quasiparticles of the valence and the conduction bands with their appropriate coherence factors .
this mean field picture reconstructs the fermi surface in terms of fermi pockets , as illustrated for a commensurate ddw in fig .
[ fig : reconstruction ] .
the full hamiltonian is now the hartree - fock hamiltonian plus the hamiltonian of the residual interactions of the hartree - fock quasiparticles .
therefore , the proof of luttinger s sum rule should be identical to that of a fermi liquid @xcite . to understand when this will cease to hold
, it might be useful recapitulate the conventional proof .
the total number of particles @xmath123 can be written as @xmath176e^{i\omega t}\end{aligned}\ ] ] here @xmath177 corresponds to trace over spin projections , and @xmath178 is the self energy .
it would appear that the first term being a total derivative should vanish .
however , one should be mindful that the time - ordered green s function is not analytic in either half plane with the chemical potential @xmath47 being the location where the poles switch from the upper - half to the lower - half plane . in the infinite volume limit
, we have a cut along the entire real axis . for
a fermi liquid luttinger argued that the second integral vanishes to all orders in perturbation theory , while the first integral leads to the relation @xmath179 where @xmath47 is the chemical potential for _ interacting _ electrons .
how should one generalize this to the density wave states ?
this is trivial when one realizes that the trace operation must be enlarged to include the full nambu space .
the most general hartree - fock hamiltonian that includes sdw , singlet ddw and the triplet ddw can be written in one stroke as @xmath180 where in the nambu notation @xmath181 where @xmath182 is a @xmath183 matrix involving the respective order parameters .
the corresponding green s function can now be substituted in the luttinger formula @xcite .
the second term is obviously zero and one arrives at the result that @xmath184 where @xmath3 stands for doped holes , while @xmath185 and @xmath186 stand for the concentration of carriers in the hole pockets and the electron pockets in the @xmath187 .
kohn s theorem applies once again to holes and electrons to the extent that interband transitions can be ignored .
one would again begin with the unperturbed problem which fully includes the magnetic field resulting in landau levels with gaps and turn on the residual interaction between the quasiparticles .
the underlying assumption is that the hartree - fock gap is present , however small , and whatever residual interactions between the quasiparticles are present can be handled in exact analogy to the luttinger s formalism .
this result can not persist across a quantum phase transition where the hartree - fock gap collapses .
a more complex question involves the behavior in the quantum critical region .
* how does one reconcile with fermi arcs observed in arpes ? at the most trivial level one
notes that once the coherence factors are incorporated for the arpes spectral function @xcite , as one must , the intensity of the parts of the fermi surfaces become negligibly small , as shown in fig .
[ fig : hole ] and fig .
[ fig : electron ] .
+ right : an example of calculated arpes spectral function without disorder for electron pockets.,title="fig:",width=2 ] right : an example of calculated arpes spectral function without disorder for electron pockets.,title="fig:",width=2 ] + at a deeper level , there are many unanswered questions .
although signatures of both hole and electron pockets in arpes are known in electron doped superconductors @xcite , there is no evidence so far of electron pockets in hole doped cuprates .
but on the other hand there are no reliable arpes measurements in ybco . in a recent measurement @xcite
, it has been noted that a cleaved surface gets naturally overdoped regardless of what the bulk doping is .
an attempt was made to reduce the doping by depositing a potassium overlayer and the arpes showed no sign of electron pockets , nor even hole pockets , but only fermi arcs .
i have argued elsewhere that a likely picture is that potassium ions act to produce long - ranged disorder .
the effect of this disorder is strikingly strong on electron pockets but less so on the hole pockets @xcite .
of course the effects of the coherence factors play some role as well .
an example is shown in figure [ fig : disorder ] .
+ + the definitive answer is missing , notwithstanding a recent arpes measurement that finds both fermi arcs and hole pockets @xcite . *
why is the hole pocket frequency that follows from luttinger s sum rule is not observed in hole doped materials ? at the most rudimentary level there is an answer .
the dingle factor , @xmath188 , that suppresses quantum oscillations can be written as @xmath189 where @xmath23 is the index for the harmonic .
since @xmath190 and @xmath191 , where @xmath192 the scattering time , and @xmath84 the mean free path , @xmath188 can be alternately rewritten as @xmath193 assuming that the mean free paths for the hole and the electron pockets are more or less the same , the pockets with larger @xmath194 will be strongly suppressed because of the exponential sensitivity .
this appears to be reasonable from whatever numerical calculations and approximate analytical calculations exist @xcite .
nonetheless , the definitive result in the resistive state of ybco , including vortex fluctuations , is missing .
* is the order that reconstructs the fermi surface incommensurate ?
this perhaps will be settled experimentally .
as to theory , presently we do not have sufficiently controlled microscopic understanding to address this question .
* do the tilted field measurements point truly to a triplet order parameter ?
this is also a matter that needs to be explored further experimentally .
the implications , as emphasized earlier , are striking . * how about the existence of order and field induced order ? at the moment there is no evidence of long - ranged order in the relevant doping range , be it sdw , singlet ddw , or triplet ddw , both in electron and hole doped cuprates .
it is difficult to overemphasize that dhva is an equilibrium measurement : fluctuating order can not solve this dilemma , all quantum oscillation measurements require very large correlation lengths and nearly static order .
how about order induced by high magnetic fields ? there are strong arguments from detailed fits to the measurements that the relatively high magnetic field is not the root of these observations @xcite , beyond the obvious effect of suppressing superconductivity .
indeed , previous nmr measurements in @xmath11 up to at least @xmath195 have shown no signatures of field induced order . yet the quantum oscillation measurements in this stoichiometric material are clear and unambiguous
. of course , nmr measurements @xcite in higher fields of the order of @xmath196 t would be interesting .
an argument that order could be field induced can not be ruled out but seems to be implausible .
* it is an open question at this time as to whether or not the quantum oscillation experiments can be understood using concepts of a non - fermi liquid .
these experiments have progressed to such a degree that there are many tight constraints imposed on theories . if the tilted field experiment of ref .
@xcite is sound , there appear to be unambiguous evidence of charge @xmath17 , spin @xmath18 , @xmath197 fermions , consistent with a @xmath19-factor close to 2.2 .
i suspect that if an alternate explanation is possible , it will involve conceptual ideas similar to composite fermions at @xmath1 , but with remarkable numerical coincidences .
challenging problems in the quantum theory of matter have been solved over the years by startling key ideas .
a fews specific examples are : ( 1 ) landau theory of fermi liquids .
despite the fact that potential and kinetic energies are of similar magnitude , screening and the pauli exclusion principle conspire to allow a perturbative approach the landau fermi liquid .
emergent quasiparticles have renormalized mass , charge @xmath17 , spin @xmath18 and weak residual interactions . ( 2 ) critical phenomena discovered by thomas andrews in 1869 was not explained until 1970 s by ken wilson and his coworkers . until then a nightmare of fluctuations on all length scales confounded both experimentalists and theorists .
the key simplification was the notion of fixed points of renormalization group transformations .
the physical systems that share the same fixed point have the same critical behavior .
( 3 ) bcs theory of superconductivity . with the key
simplified reduced hamiltonian bcs were able to explain a myriad of mysteries and successfully predict new phenomena , far too many to recount here .
the quagmire generated by high temperature superconductors _ requires _ simplification , not ill - defined complexity ( akin to postmodernism ) , and a new concept of how a multiplicity of mechanisms can act in concert to raise the superconducting transition temperature in unconventional superconductors .
i thank cyril proust for much interesting correspondence .
this work is supported by nsf under the grant dmr-0705092 .
10 nicolas doiron - leyraud , cyril proust , david leboeuf , julien levallois , jean - baptiste bonnemaison , ruixing liang , d. a. bonn , w. n. hardy , and louis taillefer .
quantum oscillations and the fermi surface in an underdoped high-@xmath198 superconductor . , 447:565568 , 2007 .
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nowadays the production of high - brightness electron bunches constitutes one of the most challenging and interesting activities for particle accelerator physicists .
the growing interest of the community in this kind of beams is justified by important applications such as self - amplified spontaneous emission ( sase)-free - electron - lasers operating in the x - ray region ( see , amongst others , @xcite ) .
similar bunches are also being considered for production of femtosecond radiation pulses by simpler schemes based on cherenkov and transition radiation @xcite .
one of the challenges faced by physicists involved in this area is constituted by the presence of self - field induced collective effects .
these effects may spoil the brightness of the electron beam .
self - fields obey the usual linard - wiechert expressions ; the fields generated whenever an electron bunch undergoes a motion under the influence of external forces are different from the usual space - charge self - interaction , and are usually neglected in cases in which one does not deal with high - brightness beams .
the equations for the field form , together with the dynamical equations for the particle motion , a formidable self - consistent problem .
its complete solution , that is the particle evolution , is obtained only when one is able to solve simultaneously the equations for the fields ( electrodynamical problem ) and the equations of motion ( dynamical problem ) : this task can be performed with the help of self - consistent computer simulations .
an example of such codes is given ( see @xcite ) by the program @xmath4 , which will be used throughout this paper .
@xmath4 has been used to predict self - field related effects in the bunch compressor chicane to be used before the main linac for the xfel at desy and it is , at the time being , the only fully developed code used for xfel modelling both at desy and slac .
results show that the projected transverse emittance of the bunch grows from @xmath5 after the injection to the significantly enhanced value of @xmath6 after the compressor @xcite .
transverse dynamics is addressed by the code in two steps : first , the transverse electromagnetic forces , which are well defined and measurable physical quantities , are calculated separately and , second , the equation of motion is solved in a self - consistent way . from this viewpoint
a thorough understanding of transverse electromagnetic forces by themselves is of paramount importance since it allows to gain confidence in full simulation results .
the behavior of these forces can be obtained numerically by using the electromagnetic solver of the code for a given source distribution evolving rigidly along a certain trajectory ( i.e. a zero energy spread is assumed throughout the bunch evolution ) , but numerical results alone are not sufficient in order to reach a full understanding of how electromagnetic forces act .
consider for example the plot in fig .
[ fig1 ] , obtained by using the electromagnetic solver of @xmath0 .
radial force normalized to @xmath7 , @xmath8 , felt by a particle with different vertical displacements @xmath9 positioned at the center of a line bunch @xmath10 long as the bunch enters a circle of radius @xmath11 . here
these simulations were obtained by means of the code @xmath0.,width=340 ] the figure shows the normalized radial force ( i.e. the force normalized to @xmath13 in the direction orthogonal to the test particle velocity and still lying on the bending plane ) felt by a test particle . here
@xmath14 is the bunch density while @xmath9 is the vertical ( orthogonal to the bending plane ) displacement with respect to the center of a one - dimensional bunch with rectangular density distribution function .
the plot shows interesting characteristics : a very sharp feature at the injection position , a transient and a steady state , which we can observe but for which there is no intuitive physical explanation .
the electromagnetic problem is , of course , only a part of the formidable evolution problem but its understanding is @xmath15 an important physical issue .
analytical investigations of this simplified , although very important situation are therefore needed in order to see the meaning of the simulation results , besides providing , from a more practical viewpoint , important cross - checks .
we will show that through this kind of study we can understand the features of fig .
[ fig1 ] from a physical viewpoint , deal with characteristic times and lengths and , as a very practical result , validate the simulation results by producing analytical cross - checks . the self - interaction in the longitudinal direction ( parallel , at any time , to the velocity vector by definition ) is responsible for the energy exchange between the system and the acceleration field and for all csr ( coherent synchrotron radiation)-related phenomena , which have been studied extensively elsewhere ( see , amongst others , @xcite ...
@xcite ) .
self - forces in the transverse direction were first addressed , in the case of a circular motion , and from an electrodynamical viewpoint , in @xcite . further analysis ( @xcite , @xcite ... @xcite ) considers , again , the case of circular motion both from an electrodynamical and a dynamical viewpoint .
we proposed a fully electrodynamical analysis of a bunch moving in an arc of a circle in @xcite , where , for the reasons explained before , we were not interested in the full evolution problem .
nevertheless , in that paper we addressed the issue of understanding the electromagnetic interactions only in the framework of a 1d model . before our study in @xcite
there was no explanation for the simulation results shown in fig .
the work in @xcite provided a qualitative explanation of these results : such qualitative character of the explanation is due to the fact that the model in @xcite is one - dimensional , and does not allow any quantitative investigation when ( as in fig .
[ fig1 ] ) a vertical displacement is introduced .
still it was possible to demonstrate that the sharp feature near the injection point is due to interactions of the test particle with particles in front of it , while the transient part is due to the interaction with particles behind it .
in this paper we aim at an extension of the model proposed in @xcite which allows a fully electrodynamical analysis of a bunch endowed with a vertical dimension .
since a bunch with vertical extent can be always thought of as a superposition of displaced charge lines , all the relevant physical aspects of the problem are included in the study of a simpler model , constituted by a one - dimensional line bunch and a test particle with vertical displacement , which is the situation studied in fig .
[ fig1 ] . in this article ,
our explanation of the features in fig .
[ fig1 ] will be eventually refined to a quantitative level .
the paper is organized as follows .
we first treat , in section [ sec : two ] , the transverse interaction between two particles moving in an arc of a circle , supposing that one of the two particles has a vertical displacement @xmath9 with respect to the source . by integration of our results
we consider , in section [ sec : transientbunch ] , a stepped - profile electron bunch interacting with a test particle with vertical displacement entering an arc of a circle and we discuss all the characteristic lengths involved . finally , in section
[ sec : concl ] , we come to a summary of the results obtained and to conclusions .
we will first address the case of two electrons moving in an arc of a circle of radius @xmath16 , in such a way that one of the two is displaced , with respect to the reference trajectory , by a quantity @xmath9 in the vertical ( perpendicular to the bending plane ) direction .
we will see that , as concerns the interaction in the radial direction ( in the bending plane ) it does not matter which particle is endowed with this displacement .
the electro - magnetic force which one of the two particles ( designated with `` t '' , i.e. the test particle ) feels , due to the interaction with the other one ( designated with `` s '' , i.e. the source particle ) , is given by @xmath17 where @xmath18 is the position of the test particle , @xmath19 is the electron charge with its own ( negative ) sign , @xmath20 is the velocity of the test particle normalized to the speed of light , @xmath21 , while @xmath22 and @xmath23 are , respectively , the electric and the magnetic field generated at a given time @xmath24 by the source particle s , at the position of the test particle t , namely @xmath25 \over{r_\mathrm{st } \left({1- { \bf{\hat n } } \cdot { \bm { \beta_\mathrm{s}}}}\right)^{3 } } } \biggr\}~ & & \label{efield}\end{aligned}\ ] ] and @xmath26 here @xmath27 and @xmath28 are , respectively , the dimensionless velocity and its time derivative at the retarded time @xmath29 , @xmath30 is the distance between the retarded position of the source particle and the present position of the test electron , @xmath31 is a unit vector along the line connecting those two points and @xmath32 is the usual lorentz factor referred to the source particle at the retarded time @xmath29 .
in contrast to the case studied in @xcite , the transverse ( by definition , orthogonal to @xmath33 ) projection of @xmath34 has now components both in the bending plane and perpendicular to it .
we will introduce , therefore , two unit vectors @xmath35 , in the direction perpendicular to the bending plane , and @xmath36 , in the radial direction , i.e. orthogonal to @xmath37 and lying in the bending plane .
of course , the transverse component of @xmath34 can still be written , following @xcite , as the sum of contributions from the velocity ( `` c '' , coulomb ) and the acceleration ( `` r '' , radiation ) fields , namely @xmath38 where @xmath39 and @xmath40\ ; & .
\label{radiation}\end{aligned}\ ] ] we will first consider the situation in which the test particle is in front of the source . in this case , one can refer to fig .
[ fig2 ] for all the possible configurations of the present position of the test electron and the retarded position of the source with respect to the arc .
the vertical displacement @xmath9 of one of the two particles is to be imagined in the direction perpendicular to the figure plane .
let us start with the steady state case in fig .
we can define with @xmath41 the curvilinear distance between the present position of the test and of the source particle ; @xmath42 will indicate the angular distance between the retarded position of the source and the present position of the test electron , and it will be designated as the retarded angle .
finally , @xmath9 will be the vertical displacement .
relative configuration of the retarded source point s and the test point t for a system of two electron passing a bending magnet .
the test particle is understood to be displaced by a quantity @xmath9 in the vertical direction .
the figure shows only the projection of the motion on the bending plane .
, width=340 ] in the following we will assume @xmath43
. therefore we can write eq .
( [ coulomb ] ) and eq .
( [ radiation ] ) in the following way : @xmath44+{\bf{\hat{e}_p}}\left[2 r \sin^2(\phi/2)(1+\beta^2)-\beta\sin\phi(h^2 + 4r^2\sin^2(\phi/2))^{1/2}\right ] } \over{\left[(h^2 + 4r^2\sin^2(\phi/2))^{1/2}-2\beta r \sin(\phi/2)\cos(\phi/2)\right]^3}}~ , \label{coultrig}\ ] ] @xmath45+{2 { \bf{\hat{e}_p } } \sin(\phi/2 ) \left[r
\sin(\phi/2)(1+\beta^2)-\beta \cos(\phi/2)(h^2 + 4 r^2 \sin^2(\phi/2))^{1/2}\right]}\over{\left [ ( h^2 + 4r^2\sin^2(\phi/2))^{1/2}-2 \beta r \sin(\phi/2)\cos(\phi/2)\right]^3 } } - & & \cr - { { \bf{\hat{e}_h}}\left[h
\beta \sin\phi\right]+{\bf{\hat{e}_p}}\left[\beta r \sin\phi-\cos\phi(h^2 + 4 r^2 \sin^2(\phi/2))^{1/2}\right]\over{r\left [ ( h^2 + 4r^2\sin^2(\phi/2))^{1/2}-2 \beta r \sin(\phi/2)\cos(\phi/2)\right]^2}}\bigg\}~. & & \label{radtrig}\end{aligned}\ ] ] the retardation condition linking @xmath41 , @xmath9 and @xmath42 reads @xmath46^{1/2}~ , \label{retsteady}\ ] ] as one can readily see by inspecting eq .
( [ retsteady ] ) , when we impose reasonable values for @xmath47 and @xmath48 we obtain corresponding values of @xmath49 .
we will therefore assume @xmath49 throughout this paper , and verify @xmath50 the validity of this assumption when studying particular situations .
note that , by fixing @xmath49 we keep open the possibility of comparing @xmath42 with the synchrotron radiation formation angle @xmath51 ( note that a deflection angle smaller or larger than @xmath51 is characteristic of the cases , respectively , of undulator or synchrotron radiation ) .
we can therefore expand eq .
( [ coultrig ] ) and eq .
( [ radtrig ] ) to the second non - vanishing order in @xmath42 thus obtaining @xmath52 and @xmath53 where we define @xmath54 and @xmath55 as @xmath56+{\bf{\hat{e}_p}}\left[\hat{\phi}^2 - 4\hat{h}^2/\hat{\phi}^2 \right]}\over { \hat{\phi } \left[1+\hat{\phi}^2/4 + \hat{h}^2/\hat{\phi}^2\right]^3 } } \label{phic}\ ] ] and @xmath57+{\bf{\hat{e}_p}}\left[2-\hat{\phi}^2 - 3 \hat{h}^2 + 4\hat{h}^2/\hat{\phi}^2 \right]}\over { \hat{\phi } \left[1+\hat{\phi}^2/4 + \hat{h}^2/\hat{\phi}^2\right]^3 } } \label{phir}\ ] ] here and above @xmath58 .
this normalization choice , already treated in @xcite , is quite natural , @xmath51 being the synchrotron radiation formation - angle at the critical wavelength . in the derivation of eq .
( [ coulexp ] ) and eq .
( [ radexp ] ) ( and in the following , too ) we understood @xmath59 , which is justified by the ultrarelativistic approximation .
moreover we defined @xmath60 ; in order to understand this definition we first write down the retardation condition eq .
( [ retsteady ] ) in approximate form . since we are already working in the limit @xmath61 and @xmath49 , then in order to have @xmath62
, @xmath63 must be satisfied .
we will automatically recover from our results that the assumption @xmath64 is sufficiently good for our purposes .
therefore eq .
( [ retsteady ] ) can be approximated with : @xmath65 the latter can be written down in dimensionless form too as @xmath66 which explains the choice of the definition for @xmath67 .
the reader may easily check that eq .
( [ phic ] ) , eq .
( [ phir ] ) and eq .
( [ retsteadydimlessappr ] ) ( as well as eq .
( [ coultrig ] ) and eq .
( [ radtrig ] ) ) are generalizations of the expressions given in @xcite by taking their limit for @xmath68 . the following expression , which is valid for the total transverse force felt by the test particle can be then trivially derived @xmath69 where @xmath70 is defined by @xmath71 let us now consider the other cases depicted in fig .
[ fig2]a , c and d. while the case in fig .
[ fig2]b deals with the steady state situation in which the present position of the test and the retarded position of the source are both in the bend , fig .
[ fig2]a , c and d deal with transient situations in which we can find the retarded source and the present test in the straight line before and after the bend too .
consider the situation in fig .
[ fig2]a . in this case , under the assumption @xmath72
, the retardation condition reads @xmath73 where we introduced the normalized quantity @xmath74 , which is just @xmath75 normalized to the synchrotron radiation formation angle , @xmath51 . in this case
the source particle is only responsible for a velocity field contribution , therefore @xmath76 . by direct use of eq .
( [ coulomb ] ) , one can find the exact expression for @xmath77 @xmath78 \right\}+ { \bf{\hat{e}_p}}\left\ { -r_{st } \beta \sin\phi + \left [ r ( 1+\beta^2)(1-\cos\phi)+y\sin\phi\right]\right\ } } \over{\left\{r_{st}-\beta(y+r \sin\phi)\right\}^3 } } \label{triga}\ ] ] @xmath79 being given by @xmath80^{1/2}~. \label{rst}\ ] ] normalized radial force @xmath81 for a two - particle system entering a hard - edge bending magnet as a function of the position after injection .
results for different values of @xmath67 are shown .
the solid lines show analytical results ; the circles describe the outcome from @xmath82 . here
@xmath83 . , width=340 ] expanding the trigonometric functions in eq .
( [ triga ] ) and using normalized quantities one finds : @xmath84+{\bf{\hat{e}_p}}\left [ \hat{y}^2\phi + \hat{y}(\hat{\phi}^2+\hat{\phi}^4/2)+{\hat{\phi}^5/4}-\hat{h}^2\phi \right ] \right\}\over{\left[(\hat{y}+\hat{\phi})^2+{\hat{\phi}^4/4}+\hat{h}^2\right]^3 } } \label{expa}\ ] ] it can be easily verified that , as it must be , eq .
( [ expa ] ) reduces to eq .
( [ coulexp ] ) in the limit @xmath85 .
also , the reader may check that in the limit @xmath86 , eq .
( [ expa ] ) reduces to already derived expressions in @xcite .
let us now define the normalized radial force @xmath87 $ ] .
it is possible , by means of eq .
( [ expa ] ) , to plot @xmath81 as a function of the position after the injection ( defined by the entrance of the test particle in the hard - edge magnet ) for a fixed value of @xmath88 and different values of @xmath9 . in fig .
[ fig3 ] we compare such a plot with numerical results from the code @xmath82 ( see @xcite ) .
note that , as already pointed out in @xcite , at the position which corresponds to the entrance of the retarded source in the magnet there is a discontinuity in the plots .
this is linked to our model choice , and it is due to the abrupt ( hard edge magnet ) switching on of the acceleration fields . as general remark to fig .
[ fig3 ] and , in fact to fig .
[ fig4 ] , [ fig5 ] and fig.[fig11 ] , the perfect agreement between our calculations and numerical results by @xmath82 provides , _ per se _ , an excellent cross - check between our analytical results ( with their assumptions and applicability region ) and simulations .
we will now move to the case depicted in fig .
[ fig2]c , in which the source particle has its retarded position inside the bend and the test particle has its present position in the straight line following the magnet .
we will define with @xmath89 the distance , along the straight line after the magnet , between the end of the bend and the present position of the test particle . here
@xmath90 , @xmath91 being the angular extension of magnet , and @xmath92 , the reason for this normalization choice for @xmath89 being identical to that for @xmath93 . the retardation condition reads @xmath94 in contrast with the case of fig .
[ fig2]a , here we have contributions from both velocity and acceleration field . again , by direct use of eq .
( [ coulomb ] ) and eq .
( [ radiation ] ) one can find the exact expression for the transverse electromagnetic force exerted by the source particle on the test particle @xmath95 where @xmath96 + { \bf{\hat{e}_p } } \left [ r ( 1-\cos\psi)(1-\beta^2 \cos\psi)-\beta\sin\psi \left(r_{st}-\beta x -\beta r\sin\psi \right ) \right ] \over{\left[r_{st}-\beta x \cos\psi -\beta r \sin\psi \right]^3}}~ \label{fperpbc}\ ] ] and @xmath97}\over{\left[r_{st}-\beta x \cos\psi -\beta r \sin\psi \right]^3}}+ & & \cr + { { { \bf{\hat{e}_p } } \beta^2 \left[(r+x\sin\psi - r\cos \psi)(r(1-\cos\psi)(1-\beta^2 \cos\psi)- \beta\sin \psi(r_{st}-\beta x + \beta r \sin\psi ) ) \right ] } \over{\left[r_{st}-\beta x \cos\psi -\beta r \sin\psi \right]^3}}\bigg]-&&\cr- { { \bf{\hat{e}_h}}\beta^2 \left[h \sin\psi\right]+ { \bf{\hat{e}_p } } \left[r(1-\cos\psi)\beta^2\sin\psi-\beta\cos\psi ( r_{st}-\beta x-\beta r\sin\psi ) \right ] \over{\left[r_{st}-\beta x \cos\psi -\beta r \sin\psi \right]^2}}\bigg\}&&~.\label{fperpbr}\end{aligned}\ ] ] @xmath79 being now @xmath98 expanding the trigonometric functions in eq .
( [ fperpbc ] ) and eq .
( [ fperpbr ] ) , and using normalized quantities one finds : normalized radial force @xmath81 for a two - particle system leaving a hard - edge bending magnet as a function of the position after the ejection .
results for different values of @xmath67 are shown .
the solid lines show analytical results ; the circles describe the outcome from @xmath82 . here
@xmath83.,width=340 ] @xmath99 + { \bf{\hat{e}_p } } \hat \psi ( \hat x+\hat \psi)^2 \left [ -2\hat{x}^2 + \hat{x}\left(\hat{\psi}^3 -2\hat{\psi}\right)+{\hat{\psi}^4/2 } - 2 \hat{h}^2 \right ] \over{\left[(\hat{x}+ \hat{\psi})^2 + ( { \hat{\psi}^2/4})(2\hat{x}+\hat{\psi})^2 + \hat{h}^2 \right]^3 } } ~ , \label{apprfbc}\ ] ] and @xmath100 + { \bf{\hat{e}_p } } \left [ \hat{x}^2+\hat{x}\hat{\psi}(2-\hat{\psi}^2)+\hat{\psi}^2- ( 3/4 ) \hat{\psi}^4 + \hat{h}^2\right ] \over{\left[(\hat{x } + \hat{\psi})^2 + ( \hat{\psi}^2/4)(2\hat{x}+\hat{\psi})^2 + \hat{h}^2 \right]^2 } } + & & \cr+ { 2{{\bf{\hat{e}_h } } ( \hat{x}+\hat{\psi})^2(2+\hat{\psi}^2)(\hat{x}+\hat{\psi}/2)\hat{\psi } \hat{h } + { \bf{\hat{e}_p}}(\hat{x}+\hat{\psi } ) ( \hat{x}+\hat{\psi}/2)\hat{\psi}^2 \big[-2\hat{h}^2 - 2\hat{x}^2+\hat{x}\hat{\psi}(-2+\hat{\psi^2 } ) + \hat{\psi}^4/2\big ] } \over{\left[(\hat{x } + \hat{\psi})^2 + ( \hat{\psi}^2/4)(2\hat{x}+\hat{\psi})^2 + \hat{h}^2 \right]^3}}\bigg\}&&\label{apprfbr}\end{aligned}\ ] ] similarly to the latter case , it can be easily verified that eq .
( [ apprfbc ] ) and eq .
( [ apprfbr ] ) reduce to eq .
( [ coulexp ] ) and eq .
( [ radexp ] ) , respectively , in the limit @xmath101 .
moreover , in the limit @xmath102 , they reduce to already known expressions given in @xcite .
again , one can plot the normalized radial force @xmath81 as a function of the position after the ejection , defined by the exit of the test particle from the hard - edge magnet , for different values of @xmath67 and a fixed value of @xmath103 . in fig .
[ fig4 ] we compare such a plot with numerical results from @xmath82 . at the position which corresponds to the exit of the retarded source from the magnet there is a discontinuity in the plots .
this , again , is linked to our model choice , and it is due to the fact that , for particles on axis , after the retarded source has left the magnet there is only coulomb repulsion along the longitudinal direction . , width=340 ]
it is suggestive to notice the resemblance of the peaks shown in fig .
[ fig4 ] with half of the time pulse of the radial electric field from usual synchrotron radiation process ( see fig .
[ figsyn ] , and @xcite ) .
this is not a coincidence .
the test particle is , indeed , far away from the source with respect to the formation length @xmath104 and the magnetic field contribution to the lorentz force can be expected to have the same behavior of the electric field contribution , since @xmath105 .
the only difference is that the observer is now `` running away '' from the electromagnetic signal which will result in a spreading of the pulse of about a factor @xmath106 .
since @xmath107 and @xmath12 we expect the pulse to be long about @xmath108 .
the last tail - head case left to discuss is depicted in fig .
[ fig2]d ; the source particle has its retarded position in the straight line before the bend , and the test particle has its present position in the straight line following the magnet .
the retardation condition reads @xmath109-\hat{h}^2/2\over{\hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m}+\hat{x}+\hat{y}}}&&. \label{retcond : c}\end{aligned}\ ] ] in this case we have only velocity contributions .
the exact expression for the electromagnetic transverse force on the test particle is @xmath110+{\bf{\hat{e}_p}}\left[\sin\delta \cos\theta(1-\beta^2 \cos\phi_m)-\beta\sin\phi_m(1-\cos\delta\cos\theta)\right]\over{r_{st}^2\left [ 1-\beta\sin\phi_m\sin\delta\cos\theta-\beta\cos\phi_m\cos\delta\cos \theta\right]^3 } } \label{fperpc}\ ] ] where @xmath111 @xmath112 @xmath113 and @xmath114 where @xmath79 can be retrieved by the latter two equations and some trivial trigonometry . once again , expanding the trigonometric functions in eqs .
( [ fperpc ] ) ... ( [ sendelta ] ) and using normalized quantities one finds the following approximated expression for @xmath77 : @xmath115 + { \bf{\hat{e}_p}}\left [ -{\hat{x}^2}+ { \hat{y}^2 } + ( { \hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m}^2})\hat{x}\hat{y } + { \hat{x}(\hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m}^3/2 -\hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m } ) } + { \hat{y}(\hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m}^3/2+\hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m } ) } + { \hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m}^4/4}-\hat h^2\right]\over { \left\ { ( \hat{x}+\hat{y}+\hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m})\left[\hat{x } ( 1+\hat{\phi}^2_\mathrm{m } ) + \hat{y}+\hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m}+{\hat{\phi}^3_\mathrm{m } /3}\right]-(\hat{\phi}^2_\mathrm{m } /12)[12 \hat{x}\hat{y}+4(\hat{x}+\hat{y})\hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m } + \hat{\phi}_\mathrm{m}^2]+\hat h^2\right\}^{3}}}~.&&~\label{fperpcappr}\end{aligned}\ ] ] it is easy to verify that eq .
( [ fperpcappr ] ) reduces , respectively , to the steady state ( eq .
( [ coulexp ] ) ) when @xmath116 and @xmath117 , to the transient case in fig .
[ fig2]a when @xmath116 ( eq . ( [ expa ] ) ) and to the transient case in fig .
[ fig2]c when @xmath117 ( eq .
( [ fperpbc ] ) ) .
moreover the reader may verify that , in the limit @xmath118 , eq .
( [ fperpcappr ] ) reduces to already known results in @xcite .
following the treatment of the transient situations in fig .
[ fig2]a and in fig .
[ fig2]c we plot , for this case too , a normalized expression for the transient force , i.e. the usual @xmath81 , as a function of the curvilinear position of the test particle ( @xmath119 indicates the entrance of the magnet ) for different values of @xmath67 and a fixed value of @xmath120 and magnet length . in fig .
[ fig5 ] , we compare our analytical results with numerical results from @xmath82 , for a fixed value of @xmath83 and @xmath121 and for different values of the vertical displacement @xmath67 . normalized radial force @xmath81 for a two - particle system crossing a hard - edge bending magnet as a function of the position of the test particle inside the magnet in the case of a short magnet @xmath122 .
results are shown for different values of @xmath67 .
the solid lines show analytical results ; the circles describe the outcome from @xmath82 . here
the normalized distance between the two particles is @xmath123 , while @xmath124.,width=340 ] finally , we can deal with the situation in which the source particle is ahead of the test electron , i.e. @xmath125 ; we will talk , in this case , of head - tail interaction . on the one hand it is evident that , when @xmath125 , the source particle is ahead of the test electron at any time ; on the other hand it is not true that the present position of the test particle is , in general , ahead of the retarded position of the test particle . as already suggested in @xcite , if @xmath125 and , approximatively , @xmath126 the test particle overtakes the retarded position of the source before the electromagnetic signal reaches it . in this case , although we may still talk about head - tail interaction , since @xmath125 , its real character is very much similar to the case @xmath62 , just treated in the previous subsections , in which the electromagnetic signal has to catch up with the test particle . in order to understand the physics involved in this situation it is sufficient to study the cases @xmath125 and @xmath127 .
the case @xmath125 with @xmath126 will be treated from a qualitative viewpoint only : its quantitative analysis , which may be interesting to perform for the sake of completeness , presents stronger mathematical difficulties and is left for future study . anyway
a qualitative treatment of this situation is enough to reach a full understanding of the interaction physics , which is our goal here .
consider therefore the case @xmath125 with @xmath127 .
it is important to note that , once the steady state case is studied , the situation in which the source particle is ahead of the test electron can be treated immediately for all three ( a , c and d ) transient cases in fig .
[ fig2 ] ( of course , with respect to the figure , test and source particle exchange roles ) on the basis of the steady state case alone .
in fact in that situation , as it has already been said in @xcite , we can assume the retarded angle @xmath42 small enough ( the test particle `` runs against '' the electromagnetic signal ) that the actual trajectory followed by the particles is not essential and one can use the steady state expression to describe also the transient cases .
it can be shown that the only important contribution from the source particle comes from the acceleration part of the lienard - wiechert fields . within our approximations , the only non - negligible contribution is present in the situation ( again , with the roles of test and source particle inverted ) depicted in fig . [ fig2]a and fig .
[ fig2]b , the latter just being the steady state case .
let us deal with the steady state case of head - tail interaction in the case @xmath127 .
as already discussed in @xcite , the difference with respect to the situation in which the test electron is in front of the source is that the test electron `` runs against '' the electromagnetic signal emitted by the source , while in the other case it just `` runs away '' from it .
therefore the relative velocity between the signal and the test electron is equal to @xmath128 , instead of @xmath129 as in the other situation .
hence the retardation condition reads @xmath130^{1/2 } \label{retcondhtexact}\ ] ] or , solved for @xmath131 , @xmath132^{1/2}~. \label{retcondht}\ ] ] note that , in the asymptotic for @xmath133 we recover the result in @xcite for the one - dimensional case . in the general case , @xmath134 is almost parallel to ( and equal to ) @xmath37 and antiparallel to the projection of @xmath31 on the bending plane : it turns out that the only important contribution to the radial force on the orbital plane is given by the second term on the right side of eq .
( [ radiation ] ) , and it is easy to check that @xmath135 it may be worthwhile to underline that the force in eq .
( [ fperpht ] ) is , structurally , identical to the result in @xcite although , of course , @xmath41 is now a function of @xmath9 .
in the previous section we dealt with all the possible configurations for a two - particle system moving in an arc of a circle .
now we are ready to provide a quantitative explanation of fig .
[ fig1 ] . after the discussion , in section [ sec : two ] , about head - tail interactions within a system with the test particle behind the source electron , one
is led to the qualitative conclusion that , within an electron bunch , interactions between sources in front of the test particle and the test particle itself are important and , in general , they must be responsible , at the entrance and at the exit of the bending magnet , for sharp changes in the transverse forces acting on the test electron .
the quantitative change depends , of course , on the position of the test particle inside the bunch : the extreme cases are for the test particle at the head of the bunch , where there are just interactions with electrons behind the test particle ( no head - tail interactions ) , and for the test particle before the tail of the bunch , at a distance @xmath136 , where all the sources are in front of it ( only head - tail interactions in the regime @xmath127 ) .
consider now the situation in which a one - dimensional line bunch interacts with a particle positioned at the center of the line but vertically displaced by a quantity @xmath9 .
as already said we will discuss , analytically , the head - tail interaction for @xmath137 only . since the trajectory followed by the bunch is not important we can simply integrate eq .
( [ fperpht ] ) and find the contribution where `` ht '' stands for `` head - tail '' and @xmath139 is the solution , in @xmath42 , of eq .
( [ retcondhtexact ] ) at vertical displacement @xmath9 and longitudinal distance @xmath41 .
when a bunch longer than the vertical displacement @xmath9 enters the magnet , the particles in front of the bunch will interact with the test electron following eq .
( [ htbunch ] ) , which models the radial interaction on the basis of eq .
( [ fperpht ] ) . nevertheless , eq . ( [ fperpht ] )
can not describe the situation when the sources at a distance shorter than the vertical displacement @xmath9 begin to interact with the test electron . as a result
the head - tail interaction has two characteristic formation lengths .
the first one indicates the distance that the test electron travels from the moment it is reached by the electromagnetic signal from the first particle entering the bend , till the moment it is reached by the electromagnetic signal emitted as the particle at @xmath140 enters the bend .
this is given by @xmath141 , @xmath142 and @xmath143 being the solution of eq .
( [ retcondht ] ) when @xmath144 and @xmath145 , respectively ( the reader will recognize that @xmath146 ) . in the limit for @xmath147 eq .
( [ retcondht ] ) , substituted in the expression for @xmath148 , gives the rule of thumb @xmath149 .
the second characteristic length is given by the distance that the test electron travels from the moment it is reached by the electromagnetic signal from the particle at @xmath140 till the moment it is reached by the electromagnetic signal emitted by the particle with @xmath150 as it enters the bend .
this can be estimated to be , roughly , equal to @xmath151 , at least when @xmath9 is not too large .
in fact , in order to know the present angular position of the test particle when @xmath150 one should solve the retardation condition in @xmath42 @xmath152^{1/2 } \label{retcondh}\ ] ] in the limit in which @xmath153 we have @xmath154 and @xmath155 . from the head of the bunch ( @xmath125 ) to the tail as the bunch progresses inside the bend ( @xmath156 corresponds to the injection of the test particle in the magnet ) . here
@xmath157 and the bunch length is @xmath158.the test particle is located at @xmath150 .
[ fig6],width=340 ] this reasoning can explain pretty well the features in fig .
the radial force grows exactly as described in eq .
( [ htbunch ] ) starting from about @xmath159 until @xmath156 ( which is roughly the first formation length ) .
note that with the source located at @xmath160 corresponds a retarded angle @xmath161 , which means that the electromagnetic signal from this source , which is emitted at @xmath156 , will reach the test particle when this has also the position @xmath156 .
after @xmath156 , the test particle begins to interact with the sources located at @xmath162 while the ones at @xmath163 reach a steady state , in the sense that they keep on interacting in the same way with the test electron .
this is illustrated by fig .
[ fig7 ] , where the normalized radial force @xmath8 is plotted . for a different range .
normalized radial force from the head of the bunch ( @xmath164 ) to the tail as the bunch progresses inside the bend ( @xmath156 corresponds to the injection of the test particle in the magnet ) . here
@xmath157 and the bunch length is @xmath158 .
the test particle is located at @xmath150 .
curve a corresponds to the simulation by @xmath0 , curve b is the contribution , given by eq .
[ htbunch ] , of the particles with @xmath163 ; a - b is the difference between the two curves , ascribed to the contribution from the particles with @xmath165.[fig7],width=340 ] the difference between the simulation results and the analytical estimation in eq .
( [ htbunch ] ) gives , quantitatively , the radial interaction due to the sources at @xmath162 .
for @xmath166 and @xmath12 , as in our case , one expects a second formation length equal to @xmath167 which is exactly what one gets : the actual data show , in fact , that a maximum is reached when @xmath168 at @xmath169 . ) to the tail as the bunch progresses inside the bend ( @xmath156 corresponds to the injection of the test particle in the magnet ) . here
@xmath170 and @xmath12 .
here we plot the results from @xmath0 for several values of @xmath171 .
the bunch length is @xmath158 .
the test particle is located at @xmath172.[fig9],width=340 ] fig .
[ fig7 ] also shows the steady state regime , when all the particles in front of the test particle interact with the latter from inside the bend . the solid line in fig .
[ fig7 ] shows , once again , the interaction with the sources located at @xmath173 . finally , in fig .
[ fig9 ] we present the results from @xmath0 for several values of @xmath9 .
of course , when @xmath174 , i.e. @xmath175 there are no sources characterized by @xmath163 at all .
one may expect that the system enters the steady state at @xmath176 , which is correct for @xmath177 , @xmath178 and , by figure inspection , for @xmath179 . nevertheless , in the case @xmath180 and @xmath181 the system enters the steady state at , respectively , @xmath182 and @xmath183 , which are clearly smaller than @xmath151 .
the reason for this apparent discrepancy is due to the approximation @xmath184 which has been used to derive the rule of thumb @xmath155 starting from the retardation condition eq .
( [ retcondh ] ) . a comparison between the rule of thumb proposed before ( dashed line ) and the real solution of the retardation condition ( solid line ) is given in fig .
[ fig10 ] : one can easily see that , when @xmath180 , @xmath185 . in the same way , at @xmath186 , @xmath187 ( remember that @xmath188 ) . by comparison , in fig .
[ fig6 ] , between the contributions to the head - tail interaction in the cases @xmath163 and @xmath189 the reader can see that these are comparable in magnitude , although @xmath9 is much shorter than the bunch length . a qualitative explanation of this fact can be given .
when @xmath190 , so that it can in fact be neglected in the retardation condition , one gets @xmath191 .
now , the force felt by the test particle in the zeroth order in @xmath42 is proportional to @xmath192 : simple considerations suggest that this order of magnitude will not change appreciably up to @xmath41 of order @xmath193 . as a result
, the region @xmath194 gives a contribution , after integration , proportional , approximately , to @xmath195 . on the other hand ,
the maximum interaction in the region @xmath196 is of the order of @xmath197 , which also corresponds , after integration , to a magnitude proportional to @xmath195 .
this explains the reason why a small region @xmath189 can give contributions of the same order of magnitude as the much longer interval in which @xmath163 . as a function of @xmath9 and comparison with @xmath198 (
dashed line ) [ fig10],width=302 ] we will now analyze the tail - head part of the interaction when @xmath62 . in the case where the bunch enters the bend we have contributions from retarded sources both in the bend and in the straight line before the bend .
the contribution from the retarded sources in the magnet can be obtained by simple integration of eq .
( [ totexp ] ) , and reads @xmath199~ , \label{shortbr2}\ ] ] where `` m '' is a reminder that the contributions treated by eq .
( [ shortbr2 ] ) are all from the `` magnet '' .
all that is left to do now , is to investigate the values which @xmath200 and @xmath201 assume .
let us first define with @xmath202 the normalized angular position of the test particle inside the bending magnet
. now define with @xmath203 the solution of the retardation equation @xmath204 . if @xmath205 , the retarded position of the first source particle is in the bending magnet , and @xmath206 . on the other hand , when @xmath207 there are no contributions to the radial force from the bend .
next , we define with @xmath208 the solution of @xmath209 ( in our case @xmath210 will be equal to one half of the normalized bunch length ) . supposing @xmath211 , if @xmath212 too , then all the particles contribute from the bend , and @xmath213 .
on the other hand , when @xmath214 , we have a mixed situation , in which part of the particles contribute from the bend and others from the straight line before the magnet . in this case @xmath215 .
normalized radial force acting on a test particle from a bunch with rectangular density distribution entering a hard - edge bending magnet as a function of the position of the test particle inside the magnet .
the solid lines show analytical results ; the circles describe the outcome from @xmath82 .
we chose @xmath216 m , @xmath12 , @xmath217 m ; graphs are plotted for several values of the parameter @xmath171.,width=340 ] the contribution from the retarded sources in the straight path before the bend is given by @xmath218 where `` s '' stands for `` straight path '' , and where the expression for @xmath219 in the integrand is given by eq .
( [ expa ] ) .
it is convenient , as done before , to switch the integration variable from @xmath220 to @xmath221 .
the jacobian of the transformation is given by ( see @xcite ) @xmath222 after substitution of eq .
( [ jacobiantransient ] ) and eq .
( [ expa ] ) in eq .
( [ bunchcontrtrans ] ) , one can easily carry out the integration , thus getting @xmath223&&~. \label{bunchtransfinale}\end{aligned}\ ] ] as done before for @xmath200 and @xmath201 , we can now investigate the values of @xmath224 and @xmath225 .
let us start with @xmath224 .
first , we define with @xmath226 the solution of the retardation condition @xmath227 . if @xmath228 , the retarded position of the first source particle is in the straight line before the bending magnet , and @xmath229 . on the other hand ,
when @xmath230 , the retarded position of the first source particle is in the bend , and @xmath231 .
next , we define with @xmath232 the solution of @xmath233 ( again , in our case @xmath234 is just half the bunch length normalized to @xmath104 ) .
consider the case @xmath235 : all the particles contribute from the bend , that is we entered the steady - state situation .
in this case @xmath236 . on the other hand ,
when @xmath237 , we have again a mixed situation , in which part of the particles contribute from the bend and others from the straight line before the magnet . in this case @xmath238 .
the following step is to actually plot the radial force exerted on an electron by a bunch with rectangular distribution entering a long bend .
our results , compared , once again , with simulations by @xmath82 , are shown in fig .
[ fig11 ] for a bunch length of @xmath239 m , @xmath12 , @xmath217 m and for different values of @xmath220 .
a perfect agreement is obtained with the results by @xmath0 . a first characteristic length is obviously given by the solution of the retardation condition with @xmath144 , and gives the position at which the test particle begins to feel a steady interaction from the tail sources .
there is a second characteristic length more difficult to see , though : a careful inspection of fig .
[ fig11 ] shows , in fact , a small irregularity ( actually a discontinuity in the first derivative ) in the curve for @xmath240 at the position @xmath241 .
such irregularities are present in all the curves in fig .
[ fig11 ] , although one has to look carefully for them by magnifying parts of the plots , as shown in figs .
[ fig12]a - d .
it is this fact which actually suggests the presence of a second formation length .
when the value of @xmath9 is small the discontinuity is located , approximately , at @xmath242 : for example when @xmath243 , in fig .
[ fig12]a , we have a discontinuity in the first derivative of the curve at @xmath244 .
nevertheless , this value changes as we increase h. in fact , when @xmath245 , in fig .
[ fig12]c , the discontinuity is at @xmath246 , while when @xmath247 , in fig .
[ fig12]d , we find a value of @xmath248 : these are the same numerical values found when discussing the entrance in the steady state of the head - tail interaction in the previous subsection
. the reader will remember that these are , in fact , the solutions of eq .
( [ retcondh ] ) . from a physical viewpoint ,
the solution of eq .
( [ retcondh ] ) is the position at which the test particle begins to feel the electromagnetic signal from the source at @xmath150 . before that point ,
the test particle feels interaction from particles behind it but only due to velocity fields , since the retarded positions of all the electrons behind the test one are not yet in the bend .
after that particular point , the force on our test electrons has a component due to the acceleration field too .
this suggests that the physical meaning of the presence of this second formation length is simply the switching on of the contribution of the acceleration field . as a last remark it is interesting to note that tail - head and head - tail interactions have a characteristic length in common , but for completely different reasons
in this paper we presented a fully electrodynamical study of transverse self - forces within an electron bunch moving in an arc of a circle in the case the test particle is endowed with a vertical displacement @xmath9 .
we strived for a generalization of the results obtained in @xcite in order to obtain a better qualitative and quantitative explanation of the physics involved in the problem and , in particular , to explain the behavior of the self - interaction depicted in fig .
[ fig1 ] .
first we generalized the results in @xcite in the case of a two - particle system .
then , by integration of these results , the case of a line bunch and a test particle with a vertical displacement was studied .
this case includes all the relevant physics present in the situation of a bunch with vertical size . besides allowing one to generalize results obtained in @xcite , our study aimed at a physical understanding of the results by @xmath0
: we found that the bunch can be divided into four separate regions ( over which one can integrate the two - particle interaction ) corresponding to four different types of source - test interaction , namely head - tail with @xmath126 , head - tail with @xmath249 , tail - head with contributions from velocity fields alone , and tail - head with contributions from both acceleration and velocity field .
we found that these regions correspond to four characteristic formation lengths , which can be determined quantitatively by simple analytical calculations .
for the first , the third , and the fourth region , we could use relatively simple analytical results in order to describe the situation and easily perform crosschecking with @xmath0 .
the perfect agreement we found gives us much information : this constitutes , in fact , a reliable cross - check which provides , at the same time , very strong indication that the code calculates the self - interaction in the proper way and that the approximations which we made in our analytical theory are correct .
moreover , we have physical explanations of the self - interactions in terms of formation - lengths and type of source - test interaction . because of mathematical difficulties linked with the structure of the retardation condition we left the quantitative discussion of the second region ( @xmath250 ) for future work .
nevertheless we were able to understand the physical meaning of this region and to determine its formation length .
the authors wish to thank reinhard brinkmann , yaroslav derbenev , klaus floettmann , vladimir goloviznin , georg hoffstaetter , rui li , torsten limberg , jom luiten , helmut mais , philippe piot , joerg rossbach , theo schep and frank stulle for their interest in this work .
k. rothemund , m. dohlus and u. van rienen , in _ proceedings of the 21st international free electron laser conference and 6th fel applications workshop , hamburg , 1999 _ , edited by j. feldhaus and h. weise | arxiv |
Electromagnetic waves in a conductor
I am trying to understand the solution for electromagnetic plane waves in a conductor. I understand the derivation of the wave equation:
$$\nabla^2 \boldsymbol{\mathrm{E}} = \mu\epsilon \frac{\partial^2 \boldsymbol{\mathrm{E}}}{\partial t^2} + \mu\sigma\frac{\partial \boldsymbol{\mathrm{E}}}{\partial t} $$
Then what most authors immediately do is say it admits plane wave solutions with a complex wave vector $\boldsymbol{\tilde{k}}=\boldsymbol{k}+i\boldsymbol{\kappa}$. What I don't understand is why both the real and imaginary parts of this complex wave vector both have to be in the same direction. Why can't the wave be, for example, travelling in the $x$ direction, but decaying in the $z$ direction, like an evanescent wave?
What other direction could the imaginary part point?
It’s not a facetious question.
With an (assumed) isotopic medium, there’s only one vector direction in the problem, which becomes $\hat{k}$.
To define another direction for the imaginary part, there has to be something physical to define that. An an-isotropy can do that. But absent that, the only available direction is along or against the only available vector: $\hat{k}$.
The reason is that you have assumed isotropic dielectric response. If you replace $\epsilon$ and $\sigma $ by tensors you can have the more general wave.
Try the general solution of the plane wave form
$$
\textbf{E}=\textbf{E}\_0 e^{i(\vec \lambda \cdot \vec r -\omega t)} \tag{1}
$$
with
\begin{align}
\vec \lambda \cdot \vec r = \lambda\_x x+\lambda\_y y+\lambda\_z z
\end{align}
and you will find that $\lambda$ must have a real and imaginary part. This follows because you have first and second order derivatives in $t$ so that one $t$-derivative of your ansatz (1) will return an imaginary multiple of $\textbf{E}$
while two derivatives in $t$ will return $\textbf{E}$ multiplied by a *real* number.
After all, the form of (1) is dictated by the assumption of a plane wave and by the general method of undetermined coefficients.
| stackexchange/physics |
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Training for Endurance
Endurance is an extremely important part of climbing and mountaineering. Obviously, these two pursuits require different types of endurance. Rock climbing requires an individual to climb a series of moves without getting to pumped. Additionally, rock climbing also requires that you build endurance in a way that allows quick recovery when you find a rest on a route. Mountaineering is completely different. It's the art of going...forever.
Professional climber Joe Kinder has recently been putting out videos on techniques for climbing. His most recent foray into that realm is a piece on rock climbing endurance. Check it out below:
--Jason D. Martin
Posted by Jason Martin at 6:00 AM 0 comments
Toproping Etiquette
The following is a series of etiquette oriented questions that arise around toproped climbing at popular cragging destinations. The answers to these questions should be adhered to at North American Climbing destinations. Locations outside of North America may have different etiquette issues.
A Climber Lowers Off a Route in Leavenworth, Washington
Photo by Ruth Hennings
1) Where should I set-up my "camp" at a crag that I'm going to climb at all day?
Gear and equipment should not be placed directly under the wall. It's good to set-up a "safe" area away from the wall where you can relax without a helmet on and eat lunch. This will also keep the base of the wall from being crowded with gear and packs.
It's a good idea to consolodate your group's gear. Avoid allowing equipment and packs to be scattered around.
A Climber Leads Tonto (5.5) in Red Rock Canyon
Photo by Jason Martin
2) What if I have a large group and want to "take-over" a crag for the day?
It is not appropriate for a group to "take-over" a crag. Climbing areas are public areas that are open to everyone. As such, it is incredibly rude for a group to hold an entire area -- or even a few routes -- hostage for the day.
If you have a large group, you have a large impact on both other users as well as the area. The best thing that you can to mitigate that impact is to keep a low profile, allow others to work in on the wall that you're using. Never leave a rope up that is not being used to "hold" a route.
If you do have a lot of ropes up and other users wish to climb routes that you have ropes on, it is okay to allow people to use your ropes if they look like they know what they're doing. If they don't appear knowlegable and they are climbing on your gear, you could become legally liable if something happens to one of the climbers that aren't with your group.
A group climbs at the Cowlick Co. Crag in Red Rock Canyon
3) What if a large group is using a crag and refuses to give up a climb to my small group?
If you've got moves, then offer to have a dance-off for the climb. Seriously, joking with people will often loosen them up. In most cases, people that have had a good laugh will be more polite and more open to allowing people to climb.
If the large group is very rude and refuses to give up a climb, then politely find another place to go. It's not worth lecturing an ignorant climber about crag ettiquete. More often than not, a lecture will just reinforce negative behavior.
4) Is it okay to use the same anchor bolts as the person on an adjacent route?
Yes and no. Will this cause the person next door problems? If so, they were there first. If not, then be sure to ask them before clipping in next to their carabiners. If they say yes, then clip the bolts, but be sure not to do anything that changes their set-up in any way.
5) Where should I go to the bathroom when I'm cragging?
If there is an outhouse nearby, always use that first. Avoid urinating at the base of the wall and always avoid urinating in cracks on a wall as this causes the smell to linger.
If you have to defecate, know the rules of the area. Some areas require the use of WAG Bags, while other areas require you to dig a cat hole and pack out your toilet paper. Never go to the bathroom on the ground, stack the toilet paper on it and then put a rock on top.
6) When should I say something to a person who is doing something dangerous?
This is up to you. I usually don't say anything unless there is real and iminent danger. If there is mild danger, I will usually chat with the people for awhile in a non-threatening way before providing any unsolicieted beta.
7) Is it okay to toprope the first pitch of a multi-pitch climb?
More often than not, the answer is no. This is a more complex issue than the others and it does depend on the route and the route's history. People who are doing multi-pitch climbs always have the right of way over those who will TR a climb.
Some climbs are multi-pitch climbs, but nobody does anything but the first pitch. In this case, all the other ettiquete rules apply. Other climbs are commonly climbed as multi-pitch routes and are seldom done as single pitch routes. Such climbs should not be toproped.
8) Is it okay to yell beta at people who didn't ask for it that I don't know?
No, many climbers like figure out the moves on their own.
Climbers who keep these concepts of etiquette in mind will almost universally have a much better time with a lot less conflict at the crags. And climbing isn't about conflict. It's about having fun...!
Climbing and Outdoor News from Here and Abroad - 10/27/22
Northwest:
--Gripped is reporting that, "Squamish-based Nathan Roberts died in a climbing accident in Cheakamus Canyon on Oct. 15. The BC Coroners Service have not released any information, saying they're investigating." It is currently believed that Nathan died free-soloing. To read more, click here.
--NPR is reporting that, "a Washington state woman left her home to let her dog out early Saturday morning and ended up fending off an attack from a black bear. The woman, who sustained non-life threatening injuries, punched the bear "right in the nose," which led it to run away, according to one official." To read more, click here.
Sierra:
--An 8-year-old boy has set out to become the youngest person ever to climb El Capitan. Check it out!
Desert Southwest:
--The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting that, "authorities are warning visitors to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area to be vigilant after a rash of car break-ins this month. According to the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the popular hiking and camping refuge west of Las Vegas, there were multiple break-ins at one of the conservation area's parking lots in early October." To read more, click here.
--Joshua Tree National Park is in the process of closing up old open mine holes. To read about it, click here.
Colorado and Utah:
--It has started...let's be careful out there. Snowbrains is reporting that, "the last flakes of the first significant snowfall of the winter in Utah had barely even settled when a skier triggered an avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon. According to Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) forecaster Craig Gordon, the slide was triggered near Main Chute on Mount Baldy above Alta Ski Area. Nobody was injured." To read more, click here.
Moab's Delicate Arch is a major tourist attraction in Arches National Park.
--Arches National Park is completely filling up as early as 8:30am. To read about it, click here.
--From Rocky Mountain National Park: "Beginning in late October and early November 2022, construction will begin on a new and improved entrance station at the Fall River Entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The Fall River Entrance is one of two major entrance stations on the east side of the park and is located on U.S. Highway 34, just inside the park boundary. During this major construction project, only one lane at Fall River Entrance will be operational to enter the park and one lane to exit. Park visitors are strongly encouraged to avoid the Fall River Entrance and use the Beaver Meadows Entrance." To read more, click here.
Notes from All Over:
--Outside is reporting that, "Citing lawlessness and "chaos," Cotopaxi CEO Davis Smith announced on his personal LinkedIn page yesterday that he has closed the company's sole San Francisco retail location. 'As of today, we are closing the store due to rampant organized theft and lack of safety for our team," Smith wrote on October 18. "Our store is hit by organized theft rings several times per week.'" To read more, click here.
--SGB Media is reporting that, "The North Face plans to open more than 70 stores in North America and up to 300 additional retail and partner locations globally over the next five years. The North Face also said it plans to continue transforming existing sites to ensure consistent store formats for consumers who shop brick-and-mortar." To read more, click here.
--And finally, Climbing has some costume ideas for your upcoming trick-or-treat festivities.
Climbing Technique: Heel Hooks and Toe Hooks
As the terrain gets steeper, it becomes harder and harder for a climber to hold on...and that's where heel hooks and toe hooks come into play. In the following video, professional climber Joe Kinder discusses how to effectively employ toe hooks and heel hooks in vertical and overhung terrain.
Rock Climbing Rests
Rock climbing endurance takes time and focus to develop. The more time climbing, the more endurance one will have. However, no matter how much endurance you have, you still need to know how to conserve energy, so as not to "pump out."
In today's blog, two strong climbers share their tips on how to rest effectively mid-climb.
This first video features pro climber Jonathon Siegrist talking about how he looks for rests. Please note, only the first half of the video is pertinent to this blog post:
In review, Jonathon's tips are:
Rest with arms extended.
Keep hips open and keep the torso over the feet wherever possible.
Don't over-grip.
Heel and toe hooks can provide additional resting positions.
In this second video, Lonnie Kauk discusses his thoughts on resting.
Lonnie's tips are similar to Jonathon's:
Stay calm and relax.
Keep arms straight whenever possible.
Remember to breathe. Take deep breaths.
The key take-away from these videos...? Resting is important. You will climb better if you know how to conserve your energy as you go...!
--The Seattle Times is reporting on the Bolt Creek Fire near Index and the future of wildfire on the west side of the Cascades: "Thinning fuels on a hand crew in the first few days of the Bolt Creek fire, Cassandra Brazfield recalls hearing thuds as trees hit the ground. Early on, the fire — that for weeks has smoldered and smoked out Western Washington — behaved in interesting ways, she said. "It would just burn when it was super humid." It would light up the "duff," a dense, peaty layer of partially decomposed moss and litter, and the understory would catch fire. Trees would fall unexpectedly. 'It was scary,' said Brazfield, a firefighter with the state Department of Natural Resources." To read more, click here.
--Gripped is reporting that, "Alex Honnold has established a roughly 60-kilometre traverse that included 14 Red Rock multi-pitch routes, hiking and scrambling for well over 7,000 metres of vertical in a 32-hour push. He called the traverse Honnold's Ultimate Red Rock Traverse or HURT." To read more, click here.
--Z107.7 is reporting that, "Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith provided Gary Daigneault with an update about the Park's new West entrance. Smith explained that the entrance would help mitigate crowding at the entrance in Joshua Tree, and ensure that park rangers spend less time selling tickets to eager Park visitors. Smith said that funding for the new construction has been raised, entirely through entrance fees, but that contracting for the project has proved to be the most serious delay." To read more, click here.
-From the New York Times: "President Biden on Wednesday announced the creation of the country's newest national monument, protecting tens of thousands of acres in the mountains of Colorado from mining and development and delivering an election-year gift to Michael Bennet, one of the state's two Democratic senators. Standing on the grounds of Camp Hale, a World War II military installation that was used to train the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, Mr. Biden said he was designating 53,804 acres of rugged landscape as the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument." To read more, click here. Here's more from Climbing.
--SnowBrains is reporting that, "The snowboarder who was involved in a hit-and-run collision that killed famed instructor Ron LeMaster at Eldora Mountain Resort, CO, last year has pleaded 'not guilty'. Nicholas K. Martinez, 28, entered the plea during his arraignment in Boulder County Court on Friday. A court hearing will take place in January 2023." To read more, click here.
--SnowBrains is reporting that, "Aspen Skiing Co. (SkiCo) is asking the public to help name the trails at the resort's new Pandora terrain, set to open 2023-24. An online form asks people to submit their suggestions under five categories: local people, local history, mining history, notable terrain, or greek mythology." To read more, click here.
--Climbing is reporting that, "after weighing several proposals to minimize winter ski traffic in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah's Department of Transportation (UDOT) announced on Wednesday that it plans to ferry skiers to and from Alta and Snowbird in the world's longest gondola. UDOT was also considering a road-widening plan, which would have added two bus-only shoulder lanes to SR-210, the avalanche-plagued road that winds its way up the canyon. Local climbing organizations have staunchly opposed both proposals, noting that the traffic is only a real problem for some user groups, and only on the snowy weekends." To read more, click here.
--The story about the Iranian climber that didn't wear a headscarf while competing over the weekend is changing by the minute. By the time you read this, the story may have evolved more. From CNN on October 19th: "a female Iranian rock climber, who did not wear a hijab at an international competition in South Korea, has returned to Iran as Iranian groups based abroad raised alarms over her fate back home. Elnaz Rekabi, 33, competed without a hijab during the International Federation of Sport Climbing's Asian Championships in Seoul on Sunday. Videos of her wearing a headband with her hair in a ponytail while competing spread on social media." There are reports that this individual may go to jail for this infraction. But it is much more complicated, as Iran is currently seeing significant civil strife around women's rights. To read more, click here.
--Gripped is reporting that, "the 2022 Piolets d'Or awards will take place from Nov. 18 to 20 in Briançon, France. The award will go to two ascents, with one being by Archil Badriashvili, Baqar Gelashvili and Giorgi Tepnadze from Georgia for their first ascent of the northwest face of Saraghrar Northwest in Pakistan. And the other award will go to Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll of Belgium for his Moonwalk Traverse of the Fitz Roy Range in Patagonia. A special jury mention goes to Nikita Balabanov, Mikail Fomin and Viacheslav Polezhaiko from the Ukraine for the first ascent of the southeast ridge of Annapurna III (7,555 m)." To read more, click here.
--Speaking of bears...if you haven't seen the viral video of the bear attacking the climber on fourth class terrain in Japan yet (don't worry, the climber fights it off) then check it out, here.
Rack on the Shoulder or Shoot from the Hip?
I admit it...
I wore a shoulder rack until approximately 2013. Please don't judge me. I started climbing in 1992. It's hard to change and evolve. But after 21-years of shoulder slinging, I finally switched and began to shoot from the hip...
Why would you subject yourself to a shoulder sling, you might be asking?
The author in Red Rock Canyon (circa 2005)
sporting a shoulder rack on a multi-pitch climb.
Easy, there are a number of advantages to racking on a shoulder sling.
Shoulder Sling Advantages
1) It's easy to shift a shoulder sling from one side of your body to the other when climbing off-widths or chimneys.
2) When you climb sport routes, nothing changes on your harness.
3) It's very easy to swap leads by handing the rack to your partner. Indeed, on some speedy ascents, we actually used to hold the sling out so the climber following the pitch would climb right up into the sling and then keep going...!
4) It's easy to see the gear that you have on your rack. Nothing is hidden on a gear loop at the back of your harness.
5) In steep snow, with a lot of clothing, it may be easier to find gear on a shoulder sling.
But there are also a lot of disadvantages.
Shoulder Sling Disadvantages
1) A large rack rubs your shoulder and neck raw. It can be very painful to carry doubles or triples.
2) On low angle terrain, the rack constantly gets in your way. It's hard to see your feet.
3) The edges of cams commonly get caught on edges while you're climbing, making it difficult to move efficiently.
4) Shoulder slings with fixed loops tend to change positions on your shoulder. Heavier gear constantly pulls the rack into inopportune positions.
5) If you fall and flip upside down, it's possible to lose the entire rack.
If you look at the advantages and disadvantages of a shoulder sling, it starts to feel like it's about even. There are five advantages and five disadvantages. But choosing whether to use a shoulder sling or to "shoot from the hip" isn't so much about the advantages and disadvantages of the shoulder sling, it's also about the advantages and disadvantages of racking on your harness.
A climber with a rack on his harness.
Advantages of Racking on the Harness
1) Nothing is rubbing on your neck or shoulder.
2) You can see your feet. Additionally, there's nothing in front of you, so it's easier to see mid-level holds.
3) The edges of your cams are less likely to get caught.
4) Ice screw clippers work extremely well on a harness, but don't work at all on a shoulder rack.
5) Everything feels cleaner and more streamlined when it's on your harness.
6) Most climbers use this system. This makes it easier to work with lots of different partners while having similar systems.
Disadvantages to Racking on the Harness
1) Depending on the harness, gear may be hanging in awkward places. This is especially true with harnesses that have offset gear loops. It can be problematic when cams are hanging over the front of your thigh.
2) It's harder to swap gear between leads.
3) It can be hard to see which cam is which at your waist. I personally rack my cams with carabiners of corresponding color to easily find what I need on my gear loop.
4) There may not be enough space on the gear loops to accommodate all the gear required for a lead.
How you rack is ultimately a personal choice. But I do lean toward racking on the harness. The main reason for this is because I did rack on my shoulder for over twenty years. I didn't want to change. But when I finally committed to updating my system, I found it to be much more streamlined.
That said, I don't put everything on my harness. I still put some slings over my shoulder. So you could say that my technique is a bit of a hybrid...
If you're new to climbing, I would strongly suggest that you try both systems. There is value to being able to accommodate different systems for different kinds of climbing. But ultimately, you're going to lean toward one system that you use most of the time. These days, it's highly likely that you'll lean toward "shooting from the hip." However, if you decide that the shoulder sling is better, there's nothing wrong with that. How you climb is completely up to you...that's one of the cool things about this sport!
Super Munter and Zooper Munter
In this blog, we have covered the super munter before. This is a technique that is used to add more friction to a munter-hitch lower for seriously heavy loads.
The super-munter is a variation on the munter-hitch. It creates a tremendous amount of friction and doesn't have one of the main problems of the munter-hitch, it doesn't tangle the rope. Indeed, the action of the rope as it goes through the super-munter twists the rope and then twists it back.
There are very few applications for the super munter (also sometimes called the monster munter) in normal climbing. Instead, the applications are more rescue oriented. This particular hitch provides so much friction that it is possible to lower two climbers -- one cradeling the other -- or perhaps a litter and a liter attendant in a SAR operation.
Super munters on two separate legs of a mountain rescue system, backed up by tandem prussiks make for an excellent redundant lowering system with limited equipment. And indeed, such a system would also pass the "Whistle Test." (The Whistle Test is a concept used in mountain rescue. The idea is that if everyone let go of their given strands at the sound of a whistle, the system would stop on its own and no one would get hurt.)
The problem with the super munter is that you have to anticipate that you are going to add the additional friction at the beginning of the operation. In other words, you have to tie the munter with the appropriate position of function, so that you can easily cross the break-strand over the load-strand and then clip it into the carabiner. If you did not do this right then a second option is to make a zooper munter.
This essentially requires a second carabiner behind the first, with the gate facing the spine of the first carabiner. To build the zooper munter, just bring the rope around the back and clip the second carabiner. You can see this in the second video which is a bit shaky since I was holding the camera and tying the knot at the same time.
The zooper munter allows you to create additional fiction without pre-planning. In many ways, this is a far more useful version of the super munter because it doesn't have to be pre-planned and -- even if the carabiner is situated correctly, you wouldn't have to open the gate.
Large amounts of friction are important when it comes to SAR operations and indeed, are super important when you are in a mountain rescue setting with limited gear...
--Here's an awesome piece on a blend of ultra-running and technical mountaineering in the North Cascades.
--Here's a piece from AAI's director about graffiti on public lands.
--The Reds Meadow road has been closed for the season in the Eastern Sierra.
--Here's a list of seasonal campground closures in the Eastern Sierra.
--A complete report has been produced on the recent deaths of two climbers at Tahquitz Rock. It appears that the fatalities were the result of the use of an old webbing anchor in descent. The webbing snapped and the pair fell. A handful of experienced climbers have died over the last few years making this mistake.
Mt. Wilson in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
--What a nightmare. We've been fighting this for over 20-years. From the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "A project to build more than 400 single-family homes on Blue Diamond Hill near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area can move forward. In a unanimous vote — and with opposition from Save Red Rock conservation advocates — the Clark County Zoning Commission voted Tuesday to permit the housing development and approved a tentative map of the project." There are more hurdles for the developer to overcome, but this is a bad sign. To read more, click here.
--Some bolting gear was stolen by -- what is believed to be -- climbers from the Story Crag at Mt. Potosi near Red Rock Canyon. To read about this, click here.
--SnowBrains is reporting that, "at a meeting on Tuesday, Vail Town Council outlined its parking rates and passes for the upcoming winter season. The town will be introducing peak days and charging more on these days, as well as rate increases across the board, including the Premier Pass, which will increase from $3,330 to $5,500—a 65% increase." To read more, click here.
--We don't always report on fatalities outside North America, but this is a big one. Twenty-nine people were killed in a single avalanche on Monday in the Garhwal Himalaya of India. To read more, click here.
--Gripped is reporting that, "Australian Daniel Heritage, 28, died while climbing near the town of Banff in Banff National Park last week. Details of the the accident, including the route and what happened, are unknown." To read more, click here.
--WCAX is reporting that, "A climber died after falling from a cliff near the Everett Dam in Clough State Park in the town of Weare, the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game says. Rescue crews were called about 4 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of an individual who had been climbing the cliff that was off the trail and was not a designated climbing area." To read more, click here.
--CNN is reporting that, "REI has quit Black Friday, forever. For the past seven years, the retailer has closed its doors on the day after Thanksgiving to give its employees a day off. The Seattle-based seller of outdoor clothing and gear said Tuesday that starting this year, every part of its business — all 178 stores, its distribution locations, call centers and headquarters — will close every year on Black Friday." To read more, click here.
--The following video is an excellent little piece on climbers of color in the Midwest:
--Congressman Ben Cline's website is reporting that, "Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA-06) and Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH-01) led a bipartisan letter to National Park Service (NPS) Director Charles Sams requesting that NPS institutes a policy that reserves spots for active-duty military, Gold Star families, and Veterans to enter lottery systems at national parks. Currently, the NPS has a lottery system for several attractions at park units across the United States. A lottery system may only let in a set number of individuals to a portion of a national park, with slots often going quickly. The NPS already gives active-duty military, Gold Star families, and Veterans free access to national parks, but there are no spots reserved in these lottery systems for them, often resulting in them not being selected." To read more, click here.
--The New York Times did an article on one of our favorite Alaskan National Park events every year: Fat Bear Week! To read about it, click here.
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Climbing, skiing and mountaineering are dangerous sports. When you undertake an outdoor, backcountry, or an alpine adventure without a guide, you assume total responsibility for your decisions and wellbeing. Conditions in the mountains are constantly changing, and no guidebook or computer web blog can take the place of solid training and experience. Though this site features descriptions of roads, trails, climbing routes, and other natural features, you cannot assume that because something is described here that it has not changed since last observed or that it will be safe for you or your party. AAI assumes no responsibility or liability for your use of the information presented in this blog. With regard to all backcountry travel and climbing, you must make your own assessments and decisions, and you assume all risks in applying them. | slim_pajama |
Is it safe to touch salts given to you for analysis? [closed]
**Closed**. This question is [opinion-based](/help/closed-questions). It is not currently accepting answers.
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**Want to improve this question?** Update the question so it can be answered with facts and citations by [editing this post](/posts/126943/edit).
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In our chemistry practical paper (High school level), Inorganic salt analysis is one of the questions asked. We are given a petri dish with a sample of salt and are asked to find the cation and anion present in it.
I noticed quite a few of my classmates touching the salt (pinching it between their fingers and sprinkling it, similar to what you would do with table salt). **Is this safe?** Note that we do not have much in the way of PPE (No gloves, eyewear, only a lab coat). For reference, the cations may be any one of the following:
* $\ce{NH4+}$
* $\ce{Pb^2+}$
* $\ce{Cu^2+}$
* $\ce{Al^3+}$
* $\ce{Zn^2+}$
* $\ce{Sr^2+, Ba^2+, Ca^2+}$
The anions are $\ce{CO3^2-}$, $\ce{Cl^-}$, $\ce{NO3-}$, $\ce{SO4^2-}$ and $\ce{CH3COO-}$ (I don't believe these pose much of a health hazard)
The first thought is that this is very unsafe as the salt may be a lead/strontium/barium salt and you might end up ingesting a few milligrams if you don't wash your hands. Otherwise, I cannot see any further hazards here.
*Is there anything that I have missed in my analysis*? Any further thoughts on the safety of this procedure are welcome.
The comments more or less say it all. Wearing gloves is a good idea with just about any chemical, not only to protect you but also to protect the chemical from contamination. For instance, if you find chloride in your sample you might want to be sure said chloride is not from salt on your skin.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
What does amplitude in wavelength of light physically mean?What oscilates with time in photon?
Like amplitude in wavelength of water waves signify the displacement of water particles about their mean position.
Although you can (as you obviously know) think of electromagnetic radiation as either a particle or a wave, it's easier in this case to think of it as a wave.
As a thought experiment, if you wave a magnet near a piece of wire, an electric potential will be induced in the wire. Likewise, if you pass current through a wire, a magnetic field will be produced around the wire. You can restate those two observations as: "a changing magnetic field produces an electric field; and a changing electric field produces a magnetic field."
If you work out the math to describe those interactions, you essentially get Maxwell's field equations. In a nutshell, if you want to produce an electromagnetic wave, you start by creating a time-changing electric field (say, by running electrons back and forth in an antenna). The changing electric field produces a changing magnetic field. The changing magnetic field in turn produces a changing electric field, et cetera. So an EM wave is just an electric field and a magnetic field leapfrogging their way through space.
To finally answer you question, the "amplitude" of the wave is the strength of the electric and magnetic fields involved. They aren't in units of distance, as are sound waves or water waves.
*Before the photon is absorbed*, *i.e.* whilst the photon quantum field is in a pure, one photon state, you can define the following probability amplitudes that uniquely specify the one-photon state:
$$\begin{array}{lcl}\vec{\phi}\_E(\vec{r},\,t)&=&\left<\left.0\right.\right| \mathbf{\hat{E}}^+(\vec{r},t)\left|\left.\psi\right>\right.\\
\vec{\phi}\_B(\vec{r},\,t)&=&\left<\left.0\right.\right| \mathbf{\hat{B}}^+(\vec{r},t)\left|\left.\psi\right>\right.
\end{array}\tag{1}$$
and these probability amplitudes oscillate in space and time just like a classical light field. They have the physical meaning that the probability density to destructively detect the photon, *i.e.* absorb it with an ideal detector, when the state is properly normalised, is the analogue of the classical energy density (normalisation makes the classical energy density into a probability denstity), *i.e.*
$$p(\vec{r},\,t) = \frac{1}{2}\,\epsilon\_0\,|\vec{\phi}\_E|^2 + \frac{1}{2\,\mu\_0}\,|\vec{\phi}\_B|^2\tag{2}$$
In the above, $\psi$ is the photon field quantum state, $\mathbf{\hat{B}}^+,\,\mathbf{\hat{E}}^+$ are the positive frequency parts of the (vector valued) electric and magnetic field observables and, of course, $\left<\left.0\right.\right|$ is the unique ground state of the quantum photon field. Given the knowledge that the field is in a purely one photon state, the vector functions of space and time in (1) uniquely define the photon field's quantum state and contrariwise, so that they can be taken as *being* the quantum state. Moreover, the functions in (1) always fulfill Maxwell's equations and every classical solution of Maxwell's equations uniquely defines a one-photon state. So every solution to Maxwell's equations can indeed stand for three separate and different things (1) a classical EM field, (2) a one photon quantum state or (3) a coherent state of the the quantum light field (this state has a Poisson-distributed number of photons). So there is a one to one correspondence between the elements of all these three classes.
See [my answer here](https://physics.stackexchange.com/a/152820/26076) for more information and references.
Now, you cannot physically measure an overall phase of the light field, but you can certainly, in principle, see the diffraction and other wave effects by destructively detecting successive photons passing through an experimental apparatus one photon at a time.
Your question is pretty vague, but does this help--
The E-M wave amplitude is a complex oscillating function, as you can see at [the wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_radiation) . Now, the power in any wave is the square of the amplitude, or more precisely, the product of the amplitude and its complex conjugate.
It turns out that E-M energy is quantized, so we can assign a specific energy to a photon based on its frequency.
If the wave diagrams at that page don't answer all your questions about wavelength, frequency, and orientation, please try to repost a more specific question.
| stackexchange/physics |
lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant and mood - stabilizing drug used in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar mood disorder .
johnson syndrome ( sjs ) , drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms ( dress ) syndrome , and toxic epidermal necrolysis ( ten ) .
sjs is defined as a combination of an acute life - threatening mucocutaneous illness with systemic symptoms due to an idiosyncratic reaction to a drug .
the rash is characterized by the presence of flat , atypical target lesions and epidermal detachment .
this rash usually involves < 10% of the body surface area with two or more mucosal sites affected .
the most common drugs causing sjs are sulfonamides , nevirapine , allopurinol , lamotrigine , aromatic anticonvulsants , and oxicam nonsteroidal anti - inflammatory drugs .
the incidence of around 2.66.1 cases / million people / year has been reported for sjs with a mortality rate of around 5% .
our patient presented to us with sjs after 6 months of asymptomatic treatment with lamotrigine .
a 33-year - old male patient , who was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder ( bpad ) for the duration of more than 2 years , was under medications 1 g of sodium valproate , 10 mg of olanzapine , and 1 mg of clonazepam .
a few changes were then made to his drug regimen ; sodium valproate was stopped , and lamotrigine was introduced , whose target dose of 100 mg was reached gradually in 3 weeks time . for the next 6 months , the patient did well , and
the patient then had a low - grade fever ( 100f ) for 3 days , for which he did not seek any medical treatment , and then he had a high - grade fever ( 102f ) accompanied by the rash .
his condition worsened , and he developed ulcers on his lips [ figure 1 ] and pain on swallowing .
he also complained of dysuria due to a penile ulcer . despite his severe medical condition ,
he did not seek medical assistance for 3 days , after which he presented to us as an outpatient .
examination showed the maculopapular rash on the neck , trunk , and extremities [ figures 2 and 3 ] .
along with oral ulceration , crusting was present on lips whereas genitalia revealed erythematous papules with erosions .
oral and mucosal ulceration maculopapular rashes on the trunk and upper extremity maculopapular rash on the lower extremity on laboratory investigations , it revealed hemoglobin 10.8 g / dl ( 1216 g / dl ) , white blood cells 12,000/ml ( 450011,000/ml ) , neutrophils 50% , lymphocytes 40% , eosinophil 6% , monocytes 4% , and platelets 198,000/ml ( 150,000400,000/ml ) .
his c - reactive protein was 8 mg / dl ( 010 mg / dl ) .
other than that , liver function test ( lft ) , renal function test ( rft ) , arterial blood gas analysis ( abg ) , basal serum tryptase , and immunological study were normal .
blood cultures ( three samples ) , urine routine examination , and culture were negative .
biopsy of the skin lesion was performed for confirmation of diagnosis which revealed focal basal cell vacuolar changes with dense superficial dermal lymphocytic inflammation .
after consultation from the department of dermatology , internal medicine , and oral medicine , ranitidine 300 mg , levocetirizine 10 mg , chlorhexidine mouth rinse , and calamine lotion for skin were prescribed along with the tapering dose of steroids .
the dosage of oral prednisone prescribed was 10 mg once daily for the 1 week , and then , it was gradually decreased to 1 mg over a period of 4 weeks , and then , it was stopped .
the patient responded well to medications ; all the symptoms resolved within 3 weeks . however , postinflammatory pigmentation resolved after 3 months without any medication .
currently , he is on sodium valproate 500 mg and clonazepam 0.5 mg for his original diagnosis of bpad for the past 1 year without any complaint .
sjs , usually triggered by anticonvulsants , antibiotics , and mycoplasma pneumoniae infection , starts with fever , malaise , myalgia , headache , vomiting , and prodromal symptoms .
these symptoms are then followed by diffuse erythematous maculopapular rashes localized to head , neck , trunk , and extremity . the rash later coalesces and makes develop in bullae which further can lead to detachment of the epidermis
. there may be involvement of mucosal area as well such as eye , nose , and genitalia leading to difficulty in swallowing and micturition .
sjs usually presents within the first few weeks of starting a culprit medication , but there can be delayed presentation as well on rare occasions . delayed cutaneous adverse drug reactions are characterized by idiosyncratic t - cell - mediated immune responses .
it encompasses a wide spectrum of diseases including sjs , acute generalized erythematous pustulosis , ten , and dress .
currently , delayed adverse reactions are diagnosed mainly based on patient 's medication history , clinical presentation , and clinical course after discontinuation of the culprit medication . it was concluded that the symptoms of our patient were caused by delayed - type hypersensitivity reaction to lamotrigine because the symptoms only appeared after 6 months and the fact that biopsy showed lymphocytic infiltration in the dermis .
it suggested an immunologic response requiring time lag to be sensitized , leading to the delayed presentation of sjs .
the challenge test is not done because it may trigger a new episode of greater severity .
ltt stands for lymphocyte transformation test can be used to quantify the activation of t - cells in response to the drug .
it may be useful in the diagnosis of delayed hypersensitivity reactions , but the sensitivity is low in patients with sjs / ten .
moreover , the ltt should be done within 1 week of the start of the rash .
difficulties can arise when predicting delayed - type hypersensitivity reaction ; however , patch test and lymphoblastic transformation test ( ltt ) have been used with variable response to confirm the delayed hypersensitivity reactions to the drugs . although antiepileptic drugs and mood stabilizers are recognized culprit medications , literature comparing the delayed cutaneous adverse drug reactions associated with these drugs
the physicians should carry out a skin biopsy to ascertain the presence of the syndrome . before a diagnosis of sjs
can be made , other immunobullous diseases such as staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome , iga dermatosis , paraneoplastic pemphigus , and disseminated fixed bullous drug reaction should be ruled out .
we are reporting this case because we believe the role of the doctor is more than just prescribing the medications .
doctors have the responsibility to inform the patients about the possible adverse reactions before prescribing medications such as lamotrigine which have been implicated in causing delayed cutaneous adverse drug reactions .
sjs can also present as delayed - type hypersensitivity reaction ; hence , offending drug should be withdrawn immediately as soon as symptoms of maculopapular rash , targetoid lesion , and mucosal lesion appear .
doctors should work with the patients to raise awareness of the adverse reactions of medications such as lamotrigine before prescribing them .
they should make sure that they carefully prescribe the right drugs and quantities to prevent the emergence of sjs . | pubmed |
Walking Dead 1. Catalyst
**NOTE: If you have not read 'Eyes on Fire' before this, please do, or you won't understand what is going on.**
**A/N: **This is basically only a test I have going in my head right now. I am taking it through as a sequel to 'Eyes on Fire' and it will definitely be A/U cause well...I have my reasons. So there. Warning, I'm going to be using some characters a lot differently than what they are written as now so sorry if I am breaking the norm, I want to use the cast to their strong suites with what I'm putting in front of them.
Hope y'all enjoy. I am going to be doing this a bit different than 'Eyes on Fire', read on my friends!
* * *
**1: Catalyst**
"_God bless us, everyone, we're a broken people living under loaded gun..."_
- Linkin Park
* * *
Fingers rubbed loosely over her lips, running the cracks and dips of her cupid's bow before she began to gnaw on a dwindled thumbnail. Standing at the gate Carrie had watched as Beth continued what she had been working on, killing walkers.
For some strange reason, out of the blue, she had pounced on a drive to get more animated in helping the group besides caring for Judith and doing the keeping work. Beth had asked Maggie but she had continued to put it off, Daryl and Merle were too rough, and Rick and Carl had their own disputes. After all else failed, and her fear of Michonne still too great, Beth had gone to Carrie for assistance. It could have been the fact that the young lady, many seeing her as Merle's accomplice, was hardly any older than Beth and was hardened in battle. The scars on her face that she had gained from months before were badges of honor to her, proof of her dedication and loyalty to the older Dixon.
Beth kicked the steel fence with her boot, making the walker's hands drop down to her sides before the blonde brought her knife through the hole to the skull of the creature. Her wrist twitched as she grit her teeth, eyes wide and mouth snarling as she yanked the blade out. Looking back over her shoulder Beth searched for Carrie's approval. Her arms were crossed, brow raised as a smile pushed over her mouth. Hands dropping she clapped for the Greene sister.
"Really?" Beth piped.
Carrie patted her shoulder, pointing down at the walker on the ground. "Hell yeah. That was one hell of a kill. Remember what I told you." Spinning her to face her she brought Beth's hand up to her forehead and reached down to slap her knee to bring it up. "Easiest way to get a second from a walker is to hold them off here and here. You do that and you force them back." Beth lightly followed the directions and pushed her away as she stumbled, mocking a walker's stance. "If you do that and then charge in and make sure you watch the jaw and arms, you'll be fine. Or even if you gotta do that before you shoot them, that's your best bet."
Beth moved to point her hand as a gun at Carrie and 'pulled' the trigger, Carrie dropping down to the ground in a mess. Sitting up on her bottom she rested her elbows on her knees. The weather was getting cooler as summer drew to a close and the fall would be coming in. Hershel had worked on developing a garden with the Woodbury citizens that had moved in. It was a matter of weeks since Rick brought the elderly and children over when the rest of the town was brought in. Woodbury was abandoned, but it was also a back up in case they had to leave the prison. A few of the people from the town had decided not to join them and were most likely dead.
Carrie's mind searched through the entire war they had faced after she had woken up from being shot in the face. They were still nightmares.
After the rest of the group had moved in it seemed that the governor had stirred up the world around them.
It was the middle of the day. Carrie had been sitting outside with some of the younger women of Woodbury, showing them how to load guns for ammunition after Merle had taught her numerous times.
The women were working fairly well since the sun wasn't blasting at them anymore like it had in previous weeks. All was under control until out near the gate a man had crumpled to the ground in a swift motion and blood splattered his partner on watch. Rick and Daryl quickly called for the group to move all of it's civilians inside and with Carl, Merle, Maggie, Michonne, Glenn, Carol, Karen, and Carrie they had stormed out to take control of the situation. The governor made his presence known when they had seen his vehicle and he had launched an attack. It was a few more men than what Karen had said before, and it appeared his numbers had already grown. Now there were around ten and they were armed. When men joined the prison's backup they moved to eliminate the attackers and were faced with massive ammo amounts and it cost them four lives as three of the governor's men had been killed and two injured.
They sped off and left Rick to control the mess that had ensued. Merle had been on pinpoint about when the governor would return. He wouldn't be too quick, but he wouldn't take his time. He wanted the threat to loom and strike somewhere in between. After that, Rick had began to take in what Merle said more, thanks to Daryl.
There was also a third special factor.
Milton.
He had been so close to death, he could taste the sweet clouds hanging over him when he was pulled back down to reality. That reality was a prison bed with his hands cuffed up to the bed post and Hershel standing over him with Rick and Merle.
Numb, his whole body had been numb while his mind screeched in pain. He begged for Hershel to kill him, for Rick or even Merle. Someone to stop the pain. Before he had passed out from the blood he watched the governor stand over Andrea as she screamed in the chair he had set up for Michonne. When he came to he asked where she was, and was broken to find no answer.
Because of him, Andrea had died.
Milton thought if he had let her pull the trigger as they watched him build his contraption, this could have been stopped.
Maybe if he would have ran with her, he could have provided a long enough distraction, even death, to keep Andrea running.
If he would have had the courage and strength to stab Phillip quicker.
If he would have tried harder.
She'd still be alive. The one person who had treated him on the same level as their own self confidence.
Now all he had was a distant memory of her, and at times it made him sick to remember what she looked like.
Hands ran bristly over the chained fence to find Carrie and Beth talking. He gave a weak smile at the sight of Carrie holding Beth in a submission that Merle had taught her. Something good had come of the sins that the men of Woodbury had carried.
They could evolve from it.
Coming back from it, it was really possible.
He approached the two young ladies now talking before they turned to face him. Carrie's smile warmed at the sight of her friend from Woodbury. He had always been genuine to her, unlike the evil man that had controlled him. Milton was human, Milton had morals and sympathy and remorse. He was alive.
"Hi ladies." He whispered, holding a notepad tightly to his chest under his jacket lappel. In some strange way, Milton still dressed sharp. Jeans, shirts, and even jackets, the man still had some sense of style. Merle made fun of him for it but Carrie wished that he would dress like the scientist. While that would be interesting to see, she knew it just wouldn't fit him. Merle was a sloppy dresser, he wore what he needed to, and she could still spend her time ogling him whenever she saw fit.
That sick freak enjoyed it.
"I came out because Merle is looking for you Carrie..." He whispered, adjusting his glasses. "We both know how he gets."
"Of course!" Carrie groaned, stretching. "So, Milton, tell me the date."
"September twenty-fourth."
"Almost fall time. Come on Beth." Waving her over to walk with the two Carrie adjusted her hands to fit into her short pockets. "Can't believe it's almost fall. What plans are ahead for the winter? We can't be going into the season without a plan."
Milton glanced over, body raised in a search for dominance in keeping things under control with her questions. "It's all being handled. Surprisingly, we all work well together." He sighed, "Well, we try to."
Beth picked up her pace, watching the two speak with curiosity. "Try?"
The duo looked back, both smiling. "Well..." Carrie drawled, "Merle and Milton are pretty much the equivalent of the brothers in high school...one is a nerd." Extending her hand she nudged Milton's shoulder, "and the other being the high school jockey. One is pure brilliance, and one can be smart...when he wants to be."
Milton shook his head at her choice of words, a smile hardening as a small blush warmed his face. "But when they secretly work together, world domination is possible. Keep that in mind Beth. Join the dark side." Beth's eyes widened as Carrie stared her down before her chest caved in laughter. "I'm just kidding. Merle and Milton are the most unlikely duo you'd ever find out there."
"Isn't that the truth..." Milton sighed, opening his book to jot a few notes down. "You know, I've been talking to Hershel...if we coordinate our research and his medical skills, and continue to educate Carol and the doctors and nurses we have here, we're gonna have one great medical staff on our hands."
Beth immediately jutted in. "With Carrie, Karen and Maggie teaching women how to load guns and basic fighting, we're gonna be able to do anything!"
"Prep is a lot different than doing." Carrie whispered, teeth grinding into her thumb nail. "When the time comes to take action, you gotta just do. It's not like practice where you can try again. It's one chance. You know that pretty damn well by now though." Nodding in agreement to the woman's statement Beth followed them up around the corner to the prison yard. Kids were in the prison, in school, a few guards sat at the fence and the remaining guard tower as other citizens worked around the area and talked amongst themselves.
"Speaking of trouble, where is Daryl?"
"Out hunting with the group." A voice cut in.
Turning around Carrie smiled as Rick approached them. He looked tired, exhausted, but it wasn't the same exhaustion that he had ran on months before with the threat of an army looming over a small group of ten. This was a leader's fatigue, one that came of balancing the world around him, but finding satisfaction as the results paid off in time. The results were seeing children going to school again, seeing the elderly find some sense of community.
The group was as one, they thought as one and worked as one.
"So tell me Rick, what do we got ahead of us on our rich agenda?" Carrie smirked, catching him run a hand through his hair as it grew out. The beard that covered his face was now thicker. The man looked like a bum to her in the distance until she recognized who he was.
Grimes looked down at her from the hand covering his face and glanced over to Milton. "Whatever the hell he as written down." He shot a smirk to the man now watching with a shocked expression. "Now If y'all excuse me, I got some more things to attend to. Oh, Carrie, by the way-"
"I know." She groaned, getting a thumbs up from Rick as he strolled down the dirt way into the bustle of the yard. "Damn men get on my last nerve. I gotta go ahead, before he blows a damn gasket. Y'all take care." Carrie nodded at Milton and Beth before she began to walk away. "Remember Beth, tomorrow! Right here like every day!"
"I get it!" She bellowed back, watching Carrie move up the steps and through to the cell block that the original group had inhabited. "So...Milton." Beth smiled. "Wanna help me go warm Judith's bottle? I can use a hand."
Milton stepped back, eyes wide in shock. "Um, I'm not good with children."
"Come on." She smiled. "It'd be in your best interest to be around children a bit more. We don't have some secret lab here like in Woodbury, you're gonna have to be around kids!" She waved him along to follow her up the steps to the cell block. "Besides, you haven't really met Judith, Daryl calls her little ass kicker."
"A baby...he calls a newborn child a 'little ass kicker?'" Milton shook his head. "Miss Greene, I don't mean to sound rude, but I thought Merle was the worse of the two...but sometimes I question his brother."
Beth peered back in a genuine amusement. "Daryl is just Daryl, he's always been like that. I wonder if he still has his ear necklace." She stopped briefly. "Call me Beth."
Milton stopped, mind rattled at the words that had passed through the girl's mouth. Nothing else stuck to him for the rest of the day, it was one thing, one sick and twisted thing. These were his new neighbors and cohorts."Ear...necklace?"
This was his new world.
* * *
Carrie moved up the steps and down the cell block row to find the room empty. Merle had probably stormed out looking for her and she knew when he'd get back that she'd face a tirade of typical Dixon temper. At the thought of that, almost like a reflex, Carol appeared at the opening of the cell, dressed in shorts and a black and white loose button down top she moved to sit down next to her on the cot. "Don't you look nice." Carrie smiled, enjoying the sight of Carol in her happy mood. The woman had been one of her biggest influences to stay at the prison after the governor had disappeared. Her strength was unmatched and she continued to try so hard to make the world around better every day.
Carol cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, sewed, loaded guns, and even took to the battles as of recently. The woman was brave and strong, something Carrie had lacked growing up that she wished she had so much earlier in her life. "Thank you sweetie. How ya doing?"
"Just finished up training with Beth, strolled with her and Milton and then heard that the old rex wanted to see me so..." Carrie blushed, wrapping her hands together.
"Old rex? Is that what you call him now?" Carol couldn't help but lean back against the wall, laughing at the choice of words. "You're lucky he likes you so much, he would of kicked your ass for saying that the first time!"
Carrie hunched over, resting her chin on her knee as she played with her laces on the worn sneakers that Merle had gotten for her in a run a few months before. "Yeah, anything that comes to my mind...I don't question it." Her mind trailed off, words lost as the two were interrupted by a shadow casting over the wall in the cell. "Speak of the devil..."
"Oh honey the devil ain't got nothin on me." Carol watched as Merle sauntered over to stand in front of the two. In a wife beater and cargo pants he flexed as he leaned down to glare at the women. "What's this y'all are laughing 'bout an ol' t-rex? Told ya not to be callin' me that."
Carol stood up and slid over to the open space. "I'm gonna leave you two to...your own thing." Carrie watched her slip away before she turned her attention back to the man standing over her.
Merle relaxed against the wall, the cool stone making him jump before he settled. Arms crossed she took a quick glance at his remaining hand, it only had three fingers left. He was battered and torn apart from the war, and she didn't know what had been going on in his head. Carrie didn't push it anymore, she hoped that one day he'd come around and start to talk to her. Even if it was little things, at least it would be something. In the mean time she kept to herself, he kept to himself, and they co-existed quite well.
"So, what did you want?"
Merle smirked, enjoying her questionable look as she remained hunched over, fiddling with her shoe laces. "Just wanted to make sure you and I was on the same page. How the lessons with lil bo beep's sister going?"
"She's actually doing great. If she keeps working, we're gonna have another strong woman on the ready for if something happens."
"Ya mean when something happens." Merle propped himself up. "When is the key word."
Carrie shrugged. "I know that..." Her fingers brushed over the scar that had remained on her face. A frown crossed his face as her eyes hazed over, lost in the memories of what had happened the day she ate the bullet across her face. "I...I know that..." The brush against her skin made her skin crawl, thinking about the fact that if she would have aimed better, the governor would be dead as she spoke. All she could hear was Merle and Daryl screaming over her and hearing the bustle of the prison around her before she stirred in the morning. After she had woken up she couldn't even look at herself in the mirror. The long gash she could feel cover her cheek extended up to just above her ear and took a small chunk of the upper cartilage out along with her consciousness.
"Sugar?" After falling through her mind for a while, reality hit her as Merle waved his hand in front of her face. "Ya still dwellin on it..." He whispered. In the back of his mind he continued to kick himself as he caught her lost in her own mind. This was his fault. Originally he wanted to go in there, take out the governor, and if he lived he'd just walk away and go out into the world on his own. In the pit of his stomach he could feel his brother wasn't there like before. Daryl had found a new family, he had moved on, and he was alone.
But then there was Carrie. This little thing that sat in front of him, that sat with her scars for him and her loyalties set in stone, had proven herself for him time and time again.
He still couldn't bring himself to face moving forward with anything, with whether Daryl or Carrie, he was frozen.
This was his burden, and he was paying the price for what he had done and his choices every time he looked at the marks that covered her face and every time his brother caught his glance. "I'm gonna go on patrol."
Carrie sat up and moved to follow him, only to smack into him as he stopped. "Sorry." She choked out. Her hand covered her mouth as she stood with tears stinging her eyes. "Son of a bitch."
"Girlie..."
"I was fine just a bit ago, I was havin' so much fun with Beth..." She croaked. "Now I'm a wreck and I just don't know what the hell I'm supposed to do." She wasn't going to reach out for him, that had stopped a while before. That killed her.
That morning after she woke up, when she asked him to kiss her, he wouldn't do it. He got up to leave and was gone for the day. After that he wouldn't kiss her, touch her, he had separated himself from her. The two could still talk, that was from her own wall rebuilding, just as his had immediately gone back up. There was nothing left that could break them down, and they were left in situations like this. All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and cry her eyes out for all she had. Something to get her anger and her hurt out.
When he wouldn't speak she shoved past him and moved down the cell block to go to the tombs. If there were any walkers down there, they'd be tasting metal in a matter of minutes.
Knife in her pocket she passed a few people who didn't speak to her and the tombs had become her home for the afternoon.
Walker after walker.
Stab after stab.
The hate and the hurt she felt had simmered after a few hours when she made it outside to the vehicles that sat in the sun.
Out of all the people she had found the one she was the most shocked to see.
Carl.
He stood against a chain fence, holding his Beretta 92FS, it's silencer lined up over a walker's forehead as he pulled the trigger. Without the sound of the shot, it was almost like a completely different attack. It felt terrifying to Carrie.
Carl turned back to see her standing there, blood splattered over her clothes as she watched on in horror. "What is it?"
"N-nothing..." Carrie whispered. She didn't want to go back in, she couldn't leave Carl out here alone.
Something about him intrigued her, and she wanted to survey the boy a little bit more. Seeing the open bed of a truck she glanced over. "Can I...sit?"
Carl nodded, running a hand quickly through his hair he picked up the sheriff's hat and pushed it back on his head. Walking over to Carrie he stood in front of her.
They didn't talk for a while, but when they did, the floodgates busted open. Carl didn't cry, but he told her about what had happened. She hadn't prodded anyone about their stories from before this all happened besides Merle, and that was out of playful fun. He told her about Shane, about his mother, about what they had done, Sophia, Dale, everything that had happened, he explained to her in full detail.
Carrie in return spoke to him about what she had went through, including Woodbury.
When all was said and done, it was a mutual respect that had been reached. They returned through the tombs in time for dinner and went their separate ways, Carl to the group in his own isolation and Carrie to her own little world.
Maybe they weren't so different after all.
* * *
**A/N: **Okay, there we go! The sequel, sort of like an epilogue to 'Eyes on Fire!' Now that I've written this I'm not sure if I'm gonna continue writing it or not. I had original ideas but I am not too sure if I could get a grasp on it.
Please don't kill me for ending Carrie/Merle...I feel like it needed to happen, at least for a while. I feel like after what happened Merle would push her away and just keep her away especially since Daryl and him had distanced. He's only staying there for the fringes of what he has left with his brother. Carrie is just someone anymore he can tolerate.
Leave your feedback and ideas in the review and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you!
xo - Lindsey
2. Building
**A/N: **Thanks to blueberrybunny3630 and Brazen Hussy for reviewing! :)
* * *
**Chapter 2: Building**
_'I'm Out of Touch, I'm Out of Luck..._
_I'll pick you up when you're getting down'_
_-Ed Sheeran_
* * *
Arms raised Maggie helped slide the riot gear over Carrie's frame. "You and I, we got some pretty damn close sizes." A smile broke over her face, strapping the front down tightly. "Trust me, when it's all on, you're not gon' wanna take it off!" The knee pads had slid on easily and after adjusted her gun holster Carrie watched Maggie fix the top of the outfit before she pulled on the arm guards.
"So happy we found these...Glenn's been obsessed with them since we first put 'em on!"
Tying her hair up in a bun Carrie grabbed the helmet. "Not surprising really..." She sighed, carrying it with her as she picked up the gun. Evening guard duty. Her and Maggie had taken it up for a weeks now and Carrie had to admit, it wasn't as bad as she thought it would have been months ago. Maggie was kind and sweet, and really patient when you weren't breathing down her neck. She was also stubborn, and when she wanted to do something, she was going to do it.
Riot gear on both women had emerged from the cell to move out along the walkway to go downstairs for dinner before they'd go outside to sit at the tower.
Woodbury had it's own cell block, managed my Milton and a few of the others like Tyreese and Sasha. Still, in the same cell block they had originally, the 'prison' group as the Woodbury residents still called them, took the heart of the prison as they always had.
"Hey guys!" Beth piped, admiring the two ladies in their riot gear. "I have to say..." She whispered, setting down the large pot of pasta after she had drained it out with a strainer they had gotten from Woodbury, "You guys look pretty bad in that get up!"
"My baby in riot gear..." Hershel sighed, "Honey I still am never going to get used to that."
Maggie snickered, catching a sharp glance from Carrie. "Sorry daddy." They strolled over to stand over the small group, "I love this whole outfit. We look pretty sharp. Don't we Carrie?" The woman nodded before she turned to sit down away from the group's eating space at the table she had always resided at. It was away from everyone, and no one bothered her anymore. The isolation had grown a bit in weeks but otherwise, they were courteous to her. Time was waning with her remaining at the prison. Carrie froze at the thought that she'd be leaving soon, but at least she was being honest with herself.
She had no reason to be there anymore. If she could leave and run as far as she could, maybe even up north like she had originally planned, she'd be able to honker down in familiar territory.
Her silence was broken as Beth had made her way over and sat down with two bowls. Her gentle hand pushed a bowl toward her and returned to her lap. Brushing her own hand away from her face in a daze, Carrie was startled by the sudden company. The younger Greene sister had made a bold move to sit with her, and it surprised a few people over at the 'popular table' as Carrie self-titled it. It was like she was back in high school.
All the cool kids sat at the cool kids table...
then you had your jocks, nerds, the coolest people you would ever meet...
A hard laugh escaped Carrie's throat as she thought back to one of her favorite movies growing up. A TV and DVD player sounded wonderful just so she could quote that again and again in her head.
"What's up?" Beth asked, stirring her pasta loosely.
"Sorry hon, just a funny idea in my head..."
This intrigued her, something had gone on in Carrie that finally made her laugh without violence or embarrassment, she was dying to know what it was. "Well?"
Carrie shrugged, watching her intently as she brought a fork full of pasta to her mouth. "It was a movie I watched when I was younger..." Smacking on her food she nodded. "You probably weren't allowed to watch it..." As she leaned closer she watched Beth's eyes light up. "Not appropriate for church girls."
Struggling with the anticipation Beth pouted, "What was it then?"
"Mean Girls."
"I loved that movie!" Beth screamed, a large smile hitting her face as Carrie shook her head, falling back at the sudden burst of enthusiasm. "Oh my! I-I'm so sorry!" Red encompassed her face as she brought her hands up to cover her mouth. "I didn't mean to..."
Carrie rested a gloved hand over her frail shoulder. "No..." She breathed between bursts of laughter, "You're fine. You are completely fine...I just didn't think...aw man I like you Beth...I really do. Man."
"What is it?"
She stopped for a second, eyes narrowing at a warm thought. "I just thought about how nice it would have been to have a friend like you before this all went down. Would of made high school a hell of a lot easier on me...besides the church thing."
Beth continued to watch the woman, touched by her words. "We would have been friends, I know it." Her hands covered Carrie's as she nodded in her choice. "I know we'd been friends! We are now anyways!"
Friends? Carrie had a friend...
The words overwhelmed her as she looked away, chuckling as her shoulders began to shake. "What? Did I do something wrong?" Beth covered her mouth again, eyes widened in horror that she had done something wrong.
Carrie glanced back over, eyes glassy as her lips drew a sincere smile. "No! I've just wanted a friend like you for such a long time-WOAH!" Beth moved over to wrap her arms around her, bonding their friendship in a tight hug. She couldn't hug her back, but she appreciated the gesture.
* * *
The spent the rest of their dinner talking about movies that she wasn't allowed to watch, and what all she wasn't able to do growing up. Carrie had learned about her morals and how strict Hershel really was. As she got older, her parents cared less and less about what she had done. Carrie had planned to go to college, but had begun thinking about just going to community college, getting something in dental hygienist work and returning home to just spend her days shooting and hunting. The dream was still in the back of her mind, spending time in the summer with her brother fixing cars and coming home from work to go take her four wheeler out for a spin.
Something about Beth made Carrie feel at home for once, that there was something decent in the world. The girl had been in a situation that could have destroyed her, corrupted her every way possible. At that thought she glanced over to see Carl sitting by himself at the table next to them, sneaking glances over at them occasionally. After a few minutes she had tilted her head, nudging him to come over. When he shook his head she turned and waved her arm, her stubborn efforts finally prevailing as he picked up his bowl and joined them.
He was quiet for most of the time, but she could see his posture easing as they talked more and more. Beth asked her questions about her school years, what classes she took, how well she did, they were all small things to humor the awkward silence Carl had brought over with him.
"Let's see..." Carrie sighed. "Least favorite class...sophmore year...I started talking calculus, my first semester was pre calc, then they bumped me to calc the second semester and I opted to do summer work cause I for sure as hell wasn't going to take the damn class again!"
Carl watched her dramatize the class and was intrigued, "Was it..." The two girls were shocked to hear him speaking, "Was it as bad as they say it was? I mean...I wasn't even in middle school yet but I saw high school kids on the buses, they stayed after their classes I guess...they'd always cuss about it. They had really thick books to."
Beth stole a short glare at Carrie and the two nodded unison. "You took it to?" Carl stammered, shocked that the young girl had taken the class as well. A slight blush covered his face.
Carrie couldn't help but smile. After all that had happened, after the fact that he couldn't even acknowledge Rick as his father half the time, after facing more than he should have in the cold world, he could still blush like a little boy with a crush. Beth had told her how Carl had tried to room with her when they first got to the prison. He also tried to impress her on the barn when he would take shooting lessons with her and Shane. Beth wasn't sure that he even had feelings like that anymore, but that short moment reminded them both that deep down in him, a boy's heart still beat strongly.
"Yeah..." Beth leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "It was the most difficult class I've ever taken. I didn't even have a pre-class. They just put us right in there. I was ahead of my grade so I was with seniors and oh my..." The palm of her hand pressed to her forehead as she shook her head. "Thinking about the formulas and all the numbers makes my head hurt."
Carrie leaned back, amused at Carl's shock. "I took pre-algebra in seventh, barely passed algebra in eigth, ninth I took geometry cause I did so bad in algebra, and then in tenth I took algebra two. In junior I did the pre-calc and the class, and before this whole...thing started." Waving her hands she shrugged. "I was starting trig so I am grateful for ONE thing in this world, I no longer have to do math!"
"My mom...my mom and Carol made me and Sophia do school work after this all started." Carl whispered, eyes narrowing at the thought of his mother. "Now that I look back on it, it wasn't so bad having school with them."
"If you want I can school ya kid." Carrie winked at him, making Beth laugh as he glared at her. "Easy tiger, I was kidding."
Carl shook his head, loose hair flying. "Just cause I miss my mom...no way in hell I'd go back to school even if she walked through that door right now."
He finally smiled. Carl had finally smiled, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by the group as well. "Woah..." Glenn whispered, pointing his fork to the table in front of him. Carl was smiling and pointing at the door as Beth shook her head and Carrie laughed. "Rick look." He nudged his friend to glance over as the group followed, trying to hide their obvious glances.
Rick's heart stopped for a second, body in shock at the sight. His son was smiling. Their latest fight had left Carl to go storm off a few days before and they had been barely talking besides working together to clear out walkers. When he turned back to the group he saw the same shocked expression on Carol's face. Hershel was just smiling as Maggie turned to smile at Glenn. They hadn't seen Carl that pleasant about anything ages.
"Thank God Beth hasn't fallen into the dark, and thank God Carrie is still here. Thank God all you young ladies are still here." Hershel wrapped an arm around his eldest daughter, "Some light in this world to go on for." The old man whispered a silent thankful prayer as the youth of the group continued talking, Carl yelling about school before he crossed his arms and gave a smug smirk. "Thank God."
Michonne watched the interaction from a table away. She didn't mind eating with the group when she did, but she usually preferred to sit away. It gave her some peace and quiet when she wasn't sleeping. The sight was a marvel to watch, like animals interacting of different parts of the food chain. Like a butterfly, a fox, and a tiger. She wasn't sure who was the fox or the tiger, but it made the most sense to her. It was a perfect description to her as she watched their discussion unfold. Michonne had made out most of what they had been saying. School was the main discussion, talking about classes, their favorites and which teachers they couldn't stand. A soon to be graduate, a junior and a boy that was leaving elementary school, now all three were more intelligent than most kids would be trying to go to college. They were all survivors in their own aspects, and that was excelling in more ways than what the average youth could accomplish. It wasn't playing a violin or writing some majestic essay, it was simple and something people still couldn't comprehend as others living died off based on their own idiotic choices.
Something about their little conversation had left her smiling though, that in this hell, after all that had occurred, the kids could still at times just be kids.
"I will find a calculus book, I will bring it here, and I will teach your stubborn ass!" Carrie sang, finishing her bowl of pasta. "We are going to start teaching you it so when everything is normal and you go back to school with kids you can sit in class, fall asleep, and when Beth or someone gets ready to crack your ass cause you weren't paying attention you can be like..." Leaning back she pulled her hands behind her head and crossed her legs, balancing herself without a support behind her she spoke sarcastically. "Yeah...I know this already...I learned it while I was killing walkers. I was that damn good. Don't bother me." She dropped her arms and dropped her head to the table and pretended to snore.
Carl shook his head, adjusting his hat to sit properly again as he finished his food. "You're crazy." He mumbled, still smiling at her choice of words. "I was wondering...can I come outside with you and Maggie while you're on patrol? Maybe kill some of the biters at the fences?"
Carrie stood up, picking her bowl up she waved for Carl to follow her. "Beth I'll talk to you tonight or tomorrow alright?" Beth nodded and went on to finish the rest of her food.
They approached the table as Carl stopped behind Carrie, not even wanting to be around his father. "Hey, is it alright with you Maggie that Carl comes out and kills some biters at the fences? I wouldn't mind it, probably head down there to give him a hand later on to..."
Maggie shrugged and looked at Rick. Their leader glanced over at her, to Carrie, and to Carl. He knew Carl would go regardless of what he said, and if he went without permission, it could stir up more hassle than what arguing was worth.
"Sure, don't get in their way." He mumbled, returning to his food without a second glance. Everyone at the table could feel the tension as Carl backed away with Carrie and the two began to walk.
"I'm gonna go sit out there with Carl, kill some at the fence. See you at there!" Maggie nodded with a smile as Carrie and Carl walked out.
Carrie clutched her helmet, glancing it over. "Helmet or no helmet?"
"No helmet. You probably can't see a damn thing with that on..." He turned to see Carrie stop as she put the helmet on, hands stretched out. He couldn't help but smile as she stumbled for a second before she snatched it off her head. The brunette tossed the helmet to him and he pulled his hat off to try it on. It was really dark, and big on him. But most of all, your vision was somewhat limited. "You'd think it'd be clearer through the visor...it IS riot gear after all."
Carl handed the helmet back to her as she slowed down her pace to walk with him. Their walk was quiet as they approached the outside area. The sun was beginning to go down earlier thanks to the seasons changing and the sky was lite in a red and pink tone. Clouds hung over the area in scattered ways stretching out into the forest. It was a pretty sight.
The two approached the guard tower as Carrie glanced up and shrugged. "Alright, let's kill some walkers while we wait for Maggie."
"Aren't you gonna go tell Daryl and Merle-"
"No. I'm not dealing with them." She whispered, taking her knife out she jogged down to the gate and turned to the outer points and began walking, knife clanking against the metal in a repeating fashion. Carl followed suite, holding his knife he stood outside of her way in case others traveled over.
Most of the time they had spent killing the walkers was in quiet. Carl's mind had settled into his usual cold state and he worked to take down as many as he could with Carrie. When they had finished a short round Carrie turned to find Maggie still not outside and the Dixons standing up on the guard tower, watching them as they killed the walkers. Daryl had been standing with his gun ready in case walkers got the best of them and Merle leaned against the railing, a shit eating grin plastered on him like usual.
"Alright I'm gonna go tell them their shift is over, besides, I don't like an audience. Hold my helmet."
Helmet flying in the air Carl caught it with a loud groan. It was actually really heavy. Carrie smirked at his audible noise before she opened the door to the tower and sauntered up. The brothers were talking about something she didn't care to uncover when she opened the door to the top and walked in. There was Daryl and Merle, dinner bowls empty on the floor, a few guns and some ammunition. The two turned to see Carrie standing with her gun gripped tightly in her hand.
"Well look at you peach, ya gonna kick my ass?" Merle taunted, "Ya was killin them with lil governor down th-"
"Don't talk about Carl like that." She hissed, cutting in before Daryl got the chance to. "You're round is up, get the hell out."
Daryl blinked a few times before he glanced over at Merle who leaned back, his smirk turning into a scowl. His baby brother could pick up on all of Merle, and this had been something he had never seen before. Merle was struggling, over a woman. The only woman he had ever struggled over before this was his mother, and the bitches that complained and threatened him when he gave him the clap...but that was another tale for a drunk and rainy afternoon.
Grabbing his gun he sauntered over to her, standing side by side he snarled down at her. "Ya best watch what the hell you say to me lil' girl."
"Pick your bowl up and mosey your ass out." She glanced over to Daryl and gave a small smile. "If Maggie's in there can ya tell her to hurry up and get out here or I'm gonna replace her ass with Carl?"
Merle's brow furrowed. "Oh, you got a thing for lil boys now? That it sweetheart? Ya bounce back and fly off to the other side of the yard?"
"MERLE!" Daryl yelled, eyes wide at their interaction. "Shut the hell up man let's go!"
As they moved to the door Carrie sat down and growled. The man could get under her skin in a matter of seconds anymore. "Least Carl's a better man."
Sitting her gun down she moved to sit outside and watch the young Grimes boy. She wished that he could go back, that Beth could go back, that even Judith could have been born in a different time, they could all go back to a time without the weight of the world on their shoulders.
A few minutes later Maggie had climbed up and raced over to the open space on the walk way outside the window of the tower. "What the hell happened with you and Merle?" Maggie whispered, a genuine look of concern crossing her face. "They came in and he was real quiet but when he got to his cell he started yellin' and we heard your name and I didn't know if you were alright..."
"I'm fine." Carrie whispered. "I told his ass to get, and then he asked if I liked Carl and I just shut my mouth and let him and Daryl go. The asshole is gonna be a thorn in my side for a while..."
Maggie shook her head, frustrated at the man. She had hated him after they made it out of the Governor's brutal attacks on her and Glenn, and she held Merle responsible. He had captured them, he beat Glenn, he let the Governor assault her. Because of him she could still feel that man's hands on her in the back of her mind; his hands brushing her hair back and slamming her to the table, caressing her...they were hands she didn't want anywhere in her life.
But when he went and tried to kill the governor, when he almost sacrificed himself for the safety of his brother and basically the group, she couldn't hate him anymore. It was like Michonne had told him while he was recovering and she listened in.
_"If you had no remorse for anything that happened to these people, if you really didn't care, you would have knocked DARYL out and taken him with you. You knew what you were doing..."_
Of course she still couldn't say she liked him, she probably never would, but there was a mutual understanding. Because she no longer had a burning hatred for him, Glenn had eased on his own resolve against the man. It was no longer about hating people and getting the group limited to just their 'friends.' It was about banning together, all of them, and fighting to survive and maintain what they had. It would have cost them too much time and energy to hate anymore, to feel such horrible feelings for one of their own. It still confused Maggie to call him that...
_one of their own._
The watch went quietly. Carl returned inside just as it got dark and they had no issues. When they returned inside everyone was asleep and the two ladies went to their own cells. Carrie had a heavy task ahead of her. Getting the riot outfit off. The other men from Woodbury who had midnight shift had already went outside and Maggie was cuddling with Glenn.
Lighting her lantern she moved to dim it and began to struggle with the uniform as she sat down. Unbuckling the knee braces she bit her lip as they fell with a powerful thud. What she wore was quite a few extra pounds that she wasn't used to carrying anymore. She followed with the arm guards and began to work on the chest protector. Glenn had kept the full body suit for himself and made sure that Maggie had an easier outfit, and in that Maggie had gotten her one similar.
Annoyance exasperated for the day she finally got the armor off and threw it on the bunk over her and moved to slip out of her clothes and into her pajamas. A large black button down and a pair of small red athletic shorts.
Carrie stared into the lamp, the dim light warming her as her gaze prolonged her tired nature. Flipping over on to her stomach she frowned at the realization of what the shirt really was
Lantern off she turned to her side and took a deep breath to finally fall asleep.
It was just another scar.
* * *
**A/N: **There we go, another chapter down! I REALLY like this one. I love Carl to death and I feel like Beth has so much untapped potential. They, along with Milton and Merle are going to be some of the main characters. I'm not focusing on Daryl, Carol, Rick or Glenn. Karen, Michonne and Maggie will be supporting. I know I've upset a few people that I split Merle and Carrie, again I'm sorry and I think I'll piss y'all off a little bit more but hey, I want to do a few things with this.
I didn't want to soften Carl, but I wanted to remind the viewers that he's still human. Like Rick, like even the Governor, he can still have his moments and smile. For Carl that's a lot easier because he's younger. I also thought it'd be cute to do a little fluff with Beth/Carrie cause I like them interacting and talking about school and calc.
Leave a review, fave and follow kittens! xo
3. Painless
**A/N: **Thanks to Brazen Hussy, blueberrybunny3630 and SupedupJas for reviewing! I appreciate it! I'm sorry this is a teeny tiny bit shorter, I just had a little bit of trouble with this because I'm not sure if I want to continue from this or not. I feel like this wraps some stuff up.
I agree with Brazen Hussy that WAY to many of the characters that SHOULD be around are now gone. They had little to no development and had some real potential. Shane, Merle, Milton, Axel and Sophia immediately come to mind to me. Of course in this I bring back Merle and Milton cause they REALLY should still be around but I wish Shane was back too...so anyways enjoy!
* * *
**Chapter 3: Painless**
_'__Somebody's hurting. Holding it all in...__
__Somebody won't let go of his heart but the truth is,__
__It's painless...__'_
_Skye_
* * *
The dirt road wined around the curve to pull through to the roadway. On this was a tan jeep, one from Woodbury, filled with passengers. It was almost like the old days to Milton. Sitting in the back he wasn't surrounded by the governor, Martinez, and the men doing their plotting. He sat in the back squeezed between Tyreese and Carrie. They had gone on a run and to do some testing of a theory of his. Woodbury still had all of his notes before they returned a few weeks after he woke up to go get them. The large folder now sat on his lap, open, with notes and a large spiral notebook containing written scribbles and information.
Milton could remember specifically where everyone sat, the governor in the passenger's seat, barking orders at the driver with his backseat driving, Martinez and Shupert in the back with Milton discussing whatever the hell was on their minds. He usually kept to himself, and he wasn't used to all the intrigue being shown to his work.
At the prison, he felt wanted, and he didn't doubt it, unlike Woodbury. Phillip had made him question his worth numerous times, he was the shadow hanging on the wall most of the time, and even when he spoke, he felt small compared to the strong headed men that would yell over him.
One thing hadn't changed though. Merle was driving. Out of all the people in the car, the one handed man was driving.
Milton could catch him stealing short glances back to the crowded backseat as they all chattered. Tyreese would ask him numerous questions and then pass the notes to Sasha to check out. Honestly, they had been intrigued by his work and his efforts in Woodbury. Milton appeared to be a nice, smart, gentle man, and they were right.
His attention though, was set on Carrie. He had pushed the folder to sit on both of their laps for equal balance and he had begun to show her notes to everything he had, and he surprised her with a small red folder in particular.
"This is...this is me!" She scoffed. "I remember seeing this when we ate breakfast!"
Milton quickly nodded. "I apologize if some things are...you know, things you don't like me recording but the governor asked me to keep a special one you. He kept a special eye on Merle as well when he arrived, and Andrea. All the new comers that seemed like a viable threat. I didn't have the time to even make a folder for Michonne."
Carrie nodded, opening the folder. "Why was my folder red? I saw you had vanilla folders, blue ones, green ones..."
"Red was deemed as hostile. Martinez had one, you had one, Andrea had one, Merle of course had one-"
"What's that supposed to mean?" The older Dixon growled.
Carrie rolled her eyes at his tone, returning her attention to Milton with a smile. He began to speak again. "You were deemed as hostile because of your weapon upon arrival, your attitude, and...your similarities to Merle."
"Similarities?"
"Your hostility, your...language, body posture, fighting abilities. I-I don't mean to offend-" Milton quickly zipped his mouth as the two of discussion quickly looked to meet each other's gaze in the rear view mirror. Tyreese and Sasha surveyed the tension in the vehicle, almost enjoying the spectacle.
Carrie sat up and leaned her head against the rest of the seat. "We ain't nothing alike Milton." She winked at him before returning to the information. "These are my medical records from when I got evaluated every season...the blueprints for my old baby!" She sighed, running her fingers over the sketches. "Oh I miss it...but at least my hand doesn't smell that bad anymore, the glove on it always made me sweat more. Check this out! Milton you wrote notes about me?" Milton's eyes widened, realizing that he hadn't removed what he thought he had from all the folders. The notes he had of Andrea he had tucked away and kept to himself. He didn't realize that he hadn't removed Carrie's.
Her eyes scanned the notes, many of them touching her heart as the dates progressed. At first they were very simple and to the point. When the dates moved past three and four months they had gotten a lot more in depth.
She caught his look of horror and moved her hand to his shoulder. "You're so sweet." Leaning over she planted a kiss on his cheek. "You make me out to a better person than I really am..." The whisper escaped her throat as she approached the last notes. It was almost like he had painted a portrait of her. In this image she was beautiful and sweet, she was kind and was nothing of what she saw anymore.
Fingers closed the thick folder and she handed it back to him. Waving her hand she pointed to the notes ahead in his thick book. "Show me more! I wanna see what else you've accomplished!"
He quickly nodded and began to show her a lot more of his observations of the walkers that still roamed the land. Tyreese and Sasha leaned into the conversation, invested in his work more than even Phillip had shown.
Merle adjusted the seat belt from his chest, feeling as if it was starting to suffocate him. Rage flew in his mind, realizing that somewhere between leaving Woodbury and recovering from the Governor's attack, he had gone soft. The anger flickered in him when he saw Carrie and Milton so close. The little shit, he had poked fun at him in Woodbury whenever he felt like it, he knew in a second he could snap the nerd. But now all of a sudden he was the savior of the group?
The prison was getting worse and worse in his eyes as he woke up every day. Around him was a sea of people that were all completely wrong about their own security. To him, he was the only person with some head on his shoulders.
Merle Dixon was the bright bulb of the bunch, just like he had been in Woodbury.
He had always been the bright one, no one just seemed to want to listen. Even Daryl had drifted from him, and after what had happened with him facing near death he would have sworn up and down it'd have changed things in an instant. Daryl said he 'wanted his brother back.' Well maybe if the boy had opened his eyes and took his head out of Officer Friendly's ass he'd realize that when the dust cleared, big brother Merle would be the only one left standing for him. The boy was sucked into an illusion, and he didn't know if Daryl would ever come out of it or not. If he wanted to die in happyville with a leader that had the bright shine of a dim bulb and caring for a bunch of people that didn't give a shit about him, he wasn't going to stick around much longer for it.
At that thought Merle could feel his stomach turn and tie in knots. Grimacing at the ideas forming in his head he took a deep breath as they approached the prison.
Milton closed his books and put them into his backpack, still smiling as Carrie went on praising his persistent work with understanding the biters better. She hadn't known about Michonne's pet walkers before their discussion and he couldn't help but laugh at her shocked expression. Her youth had made her enthusiastic about all the discoveries he had come across and nothing could beat the pride in him swelling.
Rolling up the gravel they all fell out from the back of the vehicle as Merle and Michonne climbed out the front. They met Rick and Daryl with Carl, Beth, and Carol following close behind. Their run had gone decently well, finding a few more things and most importantly, some harvesting tools. Beth had ran in to get her father and Merle couldn't help but smile when Hershel's tone piped up at what they had brought back.
"Oh yes, yes we'll be doing some good work here. Thank you."
"It was all Merle, he cleared out the walkers in that area at the tool shop and got what you needed." Merle's eyes, like the other's, widened at Carrie's admission. "I think it would have taken a hell of a lot longer if it wasn't for him. But otherwise we got some canned shit so I'm thinking that we'll play a canned wheel game soon."
"Canned wheel game?" Rick asked, hands on his hips. He was petrified.
Carrie shrugged, pulling out the guns that were plastered in blood. "It's when you get like a lazy susan or a bottle, something that can spin. You put all the canned goods out and then you spin. Whatever the hell you're having to eat you add whatever canned thing the bottle or susan gives you." She turned to the back of the vehicle and opened it. "Have your pick." There were a few cans, all with no labels, in different sizes.
Daryl turned to Merle and nudged him. "Hey, gotta tell ya, I'm goin' out huntin with some of them folks from Woodbury."
"And?" Merle shrugged, adjusting his shirt he went to take off the open button down.
"Ya gonna have to do watch with Carrie. Maggie...she went off with Glenn."
The older Dixon cursed himself. The newlyweds were fucking like rabbits and he was paying the price.
"Yo Carrie!" Daryl yelled, Merle's face immediately dropping. She ran over and rested a hand on her hip. "Listen, know it ain't gon' be peaches and cream but ya gotta pull guard duty with Merle here tonight."
She quickly looked up to the two of them and back to Rick. "What the hell? Where's Maggie anyways?"
"Her and Glenn went out for their...own run."
"Jesus." Groans escaped her throat as she fixed her neck. "Alright. Don't gotta suit up tonight so won't be no trouble. Before or after dinner?"
"Before. Beth is gonna set something aside for both of y'all."
"Good." She turned on her heels and moved to grab her gun and went towards the guard tower. It wasn't good, it was hell. She'd rather be inside eating with Beth and Carl and having a repeat of the week before where they had been discussing school and math classes. That conversation had carried on for quite a few days at different times. On a recent run Carrie had gone on with Maggie and Daryl to a nursery she had found a backpack, probably of a teenager who had been volunteering there or a student teacher. In it was a trigonometry book and a smaller algebra book.
Carl's face when she brought it back was perfect. She still cursed herself that she didn't have a Polaroid to save the memory.
* * *
A bit passed and the evening approached over the skyline. Sitting at the door that lead to the small deck of the tower she had kicked her feet up to the door frame. Hearing the door open behind her she glanced over as Merle walked in and dropped his gun across from hers and sat down on the floor.
Her attention returned to the walkers roaming the grass, almost like cows grazing the field. She had caught it a few times, it was rare, but it happened.
A walker would keel over, after all it's walking, it'd just go down. When that happened, a few would straggle over and move down to eat it. Now she had caught it again and this time she turned and crawled out to get a better look.
Merle's brow quirked as she crawled on her hands and knees to the bars that remained the fence of the platform. She had been watching something, and it slightly peaked his interest. That quickly dissolved as he leaned back and ignored her outburst of excitement.
Merle Dixon didn't feel awkward about a lot of things. Only times he ever felt awkward was when he'd have to go to the clinic or face whores he had slept with that weren't any good at anything wanting another go. This, of all things, had left him on edge.
He hadn't been alone with Carrie since she had walked out of his cell crying like a few rare times before that.
She had shut out the anger and pain she had felt and put her wall up, and now it was almost like he could feel the ice radiating off of her. Even Carl showed him more humanity than she did. To say the least, it pissed him off.
More time had passed and they were still silent until she moved back into the small room and grabbed her gun. Pulling it apart piece by piece she took the rag that she had tied to her belt loop and began to wipe it off. The blood on it had been pretty bad after their run, and even they were hit with the splatter of blood and matter. Merle's pants would have to be thrown away like her shorts and top. His wife beater had been stained so much they didn't know what was blood anymore and what was sweat and old remains.
Finally, the silence broke.
"Smells awful." She whispered, peaking his attention.
"What the hell are ya talkin' bout?"
She shrugged. "Both of us, that run was some nasty shit."
Propped up against the wall Merle rested his arms on his knees, watching her carefully as the lights of the prison came on. Milton's work never failed, and he had gotten some power going with the prison lights now shining in the evening without issues like before. "Well ain't that sad girlie. Ya gotta clean up. Lil' girls always cry bout getting' messy."
She glanced up to see his posture and lips pursed. He was coping an attitude, so she'd cop one right back. "I try to be sanitary, I ain't no walkin' disease. You? I don't know. Daryl ain't found no brillo pads for you, has he?"
One thing she remembered about Merle, whenever he got excited, be it angry or in another sense, the veins in his neck popped out. When she saw that she couldn't help but give a small smirk. Carrie would boast about it to the high heavens if she could.
She could get under Merle Dixon's skin in a matter of seconds.
"Lil girl." He rasped. "You best watch your words with me."
Carrie's attitude had struck a nerve, and she was taking it as far as she could. "Words? I'm just stating facts Dixon."
"Don't you be getting' smart with me!" He hissed, eyes baring into her. Her attitude was just as hard as his glare, icy.
In those words she couldn't help but laugh. "You ain't my pa, don't tell me that I can't get what I am."
Nostrils flared he watched her stand up and move toward the door to the guardrail "I ain't ya pa, but ya sure as hell liked it when I let ya call me daddy, didn't ya?" Her eyes widened at his boast. "Ya liked it when I smacked that lil' ass to." His shoulders slumped, lips in a smooth, confident smile. "I got all the dirt on ya doll. Don't be messin' with me."
The annoyance on her face had become obvious when she picked her rag up. "Don't bother me Dixon, you ain't worth my time no more." Slamming the door she sat out on the rail and took in the cool breeze. She couldn't wait for fall to be on it's way, then the winter. "Maybe he'll get sick and keel over." She mumbled, wiping the chamber of her glock as she stopped herself.
No, she couldn't say that about him. As much as she wanted to, she just couldn't bring herself to utter the words and mean them. "I didn't mean it." Her voice was even quieter. Wishing a man dead was useless anyways, it'd come eventually.
* * *
Finally, after what seemed like forever, Maggie and Glenn had come in for guard duty, apparently back from their 'run.' Maggie had told her they were looking for more stuff for the kids of the group and even some school supplies. Milton wanted to have a few people start teaching the children.
Carrie's interest was immediately perked and she had spoken to Maggie and Glenn about it for a few minutes before she left them to their watch.
"All they gonna do is bump some uglies, like they always do." Merle grumbled, yawning as he climbed down the steps ahead of her. "Bunch a useless kids."
"Shut up Dixon." He turned back, looking up as Carrie decended behind him, feet pounding against the hard metal. "Let em live a little. They get to be love birds." Her last sentence was grumbled, shoving past him as she reached the ground.
His jaw dropped slightly at her words before he tensed. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
Carrie turned back and glanced him over. The veins in his neck were showing again. "Sounds exactly what you think it does." Licking her lips she gave a scoff and continued to walk.
Immediately he wanted to trip her down and start screaming at her. He didn't want to hurt her, he just wanted her to shut up. The glares, the harsh tone, the attitude, the attention to that pissy little geek, he wanted it to stop. If he could go back in time, he never would have given her the time of day if he knew she'd be this much hassle. He never would have slept with her, gotten to know her, saved her ass when she ran.
He never would have even brought her back to Woodbury.
Before he could confront her, she was already inside. Hoisting his gun over his shoulder he walked in and found an empty space of the cell block with a plate on the table. The only cell that had any light was Carrie's with a dim lantern like she usually had.
Sitting down he ate quickly and took a few minutes to calm himself. His anger was getting the best of him, and he could really use a break. He had gone through most of the block and areas they had cleared, and he had found nothing.
Merle sure as hell wasn't risking a run with any of the jackasses in the group or from Woodbury to find something. They'd rat him out in a heartbeat and knowing Officer Friendly he'd take it like he did the day he was chained to the roof.
"Fuckin' pricks." He rasped.
Standing up he left the plate on the table and adjusted his pants before he moved to the stairs and caught a different sight. In the short time he had been eating he caught Carrie slipping back into her cell from the dark and shut her light off.
Walking down the row he stopped at her cell and leaned in, just for a second. She was trying to sleep, and she was trying her damn hardest. He could remember in the times he had stopped home that whenever his pa came back and wanted to get into it, Daryl would try so hard to look like he was sleeping. He'd pinch his eyes, pretend his arms and legs were out like was sleeping, and breathe just like he was out like a light. When their dad was drunk, he wouldn't notice and would just grumble and pass out, but when their dad was sober, he caught onto the shit.
"Ya trying to hard." He chuckled, "night sugar tits." When her shoulder twitched he smirked in satisfaction.
Pushing off from the wall he strolled down to his block, smug in his win for the night. Turning in he yanked his shirt off and slid out of his pants. Blood splattered and smelled like geek. Hopefully Carol could get that shit out. As he folded the clothes he dropped them next to his pile and moved to his bed, finding something that shocked him.
His black button down. He could remember that it was missing for a while and then it clicked.
Carrie had it all that time, and she had been sleeping in it. He could pick up that girl's scent anywhere. Just like Beth she had always wanted that scented soap and unlike Beth she went out to fight. Doing that with the scented shit was stupid as hell, but apparently she had a death wish.
His nose crinkled at the familiar scent now on his clothes and he tossed it into the pile. He could remember the smell on his chest with her hair splayed out over him. How she'd pass out sometimes after they'd be done and she'd have her body all contorted. It'd be an uncomfortable sleep, but the scent was still the same.
Falling asleep he rested on one thought that put his mind at ease.
If she didn't want his ass, and that little nerd prick wanted her...
...he could sure as hell have her.
* * *
**A/N: **I think I MIGHT end Carrie and Merle with that. I'm not sure. I'm gonna be moving on with Milton started to get things handled and conducting more tests on walkers, and guess who gets to be his right hand...lady? You guessed it! I'll be writing some more Karen and throwing in Carl and Beth to! I love writing them!
I'm really not sure where I'm gonna go with Merle now. I could use some opinions that aren't JUST Carrie and Merle getting back together. If y'all could let me know some things that could be great. In the long run I am not sure if I want to continue this or just end it here. I feel like right here it closes a lot of cases and if I end it here I could leave Carrie's future up to y'all and maybe come back with a new thing at season four. But I have an idea and I'd like to get it down before AMC screws it up cause they messed up quite a few things -cough-prisonbattleandreamerlemiltonandabajilliono therthingsthisiswhyIkeeptothecomic-cough-
So follow, favorite, and review, I live off of those xo
Please be sure to follow, favorite, and review! I live off of those! xo
4. Marching
**A.N.: **_Uhhh...hi.
So, I was really bored and decided I wanted to take a turn with this story, especially after seeing the season 4 trailer. I thought about where I want to take it, and this takes place between seasons 3 and 4 anyways and Merle is still alive so it's about as A/U as you're gonna fucking get. I appreciate people liking that I'm steering away from romance, I want to put some fresh air out there with something that focuses more on Carrie's life and her place in the new civilization. I could use some ideas that DON'T involve her getting with Merle because I'm a tad sick of writing romance and smut at the moment. _
_Thanks x_
* * *
**4: Parade**
_Will you...defeat them?
Your demons...and all the non-believers..._
_the plans that they have made._
_Because one day, I'll leave you..._
_a phantom..._
_to lead you in the summer..._
_to join the black parade!_
- My Chemical Romance
* * *
"So let me guess...this place is almost cleared out to?" Carrie groaned, her hands rubbing over her arms in a desperate attempt to keep warm in the surprisingly chilly morning. The previous days had been pretty warm and she was grateful that the tank tops and shorts had been worn out. How she had gotten by flesh eating monsters in those clothes before still had her questioning her luck, and her stupidity. In a pair of black jeans and a red shirt she had been trying to spot a jacket for a few runs but hadn't come across anything as of yet.
This had been another place they had swept through and found little to nothing. In Carrie's hand was a wooden bat that had seen it's better days. Her hand had wrapped sternly around it, colliding with with a shelf in the small convenience store to knock back a walker that she spotted between the shelves.
As she watched it squirm to try and move out of it's tight hold she turned on her heel and walked over to join the group she had gone on the run with. Daryl, Merle, and Tyreese.
"Why isn't Michonne with us again?" Carrie mumbled, both of their lines of vision directed to Merle packing up the vehicle and Tyreese backing him up.
"Cause." Daryl muttered, a disappointed tone peaking over the otherwise dead silence. "'Parently Miss Badass got sick before any of us. Talk about bein' the big shit."
Carrie shrugged and glanced around for anything else that could be picked up. "We cleaned this place out. Where the hell do we go next?"
Picking his teeth he growled when Carrie swatted his hand. "That is a disgusting habit. I'm surprised Carol hasn't found a damn water squirter and soaked your ass."
"You sayin' I'm a dog?" She shrugged, giving him a small smirk in response. "Sunshine, ya best watch your mouth." He replied smugly. "I may be a dog, but I got a bigger one I can sick on ya." A twisted grimace would tort her lips at the mention of Merle. Daryl gave a short laugh before adjusting his crossbow.
Lips pursed she shrugged and spotted a walker moving around in the shadow, but something about it had caught her eye. It was a man, a younger one at that, with a decent build, but the contour of it's top half had her attention. Moving over she snuck up behind it and as Daryl whistled it over she brought her bat up. With a strong swing she sent it's head into the wall. A small splatter of blood and flesh hit the cement as it staggered before she swung again. An indent had formed in it's head after the third swing as she smashed it to the wall and jutted her hip against it. Luckily it hadn't been one with much muscle on it and it seemed to have been walking for a while.
After a sixth hit she watched it collapse and sent her bat against his face, letting the splatter hit the wall once again. "Finally." She muttered. With a deep breath she pulled her shirt up to wipe any splattered blood off, happy that she had only gotten a bit on her cheeks and brow. "Bout damn time I find one." Kicking it forward she grabbed it by the collar and slid it down and off it's arms. Struggling she yanked it off, forcing the man's shoulder out of it's corroded socket. "Damn pain in my ass."
Standing up straight again she had scene the men staring at her, somewhat disturbed at her attack on the man. "What? Y'all got jackets..." She whispered. "I'll clean it up when we get back." The leather jacket was old school with a bomber styling and lined on the inside. "It's stinks like god knows what but I think Carol can help me with it, if she ain't busy teachin' the kids."
Climbing in the back door of the jeep she fell in next to Tyreese as Daryl and Merle climbed into the front spots. Something Carrie had noticed was that Daryl, the 'good brother' as many of the group liked to call him, was one pissy backseat driver. Before they had joined up with the Atlanta group, Daryl had driven everywhere. But that was because Merle had been coming down off a heat induced fever and was sick as a dog, and probably higher than a kite from the stories she heard. Now that Merle was...as close as normal that he was going to get, he drove. He drove with one hand. Worst of all, they let him be the one to drive. He knew how to get out of a tight situation in a matter of seconds, even when they didn't have that time to think.
"Hey I was wondering..." Tyreese asked, nudging Carrie's shoulder as he fixed his cap. "Why didn't you take Milton up on his offer? To teach the kids?"
Carrie's brow rose, shocked that he would even ask. "I took Milton up on his offer to help him out. I go out and do research and report back to him. I didn't want to teach the kids and start that up because I just don't like kids." Turning to face him she rested her arm on the side of the door. Deep down she knew that Carol was the better one with children, and she needed to interact with kids again. Carol exuded the motherly instinct that had been contained since Sophia and helping to teach and get the kids to understand their new world was the best possible option.
"Can ya slow the hell down man? Bat outta hell." Daryl's voice bowed with a large growl when he thumped Merle in the arm.
Merle's icy glance cut to him as he hit the break and motioned with his hand over the wheel to put the vehicle in park. "Ya wanna keep barkin' at me lil brotha? That's all ya been doin' lately! Flappin ya god damn gums like you're Rick! Obviously ya aint!"
Carrie sat frozen at the one thing no one else picked up on. He...he called him Rick. Every other time it's been officer friendly.
_What the hell is going on?
_
"I don't wanna do shit Merle. Ya just driving like a damn maniac and the shit gets old man, don't be startin' nothing."
Merle slammed his forearm on the steering wheel, just missing the horn by the grace of god. "Derle I know and they know ya been kissin ass since ya got to the prison and they wasn't even there for it! Ya want me to whoop ya ass or do ya wanna shut the hell up?"
"You shut the hell up!"
Pushing off his seat Tyreese moved to intercept their argument. "Come on you guys, there's no need for this."
The older Dixon turned slowly to face him, a dark scowl written across his face as he scanned Tyreese and Carrie sitting behind their fuming discussion. "If ya know what's best for ya spear boy, ya'd shut your ass up." In his short exchange he saw Carrie's brown eyes tilt up and her head fall back. "What's a matter lil girl? Too much man in here for ya to take?"
Frustrated with their hold of tension Carrie leaned forward like Tyreese, hands folded together between her knees they noticed her leg begin to twitch. "If y'all are gonna act like bitches, take it outside the damn car.." She growled, her voice growing louder. "Or you wait till we get back to the fucking prison so until then both of ya just shut the fuck up and drive!" Kicking Merle's seat she threw open the door, grabbed her bag, and threw the door shut behind her. One thing Sasha had taught her was that Tyreese didn't like when the ladies were upset because of the guys. He really was a gentleman caught in a group of fuck ups and Carrie felt awful.
If it was different world, a different time, she would have swooned head over heels for the former football star.
Bat in hand she shrugged her bag on her other arm and gripped her bat as she walked past the vehicle to catch a glimpse of the guys watching her and forged down the empty road.
* * *
Apparently it had been quite some time because the light had moved a bit across the sky and when high beams came up behind her she was ready to fight, only to find Merle rolling down the window with a busted lip and black eye forming. "Get in the car."
"No, fuck y'all. Did ya boot Tyreese while your racist asses were at it?"
Daryl leaned over, head tilting to the back, his face was just as fucked up. He had a huge bruise on his cheek and swelling on his nose. "He's still in the back."
"Sadly." Tyreese grumbled. She couldn't make him out but he sounded just as annoyed as she and Daryl were.
Merle immediately brought his hand up over his face and threw the door open. "Ya gonna keep throwin a temper tantrum or are ya gonna get in the damn car? We don't got all damn day! You throwin a piss fit is just takin up our time!"
Carrie turned to face him, throwing the back rear door open. "We woulda been back already if you two annoying bitches woulda just held your damn panties and did this shit in the prison!" Jumping up into the seat she nudged Tyreese to move over and slammed the door shut behind her. "Let's go. They're probably worrying sick and you two acting like bitches only slows us down."
"Watch ya mou-"
"Daryl, just drive man." Tyreese groaned, draping his arms over the back seats as he turned his gaze over to Carrie's cold position.
The drive was quiet until they got back to the prison and after Rick and Carl came out with Milton to survey their haul.
When the brothers emerged out of the vehicle Rick's hand immediately pushed up to his temples. Those two had to have caused some indents to have formed from the headaches they had caused for him. Sasha joined the small group standing together, immediately latching on to Tyreese with a strong hug.
She turned to see Carrie emerge out of the other side and pat Tyreese on the shoulder before throwing open the back.
"Your brother..." Carrie groaned, "is a saint. Never take that for granted." Carrie pulled out a box and handed it to Tyreese and a few bags to Sasha. "You're awesome man."
Tyreese gave her a smile and glanced down to see Sasha giving him a questioning look as a smirk cocked on her lips following between her older brother and the woman walking away. "It ain't like that..." He sighed. "The Dixons were pulling shit again toda-"
"You two got in a fight? On the damn ROAD? What the hell is wrong with you two! You coulda gotten killed! CAROL!" Almost on instinct Carol had already emerged out, hands covering her face and she moved to stand in front of Daryl. "Take care of them. Carl, Sasha, Tyreese, help us unload."
Carol escorted the brothers inside while the others moved to get the rest out of the vehicle, it wasn't as much as Rick had hoped. "Are stocks running low there?"
"Stuff's draining Rick, we can't use that place up much more." Tyreese threw the box over his shoulder and glanced down at the man. "We gotta find a new place and soon to get stuff or we're gonna be out in the dust."
"I know man." Rick lead them inside with Carl following.
Carl adjusted his hat and dropped the bags next to where Carrie was standing with Karen. "Dad, the canned food is gonna be gone sooner or later. We don't have factories anymore. They're right. We need to find a new spot and send a group in to clear the area out. Send a bunch of people from Woodbury-"
Rick turned in shock at his son's statement. "No Carl, we're not gonna do that-"
"Well we can't send Daryl, Michonne, Carrie and Merle in! Or you and Tyreese! Keep OUR group safe above them!" Karen turned to Carrie with a shocked expression and the two ladies in turn turned to Rick.
"Carl..." Rick tried to think of something to say but Michonne had made her way over and nudged Carl.
Her stoic presence had cooled the situation and she pointed toward the doorway with her elbow. "Let's hit the fences, they gotta be cleared a little bit, okay?"
Carl shot a quick glare at his father and moved past the group and with Michonne out the door. Rick rested his hands on his hips and sat down at the table the two ladies were standing next to. The pressure on the outside didn't seem as bad as it had been months before, but they could all tell it was getting worse and worse mentally.
In some sick twisted way, Carrie understood what Milton had said about the governor. He lost Penny, and with the weight of Woodbury and finding out that people were so close in the red zone and intruding on him, he snapped. Of course the man was cruel and sick, but wasn't everyone now? No...they weren't like him. Someone, even with all the people they had all lost, they weren't anywhere near as bad as him. Yet.
"There's a place, that the governor had been looking at." Karen spoke up, hands folded tightly as she glanced over to Carrie who nodded. "I don't know if he's there, that'd be a concern, but regardless, it'd be a great spot to pick up stuff. Walkers are still in there because it used to be a military supply hold location..." She sat down and pushed her attention and courage back up to the tired man. "We'd have to clear it. But if we went in ready for him and walkers with our...best dressed in riot gear and ready to go, we'd have little issue."
Rick's glance had softened to a look of concern and thought followed by a strange understanding. "I'll talk to Glenn and Maggie, see what Hershel says about this to."
The group dispersed to sort out for the evening. Carrie had made her way to help Carol and Beth sort dinner out and help the Woodbury block get ready for their meal. When she returned to D-block she had noticed Daryl sitting and cleaning his bow, stealing a few glances up at the ladies from a distance.
"So..." Carol whispered, watching with a concerned expression as she nudged Carrie. "How'd you get the jacket? What went down today?"
"Oh right, I need to ask you to help me clean that thing, a walker came up and I got rid of it and I liked it's jacket sooo..."
"You took it off the corpse? Carrie..."
Carrie sighed, pushing a hand back through her hair. "Carol, please, don't judge me for this. We all need clothes. I know taking them off a body is wrong, it's pretty bad, but it's not like they need to keep warm. They didn't have a burial. They're just a number anymore with clothes that we need."
Silence washed over them for a few minutes before she continued. "Merle drove like a bat out of hell, Daryl decided to speak up...the two got pissy like usual, and started fighting after I had already been walking down the road."
"That's the Dixons for ya. What can ya do?"
Carrie shot a side glance at Daryl and turned to face Carol. "Ignore them. It's nice not having to deal with them all day except for runs. Hopefully I can switch soon with someone from Woodbury or whoever would take my spot."
As her eyes widened Carol stirred the pot of pasta. "You don't want to go on runs anymore?"
Like an insult, Carrie's jaw dropped at the idea. "Hell no! I just don't want to go on runs with them. Merle acts like an asshat, Daryl gets pissy...no offense." Carrie winked at Carol before she stole a noodle from the laydel. "I want to go with...Tyreese...Michonne...and Sasha! I'll bring it up with Rick!"
"Then who would go with Daryl and Merle?"
"What am I? A saint?"
"Sort of...you're the only person besides Daryl and Milton who knows Merle..."
Their conversation was cut short as Merle moved down the steps and sat opposite of Daryl at the table, shooting glares to Tyreese across the room before he turned to face Carrie. "Asshole don't scare me." Carol frowned at the strong yet silent interaction that was brimming the room with tension. She still couldn't understand what happened with Carrie and Merle. Before they had come in pretty close, she knew they didn't fully trust each other, but it was some strange understanding. Then she saw them exchange a quick kiss and was confused even more. When Carrie went after him with Daryl she had come back knocked out and bleeding and Merle had been ranting and the next day...it was all gone.
It had been after being around Beth and Jimmy back on the farm, Maggie and Glenn and Rick and Lori, that cold reality that while some relationships just worked and others worked their issues out, some just couldn't make it. That cold reminder shook her to her core, even scaring her that even if some things tried to work, not everything would succeed.
The group had come in for dinner and of course it was time for Carrie to go out for watch with Maggie, but she had gone for another run but this time with Glenn.
"I'll take Carl with me for watch...if that's okay?" Rick's head shot up, as did Carl's from the table with Beth.
"Um...Carrie I don't know if that's a good idea."
Carrie shrugged, glancing back at Carl. "You wanna be in on my good idea?" He gave a quick nod and got up to jog over. "It won't be any trouble. He's got one hell of an aim and we can hit the fence up. Besides ain't like we got night watch, just evening watch."
"I'll be fine dad." Carl insisted. "I got my gun and we're only a few steps away."
Rick looked around and pointed to the riot gear hanging on the wall. "Put on a vest at least, okay?"
Carrie patted his shoulder and turned him to walk toward the gear. "Let's get you suited up."
"I'm so sick of him talking to me like I'm a child." He sighed. "I don't need to be treated like one. I can go on runs, kill walkers, I can do what's necessary. You're not much older than me!"
Carrie's brow quirked at his sudden outburst. "Dude, Beth is closer in age to you."
"You're only a couple years older than her! You get to go out on runs, Beth is learning to fight...I want to do the same!"
The two stared at each other as she finished tightening his vest. When they went out for the watch it was fairly quiet. But Carrie noticed something. That fire Carl had burning, it was beginning to grow bigger and bigger...and she didn't know how much longer it would be until it fanned into an inferno.
* * *
**A.N: **I want to dive into Carrie's story more than just focusing on romance and I just want to make it more universal. Hope you enjoy. Fav, follow and review x
End file.
| fanfiction |
three dimentional ( 3d ) rotational angiography was obtained in axiom artis zee ( siemens , erlangen , germany ) .
the 3d angiographic images were transferred to syngo workstation ( version vb 15d ) to generate 3d angiography from which 2nd reconstruction was performed by reducing fov and adjusting the target vessel .
the final image was transformed to stl format in 256256 pixels . because there was no direct connection between the syngo workstation and the images
12 . 01 , materialise , leuven , belgium ) in other workstation for smoothing of vessel surface and trimming of branch vessels .
and then the image tranfered to hypermesh ( altair engineering , inc . , auckland , new zealand ) to generate tetra volume mesh from triangular surface - meshed 3d angiogram .
computational analysis of blood flow in the blood vessels was performed using the commercial finite element software adina ver 8.5 ( adina r & d , inc . ,
blood flow was assumed to be laminar , viscous , newtonian , and incompressible because of its inherent flow characteristics .
no - slip boundary conditions were assumed for the flow viscosity produced between the fluid and the wall surface of the blood vessels .
simulations were performed with the following material constants : blood density , 1100 kg / m , and blood dynamic viscosity , 0.004 poiseuille . to achieve truly patient - specific modeling , the boundary conditions at the inflow boundary were based on the pulsatile periodic flow rate . maximum wall shear stress ( wss ) and
the velocity and flow rate of the internal carotid artery were obtained from gated phase contrast mr angiography in an age - matched male who did not have any intracranial vascular disease .
the average velocities in the systolic and diastolic phases were 0.45 m / s and 0.23 m / s , respectively . a 65-year - old male patient who presented with right arm weakness revealed an acute focal cortical ischemic change in the borderzone type on the diffusion - weighted image ( not shown ) .
our institutional review board approved this study , and we obtained written informed consent from the patient and the patient 's family .
three dimentional ( 3d ) rotational angiography was obtained in axiom artis zee ( siemens , erlangen , germany ) .
the 3d angiographic images were transferred to syngo workstation ( version vb 15d ) to generate 3d angiography from which 2nd reconstruction was performed by reducing fov and adjusting the target vessel .
the final image was transformed to stl format in 256256 pixels . because there was no direct connection between the syngo workstation and the images
12 . 01 , materialise , leuven , belgium ) in other workstation for smoothing of vessel surface and trimming of branch vessels .
and then the image tranfered to hypermesh ( altair engineering , inc . , auckland , new zealand ) to generate tetra volume mesh from triangular surface - meshed 3d angiogram .
computational analysis of blood flow in the blood vessels was performed using the commercial finite element software adina ver 8.5 ( adina r & d , inc . ,
blood flow was assumed to be laminar , viscous , newtonian , and incompressible because of its inherent flow characteristics .
no - slip boundary conditions were assumed for the flow viscosity produced between the fluid and the wall surface of the blood vessels .
simulations were performed with the following material constants : blood density , 1100 kg / m , and blood dynamic viscosity , 0.004 poiseuille . to achieve truly patient - specific modeling , the boundary conditions at the inflow boundary were based on the pulsatile periodic flow rate
. maximum wall shear stress ( wss ) and flow velocities before and after stenting were obtained .
the velocity and flow rate of the internal carotid artery were obtained from gated phase contrast mr angiography in an age - matched male who did not have any intracranial vascular disease .
the average velocities in the systolic and diastolic phases were 0.45 m / s and 0.23 m / s , respectively .
a 65-year - old male patient who presented with right arm weakness revealed an acute focal cortical ischemic change in the borderzone type on the diffusion - weighted image ( not shown ) .
our institutional review board approved this study , and we obtained written informed consent from the patient and the patient 's family .
cerebral angiogram after stenting showed no residual stenosis of the right m1 segment and the shift of borderzone between the anterior and the middle cerebral artery territory toward normal position ( 5 , 6 ) .
maximum wss before and after stenting were shown in figure 1c and d. maximum wsss before stenting were 18.5 pa in systole and 9.3 pa in end - diastole and those after stenting were 7.1 pa in systole and 3.6 pa .
maximum flow velocities before stenting were 135 cm / s in systole and 70 cm / s in diastole and those after stenting were 72 cm / s in systole and 38 cm / s in diastole . compared to previously reported process of cfd analysis
, we could omit the several steps reduce the time spending in data processing ( 11 , 12 ) . smoothing of vessel surface and trimming of branch vessels before cfd analysis required still considerable time to generate tetra volume mesh .
since we demonstrated that cfd analysis of the small - caliber intracranial artery was feasible and could be correlated with the atherosclerotic plaque in the stenotic segment , we obtained cfd before and after intracranial stenting and further simplified the process which could reduce analysis time ( 11 , 12 ) .
disappearance of wss after stenting can be used as a beneficial landmark in assessing appropriate final luminal diameter preventing further angioplasty and even may predict minimal chance of restenosis at the hemodynamical point of view although follow - up study is mandatory to reach such a conclusion ( 12 - 14 ) .
we found that the smoothing and trimming of branch vessels of the model vessel in magic rp required a compromise .
if we get high resolution image , it will takes time to generate too much tetra volume mesh .
if we get low resolution image , processing time will be reduced but identification or differentiation of parent or branch vessels will be difficult ( 11 ) .
firstly , image transfer from 3d angiogram to adina software was not yet possible and thus required a time - consuming tetra volume mesh generation even though we could reduce processing time since we used adina .
if 3d angiogram is directly transferred to cfd analysis software such as adina , cfd analysis will be more readily applicable . secondly , flow data in each patient was not readily provided for boundary condition in inflow as well as outflow zones of the model vessel ( 11 , 15 ) .
normal standard value of flow velocity according to age and gender groups might be helpful for the general usage .
in addition , flow data from transcranial doppler or mr phase study can be measured and used in each patient ( 10 , 11 ) . in conclusions , we could reduce cfd processing time compared to previous report
. we also demonstrated change of wss , flow velocity and wall pressure in the severe stenotic intracranial artery , that is , m1 before and after stenting .
this observation can provide a predictable risk factors affecting patient 's outcome if the study can match to the long term follow - up data . | pubmed |
All You Need is Egg
July 24, 2012 Dan Lewis Uncategorized 0
Love-15-30-40. If you've played tennis or watched even a handful of matches, you know that to be the game's basic scoring system. And you probably think it makes no sense whatsoever. If you're counting by fifteens — which is rare in the first place — you'd hit 45, not 40. And "love" isn't a number at all. But there they are. There's a good amount of debate as to why, but the most likely explanation has to do with a weird confluence of eggs, English, clocks, and an inability to divide an odd number by two without a resulting remainder.
Let's start with the eggs, or, more accurately, the egg.
Eggs are, of course, oval shaped, much like the number zero. And in a few sports, they're used as such — "goose egg" is common in American sports, and "duck," short for "duck's egg," is common in cricket. Tennis may be an addition to the list. The sport most likely dates back to 12th century France, and, as such, many of the rules and much of the terminology has been carried forward since. The French term for "the egg" is "l'oeuf," which, if you're not a French speaker, sounds a lot like the word "love." It is likely that a series of English speakers simply replaced the French word with its English homophone.
As for the actual numbers? Certainty as to their origin has been lost to antiquity, but the most likely explanation involves a pretty simple way to keep score: clock faces. The first point would earn you one quarter of a revolution, or 15 (minutes or seconds), the second point moves you to 30, and the third to 45. When the game ended, both clocks would be reset to the top. Easy — except that tennis games have to be won by two or more points. If both players were on a 45, then what? Even moving the hand half-way wouldn't work, as 60 minus 45 is 15, which is not divisible by two.
The inelegant solution? Move 45 to 40. When the players tied at 40-40 ("deuce"), the next point would be worth 10, moving the clock to 50. If the same player earned the subsequent point, he or she would get another ten points and win the game. If not, his or her clock would be reset to 40, and the players would be deadlocked at deuce again.
There are alternative theories for both oddities, and given how far back in time the scoring system's origins lie, we'll never know for sure if the ones offered above are correct. But given what we do know, these seem most likely to be correct.
Bonus fact: Scuba (which, by the way, was originally an acronym — "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus") dive sixty feet below the water's surface and crack open an egg. What happens to it? As seen here, not a whole lot.
From the Archives: Tennis Shoes: John Pius Boland won the first modern Olympics' gold medal in tennis, despite an obvious lack of preparation.
Related: A tennis clock. Almost certainly not what they used back in the 12th century. (Okay, okay, no "almost" about it.) | slim_pajama |
carboxyphosphate is
an elusive intermediate in the atp - dependent
carboxylase superfamily of enzymes , which is involved in critical
pathways related to obesity , diabetes , and microbial infections .
recently , we found that carboxyphosphate exists in a unique closed
or
pseudochair conformation ( figure 1 ) stabilized by more than 14 kcal / mol as the monoanion and
12 kcal / mol as the dianion over the corresponding lowest energy open
key to understanding the
novel pseudochair stability resides in the balance between the stabilizing
intramolecular charge - assisted hydrogen bond ( cahb ) , which is a special
case of the intramolecular hydrogen bond ( imhb ) , and associated destabilizing interactions .
in addition ,
it is important to delineate carboxyphosphate s cahb strength
to understand its stability in nonpolar environments compared to its
reactivity in aqueous solution .
m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz key distances ( )
and angles of pseudochair
carboxyphosphate .
the cahb is suspected
to be the key element of stabilization for
the pseudochair conformation of carboxyphosphate , where the energy
minimized pseudochair conformation reveals a hydrogen bond oxygen oxygen
distance of ca .
2.5 that is less than its van der waals sum
of 3.04 ( rovdw = 1.52 ) and significant angle expansion across the bridging oxygen ( ca .
the geometric changes suggest that
pauli repulsion and ring strain could be contributing factors to the
overall destabilization of the pseudochair conformation .
unlike the intermolecular hydrogen bond that has a convenient reference
state , where infinite separation defines its absolute strength , measurement
of imhb strength must be determined relative to a nonzero reference
system that makes its value ambiguous .
determining the strength of
an imhb is a nontrivial task due to the reference state selection ;
thus , many methods have been proposed and explored with varying degrees
of success .
the challenge is to isolate an open structure ( no imhb ) , which may
not necessarily be stationary , without
introducing new or removing essential geometric elements found in
the closed conformation . to date
, there is no one widely accepted
method for identifying a reference structure or for estimating imhb
strength . despite its controversial nature ,
the most common
imhb estimation
scheme involves the energy difference between the geometry optimized
open and closed conformations , otherwise
known as the open closed method
. however , geometry optimization
has the potential to remove essential energetic contributions in defining
an accurate open reference state .
subsequently , there has been effort in determining the effects of
partially constrained versus full optimization of the open reference
system , where significant differences have been reported . nevertheless , it is possible to take an alternative approach , where
the energetic terms crucial to the imhb configuration are estimated
and then reinserted into the open closed energy .
the process
of correcting the open and closed energy difference to estimate cahb
strength is referred to here as the additive scheme .
jablonski proposed a partial optimization scheme to improve
the
open reference structure and the predicted accuracy of the imhb energy
depending upon the molecular system of interest .
only the position of the hydrogen bond donor or the
hydrogen bond acceptor is modified , while retaining the closed geometry
optimized structure .
such an open reference system is not a stationary
state and higher in energy .
partial geometry optimization on selected
degrees of freedom lowers the energy for a possibly more accurate
open reference state .
since the energy is lowered with increasing
relaxation , we coin this technique as the subtractive scheme . systematic and partial relaxation of the starting conformation
with
the disengaged hydrogen bond leads to a series of partially optimized
open reference geometries and energies
. selected dihedral angles determined
in the closed structure , except the one to break the hydrogen bond ,
are typically held to their original closed values to prevent the
introduction of new repulsive or attractive forces in the partially
optimized open form . in this manner ,
comparison of the closed form
to a partially optimized open reference form is suggested to yield
an improved imhb estimation .
however ,
selection of the partially optimized open structure is as arbitrary
as selecting a completely geometry optimized open structure .
careful
selection of the open reference state improves the predicted imhb
estimate , but the subtractive technique does not isolate , quantitate ,
nor clearly define any of the possible repulsive energies counterbalancing
the attractive imhb .
many estimation schemes beyond the open closed
method have been developed and implemented
for their
ability to estimate the strength of the imhb .
specifically , isodesmic
reactions have been used in order to determine the strength of the
imhb .
more recent schemes include the
investigation of rotation barriers , as well as the relationship between
rotamers .
the relationship between h nmr
shifts and hydrogen bond strength is well - known , and a direct correlation
between the two has been discovered .
nbo analysis
has been implemented to study the interactions of orbitals involved
in the imhb .
topological analysis by qtaim
can be used to monitor changes in the electron density as the reference
system is developed . given the physiological importance
and controversial understanding
of carboxyphosphate s structure , stability , and role in the
atp - dependent carboxylase superfamily of enzymes , it is both appropriate
and timely to investigate the intramolecular forces responsible for
the novel pseudochair conformation of carboxyphosphate .
the cahb is
estimated through additive corrections for pauli repulsions to the
open closed method using charmm force field nonbond parameters , and compared to a subtractive variant of the open
an improved understanding of the cahb strength in relation
to the overall stability of the pseudochair conformation in a vacuum
is a starting point in dissecting the origin of instability in the
aqueous phase and possible existence and meaningful contribution to
the mechanism of atp - dependent carboxylases .
the importance of pauli
repulsion is demonstrated for the accurate prediction of the cahb
strength in carboxyphosphate .
resources
at the center for computational sciences at duquesne
university , the gaussian 09 program , and the charmm force field have been used for all calculations .
all electronic structure computations
utilized truhlar s minnesota m06 - 2x functional with dunning s augmented correlation consistent
polarized valence triple- basis set ( aug - cc - pvtz ) .
this level of theory has been shown to capture
the majority of energetic convergence giving the most consistent agreement
with reference mp2 and ccsd(t ) calculations , as shown in figure s1
( supporting information ) .
frequency calculations
were carried out to confirm all stationary points as minima on the
potential energy surface .
the atom types with epsilon and rmin values from the charmm force field were used to compute the r pauli repulsion .
open ,
ec o = eclosed eopen , which
delivers negative values for stabilized closed structures .
borrowing
from jablonski s notation in the subtractive scheme , several partial optimizations were performed
to locate an accurate open reference system .
all model structures
were modified from the geometry optimized pseudochair structure by
changing a single degree of freedom to maintain the original geometric
features of the structure without the hydrogen bond , as defined in
figure 2 .
possible conformational modification of
pseudochair carboxyphosphate
( center ) to break the cahb in the monoanion ( top ) and dianion ( bottom ) . for hydrogen bond donors , an idealized
180 rotation of the
dihedral angle across the hydrogen bond donor to break the hydrogen
bond was carried out with all other coordinates held fixed . alternatively
for hydrogen bond acceptors , the carboxylic acid was rotated by 90
( dianion ) or the phosphoryl group by 60 ( monoanion ) . the manner
of generating open structures with a single conformational change
isolated to either the donor or the acceptor results in differences
with the lowest energy geometry optimized open structures computed .
however , the two schemes are independent approaches so it is not necessary
for the open structures to be identical .
next , only the bond lengths
of sp were geometry optimized in order to yield a structure with a
lower energy , which is labeled and referred to as b. finally , geometry
optimization of both bond lengths and bond angles with all dihedral
angles held constant is carried out , and denoted as ab .
the fully
geometry optimized structure starting from sp is referred to as opt .
however , the lowest energy geometry optimized energy is used as a
common reference throughout the study .
the open closed method
is one of the most widely used approaches for estimating cahb strength ,
where the energy of the hydrogen - bonded ( closed ) form is compared
to that of an open structure in which the cahb is not present .
as previously discussed , the open closed method typically
involves rotation about one or more bonds starting from the closed
form in order to disengage the hydrogen bond to produce an open structure .
there are many variations to the open closed method ; however ,
the most basic procedure involves geometry optimization of the closed
and opened forms with subsequent energetic comparison . structural
relaxation of the open form can either add or remove important interactions
indigenous to the closed cahb structure , thereby distorting the accuracy
of the cahb estimate , which has been recognized and criticized before . in the open closed method , the open configuration of
carboxyphosphate is selected to be the geometry optimized , lowest
energy conformation without the intramolecular hydrogen bond .
the
m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz geometry optimized structures are shown in figure 3 .
stabilization of the pseudochair is defined to
be the energy difference between the closed and open conformations
in both the monoanionic and dianion states .
cahb strength is commonly
estimated from the open closed method and defined by the computed
stabilization energies of 14.5 kcal / mol for the monoanion
and 12.0 kcal / mol for the dianion .
m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz open
( bottom ) and closed ( top ) monoanionic ( left )
and dianionic ( right ) conformations .
the open structures defined in figure 2 are
slightly different than the geometry optimized open structures using
m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz shown in figure 3 .
the differences
are a consequence of how the two techniques generate the open structure
to estimate independently the same cahb strength . in this fashion
,
a more practical comparison is undertaken to represent approaches
reported in the literature .
change in the lowest energy geometry optimized
open structures affirms that essential geometric elements can differ
from the closed conformation in the standard implementation of the
open closed method .
the geometry minimized
pseudochair
conformations , in comparison to the open structures , reveal that ,
in addition to the cahb , pauli repulsion interactions and ring strain
are possible contributors to differences in energetics between the
two forms , as shown in figure 3 . to gauge the
effect of each type of contribution to the overall stability of the
pseudochair ,
a series of model systems were developed and applied . in order to study the differential ring
strain (
ec ors = eclosedrs eopenrs ) between
the closed and open forms of carboxyphosphate , dihydrogen phosphate
was used as a model system for its ability to resemble the phosphate
side and bridging oxygen of carboxyphosphate .
geometry optimized dihydrogen
phosphate has an hop angle of 105.9 ( m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz )
and was used as the strain free reference , as shown in figure 4 .
angle representing ring strain in the dihydrogen phosphate
model
of carboxyphosphate . to model the ring strain in the closed and open forms ,
the
hop
angle of 105.9 in dihydrogen phosphate was adjusted and fixed
to that of the bridging oxygen in the different states and conformations
of carboxyphosphate .
the dihydrogen phosphate model systems were allowed
to optimize constrained to the bridging oxygen angle .
the relative
energies ( ec ors ) of the different constrained geometries
are given in table 1 . even though ring strain from a ca .
. 4.0 kcal / mol ,
the angle and subsequent energy difference between the open and closed
forms is found to be small .
in fact , the computed energy difference
is less than 1 kcal / mol .
the angles between the open and closed structures
are too small to generate appreciable ring strain differences , making
model selection irrelevant .
consequently , ring strain is determined
to play only a minor role in the accurate prediction of the cahb from
the open closed method .
comparison of the geometry optimized
open and closed conformations using m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz reveals a significant
shortening of the distance between the oxygen atoms ( roo ) and between the hydrogen bonded oxygen and hydrogen
( rho ) involved in the cahb , as highlighted
in figure 5 .
specific nonbond interactions ( red ) computed
to determine the pauli
repulsion in carboxyphosphate .
optimized closed
conformations of both charge states ,
the roo distance of ca .
2.5 is
less than its van der waals sum of 3.04 ( rovdw = 1.52
) .
in addition , the hydrogen bond rho distances are 1.49 and 1.61 for the
monoanion and dianion , respectively , which are shorter than the idealized
van der waals sum of 2.61 ( rhvdw = 1.09 ) , as given in table 2 . in the geometry
optimized open conformations , the hydrogen bond
is broken , and the distances between atoms change to relieve intramolecular
nonbond interactions .
the distances are computed to become greater
than the van der waals sum , as shown in figure 5 .
however , two roo distances in the open
structures are close to the van der waals sum , as given in table 2 .
thus , two interactions for each conformation were
computed to determine the difference in pauli repulsion between the
closed and open conformations , as defined in figure 5 .
the difference in the pauli
repulsion between the closed and open
conformations of carboxyphosphate was estimated by using the sum of
the repulsive r part of the
lennard - jones approximation , as given in eq 1.1the atomic lennard - jones parameters
and r are combined with the appropriate
mixing rules for a pair of atoms i and j. in the current charmm force field , the parameters are ij = ( ij ) ( geometric mean )
and rijmin = ( rimin + rjmin)/2 ( arithmetic mean ) , as listed in
table 3 .
the charmm atom types defining the
parameters used in eq 1 for the computation
of the pauli repulsion ( ec opauli = eclosedpauli eopenpauli ) are shown
in figure 5 and table 3 .
the computed pauli repulsion for the closed and open forms of the
dianion are 6.48 and 0.78 kcal / mol , respectively .
therefore , the difference
in the pauli energies for the dianion is 5.70 kcal / mol .
likewise ,
the computed pauli repulsions for the closed and open forms of the
monoanion are 9.96 and 0.78 kcal / mol , respectively .
thus , the difference
in the pauli energies for the monoanion is 9.18 kcal / mol .
analyses
of the differential ring strain and pauli repulsions in the open and
closed forms uncover contributions that impact the estimated cahb
strength of the open closed method , as described in eq 2.2 the results of eq 2 are
given in table 4 in order to estimate
the range of cahb strength . according to the additive correction for
the pauli repulsion to the open closed method ,
the cahb strength
is 22.9 kcal / mol for the monoanion , whereas the cahb strength
is 18.4 kcal / mol for the dianion .
the additive corrective
terms for pauli repulsion significantly increase the predicted cahb
strength compared to that predicted by the standard implementation
of the open closed method .
it has been reported that geometry
optimization of the open form may lead to an inappropriate reference
system .
jablonski has shown that the calculated strength of an imhb with
the open closed method is highly dependent on the degree of
optimization .
as previously discussed ,
the idea is to create an open structure by modifying the closed geometry
optimized structure with minimal structural changes to break the imhb
and improve the cahb estimate
. typically , adjustment of a dihedral
angle to reposition the hydrogen shared in the imhb is made ( figure 2 ) .
a single point energy evaluation ( sp ) is carried
out , giving an upper bound to the imhb estimation . at the other extreme ,
geometry relaxation starting from the sp structure gives a geometry
optimized ( opt ) structure .
ideally , two pathways to break the imhb
can be taken by modifying either the hydrogen bond donor or the hydrogen
bond acceptor . both result in a different reference and range of imhb
values .
analogous to the partial optimizations of jablonski ,
the sp , b , ab , and opt computations were carried out .
first , the cahb
was removed by an idealized 180 rotation of the hydrogen bond
donor ( hoco for the monoanion and hopo for the dianion )
starting from the closed geometry optimized structure .
our second
method of breaking the cahb also started with the closed geometry
optimized structure but with a rotation of the hydrogen bond acceptor
( 60 for opoc for the monoanion and 90 for hopo
for the dianion ) .
however , only modification of the donor structure
leads to an appropriate open state that removes the cahb .
modification
of the acceptor leads to a structure that connects closed states ( figures
s2 and s3 , supporting information ) , which
does not represent a desirable open reference state and is referred
to as inappropriate in table 5 . as such , analysis is carried out only on the cahb estimation from
the donor - modified structure .
as reported in table 5 , the sp calculations were found to give the highest estimations
and the opt geometry optimizations the lowest .
removal of the bond
and angle constraints ( b and ab ) reduced the energies as compared
to the sp value . inappropriate reference state that
is not open . according to
the subtractive method , the cahb strength is between
17.8 and 25.4 kcal / mol for the monoanion , whereas
the cahb strength is between 15.7 and 20.9 kcal / mol
for the dianion .
the estimated ranges from the subtractive scheme
are in good agreement with the additive corrections to the open
the transition structures for
each process in breaking the cahb were computed and verified using
m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz , as shown in table 5 as
ts .
the computed transition structure is at the highest point on the
potential energy surface along the reaction coordinate to break the cahb separating the closed and
open conformations . as such , the activation energy defined from the
pseudochair structure represents the energy to break the cahb .
the
computed activation energy for breaking the monoanion cahb through
the donor is 19.5 kcal / mol , while it was 9.0 kcal / mol for a different
process through the acceptor , where the computed transition structure
is a cahb switch between the two equivalent phosphate oxygens .
as
a result , the 9.0 activation energy is inappropriate for cahb strength
assessment , as with the subtractive scheme of table 5 , since the transition structure does not connect the pseudochair
and open conformations ( figure s2 , supporting
information ) .
therefore , the predicted cahb strength for the
monoanion is 19.5 kcal / mol .
the computed activation energy for breaking
the dianion cahb through the acceptor is 13.0 kcal / mol , and 12.1 kcal / mol
through the donor ( figure s3 , supporting information ) .
analogously , the transition structure interconnecting the pseudochair
and open structures is through the donor change in geometry .
thus ,
the predicted cahb strength for the dianion is 12.1 kcal / mol .
the geometries of the computed
transition structures , the ab minimized structures suggested by jablonski ,
and the geometry optimized closed structures ( figure 3 ) were compared , as shown in figure 6 .
it is of interest to analyze the key
geometric features of the closed structure and the change observed
in the cahb models .
dianionic transition structure computed using m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz
for the breaking of the cahb donor ( tsdd ) and the partially minimized
dianion donor ( abdd ) reference structure .
monoanionic transition structure
for the breaking of the cahb donor ( tsdm ) and the partially minimized
monoanion donor ( abdm ) reference structure .
the m06 - 2x / aug - cc - pvtz geometry optimized closed structures
( monoanion
and dianion ) have the hydrogen bond proton positioned directly in
between the donor and the acceptor ( figure 3 ) .
the structural consequence is that there is reduced lone - pair
congestion between the donor and acceptor oxygens .
in addition , the
closed structures involve two nonbond interactions that could lead
to strong pauli repulsion , involving the hydrogen bond donor and acceptor
oxygens , and the hydrogen bond hydrogen and noncovalent oxygen .
the
dianion models ( tsdd and abdd ) maintain the eclipsing hydrogen bond
donor and acceptor , as found in the closed structure . however , the
main geometric difference in the dianion models is in the position
of the hydrogen .
tsdd directs the lone pairs away from the acid group
( hopo = 63 ) , whereas abdd directs the lone pairs toward
the acid ( hopo = 151 ) .
thus , the dianion abdd model
should overestimate the repulsion in the estimation of the cahb .
the
additional repulsion is seen by the lengthening of the hydrogen bond
donor and acceptor oxygens from 2.48 in the closed dianion
to 3.07 ( tsdd ) and 2.87 ( abdd ) .
the monoanion models
( tsdm and abdm ) result in different orientations between the hydrogen
bond donor and acceptor .
60
from the closed structure , lengthening the donor and acceptor oxygen
difference from 2.48 in the closed to 2.85 and generating
a second weak interaction at 3.31 .
the hydrogen rotates to
hoco = 114 reorienting its lone pairs away from the
phosphate group . however , abdm maintains the eclipsing hydrogen bond
donor and acceptor interaction , since it is constrained to that of
the closed structure .
the hydrogen bond oxygen to oxygen distance
lengthens to 2.77 , and the hydrogen adopts a position of hoco
= 180 that increases the congestion of lone pairs between the
donor and the acceptor .
the net result should overestimate the repulsion
in the estimation of the cahb , as in the dianion model .
however , the
overestimation is somewhat mitigated when the energy difference is
determined in reference to the opt structures with open geometries . in a final comparison of the activation energies with the subtractive
and additive corrections to the open closed method ( table 6 ) , an agreement to the estimated cahb strength
is
observed , which is greater than the stabilization energy of pseudochair
carboxyphosphate from the standard implementation of the open
as expected , the predicted cahb values from the computed transition
structures are on the lower end of the additive and subtractive schemes
for the monoanion , and below the lower bounds for each open closed
method describing the dianion .
the dihedral angle constraints , or
release of other degrees of freedom , in the partial optimization procedure
of the subtractive method are a likely source of error causing an
overestimation , as highlighted in the discussion above .
the additive
corrections to the open closed method are possibly in error
due to the parametrization of nonbond terms , where the parameters
were developed for phosphate esters for intermolecular interactions .
despite overestimating the cahb strength compared to those predicted
by the transition structures , the importance of pauli replusion interactions
is highlighted for the first time by the additive corrections to the
open closed method .
on the basis of the above estimation
schemes , the cahb can be classified
as strong ( greater than 12 kcal / mol ) .
the class of hydrogen
bonds known as short - strong hydrogen bonds ( sshbs ) is often associated
with those that are also low barrier ( lbhbs ) . although hydrogen bonds may be both short - strong and low barrier ,
these classifications are made on the basis of separate criteria .
classification as sshb is based on the distance between the heteroatoms
( less than 2.5 for an oho hydrogen bond ) . however , classification
as an lbhb is based on the equivalence of the pka s of the two donor atoms , resulting in a low barrier
to proton transfer between the two .
the estimated cahb strengths
from each of the three independent
estimation schemes result in a bond strength greater than 12 kcal / mol
used to classify a short - strong hydrogen bond .
the heteroatom
distance is 2.48 in the monoanion and 2.56 in the dianion .
thus , considering the sources of error , carboxyphosphate meets the
geometric and energetic criteria for short - strong hydrogen bonding .
thus , there is no double - well potential
found , and the bond can not be considered low barrier . in summary ,
the bond is considered to be short - strong but not low barrier in both
charge states of pseudochair carboxyphosphate .
the cahb strength of the pseudochair conformation of monoanionic
and dianionic carboxyphosphate in a vacuum has been estimated by independent
additive and subtractive corrections to the open closed method .
our additive correction scheme shows differential pauli repulsion
contributions between the pseudochair ( closed ) and open conformations
of carboxyphosphate that are significant in estimating the cahb strength .
our cahb estimate is 22.9 kcal / mol for the monoanion and 18.4
kcal / mol for the dianion .
results from the subtractive technique reinforce
those from our additive procedure , where the predicted cahb strength
ranges from 17.8 to 25.4 kcal / mol for the monoanion
and from 15.7 to 20.9 kcal / mol for the dianion .
ultimately ,
we find the cahb in carboxyphosphate meets the criteria for short - strong
hydrogen bonds .
however , carboxyphosphate has a unique energy profile
that does not result in the symmetric double - well behavior of low - barrier
hydrogen bonds .
the cahb in carboxyphosphate is short - strong but can not
be considered to be low barrier , as the proton is not shared equally
between the donor and acceptor groups .
the strong hydrogen bond coupled
with the fact that the hydrogen prefers to be on the phosphate group
provides a previously unrecognized mechanism by which protons can
be shuttled from the carboxylic acid side of carboxyphosphate to the
phosphate .
such a proton shuttling mechanism has previously unconsidered
implications for the catalytic mechanism of the carboxylase enzymes .
the present analysis delivers a fundamental report on the strength
of the cahb in the ionized forms of carboxyphosphate , which has the
potential to realign and improve the mechanistic understanding of
this intermediate in atp - dependent carboxylases . | pubmed |
First update from my speedy new win2k machine!
It was just the silly stick of RAM.
course I'm down to 128MB of RAM, but I'll live for a little while.
I'll try throwing it back in as the secondary chip, see if it crashes or not.
music: bad 80's music. yay! | slim_pajama |
Excess Pressure Inside A Liquide Droplet
I have gone through the derivation of the following title but I have always had a doubt at one point of its derivation ,which I am going to share now.
Suppose this is the spherical droplet we are talking about and are trying to find the excess pressure off.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UcA93.jpg)
In this proof if the one has gone through ,you must have known that during the derivation ,people cut the sphere into 2 halves i.e 2 hemisphere and then analyze the net forces acting on one of the halves of the sphere. The forces usually are the force of liquid at the inner walls, the force due to atmospheric pressure at the outer walls of the sphere and the surface tension acting tangential to the surface of the sphere. In the below picture I will try to show you the net forces i.e after cancellation of some components of the forces ,for all the 3 forces.
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/iixXH.jpg)
In this image I have cut a part from the sphere i.e "2"(mentioned in the first diagram) and have tried to show the net force acting around it due to the 3 forces ,you guys can try to evaluate the net forces of all the 3 forces and you will get the following result ,however I am not going to show that to you guys ,as that is not my point.
Here,the thing to keep in mind is that I have cut a part of the sphere i.e "2" and not cut it form the middle so as to get a hemisphere. Now, as the droplet is not bursting hence we can say that for the net inward force is equal to net outward force and hence by evaluating we get-:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Re8NV.png)
Here "r" is the radius of the base for "2"(the part of sphere we have selected)."S" is the coefficient of surface tension of the liquid. "pie(r^2)" is the projected area for the curve surface area on which the forces are acting. "S.2(pie)r" is the force of surface tension acting at the boundaries .P(ex) is the excess pressure .And P(liq) is equal to P(atm)+ P(ex) as excess pressure means the extra outward pressure when compared with the atmospheric pressure ,thus the liquid puts P(atm) with some extra pressure i.e P(ex)
Now finally my question is, we get this same equation for excess pressure if we would have cut the droplet into two hemispheres. In place of "r" we would have got "R"(i.e the base radius of the hemisphere).This cannot be true as the pressure we are calculating should be same at every part of the sphere ,but this is concluding that for different base radius's the excess pressure change, thus how can we find the excess pressure in a droplet. Struggling with this question for past 2 days and have almost gave up on it, kindly help me with it someone.
The total surface tension force on the spherical cap (2) is not 2𝜋𝑟𝑆. The surface tension forces, as you yourself have said, are tangential to the sphere, and at the edge of your spherical cap (2) the surface of the sphere is not going left–right. As we go round the edge, only the right-pointing components of the forces add up. The other components (those in the plane containing the cut edge) cancel. You need to include a 'cos𝜃' factor!
I'll leave the details to you.
| stackexchange/physics |
rem sleep behaviour disorder ( rbd ) , first described by schenck and colleagues in 1986,1 is characterised by the loss of normal muscle atonia during rem sleep .
patients often experience violent dream - enacting behaviours leading to disturbed sleep and potential injuries to themselves and their bed partner .
while polysomnography ( psg ) remains the diagnostic gold standard , the diagnosis of probable rbd ( prbd ) can be made based on clinical judgment or validated questionnaires.2 although human pathophysiological data are somewhat limited , our current understanding suggests that it is the loss of nuclei in the tegmentum pontis and the medial medulla oblongata which are responsible for the symptoms of rbd.3 over the past 20 years , a number of key studies have linked the presence of idiopathic rbd with a future increased risk of developing neurodegenerative disease , including parkinsonism and dementia.46 recently , schenck and colleagues reported that over 80% of males aged 50 years and older initially diagnosed with idiopathic rbd developed a neurodegenerative disorder , with the vast majority being diagnosed with parkinson 's disease ( pd).7 these findings question the existence of
it is therefore unsurprising that the symptoms of rbd have been reported in up to 60% of patients with pd.8 a number of groups have studied the association between rbd and pd phenotypes ( reviewed by arnulf9 ) .
these suggest that patients with concomitant rbd are more likely to have a non - tremor phenotype , have a poor response to medication and suffer from more non - motor symptoms .
however , most of these observations were based on a small number of patients with relatively prolonged disease duration . as brainstem structures responsible for the symptoms of rbd
correspond to stage 2 of the braak pathophysiological classification of pd,3
10 we hypothesise that the symptoms of rbd occur early in the natural history and may be associated with a different clinical phenotype . in this study , we have endeavoured to estimate the prevalence and describe the association between prbd and motor and non - motor features in a large cohort of subjects with early pd .
a consecutive sample of early pd patients ( time from diagnosis 3.5 years ) was prospectively recruited as part of the oxford parkinson 's disease centre ( opdc ) cohort study ( pd - discovery ) from 10 hospitals across the thames valley covering an estimated population of 2.9 million .
patients were eligible for study inclusion if they met the uk parkinson 's disease society brain bank criteria11 for the diagnosis of idiopathic parkinson 's disease , as judged by a neurologist .
patients with secondary parkinsonism due to head trauma or medication use , or features of atypical parkinsonism syndromes , such as multiple system atrophy , progressive supranuclear palsy , corticobasal degeneration or dementia with lewy bodies , were excluded .
the study was undertaken with the understanding and written consent of each subject , with the approval of the local nhs ethics committee , and in compliance with national legislation and the declaration of helsinki .
participants were asked to complete the rem sleep behaviour disorder screening questionnaire ( rbdsq)12 prior to attending the study clinic .
the rbdsq is a patient self - rating instrument with ten questions ( yes / no ) assessing various aspects of sleep behaviour .
questions 1 to 4 assess the content and frequency of dreams and their relationship to nocturnal movements and behaviour ; question 5 asks about potential nocturnal injuries sustained by the patient or their bed partner ; question 6 is divided into four subsections and is designed to assess nocturnal motor behaviour , for example , vocalisation , sudden limb movements , complex movements or bedding items that fall down ; questions 7 and 8 deal with nocturnal awakenings ; question 9 , with disturbed sleep in general ; and , question 10 , with the presence of any neurological disorder .
the maximum total score of the rbdsq is 13 , with a higher score suggesting more features associated with rbd .
a cut - off score of 5 was reported by the authors as most useful when differentiating patients with idiopathic rbd from controls.12 as this cut - off is only associated with a specificity of 0.56,12 sensitivity analyses were also performed using a rbdsq cut - off of 6 and 7 , in the light of subsequent validation studies that found stronger test performance characteristics using these higher cut - offs.13
14 a study neurologist and a trained research nurse carried out comprehensive evaluation of each patient blinded to the results of the rbdsq .
the following measures of interest were included :
patient demographics , including age , sex and smoking history .
disease duration was calculated from the date the diagnosis was made . the delay to diagnosis
was defined as the number of months between the onset of motor symptoms and the date of diagnosis . as the date of symptom onset
was based on participant relocation and thus opens to bias , only disease duration was included in further analyses .
a detailed history of all medication use was taken from the patients and , where available , medication records were reviewed . for dopaminergic medications , the levodopa equivalent daily dose ( ledd ) was calculated . the response to pd medications
was assessed using the patient - rated clinical global impression of change ( cgic ) scale .
concomitant use of medications associated with symptoms of rbd was recorded ( antidepressants and bisoprolol15 ) .
where available , clinic letters were reviewed for the presence of resting tremor , rigidity , bradykinesia and postural instability at the time of first presentation.motor features of pd , including parts ii , iii and iv of the movement disorders society ( mds ) revised unified parkinson 's disease rating scale ( updrs).16 tremor and postural instability / gait disorder ( pigd ) scores were calculated as the sum of all tremor ( maximum subscore of 36 ) and postural instability and gait disorder ( maximum subscore of 8) scorings on updrs iii.17 hand dexterity , motor speed and coordination were assessed using the purdue pegboard test ; the total number of pegs inserted using each hand individually and then both hands over a total of 90 s , and the total number of components assembled during the 60 s assembly task were used as the outcome measures .
the timed up & go ( the average time over three attempts to get up from sitting and walk 3 m ) and the flamingo tests ( testing the ability of the patient to balance on one leg for 30 s ) were also performed to assess gait and postural stability .
all motor assessments were performed while the subject was taking their usual pd medications in a clinically defined
on state.non-motor features of pd , including updrs i. daytime sleepiness was assessed using the epworth sleepiness scale ( ess ) .
participants were presented with 16 felt - tip pens scented with 16 common odours and asked to identify each one from a choice of four ( maximum score of 16 ) .
cognition was assessed using the mini - mental state examination ( mmse ) and the montreal cognitive assessment ( moca ) .
scores on both tests were normalised for years of education ( calculated as the number of years at school plus years of further education ) .
cognitive impairment was defined according to the mmse and moca screening cut - offs ( < 26/30).18 for phonemic and semantic fluency , the total number of words generated beginning with f , a and s , and animal and boys names category , respectively , over 60 s each was counted .
the beck depression inventory was used to evaluate depression.19 the questionnaire for impulsive - compulsive disorders in parkinson 's disease ( quip , anytime short)20 was used to test for impulse control disorders ( gambling , sexual , buying and eating behaviours ) and compulsive behaviours ( punding , hobbyism and walkabout ( excessive , aimless wandering ) ) .
a postural drop in blood pressure was defined as the difference in the systolic blood pressure measured with the patient lying on the examination couch for 3 min and again 2 min after standing . in relation to constipation
, participants were asked about their bowel frequency and laxative use.health-related quality of life was assessed using the eq-5d questionnaire,21 with patients asked to assess their quality of life according to five domains ( mobility , self - care , activities , pain and anxiety ) , as well as scoring their health out of 100 on a visual analogue scale .
patient demographics , including age , sex and smoking history . a comprehensive past medical history was taken .
the delay to diagnosis was defined as the number of months between the onset of motor symptoms and the date of diagnosis . as the date of symptom onset
was based on participant relocation and thus opens to bias , only disease duration was included in further analyses .
a detailed history of all medication use was taken from the patients and , where available , medication records were reviewed . for dopaminergic medications ,
the response to pd medications was assessed using the patient - rated clinical global impression of change ( cgic ) scale .
concomitant use of medications associated with symptoms of rbd was recorded ( antidepressants and bisoprolol15 ) .
where available , clinic letters were reviewed for the presence of resting tremor , rigidity , bradykinesia and postural instability at the time of first presentation .
motor features of pd , including parts ii , iii and iv of the movement disorders society ( mds ) revised unified parkinson 's disease rating scale ( updrs).16 tremor and postural instability / gait disorder ( pigd ) scores were calculated as the sum of all tremor ( maximum subscore of 36 ) and postural instability and gait disorder ( maximum subscore of 8) scorings on updrs iii.17 hand dexterity , motor speed and coordination were assessed using the purdue pegboard test ; the total number of pegs inserted using each hand individually and then both hands over a total of 90 s , and the total number of components assembled during the 60 s assembly task were used as the outcome measures .
the timed up & go ( the average time over three attempts to get up from sitting and walk 3 m ) and the flamingo tests ( testing the ability of the patient to balance on one leg for 30 s ) were also performed to assess gait and postural stability .
all motor assessments were performed while the subject was taking their usual pd medications in a clinically defined on state .
non - motor features of pd , including updrs i. daytime sleepiness was assessed using the epworth sleepiness scale ( ess ) .
participants were presented with 16 felt - tip pens scented with 16 common odours and asked to identify each one from a choice of four ( maximum score of 16 ) .
cognition was assessed using the mini - mental state examination ( mmse ) and the montreal cognitive assessment ( moca ) .
( calculated as the number of years at school plus years of further education ) .
cognitive impairment was defined according to the mmse and moca screening cut - offs ( < 26/30).18 for phonemic and semantic fluency , the total number of words generated beginning with f , a and s , and animal and boys names category , respectively , over 60 s each was counted .
the beck depression inventory was used to evaluate depression.19 the questionnaire for impulsive - compulsive disorders in parkinson 's disease ( quip , anytime short)20 was used to test for impulse control disorders ( gambling , sexual , buying and eating behaviours ) and compulsive behaviours ( punding , hobbyism and walkabout ( excessive , aimless wandering ) ) . a postural drop in blood pressure
was defined as the difference in the systolic blood pressure measured with the patient lying on the examination couch for 3 min and again 2 min after standing . in relation to constipation ,
health - related quality of life was assessed using the eq-5d questionnaire,21 with patients asked to assess their quality of life according to five domains ( mobility , self - care , activities , pain and anxiety ) , as well as scoring their health out of 100 on a visual analogue scale .
analysis of descriptive variables was performed using two - tailed unpaired t tests and tests for continuous and ordinal variables , respectively .
multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the independent relationship between prbd and the dependent variable , controlling for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history ( number of pack - years , where one pack - year equates to smoking 20 cigarettes per day for 1 year ) .
we have presented the crude results ( means and percentages ) and the adjusted difference in means and ors ( 95% cis and p values ) for continuous and binary variables , respectively .
the total years of education was also used as a covariate when comparing the mmse and moca .
no formal adjustment was made for multiple testing but p values between 0.01 and 0.05 were treated with caution , unless previously reported , given the possibility of type i errors .
a consecutive sample of early pd patients ( time from diagnosis 3.5 years ) was prospectively recruited as part of the oxford parkinson 's disease centre ( opdc ) cohort study ( pd - discovery ) from 10 hospitals across the thames valley covering an estimated population of 2.9 million .
patients were eligible for study inclusion if they met the uk parkinson 's disease society brain bank criteria11 for the diagnosis of idiopathic parkinson 's disease , as judged by a neurologist .
patients with secondary parkinsonism due to head trauma or medication use , or features of atypical parkinsonism syndromes , such as multiple system atrophy , progressive supranuclear palsy , corticobasal degeneration or dementia with lewy bodies , were excluded .
the study was undertaken with the understanding and written consent of each subject , with the approval of the local nhs ethics committee , and in compliance with national legislation and the declaration of helsinki .
participants were asked to complete the rem sleep behaviour disorder screening questionnaire ( rbdsq)12 prior to attending the study clinic .
the rbdsq is a patient self - rating instrument with ten questions ( yes / no ) assessing various aspects of sleep behaviour .
questions 1 to 4 assess the content and frequency of dreams and their relationship to nocturnal movements and behaviour ; question 5 asks about potential nocturnal injuries sustained by the patient or their bed partner ; question 6 is divided into four subsections and is designed to assess nocturnal motor behaviour , for example , vocalisation , sudden limb movements , complex movements or bedding items that fall down ; questions 7 and 8 deal with nocturnal awakenings ; question 9 , with disturbed sleep in general ; and , question 10 , with the presence of any neurological disorder .
the maximum total score of the rbdsq is 13 , with a higher score suggesting more features associated with rbd .
a cut - off score of 5 was reported by the authors as most useful when differentiating patients with idiopathic rbd from controls.12 as this cut - off is only associated with a specificity of 0.56,12 sensitivity analyses were also performed using a rbdsq cut - off of 6 and 7 , in the light of subsequent validation studies that found stronger test performance characteristics using these higher cut - offs.13
14
a study neurologist and a trained research nurse carried out comprehensive evaluation of each patient blinded to the results of the rbdsq .
the following measures of interest were included :
patient demographics , including age , sex and smoking history . a comprehensive past medical history was taken .
the delay to diagnosis was defined as the number of months between the onset of motor symptoms and the date of diagnosis . as the date of symptom onset
was based on participant relocation and thus opens to bias , only disease duration was included in further analyses .
a detailed history of all medication use was taken from the patients and , where available , medication records were reviewed . for dopaminergic medications ,
the response to pd medications was assessed using the patient - rated clinical global impression of change ( cgic ) scale .
concomitant use of medications associated with symptoms of rbd was recorded ( antidepressants and bisoprolol15 ) .
where available , clinic letters were reviewed for the presence of resting tremor , rigidity , bradykinesia and postural instability at the time of first presentation.motor features of pd , including parts ii , iii and iv of the movement disorders society ( mds ) revised unified parkinson 's disease rating scale ( updrs).16 tremor and postural instability / gait disorder ( pigd ) scores were calculated as the sum of all tremor ( maximum subscore of 36 ) and postural instability and gait disorder ( maximum subscore of 8) scorings on updrs iii.17 hand dexterity , motor speed and coordination were assessed using the purdue pegboard test ; the total number of pegs inserted using each hand individually and then both hands over a total of 90 s , and the total number of components assembled during the 60 s assembly task were used as the outcome measures .
the timed up & go ( the average time over three attempts to get up from sitting and walk 3 m ) and the flamingo tests ( testing the ability of the patient to balance on one leg for 30 s ) were also performed to assess gait and postural stability .
all motor assessments were performed while the subject was taking their usual pd medications in a clinically defined
on state.non-motor features of pd , including updrs i. daytime sleepiness was assessed using the epworth sleepiness scale ( ess ) .
participants were presented with 16 felt - tip pens scented with 16 common odours and asked to identify each one from a choice of four ( maximum score of 16 ) .
cognition was assessed using the mini - mental state examination ( mmse ) and the montreal cognitive assessment ( moca ) .
( calculated as the number of years at school plus years of further education ) .
cognitive impairment was defined according to the mmse and moca screening cut - offs ( < 26/30).18 for phonemic and semantic fluency , the total number of words generated beginning with f , a and s , and animal and boys names category , respectively , over 60 s each was counted .
the beck depression inventory was used to evaluate depression.19 the questionnaire for impulsive - compulsive disorders in parkinson 's disease ( quip , anytime short)20 was used to test for impulse control disorders ( gambling , sexual , buying and eating behaviours ) and compulsive behaviours ( punding , hobbyism and walkabout ( excessive , aimless wandering ) ) . a postural drop in blood pressure
was defined as the difference in the systolic blood pressure measured with the patient lying on the examination couch for 3 min and again 2 min after standing . in relation to constipation
, participants were asked about their bowel frequency and laxative use.health-related quality of life was assessed using the eq-5d questionnaire,21 with patients asked to assess their quality of life according to five domains ( mobility , self - care , activities , pain and anxiety ) , as well as scoring their health out of 100 on a visual analogue scale .
patient demographics , including age , sex and smoking history . a comprehensive past medical history was taken .
disease duration was calculated from the date the diagnosis was made . the delay to diagnosis
was defined as the number of months between the onset of motor symptoms and the date of diagnosis . as the date of symptom onset
was based on participant relocation and thus opens to bias , only disease duration was included in further analyses .
a detailed history of all medication use was taken from the patients and , where available , medication records were reviewed . for dopaminergic medications ,
the response to pd medications was assessed using the patient - rated clinical global impression of change ( cgic ) scale .
concomitant use of medications associated with symptoms of rbd was recorded ( antidepressants and bisoprolol15 ) . where available , clinic letters were reviewed for the presence of resting tremor , rigidity , bradykinesia and postural instability at the time of first presentation .
motor features of pd , including parts ii , iii and iv of the movement disorders society ( mds ) revised unified parkinson 's disease rating scale ( updrs).16 tremor and postural instability / gait disorder ( pigd ) scores were calculated as the sum of all tremor ( maximum subscore of 36 ) and postural instability and gait disorder ( maximum subscore of 8) scorings on updrs iii.17 hand dexterity , motor speed and coordination were assessed using the purdue pegboard test ; the total number of pegs inserted using each hand individually and then both hands over a total of 90 s , and the total number of components assembled during the 60 s assembly task were used as the outcome measures .
the timed up & go ( the average time over three attempts to get up from sitting and walk 3 m ) and the flamingo tests ( testing the ability of the patient to balance on one leg for 30 s ) were also performed to assess gait and postural stability .
all motor assessments were performed while the subject was taking their usual pd medications in a clinically defined on state .
non - motor features of pd , including updrs i. daytime sleepiness was assessed using the epworth sleepiness scale ( ess ) .
participants were presented with 16 felt - tip pens scented with 16 common odours and asked to identify each one from a choice of four ( maximum score of 16 ) .
cognition was assessed using the mini - mental state examination ( mmse ) and the montreal cognitive assessment ( moca ) .
scores on both tests were normalised for years of education ( calculated as the number of years at school plus years of further education ) .
cognitive impairment was defined according to the mmse and moca screening cut - offs ( < 26/30).18 for phonemic and semantic fluency , the total number of words generated beginning with f , a and s , and animal and boys names category , respectively , over 60 s each was counted .
the beck depression inventory was used to evaluate depression.19 the questionnaire for impulsive - compulsive disorders in parkinson 's disease ( quip , anytime short)20 was used to test for impulse control disorders ( gambling , sexual , buying and eating behaviours ) and compulsive behaviours ( punding , hobbyism and walkabout ( excessive , aimless wandering ) ) . a postural drop in blood pressure was defined as the difference in the systolic blood pressure measured with the patient lying on the examination couch for 3 min and again 2 min after standing . in relation to constipation , participants were asked about their bowel frequency and laxative use .
health - related quality of life was assessed using the eq-5d questionnaire,21 with patients asked to assess their quality of life according to five domains ( mobility , self - care , activities , pain and anxiety ) , as well as scoring their health out of 100 on a visual analogue scale .
analysis of descriptive variables was performed using two - tailed unpaired t tests and tests for continuous and ordinal variables , respectively .
multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the independent relationship between prbd and the dependent variable , controlling for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history ( number of pack - years , where one pack - year equates to smoking 20 cigarettes per day for 1 year ) .
we have presented the crude results ( means and percentages ) and the adjusted difference in means and ors ( 95% cis and p values ) for continuous and binary variables , respectively .
the total years of education was also used as a covariate when comparing the mmse and moca .
no formal adjustment was made for multiple testing but p values between 0.01 and 0.05 were treated with caution , unless previously reported , given the possibility of type i errors .
six subjects were excluded due to an incomplete rbdsq , leaving 475 for analysis , of whom 292 were male ( 61.5% ) .
the mean ( sd ) age was 67.7 ( 9.5 ) years and mean ( sd ) disease duration was 1.5 ( 1.0 ) years . according to patient reports
, none of the participants had previously been given the diagnosis , either clinical or psg - confirmed , of rbd .
only four participants were on medications used to treat the symptoms of rbd ( one participant was receiving melatonin and three were on clonazepam ) .
a total of 224 subjects with pd ( 47.2% , 95% ci 42.7% to 51.9% ) were identified to have a diagnosis of prbd using the rbdsq at the recommended cut - off score of five .
one hundred and seventy six ( 37.1% , 95% ci 32.8% to 41.7% ) and 141 ( 29.7% , 95% ci 25.6% to 33.4% ) subjects were diagnosed with concomitant prbd using a rbdsq cut - off of six and seven , respectively .
table 1 shows the demographics and medication details of the pd - non - rbd and pd - rbd groups .
both groups had similar ages , disease duration and duration of symptoms prior to the formal diagnosis of pd being made .
the pd - rbd group was more likely to be male , although there was only weak evidence against the null hypothesis ( p=0.05 ) .
the use of pd medications did not differ between the two groups , with no difference between the numbers of patients on levodopa or dopamine agonists .
while ledd was the same in both groups , subjects with prbd were more likely to report benefit from their pd medications on the cgis ( 77.6% vs 85.6% , p=0.03 ) .
both use of medications previously associated with symptoms of rbd and smoking was more common in the pd - rbd group .
the presence of resting tremor , rigidity , bradykinesia and postural instability at the time of diagnosis was comparable in the two groups ( clinic letters from the time of diagnosis were available for 337 of the 475 participants ( 70.9% ) ) .
demographic and medication data in subjects with parkinson 's disease ( pd - non - rbd ) and parkinson 's disease and probable rem sleep behaviour disorder ( pd - rbd ) ledd , levodopa equivalent daily dose .
there was no statistically significant difference in the quantitative motor measures between patients with pd with and without prbd ( table 2 ) .
the total updrs iii motor score was the same in the two groups , as was the total tremor and pigd score , and hoehn and yahr stage .
participants with prbd performed similarly well on the purdue pegboard , timed up and go and flamingo tests .
participants with prbd more frequently reported problems with every motor aspect of experience of daily living included in updrs ii ( score > 0 ) , with problems with speech , chewing and swallowing , turning in bed , and walking and balance reaching statistical significance .
freezing was reported more than two times more commonly by subjects with concomitant prbd ( p<0.001 ) , but no difference in gait freezing was observed as part of updrs iii pd - non - rbd 7/251 vs pd - rbd 9/224 , p=0.5 ) motor symptoms in subjects with parkinson 's disease ( pd - non - rbd ) and parkinson 's disease and probable rem sleep behaviour disorder ( pd - rbd ) * adjusted for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history .
pigd , postural instability / gait disorder ; updrs , unified parkinson 's disease rating scale .
participants with prbd scored significantly higher on ess , reported fewer bowel motions per day and had a larger drop in systolic blood pressure on standing from a lying position ( table 3 ) .
although subjects without prbd tended to score higher on the sniffin smell test , this was consistent with chance ( p=0.07 ) .
a statistically significant difference in baseline cognition was evident on the mmse ( p=0.03 ) , but not the moca ( p=0.2 ) , with no evident difference in phonemic and semantic fluency .
there was no difference in the frequency of impulsive - compulsive disorders in the two groups .
non - motor symptoms in subjects with parkinson 's disease ( pd - non - rbd ) and parkinson 's disease and probable rem sleep behaviour disorder ( pd - rbd ) * adjusted for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history .
adjusted for age , sex , disease duration , smoking history and years of education .
bp , blood pressure ; dds , dopamine dysregulation syndrome ; mmse , mini - mental state examination ; moca , montreal cognitive assessment ; quip , questionnaire for impulsive - compulsive disorders in parkinson 's disease ; updrs , unified parkinson 's disease rating scale .
patients with concomitant pd and prbd had a poorer outcome in almost every non - motor domain of updrs i. patients with prbd reported a statistically significant increase in the frequency of cognitive impairment , hallucinations , depressed and anxious mood , and apathy .
moreover , they suffered more pain , urinary problems , constipation and light - headedness on standing .
participants with concomitant probable rbd more commonly reported impairment in each domain of the eq-5d and reported a lower health score overall ( table 4 ) .
the impact of health on the activities of daily living in subjects with parkinson 's disease ( pd - non - rbd ) and parkinson 's disease and probable rem sleep behaviour disorder ( pd - rbd ) * adjusted for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history .
we repeated all the main analyses using the higher rbdsq cut - off points of 6 and 7 and found the pattern of results to be qualitatively similar . using a cut - off of 6 , a significant difference between the two groups
could now be observed in the moca score ( 24.83.5 vs 24.03.7 , p=0.034 ) , and the per cent of participants reporting daytime sleepiness and fatigue on updrs i ( 77.8% vs 86.0% , p=0.035 and 69.0% vs 79.2% , p=0.023 respectively ) .
conversely , any differences in the number of participants reporting urinary problems on updrs i ( p=0.073 ) , speech problems on updrs ii ( p=0.1 ) , < 1 bowel motion per day ( p=0.1 ) and mobility problems on the eq-5d questionnaire ( p=0.1 ) could now be attributed to chance . using a cut - off of 7 , the null hypothesis could not be rejected when comparing the percentage of participants with a smoking history ( p=0.15 ) or reporting < 1 bowel motion per day ( p=0.3 ) or pain and urinary problems on updrs i ( p=0.06 and 0.1 , respectively ) , in the two groups .
this was also the case for participants reporting speech or walking and balance problems on updrs ii ( p=0.08 and p=0.3 , respectively ) , or mobility problems on eq-5d ( p=0.3 ) .
interestingly , when using a cut - off of 7 , participants with prbd were more likely to report punding behaviour on quip ( 4.0% vs 10.0% , p=0.02 ) and symptoms of dopamine dysregulation syndrome on updrs i ( 2.4% vs 7.8% , p=0.01 ) .
we performed a post hoc analysis to exclude cases where the symptoms of rbd could have been attributed to medication use .
eighty of the initial 475 participants ( 16.8% ) were found to have current or historical use of medications previously associated with symptoms of rbd and were therefore excluded from further analyses .
exclusion of these participants had very little effect on the results described above ( see online supplementary tables s1s4 ) .
table 1 shows the demographics and medication details of the pd - non - rbd and pd - rbd groups .
both groups had similar ages , disease duration and duration of symptoms prior to the formal diagnosis of pd being made .
the pd - rbd group was more likely to be male , although there was only weak evidence against the null hypothesis ( p=0.05 ) .
the use of pd medications did not differ between the two groups , with no difference between the numbers of patients on levodopa or dopamine agonists .
while ledd was the same in both groups , subjects with prbd were more likely to report benefit from their pd medications on the cgis ( 77.6% vs 85.6% , p=0.03 ) .
both use of medications previously associated with symptoms of rbd and smoking was more common in the pd - rbd group .
the presence of resting tremor , rigidity , bradykinesia and postural instability at the time of diagnosis was comparable in the two groups ( clinic letters from the time of diagnosis were available for 337 of the 475 participants ( 70.9% ) ) .
demographic and medication data in subjects with parkinson 's disease ( pd - non - rbd ) and parkinson 's disease and probable rem sleep behaviour disorder ( pd - rbd ) ledd , levodopa equivalent daily dose .
there was no statistically significant difference in the quantitative motor measures between patients with pd with and without prbd ( table 2 ) .
the total updrs iii motor score was the same in the two groups , as was the total tremor and pigd score , and hoehn and yahr stage .
participants with prbd performed similarly well on the purdue pegboard , timed up and go and flamingo tests .
participants with prbd more frequently reported problems with every motor aspect of experience of daily living included in updrs ii ( score > 0 ) , with problems with speech , chewing and swallowing , turning in bed , and walking and balance reaching statistical significance .
freezing was reported more than two times more commonly by subjects with concomitant prbd ( p<0.001 ) , but no difference in gait freezing was observed as part of updrs iii pd - non - rbd 7/251 vs pd - rbd 9/224 , p=0.5 ) motor symptoms in subjects with parkinson 's disease ( pd - non - rbd ) and parkinson 's disease and probable rem sleep behaviour disorder ( pd - rbd ) * adjusted for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history .
pigd , postural instability / gait disorder ; updrs , unified parkinson 's disease rating scale .
participants with prbd scored significantly higher on ess , reported fewer bowel motions per day and had a larger drop in systolic blood pressure on standing from a lying position ( table 3 ) .
although subjects without prbd tended to score higher on the sniffin smell test , this was consistent with chance ( p=0.07 ) .
a statistically significant difference in baseline cognition was evident on the mmse ( p=0.03 ) , but not the moca ( p=0.2 ) , with no evident difference in phonemic and semantic fluency .
there was no difference in the frequency of impulsive - compulsive disorders in the two groups .
non - motor symptoms in subjects with parkinson 's disease ( pd - non - rbd ) and parkinson 's disease and probable rem sleep behaviour disorder ( pd - rbd ) * adjusted for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history
. adjusted for age , sex , disease duration , smoking history and years of education .
bp , blood pressure ; dds , dopamine dysregulation syndrome ; mmse , mini - mental state examination ; moca , montreal cognitive assessment ; quip , questionnaire for impulsive - compulsive disorders in parkinson 's disease ; updrs , unified parkinson 's disease rating scale .
patients with concomitant pd and prbd had a poorer outcome in almost every non - motor domain of updrs i. patients with prbd reported a statistically significant increase in the frequency of cognitive impairment , hallucinations , depressed and anxious mood , and apathy .
moreover , they suffered more pain , urinary problems , constipation and light - headedness on standing .
participants with concomitant probable rbd more commonly reported impairment in each domain of the eq-5d and reported a lower health score overall ( table 4 ) . the impact of health on the activities of daily living in subjects with parkinson 's disease ( pd - non - rbd ) and parkinson 's disease and probable rem sleep behaviour disorder ( pd - rbd ) * adjusted for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history .
we repeated all the main analyses using the higher rbdsq cut - off points of 6 and 7 and found the pattern of results to be qualitatively similar . using a cut - off of 6 , a significant difference between the two groups
could now be observed in the moca score ( 24.83.5 vs 24.03.7 , p=0.034 ) , and the per cent of participants reporting daytime sleepiness and fatigue on updrs i ( 77.8% vs 86.0% , p=0.035 and 69.0% vs 79.2% , p=0.023 respectively ) .
conversely , any differences in the number of participants reporting urinary problems on updrs i ( p=0.073 ) , speech problems on updrs ii ( p=0.1 ) , < 1 bowel motion per day ( p=0.1 ) and mobility problems on the eq-5d questionnaire ( p=0.1 ) could now be attributed to chance . using a cut - off of 7 , the null hypothesis could not be rejected when comparing the percentage of participants with a smoking history ( p=0.15 ) or reporting < 1 bowel motion per day ( p=0.3 ) or pain and urinary problems on updrs i ( p=0.06 and 0.1 , respectively ) , in the two groups .
this was also the case for participants reporting speech or walking and balance problems on updrs ii ( p=0.08 and p=0.3 , respectively ) , or mobility problems on eq-5d ( p=0.3 ) .
interestingly , when using a cut - off of 7 , participants with prbd were more likely to report punding behaviour on quip ( 4.0% vs 10.0% , p=0.02 ) and symptoms of dopamine dysregulation syndrome on updrs i ( 2.4% vs 7.8% , p=0.01 ) .
we performed a post hoc analysis to exclude cases where the symptoms of rbd could have been attributed to medication use .
eighty of the initial 475 participants ( 16.8% ) were found to have current or historical use of medications previously associated with symptoms of rbd and were therefore excluded from further analyses .
exclusion of these participants had very little effect on the results described above ( see online supplementary tables s1s4 ) .
to our knowledge , this is the largest comprehensive study of patients with early pd with and without prbd .
we have found that prbd is very common in pd , and it is associated with more profound non - motor symptoms , even in the early stages of the disease . in our study , the frequency of probable rbd was 47.2% , which is similar to that found in more advanced pd ( table 5 ) . in line with previously published studies , we have shown that participants with and without probable rbd were of a similar age,2225 sex2224
26 and had a similar disease duration.23
27 we also observed that the delay to diagnosis from the time the patient first noticed any motor symptoms was the same in both groups , suggesting that these patients do not have a significantly more rapid progression of their motor symptoms leading to a quicker diagnosis .
this finding supports that of lavault and colleagues8 who found no specific worsening of motor disability scores after a period of follow - up in patients with rbd , when compared to those without . the prevalence of rem sleep behaviour disorder ( rbd ) in patients with parkinson 's disease ( pd ) psg , polysomnography .
we found that patients with prbd were as likely to be on pd medications and had a comparable ledd , but , somewhat surprisingly , were more likely to report an improvement on their medications ( p=0.03 ) when compared to patients without rbd .
if true , this finding would be in direct contrast to previous reports showing a higher levodopa dose and lower levodopa sensitivity in patients with rbd.17
24 however , as we did not observe a difference in objective motor disability scores , such as updrs iii , hoehn and yahr and the purdue pegboard , despite patients with rbd reporting more problems with some motor tasks , such as walking and balance , turning in bed and freezing , it is possible that this finding represents a type i error due to multiple comparisons .
the presence of rbd has previously been associated with non - tremor - dominant phenotype of pd.24
34 in this study , we have shown that there was no difference in the tremor and pigd scores at the time the patients were examined , and there was also no difference in the presence of the core signs of parkinsonism at the time the diagnosis was first made . given the relatively early clinical stage of the participants included in this study , it is possible that the different motor phenotypes are yet to develop .
longitudinal follow - up will assess whether patients signs will progress at different rates and thus result in a more non - tremor - dominant phenotype over time .
unlike the motor scores , the non - motor scores were comprehensively worse in the pd - rbd group .
we have replicated the findings of previous studies , which have demonstrated an association between rbd and increased frequency of hallucinations,17
23
25
30
35 daytime sleepiness,23
31 constipation31 and orthostatic hypotension,28
36 and confirmed that it exists in early pd .
contrary to some previous reports,8
22
23
25 we were able to demonstrate a greater prevalence of depression in patients with prbd when compared to those without , using clinical rating scales and patient reporting .
our findings would support the theory that the presence of rbd in pd is representative of a more diffuse disease process early in its evolution , perhaps explained by the proximity of the serotoninergic raphe and other brainstem nuclei to the nuclei implemented in the pathophysiology of rbd.3 previous studies have reported an increased prevalence of mild cognitive impairment ( mci ) in patients with rbd and more established pd.37
38 here , for the first time , we have shown a significant difference in the cognitive scores of patients with early pd , with and without concomitant prbd . while the difference in the total mmse score was modest and could be the result of multiple comparisons ( p=0.03 ) , the difference in the number of subjects in each group satisfying the screening criteria for cognitive impairment was much higher in the pd - rbd group ( 14.9% vs 56.7% ; p=0.006 ) ( figure 1 ) . the frequency of clinically significant scores on disease severity scales .
sleepiness defined as epworth sleepiness scale > 9 ; depression defined as beck depression inventory > 16 ; cognitive impairments defined as mmse score < 26 .
* p=0.001 , * * p=0.006 ; all scores adjusted for age , sex , disease duration and smoking history .
collectively , we have shown that prbd was associated with worse non - motor symptom severity scores , a higher prevalence of mood disorders , daytime sleepiness and cognitive impairment , and a greater impact on activities of daily living . by replicating the results after excluding patients with possible rbd secondary to medication use , we have shown that the observed differences were likely to be due to the underlying pathology .
these findings go some way to support previous theories that rbd marks a more diffuse and complex phenotype of pd.39 however , we can not specify whether it is the prbd itself that is responsible for this phenotype or whether this is due to an association with other non - motor symptoms , for example , a greater prevalence of depression or cognitive impairment .
a clear limitation of our study is that the diagnosis of rbd was based on a questionnaire and not confirmed by objectively psg . while psg inevitably remains the gold standard ,
studies have supported the use of rbdsq in screening for prbd40 and its role in clinical studies .
importantly , it must also be noted that while the rbdsq does not require the input from a bed partner , thus making it ideal for screening large populations where this information may not be available , this may lead to the underdiagnosis of prbd
. a further limitation of this study is the use of screening questionnaires for conditions such as depression , excessive sleepiness and cognitive impairment .
although these questionnaires can give an insight into the prevalence certain patient - reported symptoms , further information and assessment is required to allow a clinical diagnosis to be made .
findings from early pd in the discovery cohort confirm that rbd is common throughout its natural history , consistent with neuropathological staging .
patients with early pd and concomitant prbd have a different phenotype with greater prevalence of some non - motor features . at this stage
, we can not speculate on their rate of motor progression compared to non - prbd patients .
further follow - up will enable us to explore whether prbd should be routinely collected as a potential biomarker for clinical progression in pd . | pubmed |
I would like to say to you before you read this that I think it is common courtesy that you either leave a comment of your views/opinions or likes/dislikes. it's called FEEDBACK.
How can I/this winging moron know what your views are?
It's been many months since my last blog because I've had other important priorities to deal with including moving house and opening up a High street shop in Chorley, but most importantly my 91 year old mother's health.
Mum is now 93 and still going strong. She goes for her daily walk along our local High street for about 20 minutes.
I am her registered Carer and she has not been well. It was discovered that she had a rare muscle cancer (we first had to discover what the epithelioid mesothelioma was, though) on her forearm and she was due to have a series of biopsies on it. Days before they were due she had a fall and broke the same forearm just above the wrist. As a result she was in a plaster cast for six weeks before the biopsies could be done.
After numerous x-rays and MRI scans she was advised to undergo radiotherapy because she was too old and frail for chemotherapy.
In the UK, anyone who is over the age of 50 years is not generally advised to have chemotherapy because the side effects can actually do more harm than good!
My mother finished a schedule of sixteen treatments of radiotherapy at the Rosemere Cancer Centre at The Royal Preston Hospital and the prognosis was favourable as the lump had decreased in size considerably and she is now awaiting a review. I will keep you posted. I would however like to express my thanks and gratitude to all the staff including the Ambulance and Volunteer Drivers and also the Radiotherapy staff at the Rosemere Cancer Centre.
Since my last blog concerning mum she has had a further 15 sessions of radiotherapy because the lump grew in size. The treatment seemed to reduce the lump again but 12 months down the line another lump has appeared which is very painful for her.
Tomorrow 5 Nov 2015 she has an appointment at Rosemere Royal Preston Hospital. She will then begin a further 15 radiotherapy sessions. Thankfully the new lump is smaller than the previous one, so fingers crossed that the treatment works.
I can empathise with all Carers of elderly relatives – they must save the Government millions of pounds whilst they only receive a pittance in comparison to the actual cost of nursing or residential care. The "FAT CATS" sit on "millionaire row" in the Cabinet and haven't got a clue with the exception of David Cameron who (sadly) did have a disabled son, but then again, he didn't have to manage solely on a state pension and Carer's Allowance!
Before I close I will say that I am totally committed to the health and welfare of Sylvia (My Mum). She will never be put into care whilst I am alive.
I do not know the details of the Blairs (ex Prime Minister) and his wife Cherie but I remember recently hearing that the mother of one of them was being placed in some kind of residential care. Surely with their reputed MILLIONS they could have afforded a granny flat within their home so they could be within close contact on a daily basis, therefore putting her mind at rest and hopefully prolonging her quality of life.
Why is it easier to farm elderly parents out to care when they can be looked after at home with their family, when after all they brought their kids up, and it is now the turn of the grown up kids to step up to the plate and accept being responsible for their future care.
Mum has a lovely carer called Angie who takes her out for 3 hours shopping and going down the local Astley Park each Thursday which we pay for. Sadly she has had to miss the last 2 Thursdays because of her appointments.
Mum has been to Rosemere for further scans as recommended by Cancer Specialist Dr. Parihk who recommends a 3rd session of radiotherapy beginning next Wednesday 11Nov and will consist of 15 consecutive sessions excluding weekends.
Sylvia has just had her first session of radiotherapy which is ongoing for another 14 treatments.
My thanks go out to all the staff who do such a wonderful job in caring for their patients. One in particular was a nurse who noticed a patient in a wheelchair with his head slumped and with an oxygen mask on. She asked him if he was ok and he told her he was just fed up of waiting for transport to take him home. She offered to arrange some food and drink but he declined. At least she noticed and cared enough for him. It's just a pity that he had been waiting over 2 hours for transport.
My next comment is not directly aimed at the transport/appointments departments but there has to be better organisation from management.
One drawback from using transport run by the NHS is that the patient is required to be ready for pickup approximately 90 minutes prior to their appointment and can be as early as 8:30am. We tried the system but decided to make alternative arrangements because at Mums' age she was getting ready at 7:30am which is an unreasonable time to have to get ready and then sit for the next 90 minutes with her coat on not knowing when she was going. I suggested that the drivers should have the patients phone number on their pickup sheet so that they could phone maybe 10 minutes ahead to let them prepare themselves but I was told that it wasn't feasible.
I'm aware that the appointments department has a difficult job but surely it's the patients care which comes first.
Is the appointments/transport department undoing the great work of Rosemere Cancer Clinic?
Surely the management can finetune their system for the patients and not for how easy it is for them.
PS. Sadly I'm still a fan of both Blackburn Rovers and Chorley Magpies.
Someone has to be. Let's see what Rovers' new manager Paul Lambert can do and if he can get on with 'chicken farmers' the Venkies cos no one else has. | slim_pajama |
After Susan Cox, 61, of Saverna Park, Maryland donated a kidney to her husband a few months ago, he wanted to give her something extra special.
So he decided to bring her to the TODAY plaza for an Ambush Makeover.
Cox works as an accountant for the University of Maryland, and although she has worn her hair short for 30 years, she wanted a new look.
She was certainly happy with the one she received Thursday!
"Oh my gosh, wow," she said with a smile, admiring her new look in the full-length mirror on set. With a chic, wash-to-wear cut and a stylish leather jacket, we'd have to echo her sentiments.
"She looks fabulous," her husband agreed, beaming.
Next, P.J. Miller, who will turn 56 tomorrow, of Denville New Jersey, is the director of a Sunday school in her area. Her son and husband are traveling overseas, and she and her daughter were just having a fun girls' weekend when they decided to try for an Ambush Makeover.
Miller told the ladies that she feels like a "schlump," and really needs a pick-me-up. She also cuts her hair herself.
Her big reveal had her jumping up and down for joy ... and her daughter was just as thrilled.
"Oh my god ... oh Mom, you look so pretty," she commented tearfully.
Watch more Ambush Makeovers here! | slim_pajama |
awareness of the public health burden of influenza continues to develop in the asiapacific region .
there is , however , no consensus on the best way to prevent and treat the disease and to ensure that policies for the control of influenza , including the use of seasonal influenza vaccines , specific treatments and effective communication strategies are in place . against this background , and a need for a coordinated approach to influenza advocacy ,
the asiapacific alliance for the control of influenza ( apaci ) was established in 2002 , with a mission to reduce the burden of disease within the asiapacific region .
the changing influenza landscape following the 2009 pandemic required apaci to move from an informal structure to a company limited by guarantee and registered in hong kong as a notforprofit organisation in april 2011 .
it has a vision to be a lead organisation on influenza education in the asiapacific region .
full members are now from nine countries : australia , china , hong kong , india , indonesia , korea , new zealand , philippines and thailand . to encourage regional discussion on influenza control ,
apaci held the first asiapacific influenza summit on 1213th june in bangkok , thailand , with the objectives to :
review the current state of official influenza control policies in asiapacific countries.identify , summarize and communicate influenza control strategies that have successfully increased vaccine uptake in the region.develop policy and advocacy approaches to improve influenza vaccine uptake in highrisk groups and healthcare workers in the region.establish collaborative relationships to promote best practices for the control of influenza .
identify , summarize and communicate influenza control strategies that have successfully increased vaccine uptake in the region .
develop policy and advocacy approaches to improve influenza vaccine uptake in highrisk groups and healthcare workers in the region .
the summit brought together over 200 representatives of healthcare professional groups from over 13 countries in the region .
they included clinicians ( 31% ) , health authorities ( 23% ) , scientists ( 16% ) and industry ( 22% ) .
fifteen regional and international experts , including the cochair of the us national influenza vaccine summit , either addressed the audience or led the discussion on aspects of the fight against influenza .
two discussion sessions were held providing a consensus on influenza vaccine policy and the risk groups whom should receive influenza vaccination .
each session was preceded by short expert presentations to focus the discussion led by a panel of international experts .
an expert panel led the discussion , evolving a consensus on the way forward with the development of a comprehensive influenza vaccination strategy for the asiapacific region . following this summit
, apaci will continue to work with its summit partners , the influenza foundation of thailand , the ministry of public health , thailand , and the world health organization ( who ) .
apaci will also support the network of influenza foundations and allied organisations that have been formed in the region .
partnership expansion and collaboration are pivotal to raising the awareness of influenza and making a difference with its control .
the summit opened with an overview of the influenza vaccine policies and guidelines in the asiapacific region from dr supamit chunsuttiwat , department of disease control , ministry of public health , thailand .
these varied widely , from countries with surveillance systems , knowledge of the burden of disease and influenza control strategies in place ; to those with no control strategies .
there remain a few countries where influenza surveillance is rudimentary , the burden of disease from influenza is not well defined , and policies for seasonal influenza vaccine use do not exist .
bridging the gaps and implementing policies present a number of challenges which can only be overcome by international collaborations .
this was followed by an update by dr john tam , global influenza programme , who , on the latest who recommendations for influenza vaccination.1 , 2 pregnant women are now identified as the highest priority group to receive seasonal influenza vaccine .
there were four other priority groups ( healthcare workers , children aged 6 months to 5 years , people aged 65 or more and people with preexisting chronic illnesses ) , but each country needs to decide its own prioritisation for these .
however , recommendations need to be translated into policy and that policy then needs to be implemented .
professor hitoshi oshitani , tohoku university graduate school of medicine , japan , discussed the evidence gaps for informing policy development . clearly , influenza vaccine use is related to the awareness of the burden of disease . in countries with good levels of vaccine uptake , good diagnostic capacity and good surveillance systems
support for influenza diagnosis , surveillance and vaccination has to compete with other health priorities , and strategies need to be developed to address this .
professor woo joo kim , department of internal medicine , korea university guro hospital , korea , extended the discussion on knowledge gaps for informing policy .
this information is important in planning countryspecific vaccine programmes as the seasonal patterns and duration of influenza virus circulation vary widely in the region .
knowing more about the quality and duration of protection would help decisions about which vaccine formulation to use and when it should be delivered.3
dr bram palache , on behalf of the ifpma influenza vaccine supply ( ivs ) international task force , geneva , switzerland , focused on the substantial differences between countries across the region that exist in vaccine use .
research has shown that government recommendations on vaccine use have a positive effect on vaccine uptake , but that reimbursement and effective communications were more influential .
professor janet mcelhaney , university of british columbia , usa , reviewed the five recognised highrisk groups for severe influenza , for which influenza vaccination is especially important .
there was a general consensus that these risk groups are relevant in all countries in the region .
however , there were some concerns expressed about a lack of data on efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccination within some of the risk groups , especially younger children under 2 years of age and the elderly . despite this , in view of the evidence gained from elsewhere , we should not delay advocating vaccination in these groups .
it was recognised that costeffectiveness data need to be gathered for individual countries to inform decisions about subsidised vaccinations .
there are also benefits of vaccination that extend beyond just preventing influenza and its complications in the recipient .
dr allison mcgeer , mount sinai hospital , canada , discussed the vaccination of pregnant women leading to healthier infants and protecting against influenza in early life .
also associate professor tawee chotipitayasunondh , queen sirikit national institute of child health , ministry of public health , thailand , presented data that showed vaccinating children has the potential to reduce virus circulation and protect others in the community .
for the 2064 year age group with chronic illnesses , the burden of disease is much higher than previously recognised and is similar to the burden among those 65 years and older .
improving vaccination in this group would improve the quality of life for these people , who have many remaining productive years . for individuals 65 years and older ,
the benefit of vaccination in improving health was noted , leading to an improved quality of life and reduced burden on the health system .
healthcare workers are a prime example of secondary benefits from vaccination , where the main role of vaccination is in protecting their patients rather than themselves .
the identification of and the communication of the benefits of vaccination to all of these priority groups present many challenges .
these include how to get wider recognition of the importance of influenza vaccination , achieve government endorsement , improve access to affordable vaccines , get healthcare practitioners to recommend and deliver vaccines and get patients and parents to ask for and accept vaccination .
the discussion , contributed by dr litjen tan , director , medicine and public health , american medical association , usa , and dr cornelia betsch , university of erfurt , germany , identified the need to improve communication with specialists , general practitioners , other immunisation providers and the public.5 recommendations from healthcare providers are critical motivators for vaccination , and there are many missed opportunities for vaccination in groups such as pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses when they visit healthcare providers .
patients also need information about the benefits of vaccination , but it must be delivered effectively .
proper communication of risk is pivotal , and the utilisation of the newer media tools including social media is gaining in relevance.6
lastly , dr wonchat subhachaturas , president , world medical association , discussed healthcare workers as posing a special challenge .
there was a consensus that it is important to provide healthcare workers with information on the benefits of vaccination to themselves and their patients , reassure them about vaccine safety and make vaccine accessible and at no cost .
unfortunately , although high rates of voluntary healthcare worker influenza vaccination have been achieved in some asiapacific countries , in many others this has still not been sufficient to achieve good vaccine uptake .
mandatory vaccination programmes have proven to be successful and well accepted in the us and parts of canada .
the summit concluded with a panel discussion led by professor 's david smith , cissy kartasasmita , janet mcelhaney , dr allison mcgeer and dr john tam that considered the many challenges to defining a way forward for influenza control in the asia pacific region .
the discussion commenced by reviewing the approaches used by selected countries for influenza vaccine guideline development and implementation within the asiapacific region .
australia experienced high demand and subsequent influenza vaccine shortages in the early 1990s , resulting in a major review of the implementation of their influenza vaccination programme .
this later led to the formation of an alliance of influenza , public health experts , professional foundations , along with key clinicians from each australian state , which is now called the influenza specialist group ( isg ) .
this group was industry funded and served to educate the key clinical opinion leaders , standardise the key messages on influenza , its severity and the benefits of vaccine nationally and essentially advocate for influenza vaccination .
australia had a preexisting programme of free vaccination for people aged 65 years and over , but the introduction of free influenza vaccines for the highrisk groups under 65 years came at a later stage following the generation of costeffectiveness data determined from robust evidence .
this is an important prerequisite for policy changes in relation to supply of free influenza vaccination .
vaccination in the philippines was driven by the private market which historically used the northern hemisphere vaccine formulation . following the review of available influenza surveillance data , prompted by apaci ,
it was recognised that this vaccine was being administered after the june / july peak in seasonal influenza activity , thus ; in 2002 , a change was made to the use of southern hemisphere formulation with administration prior to the june / july peak .
the philippines foundation for vaccination is a strong advocate for influenza vaccination in that country .
the philippines experience illustrates the need to understand the seasonality of influenza in each country to ensure the appropriate timing of vaccination and use of the most up to date influenza vaccine formulation .
the government encourages the vaccination of religious pilgrims although has no recommendations for compulsory vaccination , and has influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity for 200 000 doses of influenza vaccine annually which is administered to this group .
there are no immediate plans for the further development of the policy ; however , the indonesian influenza foundation ( iif ) is strongly advocating for this .
malaysia recommends vaccination for healthcare workers , the 65 year and over risk group and travellers to the hajj .
thailand is a regional success story as , since the formation of the influenza foundation of thailand ( ift ) in 2005 , has moved from seasonal vaccination focus on healthcare workers and poultry cullers following the a(h5n1 ) outbreak to the adoption of the who guidelines in 2008 with free vaccine being given to the elderly > 65 years and individuals with certain chronic conditions , then in 2010 to include pregnant women and children 623 months of age .
introduction of this policy involved a review of local data for the burden of disease in thailand , hospitalisation and the costeffectiveness of vaccination .
key success factors were strong evidence of disease burden , a clear vaccination strategy , systematic vaccination management , close monitoring and evaluation , and effective public communication .
sustainability of their programme is associated not only with funding , but also with evidence that they achieve the strategic outcomes . clearly barriers to governments establishing a control policy for seasonal vaccination include the lack of seasonality of influenza in some countries so that there is no clear seasonal impact and greater difficulty in determining when to vaccinate and which vaccine to use and other confounding public health priority issues such as endemic and epidemic h5n1 in poultry populations .
vaccine access was also identified as an issue in relation to halal manufactured influenza vaccine , which was produced to meet the criteria for travellers to the hajj and other religious pilgrimages .
the who influenza control stance is for a country to ( i ) establish its burden of disease for influenza , ( ii ) introduce a control policy , ( iii ) implement vaccination , managing supply and demand and cost , and ( iv ) establish targets and measure outcomes .
the who guidelines have not been universally adopted in the region , even though the member states through the world health assembly have agreed to introduce and increase the use of seasonal influenza vaccine.7 a target of 75% coverage for those 65 years and older was set for 2010 and only korea , australia and new zealand have met this target .
countries have been encouraged by the who to establish influenza surveillance to help define their burden of disease ; however , discussion questioned whether any more burden of disease data was really needed , when the published literature from thailand , singapore and hong kong already shows that the burden in the region is similar to that in countries with temperate climates .
it was suggested that some governments might be reluctant to introduce an influenza control policy as it would oblige them to fund it .
a strategy was proposed to help get countries started whereby they would be supported by the who with enough vaccine to vaccinate 2% of their population . if then distributed to defined adult risk groups , measurable benefits should be achieved .
this would allow an evidencebased , step by step expansion of the country vaccination programme .
clearly a number of countries have entered into technology transfer agreements with the who and now have influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity .
this has essentially been done to increase capacity for pandemic preparedness ; however , there appears to have been little thought given to the interpandemic sustainability of this capacity and the adoption of a seasonal influenza control strategy .
the lack of a common goal and unified messages were seen as barriers to influenza control strategy implementation .
a country must believe that it wants to prevent influenza and if so focus on the tools that are needed to achieve this .
there is a need for consistent messages to attract attention ( e.g. the western australian
snot funny campaign ) and/or to pull on the heart strings ( e.g. interviews with pregnant women who have had influenza ) .
health literacy , with public health professionals becoming more active and healthcare workers , as public health leaders , playing a greater role as influenza vaccine advocates .
overall there is a need to build general trust around vaccination , and this requires leadership from policy makers and healthcare professionals .
the occurrence of febrile convulsions in children following vaccination with a seasonal vaccine in australia led to both adverse media and a dramatic decline in paediatric vaccine uptake , as well as complicating the messages about the vaccination of children .
we need to move from discussing the risks associated with vaccination to what is a balanced risk between getting influenza and vaccination and give positive messages about the value of vaccination in
promoting health rather than the more negative messages about preventing disease. the implementation of control programmes should be as straight forward as possible .
adult vaccination strategies are often complex , while paediatric vaccination guidelines are relatively simple to introduce .
the us has moved towards a universal vaccination programme for children and adults as a way of capturing the risk groups difficult to target .
similarly adult vaccination campaigns targeted at all those aged 65 and over have been quite successful . in this group , it is important to emphasis the improvement in quality of life rather than duration ( i.e. add life to years , rather than years to life ) .
adults aged 1964 years with chronic illness have been much more difficult to target , and we need to find more effective ways of reaching this group , again emphasising positive messages .
the education of medical students needs to occur early in their training , ensuring that they get themselves vaccinated .
unfortunately , in a number of countries over the past 10 years , increased education along with improved access to vaccination in healthcare settings has not led to an increase in vaccine uptake .
the introduction of mandatory vaccination in the usa and canada has led to increased coverage from 4595% in some hospitals ; however , this has required a change in culture , where vaccination is accepted as a condition of patient safety , rather than just for the public and personal health benefits .
the discussion commenced by reviewing the approaches used by selected countries for influenza vaccine guideline development and implementation within the asiapacific region .
australia experienced high demand and subsequent influenza vaccine shortages in the early 1990s , resulting in a major review of the implementation of their influenza vaccination programme .
this later led to the formation of an alliance of influenza , public health experts , professional foundations , along with key clinicians from each australian state , which is now called the influenza specialist group ( isg ) .
this group was industry funded and served to educate the key clinical opinion leaders , standardise the key messages on influenza , its severity and the benefits of vaccine nationally and essentially advocate for influenza vaccination .
australia had a preexisting programme of free vaccination for people aged 65 years and over , but the introduction of free influenza vaccines for the highrisk groups under 65 years came at a later stage following the generation of costeffectiveness data determined from robust evidence .
this is an important prerequisite for policy changes in relation to supply of free influenza vaccination .
vaccination in the philippines was driven by the private market which historically used the northern hemisphere vaccine formulation . following the review of available influenza surveillance data , prompted by apaci
, it was recognised that this vaccine was being administered after the june / july peak in seasonal influenza activity , thus ; in 2002 , a change was made to the use of southern hemisphere formulation with administration prior to the june / july peak .
the philippines foundation for vaccination is a strong advocate for influenza vaccination in that country .
the philippines experience illustrates the need to understand the seasonality of influenza in each country to ensure the appropriate timing of vaccination and use of the most up to date influenza vaccine formulation .
the government encourages the vaccination of religious pilgrims although has no recommendations for compulsory vaccination , and has influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity for 200 000 doses of influenza vaccine annually which is administered to this group .
there are no immediate plans for the further development of the policy ; however , the indonesian influenza foundation ( iif ) is strongly advocating for this .
malaysia recommends vaccination for healthcare workers , the 65 year and over risk group and travellers to the hajj .
thailand is a regional success story as , since the formation of the influenza foundation of thailand ( ift ) in 2005 , has moved from seasonal vaccination focus on healthcare workers and poultry cullers following the a(h5n1 ) outbreak to the adoption of the who guidelines in 2008 with free vaccine being given to the elderly > 65 years and individuals with certain chronic conditions , then in 2010 to include pregnant women and children 623 months of age .
introduction of this policy involved a review of local data for the burden of disease in thailand , hospitalisation and the costeffectiveness of vaccination .
key success factors were strong evidence of disease burden , a clear vaccination strategy , systematic vaccination management , close monitoring and evaluation , and effective public communication .
sustainability of their programme is associated not only with funding , but also with evidence that they achieve the strategic outcomes .
clearly barriers to governments establishing a control policy for seasonal vaccination include the lack of seasonality of influenza in some countries so that there is no clear seasonal impact and greater difficulty in determining when to vaccinate and which vaccine to use and other confounding public health priority issues such as endemic and epidemic h5n1 in poultry populations .
vaccine access was also identified as an issue in relation to halal manufactured influenza vaccine , which was produced to meet the criteria for travellers to the hajj and other religious pilgrimages .
the who influenza control stance is for a country to ( i ) establish its burden of disease for influenza , ( ii ) introduce a control policy , ( iii ) implement vaccination , managing supply and demand and cost , and ( iv ) establish targets and measure outcomes .
the who guidelines have not been universally adopted in the region , even though the member states through the world health assembly have agreed to introduce and increase the use of seasonal influenza vaccine.7 a target of 75% coverage for those 65 years and older was set for 2010 and only korea , australia and new zealand have met this target .
countries have been encouraged by the who to establish influenza surveillance to help define their burden of disease ; however , discussion questioned whether any more burden of disease data was really needed , when the published literature from thailand , singapore and hong kong already shows that the burden in the region is similar to that in countries with temperate climates .
it was suggested that some governments might be reluctant to introduce an influenza control policy as it would oblige them to fund it .
a strategy was proposed to help get countries started whereby they would be supported by the who with enough vaccine to vaccinate 2% of their population . if then distributed to defined adult risk groups , measurable benefits should be achieved .
this would allow an evidencebased , step by step expansion of the country vaccination programme .
clearly a number of countries have entered into technology transfer agreements with the who and now have influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity .
this has essentially been done to increase capacity for pandemic preparedness ; however , there appears to have been little thought given to the interpandemic sustainability of this capacity and the adoption of a seasonal influenza control strategy .
the lack of a common goal and unified messages were seen as barriers to influenza control strategy implementation .
a country must believe that it wants to prevent influenza and if so focus on the tools that are needed to achieve this .
there is a need for consistent messages to attract attention ( e.g. the western australian
snot funny campaign ) and/or to pull on the heart strings ( e.g. interviews with pregnant women who have had influenza ) .
the need for a cultural change was repeatedly mentioned and referred to as health literacy , with public health professionals becoming more active and healthcare workers , as public health leaders , playing a greater role as influenza vaccine advocates .
overall there is a need to build general trust around vaccination , and this requires leadership from policy makers and healthcare professionals .
the occurrence of febrile convulsions in children following vaccination with a seasonal vaccine in australia led to both adverse media and a dramatic decline in paediatric vaccine uptake , as well as complicating the messages about the vaccination of children .
we need to move from discussing the risks associated with vaccination to what is a balanced risk between getting influenza and vaccination and give positive messages about the value of vaccination in promoting health rather than the more negative messages about preventing disease. the implementation of control programmes should be as straight forward as possible .
adult vaccination strategies are often complex , while paediatric vaccination guidelines are relatively simple to introduce .
the us has moved towards a universal vaccination programme for children and adults as a way of capturing the risk groups difficult to target .
similarly adult vaccination campaigns targeted at all those aged 65 and over have been quite successful . in this group , it is important to emphasis the improvement in quality of life rather than duration ( i.e. add life to years , rather than years to life ) .
adults aged 1964 years with chronic illness have been much more difficult to target , and we need to find more effective ways of reaching this group , again emphasising positive messages .
the education of medical students needs to occur early in their training , ensuring that they get themselves vaccinated .
unfortunately , in a number of countries over the past 10 years , increased education along with improved access to vaccination in healthcare settings has not led to an increase in vaccine uptake .
the introduction of mandatory vaccination in the usa and canada has led to increased coverage from 4595% in some hospitals ; however , this has required a change in culture , where vaccination is accepted as a condition of patient safety , rather than just for the public and personal health benefits .
the first asiapacific influenza summit has facilitated the open and wide ranging discussion on influenza control policy issues and influenza vaccination policy implementation and has identified some of the tools needed by participants to assist with policy implementation and advocacy within their own countries in the region .
the formation of alliances to promote and implement influenza control policy is a strategy which has proved to be successful within individual countries and regionally .
the first such alliance in the region was formed in australia ( healthcare professionals and nongovernment organisations ) in the mid1990s , then in new zealand ( private / public partnership involving the ministry of health ) in 2000 .
the regional alliance , apaci , was formed in 2002 and has identified key opinion leaders in the region and assisted with the formation of influenza foundations in thailand , india and indonesia and supported other professional groups . of significance
, the influenza foundation of thailand has been instrumental in influencing policy changes and increased vaccine uptake in their country .
additional apaci education initiatives have involved the development of a website www.apaci.asia , an online regional newsletter influenza ( formerly asian focus ) , a regular media bulletin , translated influenza resources ( available online ) and collaborative research projects .
apaci will continue to foster the development of new alliances and support existing alliances to promote influenza awareness in the region . a major issue for the region involves the multiple influenza vaccine policies in existence in different countries , with varying adherence to who recommendations .
some countries have access to influenza vaccine , but without any policy in place to deliver vaccine to highrisk groups .
countries within the region need to agree on policy direction ; however , there has been no consensus on how to move countries in this direction .
the first asiapacific influenza summit has contributed to a coordinated approach by promoting discussion between key organisations , policy makers and opinion leaders from the region and reinforcing the who recommendations on influenza vaccination .
future apaci meetings will build on what has been learnt , strengthen alliances and share influenza control strategies that have been successfully implemented in the region .
influenza risk communication to policy makers , healthcare professionals and patients is an area of vaccine advocacy in need of improvement .
identifying the best ways to communicate the right messages to different cultural groups within diverse countries in the region is challenging .
we recognise that different messaging will need to be used to address the concerns of pregnant women in comparison with diabetics and healthcare workers and , for example , those in china in comparison with those in india .
also , more effective ways of informing and engaging healthcare practitioners are required to ensure that they seek vaccination for themselves and that they advocate it to their patients .
clearly , as a part of influenza vaccine advocacy , apaci needs to develop its central role in risk communication and more effective messaging about influenza vaccination in the asiapacific region . | pubmed |
Telelift GmbH is a worldwide operating German engineering company which develops and installs advanced logistics systems Monorail conveyor for hospitals, libraries, industry and security-related applications. The systems provide a comprehensive transport automation of light materials handling and have no limits in number of operator stations for both sending and receiving of goods in closed and locked container vehicles.
Telelift is headquartered in Maisach, near Munich in Germany and has three subsidiaries in Berlin, Stuttgart and Singapore.
History
Telelift was founded in 1964 in Munich. In the same year, the first of numerous patents was granted for an electric track vehicle system which was the start to a long lasting and still remaining business success in many countries, mainly in Europe and America, but also in Asia, Middle East and Australia. A professional distribution brought hundreds of so-called UniCar systems to many hospitals, libraries and administration buildings. HSBC headquarters for example in London and Hong Kong operate large Telelift systems with hundreds of transport trolleys.
A second product line was an AGV automated guided vehicle called TransCar which was installed from 1974 2012 in dozens of hospitals in Europe and Asia.
In 1989, Thyssen bought Telelift GmbH, integrated its own library automation system type MultiLift and added the Siemens track system type Simacom VT. In 1999, a Swiss company bought Telelift GmbH and integrated it into their healthcare solutions group. In 2012, Telelift GmbH was sold and is privately owned again.
To date, more that 1,300 Telelift systems have been installed in over 40 countries.
Products
Telelift develops and produces rail-bound conveying system for transporting goods up to 50 kg in buildings and production plants. Unique character of all system is a three-dimensional traffic routing, 100 system monitoring and Industry 4.0 qualified implementation. Healthcare has the largest market share. About 500 systems have been installed to hospitals, increase hygiene standards significantly and drop the number of lower-educated transportation staff. Other markets are libraries from 250,000 books, administration buildings with security demand and industry applications automotive and food industries.
External links
Website of Telelift GmbH
References
Category:Engineering companies of Germany
Category:German brands
Category:Logistics companies of Germany
Category:Privately held companies of Germany
Category:Companies established in 1964 | wikipedia |
Education About Asia: Online Archives
Labor Migration in Central Asia: Will Kazakhstan Be the Anchor for Stability
Labor Migration in Post-Soviet Central Asia
The five former Soviet states of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan may collectively be referred to as Central Asia. In the quarter-century since these countries gained independence, their geopolitical importance has become obvious. Not only does this region serve as a classic buffer zone between Russia and the turmoil in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but they also hold large reserves of hydrocarbon and hydroelectric energy, and lie directly astraddle China's massive One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. Linking Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and South Asia, Central Asia serves as both conduit and insulator between these vital regions. Kazakhstan has the largest area, economy, and the second-largest population, and is critical to the economic stability of the entire region.
Advances in automation notwithstanding, a sufficient amount of labor remains a key component to any growing economy. During the Soviet period, labor migration was limited in the region, but after independence, considerable numbers of workers initiated both intraregional and interregional movement across the former Soviet space. This migration was facilitated by the fact that a large proportion of the labor force shared a number of common characteristics, most importantly the Russian language.
Political map of Kazakhstan. Source: The Nations Online Project at https://tinyurl.com/orwlqbf.
Indeed, the wide use of Russian had some negative consequences, as this meant that Slavs, who now found themselves in the minority in all the new Central Asian states, could easily depart to the Slavic portions of the former USSR. In the early days of independence, labor migration was, in fact, detrimental to the economic stability and development of the Central Asian states. Large numbers of highly skilled professionals, mostly ethnic Slavs, departed the entire region, and especially Kazakhstan, for Russia, Ukraine, or countries farther abroad. Other groups, such as a sizable minority of ethnic Germans, had begun an exodus in the 1980s prior to independence. The last Soviet census conducted in 1989 indicated that 37 percent of Kazakhstan's population was ethnically Russian; data from 2016 show that the percentage of Russians has fallen to slightly over 20 percent.1
Source: Based on data available at the Kazakhstan Ministry of National Economy Statistics Committee website at
https://tinyurl.com/y7uwbwwr
The negative impact of this migration was proportional to the percentage of Slavic workers in the particular country. For example, in Uzbekistan, where only about 6 percent of the population was ethnically Russian at independence, the "brain drain" of Slavic professionals was felt less acutely, although even in this instance it must be noted that the geographic distribution of this cohort exacerbated the harmful effect. This was because a disproportionate share of Russians lived in the country's urban areas, especially Tashkent, and worked in industry, business, or the professions. The loss of these workers had a more serious impact on the economy than if they had been employed in agriculture, for example, especially since labor in that sector was notoriously underproductive on a per capita basis.
In Kazakhstan, however, the emigration of Russian labor was much more consequential. A number of historical factors, including several waves of Slavic immigration, extending from the late nineteenth century to the so-called Virgin Lands campaign promulgated by Nikita Khrushchev in the 1950s, had dramatically increased the percentage of Slavic groups in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) by the late 1980s, although some data indicate that Slavs were migrating out of Kazakhstan even prior to the collapse of Soviet authority. This succession of Slavic settlers into Kazakhstan, along with the catastrophic decline of the Kazakh population during the collectivization of agriculture in the 1930s, had the effect of actually making the Kazakhs less than a majority in their titular republic by the 1970s. Nearly a million people perished during collectivization from 1928 to 1934 in the Kazakh SSR, and the great majority of those lost were ethnic Kazakhs, who fiercely resisted the Soviet authorities.2
Thus, in the early 1990s, Russians and other Slavs made up close to 40 percent of the population in Kazakhstan. As in Uzbekistan, the geographic distribution of this group is key to its importance in the economy. The Russian population in Kazakhstan is highly concentrated in the northern oblasts (regions), in what is the industrial heartland of the country. Some southern urban areas, especially the city of Almaty, also hold sizable clusters of Russians. The emigration of Russians accelerated after independence in 1991, when Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev implemented policies designed to restore the Kazakh language and culture from the second-class status they had suffered under the Soviet administration.3 The Kazakh language, for example, was made the official language of the new state, although the regime was careful to award Russian the official position of "language of interethnic communication." In the early years of independence, the outflow of ethnic Russians, many of them highly educated professionals, technicians, and managers, was substantial. The departure of the Russian labor force was seen as such a crisis that articles appeared in the Kazakh press imploring the Russian minority to remain in Kazakhstan.4
Migrant workers in Kazakhstan. From the video Valeriy Kaliyev: Migrant Workers in Kazakhstan. Source: Open Society Foundation's YouTube video at https://tinyurl.com/yd2f6jtv. Photo by Valeriy Kaliyev.
The loss of labor was especially problematic given that Kazakhstan's petroleum industry in the early 1990s was expanding at an exponential rate, and the country held less than seventeen million people on a territory comparable in size to the portion of the United States east of the Mississippi River. The country witnessed a serious decline in population during the first decade of independence. Between 1992 and 2002, the total population of Kazakhstan dropped from 16,451,000 to 14,846,000, a loss of 10 percent in only a decade.5 Indeed, the problem of labor was viewed as so critical that Kazakhstan pursued policies aimed at enticing ethnic Kazakhs to return from surrounding regions, the so-called oralmanlar, to bolster the new country's population, as well as increase the percentage of ethnic Kazakhs in the country. In 2010, the Nazarbayev government even proposed a program to provide long-term leases of agricultural land in southern Kazakhstan to thousands of Chinese farm workers, a suggestion that was overwhelmingly unpopular among the country's citizens, and which was eventually abandoned.6
The Economics of Extremism
Ironically, Kazakhstan's labor woes may offer a path to stabilizing the regional economy in Central Asia, leading to broader economic development across the region. This stabilization may be achieved by Kazakhstan offering employment opportunities to labor migrants from its three neighbors: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, all of which have a history of struggling economies and excess labor supply. This, in turn, would have the potential result of minimizing the attraction of radical, anti-Western rhetoric emanating from the websites and pulpits of extremist Islamic groups. It should be emphasized that such groups have a limited appeal to youth in the region, but some violent groups have materialized in the twenty-five years since independence. These organizations have been composed primarily of Uzbeks and Tajiks, with a smattering of Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, and Turkmen involved. This ethnic composition is relevant and revealing in that the primary sources of recruitment for radical groups in Central Asia are those countries that have not succeeded in providing employment opportunities to many of their young men.
A case in point is the historically most violent radical group in Central Asia, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).7 The IMU emerged from the organization known as "Adolat" in the late 1990s in the city of Namangan in eastern Uzbekistan. For a brief period, Adolat represented a serious challenge to the authority of Uzbek President Islom Karimov, but Karimov promptly cracked down on the group, driving its leadership out of the country and eventually into an alliance with the Taliban and al-Qaeda. The IMU mounted several armed incursions into Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from bases in Tajikistan and Afghanistan between 1999 and 2001, and may have been responsible for a mass bombing in Tashkent in February 1999. The IMU and its splinter groups drew recruits who were almost exclusively Uzbek, with much smaller numbers from the other major Central Asian ethnic groups. At its apogee, the IMU had several thousand men under arms in the region, although combat deaths and the loss of bases in northern Afghanistan have reduced the organization's influence and activities considerably.8
Although it sponsored the most spectacular incidents of extremist violence in the 1990s and early 2000s, the IMU has been largely replaced by other radical Islamic groups in the Central Asian states. These include ISIS and Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HT), along with a number of splinter groups and unrelated organizations. Several "ISIS-inspired" acts of violence have shaken Kazakhstan in recent years. In June 2016, a mob of armed young men stormed a military base in the city of Aktobe, resulting in twenty-five deaths. A month later, a gunman opened fire on a police station in Almaty, killing ten people. Kazakh security forces claim to have foiled at least eight more planned "terrorist" attacks that year. Outside the region, Central Asian extremists have joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq. The Soufan Group, an independent think tank, estimated in 2017 that as many as 1,500 Uzbeks were fighting in the ranks of ISIS in the Middle East.
It must be highlighted that the sputtering and stagnant economies of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are not the sole, and likely not even the main, reason that young Uzbeks and Tajiks have made up the largest share of extremist groups. Historically, the urbanized Uzbeks and Tajiks had a much higher level of Islamic religiosity than the nomadic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Turkmen. Many of the latter were not converted to Islam until the eighteenth century, and the great Kazakh man of letters, Cholkan Valikhanov, noted in the nineteenth century that "Islam had failed to enter the blood" of his ethnic brethren. Therefore, it is generally accepted among both Western scholars and those residing in the region that Uzbeks and Tajiks are "more Islamic" than the traditionally nomadic peoples of the region.9
But the economic factor in the radicalization of Central Asian youth cannot be disregarded. One of the few studies that directly interviewed soldiers from the IMU revealed that many young Uzbeks joined the organization not from a commitment to radical Islamic beliefs, but for economic reasons.10 When the IMU was receiving financial support from the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in the late 1990s, and was supplementing this funding with profits taken from drug smuggling operations, the IMU was able to pay its soldiers wages that significantly exceeded those offered on the collective farms in rural Uzbekistan and elsewhere in the region. Moreover, unemployment rates in the rural areas of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and western Kyrgyzstan may have been higher than 20 percent in the early 2000s. While some radicals in Central Asia are indeed committed ideologues, there is little doubt that a significant number of the IMU's supporters arrived not as committed Islamic ideologues, but rather as economic migrants, seeking employment or at least higher wages than those obtainable at home. Frustrated, economically and socially marginalized young men (and, increasingly, women as well) in Central Asia are drawn to the utopian visions of those who seek to create an Islamic state (caliphate) in Central Asia or elsewhere, partially because of the egalitarian society such visions promise.
Migration's Role in Political Stabilization
The labor supply and demand regimes of Kazakhstan and its neighbors have been complementary for much of the period of independence. High rates of population growth in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, already in place prior to Soviet disintegration, have generated excess labor supply in economies that have failed to rapidly expand and produce sufficient employment opportunities for many entering the workforce. In Kazakhstan, declining population and an exodus of skilled labor, in tandem with a high rate of foreign investment and high rates of economic growth, led to a deficit of labor. For the past fifteen years, sizable numbers of labor migrants from the tier of states to Kazakhstan's immediate south have flowed into the country.
The number of migrant workers moving into Kazakhstan has shifted somewhat over the past twenty years, with the total number of guest workers peaking around 2007. Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of international sanctions against Moscow, Kazakhstan attracted up to 1.2 million labor migrants. Since 2014, because of the sanctions' effect on the Russian economy, Kazakhstan's most important trading partner, and the simultaneous decline in global oil prices, Kazakhstan's economy has been contracting for several years. Subsequently, the number of migrants in Kazakhstan has dropped dramatically over the past four years. The GDP growth rate for Kazakhstan's economy dropped from 6 percent in 2013 to 1 percent in 2016.
The best estimates indicate that the great majority of these workers had previously arrived from Kazakhstan's "poor" neighbors, with some data indicating that as many as 85 percent of the country's migrant labor force came from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, a total figure of approximately 1,020,000, representing close to 15 percent of the entire labor force. This is the percentage for those in Kazakhstan legally, and it is assumed by most scholars and government officials that the number of illegal workers is at least equal to the figure of those working legally. Thus, up to 30 percent of Kazakhstan's labor force may be composed of immigrants from its southern neighbors.
The number of immigrant laborers from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan is quite remarkable, given that before 2013 there was no legal framework for migrants from these countries to work long term in Kazakhstan. Uzbeks and Tajiks either stayed in Kazakhstan illegally or engaged in "rotational migration," working up to the limit of their visas (typically thirty days) and then rotating out of the country for a period, only to return for another thirty-day stint as soon as possible. This is actually a more profitable employment pattern for many Uzbeks and Tajiks than taking a similar job in their home countries, especially those working in the manual labor sector. Average wages in Kazakhstan are almost ten times higher than in Tajikistan and estimated to be six to seven times higher than in Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan economic update from fall 2017. Source: Graphic from the article "Kazakhstan's Economy Is Rising—Is Still All About Oil" on The World Bank website at https://tinyurl.com/y7gy4d73.
The potential of Kazakhstan to produce employment opportunities for the entire Central Asian region has been masked by the economic downturn since 2014. However, at some point, possibly in the near future, global oil prices will rebound and the economic limitations imposed on the Vladimir Putin regime by the US, EU, and others will be relaxed or lifted. Supported by the revenues coming from its large oil fields, the economy of Kazakhstan will be poised for extensive growth. The labor to support that expansion is available from only one source—the neighboring states lying along the country's southern margin.
Efforts such as the Eurasian Economic Union notwithstanding,11 a unified labor market allowing for the free transfer of labor across state boundaries in Central Asia would benefit the entire region economically. It would also have the likely effect of reducing the potential appeal of radical Islamic dogma to many young Central Asians. It is impossible to quantify the reduction in potential recruits to fringe religious groups as a result of increased employment opportunities, and it would be naïve to assume that such integration would completely eliminate the attraction extremism holds for some youth in the region. However, recent scholarship supports the theory that economic deprivation may contribute substantially to the rise of radical Islam.12 Improved economic opportunities for young Uzbeks, Tajiks, and others would almost certainly mitigate, if not negate, the growth of Islamic extremism.
Important changes in the political landscape of Central Asia have recently taken place. After decades of tensions, Uzbekistan's new president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has moved to dramatically improve his country's relationship with neighbors Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. This has led to the resurrection of the concept of a single economic space in Central Asia, an idea that may prove vital in advancing both economic development and political stability for the whole of Central Asia. Kazakhstan, the region's most powerful economy, stands at the center of such potential integration. Increased economic integration among the five states of Central Asia holds the promise to bolster trade linkages to surrounding states like Russia and Afghanistan, and in conjunction with China's OBOR initiative may stimulate an increase in economic standards that nullifies the appeal of radical agendas among the region's youth.13 But in order to achieve these goals, two challenges must be addressed: do the current leaders of the Central Asian states recognize this potential, and do they have the willpower, wherewithal, and vision to see it come to fruition? ■
Bolat L. Tatibekov and Reuel R. Hanks, Gravity Model of Ethnic Migration and Its Manifestation in Kazakhstan (Kaskelen: Kazakhstan, Suleyman Demirel University, 2017), 29.
A substantial amount of research on this period has been conducted by both Western and, more recently, Kazakh scholars. Robert Conquest's Harvest of Sorrow, directed primarily at the Holodomor in Ukraine, offers a chapter devoted entirely to the simultaneous devastation in Kazakhstan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1986). A recent assessment by Kazakh scholars based on archival records from the Karaganda region is A.I. Ongarbaeva and Z.G. Saktaganov, "Some Fragments of the Collectivization of Agriculture in Central Kazakhstan in 1930s," Series: History and Philosophy (rough English translation) 82, no. 2 (2016): 69–74. Available at https:// tinyurl.com/ybvemvge.
Reuel R. Hanks, "Directions in the Ethnic Politics of Kazakhstan: Concession, Compromise or Catastrophe?" Journal of Third World Studies 15, no. 1 (1998): 143–162.
For one example, see Aidar Adilbekov, "Don't Go, Your Home is Here," Kazakhstanskaia Pravda, December 8, 1994, 2.
See the chart in Bolat L. Tatibekov and Reuel R. Hanks, 33.
A public opinion survey conducted in Kazakhstan by the International Republican Institute and Gallup in 2010 found that a staggering 81 percent of those surveyed were against leasing land to Chinese farmers, a rare repudiation of public policy in authoritarian Kazakhstan. See page 19 of the "National Public Opinion Poll" conducted by the International Republican Institute and the Gallup Organization (funded by USAID), April 2010.
We do not include Afghanistan in the term "Central Asia" in this calculation; we are only considering those groups who have committed acts of terrorism within the borders of the former Soviet republics.
We are not suggesting that the IMU has been rendered impotent or irrelevant. The group continues to be a menace to stability and peace in the broader region, as evidenced by a well-planned attack on the Karachi airport in June 2014. Recent intelligence indicates that the group has been reduced to approximately 200–300 fighters and is almost wholly dependent on the support of Pakistani extremist warlords.
Having spent considerable time in Kazakhstan over the past decade, the authors can anecdotally observe that female Kazakh friends and colleagues will readily note, when pressed on the matter of Islamic religiosity and practice, that "our women never wore the veil," unlike the case among the ancestors of the modern Uzbeks and Tajiks. They will also express proudly that in traditional Kazakh society, women frequently held considerable social and political power.
See Martha Brill Olcott, Roots of Radical Islam in Central Asia (Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for Peace, 2007).
Some Central Asian states have remained outside the structure of the Eurasian Economic Union, as the organization is seen by some leaders as an effort by Moscow to dominate and control the economies of the region. There is also the potential detriment of holding ties that are too close to Russia, made clear in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in the aftermath of sanctions imposed on Moscow after 2014.
A compelling argument on this point is presented in Alan Richards, Socio-Economic Roots of Radicalism: Towards Explaining the Appeal of Islamic Radicals (Collingdale, PA: DIANE Publishing, 2003).
Some argue that Kazakhstan is positioning itself as the "capital" of the Chinese project. See Udi Shaham, "Kazakhstan Seeks Role as Capital of 'New Silk Road,'" Jerusalem Post, June 26, 2017.
REUEL R. HANKS is Professor of Geography at Oklahoma State University and Editor of the Journal of Central Asian Studies. A Fulbright Scholar in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 1995, he has published more than a dozen articles and book chapters on Central Asia, Islam in Central Asia, foreign policy, and political geography. He is the author of Uzbekistan in the World Bibliographical Series (ABC-CLIO, 1999), Central Asia: A Global Studies Handbook (ABC-CLIO, 2005), and Global Security Watch: Central Asia (Praeger International, 2010). He has taught at Tashkent State Economics University, Samarkand State Institute for Foreign Languages, KIMEP (Almaty, Kazakhstan), and Eurasian National University (Astana, Kazakhstan).
BOLAT L. TATIBEKOV is Director of the Institute for Economic, Social and Business Studies at Suleyman Demirel University in Kaskelen, Kazakhstan. He was a Fulbright Scholar in 2010 and has taught extensively in the United States and Japan, as well as at several institutions in his native Kazakhstan. He has served as a consultant and adviser to the Kazakh government on topics of economic development and migration, and has published widely on those fields, as well as on related topics.
Bolat L. Tatibekov
Reuel R. Hanks
Published Fall 2018
Volume Volume 23:2 (Fall 2018): Demographics, Social Policy, and Asia (Part II)
Category Feature Article
Academic field(s) Border Crossings, Demography, Geography, Political Science
Country Kazakhstan
Region China and Inner Asia | slim_pajama |
What is the correct molecular, total ionic, and net ionic reaction equation of reaction between magnesium nitrate and sodium chromate? [closed]
**Closed.** This question is [off-topic](/help/closed-questions). It is not currently accepting answers.
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From the question, I think that the reactants are $$\ce{Mg(NO3)2(aq) + Na2CrO4(aq)}$$
But the problem is, I am confused about the result of the reaction. Is it $$\ce{MgCrO4}$$ and/or $$\ce{NaNO3}$$?
How is the state of the product? In my opinion, there should be at least $$\ce{NaNO3(aq)}$$ as the product, but what about the magnesium chromate? Is it really magnesium chromate or it is something else?
There is no solvated molecule of either of 4 ionic compounds. All interactions ( or lack of ) happen on hydrated ionic level, including eventual precipitation or formation of [ionic pairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_association).
All four salts are soluble, including [magnesium chromate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium_chromate) with the solubility $\pu{137 g/100 mL}$ at $\pu{20^{\circ}C}$ [(solubility table)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solubility_table#M).
When dissolved, salts form independent hydrated ions:
$\ce{Mg(NO3)2(s) + Na2CrO4(s) ->[H2O] Mg^2+(aq) + 2 NO3-(aq) + 2 Na+(aq) +CrO4^2-(aq)}$
If the solution is being evaporated, the salt with lowest solubility starts precipitating the first, with the repective ions recombining into the solid, stripping off their hydration cover.
The same solution is formed, if we start with equivalent amounts of the other two salts:
$\ce{2 NaNO3(s) + MgCrO4(s) ->[H2O] Mg^2+(aq) + 2 NO3-(aq) + 2 Na+(aq) +CrO4^2-(aq)}$
Ions have no memory which ions they were paired with in the solid state.
This question shows up a couple times in a google search, e.g.
>
> [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mjFLH.png)
>
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> Source: <https://faculty.uscupstate.edu/cbender/Web%20page%20folder%20enmass/CHM111L/NIE%20answers%20worksheet%20update%20Su2013.pdf>
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>
or
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> [](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ujx4p.png)
> Source: <https://www.fusd1.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=10419&dataid=21159&FileName=Net%20Ionic%20Equations%20worksheet.pdf>
>
>
>
However, it seems that magnesium chromate is soluble in water, so there is no precipitation reaction (see Poutnik's answer).
If you have an abbreviated set of solubility rules, you might think that magnesium chromate is insoluble:
>
> The carbonates, phosphates, borates, sulfites,
> chromates and arsenates of all metals except sodium,
> potassium and ammonium are insoluble in water but
> soluble in dilute acids. $\ce{MgCrO4}$ is soluble in water;
> $\ce{MgSO3}$ is slightly soluble in water.
>
>
> Source: <https://www.chem.tamu.edu/rgroup/hughbanks/courses/102/slides/slides13_2.pdf>
>
>
>
So if you miss the statement about $\ce{MgCrO4}$ and $\ce{MgSO3}$ being an exception, you might think otherwise.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Force can only come from force, right? [closed]
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Force is the interaction between objects, so force can only come from force, right?
1. Can force come from velocity?
2. Is the cause of one force another?
Rate of change of momentum of the two bodies experience the forces this force occurs in pair, because there will be a change in the momentum of both bodies which is what newton third law says. So answer to your question is force come from momentum and momentum come from velocity. (keeping mass same).
Some forces do not arise from other forces, such as the gravitational and electric forces. To stick with the way OP put it, they "come from" mass and charge (at least in a manner appropriate for the level of this question). Similarly for the nuclear forces.
Some forces could be said to "come from other forces", such as friction really being a result of the electromagnetic force. When you boil it down, there are four fundamental forces known in the universe: Gravitational, Electromagnetic, Strong Nuclear, and Weak Nuclear. These are the forces that cannot be said to arise from other forces.
Note: Although mathematically speaking net force depends on acceleration/change in momentum, philosophically speaking it may be more right to say the net force causes the acceleration (the force does not "come from" the motion).
Force actually arises from the interaction of fields with objects but in a way, yes. Note that the forces are independent of each other and exist simultaneously such that net force is zero.
I don’t believe the origin of a force need be another force.
I have a gas in a cylinder fitted with a piston. The gas is in equilibrium with its surroundings and there is no net force on the piston. I now heat the gas which then expands resulting in a net force that pushes the piston and doing work on the surroundings.
I would argue that the source of the net force on the piston is not another force, but heat. And the interaction between the heat source and the gas in not a macroscopic force but heat transfer.
A force can come from velocity, but only from a change in velocity. For example if an object is moving at constant velocity with no force applied to it collides with another object that brings the first object to a stop, the second object applies a force to the first doing work to bring it to a stop according to the work energy theorem which states the net work done on an object equals its change in kinetic energy or
$$W\_{net}=F\_{ave}d=\frac{mv^2}{2}$$
Where $F\_{ave}$ is the average stopping force, $d$ is the stopping distance and $v$ is the velocity of the object just prior to impact.
Hope this helps.
Force is Mass times acceleration. So I believe as mass is not going anywhere, its acceleration,i.e., rate of change of velocity that gives rise to the presence of 'Force'.
F = ma
So in a way, Force does rise from the change of velocity of an object.
| stackexchange/physics |
Can we synthesize alcohols by the photolysis of hydrogen peroxide?
As I was going through my revision of organic chemistry, I came across free radical substitution of alkanes with halogens. In a similar process where we use **hydrogen peroxide**, instead of chlorine, so that photolysis would yield a hydroxide radical $\ce{OH.}$ instead of chlorine radical $\ce{Cl.}$. The rest of the steps would be the regular mechanism of This way we can get an alcohol instead of alkyl chloride. Here is what I mean:
\begin{align}
\ce{H-O-O-H &->[h\nu]H-O. + .O-H}\\
\ce{CH3-CH3 + .O-H &-> CH3-CH2. + H2O}\\
\ce{CH3-CH. + .O-H &-> CH3-CH2-OH}\\
\end{align}
Does my hypothesis work in reality?
I am aware of the fact that dialkyl peroxides cannot be used since they are highly explosive. However, hydrogen peroxide isn't that explosive, so I think that its safe to use it. Since $\ce{H2O2}$ is a liquid, while alkanes and $\ce{Cl2}$ are gases, the reaction with $\ce{H2O2}$ could be done at low pressure. We could photolyse the $\ce{HO-OH}$ bond using light of a sufficient frequency, which probably should initiate a free radical reaction.
I did a few calculations and got the maximum wavelength of light needed to photolyse the $\ce{O-O}$ bond is $\pu{0.0084m}$, which is pretty low. So I think it's possible to photolyse $\ce{H2O2}$ and carry on the reaction.
I do not believe so.
The mechanism of decomposition of $\ce{H2O2}$ is:
$\ce{H2O2(g) -> 2HO.(g)}$
$\ce{H2O2(g) + .OH(g) -> H2O(g) + HOO.(g)}$
$\ce{HOO.(g) + .OH(g) -> H2O(g) + O2(g)}$
$\ce{.OH(g), HOO.(g)}$ are both radical compounds.
If you take a look at the first step in the mechanism, it is the rate limiting step and it is the same as your first step in the mechanism, the photolysis step. Therefore if $\ce{H2O2}$ undergoes partial photolysis all that will happen is that the sample will undergo decomposition quicker.
Additionally, your mechanism of oxidation has been proposed before. You can take a look at this [article](http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/6/4/50/htm), in the section Mechanism of Oxidation by Peroxides: Radical or not Radical, That is the Question, in the end of subsection 4.1 and 4.2 they refer to the mechanism you proposed. They end up proving that it proceeds through a concerted mechanism that requires the presence of a suitable metal catalyst. It involves oxidative insertion or some type of $\ce{C-H}$ insertion by the metal followed by oxidation of the product of that reaction.
But say the generation of hydroxyl radicals does work out, the corresponding alcohol may not be the only product that forms. Hydroperoxides have a tendency of forming as well. This is because hydrogen peroxide tends to decompose into oxygen and water, the oxygen can interact with the alkyl radical to form hydroperoxides. Along with the fact that the alcohol formed will tend to undergo oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals.
Also if you are still going to try the reaction, the bond dissociation energy of the $\ce{O-O}$ single bond is around 146 kJ per mole. So the energy per molecule is $\ce{2.433\times10^{-19} J}$. So the maximum wavelength of light to ionize this is $\ce{8.21\times10^{-7} m}$. Your calculation is a little off, it is in the near infrared range (you may have forgot to convert from kilojoules to joules or something like that). This is why hydrogen peroxide is stored in dark bottles and told to not be put in the presence of light.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
How to decide if a torque is positive or negative?
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5OT9n.png)
In part i, I use $T=I\frac{d^2Q}{dt^2}$ , and get $T=\frac{23g}{150a}\sin Q$ , but the answer is $T=\frac{-23g}{150a}\sin Q$.
The only way I can get this answer is if I use $T=-I\frac{d^2Q}{dt^2}$ , but isn't this incorrect, as the torque is increasing the angular velocity, not decreasing it, so $\frac{d}{dt}\left(\frac{dQ}{dt}\right)>0$ , and thus the torque too should be greater than $0$.
Once you make a choice of how your spatial axes are oriented according to your diagram you are no longer free to "pick a sign" for the quantity $\vec{r} \times \vec{f}$. If you diagram is 2D, you can still choose where the positive direction is along the remaining 3D orthogonal direction
In defining angular quantities like torque or angular momentum, you have also the choice of placing the origin of coordinates where you want, but typically expressions become much simpler when the origin of coordinates coincides with a point of symmetry in the problem
You must be consistent to what you define as positive. Given the picture above, the sum of moments about the pivot point is (considering the positive direction the clockwise direction):
$$
\circlearrowright \sum M=I\_o\alpha\\
23mga\sin \theta=150ma^2\alpha
$$
But $\theta$ is defined positive counter-clockwise, so $\alpha=-\ddot{\theta}$.
Therefore,
$$
23mga\sin \theta=-150ma^2\ddot{\theta}
$$
The resultant is:
$$
\ddot{\theta} = -\frac{23g}{150a}\sin \theta
$$
If you define the positive direction the ccw direction, then the LHS of the equation is negative, but $\alpha=\ddot{\theta}$. The final result, however, does not change.
The restoring force is in the opposite direction to the angle $\theta$. The restoring force is toward the downward vertical (the equilibrium position), whereas angle $\theta$ is measured away from the downward vertical.
For a 2D problem such as this, use the same convention for torque as angles. If a positive angle is counter-clockwise then a positive torque should be counter-clockwise also.
The issue in this situation is that the sketch does not show which direction is the positive angle $\theta$. Does a positive angle tips the circle up or down? So when they say $\dot{\theta} = \tfrac{3}{5} \sqrt{ \frac{g}{a} } $ you have no idea which way this thing is spinning.
>
> So the correct answer depends on the convention the author has chosen, which is not stated clearly.
>
>
>
| stackexchange/physics |
How would one favor the formation of p-TsCl over o-TsCl in the chlorosuflonation of toluene? [closed]
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I found an old synthesis of $\ce{o-TsCl}$ that purportedly gives a yield of $85\%$ [here](https://www.prepchem.com/synthesis-of-2-toluenesulfonyl-chloride/) and was wondering how, still using chlorosulfonic acid, I could favor the formation of $\ce{p-TsCl}$ instead.
Chlorosulphonation using $\ce{ClSO3H}$ is an irreversible, electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction.
In the book [Chlorosulfonic Acid](https://books.google.co.in/books?id=roI_CwMEcHMC&lpg=PA35&dq=chlorosulfonic%20acid%2C%20chlorosulfonation%20by&pg=PA36#v=onepage&q=chlorosulfonic%20acid,%20chlorosulfonation%20by&f=false), On taking Toluene as the aromatic substrate, it is seen to yield two products -
* $para$-tosylchloride i.e. the **thermodynamic** product (because it is devoid of the steric hindrance offered by the methyl group)
* $ortho$-tosylchloride i.e. the **kinetic** product (because of more activated ortho position due to proximity with methyl $(+I)$ group, which is favourable for the electrophile to attack on despite facing steric hindrance)
At low temperatures like $0-5°C$, the kinetic product is favoured and thus the ortho-isomer is formed. This reaction is exploited in the manufacture of the non-fattening sweetener $Saccharin$.
At higher temperatures like $75-80°C$, the thermodynamic product is favoured i.e. the para-isomer.
According to [Chlorosulfonic Acid](https://books.google.co.in/books?id=roI_CwMEcHMC&lpg=PA35&dq=chlorosulfonic%20acid%2C%20chlorosulfonation%20by&pg=PA36#v=onepage&q=chlorosulfonic%20acid,%20chlorosulfonation%20by&f=false), The yield of para-tosyl chloride can be increased by
* heating, or
* addition of ammonium chloride or other catalysts
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1tCOC.png)
However, Clayden instead goes on to suggest on Pages 486 and 566, that the preference of ortho-isomer in chlorosulphonation and para-isomer in sulphonation is due to the fact that the latter is **reversible** unlike the former.
>
> If the reaction is irreversible (as in chlorosulphonation), the alpha-product is usually formed. (with respect to naphthalene, here analogous to ortho position on toluene)
>
>
> Sulphonation at low temperatures give the alpha-product by kinetic control and sulphonation at high temperatures gives the beta-product (corresponding to para-position on toluene) by thermodynamic control. The beta product is formed more slowly but it is more stable as there is less steric hindrance.... (as the case in toluene)
>
>
>
...which suggests that chlorosulphonation may not be temperature-dependent at all and shall always yield the ortho-isomer, which I am a bit doubtful about. (help needed)
However, the thermodynamic-kinetic explanation seems very satisfactory to me.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
827 Naval Air Squadron was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War.
It operated Fairey Barracudas starting in May 1943, becoming the first squadron to receive Barracudas in any substantial number. Postwar it initially operated the Blackburn Firebrand strike fighter. from 1954-1958 827sqn operated westland wyverns
References
Category:800 series Fleet Air Arm squadrons | wikipedia |
computation of the renormalized stress - energy tensor ( rset ) @xmath2 is important for studying the effects of a quantum field on the metric . for example
, the field can be a minimally - coupled , massless scalar field @xmath3 satisfying the dalembertian equation @xmath4 the back - reaction on the metric is described by the semiclassical einstein equation are used , as well as @xmath5 signature . ]
@xmath6 where @xmath7 is the einstein tensor .
the most notable physical phenomenon described by eqs .
( [ eq : intro : - dalamertian equation])-([eq : intro - semiclassical einstein eq ] ) is evaporation of a black hole ( bh ) due to hawking radiation @xcite .
the naive computation of the stress - energy tensor yields a divergent mode - sum .
in flat spacetime one can use the normal ordering operator to regularize this divergence .
unfortunately , normal ordering is not defined in curved spacetime . in 1965
dewitt @xcite used the point - splitting method ( first introduced by schwinger @xcite ) to renormalize @xmath8 , and in 1976 christensen @xcite adapted it for the computation of the rset . in the point - splitting method one can compute the renormalized value of a quantity which is quadratic in the field ( or its derivatives ) at a point @xmath9 , e.g. @xmath10 , by splitting the point @xmath9 into two points @xmath11 , and considering a two - point function ( tpf ) of the form @xmath12 .
then one subtracts from the tpf a known counter term and takes the limit @xmath13 .
although the recipe for computing the rset is known for four decades it is still a great challenge to compute it generically , even for a prescribed background .
the difficulty is caused by the limit @xmath13 .
this limit can be taken rather simply if the modes are known analytically , however , in most cases , and in particular for bhs backgrounds , the modes are known only numerically , which turns the limit into a very difficult task . to overcome this difficulty , candelas , howard , anderson and others @xcite developed a method to implement point - splitting numerically .
this method relied on a forth order wkb , which is very hard to compute in a lorentzian background , so they have used wick s rotation and computed the rset in the euclidean sector .
more recently , taylor and breen introduced @xcite a more sophisticated version of the traditional method , which does not require a wkb approximation , but is still using the euclidean sector .
unfortunately , the euclidean sector does not exist for most backgrounds , and so the aforementioned methods were developed for static , spherically - symmetric backgrounds .
this leaves out all possible dynamical backgrounds , which are of great interest , as well as backgrounds of spinning bhs , such as kerr , which are stationary but not static .
recently , levi and ori introduced @xcite the pragmatic mode - sum regularization ( pmr ) method .
this method does not rely on the euclidean sector , and all computations are done directly in the lorentzian background .
the pmr method requires the background to admit a single symmetry ( a killing field ) , and takes different variants depending on the symmetry exploited .
so far , two variants of pmr were introduced in detail for the computation of @xmath1 : the @xmath0-splitting variant @xcite , for stationary backgrounds , and the angular - splitting variant @xcite , for spherically - symmetric backgrounds . a third variant ,
the @xmath14-splitting ( also named the azimuthal - splitting ) , for axially - symmetric backgrounds was introduced briefly @xcite .
although the details of implementing the method to compute the rset were not given yet , results for the rset obtained using the pmr method were already presented : the rset in schwarzschild in the unruh state was displayed using all three variants @xcite . in a more recent work , the @xmath0-splitting and @xmath14-splitting variants were used to compute the rset in kerr in the unruh state @xcite . in this paper
we fill in the gaps for the @xmath0-splitting variant by showing in detail how to utilize it to compute the rset for an asymptotically - flat , stationary background . for briefness
we restrict our attention to a minimally - coupled , massless scalar field .
we then harness it to compute the rset in schwarzschild in all three vacuum states .
further details of how to implement pmr for the rset in the angular - splitting variant for spherically symmetric backgrounds , and in the @xmath14-splitting variant for axially - symmetric backgrounds will be given elsewhere @xcite .
this paper is organized as follows : section [ sec : ps ] presents the basic point - splitting scheme for the rset .
section [ sec : regulzriztion ] presents the the implementation of @xmath0-splitting for the calculation of the rset and section [ sec : computation in schwarzschild ] presents the detailed computation of the rset in schwarzschild . in section [ sec : discussion ]
we discuss the pmr method in general as well as future research .
the computation of the rset in the point - splitting scheme , as formulated by christensen @xcite , takes the form @xmath15,\label{eq : ps : tab basic limit}\ ] ] where we use @xmath16 for christensen s counter - term tensor , which depends on the bi - scalar @xmath17 , its covariant derivatives and on the metric .
the bi - scalar @xmath17 is defined to be half the geodesic distance squared , of the short geodesic connecting @xmath9 and @xmath18 .
the explicit expression for @xmath16 is very long and can be found in ref .
the quantity @xmath19 , which we will name the two - point stress tensor ( tpst ) is analogous to the tpf used in the regularization of @xmath8 .
if we denote the symmetric tpf ( also known as the hadamard function ) by @xmath20_{+}\right\rangle , \label{eq : ps : symmetric tpf}\ ] ] where @xmath21_{+}$ ] denotes anti - commutation , then the tpst explicit form for a minimally - coupled , massless scalar field is @xmath22 primed derivatives are taken at @xmath18 , e.g. @xmath23_{+}\right\rangle , \ ] ] and @xmath24 is the bi - vector of parallel transport , which transfers a vector at @xmath18 to @xmath9 , satisfying @xmath25 for a concrete split it is straightforward to compute @xmath24 as a series in the separation , by solving the parallel transport equation order by order . for further details on the bi - scalar @xmath26 , and bi - vector of parallel transport @xmath24
we refer to @xcite .
we now take the recipe by christensen and rewrite it to obtain a form which is more natural for concrete computations .
notice that the rhs of eq .
( [ eq : ps : tpst ] ) has the form of a trace - reversed tensor .
it is convenient to use this structure to reverse the trace of the equation . denoting with a tilde
a trace reversed tensor , eq .
( [ eq : ps : tpst ] ) takes the form @xmath27 substituting the hadamard function @xmath28_{+}\right\rangle .\ ] ] inserting it to the trace reversed version of eq .
( [ eq : ps : tab basic limit ] ) one obtains @xmath29_{+}\right\rangle -\tilde{c}_{\mu\nu}\left(x , x'\right)\right],\ ] ] which can also be written in the form @xmath30_{+}\right\rangle -\frac{1}{2}\delta_{\alpha}^{\sigma}\left(\bar{g}^{-1}\right)_{\beta'}^{\rho}\tilde{c}_{\sigma\rho}\left(x , x'\right)\right].\ ] ] the limit of the parentheses is finite , as well as the limit of the brackets .
so we can take the limit of the parentheses , which is trivial , since the limit of the bi - vector @xmath24 is the unit matrix @xmath31 ( ref .
@xcite ) . bringing the parentheses back into the brackets yields @xmath32_{+}\right\rangle + \frac{1}{4}\left\langle \left[\phi_{,\nu}\left(x\right)\phi_{,\mu}\left(x'\right)\right]_{+}\right\rangle \right.\\ \left.-\frac{1}{2}\left(\left(\bar{g}^{-1}\right)_{\nu}^{\rho}\tilde{c}_{\mu\rho}\left(x , x'\right)+\left(\bar{g}^{-1}\right)_{\mu}^{\rho}\tilde{c}_{\nu\rho}\left(x , x'\right)\right)\right].\end{gathered}\ ] ] note that here we deviated from the usual covariant bi - tensor notation , which is constructed to allow two different coordinate systems at @xmath9 and @xmath18 .
we use a single coordinate system , and take derivative according to the coordinate system of point @xmath9 on the field at point @xmath18 .
this approach is less systematic , but proves to be very useful for computations . for convenience
we define a new quantity , which is a symmetrized version of the christensen tensor @xmath33 multiplied by the bi - vector @xmath34 .
henceforth we will call this quantity the counter - term @xmath35 and we conclude that @xmath36_{+}\right\rangle + \frac{1}{4}\left\langle \left[\phi_{,\nu}\left(x\right)\phi_{,\mu}\left(x'\right)\right]_{+}\right\rangle -\tilde{l}_{\mu\nu}\left(x , x'\right)\right].\label{eq : ps : tab limit with l}\ ] ] one example that illustrates how @xmath37 captures better the essence of the singularity is the trace of the rset for a minimally - coupled , massless scalar field in a ricci - flat solution . the trace of christensen
s tensor @xmath38 in such a case has no singular piece .
nevertheless , if one tries to naively ( i.e. with no split ) compute the trace of the stress tensor one finds it diverges .
the trace @xmath39 however , has a singular term proportional to @xmath40 , which corresponds directly to the divergence of the mode - sum .
continuing the line taken in @xcite we would like to build a scheme that will enable the computation of the rset using the mode - sum at the coincidence , based on the analytic point - splitting recipe given by christensen .
we claim it is possible given that the space - time admits some symmetry ( a killing field ) , and for each symmetry the scheme takes a different form . here
we present the @xmath0-splitting variant which is applicable for asymptotically - flat , stationary backgrounds .
we use the coordinates @xmath41 , and the metric @xmath42 depends on @xmath43 but not on @xmath0 . in the limit
@xmath44 the metric takes the form @xmath45 where @xmath46 .
we shall first address the case of a background with a regular center , and in sec .
[ subsec : eternal - bhs ] we will show the simple adjustments for the case of an eternal bh . in a stationary background one can decompose the modes in the form @xmath47 @xmath48 where @xmath49 are the creation and annihilation operators and @xmath50 are the spherical harmonics functions . in a non - eternal , asymptotically - flat background
one can choose the initial conditions for the modes @xmath51 at past null infinity to be the same as in flat space , which defines a vacuum state @xmath52 such that @xmath53 for all @xmath54 .
the modes evolve according to the dalembertian equation @xmath55 which yields a differential equation for @xmath56 that can in general be solved numerically .
it is important to note that , unless specifically stated otherwise , all the integrals over @xmath57 in this paper are generalized integrals , as defined in appendix [ sec : appendix - generalized - integrals - oscillations ] .
it is very helpful to first examine the naive divergent calculation one gets when trying to calculate the stress - tensor without splitting the points @xmath58_{+}\right\rangle = \hbar\int_{0}^{\infty}d\omega\sum_{l=0}^{\infty}\sum_{m =- l}^{l}\re\left\ { f_{\omega lm,\mu}\left(x\right)f_{\omega lm,\nu}^{*}\left(x\right)\right\ } , \label{eq : reg : naive mode - sum}\ ] ] where @xmath59 denoted the real part of a complex number .
the sum over @xmath60 is a finite sum , and due to asymptotic flatness the sum over @xmath61 converges .
might not converge .
one can then employ an intermediate regularization technique similar to the one used in the angular splitting @xcite .
] so one can define @xmath62 where the tensor @xmath63 can be computed numerically . inserting it back to eq .
( [ eq : reg : naive mode - sum ] ) we get @xmath64 which is of course divergent for most of the non - vanishing components , e.g. to leading order @xmath65 . returning to the regularization scheme in eq .
( [ eq : ps : tab limit with l ] ) , we choose to split the points in the direction of the symmetry .
for the stationary backgrounds considered in this paper we split in the @xmath0 direction , so the points are @xmath66 and taking the limit @xmath13 corresponds to taking @xmath67 . for this type of split
the modes satisfy @xmath68 using this identity together with the definition of @xmath69 in eq .
( [ eq : reg : define f ] ) one can recast eq .
( [ eq : ps : tab limit with l ] ) to get @xmath70,\label{eq : reg : tab - the transform}\ ] ] where the counter - term is now considered as a function of the point @xmath9 and @xmath71 .
if we expand it in @xmath71 it takes the general form @xmath72 where @xmath73 are local tensors that depend on the metric , and @xmath74 is the unknown parameter that corresponds to the scale - ambiguity in the regularization ( see ref .
@xcite ) . one can now decompose @xmath75 to its fourier components , using the following identities ( @xmath76 is euler s constant ) : @xmath77 inserting it back to eq .
( [ eq : reg : tab - the transform ] ) one obtains @xmath78-\hbar e_{\mu\nu}\left(r\right),\label{eq : reg : tab - still with a limit}\ ] ] where @xmath79 and @xmath80 interchanging the limit and integral in eq .
( [ eq : reg : tab - still with a limit ] ) we obtain @xmath81 this interchanging is not trivial , and we address it in the next subsection .
we emphasis that the integral over @xmath57 in eq .
( [ eq : reg : tab - final result ] ) is a generalized integral , and converges as such .
namely , it might contain oscillation at large @xmath57 .
to pragmatically compute the generalized integral we use the method of self - cancellation which is described in app .
[ sec : appendix - generalized - integrals - oscillations ] .
once @xmath82 is computed one can trace - reverse it to obtain @xmath83 .
the idea behind the interchanging of the limit with the integral in eq .
( [ eq : reg : tab - still with a limit ] ) is that the decomposition of the counter - term would contain all the information about the divergent part of @xmath69 , and so one can simply set @xmath71 to zero in the integral .
unfortunately it is not necessarily true .
one can imagine a function @xmath84 , for which the integral @xmath85 is identically zero , for any @xmath86 . yet at the coincidence , namely @xmath87 , the integral diverges .
these types of functions we name _
blind spots_. _ _ _ _ it is quite simple to find not just one , but a family of blind spots @xmath88 with this concept in mind , we return to eq .
( [ eq : reg : tab - still with a limit ] ) and see that there might be a singular part in @xmath69 that one can not learn about from the counter - term .
so the integral over @xmath89 does not necessarily have to converge , as @xmath89 might contain blind spots .
this is quite manageable , as one can classify the problematic blind spot and simply remove it by using techniques similar to self cancellation , discussed in app .
[ sec : appendix - generalized - integrals - oscillations ] .
if we assume that the only blind spots are of the form @xmath90 ( although we do not prove it ) , then we expect only @xmath91 or @xmath92 to appear , as we expect the most singular part in @xmath69 to correspond to the most singular term in the counter - term , which is proportional to @xmath93 .
in reality , we did not come across any blind spot in the @xmath0-splitting , so our best guess is that this blind spots do not exist in @xmath69 .
note that the family of blind spots we presented here was not a blind spot in the calculation for @xmath1 in @xcite .
this is due to the fact that the counter - term used there was developed to an arbitrary split , and in the case of the rset the christensen tensor was calculated for a symmetric split only .
one can also see it by noticing that for @xmath1 the decomposition was carried out using @xmath94 and here it is done using @xmath95 . taking @xmath92 , which is an example for a blind spot in the case of the rset , it is obvious that @xmath96 so it is clearly not a blind spot in the calculation of @xmath1 . in the case of an eternal bh , one has to introduce a second set of creation and annihilation operators in the decomposition of the field , which defines the boundary condition on the past horizon . in this case the field decomposition ( analogous to eq .
( [ eq : reg : phi decomposition ] ) ) takes the from @xmath97 each of the sets of modes @xmath51 and @xmath98 defines a vacuum state such that @xmath99 , and both sets satisfy the dalembertian equation .
in addition both @xmath51 and @xmath98 can be written in the form of eq .
( [ eq : reg : modes f ] ) @xmath100 the regularization scheme presented above is unchanged for an eternal bh , except for the definition of @xmath69 in eq .
( [ eq : reg : define f ] ) , which now takes the form @xmath101
in this section the method constructed in sec . [ sec : regulzriztion ] is utilized to compute the rset in schwarzschild spacetime , for a minimally - coupled , massless scalar field .
we show a detailed calculation for one component of the rset in the boulware state at a specific @xmath102 value , and then present the full results of the rset , for various @xmath102 values , in all three vacuum states .
the schwarzschild metric is @xmath103 following sec .
[ subsec : eternal - bhs ] ( as schwarzschild is an eternal bh ) we know that the decomposition of the field contains two sets of modes @xmath51 and @xmath98 . due to the spherical symmetry the expression for the modes given in eq .
( [ eq : reg : modes f - eternal ] ) can now be expressed more explicitly @xmath104 consequently , the mode - sum in eq .
( [ eq : reg : define f - eternal ] ) is simpler , because the sum over @xmath60 can be done analytically .
it is useful to express @xmath105 by another radial function with a different normalization @xmath106 and @xmath107 and @xmath108 satisfy the radial equation @xmath109\psi_{\omega l}\left(r\right),\label{eq : sch : radial eq}\ ] ] where the effective potential @xmath110 is given by @xmath111,\label{eq : sch : potential}\ ] ] and @xmath112 is the usual tortoise coordinate @xmath113 the general solution of the radial equation ( [ eq : sch : radial eq ] ) is spanned by two sets of basis solutions @xmath114{cc } \tau_{\omega l}^{in}\,e^{-i\omega r _ { * } } , & r_{*}\to-\infty\\ e^{-i\omega r_{*}}+\rho_{\omega l}^{in}\,e^{i\omega r_{*}},\,\,\,\,\,\ , & r_{*}\to\infty \end{array}\right.\nonumber \\
\psi_{\omega l}^{up}\left(r\right)=\left\ { \begin{array}[t]{cc } e^{i\omega r_{*}}+\rho_{\omega l}^{up}\,e^{-i\omega r_{*}},\,\,\,\,\,\ , & r_{*}\to-\infty\\ \tau_{\omega l}^{up}\,e^{i\omega r _ { * } } , & r_{*}\to\infty \end{array}\right.\label{eq : schwarzschild calc - basic solutions bounadry conditions}\end{gathered}\ ] ] where @xmath115 represent the transmission and reflection amplitudes .
the vacuum state associated with the solutions @xmath116 is the boulware vacuum state , and its modes are usually denoted as @xmath117 and @xmath118 instead of @xmath51 and @xmath98 . here
we first consider the boulware state , and the computations of the other two vacuum states is presented in sec .
[ subsec : unruh - and - hartle - hawking ] .
once @xmath119 and @xmath120 are calculated numerically , the quantity @xmath69 can be computed according to eq .
( [ eq : reg : define f - eternal ] ) . in the boulware state
we can write specifically @xmath121 for the schwarzschild metric , the constant tensors that compose @xmath122 are @xmath123 @xmath124 @xmath125 @xmath126 where @xmath127 is a shorthand for a diagonal matrix . using these tensors
one can easily compute @xmath128 according to eq .
( [ eq : reg : fsing ] ) .
we have numerically computed the tensor @xmath129 by solving the radial equation ( [ eq : sch : radial eq ] ) using mathematica and computing @xmath119 and @xmath120 for @xmath57 between @xmath130 and @xmath131 with a uniform step of @xmath132 . for
each @xmath57 the sum over @xmath60 was done analytically , and the sum over @xmath61 was computed by sequentially computing @xmath61 s until the sum converged to an accuracy of one part in @xmath133 .
note that in all the numerical values and plots we are using units @xmath134 , in addition to @xmath135 .
the regularization was carried out according to eq .
( [ eq : reg : tab - final result ] ) , for the singular components of @xmath136 at various @xmath102 values . to demonstrate the scheme , regularization of the @xmath137 component
is presented here for @xmath138 .
figure [ fig:1a ] exhibits the numerically calculated @xmath139 , together with the analytically computed @xmath140 from eq .
( [ eq : reg : fsing ] ) .
it is obvious that the integral over @xmath139 will diverge . by subtracting from it @xmath140 , according to eq .
( [ eq : reg : freg ] ) , one obtains @xmath141 which is displayed in fig . [ fig:1b ] .
+ the generalized integral over @xmath142 now converges , but it is clear that the regular integral does not . to compute the generalized integral
we employ the self - cancellation technique that was presented in @xcite , and is also discussed in app .
[ sec : appendix - generalized - integrals - oscillations ] .
we first compute the regular integral function @xmath143 which can be observed in fig .
[ fig:2a ] for @xmath138 .
it is now possible to remove the oscillations by applying the self - cancellation operator @xmath144 , following eq .
( [ eq : app : self - cancellation ] ) one can define @xmath145.\ ] ] according to the self - cancellation technique the generalized integral over @xmath141 is equivalent to the limit @xmath146 of @xmath147 .
figure [ fig:2b ] displays @xmath148 and it is clear that it has a defined limit as @xmath146 , and that it converges to this limit rapidly . notice that we have started with a quantity ( @xmath139 ) with a magnitude of about unit value , and after subtractions and self - cancellations obtained a result ( @xmath148 ) of the order of about @xmath149 .
this is a great demonstration of the many orders of accuracy lost in the regularization process .
this loss of accuracy turns the computation of the rset into a difficult task , and requires the initial modes to be computed with a very high accuracy .
the loss of accuracy is the cause of the numerical deviations at large @xmath57 in @xmath148 which are visible in fig .
[ fig:2b ] . to handle this inaccuracy
we have built an algorithm that picks the optimal @xmath57 for evaluating the limit @xmath146 .
the chosen value is marked in fig .
[ fig:2b ] by a cross . + following eq .
[ eq : reg : tab - final result ] , if we subtract from the limit of @xmath148 the term @xmath150 we get @xmath151 ( in units of @xmath152 ) . repeating the scheme described above for different @xmath102 values , and for all the non - trivial components of the rset we computed @xmath136 . simply by trace - reversing this result we obtained @xmath153 .
figure [ fig:3 ] presents the results for the rset , for all the non - trivial components ( @xmath154 ) . for reference
we also plot results by paul anderson , obtained using the traditional regularization method in the euclidean sector @xcite .
we note that we also computed the rset using the angular - splitting and the agreement between the two is usually a few parts in @xmath155 . + -splitting variant .
the plus symbols are results by paul anderson , obtained using the traditional regularization method @xcite .
the rset in the boulware state is divergent at the horizon , and decays at infinity like @xmath156 . to clarify the picture we multiplied the components by factors of @xmath157 and @xmath102.[fig:3 ] ] due to the fact that our method does not resort to the euclidean sector , the regularization process is exactly the same for all quantum states .
thus in order to compute a different quantum state one only needs to insert the solution for the modes in this particular state . in the schwarzschild example
the two states that are physically interesting , apart from the boulware state , are the unruh and hartle - hawking states . conveniently , in the schwarzschild case one is not required to recalculate the modes , and can build the the mode - sum in the unruh and hartle - hawking states using the modes of the boulware state @xmath158 @xcite . in our notation
it can be written as @xmath159 @xmath160 using these relations we have calculated the rset in the unruh and hartle - hawking states . note that the regularization scheme remains the same , because the counter - term is independent of the quantum state .
figure [ fig:4 ] presents the results for the unruh state and fig .
[ fig:5 ] the results for the hartle - hawking state . in both states
we have crossed our results by computing the rset in a different method , the angular - splitting variant @xcite . in unruh
the two variants agree to about one part in @xmath155 , and in hartle - hawking the deviation is about one part in @xmath161 . in the unruh state
there is also a non - vanishing flux component @xmath162 , which represents the hawking radiation .
we computed the total luminosity to be @xmath163 , in full agreement with the result by elster @xcite .
+ to treat the coordinate singularity . note that @xmath164 is a conserved quantity , representing the outgoing hawking radiation to infinity.[fig:4 ] ] is for scaling purposes only.[fig:5 ] ]
we have presented the details of the rset computation for stationary , asymptotically - flat backgrounds , using the @xmath0-splitting variant of the pmr method .
results were given for the schwarzschild background in all vacuum states for a minimally - coupled , massless scalar field .
we have also demonstrated that many orders of magnitude of accuracy are lost in the computation , which requires the original modes to be computed very accurately in order to obtain a good evaluation of the rset ( see sec .
[ sec : computation in schwarzschild ] ) .
although the scheme was presented here for a minimally - coupled , massless scalar field , it can also be implemented for other fields .
for example , one can use the same technique on christensen s tensor for an electromagnetic field , which can be found in @xcite .
in addition we have presented the method using christensen s scheme and counter terms , but one can also implement it to the hadamard regularization approach @xcite , where it can also be extended to higher dimensions ( similar to ref .
@xcite ) .
an important issue regarding the @xmath0-splitting variant is to understand where it is expected to break down .
we do not go into deep investigation of this point , and merely state that the scheme breaks down where the norm of the killing field vanishes .
for example , in schwarzschild @xmath0-splitting does not work on the horizon .
furthermore , the scheme does not break dichotomically , rather , it becomes less efficient on approaching the locus where the norm vanishes . by less efficient
we mean that it requires a larger number of modes , namely a larger @xmath165 for the convergence of the sum , and a larger @xmath166 for the convergence of the integral .
for example , in schwarzschild we used @xmath0-splitting to approached the horizon up to @xmath167 .
another important aspect of the @xmath0-splitting is the different techniques for treating the oscillations . in app .
[ sec : appendix - generalized - integrals - oscillations ] we discussed different techniques that we have explored and were not mentioned in ref .
we believe that one can think of other techniques to implement the generalized integral . as these techniques will become more efficient the number of modes required for regularization will decrease and computation will become easier .
one such approach that we have not tested yet is studying the oscillations using the _ global hadamard form .
_ such global function was recently found for the schwarzschild case by casals and nolan @xcite .
we hope that future work will enable to study the global hadamard function for more generic backgrounds .
the @xmath0-splitting presented here was already used to compute @xmath1 and the rset in the exterior region of kerr @xcite , yet we believe that there are many more implications for it .
possible extensions of the current work in kerr spacetime are to compute the rset inside the ergosphere and inside the horizon .
in addition , the method can be used to study other interesting stationery backgrounds such as compact , rapidly spinning stars .
other implementations of the pmr method , including the details of how to compute the rset using the angular - splitting variant , and the details of the @xmath14-splitting variant will be given elsewhere @xcite .
furthermore , we think that the different pmr variants can be improved further in the future to create more efficient schemes , without demanding more symmetries .
i would like to thank amos ori , my ph.d .
supervisor , for all his guidance and advice .
i am also grateful to paul anderson for many interesting discussions and for sharing with me his unpublished data .
this appendix briefly summarizes the broad discussion in @xcite regarding the oscillations in the mode sum .
as explained there these oscillations are caused by singularities in the tpf which are not at the coincidence limit .
rather , these singularities correspond to connecting null geodesics ( cngs ) @xcite , and by computing the cngs of the background metric one can compute the wavelengths of the oscillations . analytically the oscillations are not a problem at all , as our integral is a generalized integral .
one way to define a generalized integral over a function @xmath168 is taking the limit of a laplace transform @xmath169 but this is very hard to perform numerically . to this purpose
we have introduced the self cancellation technique , which enables one to compute the generalized integral for the case of a function with oscillations , given that the wavelengths of the oscillations are known .
for example , if one wants to compute the generalized integral over @xmath168 , which apart from a regularly convergent part contains an oscillatory term of the type @xmath170 , than by first computing the standard integral function @xmath171 one can apply the self - cancellation operator @xmath172\equiv h\left(\omega\right)+h\left(\omega+\lambda/2\right)\ ] ] and the limit @xmath146 of @xmath173 $ ] will converge to the value of the generalized integral .
if the function @xmath168 contains more than a single wavelength , one can simply repeat this process for each wavelength .
moreover , if the function contains oscillations with more divergent amplitudes , e.g. @xmath174 , one can apply the self - cancellation operator repeatedly until the oscillations are suppressed .
this general application of the self cancellation technique we denote by @xmath175\equiv\left(t_{\lambda_{1}}\right)^{k_{1}}\left(t_{\lambda_{2}}\right)^{k_{2}} ...
\left(t_{\lambda_{n}}\right)^{k_{n}}h\left(\omega\right).\label{eq : app : self - cancellation}\ ] ] for the schwarzschild case it was argued @xcite that there is a family of wavelengths @xmath176 with amplitude that decreases exponentially from @xmath177 to @xmath178 ; thus , only the first few wavelength are important . the frequencies that correspond to the first few wavelength @xmath179 are @xmath180 although it is very interesting to learn the origin of the oscillations and obtain the wavelengths by integrating the corresponding cngs it is not really necessary , and one can use other techniques to remove the oscillations .
this techniques are important because for some backgrounds finding and integrating the cngs can be a difficult task .
one such technique that we have explored is simply to use a low pass filter .
this produces very good results , though it is less efficient than a prior knowledge of the wavelengths .
another interesting technique that we have explored is to recursively use a fourier transformation of the integrand @xmath168 to determine the wavelength of the dominant oscillatory term and self - cancel it , this technique also provided good results . | arxiv |
Saint Seiya 1. La Competencia
Como bien lo dice el título, son una serie de historias cortas, no necesariamente cronológicas unas con otras, que complementan mi fic "Brisa Ártica". Es altamente recomendable que lean ese primero, pues de lo contrario los personajes o las situaciones probablemente no tengan mucho sentido para ustedes.
**La Competencia
**_Capítulo único_
La espera era molesta, más molesta que en cualquier otra situación. La razón principal era porque no podían ver los otros combates a menos que ya hubieran concretado el propio. En la sala con la puerta al exterior, esperaban los guardianes de Epsilon y Eta. Hacía tiempo que habían dejado de compartir la estancia con Zeta, puesto que fueron una de las parejas inaugurales. Y cómo había durado esa pelea, casi parecía que llevaba una hora, tal vez más.
En el sillón de gamuza, Ártica se había quedado dormida. Reydar se entretenía jugando con la trenza de la otra, moviéndola para acá y para allá, con una sutileza tal que no despertaba a su igual. Eso, o la Sombra de Alioth Epsilon tenía un sueño bastante pesado. Mime leía de uno de sus numerosos libros y Fenrir los observaba a todos tras sus visores ambarinos. Bueno, en realidad no. Observaba a Ártica dormir, Reydar y Mime simplemente caían dentro de su rango de visión.
Esa era la ventaja de los dichosos visores; escondían del mundo su mirada, a menos que se estuviera lo suficientemente cerca. Apoyado contra la pared, encontraba poco qué hacer para matar su aburrimiento. Hasta pereza le estaba dando tener el Manto Sagrado puesto pero cuando hizo el ademán de quitarse las hombreras, apareció uno de los guardas del Palacio. -Epsilon, es su turno-
Fenrir asintió en silencio a modo de respuesta y se dirigió hacia su Sombra. Luego le tocó la cabeza con el dedo índice. Ésta abrió los ojos de inmediato. -Es nuestro turno-
Ártica reprimió un bostezo, se puso de pie y tomó sus visores, que estaban sobre la mesa. Reydar cruzó las piernas en su lugar. -Diviértanse-
-Prometo que tardaremos lo menos posible para que no esperen tanto- dijo ella, saliendo por la puerta detrás de su Dios Guerrero. Una vez que quedó a su lado, se estiró un poco. -Ahh, estaba soñando sobre un día en que mis hermanos me llevaron a deslizarnos en trineo-
-Hmm- fue lo que le respondió el otro, mirando fijamente el cúmulo de árboles a lo lejos. Era una sensación extraña, saber que se iba a luchar sin que nada estuviera en juego. Miró de reojo a su Sombra, y le pareció curioso lo tranquila que se veía. -¿No estás nerviosa?-
La otra miró hacia el cielo. -Sí, pero si no lo estuviera, no tendría gracia-
Los primeros árboles comenzaron a rodearlos, a pesar de que todavía no era visible el claro hacia el que se dirigían y donde les esperaba un reto singular. Ártica hizo que sus nudillos crujieran y se acomodó la trenza atrás de la cabeza. Seguidamente se puso el casco sobre la cabeza. Fenrir se detuvo y volteó hacia ella. Subió sus visores y la miró fijamente, con el puño elevado. -Somos los Lobos del Norte-
-Somos los Lobos del Norte- repitió ella con una sonrisa. Chocó su propio puño con el de él. -Y no vamos a caer-
-Y no vamos a caer- dijo Alioth Epsilon, bajando sus visores una vez más. -Ten cuidado-
-Tú también- replicó Ártica y se colocó sus propios visores. Se quedó ahí como queriendo hacer algo más, pero finalmente se dio media vuelta y desapareció entre los árboles. Fenrir siguió recto hacia donde los árboles estaban más juntos y llegó al claro. En medio de él, le esperaba Hagen de Merak Beta y su Sombra, Asgrim.
-¿Hm?- dejó escapar el rubio con una ceja elevada. Miró a su alrededor. -¿Dónde está Ártica?-
Fenrir se carcajeó con ganas. -Ciertamente, ¿dónde podrá estar mi Sombra...?-
Asgrim frunció el entrecejo. -Maldición- murmuró, y desapareció.
-¿Oh...?- dejó escapar Bud desde su posición, justo al lado de Hilda. El pequeño "palco" que se había montado para observar las peleas estaba a un costado del claro, resguardado tras varias filas de árboles en caso de algún golpe perdido. Ahí estaban los que ya habían luchado y las Princesas.
-¿Qué pasa?- preguntó Baldur.
-La decisión correcta, que la Sombra ya esté oculta antes de que el combate comience- respondió, colocando su casco en una mesa cercana.
-Ciertamente- concordó Hilda, bebiendo de una copa en su mano. -Y válida, puesto que la presencia de Ártica en los alrededores es más que obvia-
Se puso de pie y dejó la copa de lado, luego caminó hasta el balcón del improvisado palco. -Merak Beta y Alioth Epsilon, les recuerdo las reglas. Cada Dios Guerrero tiene un cuarzo rojo y sus Sombras uno verde. Para ganar deben derrotar a sus oponentes y quitarles dichos minerales. No es válido simplemente robárselos así que deberán neutralizarlos a como dé lugar. Igualmente les recuerdo que no tienen permitido apoderarse del cuarzo de su pareja a menos que sea quitándoselo a sus oponentes. En caso de que los derriben, deben darle diez segundos a sus contrincantes para responder, de lo contrario pueden proceder a tomar el cuarzo. Si pierden su cuarzo pero se logran incorporar después, pueden seguir combatiendo-
Los Dioses Guerreros asintieron para mostrar su comprensión. Hilda sonrió. -Bien, entonces comiencen-
Compartían una estatura similar, que sería más evidente si Fenrir no se encorvara un poco cuando adoptaba una pose de combate. Por un momento, ninguno de los dos se movió, y de repente, Alioth Epsilon saltó a un lado, esquivando el puñetazo de Hagen que mandó a volar varios escombros y nieve. Giró sobre sí mismo y le lanzó una patada a la cabeza, la cual fue bloqueada por la mano del rubio. De inmediato lo lanzó hacia arriba.
Fenrir logró acomodarse para recibir a Hagen de frente, bloqueando su puño y encajando el propio en el rostro del otro. Cayeron de pie en el suelo y percibieron un destello entre los árboles, pero sin señas de sus respectivas Sombras. Los Dioses Guerreros de Epsilon y Beta se enfrascaron en una ráfaga de golpes y patadas de velocidades impresionantes, en la cual ninguno se estaba conteniendo. No fue hasta que Fenrir logró hacerle unos cortes en el brazo que el otro se alejó de él unos pasos. Alioth Epsilon aprovechó el momento para llevarse unos dedos a la boca y silbar.
-¿Qué crees que haces? Tu lobo no tiene permitido participar-
-Jin no es el único que responde a mis silbidos- dijo, al tiempo que otro silbido, algo más corto, le respondía a la distancia.
Hagen se limpió las gota de sangre en su brazo. -Nada mal, Fenrir. Siempre había tenido curiosidad sobre cuán resistente eras...-
-Más que tu Sombra- dijo el otro.
El rubio apenas tuvo tiempo de arquear una ceja, cuando el cuerpo de Asgrim salió de entre los árboles y lo tumbó al suelo. Se puso de pie de inmediato e irguió a su Sombra lo mejor que pudo, pero no falló en notar que no tenía el pendiente de cuarzo verde alrededor de su cuello.
-Curioso, ¿no?- comentó Syd, mirándolos desde el palco. -Que le dieran ese uso a los silbidos que usaba Fenrir para controlar a sus lobos-
-Creo que más bien era natural- replicó Hilda, muy entretenida por el enfrentamiento. -El objetivo principal de esta competencia es poner a prueba a Dios Guerrero y Sombra en combate. Sería lamentable si no hubieran adaptado las cosas-
Flare bufó, ligeramente molesta. -No significa nada, ¡Hagen les va a ganar!-
El gemelo y la Princesa le sonrieron de vuelta, pero había una gota de sudor bajando por sus sienes.
Al instante, Ártica estaba a unos pasos de su propio Dios Guerrero, tratando de recuperar el aliento. Fenrir olfateó cabello chamuscado en el aire, aunque no parecía tener ninguna quemadura. Eso sí, estaba sudando copiosamente y había algo raro en la manera en que mantenía su brazo izquierdo tras la espalda.
-Buen trabajo- le dijo, y ésta asintió como respuesta. -Parece que al caballo de ocho patas lo han acorralado dos lobos-
Hagen si acaso se rió. -Vengan por mí, entonces-
En un ataque doble, cada uno se acercó por un flanco diferente. El puñetazo y la patada fueron esquivados con facilidad y de inmediato respondidos con una ráfaga de aire frío que los obligó a cubrirse. El rubio emergió y logró acertar una patada al pecho de Fenrir, mientras que Ártica apenas logró esquivar otra ráfaga de viento helado. Dio un salto con el que disponía atacar a Merak Beta, pero fue interceptada por una ráfaga de fuego que le iluminó toda la cara. El golpe la mandó varios metros hacia un lado.
Hagen ladeó la cabeza con una sonrisa. -Vamos, Ártica. Si te pasas tanto tiempo tratando de esconder tu mano congelada de mi vista, te voy a terminar incinerando-
La otra entonces reveló que, efectivamente, tenía aprisionado en hielo sólido desde la mitad del antebrazo hasta la punta de los dedos. -No esperaba nada menos del Dios Guerrero de Merak Beta y su Sombra-
-Yo tampoco esperaba menos de Asgrim. No sé cómo lo neutralizaste, pero sabía que no caería sin una buena lucha- dijo, orgulloso. -Y ese hielo... no se va a romper fácilmente-
-Me di cuenta- replicó Ártica. Aumentó su velocidad y se lanzó en una patada doble hacia Hagen y éste la esquivó con facilidad. Sin embargo, no notó que Fenrir venía por detrás y la patada de él sí dio en el blanco.
La Sombra de Alioth Epsilon, por su parte, no tuvo tiempo de contrarrestar el sorpresivo golpe de quien creía ya no combatiría más. Asgrim le dio duro en el abdomen. -¿Me extrañaste?-
Ártica dio grandes respiros para estabilizarse. -No...- apenas pudo articular, corriendo hacia él y haciéndolo retroceder con una serie de puñetazos. Lo arrinconó contra un árbol y sonrió con satisfacción. Sin embargo, cuando iba a darle el golpe de gracia, el que sonrió fue él. Saltó en el momento justo y las garras de la armadura de Ártica se clavaron profundamente en la corteza. La joven jalaba con desesperada insistencia para sacarlas, porque sabía que la Sombra de Merak Beta estaba justo tras ella. Con un brazo atrapado en la corteza y el otro en hielo sólido, era el blanco más fácil del mundo. -No, no, no. NO. NO. NO. NO. ¡NO...!-
-Buenas noches, Ártica- dijo Asgrim al levantar el puño donde estaba acumulando una gran cantidad de cosmos. -Como siempre, ha sido un placer combatir contigo-
Lo que fuera que iba a lanzar se vio desviado cuando Fenrir lo embistió violentamente. -Que ni se te ocurra-
Un movimiento de su mano generó un corte en el árbol en que Ártica estaba clavada y éste se fragmentó en grandes pedazos. Seguidamente se colocó espalda a espalda con su Sombra. -Sabes bien que no podemos dejar que ataquen juntos o nos van a cocinar. ¿Puedes luchar con la mano así?-
-No es un problema. Asgrim sólo me agarró desprevenida- dijo ella, chocando su mano libre contra el hielo de la otra. -Esta vez lo neutralizaré para bien-
-Entonces ve, y derriba a ese caballo- terminó Fenrir antes de lanzarse nuevamente contra su igual. Rodó hacia adelante para esquivar la ráfaga de fuego que Hagen lanzó en su dirección y le hizo una barrida para tumbarlo al suelo. Logró acertarle un puñetazo, antes de que el rubio usara sus pies para quitárselo de encima. Se puso de pie de un salto y se volteó. Sus ojos destellaron. -GREAT ARDENT PRESSURE-
La violenta ráfaga de fuego le dio de lleno, pero Alioth Epsilon cruzó los brazos frente a sí para evitar el peor de los daños. Seguidamente hizo una serie de saltos que lo llevaron otra vez dentro de un rango de ataque físico hacia su oponente. Hagen le acertó un golpe a un costado y otro en una pierna, mientras que Fenrir logró dejarlo sin aire unos segundos antes de que lo contraatacara con otra ráfaga de fuego. La misma le dio justo en la espalda.
Por el lado blanco del asunto, Asgrim y Ártica tenían un enfrentamiento bastante diferente. Dada la condición de una de sus manos, la joven se enfocaba en usar sus piernas, mientras que el otro aprovechaba los constantes saltos de su oponente para obligarla a gastar energía. En el momento en que la vio pausar para darse un respiro, la aprisionó en un potente abrazo constrictor. La Sombra de Alioth Epsilon no encontraba cómo soltarse, pataleando y forcejeando, puesto que una de sus manos ni siquiera le servía de apoyo para agarrarse de Asgrim.
Cada vez que intentaba apoyarla en la otra armadura blanca, se resbalaba y perdía aún más el control de la situación. Sin embargo, en uno de sus ataques de pánico, se le quedó viendo a la mano y luego a su oponente, luego a la mano otra vez y de regreso a su oponente. Las cejas de Ártica se elevaron en un gesto curioso del cual Asgrim si acaso se percató, porque lo siguiente que vio fue el puño atrapado en hielo darle duro por la cabeza y, sin falta, dejarlo inconsciente. El cuerpo de la Sombra de Merak Beta le cayó encima, pero a como pudo, Ártica se arrastró lo suficiente para quedar libre. Se le quedó viendo a su contrincante unos momentos. -No quiero quejas después, Asgrim. Tú fuiste el que me lo dejó así-
Hagen se rió. -¿Qué pasa? ¿Será que el lobo no le puede seguir el paso al caballo?-
Fenrir respiraba de manera entrecortada. Había varios hilos de sangre que recorrían su cara y los golpes que había recibido en las piernas estaban comenzando a causarle muchos problemas. Una mirada rápida del campo le llevó a notar la ubicación de su Sombra. Chocó un puño contra la palma de la otra mano y apretó los dientes. -El caballo que descontrola su paso termina tropezándose-
Una vez más se lanzó hacia Hagen, inflamando su cosmos hasta donde el cansancio le permitía. Le hizo retroceder un par de metros y luego se levantó los visores. -WOLF CRUELTY CLAW-
Hagen se volvió a reír. -¡Esto no será suficiente, Fenrir!- exclamó, pero donde antes estuvo una sonrisa ahora había una cara de shock, porque la ráfaga lo hizo retroceder aún más y de la nada se tropezó con algo que hizo sus piernas ceder y se fue de espaldas. Ese algo era Ártica, que todavía no se había logrado poner de pie y al estar arrodillada, había fungido como el obstáculo perfecto. La otra se irguió como pudo con una cara de shock igual o peor que la de Hagen. -¿¡Qué demonios...!?-
-Vamos, prepárate- replicó el otro, tomando a Hagen de un pie y comenzando a girar con él. Después de la cuarta vuelta lo lanzó hacia arriba y su Sombra de inmediato se lanzó tras él. Con el último gramo de fuerza que le quedaba, Ártica le clavó el codo al rubio en el abdomen y eso, más el golpe de cuando chocó contra el suelo, terminaron el trabajo. Los diez segundos pasaron en silencio y Hagen de Merak Beta no dio ningún signo de poderse levantar otra vez. Fenrir se inclinó y arrancó el pendiente de cuarzo rojo que tenía colgando de su cuello. -Tropezones- fue todo lo que dijo.
-¡El segundo combate es una victoria para Epsilon!- gritó Hilda desde el palco. Algunas exclamaciones de celebración de parte de los demás también se colaron entre sus palabras. Ártica dio un pequeño e infantil salto de alegría. -¡Lo logramos!-
Fenrir no dijo nada, simplemente la levantó y la cargó en su hombro hasta el palco. Su Sombra, muy sonrojada, se trató de bajar, pero su mano no le ayudó en nada. -Ahh, Fenrir bájame, ¿qué haces...?-
Su Dios Guerrero la depositó frente a la mayor de las Princesas. -Señorita Hilda, ¿podría... romper ese hielo?-
-¿Hm? ¿Por qué no lo haces tú?- le preguntó Bjarna, quien tenía algunos vendajes en la mejilla después de su combate contra los gemelos de Zeta. -Tienes la fuerza para romperlo de un golpe-
Fenrir miró hacia un lado y torció la boca. -Sí, pero no sé si puedo controlar la fuerza de tal manera que rompa el hielo y no su mano...-
Hilda parpadeó unos momentos y luego sonrió de manera misteriosa. -Por supuesto-
Tomó la mano apresada y concentró su cosmos en sus propias manos. A medida que el aura luminosa cubría el hielo, éste comenzó a rajarse y después de unos momentos, se partió en pedazos. La piel de la mano se veía pálida y ligeramente azulada, por lo que Hilda comenzó a frotarla suavemente usando su cosmos como un generador de calor. Luego de varias veces, algunos dedos reaccionaron. -Eso es. Ve y sumerge esa mano en agua caliente, Ártica-
La otra apenas tuvo tiempo de agradecerle, porque de inmediato Fenrir la jaló a la parte posterior del palco donde esperaba Andri con un recipiente que humeaba y varios vendajes. Ártia se sentó en un banco y se quedó muy quieta mientras la vieja sirvienta hacía una revisión general de su estado. Lo mismo hacía Fenrir en otro banco, aunque la mirada que le dirigía al joven siervo que lo atendía evidentemente no estaba causando la mejor de las impresiones.
Bud se sentó cerca de ambos. -Felicitaciones por un buen combate- dijo con una sonrisa.
-¿Buen? ¡Fue un gran combate!- intervino Syd de pronto. -Mi parte favorita fue cuando Fenrir usó a Ártica para hacer tropezar a Hagen-
Alioth Epsilon desvió la mirada ante su comentario, pero Ártica sonrió. -Apuesto que esa táctica no la conocías-
-Y yo apuesto que tú tampoco, niña- replicó el gemelo y ambos estallaron en carcajadas. -Así que ahora que tenemos a Zeta y Epsilon, sólo falta ver quién ganará entre Gamma y Eta-
-¡Oh! ¡Entonces derrotaron a Bjarna y Alberich!- exclamó ella al ver que la otra Sombra femenina presente se acercó.
-Sí... creo que nunca me habían dado una paliza de tal magnitud- dijo la joven de ojos turquesa con el cejo fruncido. -¡Me las van a pagar en otro momento, gatitos...!-
-Hey, hey. Las amenazas dáselas a Alberich- replicó Bud con un gesto manual. -Él es tu compañero de equipo-
En ese momento llegó Hagen, apoyándose pesadamente en Siegfried. Asgrim hacía lo mismo con Baldur. En el momento en que Duphe Alpha colocó a su compañero en una silla cercana, la princesa Flare lo empujó con relativa violencia fuera del camino. -¡Hagen! Hagen, ¿estás bien?-
El rubio asintió. -Sí, no es nada, querida Flare. Será pan comido recuperarme del ataque de los Lobos del Norte. No quiero presumir, pero creo que ellos se llevaron la peor parte-
-¿Cómo?- exclamó Asgrim de pronto. -No sé tú, pero yo tengo un golpe del tamaño de Jörmungandr en mi cabeza-
Hagen se rió, pero la mirada que Flare le lanzó a ambos Alioth Epsilon fue bastante intimidante. Bjarna, por su parte, le estaba dando la vuelta a Ártica, cuando notó algo en su espalda. -¡Vaya, Ártica! ¡Tienes toda chamuscada tu tr...-
Pero se quedó callada en medio de su oración, porque de pronto en su mano tenía el tercio inferior de la trenza de Ártica. El silencio sepulcral se apoderó de Flare, Syd, Asgrim, Bud, Hagen, Fenrir y Bjarna mientras la otra se tomaba un momento para asimilar la situación. Un chillido de horror salió de su boca. -¡Mi... mi cabello! ¡¿POR QUÉ ME ARRANCAS EL CABELLO?!-
Bjarna se alejó unos pasos al tiempo que Ártica se ponía de pie de golpe, botando el recipiente de agua caliente. La Sombra de Megrez Delta salió disparada para huir del agarre de la otra, quien se veía empeñada en atraparla -¡ERES UNA ENANA INFELIZ!-
-¡PERO SI FUE ASGRIM EL QUE TE QUEMÓ EL CABELLO!- gritó Bjarna, tirando el tercio de trenza al aire, que todavía estaba atado con la banda azul. La persecución seguiría un rato más, hasta que finalmente Hilda anunció la siguiente pelea. Thor y Sigurd saldrían victoriosos en su batalla contra Mime y Reydar, pero no ilesos. Los vendajes escondían los innumerables cortes que los otros los les habían causado con sus Réquiem de Cuerdas.
Terminada la jornada, regresaron al Palacio para una merecida cena y una ducha. Inmediatamente después regresaron Andri y el otro siervo para vendar las heridas que estaban debajo de los Mantos Sagrados, aunque Fenrir apenas le dejó vendar sus puños y piernas. Entró a la habitación de Ártica para verla acostada en la cama y a Jin acostado sobre su brazo. -No sé qué le pasa, me ha estado siguiendo por todo lado desde que llegué. Hasta se metió a la ducha conmigo-
Fenrir elevó las cejas ante lo último, tic incluido, pero no dijo nada. -Y ahora que me senté en la cama, de inmediato se acostó sobre mi brazo...-
-Sabe que algo le pasó, supongo que quiere calentarlo con su cuerpo- replicó el otro. -¿Estás segura de que no te duele?-
-Sí. Está entumecido todavía, pero no me duele ni nada- dijo ella. -Ya con todos los vendajes y demás en su lugar, me siento mucho mejor. ¿Ya terminaron contigo?-
-Sí, ya- dijo él, dándose la vuelta para ir a su habitación.
-Espera, Fenrir- llamó Ártica al erguirse en la cama. Jin se acomodó para sentarse sobre su mano. -Quítate la camisa-
El aludido se quedó en su posición. -No-
-Quítatela, por favor-
Alioth Epsilon dejó escapar un gruñido inconforme, pero hizo como se le pidió. Tenía un moretón en un costado. -No es nada-
-Date la vuelta-
Otro gruñido inconforme resonó cuando lo hizo. Una gran parte de su espalda se veía roja e irritada. Ártica se puso de pie y lo obligó a sentarse en la cama. -No te muevas, ya regreso-
Jin se fue tras ella y Fenrir se sumió en fastidio por un rato mientras ella regresaba. Cuando lo hizo, venía con un pequeño tarro en mano. Se sentó detrás de él, abrió el tarrito y comenzó a untar el ungüento en toda su espalda. El otro se encorvó un poco. -¿Cómo te diste cuenta?-
-No sé tú, pero yo estaba pendiente de qué estaba pasando en tu lado del claro- decía mientras pasaba su mano por la espalda. La otra no, porque Jin estaba empeñado en no soltarla y hasta la había aprisionado entre sus patas. -Vi claramente cuando recibiste la ráfaga de fuego en la espalda y aunque el Manto Sagrado te ahorró la peor parte, era obvio que se había calentado por el ataque. Alguna quemadura te iba a dejar-
-Claro que estaba pendiente de tu lado del claro, ¿acaso no embestí a Agrim cuando te quedaste atrapada en la corteza?- replicó el otro, ligeramente indignado.
-Sí, eso es cierto- dijo ella, tapando el tarrito y dejándolo en su mesa de noche. -Me salvaste, gracias-
Le hizo voltear un poco y depositó un suave beso en la mejilla del otro. Esto lo incomodó, pero Ártica sabía que era un tipo bueno de incomodidad. Fenrir miró hacia otro lado y torció la boca. -Siempre lo he dicho. En este caso es el Dios Guerrero el que tiene que proteger a su Sombra-
-Bueno, es hora de un merecido descanso- dijo Ártica en medio de un bostezo. -Ha sido un día muy largo...-
-Sí...- respondió él al ponerse de pie, ponerse la camisa otra vez y dar unos pasos hacia su habitación-
-Fenrir-
-¿Hm?-
-¿Por qué no duermes aquí? Ya Jin dejó claro que lo hará, así que no veo por qué tú no puedes- dijo con una sonrisa.
El otro se encogió de hombros. -Dos lobos en una cama, uno más no hará mucha diferencia. ¿Por qué no?-
Se metió entre las cobijas y se acostó boca abajo, porque poner su peso sobre la quemadura iba a causarle más dolor del necesario. Ártica y Jin se acomodaron a como el lobo permitió. Apagó las luces. -Buenas noches, Fenrir-
-Buenas noches, Ártica- murmuró él. El ungüento tenía un efecto raro en el cual bajaba la irritación de la quemadura, pero al mismo tiempo le causaba cierto ardor. Gruñó muy calladamente por eso, pero al instante sintió que unos dedos frotaban muy suavemente su espalda y esto disminuía el ardor. En la penumbra de la habitación, cerró los ojos con satisfacción y tal vez, una pequeña sonrisa.
**XXXXXX**
Ártica miraba el juego con una expresión algo confundida. Nunca había entendido bien el ajedrez y para ser sinceros, sólo estaba ahí porque no tenía nada mejor qué hacer. Alberich y Reydar dejaban escapar sonrisas maliciosas cada vez que movían una pieza, pero sin decir palabra alguna. La Sombra de Alioth Epsilon pensaba que era un choque invisible de titanes, porque sentía la tensión, pero no la entendía.
Cuando se dio por vencida en comprender la partida, se puso a jugar con el caballo de Reydar que Megrez Delta había capturado. Para arriba y para abajo lo movía por la mesa con una infantil sonrisa de satisfacción, tumbando las otras piezas desechadas. No fue hasta que de manera poco sutil Reydar le quitó el caballo que Ártica se puso de pie, ligeramente fastidiada. (1) -Bueno pues, al cabo que ni entiendo esta cosa-
-Si usaras un poco tu maní, lo captarías sin problemas- le recriminó la otra Sombra.
-¿Mi maní...?- repitió Ártica con una ceja enarcada, pero cuando cayó en cuenta de a qué se refería, por poco bota el tablero. -Eres una enana insolente. Si no fuera porque sería irrespetuoso con Alberich, agarraría esas piezas y te las metería entre la oreja-
Megrez Delta se carcajeó. -No, por favor, no dejes que te detenga. Voy ganando la partida, pero me entretendría mil veces más ver eso-
-Fenrir, así no se juega Jenga- dijo Syd en la otra esquina del Salón Blanco.
-Vete al diablo- le dijo el otro, acomodando los tuquitos en su lado de la mesa para formar una casa muy rústica. Cuando necesitaba más, simplemente agarraba los de la parte superior de la torre con la que jugaban el gemelo y Sigurd. Mizar Zeta suspiró, derrotado, y le cedió el resto de las piezas, mientras iba al armario a buscar un mazo de cartas. Dicho mazo era bastante colorido.
-¡UNO!- exclamó Ártica al sentarse al lado de Syd de inmediato. -¿Puedo jugar?-
-Pero cómo me preguntas eso, niña, claro que puedes- respondió el otro y comenzó a repartir las cartas entre Sigurd, ella y él. Apenas unos minutos después, Syd tenía casi todo el mazo en la mano y no porque estuviera repartiendo. -Caray, qué malo soy en este juego-
-Já- exclamó Reydar desde su asiento. -No me sorprende que vayas ganando, Ártica, UNO ciertamente tiene un nivel más manejable para tu maní -
La otra no dijo nada, simplemente agarró un puñado de tucos de Jenga (para total indignación de Fenrir) y se los tiró a la otra con cierta furia. Reydar se rió cuando los esquivó, al tiempo que las puertas del Salón Blanco se abrían de par en par. Hilda y Siegfried ladearon un poco la cabeza al ver a Ártica con otras dos piezas de madera en mano y en medio de lanzarlos. Parpadeó unos segundos al verlos, pero no renunció a sus acciones. La Sombra de Benetasch Eta frunció el entrecejo como nunca cuando sintió las piezas en su nuca, ya que había confiando en que la presencia de la Princesa iba a inhibir cualquier represalia en su contra. Alberich se carcajeó con ganas ante toda la escena. -Ah, Princesa Hilda, éstas son las Sombras Guerreras de Asgard-
La sacerdotisa logró disimular su risa como una tos medio rara y caminó hacia el centro del Salón. Detrás de ella, Siegfried y los restantes guerreros que acababan de llegar entraron en la estancia. -Bien, quería hacerles una sugerencia en relación a la competencia...-
Ártica se sentó al lado de Fenrir y le sonrió, pero el otro la fulminó con la mirada. Su Sombra parpadeó varias veces tratando de entender y luego elevó las cejas con congoja. Le había destrozado su casita en el arranque de ira. Fenrir se cruzó de brazos y cerró los ojos, indiferente a las disculpas de Ártica.
-Hay tres duplas que se tienen que batir para enfrentar a Alpha, pero si siguen recibiendo golpes como los de ayer, no van a estar en buenas condiciones para el combate final- continuó Hilda, ignorante ante el pleito de Lobos en la mesa. -Así que quería saber si Gamma, Epsilon o Zeta estarían dispuestos a aceptar un combate directo con Alpha. Si ganan, ustedes serían la nueva dupla a vencer-
Unos segundos de silencio fueron preludio para el choque del puño de Thor contra su otra mano. -Gamma acepta el reto-
Epsilon y Zeta no dijeron nada, así que eso decidió el asunto con rapidez. Hilda asintió. -Bien, entonces mañana a medio día será el combate. Las demás duplas estarán en el palco conmigo y veremos qué hacer una vez terminen-
Se retiró con Siegfried y alguno que otro que salió del Salon, mientras los que se quedaron retomaron lo que fuere que estaban haciendo. Todos menos los Lobos, donde el blanco no lograba que el azul le dirigiera palabra. Ártica suspiró, derrotada, y se puso de pie. Se fue a la cocina a buscar algo, pero no notó que alguien le seguía los talones. No fue hasta que casi tira el azúcar del susto que se percató que la princesa Flare estaba ahí con ella. -Princesa Flare, por favor no haga eso-
La rubia la miraba de manera intensa con el cejo apenas fruncido, pero con mucha concentración. Una expresión tan seria en su rostro era muy raro de ver, y sinceramente le daba escalofríos a la otra. -¿Necesita algo de mí?-
-No realmente- respondió la otra, sirviendo algo de té para sí. -La verdad, me ha estado comiendo la curiosidad en saber cómo vencieron a Hagen y Asgrim ayer. No me tomes a mal, no es que creo que no tengan la capacidad, es solo que...-
-Hagen es más fuerte que Fenrir y definitivamente más fuerte que yo- concordó Ártica al revolver el contenido de su jarra con la cuchara. -Como no sabíamos con quién nos teníamos que batir, hicimos varios planes dependiendo del contrincante. Por ejemplo, si nos tocaba contra Eta, Gamma o Zeta, los podíamos enfrentar al mismo tiempo, porque sus ataques son más físicos... no enteramente, pero más físicos que por ejemplo el fuego de Beta, el cual implica mucho más peligro inmediato que los cortes de Zeta, por decir algo...-
-¿Y entonces?- dijo Flare, aparentemente no satisfecha con lo que le acaba de decir.
-Pues, que para esos dos en especial lo mejor era neutralizar a uno primero. Por eso yo hice lo posible por dejar a Asgrim fuera de combate para luego ir y enfrentar a Hagen junto a Fenrir-
-¿Y cómo lo hiciste?- preguntó la rubia al beber un poco de té. -Asgrim es muy fuerte también. No tanto como Hagen, pero digno de ser su Sombra-
-Pues... ¿con mucho empeño?- respondió la otra, no del todo confiada. -En medio de una batalla, por lo menos a mí me pasa que me pongo como en automático. No sé cómo explicarlo... Más que nada aproveché los árboles para evitar algunos de sus ataques y tomarlo por sorpresa-
Ártica se rascó la nuca y con pesar sintió la recientemente alterada longitud de su cabello. -Obviamente no lo logré en todas ocasiones...-
Flare pasó sus dedos por la coleta de Ártica con una sonrisa. -Lamento que tu cabello haya sufrido este daño, realmente se siente raro tenerlo corto. Bueno, "corto" considerando que ahora ni siquiera te da para trenzarlo como te gusta...-
Ártica regresó al Salón Blanco con la taza en su mano y la colocó con cierta timidez frente a Fenrir. El otro miró con sospecha el contenido y luego a su Sombra. Entrecerró sus ojos y bebió de ella con cierta prisa. -¿No te da vergüenza chantajearme con chocolate caliente?-
-No- respondió ella con una sonrisa y se sentó a su lado.
Fenrir elevó una ceja y torció la boca. -Bueno, ayúdame a hacer una casita más grande- le dijo, dejando que ella se sentara más cerca.
**XXXXX**
Era un buen día. El viento era poco y el cielo estaba relativamente despejado para estándares asgardianos. Cinco Dioses Guerreros y sus Sombras esperaban en el palco junto a las Princesas mientras que los guardianes de Gamma y Alpha se analizaban los unos a los otros en medio del claro. Hilda se aclaró la garganta. -Ya saben las reglas del encuentro. Una vez finalice, se decidirá cómo proseguirá la competencia-
Los cuatro guerreros asintieron y asumieron poses de batalla. Fenrir miraba sin prestar mucho cuidado. Era una lucha de tipos diferentes de fuerza. Gamma tenía más fuerza bruta mientras que Alpha más potencia en su ataque. El estruendo de los golpes, el destello de los ataques, el silbido de las hachas cortando el aire, la fuerza de las técnicas chocando una con otra. Sin duda había pocas cosas que se podían comparar a esa batalla.
Sin embargo, a pesar de que el encuentro fue muy intenso, no se extendió mucho. Apenas diez minutos después, los guardianes de Gamma yacían inmóviles sobre la nieve. Hilda de Asgard anunció la victoria de Alpha y éstos ayudaron a sus contrincantes a caminar hasta el palco. Intercambiaron unas palabras que Alioth Epsilon no escuchó porque miraba extrañado el temblor en las manos de Ártica. Comenzaron a caminar de vuelta al Palacio y los Lobos del Norte se quedaron atrás en relación al grupo.
Ártica se mordió el labio inferior. -¡E-es demasiado fuerte...! ¡Yo no duraría ni cinco segundos contra él...!-
El Dios Guerrero arqueó una ceja. -¿Qué no has luchado con Baldur antes? ¿No es lo mismo?-
-¡Claro que no! ¡Jamás!- replicó ella, nerviosa. -No hay punto de comparación...-
-Siegfried es un hombre muy fuerte- concordó Fenrir con los brazos tras la cabeza. -Pero tienes la mala costumbre de pensar que no puedes hacer nada. Si eso fuera cierto, no serías digna de ser mi Sombra-
Ártica volteó hacia él con una media sonrisa. -Sé que lo dijiste con buenas intenciones, pero esa frase no salió del todo bien-
-El punto es- dijo el otro al girar los ojos en sus órbitas. -Que el resultado de un enfrentamiento sólo se puede determinar cuando se lleva a cabo. Una vez perseguí a un cervatillo convencido de que sería lo más fácil del mundo. Al final del día terminé con una pezuña marcada en la cara producto de una patada y sin nada para comer-
No habían puesto un pie dentro del Palacio cuando Hilda les habló. -Alioth Epsilon, acaba de surgir una propuesta muy interesante para el terminar la competencia-
Los aludidos se quedaron viéndola en silencio, esperando a que continuara. La Princesa hizo un gesto manual en relación a Siegfried y Baldur. -Duphe Alpha ha propuesto que ustedes y Mizar Zeta los enfrenten de manera simultánea-
-¿Eh?- dejó escapar Ártica con cierto shock. -¿Epsilon vs Zeta vs Alpha _al mismo tiempo_?-
-¿Para qué?- preguntó Fenrir en ningún tono en particular.
Siegfried sonrió. -Pues, ¿no te parece más interesante? Cuatro oponentes en lugar de dos y éstos se pueden neutralizar entre ellos-
-Una gran descarga de testoster...- comenzó a decir Baldur, pero luego de mirar a Ártica, reconsideró lo que iba a decir. -Adrenalina-
-¿Qué dicen? ¿Les parece?- preguntó Hilda, expectante.
La Sombra de Alioth Epsilon miró a su compañero con inquietud, y éste se encogió de hombros. -Sí sí, qué más da. Así terminaremos más rápido con todo este alboroto-
-¡Excelente!- exclamó Siegfried al ver a Fenrir pasar junto a él. -Mañana a las dos de la tarde-
Alioth Epsilon giró a la derecha para salir al pasillo y a medio camino dejó escapar un silbido largo seguido de uno corto. Ártica pareció regresar a la realidad después de mostrarse totalmente aterrada ante la respuesta afirmativa que su Dios Guerrero acababa de darles a los demás. De inmediato frunció el cejo y se fue tras él. -¡N-no estoy llorando...!-
De vuelta en sus habitaciones, Fenrir se acostó en la cama al lado de Jin. Éste le lamió la cara y se acomodó sobre él. Minutos después apareció Ártica, quien se sentó al borde de la cama. -Espero tengas una buena estrategia para esto, porque de lo contrario nos metiste en un rollo difícil de superar-
-Bah, ¿no te emociona un reto de este calibre?- dijo él, rascando a Jin tras las orejas.
-No, me aterra- replicó la otra. -Y si tengo que decirlo yo, tú no te ves muy emocionado tampoco-
Fenrir puso un brazo tras la cabeza. No le iba a decir nunca a su Sombra, pero el prospecto de tener una excusa para golpear a Bud y hacerle pagar por lastimar a Jin lo ponía de buen humor. -Tal vez Baldur tiene razón y es pura testosterona-
Ártica torció los labios en lo que tal vez pudo haber sido reproche. -Claro, como soy la única chica en este encuentro, nada tiene sentido para mí-
-No lo dije con esa intención- aclaró el otro. -Pero sería mejor para ti si ves esto como lo que es: entretenimiento. Es una competencia tonta, nada malo va a pasar, así que puedes relajarte-
-¡Lo dice al que no le quemaron el cabello...!- replicó ella en medio de una risa. -Sin embargo, eso no responde a mi pregunta-
-Ah, cierto. La cosa es sencilla, rómpele la cara a Syd y yo se la romperé a Bud, para que me ayudes a rompérsela a Siegfried. De Baldur nos podemos encargar paralelamente-
-Muchas caras por romper-
-Por eso digo, relájate-
-¿Y por qué yo a Syd? ¿No sería mejor a Bud?- inquirió Ártica con un dedo en la barbilla. -Después de todo, como él me entrenó, sé bastante bien cómo ataca y defiende-
Fenrir cerró los ojos. -Bah, ponle algo de emoción al combate, Ártica. Lucha con alguien nuevo, te garantizo que cuando le rompas la cara a Syd, te va a dar más satisfacción que rompérsela a Bud. (Cosa que ya has hecho antes, por cierto...)-
-Hm…- meditó ella. –Está bien. La verdad no hace mucha diferencia. Ahora si me disculpas, iré a tomar una siesta-
-¿Una siesta?- dijo, estirándose con pereza y rascándose la frente. – ¿Duermes como un tronco y aún así vas a tomar una siesta?
-M-me gusta dormir- fue todo lo que Ártica dijo, poniéndose de pie y yéndose a su habitación.
El resto del día siguió sin eventos, aunque la expectativa tenía a todos de puntillas. Durante la cena como el desayuno al día siguiente, el combate de las dos de la tarde era lo único de lo que podían hablar en el Palacio Valhalla. Los cocineros, los siervos, las Princesas y los guerreros mismos debatían una y otra vez qué iba a pasar en el encuentro de tres equipos, pero Ártica no lograba bajar nada más que yogurt para desayunar. No fue hasta que Fenrir la obligó a comer salchichas, huevo, tostada y beberse un vaso de jugo que finalmente se llenó. –El yogurt es para perdedores. Tienes que comer proteína para luchar en tu mejor nivel-
-Si no me vomito en medio combate será un milagro- replicó ella, frotándose la barriga con una cara de agobio.
-Con tal de que no sea encima de mí, siéntete libre de hacerlo- dijo Baldur con una sonrisa.
Un poco de calentamiento antes del almuerzo y una comida ligera fue todo lo que quedó antes de que finalmente fuera hora de que los seis guerreros se reunieran en el claro entre los árboles. Fenrir colocó su mano en la muñeca de su Sombra, que no dejaba de temblar. –Somos los Lobos del Norte-
La otra no pudo articular respuesta, pero asintió y en su mirada se vio más determinación que antes. Diagonal a ellos estaban los gemelos de Zeta y en el otro lado, los guerreros de Alpha. Hilda se aclaró la garganta. –Conocen las normas, así que sólo me resta desearles un buen combate, y que gane el mejor equipo… o el mejor guerrero, si es el caso-
Al instante los guerreros desaparecieron de su lugar y justo después se escucharon impactos sobre metal, piedra, madera y nieve. Todos menos Siegfried, quien se había quedado en su posición con los brazos cruzados y una sonrisa tranquila. Con mucha maestría, Bud bloqueó el puño de Fenrir al mismo tiempo que de una patada mandó a volar a Baldur. Le torció el brazo a Alioth Epsilon, pero éste le hizo una zancadilla y lo tumbó al suelo. Le dio varios puñetazos hasta que Baldur llegó por detrás y lo atrapó en una llave. Fenrir giró en el momento justo y el golpe que Bud intentó propiciarle le dio a la Somba en el hombro, aflojando su agarre. Los tres se dieron unos momentos para retomar el aliento, con una pequeña sonrisa en sus labios. Sin duda alguna entre ellos lo que había era pura testosterona.
No muy lejos de ellos, Syd y Ártica se observaban con atención. Su choque inicial había sido de puños, pero ahora analizaban mejor al oponente, siendo éste uno que nunca habían enfrentado. Syd sonrió y le hizo un guiño. -Espero no tomes a mal lo que resulte de este combate, niña -
-Lo tomaré a mal si me dejas ganar- replicó ella al bajarse los visores. -Que ésta no sea una riña entre perros y gatos, sino un combate entre un lobo y un tigre-
-Así se habla- dijo Mizar Zeta, y se enfrascaron en un ir y venir de puños y patadas que daba poco espacio para pensar. Casi todas las reacciones de Ártica eran por instinto, lo que en algunas ocasiones no le fue de gran ayuda. Sin embargo, el mismo Syd calculaba mal ciertos ataques, brindándole una mejor oportunidad para contraatacarlo. En un intento por derribarla, el gemelo usó su pierna para hacerla tropezar, pero con una agilidad sobrenatural, Ártica apoyó sus manos en el suelo y rodeó el cuello de Syd con sus piernas. Seguidamente lo lanzó hacia adelante y de un salto se puso de pie otra vez.
-¡Caray! ¿Dónde aprendió Ártica eso?- exclamó Asgrim en el palco.
-Yo le enseñé- respondió Bjarna de inmediato, llevándose la mano al pecho.
-No sabes ni saltar hacia atrás, qué le vas a estar enseñando a Ártica esas patadas de ninja- dijo Alberich, arqueando una ceja.
Su Sombra se volteó, molesta. -Tú no conoces mis habilidades secretas-
-No _tienes_ habilidades secretas-
-Ya cállense los dos, no me puedo concentrar en la violencia autorizada con ustedes discutiendo- les reprendió Reydar, comiendo ansiosamente de los bocadillos sobre la mesa.
Los lugares habían cambiado varias veces, así que se habían turnado entre Ártica vs Bud, Baldur vs Syd, Fenrir vs Baldur y hasta por descuido, Syd y Bud casi se rompen los dientes el uno al otro. Fenrir dio un salto y generó un potente corte con su pierna que hizo retroceder a Alcor Zeta varios metros. Éste le respondió con un golpe al hombro, otro al muslo y finalmente uno al abdomen. Su oponente rodó un poco sobre la nieve antes de ponerse de pie otra vez. Le acertó una patada a Bud en el costado y un puñetazo a la cara. Se enfrascaron tan intensamente en su combate que olvidaron por completo sus alrededores.
Aprovechando la oportunidad, Syd se alejó de los otros dos y se lanzó contra Fenrir en el momento en que su hermano lo hizo retroceder algunos pasos. -VIKING TIGER CLAW-
-¡No, señor!- gritó Ártica, interponiéndose de pronto entre ambos. Sus visores relampaguearon al instante. -SHADOW WOLF CRUELTY CLAW-
Debido a la poca distancia entre ellos, el choque de técnicas generó una gran onda de impacto que mandó a volar tanto a Syd como a Ártica a lados opuestos del claro, donde terminaron golpeándose contra árboles cercanos. Fenrir y Bud también fueron lanzados hacia atrás, pero la distancia les permitió aminorar la velocidad y evitarse el daño. Sacudiendo la cabeza, Alioth Epsilon se puso de pie y analizó lo mejor que pudo el escenario frente a sí. Vio a su Sombra al extremo izquierdo y tuvo ganas de correr hacia ella, pero se quedó en su lugar con los puños bien cerrados. -Uno... dos... tres...-
En silencio pasaron los segundos, pero el único movimiento en el claro provino de Baldur, quien nuevamente trató de tomar a Fenrir por sorpresa. Sin siquiera voltear a verlo, éste le conectó un puñetazo justo en medio de la cara que sin más lo dejó inmóvil. -Ocho... nueve... diez-
Con un paso seguro, se fue hacia el lado derecho del claro y le arrancó el pendiente de cuarzo rojo a un Syd que estaba por desmayarse. Donde lo vio, el gemelo de cara ensangrentada dejó escapar una muy débil carcajada. -Carajo, iba en serio lo de que no fuera una riña entre perros y gatos...-
Al otro lado, Bud miraba con descontento el cuerpo inactivo de su amiga de la infancia. Ártica estaba boca abajo sobre la nieve y a diferencia de su hermano al otro lado del claro, no se movió en lo absoluto. Alcor Zeta le dio la vuelta y la recostó contra el árbol con el que había chocado. Luego tomó el pendiente verde que tenía una pequeña Ɛ grabada en el cuarzo y regresó al centro del claro, donde Fenrir le dio un golpe a un malherido Baldur en el cuello para que finalmente colapsara.
-Tu Sombra es molestamente insistente- dijo Alioth Epsilon, mirando a su líder.
-¿Puedes culparlo? Le rompiste todo el puente de la nariz, yo también estaría molesto- replicó Siegfried. -Sin embargo, esa es la cualidad más valiosa de Baldur, su perseverancia-
-La próxima vez le romperé eso también- refunfuñó el otro, guardando el cuarzo rojo de Syd y el verde de Baldur entre sus ropas.
-Ah, ya te pusiste de mal humor- dijo Duphe Alpha al ponerse el casco. -¿Qué le pasó a toda esa emoción de cuando te estabas dando de golpes con Bud y los otros?-
-Se me acabó- fue todo lo que dijo, alejándose unos pasos a saltos al sentir a Bud caminar cerca de él. El gemelo no podía comprobarlo por los visores, pero podía sentir una penetrante mirada clavada en él tras ellos.
-Bien, comencemos- dijo Siegfried y los alrededores se impregnaron del poderoso cosmos que emanaba de él. Los otros dos también elevaron los suyos, conscientes de que era el todo por el todo de ahora en adelante. Fenrir miró una última vez el lado izquierdo del claro y apretó los dientes. -Somos los Lobos del Norte...-
Todos en el palco estaban al borde de sus sillas, puesto que la batalla se había vuelto tan intensa que incluso a veces era difícil saber qué estaba pasando. Si no era porque luchaban a una velocidad sobrehumana, era por las grandes nubes de polvo que se levantaban cada que alguien lanzaba una técnica especial. Siegfried ni siquiera se molestó en esquivar la ráfaga de goles de Bud y más bien aprovechó un descuido del gemelo para tomarlo del brazo y lanzarlo hacia adelante. De inmediato apareció tras él y de una patada lo envió varios metros hacia la derecha.
Fenrir le acertó un puñetazo en el brazo que el otro probablemente ni sintió y recibió de lleno un golpe de cosmos que le sacó el aire. La gran potencia de los ataques de Siegfried rápidamente cansó a los otros dos, quienes apenas podían mantener el ritmo para que no les diera de lleno.
Alioth Epsilon finalmente pareció cansarse de esta situación y puso todo lo que tenía en su siguiente ataque. Con un giro evadió el golpe de Bud y de un salto se posicionó justo sobre Duphe Alpha. Los visores ambarinos brillaron con fuerza. -NORTHERN GUNROU KEN (1)-
-ODIN'S SWORD- fue lo último que escuchó y de repente todo se volvió negro.
Abrió los ojos y se irguió de pronto, respirando de manera agitada. Hizo el intento de ponerse de pie, pero el dolor en sus costados lo hizo dejar escapar un alarido. A su izquierda algo se movió y Ártica se irguió, restregándose el ojo de la cicatriz. Fenrir se le quedó viendo con el cejo fruncido, más por el dolor que por cualquier otra cosa.
Estaban en su habitación y él estaba cubierto de vendajes. Su Sombra tenía uno en la cabeza, y otros en las manos. Ártica le sonrió, todavía somnolienta. -Qué bueno que ya recobraste el sentido-
-¿Qué carajos...?-
-Siegfried ganó el combate, te desmayaste después de recibir su Odin's Sword- le informó, dándose media vuelta y acostándose otra vez. Se acurrucó un poco y Jin, que estaba en medio de ambos, se recostó a ella.
-Hey, hey- exclamó él. -No te duermas, ¿qué pasó con Bud?-
Ártica reprimió un bostezo. -Siegfried lo venció con su Dragon's Bravest Blizzard-
-¿Cómo sabes todo esto? ¿No estabas inconsciente?-
-Bjarna me dijo cuando desperté. Luego me pidieron que te vendara, porque aparentemente Jin estaba por comerse las manos de cualquiera que te quisiera tocar. No le hizo mucha gracia verte en tan mal estado- dijo la Sombra con algo de lentitud. -¿Ya me puedo dormir otra vez?-
Fenrir torció la boca, todavía con muchas preguntas en mente. -Sí, descansa- le dijo, aunque ella parecía ya haberse dormido otra vez. El Dios Guerrero se volvió a acostar y se llevó una mano a la cabeza. Claro, el Odin's Sword. De por sí un ataque difícil de esquivar y de feria lo recibió en el aire. Fenrir gruñó en voz baja y se acomodó para seguir descansando. Era mejor recobrar fuerzas ahora y refunfuñar después.
A la mañana siguiente, los otros guerreros felicitaron a los combatientes y les hicieron una descripción más detallada de cómo había acontecido todo. Fenrir escuchó con atención el recuento que Mime le hizo sobre la batalla, ligeramente más interesado en las partes que incluían a su Sombra. Syd se sentó al lado de Ártica; él también tenía la cabeza vendada. -Niña, tienes que decirme dónde aprendiste ese espectacular movimiento de piernas-
-No te rías...- La Sombra de Alioth Epsilon se sonrojó un poco, rascándose un brazo. -Lo vi en una película que me mostró Bjarna el otro día-
-Les dije que yo se lo había enseñado- recalcó la Sombra de Megrez Delta al otro lado de la mesa.
-Si tengo que decirlo yo, me salió mejor de lo que esperaba- dijo Ártica al asentir. -No creí tener la fuerza suficiente para lanzarte en esa posición-
-Estas niñas de ahora se tienen cada truco bajo la manga...- respondió Syd, negando con la cabeza y encogiéndose de hombros.
-Dado el gran trabajo y esfuerzo que han hecho, les otorgamos estos pequeños y deliciosos premios- dijo la Princesa Flare, colocando una bandeja con seis cupcakes ricamente decorados sobre la mesa. Todos tenían estrellas de jengibre encima; un par eran doradas, otro plateadas y el tercero era de un color similar al bronce (3). Éste último fue depositado frente a los Lobos del Norte.
Ártica tomó uno, le quitó la estrella y le dio un mordisco. -¿Sabes? Al final tenías razón, fue muy emocionante luchar sabiendo que nada malo podía pasar-
-Tomaré eso como un "me encantó romperle la cara a Syd"- replicó Fenrir, agarrando el otro cupcake.
-Técnicamente él también me la rompió a mí, pero la verdad es que sí- dijo la otra con algo de azúcar refinada en la nariz. -Sólo que la próxima vez, la meta van a ser _esos_-
El Dios Guerrero la vio señalar el par de las estrellas doradas que se estaban comiendo Siegfried y Baldur. Fenrir le quitó el polvo blanco de la nariz con un dedo. -Hecho, pero tienes prohibido perder antes del oponente principal-
-Sí, señor- dijo Ártica y se terminaron los cupcakes con cierta satisfacción misteriosa.
**XXXXXXXXXXX**
(1) ノーザン群狼拳/ Northern Gunrō Ken / Golpe de la Jauría de los Lobos del Norte - sólo quería aclarar que es NORTHERN, no "Rozan", como por la razón que sea la mayoría de la gente parece traducirlo owoUu
2. Mascotas
**Mascotas**
_Capítulo único_
Era curioso, de alguna manera u otra. De toda la aldea, eran los únicos que habían cambiado constantemente de mascotas y animales de granja a través de los años. Algunos creían que era mero capricho, que simplemente se cansaban de una y por eso conseguían otra. Sin embargo, la razón era algo más complicada que eso.
Más que darse el lujo de tal capricho, la verdad obedecía al hecho de que la hija menor aparentemente era el enemigo público número uno de los animales de Asgard. Grandes y pequeños, voladores o rastreros, ninguno parecía congeniar con ella. Las aves pequeñas le picoteaban salvajemente los dedos si intenta alimentaras, los gansos la perseguían hasta el cansancio cuando salía por la puerta trasera de la casa, las cabras le arrancaban el cabello a mordiscos, los conejos le roían las ropas con furia y las ovejas le daban molestos empujones cada vez que la veían. Solo dos animales parecían no tenerla en su contra hasta el momento. El caballo que le permitía cepillarlo y montarlo sin mayor problema y el cachorro de perro. Éste hasta se animaba a jugar con ella y seguirla adonde fuera. Sin embargo, duró apenas unos meses, pues un lince lo mató durante una cacería.
Actualmente lo que había en la casa era un gato, de esos silenciosos y elegantes. Su pelaje era de hermosos tonos pardos y sus brillantes ojos verdes encantaban a quien quiera que lo mirase. Por nombre le habían puesto Delos y ciertamente se había ganado un lugar como el consentido de la casa. Se restregaba contra la pierna de Yrian(*) apenas lo veía entrar, jugaba con los juguetes que Boreal le fabricaba y hasta se echaba plácidamente frente al fuego para hacerle compañía a Embla y Polar mientras tejían. Hasta ahora, ni siquiera se habían reportado incidentes con Ártica, la verdadera raíz de la situación de los cambios constantes.
Por ello, Boreal no se preocupó mucho cuando vio a Delos posarse sobre la pequeña mesa de la humilde sala, a unos centímetros de donde la pequeña de siete años trabajaba en una tarea escolar. Ciertamente era toda una proeza que ni siquiera tal cercanía desencadenara algún problema entre ellos, así que se dio media vuelta para guardar los platos recién lavados. Estaba a punto de terminar con los vasos cuando escuchó al gato bufar, subirse al marco de la ventana y de un salto salir por ella. El joven se fijó en su hermana menor. Seguía sentada a la mesa con su tarea frente a ella, tranquila.
No, no era cierto. Hacía unos momentos había estado rasgando felizmente el papel con el lápiz pero ahora sólo lo miraba intensamente. Boreal dejó lo que estaba haciendo y se fue a sentar a su lado. Ahí fue cuando notó que la niña se estaba mordiendo el labio inferior y en sus ojos había cierta humedad. -Ártica, ¿qué te pasa?-
-Nada- le respondió la otra en su aguda vocecilla.
-Ártica, no me mientas- le dijo, levantando la barbilla de la niña con su mano. -¿Delos te rasguñó?-
La pequeña apretó los labios. -No-
Boreal enarcó una ceja. -Muéstrame tus manos-
Con resignación, la pequeña Ártica puso sus manos sobre la mesa. Éstas, los brazos y, ahora que lo notaba, las mejillas también, estaban cubiertos de rasguños (1). La piel irritada a sus alrededores parecía brillar en comparación a la de otra manera pálida piel de la niña. -Dime qué pasó-
Ártica miró fijamente su tarea. -Sólo... sólo quería acariciar a Delos. Polar dice que su pelaje es muy suave... y yo quería... quería saber si era cierto... pero Delos no me deja...-
El hermano mayor inspeccionó un poco los bracitos de su hermana. Dejó escapar un suspiro. -Y puedo ver que no es la primera vez que intentas averiguarlo-
Inmediatamente la niña se soltó de su agarre y pegó los brazos a su cuerpo. Boreal se rascó la barbilla. -¿Por qué no nos dijiste que Delos te ha estado rasguñando?-
Ártica se bajó de su silla y le dio la espalda. -Porque cada vez que uno de los animales me hace algo, se tiene que ir... y no quiero que se tengan que separar de una buena mascota como él por mi culpa, como siempre...-
A Boreal se le estrujó un poco el corazón al escucharla decir eso, y de inmediato le dio un abrazo. Le revolvió los verdes cabellos con una mano y le sonrió. -Me agrada tener a Delos, pero si se la pasa arañando a mi hermanita, no es tan buena mascota como yo creía-
La niña se le quedó viendo, su boca torcida en un gesto triste. -Pero...-
-No te preocupes, me haré cargo de este asunto-
Boreal tuvo una pequeña charla con sus padres y a los tres días, Delos encontró un nuevo hogar. Eso sí, Ártica no se quedó con la duda de qué tan suave es el pelaje de un gato, porque su hermana le confeccionó uno de felpa que definitivamente nunca la iba a rasguñar.
**xxxxxxxxxx**
(*)Yrian: el padre de Ártica, Boreal y Polar.
3. Cumpleaños Azul
**Cumpleaños Azul
**_Capítulo único_
Fenrir abrió los ojos de golpe con una expresión ligeramente alarmada, pero unos segundos de repaso mental le permitieron relajarla. Esta semana no tenía tutorías, así que nada lo obligaba a despertarse tan temprano. Sin embargo, después de veinte minutos de intentar volverse a dormir, se terminó metiendo al baño. Meditó qué hacer consigo mismo y se decidió sólo cuando terminó de secarse el cabello. Se vistió rápido y abrió la puerta del espejo con algo de entusiasmo.
-Ártica, vamos a... oh...- dijo al notar que no había nadie allí. Jin entró a la habitación y dio un par de vueltas, olfateando todo. Bostezó al no encontrar nada y regresó por donde vino. El Dios Guerrero se rascó el hombro y se fue a desayunar. En el camino se topó a Reydar. -¿Has visto a Ártica?-
La de cabellos lilas negó con la cabeza. -No, pero me parece haber escuchado que salió desde temprano-
Fenrir asintió, conforme con su respuesta, y prosiguió al comedor. Se pasó el día en los jardines y en el Salón Blanco, pero no vio rastros de su Sombra en lo absoluto. Ya cansado, se fue a su habitación. Se acababa de meter entre las cobijas cuando escuchó la puerta de la habitación contigua abrirse y cerrase. Tuvo ganas de ir a hablar con Ártica, pero al final le dio pereza y decidió dejarlo para el día siguiente.
...Pero corrió la misma suerte. A pesar de haberse despertado más temprano, la jovencita tenía rato de haberse ido (o al menos eso dijo Andri). Algo melancólico, Fenrir se fue a ver como Siegfried, Thor y Baldur competían para ver quién cortaba más leña de un solo golpe. Baldur probó ser el más eficiente en esta tarea y con el pasar de las horas se pusieron a competir en otras cosas también. Alioth Epsilon se aburrió de verlos y deambuló hasta llegar al altar frente a la gigantesca estatua de Odín. La Princesa Hilda se encontraba ahí orando pero se puso de pie apenas sintió la presencia del otro. -¿Disfrutando de tu semana libre?-
El otro asintió sin decir nada, pero la pose ligeramente encorvada y las manos en los bolsillos no pasaron desapercibidas. -¿Estás aburrido?-
-Un poco- contestó Fenrir en ningún tono particular.
-¿Te molestaría ayudarme a alimentar a las aves de los jardines?-
-Para nada- dijo él y se pasaron en eso gran parte de la tarde.
Cuando regresó a su habitación, notó que la puerta del espejo estaba abierta y se asomó por ella. Su Sombra estaba profundamente dormida sobre la cama y Jin se había acurrucado junto a ella. Su cansancio había sido tal que ni se había quitado las húmedas botas y su arco quedó abandonado en el suelo. Fenrir lo colocó sobre el escritorio y buscó una cobija extra que sabía que ella guardaba en el armario. La cubrió con ella y le indicó a Jin que regresara a la otra habitación. Finalmente cerró la puerta del espejo lo más suave que pudo y se fue a dormir.
Fenrir no pudo evitar sentirse fastidiado al ver que otra vez su Sombra se había ido desde temprano sin decir nada. Dejó escapar algo de frustración al patear con fuerza el basurero de su habitación y regar los papeles por todo el suelo. -Vamos de paseo, Jin- le dijo al lobo y éste movió sus orejas de manera ansiosa. A medio camino en los jardines se toparon con Bud y Syd, quienes trataban de quitar la nueve acumulada sobre ciertas plantas. El lobo se fue en otra dirección y Alioth Epsilón se vio obligado a preguntar. -¿Saben dónde está Ártica?-
-Tengo varios días de no verla- dijo Syd al apoyarse en la pala que estaba usando.
-Yo igual...- respondió Fenrir con el cejo fruncido.
Bud se rascó la nuca con algo de incomodad, mirando a su derecha. -Debe estar ocupada con algo-
-Al menos podría decírmelo- se quejó el de cabellos plateados. -A menos que lo que quiera es que... no la mol...-
Su pausa incomodó más a Bud, pero Syd fue el que habló. -¿Que no la qué?-
-Nada, olvídalo...- respondió él, alejando cierto pensamiento de su mente. Se perdió entre los árboles y sin querer terminó en el claro donde meses atrás habían competido con los demás. Se metió los dedos en la boca y dejó escapar un silbido. Al poco tiempo escuchó la nieve crujir bajo el peso de alguien, pero ese alguien no era a quien llamaba. Aún así, Jin siempre lo hacía sentir mejor. Fenrir se sentó sobre la nieve y hundió la cara en el pelaje azul. Jin puso su pata en el hombro del otro y lamió su oreja.
Sin embargo, el mal humor se fue apoderando del Dios Guerrero y a la mañana siguiente ni siquiera el lobo pudo contener su mal genio al ver que nuevamente no había nadie en la habitación contigua. Probablemente hasta en el país vecino se escuchó a Fenrir vociferar cuando un joven siervo chocó con él en el pasillo y la Princesa Hilda tuvo que intervenir cuando uno de los guardias anunció a gritos que, Dios Guerrero o no, le iba a romper la nariz por insultarlo. El joven se pasó el resto del día en las ruinas de su antiguo hogar, destrozando la maleza a golpes y patadas. Regresó entrada la noche y se fue a dormir sin siquiera comer algo.
En la mañana sintió un peso en su cama. Fenrir abrió sus ojos con pereza y enfocó un rostro que no había visto bien en días muy cerca de sí. -¡Feliz cumpleaños!- exclamó Ártica con la más grande de sus sonrisas y las manos abiertas en un gesto de celebración.
El joven entrecerró los ojos, tensó la mandíbula y se quitó las cobijas. -Ah, ¿finalmente te acordaste que existo?- le escupió sin siquiera mirarla, caminando con cierta furia hacia el baño.
Su Sombra dio un ligero respingo ante su respuesta y la alegría se borró de su rostro. -¿Eh?-
El otro ni siquiera se volteó a mirarla. -¡Vete de aquí, no te quiero ver del todo!-
Tardó más de lo normal en bañarse pues en su mal humor quebró una de las llaves de la ducha y tuvo que usar fuerza sobrehumana para cerrarla otra vez. Al desayunar, recibió felicitaciones de algunos de los otros Dioses Guerreros y Sombras. La Princesa Hilda le obsequió un elegante abrigo negro por su natalicio.
Más tarde apareció Bud, quien le regaló una daga tallada en hueso animal. -Supuse que te gustaría algo así, más práctico-
-Gracias- gruñó Fenrir al observarla con cuidado.
-¿Y qué te pareció tu otro regalo?-
-Es un bonito abrigo, supongo...-
-¿Abrigo?- repitió Bud con cierta confusión, pero cuando su igual se le quedó viendo, se rió nerviosamente. -N-no me hagas caso, es que se me olvidan las cosas...-
Las horas pasaron y también las felicitaciones. Obediente como siempre, no hubo rastros de Ártica en todo el día, ni siquiera durante la cena, cuando la Princesa Flare llegó de visita con un enorme pastel que ella misma había horneado para la ocasión. Cuando vio a todos menos a su Sombra deseándole cosas buenas, Fenrir se sintió un poco triste, pero rápidamente recordó por qué ella no estaba ahí y no le dio más importancia (y los demás no se refirieron a ello, a pesar de que les pareció extraño).
Ligeramente empalagado de tanto pastel, Fenrir regresó a su habitación y notó por primera vez un paquete relativamente grande cerca de la puerta del espejo. No recordaba haberlo visto en la mañana, pero al mismo tiempo, ni siquiera estuvo prestando atención a algo que no fuera su enojo. No tenía nada escrito ni una tarjeta pegada a alguna parte, así que simplemente rasgó el papel de un sólo movimiento. Se quedó frío del shock cuando vio lo que estaba envuelto en él. -ÁRTICA, ENTRA AQUÍ **AHORA MISMO**-
La aludida se había pasado todo el día en su habitación, con la excepción del almuerzo, que lo había tomado en el balcón más remoto del Palacio donde básicamente nadie se pasaba. Estaba acostada en su cama abrazando una almohada cuando escuchó la orden de Fenrir y aunque todavía se sentía un poco mal, la absoluta costumbre la hizo dar un respingo, bajarse de la cama de un salto y casi que correr a la habitación de junto.
En el momento en que entró, Fenrir la estrechó extrañamente fuerte y con un ligero temblor en sus brazos. Ártica se quedó muy quieta, esperando a que le dijera algo, pero el otro no parecía poder articular palabra alguna. Luego la mirada de plata se clavó en el papel rasgado y, suspirando con alivio, le devolvió el abrazo al Dios Guerrero que debía proteger. Pasó sus dedos por el cabello plateado un par de veces.
-Hace algunos meses, estaba limpiando un salón especial en el ala norte del Palacio que está lleno de retratos. Aparentemente son todos de personas de la clase alta de nuestro país y no pude evitar quedarme viendo uno donde salía un hombre de cabellos plateados como los tuyos. La Princesa Flare me dijo que ese hombre y la mujer rubia a su lado eran tus padres, y que el retrato era de cuando se casaron- decía, recordando cada detalle con cuidado. -Entonces me vino una idea. "¡_Sería bonito regalarle a Fenrir algo así para su cumpleaños_!". Así que le escribí a mi hermano para ver si él podría hacer la pintura y me dijo que le encantaría, pero necesitaba que le enviara algunas cosas antes de cierta fecha para que pudiera trabajarlo con tiempo... pero yo no logré cumplir con mi parte y si lo hacía él, no estaría listo para hoy...-
Ártica respiró hondo. -Así que fui a hablar con un hombre de la Ciudadela que es muy buen pintor y me dijo que no había problema. Sí lo había, de hecho, y era el precio. Como sabes, el dinero que tengo es de cazar para el Palacio, pero no era suficiente para cubrir la cuota. Así que he estado cazando para las carnicerías de la Ciudadela también... pero tampoco era suficiente... así que fui a los pueblos cercanos y... tengo un mes de estar en eso... pero se acercaba la fecha... ¡y no tenía suficiente...!-
Se echó una risilla. -Entonces tuve que correr estos últimos días para obtener el dinero que faltaba y ayer finalmente pude terminar de pagarle al señor... aunque la pintura tiene unas dos semanas de estar lista... y... aquí estamos...-
Fenrir la soltó sin poder mirarla a la cara y se sentó en el suelo frente al retrato. Su padre estaba de pie en el fondo con las manos tras la espalda. Su madre Ingrid estaba recostada en un diván con una sonrisa muy cálida. Él con su Manto Divino estaba sentado en el suelo y en primer plano, mirando hacia el frente, estaba nada más y nada menos que Jin. Era... era su familia... sí... bueno, no. -Me pregunto qué pensarían de mí hoy-
-Están orgullosos de ti, hoy y siempre- respondió ella al sentarse tras él, abrazarle y apoyar su cabeza en el hombro del otro.
-Pero falta algo en la pintura-
-¿Falta algo?- había cierta desilusión en su voz. -¿Qué falta?-
Fenrir no dijo nada, y se quedaron en silencio durante un tiempo. Finalmente se sentó en la cama y Ártica le dio un beso de buenas noches. Cuando ésta se fue a su habitación, el joven tomó algo de la cabecera de su cama y se sentó frente al cuadro durante varios minutos. Luego colocó la bufanda en la parte superior. -Le hace falta blanco- dijo, antes de apagar la luz e irse a dormir al lado de su Sombra.
4. Serpiente de Midgard
**Serpiente de Midgard**
_Parte única_
Syd caminaba por el pasillo del ala este del Palacio Valhalla con la mano en la barbilla. Lo había buscado por todo el lugar, pero no parecía poder encontrar a su hermano. Nadie parecía saber dónde estaba, aunque no parecía haberse ido a la mansión de sus padres. El gemelo menor se fue entonces al único lugar que faltaba: su habitación. Abrió la puerta y detectó de inmediato la figura sentada contra el respaldar de la cama.
Bud si acaso levantó la vista, y aún sin estar cerca, el otro notó lo irritación en sus ojos. El mayor volvió a bajar la cabeza y más lágrimas rodaron pos sus mejillas. Syd se sentó a su lado y pasó su brazo por los hombros de su Sombra. -Hermano, ¿qué pasa?-
Pasaron unos momentos de silencio mientras el aludido intentaba estabilizarse lo suficiente para hablar. -Sólo... sólo me deshago de mi frustración... Debo verme ridículo, supongo-
El menor miró la habitación con detenimiento y notó que, a diferencia de la vez anterior que su hermano desahogó frustración, no había nada destrozado. -No es ridículo desahogarse con lágrimas, Bud. Sé que la elección de Ártica es algo que te va a tomar tiempo aceptar-
-Ya la acepté, es sólo que...-
Syd sonrió. -Sí, bueno, ya sé que la aceptaste. Me lo dejaste saber la noche de la boda de la señorita Flare y ahora puedo ver que no has roto nada en tu frustración. Esas son buenas señales. A lo que me refería es que te va a tomar tiempo dejar de verle el lado pasional al cariño que le tienes-
El mayor levantó la mirada de nuevo. -Es... la tercera vez que... los dioses me niegan algo...-
Su hermano torció la boca. -Lo sé. La familia, el Manto Sagrado, la chica... pero creo que ya llegaste a la cola, Bud-
-¿La cola?- repitió éste.
-Sí, la cola de la serpiente de Midgard. Tú sabes que el Ouroboros se muerde la punta de su cola, y representa, entre otras cosas, los ciclos. Creo que ya cerraste este difícil ciclo que te tocó tan temprano en la vida-
Alcor Zeta se le quedó viendo con algo de sorpresa. -...Pues más les vale, porque éste fue el Ouroboros más innecesariamente largo de la historia-
El Dios Guerrero soltó una risa a la cual su Sombra hizo eco. Syd le revolvió los cabellos. -Todos somos un Ouroboros; creo estarás de acuerdo en que hasta el mismo Fenrir apenas acaba de encontrarse con la cabeza del suyo-
-Es verdad. Él también ha tenido que lidiar con una larga serpiente de Midgard. Ahora nos toca a ambos perfilar a partir de ella cómo será el resto...-
-A todos-
5. Cumpleaños Blanco I
**Cumpleaños Blanco I**
_Parte única_
Definitivamente era suyo, sin duda alguna. Lo acorralaron en la madriguera y los lobos comenzaron a escarbar la entrada con furia. Sin embargo, Ártica silbó tímidamente y éstos se hicieron a un lado. Se subió la manga derecha, se hincó frente a la madriguera y metió el brazo de lleno. Con una expresión ligeramente tonta y luego de cierto esfuerzo, logró sacar a la liebre blanca que ahí se había refugiado.
-Excelente- se dijo a sí misma y acarició las cabezas de los lobos que la acompañaban. Escuchó la nieve crujir y se volteó para ver acercarse a Fenrir, Jin y el lobo más joven de los tres que habían encontrado aquella vez que habían ido a cazar al norte. No eran exactamente una manada ni parecían estar emparentados, sino que se habían juntado con tal de no estar solos.
Los tres lobos, dos hembras y el macho joven, habían aceptado a Jin como su líder casi con alegría y de ahí habían aprendido a relacionarse con los otros dos Lobos del Norte sin problemas. Jin normalmente se quedaba con ellos y llegaban a rondar el Palacio Valhalla sólo de vez en cuando. Por el fuerte apego que le tenía el Dios Guerrero a su compañero lupino, ambos guardianes de Alioth Epsilon habían resuelto ir a ese territorio todas las semanas y pasar un día o dos con ellos.
Ártica levantó el conejo con una sonrisa. -Misión cumplida-
El otro asintió conforme y le mostró sus propias presas. Eran otras dos liebres más o menos del mismo tamaño. -Creo que es suficiente con esto…-
No había terminado de decirlo cuando un ruido hizo a los cinco voltear. Era cuarta liebre, pero del doble del tamaño y definitivamente el doble de rápida que sus colegas caídos. Fenrir se dio media vuelta, pero su Sombra se le adelantó de una zancada. -Déjamela a mí, para balancear-
Se perdió entre los árboles y al poco tiempo el lobo joven se fue tras ella. Jin, las hembras y Fenrir les siguieron poco después, pero apenas caminando. No había prisa en realidad. Con los brazos tras la cabeza, el joven de cabellos plateados avanzó perezosamente por el terreno nevado. Sin embargo, dio un respingo cuando escuchó gritar a la otra.
-¡MALDITO ZORRO OPORTUNISTA! ¡ME LAS VAS A PAGAR!- exclamó Ártica desde donde fuera que estaba, pero justo después se escuchó un fuerte sonido y luego un chillido ensordecedor. Fenrir tensó la mandíbula y salió disparado al lugar donde sentía el cosmos de su Sombra. Cuando llegó, la vio sentada en la nieve, con la cara en sus manos.
-¿Qué pasó? Te escuchamos gritar y…- pero se calló cuando notó que la otra estaba llorando. Esto lo puso incómodo de tantas maneras diferentes que no pudo dar un paso más. -¿Ártica…?-
Y la Sombra empezó a llorar con más fuerza. El lobo joven, con las orejas gachas, se acercó y lamió sus lágrimas, pero no ayudó mucho. El Dios Guerrero se tensó aún más. -Eh… ¿por qué…?-
Ártica buscó algo tras ella y levantó un pedazo de madera… la mitad de su arco. -T-tensé con demas-siada fuerza m-mi arco y…- inhaló con dificultad. -¡Y S-SE PARTIÓ A LA MITAD!-
Fenrir no pudo evitar suspirar con algo de alivio, aunque se cruzó de brazos y frunció el entrecejo. -¿Y por eso estás llorando como una niña? No es para tanto, Ártica, puedes conseguir otro sin problemas…-
La aludida levantó el rostro con una expresión que destilaba tanto desconsuelo, que incluso antes de que hablara, Fenrir ya sabía que sus palabras no habían sido las correctas. -Es-se es el arco de mi padre, el que me reg-galó el día que se fueron al país vecino-
El Dios Guerrero nunca lo iba a comentar, pero le pareció que hasta los lobos lo estaban mirando con ojos de reproche. El lobo joven siguió lamiendo el rostro de la Sombra, mientras que Jin tomó una de las partes del arco con la boca y comenzó a caminar, obligando a Ártica (quien tenía la otra mitad en la mano) a hacerlo también. Los otros lobos siguieron su ejemplo y pronto sólo quedó Fenrir en su lugar. Frunció el entrecejo y se rascó la frente en un gesto entre acongojado y molesto.
Cuando finalmente los alcanzó, torció la boca. No era bueno con las palabras (¿y cómo, si los lobos no hablan?) así que dejó de lado el intento y simplemente revolvió los cabellos de su Sombra con suavidad. Ártica se restregó el rostro con las manos todo el camino hasta el Palacio Valhalla, pero ya no parecía estar llorando.
—
-Oye, Bud- dijo una voz ronca imposible de confundir.
El mayor de los gemelos de Zeta estaba echado en el sillón del Salón Blanco sin hacer nada en particular, y apenas si giró la cabeza en dirección a quien le hablaba. -Hola, Fenrir… Oye, ¿no sabes qué le pasa a Ártica? Anda medio deprimida el día de hoy…-
El otro torció la boca, incómodo ante la pregunta. Se acercó a él y le tiró los dos pedazos de madera unidos por la fibra. Bud miró lo que quedaba el arco por un momento y al siguiente tenía a Fenrir agarrado del cuello de su camisa. -¿¡ROMPISTE EL ARCO DE ÁRTICA!?-
-No- respondió el otro, soltándose de su agarre. -Ella lo rompió sola-
-¿Y eso?- preguntó, desconcertado. Tomó uno de los pedazos y lo giró en sus manos. -Es su arco favorito-
-Ya sé-
-Era de su padre- continuó el otro, levantándolo un poco para examinar la parte donde se había roto.
-Sí, ya sé-
-Se lo dio el día en que se fueron al país vecino-
-YA SÉ, BUD, YA SÉ- vociferó Fenrir al quitarle los restos del arco de un sólo manotazo. -Todo eso ya lo sé, sólo quiero que me ayudes a arreglarlo-
Bud se le quedó viendo como si estuviera loco. Ni siquiera era una expresión de "¿qué se trae este tipo?" con una ceja arqueada. No, era literalmente de "Fenrir perdió los estribos" y eso lo molestó aún más. -¡¿Por qué me miras con esa cara de estúpido?!-
El gemelo parpadeó un par de veces antes de contestarle. Se aclaró la garganta. -Nada, nada, es sólo que… de todas las personas que conozco, tú eres la que menos pensaría que fuera a pedir ayuda… y menos que me la pidas a mí, considerando nuestro pequeño… historial…-
Alioth Epsilon tensó la mandíbula, irritado. Irritado por qué, era difícil saber, pero a lo mejor tenía que ver precisamente con lo que Bud acababa de decir. Se pasó la mano por la cara con cierta molestia. -…Eres mejor persona ahora-
Bud dejó escapar una ligera risa satisfecha. -Esas son buenas noticias… Y bien, ¿cómo vamos a arreglar este desastre?-
-…Esperaba que tú me dijeras. Sólo se me ocurre hacer uno totalmente nuevo, porque remendar éste…-
-Sí, se volverá a quebrar sin importar qué le hagamos…- decía el gemelo, subiendo y bajando su pie como si escuchara un ritmo inaudible. De repente, una sonrisa triunfadora cruzó su rostro. -Ya sé, sígueme-
—-
Ártica se había pasado casi toda la tarde en la sala con la puerta al exterior, mirando por la ventana. Mime también estaba ahí, pero la Sombra no se había percatado de su presencia. Al cabo de una hora, en un silencioso pasar de hojas de su libro, el Dios Guerrero de Benetasch Eta se aclaró la garganta. -¿Por qué tan pensativa, Ártica?-
La joven dio un ligero respingo y se volteó hacia el otro con cierto apuro. -¡Mime! Perdón, no te había visto…-
-Difícilmente vas a ser una buena Sombra si no puedes percibir la presencia de los demás- le dijo él con una sonrisa serena. -Puedo ver que algo ronda tu mente, ¿puedo preguntar qué es?-
Ártica se rascó la nariz. -Es una tontería…-
-No hay tal cosa como "una tontería"-
La comisura de los labios de la Sombra se elevaron. Mime era demasiado cortés. -No es nada, de verdad… Es sólo que ayer se rompió mi arco favorito…-
Los ojos carmín del Dios Guerrero parecieron brillar con comprensión. -Una vez, alguien rompió mi arpa favorita… Fue una horrible experiencia y no te voy a aburrir con ella, pero entiendo perfectamente cómo te sientes-
Ártica se le quedó viendo sin decir nada, así que éste prosiguió. -No hay mucho que se pueda hacer al respecto, el objeto de nuestro aprecio sigue siendo un objeto como cualquier otro y no es indestructible… pero en mi experiencia personal, con el tiempo los dioses te brindan algo mejor-
-¿Tú crees?-
-Yo sé- afirmó Mime, y le sonrió con calidez. Buscó algo entre sus bolsillos y se lo dio. -Reydar me dio este turrón de almendras, ¿por qué no comes un pedazo?-
Mime no hablaba mucho (más que Fenrir, sin duda, pero tampoco tanto como Syd) y pasaron otro rato ahí sin hacer nada más que mordisquear el turrón. Finalmente, Benetasch Eta se puso de pie. Ártica lo imitó. -Mime, muchas gracias. Ya me siento mejor-
El otro sonrió. -Me alegra que así sea. Nadie debería estar triste cuando tiene un día como mañana por delante-
-¿Como mañana…? Oh, claro, lo había olvidado-
-¿Olvidado?- repitió Mime. -Vaya, qué bueno que intervine entonces, porque olvidar algo como eso… No, no, no está bien- dijo al salir de la estancia.
—-
-¿Adónde vamos?- preguntó Fenrir caminando por la Ciudadela con las manos en los bolsillos.
-Aquí es- dijo el gemelo, deteniéndose frente a un humilde taller con una puerta de metal. Bud la abrió con algo de esfuerzo y entró.
-¿Quién anda ahí?- dijo una voz aguda y ligeramente agresiva. -¿Qué no sabe tocar?-
-Lo siento, Lárey- se disculpó Alcor Zeta. -Siempre se me olvida-
-Sí, siempre se te olvida- respondió una mujer de unos treinta años. De contextura gruesa y hombros anchos, en la penumbra del puesto parecía un hombre, pero una vez bajo la tenue luz del día, se apreciaban sus pronunciadas caderas y sobresalientes pómulos. Tenía una verruga muy antiestética sobre el ojo izquierdo. -¿Qué quieres?-
-Éste es mi amigo Fenrir- comenzó el más alto.
-¿Amigo?-
Bud ignoró sus palabras, puesto que no estaba seguro si lo decía en reproche, sorpresa o rechazo. -Tenemos un arco que se partió en dos y sé de primera mano que sólo usted nos puede ayudar con eso-
-Déjame verlo- respondió Lárey, directo al grano.
El gemelo le hizo señas para que se lo entregara. Fenrir lo hizo de una vez, pero le tomó un par de momentos soltarlo definitivamente, distraído por la asimetría de la verruga. Arrugó el rostro en una manera apenas perceptible mientras la mujer examinaba lo que quedaba del arco. -Buena madera, buena fibra, aunque bastante viejo ya. Me sorprende que haya durado tanto-
-¿Se puede arreglar?- le preguntó Alioth Epsilon a la verruga (porque definitivamente la estaba viendo como si fuera un ente aparte).
-Este arco no- contestó Lárey. -Pero si quieren hacer un arco compuesto, tiene suficiente material para ello-
-¿Compuesto?-
Bud se volteó hacia él. -Quiere decir que está hecho de capas de diferentes materiales… pero, ¿no se tarda un año para que el pegamento seque adecuadamente?-
-Sí-
-Entonces no- concluyó Fenrir, tomando otra vez las mitades del arco. -Lo necesitamos para mañana-
-Entonces no- concordó Lárey con las manos en sus caderas. -¿Algo más?-
El gemelo se pasó la mano por su corto cabello varias veces, pensando. -¿Y no puedes usar algo de esa madera para reforzar otro arco que esté listo?-
-No, cada arco tiene su estructura y añadirle algo sólo porque sí lo arruinaría. Quien sea el dueño de este arco te dirá exactamente lo mismo-
Fenrir despegó sus ojos de la verruga por primera vez desde que entró y se rascó la nuca. -¿Y qué tal usar esta madera para hacer la pieza de agarre? ¿Eso sí se puede, no? Sólo agarra las palas de otro y las monta en esa pieza y…-
-No-
-¿Y ahora por qué no?- replicó el Dios Guerrero con fastidio.
-Porque así no funciona- dijo la otra, también ligeramente exasperada. -Miren, regresen mañana. Tal vez mi brillante intelecto pueda solucionar esto de alguna manera-
-Claro, Lárey, gracias y disculpa las molestias- le dijo Bud, extendiendo su mano para que Fenrir le diera las mitades. Éste se veía receloso de dejarlas con la mujer y no cedió hasta que el gemelo se los quitó por la fuerza.
-Sólo una cosa- dijo la mujer. -¿El dueño de este arco tiene algún animal que lo caracterice?-
-Ciervo-
-Lobo-
Los dos jóvenes se miraron de reojo por unos segundos, incómodos. Lárey frunció el cejo. -No puede ser que se parezca a dos animales tan diferentes. ¿Cuál de los dos es?-
-Lobo- repitió Fenrir de inmediato, clavando su mirada ámbar en Bud.
El otro suspiró. -Lobo…-
-Lobo, entonces- repitió la mujer. -Bien, ya váyanse-
Y sin más, los echó de su taller.
Ya había oscurecido y emprendieron el corto camino de vuelta al Palacio. -Me decepciona que veas un ciervo en ella- dejó escapar Fenrir de pronto.
-¿Eh?- replicó el otro, desconcertado.
-Su cicatriz no podría ser más visible, ¿cómo vas a ver un ciervo?-
-No entiendo qué tiene que ver una cosa con la otra-
Fenrir dejó escapar un soplido que elevó el mechón de su cara un poco. -No es un ciervo, es un lobo- fue todo lo que dijo, sin explicar nada más. Bud giró los ojos en sus órbitas y continuaron el camino en silencio. Cuando llegaron al Palacio Valhalla, Fenrir tuvo la agradable sorpresa de ver cuatro lobos rondando cerca del pórtico sur. Los mismos entraron con ellos y se refugiaron en la habitación de Alioth Epsilon.
-Mañana temprano iremos a ver qué pudo hacer Lárey- le dijo el gemelo. -Ojalá antes de que se levante cierta muchachita…-
El otro asintió conforme y cerró la puerta de su habitación. Las hembras y el lobo joven comenzaron a olfatear cada rincón del lugar mientras que Jin automáticamente se metió bajo las cobijas y dejó escapar un largo bostezo. Sin embargo, se levantó una vez más y se fue a la habitación de al lado.
Fenrir se asomó por la puerta del espejo y lo vio desplomarse pesadamente sobre la ya cobijada figura de Ártica. -Argh, Jin, pero qué pesado estás-
-Sé más amable- le dijo el Dios Guerrero desde la puerta al ver como uno por uno, los demás lobos imitaban a Jin. Al final sólo se veía una gran pila de pelo sobre la cama y Fenrir se preguntó por un momento dónde había quedado su Sombra. -Vinieron a visitarnos hasta acá-
-_Fhghdh_- se escuchó debajo.
-Exactamente- respondió Alioth Epsilon, muy consciente de que no había entendido ni un carajo, pero la verdad daba lo mismo qué hubiera dicho. Se dio media vuelta.
-¿No vas a dormir aquí?- le preguntó Ártica, finalmente emergiendo de entre los cuatro animales.
-No, tienes suficiente compañía ya- se carcajeó de manera cínica y cerró la puerta.
—
-_Eek_- dejó escapar al ver a uno de los lobos bostezar.
-Cállate, no la vayas a despertar- susurró la otra al acercarse de puntillas. Logró ponerse en posición y jaló a su acompañante a su lugar. Luego ambas sonrieron macabramente y pusieron manos a la obra. Un par de minutos después ya habían terminado con su pequeño trabajo y se disponían a salir a hurtadillas, pero sin querer una de ellas majó la cola de otro de los lobos. Éste chilló y de inmediato todos los durmientes reaccionaron.
Los lobos saltaron al piso, gruñendo. Ártica se irguió en la cama y se les quedó viendo unos momentos. Luego se pasó la mano por la cara como si quisiera sacarse el sueño de encima y sintió algo raro bajo su nariz…
-¡ESTÚPIDAS!- vociferó cuando de un salto tomó las cabeza de Reydar y Bjarna para chocarlas entre sí. -¿¡CÓMO SE LES OCURRE…!?-
Por la razón que sea, la puerta de la habitación se abrió en ese momento y por ella entró un muy animado Syd con un paquete en mano. Cuando se percató de la situación, se detuvo en su lugar y arqueó una ceja. -Ártica, ¿por qué tienes bigote?-
-¡PORQUE ESTAS ESTÚPIDAS ME PEGARON PELO DE RENO EN LA CARA!- gritaba, sacudiéndolas como si fueran un saco de bellotas recién recogidas. Para bien o para mal, las otras Sombras femeninas se estaban riendo a carcajadas y el hecho de que las tratara de esa manera empeoraba sus risas. -¡LAS VOY A MATAR!-
-¿En pijamas…? Bueno, al menos ya estamos a mano con lo del día después de la boda de la señorita Flare- dijo Syd con una sonrisa, mirándola en sus pantaloncillos cortos y blusa holgada.
Ártica se le quedó viendo con los ojos bien abiertos mientras un rubor furioso se apoderaba de su cara. Agarró a Jin (que era el lobo más cercano), lo usó para cubrirse y se metió al baño a una velocidad impresionante. Bjarna se siguió carcajeando en el piso mientras Reydar recogía los elementos que habían usado para gastarle la broma a Ártica. -Creo que mejor vamos a desayunar, o nos va a ahorcar con la toalla apenas salga-
—-
La brisa estaba bien fría esa mañana y Fenrir nunca había estado tan agradecido de la bufanda que le regaló Polar. Se la subió hasta que le tapó la nariz y metió las manos en los bolsillos del abrigo negro que le había regalado la mayor de las princesas en su cumpleaños. -¿Crees que duremos mucho? Creo que para esta hora ya se despertó…-
-No te preocupes por eso- respondió Bud con un gesto manual. -Dejé a Syd encargado de entretenerla mientras regresábamos. Sólo ocupémonos de lo nuestro-
Esta vez sí tocaron a la puerta y una voz ronca les dijo que podían pasar. Un muchacho regordete se les quedó viendo como hipnotizado. -¡M-mamá…! ¡L-los Dioses Gu-guerreros están aquí!-
Bud le sonrió a manera de saludo pero Fenrir no pudo evitar notar que éste también tenía una verruga en su cara… en exactamente el mismo lugar que su tosca madre. Se le quedó viendo con detenimiento, tratando de discernir si también era asimétrica.
-Bien, muchachos- dijo Lárey al depositar algo sobre la mesa. -Como dije ayer, ya no se podía hacer nada por ese pobre arco. Así que lo que hice fue reacondicionar uno que ya tenía hecho-
Desenvolvió lo que estaba en la mesa para revelar un arco recurvado un poco más pequeño que el de Ártica hecho de madera de nogal y pulido hasta la perfección. Los extremos de las palas tenían un pequeño tallado en forma de cabeza de lobo con las fauces abiertas, hecho de una madera más oscura. Ambos jóvenes la reconocieron de inmediato.
Bud dejó escapar un silbido. -Lárey, caray, siempre te pasas con tus trabajos-
-Siempre lo hago, sí- concordó la mujer con satisfacción. -La madera de ese viejo arco se fue en esos tallados, cortesía de este pequeño mequetrefe aquí presente-
Le dio una palmada más fuerte de lo necesario al muchacho ahí presente y éste se rió, nervioso. -N-no es nada, señores Dioses Guerreros, apenas soy un aprendiz…-
-Tienes una gran habilidad para ser sólo un aprendiz, cuando seas un maestro serás increíble- dijo Bud al tomar el arco en sus manos y sentir lo ligero que era. -Se va a morir cuando lo vea… ¿cuánto te debemos?-
-Lo normal… con algo extra por el tallado especial…-
El gemelo buscó algo en su bolsillo, pero sintió que Fenrir golpeó su pecho con otro algo. Era un pequeño saco que resonaba al moverlo. -¿Desde cuándo tú…?-
El otro no dijo nada, concentrado en la madre y su hijo frente a él. Bud no preguntó nada más. Sacó algunas monedas de la bolsa y otras de su bolsillo para pagar. Sacó una moneda más de ambos lugares para dárselas al muchacho regordete. -Espero ver muchos más grandes trabajos de tu parte-
-C-claro que sí, señor D-Dios Guerrero- tartamudeó el aludido, tan nervioso que casi se le cayeron las monedas.
-Gracias por su trabajo. Adiós- Fenrir se despidió de las verrugas con un gesto manual y salió del taller sin mirar atrás. Bud también les agradeció y se fue tras su compañero de armas.
—-
Cubriéndose la cara con las manos, Ártica se sentó al lado de la Princesa Hilda en el lugar que normalmente ocupaba Siegfried. La mujer de cabellos plateados no pudo evitar ladear la cabeza. -¿Qué te pasa, Ártica?-
-Señorita Hilda, por favor quíteme esto- rogó la Sombra.
-¿Qué es "esto"?-
Ártica se quitó las manos de la cara con resignación para revelar dos finos bigotes pegados a su cara. Los extremos de los mismos se curveaban un poco con cierto carisma. Asgrim escupió el café que se estaba tomando y Thor por poco se atraganta con la tostada que se estaba comiendo.
Alberich la miró de manera socarrona. -Ya eres toda una señorita, Ártica. Mira nada más cómo te pegó la pubertad-
Si antes se habían logrado contener, con ese comentario todos se destaparon en carcajadas. Incluso la Princesa tuvo que torcer la boca con tal de no reírse abiertamente. -A ver, esa no es forma de tratar a la cumpleañera. Insensibles…-
Tomó el extremo de uno de los bigotes y lo jaló con fuerza. El izquierdo se despegó con facilidad, pero el derecho no fue tan condescendiente. Después de varios intentos, la Princesa resolvió dejarlo como estaba y tratar más tarde con alguna solución jabonosa. La resignada Sombra de Alioth Epsilon retomó su lugar habitual en la mesa frente a Mime. Éste le sonrió. -Si sirve de algo, hace un bonito juego con tu cicatriz-
Un tic se dejó ver en el ojo de Ártica, pero no dijo nada y empezó a comer su avena. A los pocos minutos aparecieron dos personas más. Fenrir y Bud se colocaron detrás de la silla de la Sombra y le entregaron el largo paquete envuelto en una piel de ciervo. -¡Feliz cumpleaños!- exclamó el gemelo mientras Fenrir miraba sus pies con atención.
Ártica lo desenvolvió con cuidado y miró el regalo maravillada. Lo levantó y le dio un ligero tirón a la fibra, probando su flexibilidad. Pasó sus dedos por la curvatura superior y se detuvo para apreciar los detalles de una de las cabezas de lobo. Luego comenzó a llorar.
-¿Pero por qué estás llorando, niña?- preguntó Syd desde el otro lado de la mesa.
"_Espero que no sea porque usamos los pedazos de su arco sin permiso…_" murmuró Bud a Fenrir, usando su cosmos. El otro abrió mucho sus orbes ambarinas y tensó todos y cada uno de los músculos de su cuerpo. La joven se puso de pie, restregando sus ojos. Luego se les quedó viendo. -Muchas gracias a ambos-
Estaba viendo a Fenrir, quien no sabía cómo reaccionar apropiadamente, así que simplemente dijo lo primero que le vino a la mente. -Bud me ayudó-
Bud se rió. -Un pequeño trabajo en equipo, para variar. Me alegra que te guste, Ártica, pero por favor no llores-
-Sí, se te va a despegar el otro bigote- agregó Alberich por lo bajo.
Fenrir levantó la vista ante el comentario y se percató por primera vez del recién adquirido vello facial de su Sombra. Se lo arrancó de un sólo jalón. -Será tu cumpleaños, pero haz el favor de no andar ahí con semejante apariencia-
Ártica dio un respingo por el dolor del jalón, pero suspiró aliviada al ver que el bigote ya no estaba en su cara sino entre los dedos del Dios Guerrero. -No, señor- dijo al contener la risa.
Abrazó a ambos como pudo. -Sin duda los dioses siempre nos brindan algo mejor…-
End file.
| fanfiction |
Iron/Iron(III) Concentration Cell
From what I understand about concentration cells - which I never learned about when I took general chemistry - they rely on the fact that if we have differing concentrations of some solute separated by a permeable membrane, they will try to exchange solute and/or solvent to achieve the same concentration or as close to it as possible. Correct?
Now, in a concentration cell, there is no physical exchange of ions. Instead, a salt bridge facilitates the flow of electrons, which either:
a) helps convert solids into ions
or
b) helps convert ions into solids
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/DdnzE.png)
So in the above problem, we obviously have unequal concentrations of iron(III) ions. We can describe the problem using cell notation:
${|Fe|Fe^{3+} (4.8\*10^-7 M)||Fe^3+ (1.3\*10^-3 M)|Fe|}$
The flow of electrons will be from half-cell A to half-cell B. These are the reactions:
**Half-cell A:** $\ce{Fe -> Fe^3+ + 3e^-}$
**Half-cell B:** $\ce{Fe^3+ + 3e^- ->Fe}$
This increases the $\ce{Fe^3+}$ concentration in half-cell A while decreasing the $\ce{Fe^3+}$ concentration in half-cell B. This will continue until both half-cells have the same $\ce{[Fe^3+]}$.
So, we can also describe half-cell A as the **anode**, because it is where **oxidation** occurs, and half-cell B as the **cathode**, as it is where **reduction** occurs.
So far so good?
And if we want to calculate the electrochemical potential of this particular half-cell (wired up to make a spontaneous reaction), we can apply the Nernst equation as follows:
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BFsCR.jpg)
This all looks correct. It's worth noting that the voltage generated by this cell occurs through the flow of electrons from half cell A to half cell B as the system reaches equilibrium. It's also worth noting that the final concentrations of ions should eventually become nearly identical given enough time and free interaction between the two half cells (at which point the voltage becomes 0).
For further reading, this site has some good examples:
<http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Core/Analytical_Chemistry/Electrochemistry/Voltaic_Cells/Electrochemical_Cells_under_Nonstandard_Conditions/Concentration_Cell>
While wikipedia has a (brief) overview of the theory:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_cell>
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Is chloronitrobenzene and nitrochlorobenzene same?
[](https://i.stack.imgur.com/OEuSp.png)
Is it 2-chloronitrobenzene or 2-nitrochlorobenzene?
If we take nitro group as the substituent, it will be 2-chloronitrobenzene. But if we take chloro group as the substituent, it is 2-nitrochlorobenzene.
What if we start numbering the carbon atom from the carbon to which the nitro group is attached, it should be o-chloronitrobenzene. But no, carbon atom numbering starts from the group to which chloro group is attached.
Is it the fact that chlorobenzene forms ortho-para substituted product and it is named accordingly or according to some IUPAC rules?
In the current version of *[Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry – IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book)](http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/9781849733069-fp001)*, the **order of citation** of substituent prefixes and the **numbering** of the corresponding locants are laid down in two different rules.
Simple substituent groups that are named by means of prefixes (such as ‘nitro’ and ‘chloro’) are arranged alphabetically.
>
> **P-14.5** ALPHANUMERICAL ORDER
>
>
> Alphanumerical order has been commonly called ‘alphabetical order’. As these ordering principles do involve ordering both letters and numbers, in a strict sense, it is best called ‘alphanumerical order’ in order to convey the message that both letters and numbers are involved
>
>
> Alphanumerical order is used to establish the order of citation of detachable substituent prefixes (not the detachable saturation prefixes, hydro and dehydro), and the numbering of a chain, ring, or ring system when a choice is possible.
>
>
> (…)
>
>
> **P-14.5.1** Simple prefixes (i.e., those describing atoms and unsubstituted substituents) are arranged alphabetically; multiplicative prefixes, if necessary, are then inserted and do not alter the alphabetical order already established.
>
>
>
Therefore, the correct alphanumerical order for the compound given in the question is *x*-chloro-*y*-nitrobenzene (not *x*-nitro-*y*-chlorobenzene).
The locants *x* and *y* are used to indicate positions of the parent structure at which modifications represented by suffixes occur. The locant ‘1’ is omitted in monosubstituted homogeneous monocyclic rings (e.g. chlorobenzene or nitrobenzene); but in substitutive names of disubstituted benzene, numerical locants have to be used to distinguish the 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-isomers.
Note that the letters *o, m,* and *p* have been used in place of *ortho, meta,* and *para,* respectively, to designate the 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-isomers of disubstituted benzene (e.g. *o*-chloronitrobenzene). According to current IUPAC recommendations, this usage is strongly discouraged and it is not used in preferred IUPAC names.
The relevant rules concerning the numbering of locants for substituent prefixes are:
>
> **P-14.3.5** Lowest set of locants
>
>
> The lowest set of locants is defined as the set that, when compared term by term with
> other locant sets, each cited in order of increasing value, has the lowest term at the first
> point of difference; (…)
>
>
>
and
>
> **P-14.4** NUMBERING
>
>
> When several structural features appear in cyclic and acyclic compounds, low locants are assigned to them in the following decreasing order of seniority:
>
>
> (…)
>
>
> (f) detachable alphabetized prefixes, all considered together in a series of increasing numerical order;
>
>
> (g) lowest locants for the substituent cited first as a prefix in the name;
>
>
> (…)
>
>
>
Note that Rule (f) takes precedence over Rule (g).
In accordance with Rule (f), the compound given in the question could be named as 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene as well as 2-chloro-1-nitrobenzene since both names correspond to the locant set ‘1,2’. However, according to Rule (g), this example is named as **1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene** rather than 2-chloro-1-nitrobenzene since chloro is cited first as a prefix in the name.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
it then leaves the anterior chamber through the trabecular meshwork to the venous system ( outflow )
. normally , there is equilibrium between inflow and outflow that creates normal intraocular pressure ( iop).1,2 any circumstances that affect the formation of aqueous humor or outflow of aqueous humor cause changes in iop .
the progression of damage eventually involves the optic nerve and irreversible visual loss.3 glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide.4 the only preventable risk factor for the development and progression of glaucoma is iop .
correctly measuring iop is very important in diagnosing glaucoma and conducting follow - ups.3 medical , laser , or surgical treatments of glaucoma concentrate on lowering iop .
earlier studies have shown that every 1 mmhg drop in iop decreases visual field damage by 10%.5 therefore , precise measurements are very important .
. the ideal device must be easy to use , rapid , safe , and precise , irrespective of patient posture or age .
albrecht von graefe invented the first tonometer in 1863.6 today , we still have problems precisely measuring iop in some conditions , such as in patients with corneal scar or corneal edema .
two different types of applanation tonometers exist . the first calculates iop by measuring the flattened corneal area with constant force .
the maklakov tonometer , which was invented in 1885 , is an example of this.6 the second applanation tonometer system calculates iop by measuring the force needed to flatten a constant corneal area .
a prototype of this is the goldmann applanation tonometer ( gat ; haay - streit ag , koeniz , switzerland ) , invented in the 1950s .
today , the gat is most commonly used and is considered to be the gold standard device for measuring iop.6 a gat is mounted on a biomicroscope and a topical anesthesia - fluorescein dye is used . because it flattens such a small area at the central cornea , measurements are not affected by scleral stiffness .
another applanation device is a non - contact tonometer ( nct ; nidek co. , ltd .
an nct uses air to flatten the cornea instead of touching it.7 the nct has been available for about 40 years.7 the tono - pen xl ( tpxl ; reichert technologies , depew , ny , usa ) is a small and portable device that has been used since the 1980s .
it is an applanation tonometer , and topical anesthesia is needed to measure the iop . in this study , we aimed to compare iop measurements via the three different tonometers we routinely use in our clinic : gat , tpxl ( reichert inc , ny , usa ) , and nidek nct nt-530 ( nidek co. , ltd . ,
a total of 200 eyes of 200 patients ( 108 female , 92 male ) from our clinic in december 2013 were consecutively included .
inclusion criteria were as follows : aged 18 years or more , no recent use of topical - systemic medicine , no use of contact lenses , no ocular surface disease , no significant degree of corneal astigmatism , no ocular pathology such as retinal disease or glaucoma , and no connective tissue disease .
all types of iop measurement were taken by three masked physicians via appropriately calibrated tonometers consecutively , with 10-minute intervals .
all measurements were carried out at similar times , between 10 am and 11 am , to avoid early - morning changes in corneal thickness due to overnight edema .
the eyes were then anesthetized using alcaine 0.5% eye drops ( alcon laboratories inc . , fort worth , tx , usa ) , and a second physician took measurements with the tpxl .
finally , alcaine was applied again and a fluorescein strip was applied to the inferior conjunctival fornix .
the device has a 5.7-inch color liquid crystal display , and the tilting function offers easy operation for a standing operator .
the device has auto puff control ( apc ) , which provides a quieter and softer puff of air for the patient s comfort .
if the first puff is too strong , the device automatically uses a softer puff of air .
the screen shows the results of three measurements , and their average for each eye is obtained by pressing a button three times .
it uses batteries as a power source , and its measurement range is 580 mmhg , according to the user manual . after topical anesthesia is administered , the operator touches the covered tip of the tpxl to the cornea several times .
each touch to the anesthetized corneal surface is analyzed and stored by the device for statistical comparison .
when four valid readings are obtained , the mean iop and the standard deviation for those readings are shown on the liquid crystal display , which is situated on the side of the device .
measuring both eyes takes about 30 seconds , including administration of the anesthetic and the patient s tolerance of the drops .
finally , iop was measured via a gat , which takes about 3 minutes , including administration of the anesthetic and fluorescein .
we used spss version 20 ( ibm , armonk , ny , usa ) software .
the scheffe method was used for post hoc comparison . a p - value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant .
the mean iop was 16.12.8 mmhg ( range 1026 ) with the nct , 16.13.0 mmhg ( range 925 ) with the tpxl , and 15.52.2 mmhg ( range 1022 ) with the gat .
figure 1 shows the iop frequency of this study population when measured with the gat . a correlation analysis of nct gat , tpxl
gat , and nct tpxl measurements is shown in figures 2 , 3 , and 4 .
the mean difference between the measurements in eyes by the different techniques was 0.6 mmhg for nct gat ( figure 5 ) , 0.7 mmhg for tpxl gat ( figure 6 ) , and 0.02 mmhg for nct tpxl ( figure 7 ) .
there was no significant difference between groups according to one - way anova with scheffe post hoc comparison test results .
p - values were 0.998 for nct tpxl , 0.067 for nct gat , and 0.059 for tpxl gat .
gat is still considered the gold standard and most commonly used method of tonometry.9 nevertheless , the main disadvantages of the gat include risk of contamination , the presence of common situations that lead to errors , and that it can not be performed by assistant medical staff .
it is commonly affected by corneal stiffness , thickness , scars , irregularities , and curvature .
steep corneas , thick corneas ( except edema , which causes false - low readings ) , and against - the - rule astigmatism cause false - high readings.10 thin corneas , with rule astigmatism , cause false - low readings.10 insufficient fluorescein use causes false - low readings , and excessive fluorescein use causes false - high readings .
the presence of corneal epithelial defects and previous corneal surgeries also complicate measurements.11 finally , there is a contamination risk , so the tool tip must be cleaned after each use.12 screenings with an nct may be undertaken by non - medical and unlicensed personnel under the supervision of a doctor . because the nct is a non - contact tool , there is no contamination risk.13,14 furthermore , topical anesthetic drops or fluorescein dye are not necessary , which allows for rapid taking of measurements .
the table - mounted nct has some disadvantages ( eg , the iops of small children and infants can not be measured , and false - high readings are common if patients tighten their eyelids ) . the tpxl can easily be used in an office environment or in the operating room.8 after undergoing training , assistant health personnel can use the tpxl.15 the nct and tpxl are easier and faster to use than the gat , but suspicions about their results still exist . in this study
other studies show similar results.1622 parker et al16 compared nct and gat and found results were concordant between the two devices . in another study , tonnu et al17 compared nct , tpxl , and gat and reported that all three devices showed homologous results.17 however , other studies found contrasting results.23,24 farhood23 showed that nct and gat were not well correlated , and nct measurements gave higher iop results regardless of the patient s age or sex . in particular , when the gat measurement exceeded 24 mmhg , the difference in readings between the two instruments increased .
farhood23 reported that the lower the iop as measured by gat , the more reliable the corresponding nct readings .
other devices recently introduced to market are the dynamic contour tonometer ( dct ) and the ocular response analyzer ( ora ) .
published studies have compared these new devices with gat.2528 carbonaro et al25 compared gat , dct , and corneal - compensated iop with the ora and found similar reliability in all three devices .
in this study , we found that measurements taken with the nidek nct and the tpxl agree well with those via the gat in normal subjects .
patients with extreme iop levels were not included in this study , and some studies have shown that correlation errors between instruments occur within extreme iops beyond the normal range.23 however , our results showed that devices that are more practical and faster than the gat may be used for screening normal subjects independently from central corneal thickness .
further studies that compare more devices in a larger case series are needed , as are studies investigating iop measurement via different devices and comparing different patient groups ( eg , different age groups , patients with previous corneal surgeries or corneal pathologies , or patients with glaucoma ) . | pubmed |
Lisa Christina Nemec née Stublić born May 18, 1984 is a Croatian long-distance runner. Born and raised in the United States, where she competed for the Columbia University, Stublić moved to Croatia, her father's homeland, and established herself as a leading long-distance athlete in the country, having set the Croatian records in 3000 meters steeplechase, 5000 meters, half marathon, and marathon. She is the first Croatian marathon runner ever to qualify for the Olympic Games. She finished 52nd in the marathon at the 2012 Olympics.
On 31 March 2016, Croatian-American marathon runner Lisa Nemec have been banned for doping for four years following an out-of-competition doping test taken in October 2015.
Early life in the United States
Stublić was born on May 18, 1984 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her father was born in Sisak, Croatia, but emigrated to Germany at age 18, then moved to California and finally to Connecticut. Her mother is an American of Italian descent.
As a teenager, Stublić was not interested in running. In high school, Stublić had to pick a sport, but she disliked team sports, and after she quit swimming on her first training session running was the last option left. In her first race run on a course, Stublić won two minutes ahead of the rest of the field. With virtually no training, she became one of the top 10,000 m runners in her high school and qualified for the state championship. She set high school best time of 10:51 in 3200m. Among several college athletic scholarship offers, she chose Columbia University and moved to New York in 2002 to study music theory.
At the Columbia University, Stublić started training in earnest for the first time, and improved her 5000-meter results by two minutes in the first two years. In the third and fourth year of college, she switched from 5000 meters to 10,000 meters and steeplechase. She was a member of the women's cross country team that won conference championship titles in each of the four years she competed. Stublić's team qualified for the NCAA Nationals in cross country every year she ran for them, and she earned the All-American honors once, in her senior year, placing 33rd. Despite her athletic achievements, at that time Stublić's primary interest was art music, poetry and drawing and she still saw running as little more than a hobby.
After graduating, Stublić lived in New York, working two jobs and began competing for New York Athletic Club. By late 2007, though, she was growing dissatisfied by her financial situation and the fact she could still not find a job as a professor of music. Feeling what she described as a quarter-life crisis, she decided to move to Croatia for a couple of years and to learn Croatian.
Athletic career in Croatia
Stublić arrived in Croatia in January 2008, staying at first in Sisak, then moving to Zagreb in order to train at the Dinamo-Zrinjevac athletic club. During summer training with the club on Rogla, she met Slavko Petrović, Croatian record holder over 10,000 meters, who was winding down his athletic career and beginning his work as a coach at the AC Zagreb Ulix. She liked his methods and dissatisfied with her status with Dinamo-Zrinjevac decided to move to Zagreb Ulix and take Petrović as her coach.
Petrović quickly noticed that Stublić's slight build and running efficiency made her naturally suited to competing over longer distances, rather than middle-distance events she had focused on. In particular, Stublić had already started to develop back problems, caused by the strain of running 3000 meters steeplechase, her favorite event. At first, she was very reserved towards Petrović's suggestion to try the marathon. Still, in December 2008, after only three and a half months of work with her new coach, she set a national record in half marathon. She was finally convinced only when she tried to run for three straight hours in a training session, and found that it was not as difficult or tedious as she expected. Already the top Croatian female distance runner by the end of 2008, having set the season's best marks in 3000 meters, 3000 meters steeplechase, 5000 meters, 10,000 meters and half marathon, Stublić made an agreement with her coach to maintain the focus on the track events in 2009, but to start preparing for the marathon in the autumn of 2009, with the goal of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The 2009 season was successful for Stublić, as she topped the national year rankings in the same five events again, setting national records over 3000 meters steeplechase and 5000 meters in the process.
After a year of preparation, Stublić made her marathon debut at the 2010 Berlin Marathon. She placed ninth with the time of 2:33:42, well within the Olympic A standard of 2:37. Her fast time came as a surprise to many people, including Stublić herself. Her Berlin marathon not only beat the 21-year-old Croatian record by nearly six minutes, but was also the fastest marathon run by any Croatian athlete in 2010, including men.
On April 10, 2011, less than a month after placing fourth at the City-Pier-City Loop half marathon in The Hague with a new national record, Stublić competed at the Linz Marathon. She won her second marathon race, clocking 2:30:46, ten minutes ahead of the rest of the women's field, and nearly three minutes faster than her previous personal best and national record. Her time qualified her for the 2012 Summer Olympics, making her the first Croatian marathon runner ever to qualify for the Olympic Games.
On August 27, 2011 Stublić competed in the marathon at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, Korea. It was her first major championships and only the third marathon race of her career. She placed 27th with the time of 2:36:41, significantly slower than her personal best set earlier in the year, but still within her pre-race expectations. She won the 2012 Vidovdan 10K in Bosnia by a margin of almost a minute.
She improved her best in the half marathon twice in 2012, first running 72:07 minutes at the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon, then setting a time of 70:31 at the national championships in Zagreb. That year she represented Croatia in the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics timing 2:34:03 hours for 52nd place and placed ninth at the 2012 European Cross Country Championships. Stublić came third at the NYC Half Marathon in March 2013 and her run of 69:18 minutes was another big improvement to her national record mark. In April 2013, Stublić won the Zurich Marathon in 2:25:44, slicing nearly 5 minutes off her Croatian National Record. In November 2013, Stublić returned to New York City for the NYC Marathon finishing 12th in 2:34:49 and leading the New York Athletic Club to the team victory.
Personal bests
References
External links
Official website
Lisa Stublic Nemec facebook
Lisa Stublic Nemec twitter
Lisa Stublic Nemec results
Category:Living people
Category:1984 births
Category:Croatian female marathon runners
Category:Croatian female long-distance runners
Category:Croatian steeplechase runners
Category:Olympic athletes of Croatia
Category:American female marathon runners
Category:American female long-distance runners
Category:American female steeplechase runners
Category:Columbia University alumni
Category:Sportspeople from Waterbury, Connecticut
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
Category:American people of Croatian descent
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:Athletes track and field at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Category:Doping cases in athletics
Category:Croatian sportspeople in doping cases | wikipedia |
What is the product of a copper and vinegar reaction?
I put a copper wire through a hole in the cap of a water bottle, filled the water bottle ~ half way full with vinegar, and left it over night. The part of the wire inside the bottle that wasn't in vinegar turn black. Really black. Why is this?!
---
UPDATE: I wiped the black stuff off on paper, and it now looks green on the white paper. Seems like it oxidized over night. Why so fast?
I think this question is related to the Le Chatelier’s principle:
\begin{align}
\ce{2Cu + O2 &\;<=> 2CuO}\\
\ce{CuO + 2HOAc &-> Cu(OAc)2 + H2O}
\end{align}
You mentioned that half the copper wire was under the acetic acid, so it was not in contact with oxygen. Thus, the lower part did not get oxidized. The upper part of the wire was in contact with oxygen and reacted to form $\ce{Cu(II)}$ oxide. Because there was acetic acid vapor in the atmosphere of the closed bottle, the acid reacted further with the $\ce{Cu(II)}$ oxide, creating $\ce{Cu(II)}$ acetate and water. The removal of $\ce{CuO}$ therefore pressed the oxidation reaction to proceed forward, making more $\ce{CuO}$ and then $\ce{Cu(II)}$ acetate. As a result, the upper part of the copper wire became dark blue/green overnight due to the color of $\ce{Cu(OAc)2}$.
If it looks green/blue on paper, you likely have copper (II) acetate. You likely have the anhydrous version $\ce{Cu(OAc)2}$ which is darker than the hydrous $\ce{Cu(OAc)4(H2O)2}$
[Wikipedia Images](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper%28II%29_acetate) include:
The rate of formation is a property inherent to the reactants and the products, but it also depends on temperature.
Actually, there is little to no reaction of vinegar on copper metal (hence, the copper wire in solution is clear). Existing $\ce{Cu2O}$ coating will be slowly attacked, forming a cuprous acetate which in air/oxygen creates soluble cupric acetate. The latter serves as a weak electrolyte for a further electrochemical attack of the copper metal with $\ce{O2}$ subject to an inception period delay.
Passing air into the solution, or much more effective, adding $\ce{H2O2}$ promotes the electrochemical reaction as does adding a small amount of a good electrolyte (like $\ce{NaCl}$, which also complexes with insoluble cuprous forming a soluble copper compound). There is a commercial application of the electrochemistry cited in Wikipedia$\ce{^{[1]}}$, which more generally occurs with many transition metals other than copper:
$$\ce{4Cu^+/Fe^{2+}/Co^{2+} (aq) + O2 + 2 H+ -> 4Cu^+/Fe^{3+}/Co^{3+} + 2OH-}$$
Also:
$$\ce{Cu + Cu^{2+} <=> 2 Cu^+}$$ (where cuprous is assumed to be soluble/complexed)
which recycles the cuprous to keep the first reaction active. Interestingly, for those in a hurry, $\ce{Cu}$ /vinegar/3% $\ce{H2O2}$ and $\ce{NaCl}$ as an electrolyte, can be a vigorous reaction with a quick jump start in a microwave! Relatedly, $\ce{Cu/NH3(aq)/O2}$ (or 3% $\ce{H2O2}$ )/$\ce{NaCl}$ is sufficiently energetic to be the basis of commercial copper ore leaching (employs aqueous $\ce{NH3}$ with air and ammonium carbonate, where $\ce{NH3}$ acts as a complexing agent, see $\ce{^{[2]}}$ $\ce{^{[3]}}$ (both sources noting the electrochemical aspects of the reaction).
Now, why the black $\ce{CuO}$ (and basic copper acetate) coating on the part of the copper wire exposed to air, acid fumes, water vapor and dust particles? Because per the reaction above, I surmise that $\ce{CuO}$ and basic copper acetate would be the expected products in low water conditions in the presence of oxygen/air and H+. The dust, I would further speculate, maybe a source of an electrolyte or other metals like iron. This could result in a so-called redox couple favoring also recycling the copper ions, per the reaction:
$$\ce{Fe^{2+} + Cu^{2+} <=> Fe^{3+} + Cu^+}$$
Now, anyone who has heated copper metal in a flame is aware of the fact that even at high temperatures, $\ce{Cu/Cu2O}$ does NOT easily react with oxygen in air to create black $\ce{CuO}$ (and using a methane flame is problematic as $\ce{CH4}$ can reduce any created $\ce{CuO}$ back to $\ce{Cu}$, so a decidedly poor path to cupric oxide).
Many are more likely acquainted with the key electrochemical reaction cited above in the case of metal iron, a process described as the production of RUST. Interestingly, Fe is not readily attacked by cold mineral acids, but is with oxidizing acids as $\ce{HNO3}$ and even feeble $\ce{HOCl}$ (hypochlorous acid). Add oxygen and even weak $\ce{H2CO3}$ (carbonic acid) in the presence of $\ce{NaCl}$ will electrochemically attack iron metal (and, more slowly, copper metal also).
The (original) derivation of the key reaction above, which is apparently a net reaction is based on cited radical chemistry (by H. Liang, Z. M. Chen, D. Huang, Y. Zhao and Z. Y. Li)$\ce{^{[4]}}$ .
For those who trust less in theory and desire experimental results, see my demonstrated electrochemical cell preparation path to $\ce{CuO}$ (with pictures) in one of my threads here$\ce{^{[5]}}$ .
**References**
1. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicopper_chloride_trihydroxide>
2. <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259637387_Ammonia_Leaching_A_New_Approach_of_Copper_Industry_in_Hydrometallurgical_Processes>
3. "Kinetics and Mechanism of Copper Dissolution In Aqueous Ammonia", at <https://www.academia.edu/292096/Kinetics_and_Mechanism_of_Copper_Dissolution_In_Aqueous_Ammonia>
4. <https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=154275#pid625574>
5. <https://www.sciencemadness.org/whisper/viewthread.php?tid=84047#pid521659>
Just read Wikipedia article on Verdigris again, and it is clear per the preparation path described by Nuygen above, that the product is classic (except for the use of a copper wire in place of a copper plate, with a varying height separation from the 5% vinegar), and accurately detailed by Wikipedia at <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdigris> . To quote, in parts:
"Verdigris is the common name for a green pigment obtained through the application of acetic acid to copper plates[2] or the natural patina formed when copper, brass or bronze is weathered and exposed to air or seawater over time. It is usually a basic copper carbonate (Cu2CO3(OH)2), but near the sea....If acetic acid is present at the time of weathering, it may consist of copper(II) acetate. "
And:
"Verdigris is a variable chemical mixture of compounds, complexes and water.... All the components are in an ever-changing and complex electrochemical reaction equilibrium that is dependent on the ambient environment."
All of which confirms my answer above and challenges the cited 'correct' answer that the product is simply copper(ll) acetate and not too likely, in my opinion, as was claimed on the three-sentence 'correct' answer, to be just dry (anhydrous) cupric acetate.
Actually, I agree with Nuygen on several of claims likely based directly on his observations (namely, a complex mix with an apparent presence of CuO, a shift from light (basic copper acetate per Wiki) to more colored salt, possibly cupric acetate (as also mentioned by Wikipedia).
Here is a video with vertically hung copper sheets at <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq5MB1H_hVc> . Note the product color and compare to Nuygen's description.
As a side note, vinegar is not pure dilute acetic acid. Depending on the source materials and manner of processing, impurities may be present.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Arthur Maynwaring or Mainwaring 9 July 1668 13 November 1712, of Ightfield, Shropshire, was an English official and Whig politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons from 1706 to 1712. He was also a journalist and a polemic political author.
Early life
Maynwaring was born at Ightfield, the son of Charles Maynwaring of Ightfield, and his wife Katherine Cholmondeley, daughter of Thomas Cholmondeley of Vale Royal, Cheshire. His grandfather was Sir Arthur Mainwaring. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford on 23 November 1683, aged 15. In 1687 he was admitted at the Inner Temple.
Maynwaring supported the losing Jacobite side at the Glorious Revolution. For many years, he lived with his uncle, Francis Cholmondeley, who refused to take the oaths to William and Mary, and was encouraged in his Stuart sympathies by a non-juring relation, Sir Philip Egerton. From Cheshire he came to live with his father in Essex Street, Strand, London, to study law. He wrote an article in favour of James II and attacking the supporters of the Revolution, which attracted the attention of his Whig relations, Lord Cholmondeley and the Duke of Somerset. These, with Earl of Burlington introduced him to the circle of Lord Somers and other prominent Whigs, and Maynwaring altered his politics.
Political career
On his father's death around 1693, Maynwaring inherited an estate, gave up the law, and raising money on Ightfield, devoted himself to political and social life. When the treaty of Ryswick in 1697 reopened communication with France he went to Paris, where he met Boileau and La Fontaine. Now a Whig, he was made a member of the Kit-Cat Club, and received through Montague a commissionership of customs. In 1705 Sidney Godolphin rewarded his political services by appointing him auditor of imprests. His relationship with the actress Anne Oldfield began somewhat earlier. He was a close friend of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and considered himself her secretary.
Maynwaring was elected in a contest as Member of Parliament for the borough of Preston on the interest of the Earl of Derby, at a by-election on 27 December 1706. Early in 1708 he was appointed secretary to the Duchess of Marlborough, whom he saw as a key ally in forwarding the Whig cause. He was returned unopposed as Whig MP for Preston at the 1708 British general election. He supported the naturalization of the Palatines, and between 1709 and 1710 was a fiery advocate of the prosecution of Henry Sacheverell. He also became embroiled in the Court intrigues at the time of the Duchess's falling out with the Queen and the ascendency of Mrs Masham. At the 1710 British general election, he was returned instead as MP for West Looe.
Maynwaring's health gave way, as he went down with consumption. He worked on at journalism, incessantly, towards the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, and kept up his duties as auditor in person.
Works
A first literary effort, Tarquin and Tullia, an outspoken satire on William III and Mary II, was published by Maynwaring quite soon after moving to London. The next year, in the King of Hearts, he ridiculed Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington and his Cheshire men entering London in state. The verses, published anonymously, sold well, were attributed to John Dryden, and made the author's fortune. He wrote a number of prologues for Anne Oldfield.
Maynwaring attacked Sacheverell and his supporters in a merciless fashion in the Letters to a Friend in North Britain. Hannibal and Hanno, a defence of the Duke of Marlborough, belongs to the same period.
The exact part taken by Maynwaring in the Whig Examiner, the first number of which appeared on 14 September 1710, five weeks after its rival the Tory Examiner, is not clear. Dissatisfied with the shared name Examiner, while running the paper, he planned The Medley, and on 5 October the first number was issued. During the ten months that it lasted the Medley was almost entirely Maynwaring's own work, hounding the Examiner with criticisms. Robert Harley to try to gag it, but the attorney-general refused to move.
With 1711 the Tory position seemed secure; on 26 July the Examiner was dropped, and in the following week the last Medley was printed. Grub Street, Jonathan Swift pronounced, was dead. He published an attack on French policy towards the close of the year; in 1712 he was engaged on a history of the march to the battle of Blenheim, based on a diary kept by Francis Hare. A fragment was printed, by John Oldmixon.
Death and legacy
Maynwaring died on 14 November 1712. He never married but had an illegitimate son Arthur by his mistress of eight years, Ann Oldfield. He left his property equally between Anne Oldfield, his sister who had nursed him during his final illness, and his son Arthur Maynwaring to be used upon his education. Three months after his death, 9 February 1713, the Tory Examiner attacked his character, and Robert Walpole replied.
Notes
Attribution
External links
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Category:1668 births
Category:1712 deaths
Category:English writers
Category:English MPs 17051707
Category:Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies
Category:British MPs 17071708
Category:British MPs 17081710
Category:Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for constituencies in Cornwall
Category:British MPs 17101713
Category:People educated at Shrewsbury School | wikipedia |
the success of endodontic therapy is directly related with the control of endodontic microbiota during root canal treatment .
sodium hypochlorite ( naocl ) is the main irrigating solution used in root canal preparation to dissolve vital and necrotic tissue and eliminate the bacteria of instrumented root canals , but it lacks residual antimicrobial activity .
chelating agents are used to remove debris and smear layer from instrumented root canals ; their residual activity on root canals infected with enterococcus faecalis has been demonstrated .
chlorhexidine , a potent antiseptic agent , is recommended as a final irrigating solution in view of its antimicrobial action , proven substantivity and capacity to inhibit the adherence of certain bacteria to dentin .
cetrimide is a cationic surfactant with bactericidal activity and the capacity to decrease the biofilm 's mechanical stability .
solutions of 2% chlorhexidine and 0.2% cetrimide , when applied for 1 min alone or in final irrigation protocols , can completely inhibit the 24-h e. faecalis biofilm formation in dentin , while the combination of 2% chlorhexidine+0.2% cetrimide after the use of chelating agents has been proposed as an effective alternative for final irrigation in root canals because of its antimicrobial action over time .
it was recently shown that 0.2% cetrimide provides longer substantivity than 0.2% chlorhexidine and nearly as long as that of 2% chlorhexidine in a dentin - volumetric model .
nonetheless , there are no data about its antimicrobial activity and ability over time to control bacterial regrowth when used alone as the final irrigating solution after root canal preparation .
the aim of this study was therefore to compare the residual antimicrobial activity of 0.2% cetrimide with 0.2% and 2% chlorhexidine in root canals infected with e. faecalis .
eighty - six anterior human teeth stored in 0.1% thymol solution at 4 c were decoronated to obtain roots 12 mm in length .
this study was conducted using a protocol previously approved by the ethics committee of the university of granada .
, the specimens were incubated in brain heart infusion ( bhi ) broth ( scharlau chemie s.a . , barcelona , spain ) for 24 h at 37 c to ensure no bacterial contamination . from a subculture of e. faecalis
( atcc 29212 ) , a standard suspension was prepared in bhi to obtain 110 colony - forming units ( cfu ) per ml .
afterwards , 1.2 ml of this suspension and the sterilized tooth were added to an eppendorf tube and were incubated for 4 weeks under aerobic conditions at 37 c , with re - inoculation performed every seven days .
the cultures were checked for purity by gram stain and colony morphology , and two samples were processed to confirm the presence of e. faecalis biofilm by scanning electron microscopy .
the working length was established for each tooth by introducing a # 10 k - file ( dentsply maillefer , ballaigues , switzerland ) into the canal until it was observed at the apical foramen , then decreasing the file length by 1 mm .
each tooth was then inserted into its customized model and the interface was sealed with cyanoacrylate .
the root canals were instrumented using the protaper system to working length using a f3 master apical file ( dentsply maillefer , ballaigues , switzerland ) , following the manufacturers ' instructions . during preparation ,
once instrumented , the roots were irrigated with 5 ml 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ( edta ) solution to remove the smear layer .
the roots were then randomly divided into three experimental groups ( n=26 ) according to the final irrigating solution : group i , 5 ml 0.2% cetrimide ; group ii , 5 ml 0.2% chlorhexidine ; and group iii , 5 ml 2% chlorhexidine .
all the irrigating solutions were delivered for one minute through a 3 ml luer - loc syringe coupled to an open - end 30-gauge needle tip . in each group , two other specimens ( n=6 ) not contaminated with e. faecalis received the same treatment and served as negative controls . after preparation , the root canals were dried with sterile paper points ( dentsply maillefer , ballaigues , switzerland ) and filled with bhi broth . a # 15 k - file ( dentsply maillefer , ballaigues , switzerland )
was placed in the canal to working length and the canal was circumferentially filed for 10 s. three consecutive sterile paper points were introduced into the canal to absorb the bhi broth .
the paper points were transferred to an eppendorf tube containing 5 ml of bhi broth .
after collection of the first bacterial sample , the canal was refilled with the same broth and samples were collected daily for 50 days .
once turbidity was present , bacteria were identified to ensure that there was no contamination other than e. faecalis .
the proportion of ungrown specimens over 50 days was evaluated using nonparametric kaplan meier survival analysis .
differences among groups were tested using the log - rank test and the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05 .
all statistical analyses were performed by means of spss 17.0 software ( spss , chicago il , usa ) .
table 1 shows the number of regrown samples and the median and meanstandard deviation of the day of regrowth . at 50 days ,
e. faecalis growth was detected in 69.23% specimens in groups i and ii , and in 34.61% specimens in the 2% chlorhexidine group . the results of kaplan meier survival analysis are shown in figure 1 .
pair comparisons determined by the log - rank test showed statistically significant differences between 2% chlorhexidine and the other groups .
failure of root canal treatment may occur from viable residual bacteria present within the root canal systems .
the high prevalence of e. faecalis in teeth with post - treatment disease is due to its ability to compete with other microorganisms , invade dentinal tubules , resist nutritional deprivation and grow as a biofilm on root canal walls .
the aim of this study was to compare over time the residual activity of 0.2% cetrimide , 0.2% chlorhexidine and 2% chlorhexidine in root canals infected with e. faecalis .
the strain used was e. faecalis atcc 29212 , a strain of reference widely used in antimicrobial susceptibility studies allowing the comparison of results .
the application time was 1 min , as recommended to kill e. faecalis and achieve residual antibacterial activity with these agents .
a 17% edta solution was used to remove the smear layer , to prevent the formation of a precipitate associated with chlorhexidine and naocl interaction and to promote substantivity over time of chlorhexidine in the presence of collagen .
the antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine depends on the number of molecules available to interact with the dentin .
accordingly , a more concentrated chlorhexidine preparation should result in increased resistance to microbial regrowth .
residual effects of 2% chlorhexidine and 0.12% chlorhexidine have been reported in root canal irrigation evaluated ex vivo and in vivo in short time periods . in the present study , all solutions tested showed residual effects in some specimens for over 50 days when used as final irrigating solutions in infected root canals ( figure 1 ) . as expected , the residual activity was directly related to the concentration of the chlorhexidine solution
. the higher concentration tested ( 2% ) showed a greater capacity to inhibit e. faecalis regrowth : at 50 days , only 9/26 specimens showed regrowth .
there were significant differences with respect to 0.2% chlorhexidine as well as 0.2% cetrimide ( both 18/26 ) ( table 1 ) .
it is noteworthy that regrowth in the 2% chlorhexidine group did not occur in any specimen until day 14similar to results obtained with a combined solution of 2% chlorhexidine+0.2% cetrimide using the same methodology .
nearly identical results were obtained in groups i and ii : in both , the first regrowth occurred on the fourth day and at 50 days , regrowth was seen in 18 samples ( table 1 ) .
although 0.2% cetrimide showed a high residual activity ( median : 27 days ) , a result closer to the one obtained with 2% chlorhexidine had been anticipated , given its greater ability to kill e. faecalis and comparable substantivity determined in a volumetric - dentin unit .
this type of sample provides for optimal controlled conditions on the entire surface , allowing mechanical trapping of the solution inside the open dentinal tubules and binding to the exposed collagen matrix .
the present study involved the use of roots where the low surface tension of cetrimide facilitated its diffusion in the main root canal , but the penetration of the solutions into dentinal tubules may be compromised .
however , it has been shown that the addition of cetrimide in the disinfecting solutions increased their antibacterial effects against e. faecalis in the dentinal tubules . in this sense
, the results obtained in this study suggest that the antibacterial residual effect of cetrimide would depend on its concentration and the length of its application time , or its association with antiseptic agents . recently
, 1% of alexidine , a bisbiguanide disinfectant , has shown similar antibacterial effect to 2% chlorhexidine against e. faecalis in bovine dentin .
further studies are needed to determine the best solution and/or combination of solutions , in the irrigation regime or as supplementary approach , to not only disinfect but also maintain a significant residual antimicrobial activity over time . in conclusion ,
under the limitations of the present study , final irrigation with 0.2% cetrimide and 0.2% chlorhexidine showed lower residual activity than 2% chlorhexidine in root canals infected with e. faecalis . | pubmed |
Kingdom Hearts, Naruto 1. Prolouge
**Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Kingdom Hearts**
Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness laid on the floor in front of Sora and Riku. The Heartless knew how weakened he was but would not let this day be his last. He raised his hand and was about to open the Doors to Darkness so Kingdom Hearts could give it's darkness to him but then decided to open a corridor of darkness to a random world.
"This … it hardly … the end… Your darkness-I gave it …. All to you … My dark shadow still lingers and someday… I will return." Ansem said as he fell into the portal and disappeared.
"No!" Sora cried out as he jumped at the portal but fell to the ground.
"It's okay Sora because when he returns, we'll be ready." Riku said helping his friend up. Sora nodded, both boys not knowing that it would be a very, very long time before they saw the Seeker of Darkness again.
-Outside of Konoha-
The great chakra demon Kyuubi no Kitsune was currently battling the legendary Yellow Flash who stood atop the boss of toad summons, Gambunta. The gigantic from sent several liquid bullets at the demon who dodged them then shot a chakra blast from it's mouth. The fox jumped at the boss summon and slashed his eye, leaving a big scar.
Ansem fell out of the portal and landed on the back of the Kyuubi.
"Where am I?" He muttered standing up. He saw that he was standing on a large fox with nine tails that was battling a giant frog.
'_A strange world I am in.'_ He thought as he struggled to stay atop the beast in his weak state. Ansem watched as a large ghostly figure with purple skin appeared in front of the Kitsune as reached it's hand out, grabbing the soul of Kyuubi and Ansem.
"What's happening?" The master of heartless asked out loud as felt his soul leaving his body.
The two great beings were put into the body of a newborn baby and the soul of Minato Namikaze was eaten by the Shinigami who then disappeared. The shinobi of Konohagakure cheered once the demon vanished and began returning to their home, not knowing that they had lost their great fourth Hokage.
2. Meeting the Seeker of Darkness
**Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Kingdom Hearts**
"Normal Talk."
'Normal thought.'
"_Heartless Talk"_
'_Heartless Thought'_
"**Demon Talk"**
'**Demon Thought'**
* * *
><p>-9 Years Later-<p>
Uzamaki Naruto stood atop Hokage Mountain, more specifically the head of the Yondaime. The blonde stared at the large bright moon that gave off white light.
"_Reminds me of Kingdom Hearts." _Someone said. Naruto quickly turned around, searching for the source of the voice.
"Where are you?" The boy asked.
"_Your mind. Come speak to me little one."_ The voice said. "_There is much to discuss."_
The was the last thing Naruto heard before he blacked out.
When the boy woke up he was in front of two gigantic cages with a single seal on them. Naruto looked in the cage only for a giant red claw burst out the cage and grab at him. He jumped back and stared as two large red eyes opened up and glared at him.
"**Pitiful humans."** The beast revealing itself to be a large red fox with nine tails.
"_There is so much to learn, and so little they understand."_ Another voice said. Naruto recognized it as the voice he heard before. He looked in the other cage to see another person.
The man wore a black, high-collared, leather coat that has a red interior and yellow lining. This coat is grey from the waist down and has several buttons lining the hips, a belt around his waist, and a second one that extends from the waist and up to the collar to connect to several smaller straps. The four shorter straps are buttoned to either side of the front of the collar while the remaining ones are buttoned to the shoulders to form spaulders. A black leather pauldron is attached to each spaulder by three buttons and two straps that button the the rim of the coat and two more that cross over his upper back. On his upper chest was a strange emblem in the form of a brooch that holds the outer coat together in place of a zipper or buttons. Underneath this coat, was a white, thigh-length vest. This vest is also high-collared and exposes most of the man's chest, with three black buttons and two thin belts near his waist closing it up while the three remaining buttons below are undone.
He also had tan skin, orange eyes, and long white hair.
"Who are you?" Naruto asked the man.
"_It is I, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness." _The man said.
"Why are you behind bars and whose the giant furball?" The blonde asked.
The fox let out a roar at being called a furball. It banged it's body against the cage trying to escape. The seal glowed every time the beast touched the bars, preventing it from escaping.
"_Me and the demon were sealed inside you when you were a baby. The fox is known as the Kyuubi no Kitsune."_ Ansem explained. "_I can see your heart Naruto, you have a large amount of darkness inside you."_
"How can I control this darkness?" Naruto asked.
"_It really is quite simple. Open yourself to the darkness. That is all. Let your heart, your being, become darkness." _The white haired man said.
"You speak a lot about darkness, tell me about." The boy said.
"_All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end. The heart is no different. Darkness sprouts within it, grows, consumes it. Such is its nature. In the end, every heart returns to the darkness whence it came. You see, darkness is the heart's true essence." _The Seeker of Darkness explained.
"I want to be strong, so strong that people will never hurt me again." Naruto spoke,balling his hands into fist. Three small creatures appeared behind Naruto, he turned around to look at them.
It had a vaguely humanoid body structure. It has a round, spherical head with circular, glowing yellow eyes. It also has two long, twisted antennae sprouting out of the top of its head. Each of its hands has three clawed fingers, and its feet are large and lack any discernible digits. With the exception of its eyes, this creature's body was completely black. (Pureblood Heartless: Shadow)
"What are those things?" Naruto asked.
"_Beings without hearts, one who have fallen into the darkness. They are Heartless. More specifically, these kinds are Shadows." _Ansem explained.
"What are we going to use them for?" Naruto asked.
"_You will surrender your heart to them." _The tanned man said just as the Shadows attacked him. Naruto jumped back as the Heartless slashed at him with their claws. The jinchuriki kept dodging their attacks and everytime he would throw a punch the Shadows would turn flat and move out of the way.
"I can't hit them!" Naruto cried out frustrated.
"_Stop resisting and accept the darkness."_ Ansem called out. Naruto sighed and stood still as the Shadow clawed at his chasing causing him to fall down and the other Heartless to jump on him. When Naruto stood back up a Heartless symbol was on his chest and his eyes were bright yellow.
"_I'm a heartless now_?" The new Naruto asked flexing his arms and seiing he was now almost five feet tall.
"_Yes, you are now Pureblood Heartless and you can also change back to your original form." _Ansem said watching as Naruto shifted into his normal self again.
"Now what Ansem?" Naruto asked.
"_Now we must plunge this world into the darkness, however you cannot do this by yourself as you are not strong enough." _The Seeker of Darkness said.
"Then tell me how to get stronger." The jinchuriki said.
"_First you'll need a tool of darkness." _Ansem said holding out his hand. Swirls of black energy began circling Naruto before covering him completely. When the darkness was gone, Naruto had a strange weapon in his hand.
The blade looked a a giant key instead of a handel was red and had a white pommel. Its guard was red, white edges, lined with black spikes and connect to the guard with a white half circle. The head of the blade was red, with white edges. The "teeth" of the key shaped weapon were white angel wings. (Vengeful Angel)
"**A Keyblade? Haven't seen one of those in a while." **The Kyuubi said.
"_This is Vengeful Angel and will be your main weapon for a while. It only works against beings with hearts and is useless against Heartless. Now it is time for you to learn." _Ansem said as he darkness spread out of the cage and surronded Naruto, this time transferring all of Ansem's memories to him. Naruto learned the Dark Fire, Dark Thunder, and Dark Blizzard spell along with how to summon a Corridor of Darkness.
"Dark Fire." Naruto cried out as a black fireball shot out of Vengeful Angel.
"_You can learn more magic later on after you have gotten more acustomed to the darkness." _Ansem said. "_You still have much to learn."_
"**Alright kid you can also use my Kitsune abilities seeing as the Seeker of Darkness gave you something. Now you can use unbreakable illusions and you have heightened sense along with a unmatched affinity for fire techniques."** The Kyuubi said.
"Thanks guys. I'll put your powers to good use and show everyone the true powers of darkness!" Naruto exclaimed as he left his mind.
"_He will become very powerful."_ Ansem stated. The Kyuubi couldn't help but agree.
When Naruto woke up he found himself still on the Hoakge Mountain. He looked down at his body to see he was still tall and his clothes had changed. Naruto now wore a black leather hooded cloak with a silver zipper.
"I shall show everyone the darkness, as while everything goes to the light it always return to the darkness." Naruto stated as he opened a Corridor of Darkness and went home.
3. Author's Note
Hello readers, it's RR here with an unfortunate author's note. It's been well over a year since I've updated this story, mainly due to writer's block and the erratic businesses that is my life. However, thing's have finally calmed down for me and recently I took the time to read through all of my stories, as well as the reviews. And holy shit I was such a bad writer, well overall-ness. I am a much better author now, rest assured. I will be deleting a majority of the stories on my profile, not this one however. I will either be redoing it with a few differences or merely continuing from this current chapter. The choice is up to you, dear readers.
-RR
End file.
| fanfiction |
That morning I had felt hopeful. We had a whole day ahead to reach conclusions and clear consciences. But now it was raining, and in the gathering darkness only one hour remained during which to learn, understand, and make peace. There wasn't enough time.
At the end of Ne'ila in past years I was always relieved and proud to have finished the marathon, as if Yom Kippur was a race. But until this moment I never understood that the day was really about having the strength to stand still, about admitting that we can never actually win in this world but simply learn to love our lives and help others do the same. I looked out at the congregation and was a little frightened; their faces reflected a silent Babel of more kinds of emotion than I could understand. I had no idea what they were trying to say, yet my voice was supposed to represent theirs. I could only be true to myself, and hope my openness would become a vessel. So I sang in desperation, in determination--in anger, not at anyone in particular, or even at God, but at the universe in general for being imperfect and unfair. We were very loud, the rabbi on one side of the bima, booming musaf shaliah on the other, and myself sandwiched in between, as we tried to get God to listen during those final moments. | slim_pajama |
Phantom of the Opera Think Of the Ones You Love
A/N: Just a little short valentine's day one shot. I did this when I was supposed to be doing math homework…writing is so much better then exponents don't you think? Anyways, just a little reailty check for Christine on the day you really think about the ones you love. Hope you like!
.heart.angel.
Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom..nor Valentine's day…very sad I know.
**Think of the Ones You Love**
Christine nestled closer Raoul, a little card lying on her raising chest slightly. She smiled contently, looking into the dancing flames before her. On the near-by coffee table lay the wrappers of some chocolates and a dozen roses scattered along the rich oak. Closing her eyes she breathed in, letting the warmth of bodies collide. Smiling her memories of the night played through her sleepy mind.
_He had picked her up at seven o'clock sharp, and they had traveled to the most expensive restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious, and Raoul had ordered champagne… Oh and the gifts he had presented her! A new bracelet.._
Christine absent-mindly touched her new bracelet, feeling Raoul shift slightly on the cushioned couch beneath her, she smiled.
_..and then he took her for a walk along the park, and he gave her a gift certificate to the spa. The spa! Oh she couldn't wait….the spa…mmm..how did he know?…Then when we got to the river, when we were looking up at the shinning the stars he gave me flowers! Roses to be exact, all tied up with black ribbons…._
Christine furrowed her brow. That wasn't right. Raoul never tied her roses with ribbons, yet alone black. Staring at the red roses on the coffee table, a frown crossed her delicate features.
_Black ribbons with red roses…?
_Raoul, sensing Christine tensing, instantly held her tighter.
"What is it Christine?" His gentle voice echoing in her trained ears.
"Oh..nothing. Nothing at all." Christine forced a small smile as she cuddled deeper into Raoul's arms. Protectively, Raoul wrapped his arms tighter around her.
"You sure?" He whispered in her ear, a comforting sound. And it was just that. Comforting. Sighing some, Christine allowed herself to breathe out some.
"I'm sure. I..I was just thinking…" She said slowly.
"Bout what?" He started to twirl a brown curl in his fingers, the other hand still firmly wrapped around her.
"…About…about the wonderful night I had tonight." Christine answered, her pink lips turning into a smile. She looked up into his blue eyes, her brown eyes glistening from the fire.
"Me too." He spoke softly, both their gazes both now directed at the fire. It started to cascade shadows around them, dancing blissfully. Christine all of a sudden felt another pang.
_Shadows….what is with shadows?_
Darting her eyes from the fire then back at the shadows she suddenly felt the need to be closer to Raoul. Curling around him, she found herself longing for safety. Enjoying the moment, Raoul welcomed Christine's cuddling nature and they both lay against one another, still dressed in causal attire.
_Why am I so afraid of shadows?_ Christine thought curiously. Surely she would know…then it hit her.
_The roses….the ribbons…the shadows….all…__**him**_.
Christine felt like a little girl, running to her older brother for protection from a nightmare as she closed her eyes.
_Him. Why am I thinking of him?_
Then, as though clear as glass, the thought came out without warning.
_Because you think of the ones you love on Valentines Day._
Stunned by her own thoughts Christine shifted more into Raoul, as though proving that she loved Raoul more then the man she was thinking of. The man in the shadows…
But somehow, the warmth she shared with Raoul seemed to have a new meaning. Thinking about all they had been through, she suddenly thought it appeared that she might marry this man. And strangely, it scared her in an alarming nature.
_No, I love him!_ Christine defended herself, staring into the fire endlessly.
_But is that love Christine? The love Erik showed you? __Safe__ affections? _Christine stared stunned into the dancing fire, her thoughts running through her mind. Why she was thinking about this, she would never know. She was thinking about Erik. Of all people, it just had to be Erik.
_But Erik was an obsessed mad man, who needed more then I could ever give. Raoul is safe, he's a kind, caring man, everything I would want a man to be. He's steady, normal. All these roses just prove our…_
Christine stopped in mid-thought. Erik had always sent her roses. Not just any roses. The type that made you really believe that such a sweet flower contained another meaning, another sense of life…another... She noticed that Raoul was stirring, interrupting her rattling endless thoughts.
_No. _She thought. _After all that's happened….I **know** I want Raoul. _Christine looked up at Raoul, her brown eyes sparkling with the memory of how he had saved her.Raoul stared down at Christine, flashing a small white smile, sending warmth through her. Erik had always sent her sensational shivers. The contrast was overwhelming. With the mention of Erik again, her brow furrowed. Staring up into those eyes of his she finally realized what she had been denying all along. Searching the endless sea of blue before her she finally found the truth. As much as she wanted to say that this was the first of the times she thought about Erik, she knew that it was not. He always seemed to break her thoughts about Raoul, no matter how much she wished to think of only her and Raoul. Turning back to the fire, she didn't catch Raoul's confused look. Instead she stared endlessly into the flames, as thought they spelt the words clearly in front of her.
_I might want Raoul. But I __**need**__ Erik. No matter how much it hurts to know. My thoughts don't lie for the ones I care for._
It was the first time she admitted it to herself.
_**A/N: Thanks so much for reading! R&R as always! **_
_**.heart.angel.**_
End file.
| fanfiction |
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia CAAM, , previously known as the Department of Civil Aviation DCA, , is a government agency that was formed under the Malaysian Ministry of Transport in 1969, pursuant to the passing of the Civil Aviation Act 1969 by the Malaysian Parliament. Previously headquartered in Damansara Heights Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, its head office is now in Putrajaya. The current chairman of the authority is vacant after Dato Sri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman resigned.
Divisions
The Aviation Security Unit of the Airport Standard Division of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia was established after the Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 incident at Tanjung Kupang.
Recent developments
On 11 November 2019, Malaysia's air safety rating was downgraded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration FAA, thereby restricting the countrys airlines from adding new flights to the United States. The assessment was tied to some 33 issues underpinning Malaysias aviation oversight regime and is an assessment of the countrys civil aviation authority. The following incidents may be referenced for recent developments against the favour of the organisation: a recent runway accident between a landing plane and a work vehicle caused the life of a Subang Airport staff., and ongoing inquiry and a slew of compensation etc issues pertaining to the MH370 incident on 8 March 2014
Reports on 13 December 2019 revealed that Malaysia's Transport Ministry would dissolve the Malaysian Aviation Commission MAVCOM, transferring its main functions to the Malaysian Civil Aviation Authority CAAM. This decision was based on consensus sought from the Malaysian Cabinet on 11 December 2019.
References
Further reading
Aircraft Accident Report, 1/78: Boeing 737 9M-MBD, Report 1/78, Accident Near Gelang Patah, Negeri Johor on 4 December 1977. Government Printing Department, 1978.
External links
History of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia
Category:Malaysian federal ministries, departments and agencies
Malaysia
Category:Ministry of Transport Malaysia
Category:1969 establishments in Malaysia
Category:Government agencies established in 1969
Category:Civil aviation in Malaysia | wikipedia |
since the advent of the hiv - aids pandemic across the globe , pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia has been one of the most common defining illnesses of this condition .
idiopathic cd4 lymphocytopenia is one such condition where the patient presents with such aids defining illnesses but with negative serological marker for this dreaded disease . here
, we describe a case where a young man presented with pneumocystis infection but was having negative markers for hiv and thus the diagnosis of icl was concluded .
a 32-year - old adequately nourished male was admitted for complaints of shortness of breath for 1 month which had exacerbated for the past 2 days .
he used to work as a tailor with a mixed diet usually on his platter .
examination revealed a well built and nourished male with a body mass index of 25.3 kg / m who was tachypneic with the presence of tachycardia and mild fever .
oral thrush was present and scrapings were sent for fungal culture . there were no apparent risk factors for the presence of hiv or any other immunosuppressive states .
chest x - ray revealed few scattered inspiratory crackles and the saturation monitor was showing a spo2 of 87% .
high flow o2 was initiated and the patient was then shifted to the intensive care unit for further management .
given the clinical picture of the patient , pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia ( pjp ) was high on cards , given the apparent immunosuppressed state .
empirical antibiotics , fluconazole and oral trimethoprim - sulphomethoxazole [ tmp - smx ] , was started along with steroids .
u / l ( high ) and high - resolution computed tomography of the thorax revealed ground glass opacities in both lung fields , more so being perihilar .
thus , the diagnosis of pjp was confirmed . to identify the cause of the immunosuppressed state ,
since the clinical suspicion of hiv was so high , a western blot and a hiv - rna polymerase chain reaction were ordered as well .
cd4 and cd8 counts were ordered , as a suspicion for idiopathic cd4 lymphocytopenia ( icl ) was high .
the cd8 counts were 312/mm ( normal ) with a cd4:cd8 ratio , inverted ( 0.35 ; normal : 1.41.7 ) .
he denied any history of immunosuppressive drug intake , did not experience repeated infections in the childhood , his immunoglobulin and sugar levels were normal , and the titers for htlv1 and 2 were negative .
thus , idiopathic cd4 lymphocytopenia was labeled as the cause of his immunodeficiency and was given a prophylaxis of tmp - smx and fluconazole post - treatment .
the centre for disease control in the usa in 1993 defined a new entity in the ever expanding world of immunology , known as the idiopathic cd4 lymphocytopenia .
the hiv - aids pandemic had just began to shape in those days and defining a disease , so close and yet so far from it , was a challenge that the centers for disease control and prevention had to face .
they defined this entity as the presence of cd4 counts < 300/mm or < 20% of the total lymphocyte count on more than one occasion , at least 6 weeks apart , with the absence of hiv infection or any other condition that might cause cd4 cytopenia .
icl is a heterogeneous condition which is usually diagnosed in middle age and has a slight male preponderance .
the spectrum of the presence of opportunistic infections in icl is the same when compared to a patient with hiv infection .
cryptococcosis is the most common infection associated with this disease , but candida , cytomegalovirus , nontuberculous , and tuberculous infections are common .
icl appears to be due to a physiological response where there is an altered environment of cytokines and inflammation that leads to decreased production of t - cell precursors and clonogenic capacity of the bone marrow .
this appears due to decreased interleukin-2 and increased tumor necrosis factor alpha in the internal mileu .
in addition , decreased t - cell response and increased t - cell activation have been noted .
one study had found that there is a profound defect in cxcr4 expression on cd4 cells and an abnormal intracellular accumulation of cxcr4 and its ligand cxcl12 .
loss of this cxcr4 was postulated to cause disturbance in the priming of t - cells in the secondary lymphoid organs and its improper antigen reception and subsequent activation .
barr virus , adenovirus , parvovirus b19 , and some other viral infections can cause lymphopenia in their acute stages , but it is highly unusual for them to cause an exclusive isolated cd4 cytopenia - like syndrome .
there are not any published guidelines for managing these cases , and most centers advocate using a cd4 cell count level of below 200/mm to start antimicrobial prophylaxis .
however , few case reports do suggest that icl may not be at an identical risk of infection as a patient with hiv at the same cd4 count , these data are too less to refute such claims and deny the patient of these measures . if the cd4 cytopenia is very low , i.e. below 100 and there is a presence of recalcitrant infections , then treatment with interleukin-2 is warranted ; however , this therapy has its own set of side effects and needs an informed written consent , depicting the investigational nature of the treatment protocol .
hematopoietic stem cell transplant also has shown promise in some reports to be an effective mode of treatment for this condition .
pjp is regarded as an aids - defining illness , but its presence in our patient without the serological evidence of hiv in any form leads us to investigate for this rare but important disorder .
icl is a rare disease which warrants a high index of suspicion to be diagnosed .
it can come with the same opportunistic infections as in a hiv patient , but the negative serology gives way the diagnosis . | pubmed |
Thanks Mike. So little show coverage on the forums this time. Usually a bunch of shutterbugs with comments in the past. Not so much this year. Nice to get a little feedback.
I noticed that to. I said to Joe. We definitely are the leaders! Great coverage by RITMO and others too!
Well done Mike. I felt like I was there with you guys.
Thanks for the report and all the pictures.
On looks, the D'Agostino Relentless, but I'm afraid on all three days I didn't hear great sound from this room. Music selection was likely the culprit.
As a bunch of others have chimed in on this and the pictures thread, thank you very much for your time and work to share your experiences with all of us who were not there. It is truly appreciated.
With respect to the Relentless....your experience is a shame IMHO as my wife and I have heard them at length a couple of times with music we are familiar with and felt (in our humble opinion) that they were absolutely magnificent. Actually, they are currently the best amplifiers that we have heard in our travels easily beating out mighty contenders. In fact, I have heard and read others stating that they are slightly better than Dan's M400s. IMHO they are seriously better than the M400s and a significant achievement in amplification that is in an entirely different class of products. To each his/her own though.
If McGrath from Wilson was driving and spinning his usual, well let me be nice, selections; then maybe it was the music. However, I would expect these amplifiers based on my experience with them to shine regardless of what music you throw at them.
What was it that you didn't like about the sound? I would really be interested in your details to see what I missed when listening to them.
Thanks again for your show report and the time you took to share.
I voted it in my Best New Amp category. I just didn't hear great music selections the three times I went in. Very soft, simple stuff. Would love to have hear some ripping Eagles or big jazz. I'll hear them in a different setting soon enough. I know how great Dan's amps are. I owned them!
Sorry, I misunderstood as I thought you only liked the cosmetics and were less enthusiastic about the sound. Given my misunderstanding, I was interested in in learning why.
Ive seen NUMEROUS reports on various Axpona threads about what a disappointment the Relentless room was so it aint just Mike's opinion. He's actually being very diplomatic about it...unlike some of the other "bashing" comments that are out there.
The M2's were one of the highlights of the show for me. Bass was taut and impactful. Great sense of space and the speakers totally disappeared. I thought they sounded better than the M3's (which were also excellent) in a similar sized room with a similar front end. I was in the room twice and both experiences left me impressed. I heard a couple of other Magico rooms at the show, and all were excellent, but this was the standout for a medium to small room size.
Given that I had recently gushed over the pairing, at one of Definitive Audio of Seattle's Music Matters events, of Wilson Audio's Alexx speakers ($109,000/pair), Sub Sonic Subwoofers (two, at $37,500/each), and Watch Controllers (two, at $4000/each); D'Agostino Relentless monoblocks ($250,000/pair) and Progression monoblocks ($38,000/pair), plus Momentum phono stage ($28,000); a dCS and Clearaudio front end; and lots and lots of Transparent Reference XL cabling plus an HRS VXR-19213V-80 rack with two M3x base audio stands ($57,960 total), I didn't know if I would hear much of a difference from the AXPONA system put together by Michigan retailer Paragon Sight and Sound. If anything, I expected the level of sonic excellence to drop somewhat, because we were moving from a purpose-built, carefully treated store showroom to a far more challenging convention hall space.
Oh, was I wrong. Although, on the dCS end, the system moved down a small notch by the replacement of the four-stack Vivaldi system with this room's not exactly shabby Vivaldi One ($92,000 with special nickel finish), there were two notable system additions: the brand new D'Agostino Momentum HD Pre Line Stage ($40,000), which I'm in line to review, and the Stromtank 2500 Independent Power Source ($19,500). Together with Clearaudio's Master Innovation Turntable with TT1-M1 tonearm ($54,000) and Goldfinger Statement cartridge ($16,000), this system made music like no other system I've ever heard.
When I entered, Musical Surroundings' Garth Leerer was playing "If I Should Lose You" from jazz ensemble Sphere's LP Flight Path. The bass was solid beyond belief, the control absolute, and the tactile sensation of sticks and brushes touching the skin of a drum positively uncanny. No booming, absolutely no booming, whether from deep drums or double bass. No sense of a separate subwoofer or, on a file of an organ track cued up by Peter McGrath, an iota of strain. None. And the spaciousness was extraordinary.
One more: McGrath's 24/88.2 live recording of a performance of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, on which the system's ability to separate the sounds of individual voices in a massed choir was beyond compare. I sat in total awe. If I hadn't been covering an audio show, I would have joined the group of people in the first row who had returned to this room for a second day, and were occupying all the best seats for as long as they could. Smart people, with the ability to recognize a system, conceived by brilliant designers, that can make reproduced music sound like the real thing.
Jonathan - congrats on an excellent choice. The T2 is a terrific streamer from Lumin - an excellent company who's passionate about great products and great service. | slim_pajama |
If a planet were cut in half but stayed hemispherical, how hot would the ocean on the flat side be? [closed]
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Some time ago I asked a question about gravity on a hemispherical planet.
[What would gravity be like on a hemispherical planet?](https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/29707/what-would-gravity-be-like-on-a-hemispherical-planet)
Would the water all boil away at first, quickly cooling the core of the planet? Would the ocean boil for centuries?
Well, this seems pretty easy to treat as a Fermi problem.
The heat capacity of magma (and rock in general, I suppose) is about $2\;\mathrm{kJ}/(\mathrm{kg}\cdot \mathrm{K})$.
The heat capacity of water is about $4\;\mathrm{kJ}/(\mathrm{kg}\cdot \mathrm{K})$, and it's latent heat of vaporization is about $2000\;\mathrm{kJ}/\mathrm{kg}$.
The total volume of the oceans is about $10^9\;\mathrm{km}^3$, so the total mass of water is about $10^{21}\;\mathrm{kg}$.
The total mass of magma/rock is, to a very good approximation, just the mass of the Earth, about $6\times10^{24}\;\mathrm{kg}$.
Assuming the oceans are at about $0^\circ\mathrm{C}$ (close enough), to boil them away would require:
$$\left(4\;\mathrm{kJ}/(\mathrm{kg}\cdot \mathrm{K}) \times 100\;\mathrm{K} + 2000\;\mathrm{kJ}/\mathrm{kg}\right)\times 10^{21}\;\mathrm{kg} = 2.4\times10^{24}\;\mathrm{kJ}$$
**This would reduce the temperature of the magma by about:**
$$\frac{2.4\times10^{24}\;\mathrm{kJ}}{2\;\mathrm{kJ}/(\mathrm{kg}\cdot \mathrm{K})\times 6\times10^{24}\;\mathrm{kg}} = \mathbf{0.2\;\mathrm{K}}$$
I'm assuming here that heat is rapidly conducted through the magma (relative to the rate of heat transfer to the ocean water). This seems more or less reasonable, and depends pretty sensitively on how water is flowing into the gap. The point is that there is **plenty** enough energy in the mantle to boil off the oceans.
How long it would take to boil away the oceans would depend how fast they're flowing into the gap between the hemispheres. It's also likely that the huge amounts of water vapour released into the atmosphere would wreak all kinds of havoc on the weather, and a lot of it would fall again as rain. The process of cooling the "flat" surfaces of your split planet would more or less reduce to the initial cooling of the surface of the Earth, and I guess proceed on similar timescales (though there is now significantly less heating in the mantle from the decay of radioactive isotopes, I think). What matters is how fast the vast amounts of energy stored thermally in the mantle can be transported away. You need the atmosphere to efficiently convect superheated air/steam out of the gap, and then efficiently dissipate the heat out into space (this probably works ok-ish, radiatively). It will still take a long time (geological timescales) to cool the flat sides of your hemispheres. A lot of estimation starts to break down now, because you need to know about things like pressure in the hemispheres, and because the hemispheres are not a stable structure, trying to treat them with physics breaks down at some point.
It's impossible to discuss what would happen to the oceans because the planet itself wouldn't be able to exist in this scenario. Planets are round for a reason: any other shape is unstable for objects of their size and mass due to their self-gravity. Unless was it was a very small borderline planet you're cutting in half, it would break up pretty cataclysmically. Given enough time and no major interference from other nearby bodies, the planet would eventually reform into a new spherical planet with half the original volume.
| stackexchange/physics |
Fullmetal Alchemist, Harry Potter Professionals
_This is what happens when just one tiny little quote formulates itself in my mind. It turns into a whole one-shot.
I don't own any of the characters you recognize in this story. And since there are no OCs, I suppose that means I don't own any of it. _
_There's a bad word in this -gasp!- And I mean other than "bastard" which I used quite often because I mean come on! It's Edward, of course he's gunna curse. Anyways, I doubt it offends anyone, just letting you know since I rated this as T and I'm paranoid. _
_**8/6/11 Edit: …FF deleted my LINE BREAK. And I also fixed some consistency errors. Boo.**_
* * *
Ed stood in front of the chattering class, covering a yawn with his left hand as he waited out the last minute before class was actually supposed to start. He spared a glance at Roy, who sat behind the desk, legs propped up on it and snoozing quietly.
He turned his attention back to the class, and he cleared his throat, ready to begin. When no one seemed to hear him, he did so again, this time much louder. Once again, he was ignored.
"Everyone shut up and eyes to the front!" he finally yelled, losing his very limited patience. The class immediately did just that, and no one even dared to cough. Ed looked back behind him where he found that the man had somehow managed to remain asleep. His eye twitched in irritation at his companion, which prompted him to kick the desk rather roughly with his left leg – the automail one.
'How the.. he's _still _asleep?' Ed thought incredulously. _Honestly!_
The classroom remained quiet as they watched their younger teacher walk – or rather, stomp – around the desk angrily. He leveled his face with his commanding officer's ear and took a deep breath before yelling out: "WAKE UP YOU USELESS BASTARD!" The man did indeed wake up, and ended up nearly falling right out of his chair. Luckily for him, he managed to keep his balance. He sent a glare at the small blonde boy before he realized that they had an audience. Edward then took his place back at the front of the classroom.
"My name is Major Edward Elric," he announced in his authoritative voice, "And this here is my useless assistant, Colonel Roy Mustang. We will be your –," he ignored the glare he was receiving from Mustang, but the question of one bushy haired boy cut him off mid-sentence.
"Isn't the rank of Colonel above that of a Major?" she asked. Ed shot her a look, and she slunk down slightly in her seat, not looking quite as eager to be heard as she had been when she asked it.
"Technically, yes. In terms of usefulness? Not really," he said.
"At least I'm not a shrimp," Mustang muttered under his breath.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL HE COULD RIDE A FRUIT FLY!"
"I didn't say anything like that… shrimp." The class watched in awe as the verbal argument before them unfolded. Many of them were frightened, others wondered if it would escalate into a full on physical brawl as the blonde alchemist's face seemed to be turning an unnatural shade of red. But – fortunately or unfortunately, no one was really sure – for them, that familiar voice butted its way into the conversation.
"Uhm, Professor Elric, sir? Is it alright that you call your superior officer a useless bastard?" the bushy haired girl questioned, just loudly enough for the two bickering alchemists to hear her. Mustang's trademark "bastard smirk" as Ed would call it, was already spreading across his face and Ed's eyebrow quirked dangerously in irritation once more as he stared the young witch down. The look, she felt, was heated enough to make her feel like she could melt just by meeting those two golden orbs with her own. She instead found herself looking away uncomfortably.
The silence lasted a few moments before Edward finally lost his cool…again.
"WHAT superior officer? I certainly don't see one in here! Surely you don't think this man is capable of commanding _anyone_. He's too useless! He doesn't even sign his own paperwork! He's the wo-," there was a resounding _snap_, "shit." Edward instinctively vacated the spot where he once stood, and in his place an explosion of fire appeared. The room was suddenly a lot warmer.
"What are you trying to do? Kill me?" he yelled from his position on the floor.
"Not exactly, Fullmetal. I would have been content with just a little singed," Mustang said smugly above him.
**~*~B.R.E.A.K~*~**
Mrs. Norris sat herself down in a hallway to clean her fur. It was such a nice day out today; the first day back for the young magic humans. Her master was very busy making sure all the rules were enforced on the first day, but Mrs. Norris couldn't really do anything at that moment, as students were in class.
She licked her paw, innocently watching her surroundings from the corner of her eye, always the ultimate predator and therefore always on the lookout. The school's chimey thing rang out loudly, which meant that classes were letting out. She expected a rush of students in the hallways, what she didn't expect is what actually happened.
The door to the Alchemy room burst open, and students rushed out faster than they usually would. They pushed and shoved their way through the door that was obviously too small to fit them all at once. The brown cat held back the urge to roll her ruby colored feline orbs. Humans really were very silly.
As the students finally managed to all get themselves free, there was a loud _bang_ followed by an explosion. Flames burst through the still open door, and not wanting to stick around to find out what was really going on, Mrs. Norris high-tailed it out of that place. She noticed as she went that some of the students looked as if they were sizzling a bit; some quite a bit blacker and sootier than usual.
"Remind me why we took that class again?" one red-haired boy commented. Mrs. Norris found herself in agreement. Why would anyone in their right mind sit in a class that exploded?
* * *
_I've always wanted to write my own hpfma. This is only a one-shot though, so I suppose it can hardly be recognized as accomplishing that. Haha, oh well. _
_Feedback is much appreciated. _
**Edit #2: I've also come to realize that this is not a quality piece of work…I almost wish I could re-write it. Thanks for reading anyways, though!**
End file.
| fanfiction |
understanding the macroscopic state of a system of interacting bosons at zero temperature is of interest to the solution of a number of problems in condensed matter physics@xcite .
the theory of superconductivity is built on cooper pairs which can be treated as bosons .
mapping of flux - lines in type - ii superconductors to a two - dimensional ( 2d ) bosonic system has led to a deeper understanding of the i - v characteristics of cuprate superconductors@xcite .
more recently , the realization of bose - einstein condensation ( bec ) in dilute atomic alkali gases has provided an experimental means to systematically explore various types of macroscopic quantum states and transitions between them , enriching our knowledge about equilibrium and dynamic properties of strongly correlated quantum systems@xcite .
previously , it has been established that repulsive bosons in restricted geometries ( such as those confined by an optical lattice ) may undergo a zero - temperature quantum phase transition from a superfluid state to a mott insulator state as the strength of the interaction is increased@xcite .
the superfluid state is characterized by its well - known off - diagonal long - range order and a finite phase rigidity , whereas the mott insulator state is characterized by zero compressibility and gapped particle excitations .
transition between the two gives over to intervening states ( e.g. , bose glass or mott glass ) when disorder , either in the form of random on - site potential or random hopping coefficients are introduced@xcite .
in this paper we focus on a different type of disorder , i.e. , random phase frustration on the ground state properties of a 2d interacting bosonic system
. such a situation has been realized experimentally in positionally disordered josephson junction arrays , where the frustration can be tuned by varying the strength of a transverse magnetic field@xcite . at sufficiently strong disorder
, it has been suggested that the superfluid state changes into a new state of matter , the `` phase glass '' phase@xcite .
although the existence of such a state is not much disputed , its precise physical properties have not been well established@xcite . the classical limit of the above problem can be described by a 2d xy model with random phase shifts@xcite .
the phase diagram of the classical model has been worked out by nattermann _ et al._@xcite using renormalization group methods
. when the frustration is weak , only a small number of localized and tightly bound vortex - antivortex pairs are present in the classical ground state , so that long - ranged phase order is preserved at sufficiently low temperatures .
however , as the frustration exceeds a certain critical value , the ground state becomes unstable against free vortex excitations due to a large distance instability@xcite .
consequently , vortices and antivortices proliferate and destroy the ordered state at all temperatures .
the gauge glass model represents an extreme case where the random frustration attains its maximum strength@xcite . despite extensive studies by a number of groups@xcite , the low temperature properties of the 2d model are still controversial . at the heart of the discussion
is whether a certain form of glass rigidity survives despite the presence of a finite density of free vortices in the system .
numerical simulations of the gauge glass model have yielded contradictory conclusions with regard to a finite temperature glass transition . in ref .
@xcite , we have carried out an explicit analysis of vortex configurations in the ground and low - lying excited states of a corresponding coulomb gas model , where the random frustration is represented by a set of randomly oriented dipoles which interact with the vortices@xcite .
the main conclusion of the analysis is that , unlike the case of an ising spin glass , the ground state of the 2d coulomb gas in the random dipolar field is quite unique .
the low - lying excited vortex states can be described in terms of a dilute gas of localized vortex - antivortex pairs super - imposed on a complex and critical but otherwise innocent ground state vortex configuration . due to the disorder , the density of states of these pairs is finite at zero excitation energy . consequently , these pairs are able to participate in dielectric screening under thermal equilibrium conditions .
renormalization group arguments show that the ground state of the gauge glass is a critical state with a phase rigidity that decays algebraically with distance .
thermal excitations of low energy vortex - antivortex pairs at temperature @xmath3 lead to a finite correlation length @xmath4 which diverges as @xmath3 tends to zero .
these predictions are confirmed by direct monte carlo simulations of the gauge glass model .
since the power - law decay of phase rigidity with distance @xmath5 requires dielectric screening by excited vortex - antivortex pairs of size comparable to @xmath5 and the corresponding vortex movement at smaller scales , it is legitimate to ask if such a complex relaxation process can be realized in dynamic simulations and experiments .
the slow dynamics for the creation and annhilation of distant vortex - antivortex pairs may indeed give rise to an apparent phase rigidity bigger than its equilibrium value .
it is plausible that this type of glassy behavior is responsible for the previously reported finite temperature transition@xcite , though one needs to work out the relevant energy and time scales for a detailed verification of this scenario .
quantum fluctuations of the phase lower the core energy of vortices and antivortices and facilitate their delocalization through quantum tunneling . sufficiently strong fluctuations of this type destroy long - ranged phase ordering as in the pure case , giving rise to the mott insulator state . in the following
we present detailed numerical results to show that , when the fluctuations are weak , the ground state of the system retains phase rigidity both in space and in time as in the classical case .
this phase glass phase is characterized by a finite edwards - anderson order parameter , a finite compressibility , but a vanishing superfluid density or helicity modulus .
we also carry out a scaling analysis of the transition to the mott insulator state .
our results for various critical exponents are significantly different from those of the pure case , suggesting that the phase glass to the mott insulator transition belongs to a different universality class than the three - dimensional ( 3d ) xy model@xcite .
the paper is organized as follows . in sec .
2 , we introduce the model hamiltonian and the mapping to the ( 2 + 1)-dimensional classical model . the procedure for performing monte carlo simulations under an entropic sampling scheme
is outlined .
various quantities characterizing ordering in the phase glass phase are introduced .
we also review briefly a general scaling theory developed by fisher _ et al._@xcite for the analysis of the critical behavior at the quantum phase transition of a bosonic system .
section 3 contains results from extensive monte carlo simulations of the ( 2 + 1)-dimensional model .
the critical exponents are extracted based on a finite - size scaling analysis .
significance of these findings are discussed briefly in sec .
the mapping between the 2d quantum model and the ( 2 + 1)-dimensional classical model is presented in the appendix for easy reference .
we consider a 2d josephson junction array of superconducting grains in a transverse magnetic field . in a coarse - grained description ,
the hamiltonian can be written as , @xmath6 here @xmath7 and @xmath8 are the number operator of ( excess ) cooper pairs and the phase of the superconducting order parameter on grain @xmath9 , respectively .
they satisfy the commutation relation @xmath10=i\delta_{j , k}$ ] . in the @xmath11-representation , we may write @xmath12 . the first term on the right - hand - side of ( [ hamiltonian ] ) , which sums over all @xmath13 sites of a square lattice , represents on - site coulomb repulsion between the cooper pairs whose strength is specified by the charging energy @xmath14 , with @xmath15 being the capacitance of a single grain .
the second term represents josephson coupling between neighboring islands with strength @xmath16 , and the sum is over all nearest neighbor bonds of the lattice .
the phase shifts @xmath17 in eq .
( [ hamiltonian ] ) are related to the vector potential @xmath18 of an external magnetic field through , @xmath19 here @xmath20 is the elementary flux quantum . in the present paper
we shall focus on the maximally frustrated case where the random phase shifts @xmath17 s are uniformly distributed on the interval @xmath21 and uncorrelated from bond to bond .
the case @xmath22 corresponds to the well - known quantum rotor model@xcite .
the hamiltonian ( [ hamiltonian ] ) is invariant under a global rotation , @xmath23 , all @xmath9 .
this symmetry is important in the discussion of the low energy excitations of the system .
it is well - known that , as far as the thermal equilibrium properties are concerned , the quantum rotor model can be mapped to a ( 2 + 1)-dimensional classical system using the trotter formula@xcite
. this mapping forms the basis of our quantum monte carlo calculation .
let us start with the partition function @xmath24 where @xmath25 is the inverse temperature .
following the procedure described in appendix a , we arrive at a classical model defined by the action ( [ path_h ] ) .
the model can be brought into a dimensionless form through the introduction of @xmath26 as the coordinate in the third direction , where @xmath27 .
after the transformation , we obtain @xmath28 \exp\bigl[-{1\over k}\int_0^{l_z } dz h_p \bigr ] , \label{partition2}\ ] ] where @xmath29 , @xmath30 , and @xmath31 in our monte carlo simulations of the quantum rotor model , we choose a discretization along the @xmath32-axis with @xmath33 and approximate @xmath34 by @xmath35 .
this procedure appears to be rather adequate for the exploration of the phase glass phase and the transition to the mott insulator state . with this choice of @xmath36 , the critical point @xmath37 of the discrete model
is expected to be somewhat different from that of the original model , though we believe the large - distance properties are not affected .
the boundary conditions in the @xmath38-plane are chosen to be periodic , while eq .
( [ bc ] ) is used along the @xmath32-direction . with these specifications ,
we obtain a classical ( 2 + 1)-dimensional lattice model where @xmath39 plays the role of a `` quantum temperature '' . as such
, the model can be simulated using the entropic sampling scheme@xcite .
since the algorithm allows the system to explore configurations over a broad range of values of the classical action ( [ path_h1 ] ) in a single simulation , it has a better chance to generate statistically independent samples for the calculation of thermal averages , which may become a problem for conventional monte carlo methods in the glass phase .
in addition , once equilibrated , values of any measurable quantity over a broad range of @xmath39 values can be readily calculated .
this is particularly useful for analyzing the zero - temperature quantum phase transition .
more details about our implementation of the scheme can be found in ref .
@xcite .
helicity modulus can be related to the superfluid density and hence provides a direct measure of the superconducting order .
it is defined by considering the change of the free energy under a phase twist across the system .
quite generally , such a twist modifies the action to @xmath40 .
the change in the free energy , to the second order in @xmath41 , is given by , @xmath42 .
\label{deltaf}\end{aligned}\ ] ] here @xmath43 denotes thermal average . for a twist @xmath44 per bond in the @xmath45-direction , we have @xmath46 writing @xmath47 , we obtain the following expression for the helicity modulus , @xmath48 .
\label{helicity0}\end{aligned}\ ] ] here @xmath49 is the average current along the @xmath45-direction in layer @xmath32 , and the overline bar denotes spatial average .
the compressibility @xmath50 is related to the change in free energy for a phase twist @xmath51 in the @xmath32-direction@xcite .
the corresponding change in @xmath52 is given by , @xmath53 inserting eq .
( [ deltahp ] ) into eq .
( [ deltaf ] ) , and noting that @xmath54 , where @xmath55 is the number of turns the angle on site @xmath9 makes along the @xmath32-direction , we obtain @xmath56 where @xmath57 here @xmath58 due to symmetry .
the edwards - anderson order parameter for the quantum rotor model can be defined via @xmath59}\rangle } , \label{q_ea}\ ] ] where @xmath60 .
consider now the auto - correlation function in imaginery time , @xmath61\nonumber\\ & = & \overline{\langle e^{i[\theta_j(z)-\theta_j(0)]}\rangle } , \label{c - auto}\end{aligned}\ ] ] where @xmath26 , and the last average is carried out in the ( 2 + 1)-dimensional classical ensemble . at @xmath62 ,
the long - time limit @xmath63 can be replaced by the limit @xmath64 .
hence we may write , @xmath65 the mott insulator state corresponds to the `` high temperature '' phase of the ( 2 + 1)-dimensional classical model where quantum phase fluctuations lead to a vanishing superfluid density , vanishing compressibility , and an exponentially decaying phase - correlation function in imaginary time . due to the anisotropic form of ( [ path_h1 ] ) , two different lengths @xmath66 and @xmath67 are needed to describe the spatial and temporal correlations in the system . as @xmath39 approaches its critical value @xmath37 at the transition from the mott insulator to the phase glass , both quantities
are expected to diverge as @xmath68 where @xmath69 and @xmath70 are the respective exponents .
since @xmath71 corresponds to a characteristic energy or frequency scale in the quantum rotor model , the ratio @xmath72 defines the dynamical exponent at the transition . in the phase glass phase , both @xmath66 and @xmath67
are expected to be infinite .
the exponent @xmath73 of the phase glass phase , which may be different from its value at the transition , can be determined from suitable finite - size scaling properties .
earlier , fisher _ et al_.@xcite proposed a general scaling theory for the quantum phase transition in bosonic systems .
in particular , based on the assumption that the singular part of the free energy ( or ground state energy in the quantum model ) in a correlated volume @xmath74 is of order @xmath37 , they determined the scaling dimensions of the superfluid density and compressibility in the transition region , @xmath75 where @xmath76 is the spatial dimension , and @xmath77 are the scaling exponents . the auto - correlation function ( [ c - auto ] ) , on the other hand , is expected to decay as a power law at @xmath78 , @xmath79 where @xmath80 is a new exponent . scaling arguments
then yield , @xmath81 for the ( 2 + 1)-dimensional classical model , the `` specific heat '' @xmath82 with @xmath83 is expected to exhibit singular behavior at @xmath37 .
from the above assumption for the singular part of the free energy @xmath84 , one obtains the specific heat exponent , @xmath85 in the pure case @xmath22 and @xmath86 , the quantum rotor model is mapped to the 3d classical xy model .
consequently @xmath87 , and @xmath88 , i.e. , @xmath89 and @xmath50 scale the same way as @xmath71 which provides the only energy scale of the problem .
numerical calculations have yielded @xmath90@xcite . from the scaling relation @xmath91 we obtain @xmath92 .
the exponent @xmath93 is also very small .
one of our numerical tasks below is to check whether the same set of exponent values apply to the phase glass to the mott insulator transition .
we have carried out extensive monte carlo simulations of the ( 2 + 1)-dimensional classical model ( [ path_h1 ] ) under the entropic sampling scheme .
the system is chosen to be a cubic lattice of @xmath94 layers each containing @xmath95 sites in the @xmath38-plane .
test runs were performed on the unfrustrated quantum rotor model ( referrd to below as the pure model ) which generated results in good agreement with previous studies on the superfluid to the mott insulator transition at @xmath96 .
unless explicitly stated , the data presented below for the disordered case are obtained from averages over 30 to 100 samples at any given size .
this seems to be sufficient for illustrating the behavior of the phase glass phase and for determining the critical exponents of the transition within the limit set by the system size we are able to investigate .
figure 1(a ) shows the `` specific heat '' data for the pure model against @xmath39 for six different system sizes .
the cusp singularity at @xmath97 with a very small exponent @xmath98 is evident . in comparison , as seen in fig .
1(b ) , the singularity is much weaker in the randomly frustrated model .
the dashed line in the figure with @xmath99 indicates a possible behavior in the infinite size limit that is consistent with our data , though in general the critical amplitudes on the two sides of the transition need not be the same . for ( a ) the pure model and ( b ) the randomly frustrated model at six different system sizes as indicated in the figure .
the dashed line in ( b ) represents a possible behavior at infinite system size . here
@xmath100.,width=529 ] figure 2 shows the helicity modulus @xmath89 and the compressibility @xmath50 of a @xmath101 system against @xmath39 for four different disorder realizations .
both quantities become vanishingly small when @xmath102 . at smaller values of @xmath39 , @xmath89 is strongly sample - dependent and takes on both positive and negative values . for a given sample
, @xmath89 may also be a non - monotonic function of @xmath39 .
the disorder - averaged value of @xmath89 , on the other hand , remains close to zero .
a nonzero @xmath89 for individual samples signifies `` freezing '' of vortex loops that enables long - ranged phase rigidity to develop . to understand the origin of negative values for @xmath89
, one may consider a more general twist boundary condition in each layer , @xmath103 and @xmath104 ( see , e.g. , ref.@xcite ) . due to the random phase shifts ,
the minimum of the free energy is in general achieved at some nonzero values of @xmath44 and @xmath105 .
depending on the particular choice of the random phase shifts , the curvature @xmath89 of the free energy at @xmath106 may take on positive or negative values .
a sign change can occur when one or more vortices are relocated on the scale of the system size .
such a move does not alter the local phase gradients in a significant way and hence costs only a small amount of energy .
as @xmath39 is varied , one may envisage a change in the relative statistical significance of configurations that differ in this way , leading to the observed non - monotonic behavior .
in contrast , the compressibilities of the four samples differ only slightly from one another , with no significant broadening near @xmath37 .
other quantities , such as the specific heat and correlation functions , show the same behavior . therefore the system is expected to be self - averaging in the large - size limit . for four disorder realizations at @xmath107 .
the dashed line in each case indicates average over the four samples.,width=529 ] the critical exponents for the transition can be determined by applying suitable finite - size scaling forms .
below we shall perform the analysis using @xmath94 as the scaling variable .
the general finite - size scaling ansatz of a quantity @xmath108 then reads , @xmath109 where @xmath45 is the critical exponent for the quantity @xmath108 .
equation ( [ finite - size - scaling ] ) is quite difficult to use in general due to the simultaneous presence of two scaled variables .
however , as we shall see below , the exponent @xmath110 is quite close to ( but larger than ) one so that , for the range of system sizes considered , the second argument is approximately constant and does not affect significantly the value of the function .
the validity of this assumption is justified _ a posteriori _ by the consistency of the exponent values obtained .
figure 3(a ) shows the disorder averaged compressibility @xmath50 against @xmath39 for six different system sizes , ranging from @xmath111 to @xmath107 . at @xmath78 ( as indicated by the dashed line in the figure ) , the decay of @xmath50 against @xmath94 can be fitted to a power law with an exponent @xmath112 . from the scaling relation ( [ zetas ] ) we obtain @xmath113 combining this result with our previous estimate @xmath114 yields @xmath115 the scaling plot shown in fig .
3(b ) is generated using these exponent values .
a reasonable data collapse is seen .
note that there is a slight increase in the slope of the curves with increasing @xmath116 or @xmath94 , which is consistent with the expected trend associated with a gradual increase of the scaled variable @xmath117 for this set of data .
( b ) a scaling plot using the exponents discussed in the text .
, width=529 ] we now examine the behavior of the edwards - anderson order parameter @xmath118 . as shown in fig .
4(a ) , the effect of finite size is more pronounced here as compared to @xmath50 in fig .
also , the dependence of @xmath119 on @xmath94 at a finite @xmath116 is complicated by the fact that , in a finite system , the spectrum of @xmath120 is always discrete so that , strictly speaking , @xmath119 as defined by ( [ q_ea1 ] ) vanishes in the limit @xmath121
. nevertheless , for the choice @xmath122 , we observe that data at a given @xmath123 can be well fitted by a quadratic function in @xmath124 , as shown in fig .
using such an extrapolation procedure , we obtain a value for @xmath119 at each @xmath39 in the infinite size limit as indicated by the dashed line in fig .
. the approach of @xmath119 to zero as @xmath39 tends to @xmath37 can be described by a power - law with an exponent 0.8 .
comparing with eq .
( [ q - ea - scaling ] ) and the values mentioned above for @xmath69 and @xmath70 , this result is consistent with a small value for the exponent @xmath80 . and 16 .
dashed line indicates extrapolated value using a quadratic fit .
( b ) the dependence of @xmath119 on @xmath94 for selected values of @xmath39 .
, width=529 ]
the main findings of our numerical investigation of the quantum rotor model at maximal random frustration are summarized as follows .
when the charging energy @xmath125 ( or boson repulsion ) is small compared to the josephson energy @xmath16 ( or boson hopping energy ) , the system behaves quite similarly to the classical gauge glass model at zero temperature .
the compressibility @xmath50 is positive and increases with decreasing @xmath30 .
the edwards - anderson order parameter @xmath119 also assumes a finite value , signifying long - ranged phase ordering in time .
the @xmath126 ( or @xmath124 ) correction to @xmath119 in imaginary time [ see fig .
4(b ) ] is the same as in the isotropic 3d xy model , suggesting a dynamic exponent @xmath127 and linear dispersion for the gapless phase modes .
these properties do not seem to be affected by the power - law decaying spin - glass stiffness in the spatial direction obtained previously@xcite .
our results suggest that quantum tunneling between the classically distinct low energy vortex states as discussed in ref.@xcite is suppressed at large distances in the phase glass .
the existence of spatial ( glassy ) phase order is also supported by a nonvanishing helicity modulus @xmath89 below @xmath37 in individual samples , though due to the random phase shifts , @xmath89 does not have a definitive sign .
these observations suggest that diffusive transport of vortices under an applied current is unlikely in the present model except perhaps at @xmath78 , casting doubt on the link between the phase glass and bose metal when the only quenched disorder in the system is in the form of random phase frustrations@xcite .
we have also attempted to determine the critical exponents characterizing the phase glass to the mott insulator transition . due to
the relatively small system sizes available , the estimated values of the exponents should be considered as only tentative . with this caveat in mind ,
our data are broadly consistent with a dynamic exponent @xmath128 greater than one , and correlation length exponents @xmath1 and @xmath2 , both greater than their value 0.6723 in the pure case
. it would be interesting to confirm ( or disprove ) these results with more efficient numerical algorithms applied to the model .
this article is dedicated to professor thomas nattermann on the occasion of his 60th birthday .
one of us ( lht ) was affiliated with thomas group for six years in the early 90 s . thomas
deep insight on ordering and phase transitions in disordered systems , and his prowess in applying scaling arguments , with their many facets and subtleties , to tackle some of the most challenging problems in statistical physics , have been a constant source of inspiration for people around him .
it has been a privilege to have worked closely with thomas and to share his vision about theoretical research .
the work is supported in part by the research grants council of the hong kong sar under grants hkbu 2017/03p and hku3/05p , and by the hkbu under grant frg/01 - 02/ii-65 .
qhc acknowledges support by the national basic research program of china ( grant no .
2006cb601003 ) .
computations were carried out at hkbu s high performance cluster computing centre supported by dell and intel .
following the standard procedure , we define @xmath129 and write @xmath130 when the integer @xmath131 is large , we may write @xmath132 where @xmath133 are the coulomb and josephson energies , respectively , which do not commute . let @xmath134 be a state where each rotor @xmath135 has a definitive phase @xmath136 , and @xmath137 be a state where each rotor @xmath135 has a definitive angular momentum @xmath138 the matrix elements of @xmath139 can be written as , @xmath140 \nonumber\\ & & \times\sum_{\{m\}}\exp\bigl[-{\beta e_q\over 2n } \sum_j m_j^2+i\sum_jm_j\delta\theta_j\bigr ] , \label{m - step1}\end{aligned}\ ] ] where @xmath141 and we have used @xmath142 . with the help of the poisson summation formula , @xmath143 the sum over the angular momentum eigenstates @xmath144 can be carried out , @xmath145\nonumber\\ = & & \sum_{\{s\}}\int[du ] \exp\bigl[-{\beta e_q\over 2n}\sum_j u_j^2 + i\sum_j u_j(\delta\theta_j+2\pi s_j ) \bigr]\nonumber\\ = & & a\sum_{\{s\ } } \exp\bigl[-{n\over 2\beta e_q}\sum_j ( \delta\theta_j+2\pi s_j)^2\bigr ] , \label{m - step2}\end{aligned}\ ] ] where @xmath146 is a numerical constant . with these preparations we may carry out the matrix multiplication and trace in eq . ( [ z - product ] ) to obtain , @xmath147 \prod_{k=0}^{n-1 } m\bigl(\{\theta(\tau_{k+1})\},\{\theta(\tau_k)\ }
\bigr),\nonumber\\ & = & \int[{\cal d}\theta ] \exp\bigl[-{1\over\hbar}\int_0^{\beta\hbar}d\tau h_{c}\bigr ] , \label{partition}\end{aligned}\ ] ] where @xmath148 is the imaginery time coordinate and @xmath149 is the classical action .
the integration over the @xmath150 s are on the infinite domain @xmath151 for all @xmath152 except at @xmath153 , where the domain @xmath21 is taken instead .
this procedure takes care of the sum over the @xmath154 s as in eq .
( [ m - step2 ] ) .
note that @xmath155
10 s. l. sondhi , s. m. girvin , j. p. carini , and d. shahar , rev .
phys . * 69 * , 315 ( 1997 ) . | arxiv |
The Province Galley 16961717 was a small armed ketch that was a provincial navy vessel constructed by Anglo-American officials in Massachusetts. This was an early example of a proto-American navy. It had ten guns. For most of the twenty years, the vessel was commanded by Cyprian Southack. Launched 1 June 1694, the vessel was deployed throughout King William's War and Queen Anne's War. In 1696, the Province Galley was under the command of Col. John Hathorne who participated in the Siege of Fort Nashwaak 1696. The first vessel was replaced by a vessel of the same name and launched on April 2, 1705, which was larger at 24 guns with 74 foot keel. Captain William Pickering 1670 c. 1723 commanded the Province Galley from 17091711. In the British National Archives at Kew, there is a pay-book for the Province Galley, which is interesting considering it was a provincial navy, rather than a Royal Navy, vessel.
References
Harriet Silverster Tapley. The Province Galley of Massachusetts By, 1694-1716. Salem Massachusetts, 1922.
Category:History of Maine
Category:1690s ships | wikipedia |
sodium bromate and potassium bromate are strong oxidants that are widely used in hair permanent wave neutralizers , reagents of printing or dyeing and other chemical processes .
hair wave permanent neutralizing solutions typically contain 2 - 10% sodium or potassium bromate , which are colorless , odorless and tasteless .
clinical manifestations of bromate intoxication include vomiting , diarrhea , central nervous system symptoms , oliguric or non - oliguric acute renal failure , hemolytic anemia , and deafness .
hearing impairment is rather common and is usually rapidly progressive , bilateral , and of severe to profound sensorineural type of hearing loss ( snhl ) .
although many investigators have studied the characteristics of hearing impairment , cochlear implantation ( ci ) after bromate intoxication has been rarely documented .
we hereby present a case of successful ci in bromate - induced bilateral sudden total deafness .
she had accidentally ingested a cold wave neutralizer . within one hour after the ingestion , she developed nausea , vomiting , and diffuse abdominal pain .
her past history included hypertension , left hemiparesis due to previous brain hemorrhage and infarction and depressive disorder . upon arrival in the emergency room of a local hospital , she received intravenous hydration and furosemide injection .
one day later , she was referred to our hospital with decreased urinary output and reduced mental state .
four days after admission , her kidney function was normalized and mentality was recovered to an alert state .
1b ) and v - wave was not detectable at 90 db in the auditory brainstem response .
she was diagnosed as having bromate - induced sudden deafness and steroid was administered systematically for a week with tapering for another week .
nucleus 24re was implanted without any intra - operative problems and the neural response telemetry showed satisfactory values .
six months after the implant , ci - aided pta showed a threshold of 30 db ( fig .
, she comprehended 70% of the sentences , 85% of the words and 68% in the korean version of the central institute for the deaf test .
hearing problems may be diagnosed with a delay after bromate intoxication due to other life - threatening symptoms such as acute renal failure which generally occurs within 1 hour after the ingestion . however , the onset of bromate - induced hearing loss is actually rapid , occurring within 4 - 16 hours of ingestion . like many other ototoxins ,
the degree of hearing impairment is severe to profound , and is irreversible in most cases .
since they are usually transient , loop diuretics including furosemide are ototoxic in themselves . in the present case , the patient received furosemide during the primary treatment , which may have aggravated the ototoxic effects of bromate .
previous studies using guinea pigs and sodium bromate demonstrated severe collapse of the reissner 's membrane , hair cell degeneration and damage of the stria vascularis .
the ototoxicity may be ascribed to a decrease in enzyme activities which leads to damage of the stria vascularis with degenerative changes in outer hair cells
on the other hand , dizziness associated with bromated - induced vestibulotoxicity is not common .
the dizziness could be secondary to other systemic toxicities such as lightheadedness or general malaise .
to our knowledge , there has only been one report in the english literature of ci performed in patients deafened due to bromated - ingestion . in this case , the diagnosis of hearing loss was delayed for at least 6 months after bromate ingestion . in our case ,
deafness was diagnosed right after the recovery of consciousness and the intervention with ci was done 3 months after the diagnosis . in both cases , the outcome of ci was good .
other potential drugs with ototoxicity should be avoided and early monitoring of hearing level is needed . | pubmed |
in 1992 nagel and schreckenberg @xcite introduced a simple cellular automata model , which simulates single - lane one - way traffic , in order to study the transition from free flow traffic to jammed traffic with increasing car density .
the behavior of the model is determined by three parameters , the maximal velocity @xmath2 , the noise parameter @xmath3 and the global density of cars @xmath4 , where @xmath5 denotes the total number of the cars and @xmath6 the system size , respectively .
the variables describing a car @xmath7 at time @xmath8 are its position @xmath9 , its velocity @xmath10 and the gap @xmath11 , which is the number of unoccupied cells in front of the car .
using periodic boundary conditions , the following update steps are applied in parallel for each car : @xmath12 increasing the global density for fixed @xmath3 and @xmath2 jams occur above a certain critical value @xmath13 @xcite .
contrary to the forward movement of all particles the jammed region is characterized by a backward moving of shock waves , i.e. jams are nothing else than backward moving density fluctuations .
this property of jams was found in real traffic flow already in the 50 s @xcite .
investigations of the nagel - schreckenberg traffic flow model show that crossing the critical point a transition takes place from a homogeneous regime ( free flow phase ) to an inhomogeneous regime which is characterized by a coexistence of two phases ( free flow and jammed traffic ) .
thereby , the free flow is characterized by a low local density and the jammed phase by a high local density , respectively . due to the particle conservation of the model the transition
is realized by the system separating into a low density region and a high density region @xcite .
therefore , the dynamical structure factor is an appropriate tool to investigate the decomposition of the two phases above the transition point .
additionally the dynamical structure factor has the decisive advantage that both phases could be distinguished in a natural way by the sign of their characteristic velocities .
thus no artificial definitions of jams are needed which were used in previous investigations and lead to controversial results ( see for instance @xcite ) .
= 6.0 cm = 6.0 cm the dynamical structure factor is defined as follows : let @xmath14 the evolution of @xmath15 leads directly to the space - time diagram where the propagation of the particles can be visualized .
figure [ fig : space_time ] shows a space - time diagram of the system above the critical value .
traffic jams are characterized by the backward movement of the high density regions .
the dynamical structure factor @xmath16 is given by @xmath17 where the fourier transform is taken over a finite rectangle of the space - time diagram of size @xmath18 ( see fig .
[ fig : space_time ] ) . in fig .
[ fig : dyn_struc_factor ] we plot the dynamical structure factor below and above the transition , respectively .
below the transition @xmath16 exhibits one mode formed by the ridges .
the values of the modes are obtained from a determination of the position of the maxima of @xmath0 for fixed @xmath19 or @xmath1 , respectively .
this mode is characterized by a positive slope @xmath20 corresponding to the positive velocity of the particles in the free flow phase . increasing the global density of the cars , a second mode appears at the transition to the coexistence regime .
this second mode exhibits a negative slope indicating that it corresponds to the backward moving density fluctuations in the jammed phase .
= 10.0 cm = 6.0 cm = 10.0 cm = 6.0 cm in fig .
[ fig : dyn_struc_factor_max ] we plot the position of the ridges of @xmath16 in the jammed regime .
both modes are characterized by a linear dispersion relation ( @xmath21 ) , i.e. each phase is characterized by one velocity only . since the modes of both phases can clearly be distinguished ( note the logarithmic scale in fig . [ fig : dyn_struc_factor ] ) and no other mode occur we think that this indicates that above the transition a real phase separation of the system takes place .
this is in contrast to results of previous investigations which examine the steady state correlation function and concluded that there is no real phase separation of the system @xcite .
= 5.5 cm = 5.5 cm a linear regression of the modes of fig .
[ fig : dyn_struc_factor_max ] yields the velocities of both phases . in fig .
[ fig : velocities ] we plot the velocities of the free flow and jammed phase for different values of @xmath3 , @xmath2 , and @xmath22 .
independent of the value of the global density , the free flow phase is characterized by the velocity @xmath23 , i.e. @xmath24 equals the average velocity of the particles in the limit @xmath25 and the cars can be considered as independent particles .
this agrees with investigations of the local density distribution and the steady state structure factor ( @xmath26 ) @xcite .
the plotted values of the jam velocity @xmath27 are obtained from simulations with @xmath28 and various values of @xmath22 and @xmath2 .
the velocity of the jams neither depends on the global density nor on the maximum velocity .
the jam velocity is a function of the noise parameter only . using the structure of @xmath0 we are able to determine this @xmath3 dependence of @xmath27 for the first time and the results
are plotted in fig .
[ fig : jam_velocity ] .
= 6.0 cm = 6.0 cm
we studied numerically the nagel - schreckenberg traffic flow model .
the investigation of the dynamical structure factor allowed us to examine the transition of the system from a free flow regime to a jammed regime . above the transition the dynamical structure factor exhibits two modes corresponding to the coexisting free flow and jammed phase .
due to the sign of their characteristic velocities @xmath24 and @xmath27 , both phases can clearly be distinguished .
we investigated the dependence of @xmath24 and @xmath27 on the system parameters systematically and found that the jammed velocity depends on the noise parameter only .
the characteristic velocity of the free flow phase turned out to be equal to the velocity of free flowing cars in the low density limit ( @xmath25 ) , i.e. cars of the free flow phase behave as independent particles . | arxiv |
marsden _ et al . _
present observational evidence , culled from the literature , to show that sgrs and axps are associated with supernova remnants ( snrs ) expanding into unusually dense parts of the interstellar medium ( ism ) .
they claim that this disproves the magnetar hypothesis @xcite :
@xmath0the environments surrounding sgrs and axps are significantly different than ` normal ' neutron stars in a way which is _ inconsistent _ with the hypothesis that the properties of these sources derive solely from an innate characteristic such as a superstrong magnetic field . "
marsden _ et al .
_ go on to claim that everything about sgrs and axps , including their bursting behavior , can be explained if these objects are @xmath1 g neutron stars accreting from snrs in high - density regions of the ism .
three different version of the marsden _
_ paper were widely distributed and posted on the astro - ph archives @xcite .
we will discuss arguments from all three versions , since r. rothschild gave arguments from all three versions at this meeting .
( see rothschild s contribution to this volume ) . in 2 of this paper ,
we show that most of the associations of sgrs and axps with snrs claimed by marsden _
_ are subject to reasonable doubt . moreover , the snr remnant ages have very large uncertainties , spanning more than an order of magnitude , if one assumes no _ a priori _ knowledge of the ism ambient density .
this means that the value of the ambient ism density is not strongly constrained by snr measurements , even if all the proposed snr associations are assumed to be valid .
we conclude that there is no persuasive evidence for the hypothesis that sgrs and axps are born in regions of the ism with unusually high density . in 3
we show that , even if it _ was _ proven that sgrs and axps are born in denser ism environments than radiopulsars , this would not necessarily argue against the magnetar model .
we also offer an alternative interpretation of the data .
although the data set of marsden _ et al . _ does not unambiguously constrain ambient ism densities , it does give some evidence that observed sgrs / axps are associated with more compact ( smaller - radius ) snrs than are radiopulsars on average .
this can be naturally understood if sgrs / axps have comparatively short observable lifetimes , as expected in the magnetar model . in 4 we turn to a scenario discussed by r. rothschild at this meeting ,
namely that accretion onto a neutron star is directly influenced by a dense ambient ism in a way that can explain all differences between sgr / axps and radiopulsars .
the rate of accretion onto a high - velocity neutron star from a snr in the late stages when it experiences significant backpressure from the ism is quantified .
the resulting values of @xmath2 are too small by many orders of magnitude to drive the stellar spindown or the x - ray emissions of sgrs and axps .
thus the answer to nature or nurture ?
" question is clearly nature . "
this alone does not necessarily mean that the stars are magnetars .
alternatives to the magnetar model which posit accretion from a fallback disk " which is formed at very early times within the snr from co - moving ejecta when the immediate environment of the neutron star is not directly influenced by the surrounding ism ( again , not
nurture")are also possible .
this scenario was proposed by chatterjee , herquist and narayan and by other authors @xcite . in the concluding section ( 5 )
we briefly summarize some general arguments against accretion - powered models of sgrs an axps .
this evidence seems to exclude the theoretically reasonable fallback disk " models as well as the more dubious
pushback disk " models suggested by marsden _ et al . _
the method of marsden _ et al .
_ is as follows .
they begin by adopting ( in most cases , dubiously ) a particular snr association for each sgr and axp .
given the snr s measured angular size , @xmath3 , published estimates of the distance @xmath4 to each object imply a snr radius @xmath5 .
if the age @xmath6 of the snr is known , then the density into which the supernova expands can be estimated via the sedov solution , which in c.g.s .
units is @xmath7 .
figure 3 in ref .
@xcite shows sgr and axp points plotted on the @xmath8 plane , along with contours of constant ambient density , defined according to the sedov formula where one assumes @xmath9 erg .
a similar process is done for radiopulsars ( fig .
4 ) , leading to the claim that the two sets of data are significantly discrepant , with radiopulsars in lower - density regions of the plane .
this is dubious .
first of all , the @xmath10 dependence of @xmath11 implies a @xmath12 dependence on the inferred density .
if @xmath4 goes up by 2 , @xmath11 goes down by 30 .
many or most of the @xmath4 values are uncertain by factors of 2 .
this is true even when the measurement uncertainty is as small as @xmath13 , as quoted by corbel _
et al . _ in their elaborate arguments for two sgr distances @xcite , because systematic uncertainties in data interpretation can exceed measurement uncertainties .
it is notoriously difficult to unambiguously determine the distances of molecular clouds along lines of sight extending across the galactic disk .
furthermore , the ages @xmath6 are very poorly constrained . the usual way to determine
the age of a snr is to assume something about the ambient density , and use the sedov solution . here
this can not be done since the density is the quantity that we ultimately want to determine . for most objects ,
_ adopt a lower limit on the age given by min@xmath14 , where @xmath15 , and @xmath16 . in these equations , @xmath17 km s@xmath18 is the assumed ejecta velocity , @xmath19 is the angular displacement of the star from the snr center , and @xmath20 km s@xmath18 . but in every case @xmath21 is greater than @xmath22 , so @xmath21 is effectively the lower limit .
this is the time that a star moving at a transverse velocity @xmath23 would move from the center of the snr to its present location , at a distance @xmath24 , the minimum plausible value of @xmath4 .
but the center of the snr can only be roughly fixed since the snrs generally show deviations from sphericity and inhomogeneities . moreover , the choice of 2000 km s@xmath18 is arbitrary ; larger velocities can not be excluded .
the logic of using an x - ray star s assumed velocity to infer a lower bound to the density of the environment seems convoluted .
the estimate @xmath22 , never applied , would have the error bars extend much further to the right , to the _ free expansion _
line in fig . 3 at @xmath25 .
this is a believable lower bound ; it shows that the possible ages span orders of magnitude .
the upper limits of 3 kyr for all but three points are also essentially arbitrary : we choose 30 kyr , which is the maximum estimated age [ value of @xmath26 ] for the snr / radiopulsar associations in table 3 . "
why is it a reasonable to use the maximum age of a completely distinct set of objects ? in the three cases where detailed modeling of the snr has been done , the error box is chosen to span the range of published values from models . but this underestimates the uncertainty also : each estimate really has an uncertainty itself , based on the data and methods used .
this might not quoted , since it is hard to estimate ; but there is no reason to think that it is smaller than the range of quoted ages , at least not without studying the issue . by plotting each point at the arithmatic ( not logarithmic ) center of an error range that spans more than an order of magnitude ( see fig . 3 of ref .
@xcite ) , one fosters the impression that the density lies at the high end of the ( claimed ) permitted range .
the true uncertainties are certainly not gaussian or even log - gaussian .
thus the data should really be plotted as error boxes , each extending horizontally across most of the plot .
this would convey the fact that we have almost no information about the ages of these objects that is independent of assumptions about ambient density .
the possible values of ambient density inferred from the snrs also span orders of magnitude .
note that for radio pulsars ( fig . 4 ) ,
_ say : the mdr timing ages of radio pulsars , unlike those for sgrs and axps , are thought to be good measures of their true ages .
" however , gaensler and frail , ref .
@xcite , have shown that the true age of psr b1757 - 24 exceeds 39,000 yrs , and has most probable value of 170,000 yrs , which is more than 10 times its mdr age , @xmath27 .
this suggests that the mdr ages used in fig .
4 are lower bounds , and the inferred densities are thus lower bounds on the true densities . finally , many of the adopted snr associations are themselves dubious . among axps , only 1e 1841 - 045 , 1e 2259 + 586 , and j1845 - 0258 have well - established snr associations , and it is not certain that the third object is an axp since its @xmath28 is not yet measured .
for the sgrs , all snr associations have been questioned in the literature ( e.g. , ref .
the claimed association of sgr 1801 - 23 is especially dubious , since its error box is a 3.5 degree long annulus intersecting several candidate snrs @xcite .
most sgrs are located near the edge of the putative associated snr , requiring very high - velocity neutron stars @xmath29 km s@xmath18 .
note that the radio emission around sgr 1806 - 20 may not be snr at all , but a synchrotron nebula fed by a lbv star @xcite .
even if sgrs and axps _ did _ tend to come from denser regions of the ism than do radiopulsars , this would not argue against the magnetar hypothesis .
magnetars are thought to form during stellar core collapse events when the proto - neutron star is rotating rapidly enough during its convective phase , just after collapse , to support an @xmath30@xmath31 dynamo @xcite .
the progenitor objects may be massive stars which , for one reason or another , retain substantial angular momentum and do not transport too much angular momentum outward from the core material before collapse .
complex issues of star formation and rotational evolution ( including possible binary interactions ) may be involved in producing this subset of objects .
although these complexities are not fully understood , it is plausible that the magnetar - producing stars tend to supernova in regions of the ism with somewhat different properties than radiopulsar - producing stars do .
for example , if magnetars tended to result from more massive progenetor stars than did radiopulsars , they would be found preferentially among the first generation of supernovae in star - forming regions , before a hot superbubble forms .
this kind of effect could explain a correlation with ambient density as claimed by marsden _
et al . _
we favor a different interpretation of the data . in the absence of independent information about the ages of the sgrs / axps , what marsden _ et al .
_ really have studied is simply _ the distribution of snr radii @xmath32 , _ as given by the projection of points in fig . 3 of ref .
@xcite on the vertical ( @xmath32 ) axis .
a comparison of this distribution with the analogous distribution for marsden _ et al .
_ s sample of radiopulsars with @xmath33 yr .
4 ; projected on vertical axis ) suggests that _ sgrs / axps tend to be associated with smaller-@xmath32 snr than do young radiopulsars . _
( of course , this conclusion is only correct if we accept the dubious snr star associations . )
this could be explained by various selection effects which operate on both sets of objects . in particular ,
it is likely that _ radiopulsars are observable for significantly longer periods of time than are sgr / axps .
_ this fact alone could account for the trend in snr sizes . in the magnetar model , all observable magnetically - powered emissions are likely to shut off when the liquid interior of the star cools sufficiently to halt ambipolar diffusion .
thompson and i showed that a magnetar s core temperature declines only weakly with stellar age , @xmath34 , at early times when ambipolar diffusive heating is balanced by neutrino cooling ( eq . [ 36 ] in ref .
this weak power - law decline turns down sharply when neutrino cooling becomes dominated by rapid photon cooling from the star s surface , essentially causing interior magnetic dissipative heating and core magnetic evolution to cease .
we originally estimated that this occurs at an age @xmath35 yrs ( eq . [ 75 ] in ref .
but if a magnetar has a light - element envelope , then surface photon cooling is greatly accelerated ( ref .
@xcite ) , and it dominates the thermal history sooner , freezing out ambipolar diffusion .
a magnetar could then become x - ray dark and burst quiet as early as @xmath36 or @xmath37 years ( c. thompson , private communication ) with a strong magnetic field @xmath38 g frozen in its core thereafter , decaying only on the enormously long time - scales of ohmic diffusion . this early death " could account for the narrow observed period range of x - ray bright sgrs and axps , due to observational selection effects in both steady x - ray emissions and bursts .
no true decay of @xmath39 must be invoked ( cf .
@xcite ) . in the case of radiopulsars ,
the lifetime to spin down past the radio death line undoubtedly exceeds the time for snr fading and dispersal , by several orders of magnitude .
if some magnetars become undetectable before their snrs do , then radiopulsars would tend to have older and larger snrs than ( observed ) magnetars , even if the ambient density and snr evolutionary tracks were identical for the two classes of neutron stars .
we conclude this section with a note about implications of this picture . because magnetar activity is ephemeral , slowly - rotating
_ dead magnetars _ with large magnetic dipole fields should be common in the galaxy .
indeed there could be @xmath40 of them if a substantial fraction of all neutron stars are magnetars , as suggested by studies of all neutron stars known to be associated with young snrs @xcite . detecting dead magnetars
is a challenging problem for astronomers .
marsden _ et al .
_ propose an alternative theory : that interaction of a @xmath41 g neutron star with its snr in a relatively dense ism can explain everything about sgrs and axps .
accretion by a compact star moving through a gaseous medium is a classical problem in astrophysics , first quantified by bondi , hoyle and lyttleton .
here we only consider accretion that occurs after the ism can influence the immediate environment of the star ; i.e. , accretion occurring after the reverse shock reaches the high - velocity neutron star at @xmath42 years .
quantitative estimates of this were not given in the first version of the marsden _
et al . _
paper @xcite .
the second version @xcite did include some estimates .
careful scrutiny of ref .
@xcite reveals that , even assuming extremely unlikely and optimistic values of all parameters , accretion influenced by the ism fails by many orders of magnitude to produce enough inflowing material to either spin down the star in @xmath36 years or to power the observed x - ray luminosities of sgrs and axps .
the third version of the paper @xcite omits the analysis again .
it is not surprising that such pushback accretion " does not work . a supernova is a powerful explosion and even dense " parts of ism ( ambient density assumed to be @xmath43@xmath44 gm @xmath45 ; ref .
@xcite ) are superb vacua by laboratory standards .
thus the pushback phenomena is not very strong .
here we use some rough approximations to quantify this .
more reliable analysis would require the use of detailed snr simulations .
since the ejecta expands nearly homologously with uniform density and nearly constant surface velocity during the initial free - expansion phase ( e.g. , ref .
@xcite ) , the ejecta is almost comoving with the star at early times after the star moves away from the center of the snr .
this is the epoch when a fallback ( not pushback ) disk might form , see e.g. , ref .
@xcite . during this period the surrounding interstellar medium ( ism ) has essentially no influence on the immediate environment and accretion rate of the neutron star .
the time scale for the neutron star to intercept the reverse shock and first experience possible influence of the surrounding ism , is @xmath46 years . by this time ,
the density of the ejecta declines to roughly @xmath47 $ ] or if we optimistically scale to @xmath48 yrs .
the density of the shell material is in the range between 4 times this number ( on the shell side of the reverse shock ) and 4 times the ism density ( on the shell side of the outer shock ) .
this factor 4 is of course the strong - shock enhancement factor for @xmath49 .
the accretion rate is @xmath50 where @xmath51^{1/2}$ ] , for a neutron star traveling through gas of temperature @xmath52 with a stellar velocity relative to the gas @xmath53 ( e.g. , ref .
@xcite ) for @xmath54 , @xmath55 km s@xmath18 and cold gas with density @xmath56 , where @xmath57 @xmath45 , one finds it is less for hot gas . in @xmath58 years , as the star crosses the snr shell , this would accumulate only @xmath59 , even if the density declined no further and the gas were not shock - heated .
the @xmath2 needed to drive propeller spindown with @xmath60 , as found for sgrs @xcite , is @xmath61)^{7/3}$ ] gm s@xmath18 ( e.g. , ref .
note that this is somewhat greater ( by @xmath62 ) than the @xmath2 needed to power x - ray emissions with luminosities @xmath63 erg s@xmath18 as observed , assuming accretion down to the surface . comparing the above two values of @xmath2
, it is evident that _ accretion influenced by the ism fails by a factor of @xmath64 for these scalings .
_ to get the needed @xmath2 , one must have @xmath65 km s@xmath18 .
thus one needs for the gas in the snr shell to be nearly co - moving _ and _ it also must be very cold , with @xmath66 k. neither condition is satisfied , since the shell material is significantly decelerated as soon as it crosses the reverse shock , slowing to @xmath67 $ ] in the sedov phase , and it is also shock - heated to temperatures @xmath68 k or more , as evinced by the x - rays it emits .
once the star passes outside the shell , the ism may be cool , but it is far from co - moving .
a shortfall in @xmath2 by a very large factor is unavoidable .
the presence of some dust in the cooling snr , and nonspherical gas flows , do not save the scenario .
insofar as dust grains accrete like a zero - pressure , collisionless gas , they will have much smaller @xmath2 , by a factor @xmath69 , where @xmath70 is the neutron star s radius ( e.g. , 14.2 in ref .
more realistically , dust will be swept along with the gas and have little effect on @xmath2 . as for non - spherical flows ,
the vast expansion factors in the snr damp out any velocity variations except for rayleigh - taylor instabilities near the reverse shock , but these transient motions contain less than @xmath71 of the snr kinetic energy and occur in a narrow mass shell .
these effects can not make up the enormous @xmath2 discrepancies quoted above .
it is not known how accretion - powered models can account for the hyper - eddington bursts and flares which are the hallmark of sgrs .
the hard - gamma initial spikes of giant flares with peak luminosities @xmath72 , lasting several tenths of a second , are especially difficult to account for in accretion - powered models
. however , the observed properties of sgr outbursts are consistent with magnetically - driven instabilities on magnetars @xcite .
furthermore , if sgrs and axps have accretion disks then they should emit optical and infrared radiation , due to the reprocessing of x - rays and viscous dissipation within the disk itself .
the luminosity of this emission is not sensitive to the disk composition , as long as the disk is optically thick .
observations of optical and ir emission from several sgrs and axps ( e.g. ref .
@xcite ) find luminosities far below the predictions of disk models ( e.g. ref . | arxiv |
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"It appears as if the tide of mental faculties flowed as far as it could in certain channels, and then forsook its course, and arose in others. How irrational then is the hereditary system, which establishes channels of power, in company with which wisdom refuses to flow!"
— Paine, Thomas (1737-1809)
"I should have been glad if I could have had an earlier opportunity also of knowing, which I do not admit at present, that it was genuine and authentic; because I know not only the impression which such a letter must make upon Gentlemen's minds who are the Jury to try the cause, b...
"Let all their thoughts be unconfined, / And clap your padlock on their mind."
"Again, the only means by which truth, however immutable in its own nature, can be communicated to the human mind is through the inlet of the senses. It is perhaps impossible that a man shut up in a cabinet can ever be wise"
"How can you induce him to be dissatisfied with his present acquisitions, while every other person assures him that his accomplishments are admirable and his mind a mirror of sagacity?"
"All kings have possessed such a portion of luxury and ease, have been so far surrounded with servility and falshood, and to such a degree exempt from personal responsibility, as to destroy the natural and wholesome complexion of the human mind."
"In this unequal contest, alarm and apprehension will perpetually haunt the minds of those who exercise usurped power."
"If considerations of inferior note be apt to mislead the mind, what shall we think of this most intoxicating draught, of a condition superior to restraint, stripped of all those accidents and vicissitudes from which the morality of human beings has flowed, with no salutary check, with no intelle...
"The offspring of mind is daily sacrificed by hecatombs to the genius of monarchy."
"Mind is the creature of sensation; we have no other inlet of knowledge." | slim_pajama |
it is now firmly established that many - body quantum dynamics acquire typical features of quantum chaos in the region of high level density .
the interrelation between many - body physics and quantum chaos was studied , in particular , in the framework of the nuclear shell model with realistic and random interactions , see @xcite and references therein .
a description of a stable many - body system starts with the mean field and quasiparticles determined by the symmetry of the mean field .
as excitation energy and level density increase , residual interactions convert stationary states of independent quasiparticles into exceedingly complex superpositions of many basis states .
the many - body structure at this stage should be described in statistical terms , and in the limiting case of extreme chaos it locally approaches the predictions of the gaussian orthogonal ensemble ( goe ) of random matrices .
the complexity of stationary many - body states can be quantified with the aid of such characteristics as information entropy or inverse participation ratio @xcite of generic wave functions .
these quantities smoothly change with excitation energy revealing strong mixing of original states and loss of simple quantum numbers , typical features of quantum chaos .
however such measures of complexity are unavoidably associated with a starting basis , in these cases determined by the mean field .
they actually provide the localization length of a complex state in a chosen basis with no information on the correlations still present in the wave function .
different characteristics can be used in order to probe the sensitivity of the system to external perturbations . in classical case
such sensitivity is known to be the main property of dynamical chaos .
a special entropy - like quantity , called _ invariant correlational entropy _ ( ice ) , was suggested in ref .
@xcite as a measure of complexity related to the response of a system to a random noise included in the hamiltonian .
this quantity is by construction invariant with respect to the basis transformations .
it also reflects the correlations and phase relationships between the components of the wave functions as far as they are revealed in the response of the system to a perturbation . taking the strength of the interaction as a control parameter
, one can clearly see the quantum phase transitions as it was demonstrated in the interacting boson model @xcite and in the evolution of pairing in the shell model @xcite .
the problem of the interaction of a quasiparticle with an even - even core is of considerable interest for nuclear physics .
it was quite well studied for low - lying excited states where the interactions of the quasiparticle predominantly with quadrupole and octupole surface vibrations are important . at higher excitation energy ,
a large number of other nuclear modes influence the damping of the quasiparticle motion .
the mixing of the simple mode with the states of the next levels of complexity leads to the fragmentation of the single - particle strength over a wide domain of excitation energy , @xmath2 the single - particle state obtains a spreading width .
it was shown in ref .
@xcite that the spreading occurs in two stages . at the first stage of fragmentation ,
the single - particle state is spread over several doorway states . at the second step , the doorway states are spread through the mixing with many complex excitations related to other degrees of freedom .
the limiting case of self - consistent hierarchy of multi - step spreading was discussed in ref .
@xcite .
the highly - excited single - particle mode has been experimentally studied via one - nucleon transfer reactions @xcite . for example , broad structures located around 10 mev excitation energy have been observed in the reaction @xmath3pb@xmath4he ) @xmath1pb .
it was shown @xcite that the structures are connected with the excitation of high - spin orbitals @xmath5 and @xmath0 .
the fragmented wave functions based on these states contain many components .
the related complexity of the wave function was analyzed in ref .
it was concluded that the damping of a simple mode can not be unambiguously associated with the random contribution of more complex components to the structure of the states .
the goal of the presented study is to introduce a new measure of the complex structure of highly - excited states .
the paper is organized as follows . in sec .
ii the formalism of correlation entropy is introduced . in sec .
iii the main features of the used model for the structure of excited states are presented .
the complexity of of the excited states and the connection to the ice is discussed in sec .
the doubling phase transition in the regime of strong coupling in odd nuclei is demonstrated in sec .
v. finally , in sec .
vi the conclusions are drawn .
to study the sensitivity of the excited states to variation of external parameters we use the invariant correlational entropy ( ice ) @xcite .
the ice method presumes that hamiltonian @xmath6 of a system depends on a random parameter @xmath7 .
the parameter @xmath7 ( noise " ) is considered as a member of an ensemble characterized by the normalized distribution function @xmath8 , @xmath9 in an arbitrary primary basis @xmath10 , we follow the evolution of any stationary state @xmath11 as a function of @xmath7 . at a given value of @xmath7
, the state can be decomposed as @xmath12 the ice is defined as @xmath13 where @xmath14 is the density matrix of the state @xmath15 averaged over the noise ensemble . in the basis @xmath16
prior to the averaging we construct first this matrix for a given value of @xmath7 as @xmath17 and then average over the ensemble , @xmath18 while the density matrix @xmath14 , eq .
( [ 4 ] ) , of a pure state , being a projector onto the state @xmath19 and having correspondingly only one nonzero eigenvalue equal to one , leads to zero entropy @xmath20 , the averaged density matrix ( [ 5 ] ) has its eigenvalues between 0 and 1 and produces non - zero correlational entropy .
in contrast to _ information _ ( shannon ) entropy @xmath21 of the same state @xmath19 , conventionally used for quantifying the complexity , @xmath22 the ice is _ basis - independent _ von neumann entropy that reflects the correlations between the wave function components which are subject to fluctuations determined by the parameter @xmath7 .
the value @xmath20 for a given state typically increases with the complexity of the state and reaches the maximum at the point where the change of the parameter around some average value implies the most radical change of the structure of the system .
such a point ( in fact , a region in finite systems ) can be identified with the quantum phase transition or crossover , and in the vicinity of this point the structural fluctuations of the wave functions are strongly enhanced . at further change of the average value of the noise parameter , the ice , as
a rule , goes down .
this means that the stronger interaction has established a new order with greater rigidity with respect to fluctuations of parameters . in this way the sharp boundaries between the different symmetry classes very confirmed @xcite in the interacting boson models , and the critical strengths of isovector and isoscalar pairing in the @xmath23 shell model
were established @xcite .
we adopted the _ quasiparticle - phonon model _ ( qpm ) by soloviev at al .
@xcite to describe the properties of highly - excited states in odd spherical nuclei .
according to the model , the hamiltonian of the system of an odd number @xmath24 particles has the form @xmath25 the first term , @xmath26 , describes the motion of a quasiparticle in a mean field potential @xmath27 created by the even - even core , @xmath28 the core hamiltonian is a sum of single - particle hamiltonians @xmath29 and two - body residual interactions @xmath30 , @xmath31 the last term in eq .
( [ 7 ] ) is a sum of interactions between the odd quasiparticle and particles in the core , @xmath32 in the spirit of the qpm , the hamiltonian @xmath33 is treated in the random phase approximation ( rpa ) , i.e. the particle - hole configurations are built with the subsequent rpa diagonalization .
the properties of the ( a+1)-nucleus can be described in terms of the quasiparticle states @xmath34 , quasiparticle - plus - phonon states @xmath35 \mid 0 \rangle$ ] and quasiparticle - plus - two - phonon states @xmath36 \mid 0 \rangle$ ] , where all combinations have the same total spin and parity quantum numbers @xmath37 . here
@xmath38 is the quasiparticle creation operator with shell - model quantum numbers @xmath39 , whereas @xmath40 denotes the phonon creation operator with the angular momentum @xmath7 , projection @xmath41 and rpa root number @xmath42 .
the following wave functions describe in the qpm the ground and excited states of the odd nucleus with angular momentum @xmath43 and projection @xmath44 : @xmath45 _ { jm}\ ] ] @xmath46_{i } \right ] _
{ jm}\ } \psi _ { 0}~. \label{11}\ ] ] the wave function @xmath47 represents the ground state of the neighboring even - even nucleus ( also quasiparticle and phonon vacuum ) and @xmath48 stands for the number within a sequence of states of given @xmath49 .
the coefficients @xmath50 , @xmath51 and @xmath52 are the quasiparticle , quasiparticle + phonon and quasiparticle + two phonons amplitudes , respectively , for the state @xmath48 .
the norm of the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) reads : @xmath53 @xmath54 ^ 2 + 2\sum_{a\nu\nu'}[f_{a}^{\nu\nu'}(i;j\alpha)]^2\right\}. \label{12}\ ] ] the hamiltonian ( [ 7 ] ) contains several parameters .
the mean field ( [ 8 ] ) was chosen to be the woods - saxon potential . the residual interaction ( [ 9 ] ) in the particle - hole channel was taken in a separable form with interaction strengths in each mode considered as adjusted parameters
. the quasiparticle - phonon coupling term ( [ 10 ] ) does not contain any additional freedom .
the core excitations with all spins and natural parity , @xmath55 and @xmath56 , were included in the calculations .
for each momentum and parity , the rpa states up to 20 mev excitation energy were taken into account .
the large phonon basis is necessary for correct description of the single - particle strength distribution in a broad range of excitation energy .
the used set of parameters have been successfully applied to describe the properties of low - lying as well as highly - excited states in @xmath1pb , see for example ref .
for studying the ice , we selected the single - particle @xmath0 state .
the properties of this state are studied in detail in ref .
this orbital is quasi - bound in the woods - saxon potential being located at 4.88 mev , energy much higher than the fermi level of @xmath1pb . because of its high energy , the state is surrounded by many quasiparticle - plus - phonon and quasiparticle - plus - two - phonon states .
at high excitation energy , the level density is large and it is convenient to calculate the single - particle strength distribution by means of the strength function @xcite using an averaging lorentzian function .
the distribution of the single - particle strength [ coefficient @xmath57 of eq .
( [ 11 ] ) ] of the @xmath0-state is shown in fig .
1 . the number of quasiparticle - plus - phonon components included in the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) is 420 , while the number of quasiparticle - plus - two - phonon components is 1116 .
the lorentzian smoothing parameter was chosen to be 0.2 mev .
distribution of the single - particle strength of + the state @xmath0 in @xmath1pb . ]
it is seen from fig .
1 that the single - particle strength is spread over a broad interval of excitation energy .
the largest fraction , 81 % of the strength , is concentrated between 5 and 13 mev excitation energy , and the state acquires the large spreading width in this domain , @xmath58 mev ( @xmath59 is calculated as the second moment of the distribution ) .
it was shown @xcite that the main mechanism leading to the spreading is the interaction of the particle with the vibrations of the even core . in the case of @xmath1pb
the lowest core excitation is @xmath60 state .
the component @xmath61_{17/2^{+ } } $ ] dominates in the structure of the lowest two excited states , where @xmath62 of the single - particle strength is concentrated .
the component @xmath63_{17/2^{+}}$ ] also contributes to the structure of these excited states .
the contribution of the components , where the particle is coupled to @xmath64 and @xmath65 phonons , is more important at the higher part of the distribution ( above 13 mev ) .
the coupling of particle with @xmath66 phonons is significant in the domain of the main peak @xcite .
the @xmath67 and @xmath56 phonons mainly contribute at excitations around 10 mev @xcite .
more complex quasiparticle - plus - two - phonon components influence predominantly the secondary fragmentation of quasiparticle - plus - one - phonon components .
the correlation entropy ( [ 3 ] ) connected with the excited states was calculated using two types of the distribution function , the lorentzian function , @xmath68 and normal ( gaussian ) distribution , @xmath69 the value of the parameters used in the calculations was @xmath70 and @xmath71 . for this choice of the parameters both distributions
have the same maximum value .
the calculation was done as follows . for the values of @xmath72
the matrix elements of @xmath73 , eq . (
[ 10 ] ) , are multiplied by the corresponding value of @xmath74 .
the new matrix elements are used to calculate the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the hamiltonian ( [ 7 ] ) .
the elements of the density matrix @xmath75 are calculated according to the eq .
( [ 4 ] ) and averaged , eq .
( [ 5 ] ) . in the case of the lorentzian distribution ,
the value of @xmath76 is changed in the interval @xmath77 $ ] , while in the case of the normal distribution function @xmath76 is taken from the interval @xmath78 $ ] . to estimate quantitatively the absolute value of the ice we use also the summed correlational entropy of @xmath79 states , @xmath80 where @xmath48 labels the eigenstates in the sector with given quantum numbers .
the normalized value of @xmath81 is defined as @xmath82 the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) includes many components . because of the different structure of the components , the values of the matrix elements of @xmath73 reveal large fluctuations .
there are many small matrix elements and the corresponding components are weakly correlated .
their contribution to the spreading process has to be negligible .
the ice gives the opportunity to construct the appropriate basis including only the most important components .
the dependence of the ice on the dimension of the basis is presented in fig .
2 . the basis is truncated according to the criterion connected with the maximum matrix element .
all components having the matrix element of the coupling with the original single - particle state less than a certain fraction of the maximum matrix element are not included in the calculation . here only the one - phonon components @xmath83 \mid 0 \rangle$ ] of the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) are taken into account .
it is seen that the normalized entropy , eq .
( [ 16 ] ) , reveals saturation for the small values of the truncation parameter .
the components , whose matrix element is less than @xmath84 of the maximum one , contribute weakly to @xmath85 .
the number of such components is large but their influence on the spreading process is negligible .
dependence of correlation entropy on the truncation of the quasiparticle - plus - phonon basis . ] the results for the ice found with the two distribution functions ( [ 13 ] ) and ( [ 14 ] ) are compared in fig .
3@xmath86 displays the correlation entropy of the obtained states in the case of the normal distribution , eq .
( [ 14 ] ) .
there is a background of small values of the ice due to the large amount of weakly interacting states .
the greater values of entropy are located in the vicinity of the peaks of the single - particle strength distribution pointing to the regions where the proximity of many strongly coupled states leads to enhanced sensitivity of the wave functions . as mentioned above , in the region around 8 mev the particle
is coupled predominantly with the @xmath60 phonon , while around 13 mev the coupling is occurring mainly with the first positive parity phonons .
one can see the tendency to the enlargement of entropy when the excitation energy increases and a larger density of the states at higher excitation energy enters the game . the calculation of the ice with the lorentzian distribution function shown in fig .
3@xmath87 leads to the results similar to those in fig .
the regions including the enhanced density of states with large entropy appear at the same excitation energy . in the case of the normal distribution the value of @xmath81 ,
( [ 15 ] ) , is 37.50 , while for the lorentzian it is 54.44 , mainly because the lorentzian has the long tails . in spite of this difference in the value of @xmath81 ,
the main features of both distributions of the ice are similar being determined mostly by the interaction and density of states and only marginally by the type of the noise distribution function .
correlation entropy of the excited states @xmath88 in @xmath1pb .
a ) the normal ( gaussian ) distribution function is used in the calculation for upper panel , and b ) the lorentzian distribution is used for lower panel .
the wave function includes only quasiparticle - plus - phonon components . ]
correlation entropy of the excited states @xmath88 in @xmath1pb .
a ) the normal ( gaussian ) distribution function is used in the calculation for upper panel , and b ) the lorentzian distribution is used for lower panel .
the wave function includes only quasiparticle - plus - phonon components . ] to test the sensitivity of the results to the parameters of the model , we introduce a new parameter @xmath89 . multiplying the matrix elements of @xmath73 , eq .
( [ 10 ] ) , by this number we vary the overall strength of the particle - core coupling .
the value of @xmath90 corresponds to the realistic strength of @xmath91 chosen according to the initially fitted parameters .
this case is presented in fig .
only the components @xmath83 \mid 0 \rangle$ ] of the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) are taken into account .
the absolute value of entropy @xmath81 , eq .
( [ 15 ] ) , depends on the value of @xmath89 , i.e. @xmath92 ; the function @xmath93 is shown in fig .
4 revealing a pronounced maximum at @xmath94 .
the maximum of @xmath93 at @xmath95 can be identified with a quantum _ phase transition _ smeared as expected in a finite system .
the single - particle state interacts strongly with the sea of more complex excitations , and its contribution to the structure of any individual excited state is strongly reduced .
but it has to be pointed out that even for the case of maximum entropy , @xmath96 , the single - particle component preserves its dominance in the main peaks of the strength distribution .
when the more complex quasiparticle - plus - two - phonon components are included in the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) , the correlation entropy rapidly increases . the value of normalized entropy ( eq . [ 16 ] ) for the case presented in fig
1 is larger than the maximum value shown in fig . 2 by a factor close to 6 .
the additional correlations are mainly due to the coupling of qusiparticle - plus - one- and quasiparticle - plus - two - phonon components . because of this hierarchy of couplings ,
the distribution of the single - particle strength is not affected too much by the new terms in the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) .
dependence of the integral correlation entropy on the strength of particle - core coupling . only the components @xmath83 \mid 0 \rangle$ ] of the wave function ( [ 11 ] )
are taken into account . ] for small values of @xmath89 , the mixing of states is suppressed and the ice decreases rapidly , see fig .
this case corresponds to the weak particle - core coupling and relatively simple wave function .
the strength of single - particle states is distributed in a narrow vicinity of its unperturbed energy .
the nearest - neighbor level spacing distribution for @xmath97 is very close to the poisson distribution . in the case when only quasiparticle - plus - phonon components are included in the wave function (
[ 11 ] ) , even at @xmath90 the correlations are quite large , fig .
this influences the level spacing distribution of @xmath98 states .
the nearest - neighbor spacing distribution of @xmath98 excitations can be fit by the brody distribution @xcite with the brody parameter equal to 0.4 . at this stage
the single - particle component is not completely smeared and chaotically distributed over the excitations of the system .
clear remnants of the simple excitation seen in the complicated wave functions are similar to the phenomenon of scars @xcite existing in simple quantum systems . the nearest - neighbor spacing distribution of @xmath98 excitations for the case when the quasiparticle - plus - two - phonons components are included in the wave function ( [ 11 ] )
is shown in fig .
the distribution is calculated for the region of the main single - particle strength , 5 - 13 mev , where the density of the states is not changed much . as seen from fig .
5 , the distribution can be described by the brody distribution with the parameter equal to 0.6
. the higher degree of chaoticity indicates the importance of more complex components and their influence on the damping process . at the first stage ,
when the single - particle states interact only with quasiparticle - plus - one - phonon components , the regularities induced by the mean field , such as the structure of the level density , are not completely destroyed . at the next stage , when the interaction with the components of the next level of complexity is switched on , these regularities are partly smeared , but the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) is still relatively simple .
one can recall old results @xcite , where the coupling of an unpaired particle with the collective monopole and quadrupole modes was considered in detail ( later these results were applied @xcite ) to the spreading width of giant resonances due to their mixing with low - lying shape vibrations ) . in exactly solvable models with a particle attached to a single level
it was shown @xcite that the main effect of the particle - phonon coupling is in creating a coherent state of the phonon field .
the chaotic elements should be associated with the mixing between various quasiparticle levels and coupling with different phonon modes .
nearest - neighbor spacing distribution of @xmath98 states in @xmath1pb .
the calculated values are fit by the brody distribution with the brody parameter equal to 0.6 . ]
more multi - phonon components are to be taken into account for reaching the full complexity .
as degree of complexity grows , the wave function ( [ 11 ] ) approaches the realistic wave function necessary to describe the complex stricture of high - lying excited states .
it has to be pointed out that a few quasiparticle components are weakly influenced by the growth of complexity . by this reason
, even a rather simple wave function , truncated for example , by the quasiparticle and quasiparticle - plus - phonon components can be used to describe the transition probabilities connecting high - lying and low - lying excited states . for this purpose , a simple practical procedure of averaging high - lying single - particle strength
can be used @xcite .
for large values of @xmath89 the particle - core coupling becomes very strong .
the single - particle strength is split into two main pieces repelled to low and high excitation energies .
the case for @xmath99 is shown in shown in fig .
the single - particle strength corresponding to the low and high energy peaks is @xmath100 and @xmath101 , respectively .
the rest of the strength is distributed in between the peaks .
distribution of the single - particle strength of the state @xmath0 in @xmath1pb for large value of particle - core coupling after the doubling phase transition .
the value of @xmath89 is @xmath99 . ] to identify the physical nature of the quantum phase transition that occurs at an enhanced particle - phonon coupling , we can analyze the behavior of the strength function of the original single - particle state coupled with states of a more complex character .
such an analysis was first presented in ref .
@xcite in application to giant resonances .
our formulation is in fact a particular limiting case of a generic problem @xcite of a bright " state coupled to the background that contains a hierarchy of states of increasing complexity . in this consideration , the bright state @xmath102 , in our case
the bare single - particle state with unperturbed energy @xmath103 , is mixed with the background states @xmath104 , that contain , apart from the quasiparticle , the phonon excitations of the core with unperturbed energies @xmath105 .
the eigenstates @xmath19 that emerge from this mixing are complicated superpositions @xmath106 their energies @xmath107 are the roots of the secular equation @xmath108 where @xmath109 are the matrix elements of coupling of the bright state with the background states .
the fragmentation of the strength over the eigenstates @xmath19 is given by @xmath110^{-1}. \label{19}\ ] ] the strength function of the bright state is found as @xmath111 if the quantities @xmath112 , the average value @xmath113 of coupling matrix elements squared , and @xmath114 , the mean level spacing in the background , can be considered to be weakly fluctuating from one state @xmath104 to another , the result of the mixing is determined by the ratio of the standard " spreading width , @xmath115 to the energy range @xmath116 , where @xmath79 is a number of effectively interacting background states .
typically , one has in average a breit - wigner strength function @xcite with the width ( [ 21 ] ) for @xmath117 ; the further evolution as a function of increasing coupling leads to the gaussian shape with the width increasing towards and beyond @xmath86 @xcite . in the transitional region
the dependence of the strength function upon the coupling intensity @xmath118 changes from the quadratic to linear @xcite . finally , at even stronger coupling , eqs .
( [ 18 ] ) and ( [ 19 ] ) predict a phase transition to the new situation when the strength is accumulated in two peaks on both sides of the centroid , see fig . 2 in ref .
@xcite . in the extreme limit
, the peaks are pushed out of the region of the background states , @xmath119^{1/2 } , \label{22}\ ] ] and the strength of the original state , according to eq .
( [ 19 ] ) , is evenly divided between the peaks .
the physical mechanism of this _ doubling phase transition _ ( known also in quantum optics ) is the following .
in the regime of strong coupling , the background states of the same symmetry turn out to be intensely interacting among themselves through the bright state .
effectively this interaction is close to the factorized one built as a product of the matrix elements to and from the bright state .
the factorized coupling leads to the formation of the second collective state as a coherent superposition of the background states .
this state accumulates a significant strength , and the repulsion between the two collective states leads to the two - peak pattern .
we see that the doubling phase transition is adequately identified by the maximum of correlational entropy .
in the presented study the recently suggested measure of the complexity was tested for the wave function of a high - lying excited quasiparticle state in a system where the fermionic quasiparticle strongly interacts with bosonic collective excitations of the core .
the new quantity @xmath2 invariant correlational entropy @xmath2 was used to estimate the growth of complexity as a result of admixture of many new components to the wave function of a quasiparticle .
in contrast to information entropy that displays the degree of complexity of individual states with respect to a certain reference basis , the ice is basis - independent reflecting mostly the sensitivity of a given state to the external noise .
it was shown that the ice depends mainly on the interaction strength and density of the background levels but less on the distribution function used as a noise generator .
we have also calculated the neighboring level spacing distribution as a conventional indicator of quantum chaos .
it is shown that this distribution is correlated with ice moving in the direction of the wigner distribution characteristic for the gaussian orthogonal ensemble ( but not reaching this limit ) in parallel to the increase of the value of ice .
although the model wave function truncated on the level of the quasiparticle - plus - two - phonon components is not sufficiently chaotic to manifest entirely the complicated structure of high - lying excited states , it can be used to describe the distribution of a few quasiparticle components .
these components in fact play the role similar to the scars in quantum chaos . as a function of the overall strength of quasiparticle - phonon interaction , the ice increases and reaches a pronounced maximum at the coupling strength equal to 1.6 of its realistic value . in this region
the system would undergo the quantum doubling transition when the original single - particle excitation forms its own counterpart built of more complicated states with the same quantum numbers and the two peaks repel each other and share the original strength .
the ice properly reflects this transformation .
the question remains whether such a phenomenon , known in quantum optics , could be observed in real nuclear spectra .
similar calculations have been also performed for the excited neutron deep - hole orbital @xmath120 in @xmath121pb and high - lying proton orbital @xmath122 in @xmath123eu .
the obtained results are in agreement with the above conclusions which confirms generic features of underlying physics .
+ + the work was partly supported by the bulgarian - american commission for educational exchange ( fulbright grant 03 - 2106 ) and bulgarian science foundation ( contract ph .
support from the nsf , grant phy-0244453 , is highly appreciated . | arxiv |
epidemiology is the study of disease frequency , its determinants , natural history , and burden of illness in populations .
there are many shortcomings in the understanding of the epidemiology of epilepsy mainly related to methodological problems .
information regarding the epidemiology of temporal lobe epilepsy ( tle ) is scanty with few studies and review articles in this subject .
this article reviews some of the published evidence in the area and analyzes the methodological obstacles to perform epidemiological studies in this type of epilepsy .
this article explores the following aspects ; a review of the available definitions for tle , measures in epidemiology , and a brief review of the well - knwon epidemiological rates in epilepsy .
the article finishes with the description and analysis of the available epidemiological studies in tle .
standardized definitions are crucial for epidemiological research . the international league against epilepsy ( ilae ) defines epilepsy as a condition characterized by two or more recurrent epileptic seizures over a period longer than 24 hours , unprovoked by any immediate identified cause [ 4 , 5 ] .
this definition has been used in several epidemiological studies with great success and has helped to understand the burden of epilepsy in different countries [ 68 ] .
a modification in the definition was suggested by fisher et al . in 2005 .
the new definition requires the occurrence of at least one seizure plus a clear predisposing factor .
tle was included in the classification of the ilae in 1989 under the group of localization - related symptomatic epilepsies .
the definition offers a tentative description based on suggestive clinical features ( dividing seizures in simple and complex partial seizures ) plus ictal and interictal electroencephalogram ( eeg ) findings .
the definition suggests the use of some findings in additional tests to help in the diagnosis , such as the presence of hypometabolism in proton - emission tomography scan .
the classification of the ilae also identifies seizures coming from the amygdalo - hippocampal area ( mesiobasal limbic or rhinencephalic ) and seizures coming from the lateral temporal area .
the latter is a form of tle which is often referred to as neocortical tle ( ntle ) .
the classification released by the ilae in 2010 recognizes some diagnostically meaningful forms of epilepsy such as mesial temporal lobe epilepsy ( mtle ) with hippocampal sclerosis ( hs ) that was not included in the previous classifications .
mtle was defined as a symptomatic focal epilepsy that can be subcategorized as limbic epilepsy ( versus neocortical epilepsy ) and is one of the most common types of epilepsy referred for epilepsy surgery , often refractory to antiepileptic drugs ( aeds ) .
this classification also suggests the removal of the term symptomatic and uses the term focal .
it also adds the terms genetic , structural , and unknown etiology which may help to create broad categories to better classify some patients .
finally , as wiebe pointed out , the previous and current classifications of the ilae do not rate the diagnosis of tle and the other types of seizures or syndromes according to the diagnostic certainty , for example , definite , probable , and possible .
also , there is no weight for diagnostic features specifying major or minor criteria . in general , the positive points of the previous and current classifications are as follows : the diagnosis is based on typical clinical description , there is recognition of anatomical areas , the addition of mtle with hs which is a common type of syndrome , and the inclusion of some specific features such as genetic , structural , and unknown that may help to classify some etiologies in patients with tle .
the negative aspects of the available classifications are the exclusion of mri criteria and video - eeg findings to diagnose and classify patients , especially for patients with no findings in the routine eeg despite a potential clinical description of tle .
the current classifications also do not include diagnostic categories such as definite , probable , and possible .
the latter aspect is a significant disadvantage for the development of large epidemiological studies in tle .
in order to perform epidemiological studies in epilepsy , the ilae recommends the following measures .
( a ) point prevalence is the total number of patients with epilepsy in a given population at a specified point in time .
( b ) period prevalence is the number of patients with epilepsy in a given population during a defined time interval .
( c ) lifetime prevalence is the number of patients with a history of epilepsy , regardless of treatment or recent seizure activity .
( d ) incidence is a measure of the risk of developing some new condition within a specified period of time .
( e ) incidence proportion ( also known as cumulative incidence ) is the number of new cases within a specified time period divided by the size of the population initially at risk .
( f ) the standard mortality ratio ( smr ) is the ratio of observed deaths to expected deaths in a defined population .
it is age- and gender - adjusted to a standard population and is the most widely used measure of mortality .
the prevalence of epilepsy in the developed countries ranges from 4 to 10 cases per 1,000 .
studies in the developing and tropical countries have reported a higher prevalence rates of epilepsy , ranging from 14 to 57 cases per 1,000 persons [ 12 , 13 ] .
higher prevalence rates of epilepsy in the developing countries is probably related to the methodological aspects of those studies , although in some regions in the world , specific infectious diseases are frequent causes of epilepsy such as neurocysticercosis .
the median incidence rate of epilepsy in the developed countries ranges from 2550 per 100,000 person years while in the developing countries it ranges from approximately 30115 per 100,000 person years . in the developed countries
, the incidence of epilepsy tends to exhibit a u - shaped curve with highest rates in the children and the elderly .
this same pattern has not been found in the developing countries , where the incidence of epilepsy appears to peak in early adulthood .
smr in epilepsy ranges from 1.2 and 9.3 and depends on study methods and population [ 1517 ] .
overall , the information that proves that mortality is increased in patients with epilepsy versus different type of controls is very solid and comes from well - designed controlled studies [ 1517 ] .
this initial epidemiological study explored different epidemiological markers of epilepsy in the community of rochester minnesota from 1935 to 1967 .
all the cases were assessed by experts in the mayo clinic which was the sole provider of neurology service including eeg to that community .
the incidence rate of tle was 10.4 per 100,000 between 1945 and 1964 and 6.5 between 1935 and 1944 .
in the same periods of time , corresponding incidence rates of epilepsy in the whole population were 54.3 and 34.7 , respectively .
in the same study , the calculated prevalence of tle in 1960 was 1.7 per 1,000 people , with a corresponding rate of epilepsy in the whole population of 6.2 cases .
[ 19 , 20 ] , in the same community , estimates of prevalence and incidence of partial epilepsy were reported , but not for tle .
. published a very important study where 2,200 patients with epilepsy attending a tertiary care center were classified according the criteria of the ilae . in this study ,
66% had tle , 24% of the cases frontal epilepsy , 2% parietal , 3% occipital , and 3% multilobar .
the rest of the patients had either generalized epilepsy ( 21.5% ) or undetermined whether partial or generalized ( 16.3% ) .
the study also compares rates of intractability between partial and generalized epilepsy being the first one more intractable .
stated the difficulties to localize the epileptogenic zones in some patients and the classification was difficult to use .
a study of manford et al . produced estimates from a different source . in this study , 275 general practitioners identified all patients older than one month in whom a new diagnosis of definite or possible epileptic seizures was made during 3 years of recruitment .
the practices of those family physicians were located around the country in urban and rural areas to avoid demographic sources of bias .
patients were followed at six months , and then every year with followup between 4 and 7 years .
patients that were included in that cohort , only 594 ( 21% ) patients were classified as having definite epileptic seizures .
the authors had significant problems to identify the localization of the epileptogenic area as many patients did not have video - eeg telemetry .
two hundred and forty five ( 41% ) patients were classified as having localization - related epilepsy .
only 3 cases were classified as clear ntle , 9 overlap between tle and frontal lobe epilepsy ( fle ) , and 40 cases were diagnosed as tle but the researchers could not distinguish between nlte and mlte .
the overall percentage of cases with tle from the group of focal cases was 21% and from the whole cohort was 9% .
finally , studies from surgical centers describe the frequency of tle and report different rates compared with other sources . for example , wass et al .
reported 291 patients who had epilepsy surgery , 73% were tle cases and 27% extratemporal .
described the seizure outcomes of 64 patients , 34 ( 53% ) had tle and 30 ( 47% ) in other locations .
keene et al . reported 64 patients , 44 ( 69% ) were temporal resections , 16 ( 25% ) extratemporal , and 4 ( 6% ) hemispherectomies .
reported 100 resections , 76% were temporal , 23% frontal and 1% parietal . finally , daniel and chandy reported the surgical outcomes of 141 patients , 102 ( 73% ) patients had temporal resections and 39 ( 27% ) had extratemporal resections .
all the studies in surgical centers provide similar rates which are significantly higher than other sources . regarding mortality which is a very relevant outcome in epilepsy
there are reports from surgical centers with controversial information regarding the improvement of mortality rates in tle after surgery .
some studies have demonstrated an improvement of mortality rates after epilepsy surgery if patients render seizure - free [ 28 , 29 ] , but these observations are not consistent in all studies [ 9 , 30 ] .
patients with tle from epilepsy centers represent very selected populations and they do not accurately reflect mortality in epilepsy in tle .
the available studies describing the epidemiology of tle provide interesting and varied information . the studies by manford et al .
[ 22 , 31 ] provide a unique epidemiological view of tle . in this study , the patients did not belong to surgical centers or epilepsy centers and were mainly recruited by general practitioners .
the overall percentage of patients with tle from the groups of patients with localization - related epilepsy was 21% and from the whole cohort was 9% .
this study clearly indicates that tle is not the most frequent type of epilepsy if we take into account cases with epilepsy from the community . on the other hand
, there is no doubt that tle is the most frequent type of epilepsy that is referred to the surgical centers . the majority of surgical series report that tle represents between 50 and 73% of all cases assessed in epilepsy surgical centers .
the high prevalence of patients with tle in surgical centers is probably related to the better surgical outcome of tle compared to extratemporal epilepsy and the higher risk of neurological deficits related to excision of functional cortex in extratemporal cases .
because of this reason , more neurologists and more family practitioners possibly refer patients with tle more frequently for surgical assessment .
in addition , some studies have demonstrated that tle has high rates of intractability and it could be another reason why patients are more referred to epilepsy centers .
the intermediate rates of tle reported in tertiary referral centers help us to understand the epidemiology of this entity .
. showed in his study that overall 24% of patients referred to tertiary care centers had tle . from the group of patients with localization - related epilepsies ,
in contrast to the studies from epilepsy surgical centers where a great majority of cases have tle and from studies based on community referrals where the rate is low , studies from tertiary centers show an intermediate prevalence of tle . the study of hauser and kurland is unique in many aspects and the methodology that was used in this study is probably the recommended for a large - scale epidemiological study in tle . in the study of hauser and kurland ,
all the patients were evaluated in the mayo clinic , allowing the possibility to have the assessment from the specialist and the use of other tests to classify the patients with the different types of epilepsy .
in contrast to many epidemiological studies that asses the overall prevalence of epilepsy and where simple methods can be used such as a questionnaire or simple questions to ascertain the diagnosis of epilepsy to obtain accurate estimates , in the specific case of tle and other partial epilepsies , it would be necessary to have a clinical assessment by specialists and the use of other tests such as eeg , mri , and in some cases video - eeg telemetry .
the lack of large - scale epidemiological studies in tle could be related to real methodological obstacles .
as was reviewed in this article , the current definition by the ilae is not easy to apply in large epidemiological studies . examples of this situation are the studies of manford et al . and semah et al . [ 21 , 31 ] , where some patients were not accurately classified because of the limitations of the definitions already discussed .
in the future , a definition that could include a clinical description plus eeg , mri , and video - eeg criteria should be employed to improve the classification of patients with tle . moreover
, the definition has to be easy to apply in large populations such as the ilae definition of epilepsy . in the earlier epidemiological studies ,
very little if any neuroimaging was done ; it was not yet available . with the expanded use of neuroimaging in the diagnostic evaluation of most patients with seizures and the improvement in imaging technology
, we are getting a better understanding of the role of structural lesions in patients with tle .
few studies have explored the presence of specific imaging findings related with tle , such as mts in normal population or in patients with benign forms of tle [ 32 , 33 ] . in the future
, epidemiological studies using mri are going to be critical in order to understand better the epidemiology of tle .
as we reviewed in this article , a cohort for epidemiological studies on tle should be based on a community where a hospital with major resources to investigate patients is available .
this is necessary considering that many cases can not be diagnosed only with the clinical history and they will require other specialized tests .
finally , a significant problem to develop a large epidemiological study is the low incidence and prevalence of tle .
the study of hauser and kurland shows that the rates are low and the necessity of a large sample size for epidemiological studies could be not feasible in many settings . | pubmed |
Solve hanging rope question by using Lagrangian density [closed]
**Closed.** This question is [off-topic](/help/closed-questions). It is not currently accepting answers.
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for this one, I can only do the first(a)
$$V\_{total}=\frac{mg}{l} \int\_{x\_0}^{d-x\_0}{y(x)\sqrt{1+(\frac{dy(x)}{dx})^2}}dx$$
and have no idea about others.
>
> (a) Write down the potential energy of the rope as the function $y(x)$.
>
>
>
You're almost right, up to a minus sign in the limits of the integral:
$$V=\dfrac{mg}{l}\int\_{-x\_0}^{d-x\_0}y(x)\sqrt{1+y'^2}\ dx$$
>
> (b) Since the problem is static, interpret the potential energy as the Lagrangian and find the Lagrangian density.
>
>
>
The Lagrangian is usually given by $L=T-V$. Since the problem is static, there is no kinetic energy and $T$ vanishes. Therefore:
$$L=-V=-\dfrac{mg}{l}\int\_{-x\_0}^{d-x\_0}y(x)\sqrt{1+y'^2}\ dx$$
Now, the Lagrangian density $\mathcal{L}$ is related to the Lagrangian $L$ by:
$$L=\int\mathcal{L}\ dx$$
Such that:
$$\mathcal{L}=-\dfrac{mg}{l}y\sqrt{1+y'^2}$$
>
> (c) Using the Lagrangian density, construct the equation of motion.
>
>
>
The Euler-Lagrange equation for $\mathcal{L}(y,y',x)$ is:
$$\dfrac{d}{dx}\dfrac{\partial\mathcal{L}}{\partial y'}-\dfrac{\partial\mathcal{L}}{\partial y}=0$$
Plugging in $\mathcal{L}$:
$$\dfrac{d}{dx}\left[\dfrac{yy'}{\sqrt{1+y'^2}}\right]-\sqrt{1+y'^2}=0$$
which gives:
$$\left[\dfrac{y'^2}{\sqrt{1+y'^2}}+\dfrac{yy''}{\sqrt{1+y'^2}}-\dfrac{y(y')^2y''}{(1+y'^2)^{3/2}}\right]-\sqrt{1+y'^2}=0$$
After some manipulations and simplifications:
$$\dfrac{yy''}{(1+y'^2)^{3/2}}-\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1+y'^2}}=0$$
>
> (d) Solve for $y(x)$.
>
>
>
Multiplying through by $y'$ yields:
$$\dfrac{yy'y''}{(1+y'^2)^{3/2}}-\dfrac{y'}{\sqrt{1+y'^2}}=\dfrac{d}{dx}\left[\dfrac{y}{\sqrt{1+y'^2}}\right]=0$$
Integrating with respect to $x$:
$$\dfrac{y}{\sqrt{1+y'^2}}=C\_1,\quad C\_1\in\mathbb{R}$$
which you may recognize as the first-order differential equation for a *catenary*, such that we get:
$$y=C\_1\cosh\left(\dfrac{x+C\_2}{C\_1}\right),\quad C\_2\in\mathbb{R}$$
All that is left to do is to find $C\_1$ and $C\_2$ from the boundary conditions on $y(x)$.
| stackexchange/physics |
What is the correct order of chemical reactivity in terms of oxidising property for the following elements: F, Cl, O, and N
This is a textbook question. I am confused as to which factors i should consider while sorting out these elements. If I take electron gain enthalpy, then Cl should be greater than F, but if i consider electronegativity F is greater than Cl . I'd be grateful to anyone who provides some idea..
See, F is the strongest oxidising agent in the entire periodic table. Also, according to periodic table trends, oxidising character decreases down the group and increases across a period. You should check the reactivity of any element according to the question given, here, according to the oxidising character. If nothing is given, usually IE and Electronegativity is considered.
Therefore, I think the order should be F>O>Cl>N. Cl>N because Cl is more oxidising than N.
I must add that a simple Google search would have yielded the same result.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
Session of the Jadovno Board
Datum objave: subota, 26 februara, 2011
Objavljeno u en-lat
Odbor za Jadovno
Based on Article 108, item 3 of the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and according to a need brought to the attention we reach the following
with which, at the Eparchy of Gornji Karlovci, we establish a Board for marking and cherishing the memory on the victims of the complex of Ustasha camps Jadovno 1941.
The members of the Board are:
His Holiness Bishop of Gornji Karlovci Gerasim, President
Mr Dušan Bastašić, Doctor of Dental Medicine from Banja Luka, Vice President
Archimandrite Mihailo, Prior of the Monastery Gomirje
Archpriest-stavrophore Mićo Kostić, Parish-rector of Rijeka
Archpriest Dalibor Tanasić, Parich-rector of Korenica
Mr Đuro Zatezalo, historian
Mr Rade Kosanović, Head of Krnjak Municipality
Mr Milorad Delić, Head of Vrhovine Municipality
Mr Slobodan Platiša, Director of the Development Centre of the Serbian People's Council
Mr Siniša Ljubojević, Vice Mayor of the City of Ogulin
The first session of this Board was held today at the Monastery of the Holy Virgin. The discussion involved the work of the Board, its tasks and objectives in the forthcoming period of its work.
There is no Orthodox family originating from the area once covered by the NDH which does not have a direct or collateral relative murdered during the existence of that state.
Adopting the suffering of the Serbian Orthodox people into the memory of our people is not only a due attitude towards our ancestors, but also a responsible attitude towards our future generations in order to prevent genocide.
The Board preserves the liturgical and every other memory of the Martyrs of Jadovno and all other sufferers at the territory of Gornji Karlovac Diocese.
The Board keeps the memories and remembers of all of the martyrs, studies their suffering and celebrate it with liturgy.
The Board gathers the descendants and supporters of the Jadovno victims who with their work and activities contribute to preserving from oblivion this unprecedented crime that occurred in the Independent State of Croatia during the Second World War in the area of the Jadovno complex of camps and at other execution sites.
The aim of Board's work is to let the whole world know about the Jadovno tragedy and preserving the memory of the innocent victims, our family members, relatives, fellow countrymen and their fellow sufferers who were killed almost 70 years ago.
PLANNED BOARD ACTIVITIES
With structures of the Gornji Karlovac Diocese organise a requiem service for the Jadovno Martyrs each year on June 24, the Remembrance Day.
Organise a requiem and memorial service for the innocent victims on Sunday, June 26, 2011 on Velebit and at the Slana Bay on the island of Pag, as well as every next year on Saturdays or Sunday closest to June 24 of that year.
Work on completing the list of names on which Dr Zatezalo worked until 1990 and which was continued by the Museum of Genocide in Belgrade.
Work on encouraging descendants of victims to write and send their information about what happened to their family members, relatives and neighbours at the Jadovno execution sites and send photographs and other available documents.
Work on identifying public and private archives and sources that own historical documents connected to the Jadovno execution sites.
Organising lectures and presentations on Jadovno 1941.
Work on protecting registered Memorial Sites: Šaranova Pit, the location of Jadovno camp and Slana camp on the island of Pag and other execution sites all over the Gornji Karlovac Diocese.
Look for ways to introduce at least a piece of information on Jadovno 1941 into school textbooks and curricula.
Look for ways to give room in museums for the Jadovno execution sites.
Establish cooperation with Jewish organisation that deal with Jadovno, a common execution site for Serbs and Jews.
Work on encouraging news agencies and all other media, especially public media services to give media time to topics dealing with the genocide over the Serbs in the NDH.
Work on encouraging institutions, local, county and republic, to recognise the importance of the Board and support its activities.
Look for ways to name at least one street or a square in certain towns in the Republic of Croatia with Serbian majority after the Jadovno victims in 1941.
Insist that local, county and republic institutions introduce the Jadovno 1941 Remembrance Day into their calendars.
Recognise way to support the First International Jadovno 1941 Conference which is to be held in Banja Luka on June 24, 2011.
Work on identifying local and foreign legislations and resolutions relating to the preservation of Second World War monuments and which reject fascism as an ideology of evil, hatred between men and mutual extermination.
Work on identifying local and foreign institutions and funds which finance projects dealing with preserving memories on sufferings in the Second World War.
On the path to realise its objectives, the Board offers and is ready to cooperate with individuals and institutions in the country and abroad.
In Donji Budački
Source: SVEŠTENA EPISKOPIJA GORNJOKARLOVAČKA
Related news: OSNOVAN ODBOR ZA NJEGOVANJE SJEĆANJA NA JADOVINSKE ŽRTVE | slim_pajama |
Tag: Innovation
All Topics Women Leadership
March 9, 2018 May 4, 2018
Everywhere, Every Day Innovating. Women Entrepreneurs And Innovation
By Clare Beckton BA, LLB, MPA, Janice McDonald BA, MA, ICD.D, MFA and Maude Marquis-Bissonnette MPA, PhD candidate
Women entrepreneurs are innovating everywhere, every day across Canada. Current policies and discourse that equate innovation solely with advances in technology exclude much of women entrepreneurs' innovations. The result is a lack of recognition of the significant contribution that women entrepreneurs make to Canada's innovation and a lack of access to funding to increase their innovation capacity and implementation. This needs to change as women-led businesses today represent 50% of all new businesses (BDC, 2017). Among all small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), 47% are entirely or partly owned by women (Statistics Canada, 2012). Businesses owned by women entrepreneurs make significant contributions to the Canadian economy. Although women-led businesses tend to be smaller than men-led businesses in general, they create more jobs (Statistics Canada, 2012) and have higher survival rates (Benavides-Espinosa and Mohedano-Suanes, 2012; Statistics Canada, 2012).
Contrary to the current discourse around science and technology and funding criteria, innovation is much broader, as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and accepted by Canada 2020's work as the "implementation of a new or significantly improved product (good or service), or process, a new marketing method, or a new organizational method in business practices, workplace organization or external relations" (2005, p.46). As a consequence, an innovation can represent many things in an organization. However, in Canada, innovation is often equated to goods, rather than services, and especially in science and technologies. Most of the businesses started by women entrepreneurs are concentrated in the service sector (90%, according to TD Economics, 2015) and women are underrepresented in the science and technology sector (Bahmani & al., 2012; Move the Dial, 2017). This explains partly why women entrepreneurs are seen as less innovative and benefit less from funding opportunities that are concentrated for innovation in high technology as reported by Canada 2020.
In our study, we set out to better understand how and where women entrepreneurs are innovating in Canada. We knew from our previous study, A Force to Reckon With: Women, Entrepreneurship and Risk, that women entrepreneurs are ambitious and want to grow their businesses. Yet there was little information with respect to women entrepreneurs' innovation and what the factors are that impact their ability to be innovative. After an extensive literature review we realized the insights were limited and would benefit from qualitative interviews that seek to understand the lived reality of women entrepreneurs relating to innovation. Facing overwhelming interest, we interviewed 146 women entrepreneurs throughout Canada, in all sectors and all stages of business from startup to multimillion-dollar businesses, including Indigenous women entrepreneurs who have not received a lot of attention in the literature. Those interviews showed us that women entrepreneurs are innovating in all sectors and in every aspect of their business and are very aware of the constant need to innovate to stay competitive and grow.
From the interviews, we found that innovations of women entrepreneurs are often inhibited by lack of access to capital for startup and growth, ageism (as women tend to start a business in a later stage of their life and age out of funding programs) and sexism and harassment from investors and clients. Funding opportunities do not always match women entrepreneurs' goals as they were not available in their sectors or would not take into account their desire to help their community by promoting local products, for instance. Collaboration and partnerships are also key elements for women entrepreneurs. Mainstream networks, incubators and accelerators are often not welcoming to women entrepreneurs, yet networks, mentoring and growth opportunities are considered to be important to entrepreneurial success.
As for Indigenous women entrepreneurs, the literature is not abundant. In the interviews, we found that Indigenous women entrepreneurs are also innovating in all aspects of their businesses. They view collaboration as essential and want to support their communities. Indigenous women entrepreneurs face the same challenges as all women entrepreneurs with the additional burdens of prejudice, possible lack of support from their family and community, lack of role models, often more child and family responsibilities, lack of business training and lack of access to high-speed internet on more isolated reserves.
Governments, cities and financial institutions have both the opportunity and responsibility to include and support women entrepreneurs by developing inclusive innovation policy and programs that enable all innovation, no matter what sector, to be supported and recognized. Women must be involved from design to implementation to ensure their perspectives and experiences shape the policy and programs to be inclusive to all. While there is a very important focus on encouraging women to enter the STEM fields and technology and supporting advances in technology and sciences, recognizing and valuing women's innovation in all areas is equally vital. Canada needs an innovative society, which can be fostered through recognition and support of innovators in all sectors. A number of recommendations are offered to build a truly inclusive innovation strategy that embraces innovation in all sectors, not only those involving new technologies.
Clare Beckton BA, LLB, MPA
Janice McDonald BA, MA, ICD.D, MFA
Maude Marquis-Bissonnette MPA, PhD candidate
Posted in All Topics, Women LeadershipTagged Clare Beckton, Innovation, Janice McDonald, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, Wealth Creation, Women Entrepreneurs
All Topics Company News
July 19, 2017 May 4, 2018
WXN Digital Brand Ambassador Ilona Dougherty is Wired for Innovation
By Ilona Dougherty
Do you remember your first summer job? What it felt like to come to the office every day instead of going to school? How grown up it seemed?
Our first jobs often make lasting impression on us. But in a world that portrays Millennials and Gen Z as a nuisance, are we giving young people the opportunity to make a positive impact on the workplaces they will frequent this summer?
Recently at the University of Waterloo I give a Tedx talk about how our summer interns and young employees are in fact the innovation engine our companies need in a knowledge economy. Neuroscience and developmental psychology tells us that from 15 to 25 years old young people's brains are wired for innovation. They don't need to be trained or taught to be innovative, we just need to tap into their natural abilities.
This summer I encourage you to look at the summer interns and young employees you are working a little bit differently. If you let them, they can have just as much of a positive impact on the work you do, as your mentorship and support will have on them.
For more tips and insight about how to tap into young people's potential in the workplace check out my Tedx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mobQ-r6k5xY
Ilona Dougherty is the Managing Director of the Youth & Innovation Research Project at the University of Waterloo (https://uwaterloo.ca/youth-and-innovation/) and was one of WXN's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2015.
@ilonadougherty
Posted in All Topics, Company NewsTagged Ilona Dougherty, Innovation, Millenials, TedxUW, top 100 winner
PhaseNyne helps companies and individuals to shape their journey towards equity, diversity and inclusion. PhaseNyne is the operating company of WXN and CBDC. | slim_pajama |
Diana Reynell 9 September 1933 1 August 2017 was a leading grotto designer and restorer.
Early life
Reynell was born Diana Baldwin on 9 September 1933 to Joseph Baldwin, an Oxfordshire bank manager, and his wife. Diana's mother and brother died in childbirth when she was three years old. She was educated at schools in Witney and Faringdon in Oxfordshire and The Kingsley School in Warwickshire. She subsequently studied at an art school in Oxford but not The Ruskin where she met her future husband Antony Reynell.
Career
After her marriage in 1955, Reynell joined her husband at Marlborough College where he taught classics and she taught jewellery design. The couple had four children.
Reynell's first grotto restoration was of a room dug into the Marlborough Mound for Lady Hertford at Marlborough College.
In the late-1980s, she created the shellwork in the subterranean grotto at Leeds Castle and restored the grotto at Hampton Court House.
Death
Reynell died on 1 August 2017 from the effects of lung cancer and Parkinson's disease.
She had a beautiful home burial in her garden attended by all her family and friends in glorious sunshine .
References
External links
Category:Grottoes
Category:English landscape and garden designers
Category:Deaths from lung cancer
Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease
Category:1933 births
Category:2017 deaths | wikipedia |
pneumonia , diarrhea , and malaria remained the major killers of children under the age of five .
these three diseases account for more than half of all the deaths in that age group .
this is because children are not getting access to appropriate treatment [ 1 , 2 ] .
prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of common childhood illnesses can prevent death and long term illness .
however , evidence from several studies show that nearly one - half of caretakers did not take any action within one to two days of their child falling ill [ 36 ] .
according to evidence from many african countries such as nigeria , burkina faso , and zambia more than half of the children with common childhood illnesses did not seek any medical advice .
others also gave drugs at home or went to a traditional healer / drug shops and only a few of them went to private or government clinics [ 3 , 7 ] .
in many african countries , the median public health facility use for the treatment of common childhood illness in under - five children is below 50% . in ethiopia ,
the medical care seeking behavior for the treatment of common childhood illness in health facilities varies from region to region .
it ranges from < 5% to 72% [ 911 ] . among those who sought advice ,
nearly 73% of care givers sought treatment in government health facilities [ 9 , 10 ] . in ethiopia
ethiopia is improving the quality of primary health care facilities and its distribution by expanding physical health infrastructure and by providing training and deploying health extension workers to provide basic curative and preventive health care services in every rural community .
however , there were many challenges faced by the program due to lack of transportation , bad road conditions , shortage of trained health workers , and unreliable medical supplies , to mention some [ 12 , 13 ] .
in addition , customer handling was reported to be poor to attract caretakers to utilize the service , thus resulting in client and patient dissatisfaction [ 14 , 15 ] .
maternal education , socioeconomic status of the household , number of children under five years of age in the household , and area of residence were some of the factors related to the utilization of different types of health facilities . generally , wealthier households are more likely to seek treatment than the poorest ; poor households tend to seek care from public facilities , while wealthier households seek care from private facilities [ 7 , 16 ] .
although provision of treatment for common childhood illnesses in ethiopia is among the health agenda priorities , few studies have assessed the factors associated with care seeking behavior of caretakers for treatment of common childhood illnesses .
therefore , we undertook further analysis of the edhs 2011 data for assessing health care seeking behavior of caretakers for common childhood illness using nationally representative data .
the source of the data for the current study was the ethiopian demographic and health survey which was conducted in 2011 ( edhs 2011 ) .
the samples were selected using a two - stage stratified cluster sampling technique . initially all nine regions were stratified into urban and rural clusters . from 624 enumeration areas ( eas ) ,
a total of 18,720 households were included in the survey , 5,610 from urban and 13,110 from rural areas .
the children 's record data and household members ' record data were merged to obtain a working dataset .
firstly , children with at least one common childhood illness ( diarrhea , ari , and/or fever ) two weeks preceding the survey were identified and subset of the edhs data was extracted . accordingly ,
secondly , summary measures were analyzed to investigate caretakers ' health seeking behavior for common childhood illnesses .
then , at the third stage , bivariate analysis was conducted using the pearson 's chi - square test to test whether there were a difference between the child , household , environmental , and parental characteristics and treatment seeking behavior of the caretakers .
multivariable analysis using a complex sample logistic regression model was employed to determine factors associated with the health seeking behavior of caretakers for their children under the age of five with common childhood illnesses .
it was constructed by combining information on household assets such as ownership of consumer items , types of dwelling , source of drinking water , and availability of electricity into a single index .
it is recategorized as poorer and poor as lower , the middle as a middle , and richer and rich as higher .
the age of the children were categorized as 011 months , 1223 months , and 2459 months .
the birth order of the child is categorized as 1 ( first ) , 2 - 3 , 46 , and 7 .
dependent variable was constructed as a dichotomous outcome ; caretakers who sought care for their children with fever / ari / diarrhea from formal health care ( government health facilities , private hospitals / clinics , and nongovernmental organization clinics ) were coded as one and those who did not seek formal care ( including purchasing medicines from pharmacy , shop , and traditional healers ) were coded as zero . the dhs survey had ethical clearance from the national research ethics review committee . ethical clearance for this study
official permission was also obtained from measure / dhs to use the data for this analysis .
totally 11,645 women in reproductive age group ( 1549 years ) with their children under the age of five were included in the analysis , of which a total of 2,842 caregivers for children under the age of five years reported that their index child had one or more of the three common childhood illnesses in the two weeks preceding the survey .
majority , 9,668 ( 83% ) , of caretakers of the children were living in rural area .
seventy - six percent of the ages of the caretakers of the children were below 35 years of age .
caretakers of 70% of the children had no education and 25% had primary education level . of 2,842 caregivers studied , 849 ( 29.87% ; 95% ci : 28 , 32% ) sought health care for their ill children . among those who sought care , the most frequent first option for treatment of a child with common childhood illness was primary health care facilities followed by higher hospital . for more details
separate analysis for each illness showed that 1,416 ( 68.01% ) children with fever , 1,044 ( 64.44% ) with diarrhea , and 644 ( 83.41% ) with ari did not receive any modern treatment .
as reported in figure 2 there may be children with more than one illness ; the total number of children for the separate analysis is not the same as the number of children with at least one common childhood illnesses . as depicted in table 1 there was a difference in seeking care by number of under - five children ;
those caretakers who had one under - five child seek health care more than those caretakers who had two and more under - five children . in < 2 u5 children 726 ( 30.74% ) and in 2 u5 children 123 ( 25.62% ) sought formal care .
this difference was statistically significant ( chi ( 1 ) = 5 , p < 0.001 ) .
in multivariable analysis , exposure to mass media , birth order of the child , and wealth were the statistically significant factors .
those caretakers who had exposure to mass media , for example , listening to the radio at least once a week , were more likely to seek formal care for their child with common childhood illness ( aor = 1.5 ; 95% ci : 1 , 2.1 ) .
the higher the birth order of the child the lower the health care seeking behavior of caretakers for their children with common childhood illness ( aor = 0.5 ; 95% ci : 0.3 , 1 ) .
caregivers at a higher wealth index category are more likely to seek formal care for their child with common childhood illness ( aor = 1.6 ; 95% ci : 1.1 , 2.4 ) . for more details
overall , less than one - third of caretakers of children under the age of five years with common childhood illness seek formal health care .
health care seeking from formal health care system was better for those caretakers who were exposed to mass media and with higher wealth status .
children born from large family size are also less likely to get immediate care from formal health facilities .
appropriate health seeking behavior of caretakers is very low in this study compared to similar studies done in nepal , myanmar , cambodia , yemen , tanzania , and kenya [ 4 , 1721 ] .
this might be because in ethiopia 85% of the population is living in rural areas ; the descriptive analysis of this study showed that ( table 1 ) majority of rural caretakers do not seek health care ; that could be due to lack of awareness
. low literacy rate among caretakers who live in rural parts of ethiopia was attributed to lack of awareness and eventually leads to low health seeking behavior . moreover economic challenges and problem of accessing the health facilities are some of the reasons .
this is because of physical and economical access to the health service is courage for the caretakers to seek care .
the study revealed that caretakers who had two and more under - five children are less likely to seek formal health care compared to those who had one .
the larger the size of the family , the lower the caretakers to seek formal health care .
this shows that children born to large family size are less likely to get formal health care .
this might be due to the fact that in ethiopia women are responsible for taking care of their family and this is the routine activity done by mothers . as a result taking care of large family might lead to high work load and not giving much more attention for the sick child .
the result also revealed that those caretakers from higher wealth seek more formal health care compared to the lower wealth .
this is also similar to the studies done in nepal , cambodia , and ghana [ 4 , 17 , 23 ] .
this result is also in line with different studies done in cambodia , ghana , and tanzania [ 4 , 16 , 23 ] .
this is because , in ethiopia , government facilities are the major health care providers and phc is relatively cheap in cost and reachable for the caretakers .
this study revealed that those caretakers who had exposure to mass media ( listening to radio at least once a week ) seek more formal care than those who do not .
those caretakers , at least who have exposure to media , have better awareness of the importance of seeking formal care . the limitations of this study include the data set lacks variable such as at what time caretakers sought medical advice .
however , the rest of the variables are robust and representative of the country ; as a result the findings of this study are generalizable . in conclusion ,
health care seeking behavior of caretakers in ethiopia is low ; less than one - third of caretakers sough formal heath care . among those who sought formal health care , primary health care facilities were the most common care providers .
exposure to mass media appears to have played a role in motivating health care seeking behavior and family planning is also important to maximize health seeking behavior of the caretakers . | pubmed |
What happens to all the stolen neutrons in nuclear reactor?
I'm reading about chain reactions in pressurized water reactors. All is good and clear. U-235 splits, releases 2 or 3 neutrons, if the reactor is supercritical then reaction will continue. Part of the neutrons will escape the reactor, some will be slowed down to split some more U-235.
But what happens with all the captured neutrons within the active zone?
When neutron is captured by U-238 atom, what happens next? Now many neutrons one U-238 atom can capture?
Same with water, H-1 can capture neutron and become deuterium. Primary circuit is a closed system, there is a bunch of water but still finite amount. Can it become 'saturated' with neutrons and capture no more?
This is silly, but the books says that twenty tons of water passes through the core every second. Can neutrons be swept away?
So yeah, what happens to all the stolen neutrons in nuclear reactor? If all the involved parties (materials) capture and keep the neutrons. How much does it affect reactivity eventually, percentagewise?
The book is "How to Drive a Nuclear Reactor" by Colin Tucker and it is great.
This is a complicated business. Note that about one third of the neutrons released by fissioning U-235 do get captured by U-238, which gets transmuted to U-236 or plutonium, both of which can then fission and release energy in the reactor. As such, those neutrons are not "stolen".
Neutrons which do not get captured by U-238 can either 1) escape the reactor entirely, 2) bounce off U-238 or U-235 and keep going, or bang into either, lose energy, and then cause the nucleus to emit either a gamma or an x-ray photon.
All these processes (and more) contribute to the *neutron economy* of the reactor (or bomb) which is carefully considered during the design and subsequent operation of the reactor (or bomb).
One way or another, we can say that the neutrons which are not involved in the chain reaction are captured by water, by fuel, by structures, by fission products, this contributing to make radioactive products or chains of radioactive products. Some neutrons can reach the reactor vessel causing damage in the vessel steel. Some, very, very little, high energy can end up outside the vessel.
But for the majority of neutrons in water reactors, their lifespan is very short, 0.003 - 0.004 seconds and their high speed 2200 m / s , their average range is about one meter .
The water current has no mechanical influence on the physics of neutrons.
Your question is what happens to the captured neutrons that do not create fission? The answer is that they transmute the isotope that absorbed them.
Here are some examples:
* when U-238 captures a neutron, it becomes U-239. The U-239 can then either split in a fission, stay U-239 for a while, or beta decay.
* when Fe-56 absorbs a neutron, it becomes Fe-57
* When H-1 becomes a neutron, it becomes H-2
Every isotope in the system can potentially absorb a neutron, but some isotopes are "more likely" to absorb neutrons. The probabilities of capturing a neutron are determined by the "microscopic absorption cross sections" of the material. Some isotopes (like B-10) are more likely to absorb a neutron than other materials (like H-2).
You ask if the water could ever become saturated as H-2. Theoretically, yes, but it would take a LOT of neutrons. The number of free neutrons in a reactor at any one time is going to be something on the order of $10^8$, but the number of water atoms in a single gram is going to be on the order of $10^{23}$. These are rough numbers, but you can see that they are many orders of magnitude different. You also have to consider that the H-1 can absorb a neutron and become H-2, and then it can absorb another neutron to become H-3.
| stackexchange/physics |
Relation between ionisation enthalpy and nature of bonds in boron
My notes given by institute states that:
>
> Due to small size of boron, the sum of its first three ionization enthalpies is very high. This prevents it to form $+3$ ions and forces it to form only covalent compounds.
>
>
>
How is the covalent nature of bond of boron related to the sum of its first three ionization enthalpies?
EDIT :- I am directly or indirectly asking to prove fajan's rule for boron.
At first, let me give a picture of what ‘relatively high’ actually means. I present the sum of the first three ionisation enthalpies of some elements typically found as metal(III) ions:
* Boron $6887.4~\mathrm{\frac{kJ}{mol}}$
* Aluminium $5139~\mathrm{\frac{kJ}{mol}}$
* Scandium $4256.7~\mathrm{\frac{kJ}{mol}}$
* Iron $5281.4~\mathrm{\frac{kJ}{mol}}$
* Cobalt $5640.4~\mathrm{\frac{kJ}{mol}}$
* Ytterbium $4195.2~\mathrm{\frac{kJ}{mol}}$
We see that boron’s ionisation energy sum is $1.2~\mathrm{\frac{MJ}{mol}}$ larger than that of the next largest in my sample. Also keep in mind that boron is rather small *per se* so a $\ce{B^3+}$ ion must be even smaller.
But what does that actually mean? To generate an ionic compound from its elements, one usually considers an overall formation enthalpy composed of bringing both elements into the gas phase, turning them into ions and letting the crystal lattice form — this last step liberates most energy and is usually the driving force for salt creation. In boron’s case, the cations of such a salt would be $41~\mathrm{pm}$ — exceptionally small; way smaller than $\ce{Al^3+}$ ($68~\mathrm{pm}$) which is already tiny and smaller than $\ce{Be^2+}$ whose $59~\mathrm{pm}$ are typically cited as the smallest ionic radius known ($\ce{H+}$ doesn’t count).[1]
[The structure of $\ce{BeF2}$](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/BeF2str.PNG) can already be considered as the greatest possible compromise in keeping the cations and — more importantly — the anions apart from themselves; hence its spacious structure. These problems would be multiplied if an even smaller cation were used here: It would be *extremely* hard to generate a crystal lattice that would allow for sufficient separation of the anions from each other since the cation is so tiny (and we need lots of anions: three negative charges per boron!).
So all things considered, ionic boron salts would have a very unstable crystal structure and would hence be hard to generate, especially since the lattice enthalpy cannot counteract the large ionisation enthalpy required for boron adequately. Luckily, covalent compounds are always a possibility and boron’s atomic orbitals are well shaped and well placed in energy to allow covalent bonding.
Note that boron’s electronegativity of $2.0$ on the Pauling scale also shows how badly boron would form ionic bonds: The tiny sizes of ions would draw electrons in in an even stronger way, potentially reducing boron before it would reach the ionic state.
---
The Polish chemist *Kazimierz Fajans* simplified this in his set of *Fajans’ rules:*
* A compound will be covalent, if:
+ there is a high positive charge;
+ the anion is large; and/or
+ the cation is small.
* A compound will be ionic, if:
+ there is a low positive charge;
+ the anion is small; and/or
+ the cation is large.
Note that in ambiguous cases such as $\ce{AlF3}$, (small cation, high positive charge but small anion) the rules fail to predict a mainly ionic compound, but correctly make us assume a rather high covalent character of said ionic bonds.
---
[1] Even beryllium forms rather covalent compounds most of the time. Due to the electronegativity difference of $2.5$ on the Pauling scale, we may just be able to consider solid $\ce{BeF2}$ as an ionic compound. All of these are borderline cases in one way or the other, though.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome ( pots ) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system that manifests with excessive increase in heart rate upon standing ( adult 30 beats per minute ; adolescent 40 beats per minute ) in the absence of postural hypotension.1 common symptoms include chronic fatigue and pain , as well as diminished quality of life.13 pots is a heterogeneous disorder,4 and includes symptoms such as neuropathic pain,1 poor sleep efficiency,5 headaches , palpitations , tremors , gastrointestinal disturbance , facial flushing,6 and orthostatic symptoms like dizziness , lightheadedness , and syncope.7 many people have developed pots after a viral infection , surgery , motor vehicle accident , concussion , or during pregnancy.8,9 many with pots report sleep disruption at night,6,1012 including poor sleep efficiency and increased sleep fragmentation.5 activation of the sympathetic nervous system may explain sleep disruption in some pots patients,5,13 while sleep disruption could also be due to chronic pain and hyperarousal.11,14 in polysomnography studies , people with pots have a reduction in the heart rate variability for both low frequency and high frequency bands during different sleep stages.11 additionally , pots patients spend more time in stage two sleep,11 and have a reduction in the percentage of rapid eye movement ( rem ) sleep.15 sleep disruption in pots and other chronic illnesses should be of clinical concern because insomnia is a known risk factor for suicide.1618 insomnia has been linked with increased rates of depression,19 and approximately 50% of people with invisible illness suffer from depression,20 one of the greatest risk factors for suicide
. however , the association between insomnia and suicide remains , even when controlling for depressive disorder21 and intensity of depression and hopelessness.22 further , nightmares can be a more potent factor than insomnia in predicting suicide.19,23 suicide is a major cause of death in both the general population and in chronic illness communities where physical and emotional challenges persist . in the general population , suicide is the third leading cause of death in people < 30 years old.24 increased risk of suicide has been found in chronic fatigue syndrome25,26 and fibromyalgia.2730 to our knowledge , no studies of suicide and its relationship to sleep disturbances exist for pots .
our hypothesis was that increased sleep disturbance in people with pots would increase the risk of suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior .
participants were recruited for the online survey via paid advertising campaigns for people with and without pots through the standing up to pots facebook page . from adults over age 18 years old , 705 people with physician diagnosed pots ( 688 females , 17 males ; mean age 33.75 years ; sd=11.39 ) and 170 non - pots controls ( 145 females , 25 males ; mean age 41.90 years ; sd=14.31 ) completed the pittsburgh sleep quality inventory and the suicide behavior questionnaire - revised.31,32 the participants with pots reported a physician diagnosis of the disorder which was not independently confirmed in this study .
they reported being symptomatic for more than a decade (
x=11.43years , sd=11.62 ) and seeing an average of 7.28 ( sd=5.27 ) health care providers in the past year .
of our 705 pots participants , 213 ( 30% ) reported comorbid diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis ( cfs / me ) , 237 ( 34% ) reported ehlers - danlos syndrome ( eds ) , and 85 ( 12% ) reported mast cell activation disorder ( mcad ) . a total of 29 ( 4% ) participants reported having the cluster of pots , eds , and mcad33 as well as cfs / me .
participants electronically signed the informed consent form before opening the online survey that included measures described here .
participants were given the option to complete the survey in one sitting or to return later .
this nine - question self - report measure assesses sleep quality and dysfunction over the past month.31 it differentiates poor from good sleep quality by measuring seven areas on a 03 point scale : subjective sleep quality , sleep latency , sleep duration , habitual sleep efficiency , sleep disturbances , use of sleeping medications , and daytime dysfunction over the last month .
the total score ranges from 021 , with total scores over 5 indicating poor sleep quality .
this four question self - report measure has been used to assign a designation of high or low suicide risk.3236 the sbq - r assesses lifetime suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts.32 the sbq - r questions are : ( 1 ) have you ever thought about or attempted to kill yourself ?
( score : 14a / b ) ; ( 2 ) how often have you thought about killing yourself in the past year ?
( score : 15 ) ; ( 3 ) have you ever told someone that you were going to commit suicide , or that you might do it ?
( score : 13a / b ) ; and ( 4 ) how likely is it that you will attempt suicide someday ?
a score 7 placed participants into the high suicidal risk group , while scores < 7 placed participants in the low suicidal risk group.32,34 statistical analyses were conducted using r computer software .
mean sleep scores and suicide scores for the pots and control groups were compared with independent samples t - tests .
pearson correlations were used to measure relationships between suicidal ideation score and various aspects of sleep disturbance .
standard multiple linear regression was used to evaluate how well overall sleep quality , age , gender , and illness with pots predicted suicidal ideation scores .
participants were recruited for the online survey via paid advertising campaigns for people with and without pots through the standing up to pots facebook page . from adults over age 18 years old , 705 people with physician diagnosed pots ( 688 females , 17 males ; mean age 33.75 years ; sd=11.39 ) and 170 non - pots controls ( 145 females , 25 males ; mean age 41.90 years ; sd=14.31 ) completed the pittsburgh sleep quality inventory and the suicide behavior questionnaire - revised.31,32 the participants with pots reported a physician diagnosis of the disorder which was not independently confirmed in this study .
they reported being symptomatic for more than a decade (
x=11.43years , sd=11.62 ) and seeing an average of 7.28 ( sd=5.27 ) health care providers in the past year .
of our 705 pots participants , 213 ( 30% ) reported comorbid diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis ( cfs / me ) , 237 ( 34% ) reported ehlers - danlos syndrome ( eds ) , and 85 ( 12% ) reported mast cell activation disorder ( mcad ) . a total of 29 ( 4% ) participants reported having the cluster of pots , eds , and mcad33 as well as cfs / me
participants electronically signed the informed consent form before opening the online survey that included measures described here .
participants were given the option to complete the survey in one sitting or to return later .
this nine - question self - report measure assesses sleep quality and dysfunction over the past month.31 it differentiates poor from good sleep quality by measuring seven areas on a 03 point scale : subjective sleep quality , sleep latency , sleep duration , habitual sleep efficiency , sleep disturbances , use of sleeping medications , and daytime dysfunction over the last month .
the total score ranges from 021 , with total scores over 5 indicating poor sleep quality .
this four question self - report measure has been used to assign a designation of high or low suicide risk.3236 the sbq - r assesses lifetime suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts.32 the sbq - r questions are : ( 1 ) have you ever thought about or attempted to kill yourself ?
( score : 14a / b ) ; ( 2 ) how often have you thought about killing yourself in the past year ?
( score : 15 ) ; ( 3 ) have you ever told someone that you were going to commit suicide , or that you might do it ?
( score : 13a / b ) ; and ( 4 ) how likely is it that you will attempt suicide someday ?
a score 7 placed participants into the high suicidal risk group , while scores < 7 placed participants in the low suicidal risk group.32,34
this nine - question self - report measure assesses sleep quality and dysfunction over the past month.31 it differentiates poor from good sleep quality by measuring seven areas on a 03 point scale : subjective sleep quality , sleep latency , sleep duration , habitual sleep efficiency , sleep disturbances , use of sleeping medications , and daytime dysfunction over the last month .
the total score ranges from 021 , with total scores over 5 indicating poor sleep quality .
this four question self - report measure has been used to assign a designation of high or low suicide risk.3236 the sbq - r assesses lifetime suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts.32 the sbq - r questions are : ( 1 ) have you ever thought about or attempted to kill yourself ?
( score : 14a / b ) ; ( 2 ) how often have you thought about killing yourself in the past year ?
( score : 15 ) ; ( 3 ) have you ever told someone that you were going to commit suicide , or that you might do it ?
( score : 13a / b ) ; and ( 4 ) how likely is it that you will attempt suicide someday ?
a score 7 placed participants into the high suicidal risk group , while scores < 7 placed participants in the low suicidal risk group.32,34
mean sleep scores and suicide scores for the pots and control groups were compared with independent samples t - tests .
pearson correlations were used to measure relationships between suicidal ideation score and various aspects of sleep disturbance .
standard multiple linear regression was used to evaluate how well overall sleep quality , age , gender , and illness with pots predicted suicidal ideation scores .
according to the psqi , 98.4% of pots patients surveyed had poor sleep quality ( compared to 69.4% of controls ) , and the pots group had significantly worse mean overall sleep scores than controls ( t=17.75 ; p<0.001 ) .
the average pots patient sleeps 6.0 hours per night which is significantly less than controls ( table 1 , 7.8 hours ; t=3.17 ; p<0.001 ) , despite being in bed for 9.45 hours . with a subjective sleep efficiency of 65.4% ,
the pots group had significantly less sleep efficiency than the control group ( t=11.32 ; p<0.001 ) .
the average sleep onset latency for those with pots was 2 hours and 26 minutes .
a majority of pots patients reported frequent ( defined as happening 3 + times per week ) sleep disturbances from pain ( 53% ) , failing to fall asleep within 30 minutes ( 59.9% ) , and waking in the middle of the night or early morning ( 68.9% ; table 2 ) .
those with pots had significantly more sleep disturbances because of pain than non - pots controls ( t=15.36 ; p<0.001 ) . pots patients also had significantly more disturbances from bad dreams ( t=8.62 ; p<0.001 ) , from breathing problems ( t=11.13 ;
p<0.001 ) , from nighttime or early morning awakenings ( t=7.70 ; p<0.001 ) , and from failing to fall asleep within 30 minutes ( table 1 ; t=12.36 ; p<0.001 ) .
further , pots patients took sleeping medication significantly more frequently than non - pots controls ( t)=7.09 ; p<0.001 ) and gave significantly lower self - ratings of sleep quality ( t=12.91 ; p<0.001 ) .
while the psqi rated 98.4% of pots patients to have poor sleep , only 70.2% rated their own sleep as poor .
there were no significant gender differences with regards to sleep except that among the control group , females had more frequent sleep disturbances from feeling too cold ( t=3.16 ; p=0.002 ) . among the 705 pots patients who completed the sbq - r , there were no gender differences in any sub - scores or total score .
pots patients had a mean total score of 7.0 , just at the cut - off for being considered at high risk ( 7 ) , and also significantly higher than controls mean total score of 4.7 ( t=8.0 ; p<0.001 ) . among pots
patients , 333 ( 47.2% ) were at high risk compared with 27 controls ( 15.9% ) .
chi - square testing showed a larger proportion of high - risk individuals among pots patients than among controls ( [ 1 , n=875]=55.6 ; p<0.001 ) .
pots patients scored significantly higher than controls on each of the four sbq - r sub - scales .
pots patients had significantly higher scores for lifetime suicide ideation (
x=2.0 , sd=0.9 ) than controls (
x=1.5 , sd=0.7 ; t=6.78 ; p<0.001 ) .
pots patients had a significantly higher suicide ideation frequency in the past 12 months (
x=2.3 , sd=1.4 ) than controls (
x=1.4 , sd=1.0 ; t=7.97 ; p<0.001 ) .
threat of suicide attempt was also significantly higher for pots patients (
x=1.5 , sd=0.7 ) than controls (
x=1.2 , sd=0.5 ; t=5.50 ; p<0.001 ) .
those with pots had a higher likelihood of suicidal behavior in the future (
x=1.2 ; sd=1.4 ) than controls (
x=0.6 , sd=1.0 ; t=5.35 ; p<0.001 ) .
as shown in table 3 , 23.8% of pots patients had made a suicide plan at some point ( item 1 , responses 3a and 3b ) , compared to 12.3% of controls , and 15.4% had made a suicide attempt ( item 1 , responses 4a and 4b ) , compared to 2.4% of controls . among pots
patients , 12.3% reported very frequent suicide ideation in the past 12 months , compared to 1.2% of controls . among pots
patients , 36.5% had threatened suicide ( item 3 , responses 2a , 2b , 3a , and 3b ) compared to 17.1% of controls . when asked about likelihood of attempting suicide in the future
, 7.3% of pots patients said that they were likely to do so , compared to 1.2% of non - pots controls ( table 3 ; item 4 , responses 46 ) .
pearson correlations showed associations between suicidal ideation score and several components of the psqi : subjective sleep efficiency ( r=0.26 , p<0.001 ) ; delayed sleep latency over 30 minutes ( r=0.22 , p<0.001 ) ; having bad dreams ( r=0.29 , p<0.001 ) ; disruption from pain ( r=0.24 , p<0.001 ) ; having trouble staying awake while driving , eating meals , or engaging in social activity ( r=0.29 , p<0.001 ) ; keeping up enthusiasm to get things done ( r=0.36 , p<0.001 ) ; self - rated overall sleep quality ( r=0.27 , p<0.001 ) ; and overall sleep quality score ( r=0.36 , p<0.001 ) . a significant linear regression model , f(4 , 870)=38.34 , p<0.001 , explained 15% of the variance in suicide ideation score ( r=0.15 ) .
significant predictors were age ( =0.03 , p=0.001 ) , sleep quality as measured by total psqi score ( =0.23 , p<0.001 ) , and having pots ( = 0.68 , p=0.046 ) .
gender was not a significant predictor ( =0.44 , p=0.46 ) of suicide ideation score .
according to the psqi , 98.4% of pots patients surveyed had poor sleep quality ( compared to 69.4% of controls ) , and the pots group had significantly worse mean overall sleep scores than controls ( t=17.75 ; p<0.001 ) .
the average pots patient sleeps 6.0 hours per night which is significantly less than controls ( table 1 , 7.8 hours ; t=3.17 ; p<0.001 ) , despite being in bed for 9.45 hours . with a subjective sleep efficiency of 65.4% ,
the pots group had significantly less sleep efficiency than the control group ( t=11.32 ; p<0.001 ) .
the average sleep onset latency for those with pots was 2 hours and 26 minutes .
a majority of pots patients reported frequent ( defined as happening 3 + times per week ) sleep disturbances from pain ( 53% ) , failing to fall asleep within 30 minutes ( 59.9% ) , and waking in the middle of the night or early morning ( 68.9% ; table 2 ) .
those with pots had significantly more sleep disturbances because of pain than non - pots controls ( t=15.36 ; p<0.001 ) . pots patients also had significantly more disturbances from bad dreams ( t=8.62 ; p<0.001 ) , from breathing problems ( t=11.13 ;
p<0.001 ) , from nighttime or early morning awakenings ( t=7.70 ; p<0.001 ) , and from failing to fall asleep within 30 minutes ( table 1 ; t=12.36 ; p<0.001 ) .
further , pots patients took sleeping medication significantly more frequently than non - pots controls ( t)=7.09 ; p<0.001 ) and gave significantly lower self - ratings of sleep quality ( t=12.91 ; p<0.001 ) .
while the psqi rated 98.4% of pots patients to have poor sleep , only 70.2% rated their own sleep as poor .
there were no significant gender differences with regards to sleep except that among the control group , females had more frequent sleep disturbances from feeling too cold ( t=3.16 ; p=0.002 ) .
among the 705 pots patients who completed the sbq - r , there were no gender differences in any sub - scores or total score .
pots patients had a mean total score of 7.0 , just at the cut - off for being considered at high risk ( 7 ) , and also significantly higher than controls mean total score of 4.7 ( t=8.0 ; p<0.001 ) . among pots
patients , 333 ( 47.2% ) were at high risk compared with 27 controls ( 15.9% ) .
chi - square testing showed a larger proportion of high - risk individuals among pots patients than among controls ( [ 1 , n=875]=55.6 ; p<0.001 ) .
pots patients scored significantly higher than controls on each of the four sbq - r sub - scales .
pots patients had significantly higher scores for lifetime suicide ideation (
x=2.0 , sd=0.9 ) than controls (
x=1.5 , sd=0.7 ; t=6.78 ; p<0.001 ) .
pots patients had a significantly higher suicide ideation frequency in the past 12 months (
x=2.3 , sd=1.4 ) than controls (
x=1.4 , sd=1.0 ; t=7.97 ; p<0.001 ) .
threat of suicide attempt was also significantly higher for pots patients (
x=1.5 , sd=0.7 ) than controls (
x=1.2 , sd=0.5 ; t=5.50 ; p<0.001 ) .
those with pots had a higher likelihood of suicidal behavior in the future (
x=1.2 ; sd=1.4 ) than controls (
x=0.6 , sd=1.0 ; t=5.35 ; p<0.001 ) .
as shown in table 3 , 23.8% of pots patients had made a suicide plan at some point ( item 1 , responses 3a and 3b ) , compared to 12.3% of controls , and 15.4% had made a suicide attempt ( item 1 , responses 4a and 4b ) , compared to 2.4% of controls . among pots
patients , 12.3% reported very frequent suicide ideation in the past 12 months , compared to 1.2% of controls . among pots
patients , 36.5% had threatened suicide ( item 3 , responses 2a , 2b , 3a , and 3b ) compared to 17.1% of controls . when asked about likelihood of attempting suicide in the future ,
7.3% of pots patients said that they were likely to do so , compared to 1.2% of non - pots controls ( table 3 ; item 4 , responses 46 ) .
pearson correlations showed associations between suicidal ideation score and several components of the psqi : subjective sleep efficiency ( r=0.26 , p<0.001 ) ; delayed sleep latency over 30 minutes ( r=0.22 , p<0.001 ) ; having bad dreams ( r=0.29 , p<0.001 ) ; disruption from pain ( r=0.24 , p<0.001 ) ; having trouble staying awake while driving , eating meals , or engaging in social activity ( r=0.29 , p<0.001 ) ; keeping up enthusiasm to get things done ( r=0.36 , p<0.001 ) ; self - rated overall sleep quality ( r=0.27 , p<0.001 ) ; and overall sleep quality score ( r=0.36 , p<0.001 ) . a significant linear regression model , f(4 , 870)=38.34 , p<0.001 , explained 15% of the variance in suicide ideation score ( r=0.15 ) .
significant predictors were age ( =0.03 , p=0.001 ) , sleep quality as measured by total psqi score ( =0.23 , p<0.001 ) , and having pots ( = 0.68 , p=0.046 ) .
gender was not a significant predictor ( =0.44 , p=0.46 ) of suicide ideation score .
in our sample , online surveys revealed significantly more sleep disruption and suicidal ideology in the pots group than in the control group .
more than 50% of our pots participants reported poor sleep , nighttime wakefulness , sleep onset latency > 30 minutes , and sleep disruption due to pain .
particularly associated with suicidal ideation among those with pots were increased frequency of bad dreams , pain that disrupted sleep , poor subjective sleep efficiency , sleep onset latency > 30 minutes , difficulty staying awake during the day , self - ratings of worse sleep quality , and keeping up enthusiasm to get things done .
significant predictors of suicidal ideation in this study were sleep quality , having pots , and age .
overall , the pots group had a significantly higher risk for suicidal ideation as well as past and future attempts than the control group .
sleep disturbances , including non - restorative sleep and insomnia , are a common complaint for many with pots who tend to have poor sleep , high rates of fatigue , and decreased quality of life.4,10,12,37 poor sleep efficiency has been demonstrated in other studies of pots patients.5,11,12 in this study , more than 50% of pots patients reported poor sleep , nighttime wakefulness , sleep onset latency > 30 minutes , and pain disrupting their sleep .
this is higher than other studies in which nearly 3040% of pots patients complained of sleep disturbance or poor sleep quality.1,11 not all studies have found gross sleep disturbance in pots patients . using polysomnography , pots patients demonstrated normal total sleep time , no significant sleep fragmentation , and no significant sleep disturbance despite subjective reports of poor sleep.11,15 despite these appearances of normal sleep , pengo et al found a reduction in rem sleep,15 while mallien et al reported a diminished heart rate variability in those with pots during various sleep stages.11 perhaps the subjective feeling of poor sleep quality in this and other studies
approximately 50% of people with invisible illness also suffer from depression.20 the mechanisms underlying depression in pots patients have not been well studied .
moon et al found that severity of concentration difficulties and chest discomfort were most strongly correlated with depression in pots patients.38 another small study ( n=15 ) found that the majority of pots patients suffered from depression,2 while raj et al found that the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder was not elevated.39 clearly , the relationship between pots and depression and their effect on disturbed sleep will require more study .
sleep disturbances , including insomnia and nightmares , can increase suicidal ideation,16,18,4043 perhaps by increasing depression and eventually suicidal ideation.17,19 interestingly , some studies have shown that sleep disturbances can increase suicidal ideation and behavior independent of depression.21,22 persistent nightmares have also been linked to increased suicidal ideology independent of insomnia.19,23 in this study , poor subjective sleep efficiency , increased frequency of delayed sleep latency , bad dreams , difficulty staying awake during the day , and pain disrupting sleep were correlated with increased suicidal ideation .
poor sleep has been estimated to account for 50% of quality of life issues in people with pots,10 and is clearly a health issue that needs to be more adequately addressed .
there are a number of possible mediators for the number of pots patients ( 47.2% ) in the high risk group for suicide .
our pots group was composed of predominately young women ( mean age 33.75 years ) . at this age ( 2544 years ) , women tend to die by suicide at a much lower rate than men , and women between the ages of 45 and 64 years.44 sleep medications could also affect both sleep architecture and quality that might increase suicide rates in this population .
sedatives and hypnotic medications , for example , have been shown to increase suicide risk and can be a stronger predictor than insomnia for suicidal ideation and behavior.45,46 future studies should account for prescribed sleep medications .
all data were taken from online self - report measures , rather than objective physical assessment data or direct physician diagnosis .
participants reported having physician diagnosed pots , and some had been diagnosed with cfs , eds , and mcad . some may have had other comorbid diagnoses that could worsen their symptomology and increase suicidal ideology . because self - reports of sleep were used in this study , it is difficult to uncover the mechanisms that link sleep disruption with suicidal tendencies in this population .
perhaps depression was a mediator in the suicidal ideation and behavior , but that data was not collected in this study . in addition
, pots participants were likely using both pharmaceutical and non - pharmaceutical treatments , and we have no control for sleep medications and other aspects to their treatment regimen .
the use of sleep medications could influence sleep architecture and perhaps indirectly influence the self - report measures .
finally , because our sample was partially solicited from online support groups , our sample may have been biased toward those with more debilitating pots symptoms which motivate them to seek advice and support in these forums .
sleep disturbance is an important factor in quality of life for many chronically ill people , including those with pots .
the relative lack of good data on the mechanistic links between pots , depression , and disturbed sleep might have limited the variability explained in the current model .
sleep issues can be properly treated through use of pharmacologic and non - pharmacologic means.47,48 in pots , treatments for insomnia may include medications to decrease sympathetic activation like clonidine , and non - pharmacological means like improving sleep hygiene , sleep restriction , mild exercise.47,49,50 it is important , therefore , that health care providers prioritize issues of poor sleep quality when working with pots patients to decrease suicide risk .
all data were taken from online self - report measures , rather than objective physical assessment data or direct physician diagnosis .
participants reported having physician diagnosed pots , and some had been diagnosed with cfs , eds , and mcad . some may have had other comorbid diagnoses that could worsen their symptomology and increase suicidal ideology . because self - reports of sleep were used in this study , it is difficult to uncover the mechanisms that link sleep disruption with suicidal tendencies in this population .
perhaps depression was a mediator in the suicidal ideation and behavior , but that data was not collected in this study . in addition , pots participants were likely using both pharmaceutical and non - pharmaceutical treatments , and we have no control for sleep medications and other aspects to their treatment regimen .
the use of sleep medications could influence sleep architecture and perhaps indirectly influence the self - report measures . finally ,
because our sample was partially solicited from online support groups , our sample may have been biased toward those with more debilitating pots symptoms which motivate them to seek advice and support in these forums .
sleep disturbance is an important factor in quality of life for many chronically ill people , including those with pots .
the relative lack of good data on the mechanistic links between pots , depression , and disturbed sleep might have limited the variability explained in the current model .
sleep issues can be properly treated through use of pharmacologic and non - pharmacologic means.47,48 in pots , treatments for insomnia may include medications to decrease sympathetic activation like clonidine , and non - pharmacological means like improving sleep hygiene , sleep restriction , mild exercise.47,49,50 it is important , therefore , that health care providers prioritize issues of poor sleep quality when working with pots patients to decrease suicide risk . | pubmed |
Teen Wolf 1. Chapter 1
"She asked me why I didn't kiss my girlfriend," Scott blurted out, finally interrupting the silence that had fallen over the car.
They had been on the road home from Mexico for a few hours now, and considering Derek, Braeden, and Malia were trailing behind them in a car they had hotwired and Lydia and Kira had fallen asleep in the backseat almost instantly, for the most part the trip had been made in silence. At least it had been until now.
Stiles eyes snapped from where they had been glued to the straight stretch of road before them over to Scott. "What? Who," he asked, his eyes quickly flickering towards his review mirror to double check that the girls were still fast asleep in the backseat of his truck.
While the caution was refreshing given his friends usually reckless nature, Scott could have told him it was unnecessary. He had been listening to the gentle unhurried rhythm of Kira's heartbeat for nearly an hour now, and he would have been able to tell instantly any if she was even close to waking by the tempo of her heartbeat.
Only after Stiles seemed satisfied that the girls were deeply enough asleep to not overhear the conversation did he dare to turn towards Scott, expectantly.
Scott sighed."Kira."
"Obviously," Stiles said, rolling his eyes. "I meant who asked you?"
"Oh," Scott blinked, "Braeden."
"The hot mercenary chick?" Scott nodded.
"Huh" Stiles eyes drifted back towards the road, a thoughtful expression set on his face."Well?"
"Well what?"
He shrugged."Why didn't you?"
Scott groaned, scrubbing his face in his hands."Because she isn't or ... or at least I don't think she is."
"But you like her?"
"Yeah," Scott answered slowly.
"And you've kissed her before?"
"Yeah."
"While you guys were sleeping together in your bed?"
Slowly Scott nodded his head.
"So she's your girlfriend," Stiles concluded smugly.
"Does that mean that Malia is _your _girlfriend," countered Scott.
The smirk slipped off Stile's face and was replaced by a blank look."Touché," he finally responded after a beat or two.
"God," came a voice from behind them, making both boys jump, "are all guys born this oblivious or did you two just take too many lacrosse balls to the head?"
Their heads snapped towards the back of the jeep at the same moment only to find Lydia casually leaning forward, an elbow resting against each of the two front seats, looking at them as if actually expecting answer. Scott felt his cheeks heat up. In hindsight, he probably should have been paying a bit more attention to Lydia's heartbeat instead of just Kira's. If he had, maybe he would have noticed the redhead stirring awake earlier.
"Lydia," Stiles breathed out in whispered shout. "A little warning would be nice."
She rolled her eyes. "It's not my fault you two are oblivious."
"We are not oblivious," Stiles defended turning his gaze back towards the road. "We were just focused on a very important discussion."
She arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow at him. "If anything it's your discussion that proves you guys are oblivious."
"How so," Scott interjected just as Stiles opened his mouth with what was likely some witty resort. And he knew that he sounded a little desperate and that Stiles was probably side eyeing the hell out of him because he relented to Lydia too soon before they had the chance to finish their usual power play. But honestly those two could bicker/flirt all day if he let them and right now Scott was desperate.
Lydia threw a smug smile at a now pouting Stiles before turning back to address Scott. "Look Kira is obviously just as smitten with you as you are with her. Stop obsessing over titles and just kiss the girl because let me tell you she didn't go up to you before you left just for a hug."
"Really," Scott asked and then immediately felt stupid for it afterwards at the look Lydia shot him.
"Really" she repeated back matter-of-factly. "Now if you two don't mind keeping it down I'd actually like to try and get more than an hour of sleep tonight."
"Actually," Stiles started, his eyes flickering down to the dashboard clock. "It's already midnight and we still have at least three hours left until we are even close to getting home. I think I saw a sign for a cheapish motel not too far down the road. Maybe we should think about stopping for the night."
Scott frowned slightly. While they had been pretty certain they hadn't been followed from the church, Scott wasn't exactly keen on the idea of stopping before they reached home. Still he had to admit the idea of sleeping in a bed over the jeeps car seat had been appealing, especially considering how dead Stiles looked at the moment.
He fished his cell phone out of his pocket and shrugged."I'll let the others know that we're stopping."
"Oh are you going to use some sort of Alpha signal like a howl or scent or –" Stiles started rambling excitedly, stopping only when he glanced over and saw Scott, his phone in hand, giving him a look. Lydia rolled her eyes. "Or you could just call them. Calling works."
2. Chapter 2
As it turned out, it ended up taking another half an hour before they were able to find a room with a vacancy, and even then Lydia had emerged from the front office with only two rooms to show for. Of course almost immediately, Malia had snatched one of the room's card keys and dragged Stiles off to a room of their own, leaving the others share a single room.
Considering the hotel clerks over wiliness to accept Derek's ID without actually ever seeing him, Scott had figured the rooms would hardly be better than the suicide motel they had been in at the track meet, but looking around, the room actually turned out to be somewhat decent. It wasn't exactly the four seasons, but the sheets were clean and if there were any questionable stains in the room, Scott couldn't see them.
Not that anyone seemed to care. Driven by exhaustion, it hadn't take long before the team had settled themselves in the room with the still passed out Derek lying on the bed furthest from the door, Lydia on the opposite bed, and Bredaen sprawled out on the couch.
Scott sighed. It looked like he was going to be stuck camping out on the floor tonight. Not that he really minded, just so long as Kira was able to bunk with Lydia, which, given the protective role Lydia had taken over her, seemed likely.
Reluctantly, Scott eyed the door. Speaking of which, he figured he should probably head out to the car and wake her.
While for the most part, the others had woken up naturally one by one as they stopped to check the various hotels, Kira had somehow managed to remain fast asleep. He had planned on waking her up after they had finally found a room, but when the time had come, he couldn't bring himself to do it. With one of her arms tucked under her head as a pillow, both of her legs curled against her stomach, and a small sleep drenched smile on her lips, it seemed somehow wrong to wake her. So instead, he had simply brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, biting back a smile when she shifted ever so slightly into his touch, and grabbed the bags from the back.
Though, now that they were situated in a room and about to fall asleep, he couldn't exactly let her spend all night in the jeep alone. He sighed. Maybe if he was lucky he could just carry her in without waking her.
Dropping both bags from his shoulder, he pocketed one of the spare key cards and started to turn towards the door when he caught Lydia eyeing him from over her phone.
His eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing," she said, the innocent look in her eyes effectively canceled out by the sly smile on her lips.
He paused for a second, eying her cautiously before shaking his head. Unless Stiles was there to serve as a translator, trying to figure out what Lydia was up to half the time was pointless. Without another word he turned around and headed out the door.
It wasn't until he was making his way toward the jeep that he realized anything was wrong. He couldn't hear Kira's heartbeat. In an instant he was beside the jeep, throwing open the door in a mad rush only to find the back seat empty. A panic seized his chest, and instinctively his eyes flashed red.
His mind ran through scenarios at a mile a minute, his grip tightening against the jeep's door, making the metal bend under the pressure, as each new possibility entered his head. What if whatever chased them back on the road and in the church had caught up with them? What if she had woken up and wandered off, thinking something was wrong? What if Kate had tracked them down and found..
"Scott."A gentle hand pressed against his shoulder.
He spun around, eyes still glowing and muscles tense, to find Kira staring at him with wide eyes. Instantly he relaxed, his eyes fading back to their normal shade of brown, but hers stayed open and alert.
She lowered her voice. "Scott what's wrong?"
He blinked once twice, feeling the embarrassment creeping up on him fast. "Nothing I just….I mean," he motioned pointlessly towards the car. "You weren't in the jeep anymore and I just thought that maybe something had happened and," he cleared his throat, his hand going up to awkwardly rub the back of his neck, "I was worried."
"Oh" she said. The look of confusion on her face was quickly overshadowed by a blush. "Sorry I just got Lydia's text so I was at the front desk."
"What text?"
Kira's blush deepened. "Well she said that you were busy helping the others settle into their room, and Stiles and Malia had taken up the bed in the other room so she called the front desk and went ahead and got a third room. You know so everyone would have a bed. She asked me to pick up the key." Her face lit up. "Which reminds me," she said swinging her backpack off her shoulder. After a second of searching through the side pocket she fished out a small rectangular card key and held it out to Scott. "Here."
Numbly he took it, starring down at it curiously before looking back up at her.
"Wait but I thought," he paused. His eyes slipped past Kira towards the front of the hotel where he was somehow not surprised to find the vacancy sign still lit.
Well at least that explained what Lydia had been up to.
He shook his head, ignoring the curious look she shot him. "Never mind."
As it turned out, their room ended up being just two rooms down from the one Lydia, Derek, and Braeden were staying in and was identical to it in nearly every detail. Well that was except for one minor difference. Scott stood off to the side of the room, his eyes glued to the one and only bed in the room, debating whether or not he should be cursing Lydia or thanking her.
Kira on the other hand, didn't seem to be affected by their current situation whatsoever. Walking in behind Scott, she plopped her bag onto the nearby chair, without so much as a glance at the bed, and started routing through it.
"Right or left?"
His eyes darted up, surprised by her question, only to find her turned around, PJs in hand and staring at him expectantly. Only then that he was able to get his first real look at her since they had gotten into the room. A barely noticeable flush was creeping up the side of her neck, and her hands were gripping her clothes just a little too tightly to be natural. That and the fact that he could hear her heartbeat practically hammering against her chest, told him one thing.
She _was_ nervous.
She chewed anxiously against her bottom lip as she waited for his answer and he couldn't help his eyes from flickering down to them at the movement.
God he wanted to kiss her.
He cleared his throat. "Right…Right side's fine."
She nodded her head and for a second he was almost positive she was about to say something else. But the next moment, with nothing but a shy smile, she ducked her head and made her way towards the bathroom to change. The whole time Scott's eyes followed her.
It wasn't until after the door had slammed shut that he finally blinked. Then the panic set in.
The last time they had shared a bed he had kissed her. Which was nice, really really nice, but if he kissed her again maybe that's all she would think it was; stolen kisses behind closed doors. Then again if he didn't kiss when they had a room completely to themselves, a rarity these days, then she might take it to mean he wasn't interested at all. He rubbed his temple.
God he was an idiot.
Suddenly his head snapped up at the sound of the bathroom door squeaking open. He gulped.
Now or never.
**Next and final chapter coming up soon and this one is going to be steamy…..YAY (ps. Reviews make me write faster… just an FYI)**
3. Chapter 3
**(Sorry about posting the wrong chapter….. I was in a rush on my way to see my advisor but I wanted to post it before I left for you guys so sorry about the confusion….Here is the real final chapter)**
**Hey guys so please don't hate me I know this took forever but I'm finally moved into college and you guys can thank the dozens of new hot guys I've met on campus for this chapter because seriously ….damn. Guys should not be allowed to be that cute.. I'm awkward enough as it is. Anyway hope this chapter was worth the wait. **
**Also comments would be loved (aka make me fangirl shriek out of happiness so loudly that my new roommate thinks I'm a weirdo**
Kira's hands pulled down against the hem of her tank top for what had to be the tenth time, glaring at her reflection in the mirror as if it was its fault when the fabric refused to stay stretched down to the top of her black shorts. She huffed.
Really it had been an honest mistake that she'd grabbed the wrong shirt, and considering the short amount of time Lydia had given her in between rushing into her room, yelling at her about how they had to be in Mexico and Scott and Stiles showing to pick them up, it was a miracle the shirt had been her only packing mistake. Still. She pulled against the shirt in one last futile attempt before giving up with a sigh and abandoning it in favor of running her fingers through her tangled hair. The whole while, she tried to push the thought nagging at her to the back of her head.
Because if she was being completely honest with herself, her frustration had nothing to do with her tank top, which was really only short enough to expose the thinnest sliver of her toned stomach, and almost everything to do with Scott.
Or rather, the fact that he was most likely currently outside, lying on the only bed in the room.
Not that she wasn't embarrassingly open to the idea of Scott sleeping in the same bed as her, especially considering what happened last time they shared a bed. The way his lips had played with hers, how the pressure of his arm around her waist had caused a fluttering in her stomach, the shiver that coursed down her spin at the feel of his breath against the back of her neck, and…..
She shook her head trying unsuccessfully to expel those thoughts from her head that were in no way helping her current predicament.
Because while a repeat of the last time would have been welcome, the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach told her better. Given the way he had been treating her lately, with kid gloves, she had a feeling the only things she would be aware of from his body that night would be the dip in the bed as his frame pressed into the opposite end of the bed. As far away from her as possible.
Something she was very much dreading.
She ran her hands through her hair one last time in a pathetic attempt to prolong the inevitably awkward next couple of hours that awaited her before finally relenting and reluctantly turning towards the door.
Now or never.
She wasn't exactly sure what she had been expecting when she walked out of the bathroom; probably some uncomfortable silence or a strained exchanged of sorts. Running straight into Scott, however, had definitely not crossed her mind.
She'd collided against the solid expanse of his chest almost immediately after steeping out of the bathroom and already her cheeks were burning from the blush that was quickly coloring her face so much so that she was sure he had to have felt the heat of it through his shirt. Instinctively, she attempted to step back, an apology already on the tip of her tongue but before she could get a single word out, his arms were wrapping around her small frame and his lips were pressed against hers, swallowing her words before they could tumble out of her mouth.
He was still tense as his lips met her, still half processing what he was doing himself, but the second her body melted against his, any remaining doubt he had vanished. Instead, he let his head cloud over, letting the only point of clarity be her; the gentle press of her curves against the hard plane of his body, the soft brush of her hair against his neck, and the faint scent of strawberries wafting up to him, urging his forward.
Without a second's hesitation Scott tore his lips from hers, smiling slightly at the whimper that escaped her mouth as he did, only to latch them onto her neck, sucking and kissing his way along the curve of her throat. When he reached the junction between her jaw and neck, his tongue darted out, licking a strip over her pulse point, making the skin sensitive to the chilled night air.
A faint gasp fell from her now unoccupied lips as her back hit the door with a soft thud. Before she could even process the cool press of wood against her back, his warm body was surrounding her. She arched into him instinctively, the movement leaving enough space for his hands to slip past her hips and grip her thighs. In one swift movement, he hoisted her up, and in the same second her legs were locked tightly around her waist.
Their hips bumped together as he shoved her back in place against the door, the movement drawing a moan from both of them. Slowly his lips moved back down along her jaw and throat, peppering light kisses against every spot he found. Eventually the sounds escaping her lips became enough to break what little control he still had.
Pushing them off the door, he stumbled backwards blindly. By some miracle, he just barely managed to pivot them before the pair collided on the bed, making her back hit the mattress with a soft thud. She hadn't even caught her breath before the length of his body was pressing her into the mattress and his lips were against hers more insistently than the previous kiss.
Quickly, Kira's fingers went to work tracing along the muscles of his back, her hand taking his shirt up his back as she did. In a matter of seconds, she had discarded it across the side of the room and her hands were back to raking desperately across his back, gradually drifting down to where his jeans started. And when her fingers continued downward to hook around the waistband of his jean he couldn't help the growl that tore up his throat.
He was sure his eyes must have already be burning red, betraying just what kind of effect her slight action sparked in him but by this point he was too far gone to care, too far gone to focus on anything but feeling her lips pressed against his.
Besides he knew she wasn't afraid of him, never would be. She was the girl who saw his true side and whose first instinct was not to run but to let her fingers brush across his face without even flinching; the girl who saw the soft shimmers of light around herself as a demon yet touched his wolfish face with the gentleness of a lover. She was the only one who accepted him and all his flaws, supernatural or not, without question.
The realization caused a new rush of heat to spread across his skin, flowing through his veins and pooling in the pit of his stomach. The urge to touch her skin suddenly became overwhelming. Without so much as a second thought, his hand blindly searched out his skin, slipping underneath the hem on her bunched up shirt. His palm pressed hotly against the skin of her stomach, his fingertips brushing the underside of her bra, making her nearly jump at the contact.
Immediately, he put space between them, his hands abandoning her body completely.
"Kira I'm so sorry." His hand moved to thread through his hair, silently cursing his own stupidity. Of course she had reacted badly. He may have been experienced but she was anything but. He let out a shaky breath, trying to calm himself. "I didn't mean to move too fast. We can slow down. We can just," he started to roll off her only to have her grip on his bet loop tighten, keeping him in place. His mouth snapped shut.
It wasn't as if he couldn't have kept moving away if he wanted, she was strong but he was stronger. Leaving her side was just the furthest thing from what he wanted. So instead, he let her gently tug him back to his place, hovering over her, and patiently waited for her to make the next move.
Part of him expected her to still shove him away anyway, her previous move just an impulse to stop him from feeling guilty. Another part, the more hopeful part, wanted her to just kiss him again, forget about her slip up, and let them curl up to sleep like the last time. So when her gaze finally moved from where her fingers had been toying with his belt loop, he certainly hadn't been expecting what came out of her mouth next.
"Where are your pajamas?"
He blinked. "Wh-what," he stammered out, his mind trying to process the abrupt topic change.
"Where. Are. Your. PJ's.," she said enunciating each word slowly before letting the loop snap back against his hip for emphasis.
He looked down, suddenly aware of how out of place his jeans looked. "Oh my bag is in the other room," he said automatically, not realizing his slip up until it was too late.
A look of understanding dawned on her face. "Lydia didn't tell you about the other room did she," she guessed, and for the first time he saw a crack of her trademark awkwardness slip through her façade of confidence.
He chuckled softy. "Not exactly." He moved to awkwardly rub the back of his neck. "She may have sort of implied that there weren't any rooms left.
"Implied?" She raised her eyebrows at him playfully.
He smirked. "More or less."
"Sounds about right." She smiled softly before a look of uncertainty took over her face."Jeans can't be comfortable to sleep in," she said finally, her eyes not quite meeting his.
"I'll live."
Brushing past his stomach, her fingers drifted down to lightly play with the hem of his jeans. "True." She bit her lip shyly. "You could always just take them off."
Her eyes timidly drifted back to his only to find him staring down at her with wide eyes. She bit her lip harder, doubt making her look away.
It was the scent of blood that finally snapped Scott out of his reverie. She had barely broken the skin of her lip, not enough for any visible blood to appear at least, but his keen senses were still able to detect the faintest metallic intrusion in the air.
Concern quickly replaced the dumbstruck look on his face and without a second's thought, he lent forward, his lips automatically coaxing her abused lip from between her teeth. She responded to the kiss only after a second's uncertainty. Slowly, her hands snaked down her own body until her hands were gripping her own shirt only to be stopped by a gentle hand against hers.
Scott pulled back, his gaze questioning. "Kira we don't have to," he trailed off at the insistent press of her hand upward against his.
"I'm sure." She smiled seductively and not for the first time that night Scott wondered where this confident side of her was coming from.
It wasn't until she went to pull her shirt over her head only to have it get caught on her ear that he got a glimpse of her true, abet slightly awkward self, the sight doing nothing but making his grin widen.
He didn't get long to appreciate the embarrassment that colored her face when she finally got her shirt off, with only the slightest bit of help from him, because the second she flung her shirt across the room his eyes were glued to her newly revealed skin. Without a word, his fingers came up to trace the curve of her black bra were red lace ran.
"Pretty" he murmured.
Her blush deepened, but before she had the chance to let out the nervous babble he knew was on the tip of her tongue, his lips were covering hers, effectively silencing her.
It wasn't until later, when they were cuddled together, their legs intertwined beneath the sheets as her head resting against his chest that either of them said anything.
"Well that's one way to ask me to be your girlfriend," she said with a breathy chuckle as her fingers continued to trace the contours of his chest.
It took him a second longer than it should for him to make the connection.
He fingers abruptly froze from where he had been drawing along the invisible lines of her shoulder. "You were awake." he finally said, the realization causing his eyes to slip shut, at his own stupidly.
Then in an instant his eyes were open again, seeking hers, his eyebrows furrowed. "Wait but I heard your heartbeat," he said nodding slightly as if confirming the memory. "It was too slow for you to be awake."
"About that," she said, the faintest hint of guilt slipping into her tone. She chewed on her bottom lip, a nervous habit of hers he picked up on a few weeks ago. "I think I kind of slowed it down."
His eyebrows shot up in confusion.
"Trickster" She clarified, squeezing her eyes shut with the admission.
She expected him to be mad or at the very least hurt that she'd listened in on his not so private conversation. So when she suddenly felt his warm callous hand brush against her chest, his fingers dragging across her exposed skin until reach their mark and apply the faintest pressure over her heart, she nearly jumped. Her eyes flew open only to find his eyes fixed at the spot where his hand meets her chest, his face scrunched up in concentration as he studied it.
She suppressed the urge squirm under his piercing gaze, allowing him to have his fill. The fact that his eyes were staring so intently against her unusually bare skin should have been what gave her pause, but somehow she could tell that his mind was nowhere near focused on that; something that was confirmed a second later when he finally managed to drag his gaze away from her skin, his eyes flashing with something far from lust. Something that she couldn't help but note was closer to adoration, possibly even love.
He smiled down at her seemingly pleased with himself for figuring out whatever he had been so focused on. "Your heartbeat isn't slow now." he finally said, his grin stretching wider.
"It isn't," she confirmed, nodding her head in all seriousness as she tried to bite back a smile.
Noting her struggle, he bent down to place a chaste kiss first to the tip of her nose then repeated the move against her cheek, then jaw, before laying one last one against her lips, the gesture making it impossible for her to keep back a smile this time. He pulled back grinning proudly as he noted the change.
He brought his hand up to cradle her cheek."Why" he asked finally, his voice barely above a whisper, although she was fairly certain he already knew the answer.
"I don't know." Kira brought her hand up slowly to where his was laying against her chest. Automatically his fingers threaded with hers. "Maybe I just don't have anything I want to hide." She said, her heartbeat picking up speed with her words as if to prove her point.
The last thing she saw before he lowered his mouth to hers was the flash of white from the grin that was threatening to overcome his face. And as her body sparked to life under the pressure of his, she couldn't help but think that maybe having a boyfriend that was so aware of the change in her pulse wasn't such a bad thing after all.
**Again please review…Seriously I live off of reviews. I mean technically I live off of water, air, and pictures of Tyler Posey but you get my point.**
End file.
| fanfiction |
a stroke results in a damaged state of the peripheral external nervous system arising from
the necrosis of nerve cells in specific brain areas , caused by the interruption of blood
supply to brain cells due to the blockage or rupture of blood vessels transporting oxygen
and glucose to the brain1 . though various
problems may be evident in the fields of exercise , sense , recognition , language and
perception , depending on the part , size and cause of this damage , its main symptom is
hemiplegia2 .
thus ,
balancing and gait training for hemiplegic stroke patients should reflect the motor skills
and cognitive function required in daily living dual tasks3 .
dual tasks fall into two main groups : motor dual tasks4 , which require performance of a motor task
and a postural control task at the same time ; and cognition dual task5 which require performance of a cognition task and postural
control task at the same time . both types of dual task
are noted as ways of training
patients with neurological damage to recover their motor control ability . up to the present ,
research has emphasized the role of recognition and concentration during
dual task performance for posture and gait control as a paradigm of motor learning6 . it is asserted that subjects need to
simultaneously perform motor tasks and high cognitive functions , as daily living frequently
requires the performance of several tasks simultaneously , and it has been reported that
stroke patients who could carry out local community ambulation , had difficulties in
simultaneously performing dual task while walking7 .
viewing the recent trend of studies of dual task training for stroke patients , we noticed
that they elicited an interaction between gait and cognitive task through dual task methods ,
by making patients carry out cognitive tasks such as hearing , viewing or language tasks ,
together with walking8 , and that most
research mainly focused on the analysis of gait variance the course of training with motor
dual tasks7 .
few studies had conducted
various dual task training methods in order to enhance the balance and gait abilities of
stroke patients , and little comparative research has been conducted of the extent of
improvement among the various dual task training methods .
accordingly , this research investigated the changes occurring in terms of balance and gait
abilities , when various dual task gait training were conducted for chronic ambulatory stroke
patients to investigate the efficacy of dual task training methods in order to suggest new
therapeutic interventions that would help chronic stroke patients to improve their daily
living function .
thirty - six chronic stroke outpatients who were receiving treatment during the period of
june to august at j general hospital in kyeong - gi province , were randomly selected as the
subjects of this research .
all the subjects were randomly assigned to 3 groups : the motor dual task gait training
( mdgt ) group of 12 subjects , the cognitive dual task gait training ( cdtg ) group of 12
subjects , and the motor and cognition dual task gait training ( mcdgt ) group of 12 subjects .
gait training for 8 weeks was conducted for all of these 3 groups . in the midst of training ,
one subject left the mdtg group due to hospital transfer one
subject made a decision not to
continue cdtg group training , and one subject was excluded from the analysis due to a poor
attendance rate of less than 80% in mcdgt group training .
before the intervention , subject s
general features , balance ability and gait ability were measured and recorded . to improve
the reliability of the results , one researcher gave an outline and demonstrated in person
the task performance and experimental order , one week prior to the preliminary measurements
for the smooth progress of training and for the prevention of accidents .
also , for the
purpose of enhancing inter tester reliability , the testers who were to carry out the same
test , were allowed to have sufficient discussion and prior education on the test procedures .
in order to prevent any selection bias ,
the subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups ,
and11 subjects in the mdgt group , 11 subjects in the cdgt group and 11 subjects in the mcdgt
group completed the training of 30 minutes exercise , 3 times a week , for 8 weeks .
subjects in the mdgt group were instructed to perform some motor tasks while continuously
walking on a treadmill .
while walking on the treadmill , they performed 5 types of motor
tasks : tossing up and catching a ball , rehanging loops on different hooks , doing up
buttons after unbuttoning7 , holding a
cup of water without spilling it and receiving and returning a cup of water. three
minutes were allowed for each task , so 15 minutes were allowed for the set of 5 tasks , and 2
sets of tasks were carried out by the subjects9 .
the subjects carried out the cognitive dual tasks while maintaining
their gait on the treadmill .
mathematical subtraction , verbal analogical reasoning , spelling words
backward10 , and counting
backward11.three minutes were allowed
for each task , so 15 minutes were allowed for the set of 5 tasks , and 2 sets of tasks were
carried out by the subjects .
they performed the set of motor dual tasks for 15 minutes and the set of cognitive
dual tasks for 15 minutes , while maintaining gait on the treadmill .
pasw statistics 18.0 program for windows was used in this research to carry out all the
statistical analyses . in order to compare gender , paretic
side and stroke type of the 3
groups , the test was used , and one - way anova was used to compare age , height ,
and weight , and to test the homogeneity of the dependent variables before training .
the
kolmorogov - smirnov test was used to test the normality of the data .
the paired t - test was
used to check the difference between pre- and post - treatment in each group . in order to
compare the difference depending on the type of therapy among the 3 groups , we used analysis
of covariance ( ancova ) , setting the group variable of 3 groups as the fixed factor , and the
post - training scores as dependent variables after having controlled for the pre - test score
of dependent variables as covariance .
the changes in balance and gait abilities between pre- and post- training are shown in
table 1table 1 .
comparison of balance and gait abilities within and among the three
groupsgroupvariablemdgtcdgtmcdgtmean sdmean sdmean sdnostipre28.70 7.8328.39 5.0728.76 3.69post19.01 6.9924.52 4.8212.95 2.19change9.68 2.17 3.87 1.70 15.81 4.17 ncstipre47.39 10.8447.21 9.6047.26 13.66post35.87 10.6043.35 8.6324.92 10.60change11.52 2.32 3.86 1.91 22.35 9.80 nowdipre8.32 1.368.30 0.988.82 0.74post7.01 1.127.14 0.696.22 0.40change1.31 0.56 1.15 0.77 2.60 0.61 ncwdipre10.13 2.1310.34 1.4610.47 0.86post7.42 1.449.22 1.337.31 0.66change2.71 2.16 1.12 0.77 3.15 0.74 frt(cm)pre22.56 7.8622.36 5.5522.27 6.13post26.14 8.0623.82 5.9127.82 6.32change3.57 0.50 1.45 3.56 5.55 1.13 tug(sec)pre19.28 9.5019.33 10.9919.45 7.92post15.35 6.6817.31 9.9015.75 7.73change3.94 3.532.02 1.873.69 2.31fsst(sec)pre21.17 9.3021.08 11.7021.07 7.73post18.92 8.8618.59 12.3416.16 7.34change2.25 1.67 2.49 2.12 4.91 3.16 10 m wt(m
/ s)pre0.85 0.380.93 0.480.89 0.38post0.98 0.490.96 0.511.26 0.54change0.13 0.110.03
0.040.38 0.216 min wt(m)pre223.00 82.33253.83 123.42246.68 97.00post242.07 82.33263.90 123.61277.66 89.94change19.07 0.8310.07 0.8330.98 30.45*expressed as p<0.05 .
no : normal eyes open ; nc : normal eyes closed ; sti : stability
test index ; wdi : weight distribution index ; frt : functional reach test ; tug : timed up
and go test ; fsst : four square step test ; 10 m wt : 10 m walk test ; 6 min wt : 6-min
walk test ; mdgt : motor dual task gait training group ; cdgt : cognition dual task gait
training group ; mcdgt : motor and cognition dual task gait training group .
significantly different compared with mdgt . significantly different
compared with cdgt . significantly different compared with mcdg .
the differences in the stability test index ( sti ) and the weight distribution
index ( wdi ) with the eyes open and closed conditions were between the significant within
each of the 3 groups , as were the differences in sti and wdi between pre - training and
post - training ( p<0.05 ) .
the
functional reach test distances of the 2 groups excluding the cdgtgroup , showed significant
differences between pre - training and post - training ( p<0.05 ) .
the differences in frt
between pre- and post - training showed a significant difference among the 3 group
( p<0.05 ) , and the extent of improvement in the mdgt group and mcdgt groups was
significantly greater than that of the cdgt group ( p<0.05 ) .
the differences in the timed
up and go test ( tug ) times between pre- and post training , were significant ( p<0.05 )
within each group , but there were not significant inter - group difference .
the differences in
the four square step test ( fsst ) between pre- and post- training were significant
( p<0.05 ) within each group and the extent of improvement in the mdgt group and mcdgt
group was significantly greater than that of the cdgt group ( p<0.05 ) .
the 10 m walk test
( wt ) was used to assess gait ability between pre- and post- training .
it showed significant
difference both within each group and among the 3 groups ( p<0.05 ) , and the mcdgt group
showed a significantly greater improvement than the other 2 groups ( p<0.05 ) .
the 6 min wt
showed significant differences both within each group and among the 3 groups ( p<0.05 ) ,
and the mcdgt and cdgt groups showed significantly greater improvement than the mdgt group
( p<0.05 ) . * expressed as p<0.05 .
no : normal eyes open ; nc : normal eyes closed ; sti : stability
test index ; wdi : weight distribution index ; frt : functional reach test ; tug : timed up
and go test ; fsst : four square step test ; 10 m wt : 10 m walk test ; 6 min wt : 6-min
walk test ; mdgt : motor dual task gait training group ; cdgt : cognition dual task gait
training group ; mcdgt : motor and cognition dual task gait training group .
significantly different compared with mdgt . significantly different
compared with cdgt . significantly different compared with mcdg
this research investigated how various dual task training methods influenced the balance
and walking abilities of chronic stroke patients who were capable of local community
ambulation .
the subjects were assigned to the mdgt , cdgt , and mcdgt groups , and the
difference between pre - training and post - training was compared within and among these 3
groups . in all the assessments of balance ability in this research , except the tug test improvement
in the mcdgt group was significantly greater than in the other 2 groups . in the tests of
walking ability ,
both the 10 m walk test and 6 min walk test , performed before and after the
training , showed significant improvements in the 3 groups , and the mcdgt group showed more
significant improvement than the other 2 groups .
there were differences in the sti ( stability test index ) and wdi ( weight distribution
index ) between pre- and post - training in each of the 3 groups and the mcdgt group showed
greater improvement than the other 2 groups ( mdgt group and cdgt group ) . in 3 different
types of balance training were performed by 21 elderly persons with balance impairments .
the
study of silsupadol et al.12 , the
postural sway of the group that carried out the single task together with the dual task ,
declined by 56% showing their balance ability was improved .
the result of our present
research agrees with the results of previous research , in that the performance of dual task
decreased postural sway and improved postural stability13 .
investigated how the degree of postural sway varied
with performance of a dual task while walking , using patients who had had hemiplegia for 16
months on average as subjects .
they reported that the degree of postural sway decreased
while the patients were carrying out a dual task .
this research result of hyndman et
al.14 is also consistent with our
present findings . in the frt ( functional reach test ) , the mdgt group and mcdgt group showed improvements
after training , and they showed greater improvement than the cdgt group .
riley et al.15 reported that postural sway was corrected
better when patients performed a dual task of just keeping in contact with a curtain without
pulling it , than when they carried out a single task of balance .
their result is supported
by the research of wulf and prinz16 , who
concluded that the external focus of attention , concentrating on the result of the movement ,
is more effective than the internal focus of attention , concentrating on the movement
itself .
silsupadol et al.12 conducted a study in
which healthy elderly subjects performed dual tasks 3 times a week for 4 weeks .
the subject
performed single tasks such as standing up , standing up with their eyes closed , tandem
standing , standing on a moving surface , standing while holding a cup , catching balls , and
walking forward and backward , together with other space perception tasks .
silsupadol et
al.12 suggested that dual task training
improved the tug times , which is consistent with the result of our present research .
cheng
et al.17 reported that they found the
difference of vertical ground reaction force between the two lower limbs was lessened in the
action of standing up , after patients had performed a training course in which they repeated
the move of standing up with symmetrical posture .
sahrmann18 reported the position of the trunk relative to the pelvis of stroke
patients is changed because the muscles are asymmetrically shortened by neurological
injuries , and the shortened muscles are more easily mobilized than the stretched
antagonistic muscle on the unaffected side , so the level of tension of the shortened muscle
increased .
all the groups showed significant improvements in the four square step test , which is
designed to assess the balance ability of chronic stroke patients .
the mdgt group and the
mcdgt group showed significantly greater improvements than the cdgt group .
we consider this
result is consistent with that of reqnaux et al.19 , who reported attention was allocated more to the execution of
exercise than to cognitive performance when stroke patients performed tasks of differing
levels of difficulty while walking on a treadmill .
when the gait speed was compared among the 3 groups in the 10 m wt , which is designed to
measure the gait competence of chronic stroke patients , the mcdgt group showed significantly
greater improvement than the other 2 groups .
this result can be construed as agreeing with
the results of yang et al.7 , who reported
that subjects exhibited a significant improvement in gait speed after performing the 3 motor
tasks of simple walking , walking with buttoning task , and walking with the task of carrying
a cup on a tray .
their subjects were a group of 15 normal adults , a group of 15 stroke
patients with some difficulty with local community ambulation , and a group of 15 chronic
stroke patients with no difficulty with local community ambulation . in the 6-min
walk test , all of the groups exhibited significant improvements after
performing the training . in the research of salbach
et al.20 , 44 stroke patients were assessed in terms of gait ability after
they had practiced functional tasks for 6 weeks and their walking distance increased from
209 to 249 m after the intervention .
dean et al.21 asked an experimental group of stroke patients to perform
strengthening exercises for the paretic lower limb together with various functional tasks ,
and a control group of stroke patients to perform strengthening exercises mainly for the
upper limbs , and assessed the outcome with a circuit walking task .
they21 investigated , and found that the experimental group s gait
ability improved more than the control group s .
our present research showed that the extent of improvement was greater in the mdgt group
than in the cdgt group after the training .
the correlative between cognition and motor
functions has been the focus of research on dual task , as it is essential for understanding
how the recovery of motor control occurs after injury to the central nervous system8 .
morioka et al.22 asked healty individuals to perform a single task of
maintaining a standing posture on a force plate , and to perform a motor dual task of
maintaining posture while performing a cognitive dual task of a mathematic calculation .
they
reported that the subject s postural sway incresed during performance of the cognitive dual
task , a mathematical calculation , and there was no direct relation with the maintenance of
correct posture , while postural sway decresed during the performance of the motor dual task
for which the subjects were required to hold a tray with cups of water on it .
they further
noted that the subjects consciously tried to hold the tray horizontally while they performed
the motor task of holding the tray with cups of water on it , and that this conscious effort
reduced the postural sway .
their findings were confirmed by vereijken et al.23 , who reported that the internal focus of
attention , concentrating on the movement itself , during the performance of a motor task
inhibits self - operating postural control due to conscious control of the posture , while the
external focus of attention , concentrating on the result of the movement during the motor
task , promotes self - operating postural control .
our present research could not thoroughly exclude the influence of subjects daily living
activities on their balance and gait because it was not possible to entirely control the
experimental subjects daily living activities , and this is a limiting factor of this
research .
additionally , the generalization of our results should be performed with care as
the number of subjects in this research was limited and the subjects of this research
comprised only ambulatory chronic stroke patients .
we suggest that future research should investigate the
effects of dual motor task gait training for patients with neurological deficit from various
viewpoints , addressing the limitations of the present study .
this research was conducted to examine whether various kinds of dual task gait training
could improve the gait and balance abilities of chronic stroke patients .
the subjects ,
ambulatory chronic stroke patients , were , divided into 3 groups : the mdgt group , the cdgt
group , and the mcdgt group .
they performed the prescribed training for 30 minutes , 3 times a
week for 8 weeks .
after the training , a comparison of the improvement of gait and balance
abilities was made within and among the 3 groups .
all of the 3 groups showed improvements ,
especially the mcdgt group which exhibited the greatest improvements in gait and balance
abilities among 3 groups .
this study demonstrated that mcdgt was more effective at improving gait and balance
abilities than mdgt or cdgt , and it can be recommended as the most efficient training
forchronic stroke patients capable of local community ambulation . | pubmed |
Inductive effect and hyperconjugation - one elephant, different parts?
Are the inductive effect and hyperconjugation both different ways of looking at the same phenomenon - i.e. methyl groups donate negative charge for example. Inductively we can argue that carbon is of greater electronegativity than hydrogen, and so carbon withdraws negative charge from hydrogen, and thus negative charge is "donated" to whatever that the methyl is attached to.
From a hyperconjugative effect we can argue that there is some interaction between the C-H orbitals and some antibonding orbital ... how is this supposed to be stabilizing if it involves an antibonding orbital?
>
> Are the inductive effect and hyperconjugation both different ways of
> looking at the same phenomenon
>
>
>
I think so, both inductive and resonance (that's what hyperconjugation is after all) effects move electrons around. I tend to separate the two effects as follows:
* inductive effects are associated with electron movement through sigma bonds due to electronegativity differences
* resonance effects are associated with electron movement through p orbitals due to electronegativity differences
For example, we often say that a methyl group stabilizes a double bond (carbon-carbon or carbonyl) or a carbocation. The methyl group is roughly $\ce{sp^3}$ hybridized while the double bond carbon or carbocation carbon is roughly $\ce{sp^2}$ hybridized. An $\ce{sp^2}$ orbital is generally lower in energy than an $\ce{sp^3}$ orbital because it contains more s-character. Therefore electrons will generally prefer to flow from $\ce{sp^3}$ to $\ce{sp^2}$ orbitals. The direction of this electron flow also indicates that $\ce{sp^2}$ orbitals are more electronegative than $\ce{sp^3}$ orbitals. How can the $\ce{sp^3}$ methyl group shift electrons to the lower energy, more electronegative $\ce{sp^2}$ carbon? It can do it inductively (through sigma bonds) or through resonance (through p orbitals).
I've added a picture showing resonance structures involving hyperconjugation, just to be clear as to what hyperconjugation involves.
Inductive effect and hyperconjugation are two distinct phenomena.
Inductive effects are purely through sigma bonds. For example, in an organofluorine compound, the fluorine withdraws electrons from carbon by not sharing the electrons of the sigma bond equally. We explain this using the rationale that fluorine is more electronegative than carbon.
Similarly, in a carbocation, the electron-deficient carbon is more electronegative than any substituent carbons. Thus, the carbocation will withdraw electrons from substituents *through the sigma bonds*.
Hyperconjugation is electron donation of a filled bonding orbital to a nearby low-lying, unfilled orbital. Considering t-butyl cation as an example, a filled C-H bonding orbital can donate electrons to the empty p-orbital on the electron-deficient carbon. From a molecular orbital view, this essentially serves to lower the energy of the C-H sigma orbital and raise the energy of the p-orbital. With only two electrons in this system, the effect is stabilizing.
Notice that this means there are two effects that explain why greater substitution increases carbocation stability: inductive effect and hyperconjugation.
Hyperconjugation can also be invoked for the substitution of alkenes. In this case, the filled C-H sigma orbital overlaps with the empty C-C pi-antibonding orbital.
A good rule of thumb is that a filled orbital overlapping with an unfilled orbital is a stabilizing interaction.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
The Pygmies Pygmaioi, from the adjective πυγμαῖος, from the noun πυγμή pygmē fist, boxing, distance from elbow to knuckles, from the adverb πύξ pyx with the fist were a tribe of diminutive humans in Greek mythology.
According to the Iliad, they were involved in a constant war with the cranes, which migrated in winter to their homeland on the southern shores of the earth-encircling river Oceanus:
According to Aristotle in History of Animals, the story is true:
One story in Ovid describes the origin of the age-old battle, speaking of a Pygmy Queen named Gerana who offended the goddess Hera with her boasts of superior beauty, and was transformed into a crane.
In art the scene was popular with little Pygmies armed with spears and slings, riding on the backs of goats, battling the flying cranes. The 2nd-century BC tomb near Panticapaeum, Crimea shows the battle of human pygmies with a flock of herons.
The Pygmies were often portrayed as pudgy, comical dwarves.
In another legend, the Pygmies once encountered Heracles, and climbing all over the sleeping hero attempted to bind him down, but when he stood up they fell off. The story was adapted by Jonathan Swift as a template for Lilliputians.
St. Augustine 354430 mentions the Pigmies in The City of God, Book 16, chapter 8 entitled, Whether Certain Monstrous Races of Men Are Derived From the Stock of Adam or Noah's Sons.
Later Greek geographers and writers attempted to place the Pygmies in a geographical context. Sometimes they were located in far India, at other times near the Ethiopians of Africa. The Pygmy bush tribes of central Africa were so named after the Greek mythological creatures by European explorers in the 19th century.
Descriptions in literature
From Tanglewood Tales: The Pygmies by Nathaniel Hawthorne:
From Pliny's Natural History:
From The Life of Apollonius of Tyana by Flavius Philostratus:
From The Travels of Sir John Mandeville:
See also
Chalybes
Dactyl mythology
Telchines
References
Sources
Aristotle, History of Animals. Translated by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson. Internet Classics Archive.
Homer, The Iliad of Homer. Translated and with an Introduction by Richmond Lattimore. The University of Chicago Press, 1961.
Kubiĭovych, Volodymyr and Shevchenka, Naukove tovarystvo im. Ukraine: A Concise Encyclopaedia. University of Toronto, 1963.
Mandeville, John, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville: The Fantastic 14th-Century Account of a Journey to the East,
Ritson, Joseph, Fairy Tales, Now First Collected: To which are prefixed two dissertations: 1. On Pygmies. 2. On Fairies, London, 1831, Adamant Media Corporation, 2004
External links
Theoi Project - Pygmaioi
Category:Africa in Greek mythology
Category:Asia in Greek mythology
Category:Legendary tribes in Greco-Roman historiography | wikipedia |
Cindy Preszler is an on-air meteorologist at WFTX, Fox 4, in Fort Myers/Cape Coral, Florida. She was previously a meteorologist with WeatherSTL.com, a dynamic, interactive site she created and owned with her business partner, Ric Kearbey, that delivered up-to-date weather information for the Greater St. Louis metro area, from 2016 through January, 2019. She was the chief meteorologist at KSDK-TV 5, the NBC affiliate in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1998 until 2016. Preszler was one of five female chief meteorologists that were on TEGNA-owned NBC affiliates, including Monica Woods of ABC affiliate KXTV in Sacramento, CA. Prior to arriving in St. Louis in October, 1998, the South Dakota native worked at several TV stations, including Chicago's NBC-owned WMAQ-TV, as well as on The Weather Channel 198792. Preszler was the first female meteorologist to cover a landfall hurricane at the Weather Channel, and has won 5 regional Emmy awards including 17 nominations. She was also awarded an AP Award for feature story, six Missouri Broadcasters awards 15 nominations, one Illinois Broadcasters award, and was a fill-in for both The Today Show NBC and CBS This Morning. She previously chaired the AMS Broadcast Conference, and was featured in Sport Illustrated's Women of Weather. She is currently a member of and/or holds the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval, the National Weather Association Seal, and the International Association of Broadcast Meteorology.
See also cindypreszler.com/
References
http://www.ksdk.com/company/bios/team.aspx
Category:People from South Dakota
Category:American meteorologists
Category:Living people
Category:Journalists from South Dakota | wikipedia |
relativistic nucleus - nucleus collisions provide a unique opportunity for studying hot dense hadronic matter . at beam energies below 2
@xmath1gev the focus has been on extracting information about the nuclear matter equation of state from measurements of the collective flow of nucleons and light fragments @xcite . as the beam energy
is increased , however , a complete description of the eos should also include strange particle degrees of freedom .
recent theoretical studies have indicated that the in - medium properties of strange particles in nuclear matter at high densities and temperatures may be constrained by accurate measurements of their yields , spectra , and flow in heavy - ion collisions @xcite .
preliminary experimental evidence of a directed flow signal for lambda particles has been provided by the eos collaboration @xcite and by the fopi collaboration @xcite . in this letter we present the completed analysis of @xmath0 sideward flow in the eos data .
in addition we present for the first time the eos results on the total yield , the yields as a function of centrality and rapidity , and the collective transverse expansion of @xmath0 s .
a full description of the eos experimental setup can be found in ref.s @xcite .
the heart of the setup is a time projection chamber ( tpc ) which provides continuous three dimensional tracking and particle identification for particles with @xmath7 .
the eos tpc has a rectangular geometry and operated in anti - parallel 1.3 t @xmath8 and 120 v / cm @xmath9 fields for this experiment . the target was situated as close to the tpc as possible , approximately 15 cm upstream of the first tpc pad row , in order to maximize acceptance .
because this placed it in a high magnetic field , copper rather than nickel was used as the target material . the @xmath2ni beam supplied by the berkeley bevalac had an energy of 1.97 @xmath1gev at the center of the target . the hardware trigger consisted of beam defining counters located some distance upstream and a trigger counter located just downstream of the target . the discriminator threshold on the downstream counter
was set to veto the @xmath1025@xmath11 most peripheral events .
this trigger cutoff produces negligible bias in the data sample since , as demonstrated below , @xmath0 s are predominantly produced in central events .
@xmath0 s are reconstructed through the charged particle decay : , which has a branching ratio of approximately 64@xmath11 . after all tpc tracks in an event are found and the overall event vertex has been determined , each pair of @xmath12 tracks is looped over and their point of closest approach is calculated .
pairs whose trajectories intersect at a point other than the main vertex are fit with a v0 hypothesis from which an invariant mass and momentum are extracted .
the @xmath0 candidates are then passed through a neural network filter @xcite in order to reduce the combinatoric background . the resulting invariant mass distribution is shown in fig . [ mlam ] .
cutting around the peak in the distribution ( 1112 mev/@xmath13 @xmath14 1120 mev/@xmath13 ) results in a sample of 1797 @xmath0 candidates , of which around 40 are estimated to be background .
acceptance correction factors have been calculated by passing a sample of minimum bias 2 @xmath1gev ni + cu arc events through a detailed geant simulation of the eos detector system and then through the same analysis chain as actual data .
the arc model @xcite has been successful at reproducing a wide range of inclusive observables at ags energies and it has been used to study directed flow in au + au collisions at bevalac energies @xcite .
the parameterization of the tpc response in the eos geant simulation code is similar to the parameterization in the fst simulation program used by the star collaboration @xcite .
hit merging , spatial resolution , and adc resolution parameters were empirically adjusted to match the data .
the overall width and background of the reconstructed monte carlo @xmath0 s are in good agreement with the data of fig .
[ mlam ] .
azimuthally integrated @xmath0 efficiency factors are calculated on a @xmath15 grid in @xmath16 space from the formula : @xmath17 where @xmath18 and @xmath19 are the reconstructed and input number of @xmath0 s , respectively , in the given bin . in principle
the efficiency factors also depend on the multiplicity or impact parameter . generating a sufficient number of geant events to calculate three dimensional efficiencies is impractical in the present case , however .
therefore , the approximation has been made that the efficiency factorizes into two pieces : @xmath20 ; with the @xmath21 s being given by : @xmath22 averaged over all values of @xmath23 and @xmath4 . in central and semi - central events tracking efficiencies
are independent of impact parameter for the relatively light system ( maximum tpc multiplicity of around 70 tracks ) . in peripheral collisions , however , the presence of a forward going high z fragment creates a hole in the tpc acceptance near beam rapidity .
although the factorization assumption is not valid for such events , the overall systematic error introduced is expected to be small , as the hole occurs in a region where there are few @xmath0 s . at mid - rapidity , where the majority of @xmath0 s are produced ,
the efficiency factors are very flat versus @xmath24 over the entire range of impact parameters .
the overall acceptance for , averaged over @xmath25 , @xmath23 , and @xmath24 , is calculated to be about 16@xmath11 .
approximately half of the loss is due to geometrical acceptance .
determination of the precise fraction decaying outside the solid angle of the detector is facilitated by the fact that , to first order , arc reproduces the shape of the experimental distribution reasonably well .
to second order , however , a small systematic uncertainty of @xmath26 might be introduced by the extrapolation of efficiency factors to regions of phase space where there are no counts .
some @xmath0 s are also lost through inefficiencies in the track reconstrucion software . according to the simulations , over ninety percent of the @xmath0
s which decay within the geometrical acceptance are reconstructed .
event display comparisons of data with monte carlo suggest that the true tracking efficiency may be lower by a few percent .
the remainder of the experimental inefficiency is due to the cuts used to reduce the combinatoric background .
more than @xmath27 of the true @xmath0 s which are reconstructed get thrown out by these cuts .
systematic error in the estimation of the magnitude of this loss mechanism is believed to be small .
the total systematic error in the final cross section from all contributions is estimated to be ten to fifteen percent half the size of the statistical error .
the open channels for @xmath0 production in nucleon - nucleon collisions at this beam energy are @xmath28 ( 1.58 gev ) , @xmath29 followed by @xmath30 ( 1.79 gev ) , and @xmath31 ( 1.96 gev ) .
@xmath0 s originating from @xmath32 decay ( @xmath33 cm ) are experimentally indistinguishable from primary @xmath0 s . in the arc event sample
approximately @xmath34 of the @xmath0 s arise from @xmath32 decay .
these @xmath0 s are included in all of the arc comparisons shown below .
all spectra , except for the sideward flow plots of fig .
[ flow ] , have also been corrected for branching ratios .
the dependence of @xmath0 yield upon centrality produces a natural weighting towards central events but no explicit centrality cuts have been applied .
attempts to study the effects of centrality cuts on the flow analyses were inconclusive due to insufficient statistics .
the efficiency - corrected @xmath0 center - of - mass rapidity spectrum , normalized to beam rapidity , is shown in fig .
[ ylam ] along with the arc comparison .
both spectra peak near @xmath35 as expected for this nearly mass - symmetric system . within statistics ,
the widths of the distributions are similar ; however , arc appears to overestimate the total yield by approximately @xmath27 .
this is not necessarily a deficiency of the cascade assumption , however , as there is a relatively large uncertainty in the @xmath0 cross section in @xmath36 collisions below 2 gev .
the solid curve of fig . [ ylam ] represents the rapidity spectrum of an isotropic thermal distribution at the temperature of 106 mev which is obtained by fitting an exponential to the mid - rapidity transverse mass spectrum of the data .
the rapidity spectra for both the data and the model are considerably broader .
this most likely indicates an insufficient number of rescatterings for the @xmath0 s which have a well known forward - backward distribution in elementary @xmath36 reactions to become completely isotropic .
the dependence of @xmath0 yield upon event centrality is shown in the top panel of fig .
[ yield ] .
the impact parameter scale in this figure was derived by assuming a monotonic dependence of total observed charged particle multiplicity in the tpc versus impact parameter @xcite .
the data are well described by a straight line fit of @xmath37 versus @xmath25 : @xmath38 with a @xmath39 of 0.6 .
the arc model , on the other hand , predicts a linear dependence of @xmath0 yield on the number of participants rather than on impact parameter .
when plotted versus the number of participants , the data bend over and flatten out for the most central collisions .
this behavior could be suggestive of a kind of `` shadowing '' effect in which late arriving nucleons from the projectile and target suffer softer collisions with matter already stopped in the collision zone . since the initial beam energy is only marginally above threshold to begin with
, @xmath0 production from these late primary nucleons might be suppressed .
the fact that the effect does nt also show up in the cascade model , however , tends to cast doubt on this explanation .
the efficiency - corrected mean @xmath40 multiplicities versus impact parameter are shown in the bottom panel of fig .
[ yield ] .
the @xmath40 efficiency is approximately @xmath41 and independent of @xmath25 .
the @xmath40 multiplicities of the data are not as well fit by a straight line as are the @xmath0 s .
the @xmath42 dependence upon participant number is reasonably linear , however , consistent with previous observations @xcite . within statisitics ,
the @xmath43 ratio is constant as a function of @xmath25 with a value of @xmath44 . for the most central events , arc overpredicts the @xmath40 yield by about @xmath45 .
arc pion multiplicities bend over significantly when plotted versus the number of participants .
the net result is a strong dependence of the @xmath43 ratio on centrality in arc .
the straight line fit of the upper panel of fig .
[ yield ] intersects the abscissa at @xmath46 fm . integrating the fit out to this value of @xmath25
yields a total cross section of as mentioned above , a systematic error of the order of @xmath47 from uncertainties in the acceptance corrections should be attached to this result . for the central 180 mb of the total reaction cross section , corresponding to impact parameters @xmath48 fm ,
the extracted cross section is this is somewhat higher than , but not in disagreement with , the @xmath49 mb cross section for central 1.8 @xmath1gev ar + kcl collisions of ref .
@xcite when scaled by the approximately @xmath27 increase in the number of participants .
the parameterization used in ref .
@xcite for the @xmath0 production cross section predicts only a @xmath50 increase in yield in going from a beam energy of to the mid - rapidity ( -0.25 @xmath51 0.25 ) @xmath0 @xmath4 spectrum is shown in fig .
[ mtlam ] . in this representation
, a purely thermal distribution would result in a straight line .
the data of fig .
[ mtlam ] , however , have the characteristic shoulder indicative of a collective outward expansion depleting the low @xmath4 region @xcite .
nearly twenty years ago , siemens and rasmussen noted that the spectra of protons and pions measured at @xmath52 in the center of mass at the bevalac showed a pronounced shoulder at low @xmath24 , which they attributed to collective expansion @xcite . by assuming a spherically symmetric thermalized source at mid - rapidity expanding with a constant velocity , @xmath53
, they were able to derive an analytical expression which , in terms of transverse mass , is:@xmath54 \,\ , , \label{rflow}\ ] ] where @xmath55 and @xmath56 .
straightforward application of the siemens - rasmussen expression to the data of fig .
[ mtlam ] gives @xmath57 and t = @xmath58 mev with a @xmath39 of 1.1 .
the interpretation of the fitted parameters is not so straightforward , however .
studies of eos au+au data have shown that different assumptions about the expansion velocity profile are equally consistent with the observed @xmath4 spectra .
in general , the dependence upon the mean radial flow velocity and temperature can not be expressed in simple analytical form as above but must be determined from monte carlo simulations . in the case of the present data
no attempt has been made to extract @xmath53 s or temperatures for other velocity profiles .
the fit results should therefore be viewed as providing a quantitative measure of collective transverse expansion only within the context of the velocity profile assumption underlying eq .
[ rflow ] .
the @xmath4 spectrum of mid - rapidity protons from the same event sample also has a shoulder .
an independent fit of the protons results in a @xmath53 of @xmath59 , in reasonable agreement with the @xmath53 for the @xmath0 s , with a @xmath39 of 0.75 .
the proton s `` temperature '' , however , is much higher : 81 @xmath60 mev .
this difference is consistent with the picture of cold @xmath0 s produced just above threshold undergoing an insufficient number of rescatterings to come into thermal equilibrium with the hotter protons .
a two parameter fit of the @xmath0 s obtained by fixing @xmath53 to zero gives t = @xmath61 mev with a @xmath39 of 1.9 .
fitting the protons with a pure exponential results in an inverse slope parameter t = @xmath62 mev with a @xmath39 of 1.4 .
the rapidity spectrum obtained from the fit parameters of eq . [ rflow ] , assuming a spherically symmetric source , is indicated by the dashed curve of fig .
the result is practically indistinguishable from a purely thermal distribution at the temperature of 106 mev shown as the solid curve . the arc @xmath0 s in fig .
[ mtlam ] show no evidence of a depletion at low @xmath4 and are well fit by simple exponentials .
the resulting inverse slope parameter is t = @xmath63 mev .
the @xmath4 spectra for arc protons also show no evidence for transverse flow .
thermal fits give t = @xmath64 mev for filtered and t = @xmath65 mev for unfiltered arc protons with @xmath39 s of 1.3 and 1.2 , respectively .
detection of a majority of the charged particles in the tpc , along with the presence of directed flow for protons and heavier fragments , allows for the correlation of @xmath0 production with the event reaction plane .
the standard transverse momentum analysis of danielewicz and odyniec @xcite has been performed on the 1797 @xmath0 events .
details of the analysis along with preliminary results obtained from a smaller and less clean event sample are given in ref .
briefly , a reaction plane for each event is determined from protons and nuclear fragments with @xmath66 .
the @xmath0 transverse momentum is then projected onto the estimated reaction plane and averaged as a function of rapidity over all events .
the resulting @xmath67 distributions , normalized to the proton mass , are shown in fig .
5a for @xmath0 s ( filled circles ) and protons ( open squares ) .
both have been corrected for the @xmath68 dispersion in the estimated reaction plane , as per the prescription of ref .
the conclusion of ref .
@xcite has not changed the @xmath0 s `` flow '' in the same direction as the protons .
the dashed lines of fig . 5 represent straight line fits to the data over the region : @xmath69 .
the slopes , @xmath70 , at mid - rapidity are given in the first column of table 1 .
the fact that the @xmath0 slope is consistent with zero within two standard deviations is somewhat misleading .
backward rapidity points have been excluded from the fits because reduced acceptance for @xmath71 leads to systematically lower values of .
this effect can be clearly seen in the proton data points , which should be nearly antisymmetric about from symmetry considerations .
the efficiency factors used to correct the @xmath23 and @xmath4 spectra have not been applied in the case of the event - by - event directed flow analysis .
however , the direction of the correction can only be toward larger values of , which bolsters the conclusion of a non - zero positive @xmath0 flow .
the analysis has also been performed on the arc events .
the results , both before and after the geant filter , are given in table 1 .
within statistical uncertainties the cascade is in agreement with the data for both protons and @xmath0 s .
a comparison of columns two and three of the table shows ( again with large statistical errors ) that the experimental acceptance and resolution do not distort the extracted flow values .
also shown in table 1 are flow values extracted from the relativistic transport code , rvuu , by the authors of ref . @xcite .
unlike arc , where flow effects are produced by preservation of two - body scattering planes and an unequal weighting of attractive and repulsive orbits @xcite , rvuu incorporates a mean field potential for lambdas which increases the sidewards flow in the direction of the protons .
the error bar on the rvuu value in table 1 spans the range of flow values that were obtained in ref .
@xcite from a @xmath72 adjustment in the relative strength of the vector part of the mean field . from the table it is seen that the two models produce approximately the same amount of flow for protons while arc @xmath0 s have , perhaps , slightly more flow .
our findings are consistent with the prediction of ref .
@xcite that the magnitude of @xmath0 directed flow is smaller than proton flow .
of course , the hypothesis of @xmath0 flow and proton flow being equal can not be confidently ruled out with the present statistics . the roughly twofold difference between the proton @xmath73 of the present work and the results of ref .
@xcite is dominated by the @xmath74 selection used in ref .
@xcite . for the @xmath0 s ,
both the transverse and sidewards flow analyses are very sensitive to the inclusion of combinatoric background .
the protons from @xmath0 decays have momentum vectors close to their parent particle s due to the low pion mass .
since non - decay protons , which are dominant in the formation of the combinatoric background , have both types of flow , false @xmath0 s also show flow . in order to obtain pure @xmath0 flow
it becomes necessary to either : 1 ) reduce the background to an insignificant level as was done in the present analysis ; or 2 ) perform a careful analysis of the flow of the background . choosing the first option means sacrificing some statistics but avoids the inevitable complications and uncertainties of method 2 .
the @xmath0 invariant mass plot of ref .
@xcite includes a large combinatoric background .
it is unclear whether or how much their reported @xmath0 @xmath73 are shifted towards their proton @xmath73 by this background .
in summary , we have obtained a high quality sample of @xmath0 s produced in to within @xmath47 the acceptance is well understood , allowing efficiency corrections to be made with confidence .
the @xmath5 production cross section has a linear dependence upon impact parameter and the @xmath43 ratio is relatively flat versus impact parameter . a shoulder at low @xmath24 in
the mid - rapidity @xmath0 tranverse mass spectrum is most likely due to collective transverse expansion .
correlation of the @xmath0 momentum with the reaction plane on an event - by - event basis reveals a positive directed flow consistent with the predictions of mean field theory .
the arc model reproduces the shape of the @xmath0 rapidity spectrum and generates sidewards flow in agreement with the data but fails to reproduce the shoulders in the @xmath0 and proton @xmath4 spectra and the dependence of the @xmath0 yield upon event centrality . | arxiv |
Breaking Bad Doped Up
**So, hey! *waves* Welcome to my first (and probably last) foray into the Breaking Bad fandom. I kept watching the hospital scene in 1.06 and something inside of me just thought that the scene deserved more closure. So here it is! Hope you enjoy.**
**Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Nope. Nada.**
Jesse is still.
He lies on the hospital bed completely unconscious, with a neck brace and an IV tube.
Walt shudders deep down inside.
At first, Walt kind of thinks it's a joke, because in all the time he's known Jesse Pinkman (high school included), Jesse has never been that still before. Walt expects his partner to open his eyes at any moment and say some badass, wannabe gangster comment that'll make him get a migraine but at the end of the day, they've cooked meth, sold it, and he'll return home to Skyler and Walter Junior with a bundle of cash stuffed in his pocket.
Walt's smart, though. The illusion fades. This isn't a joke. Jesse's hurt. Bad.
"You the guy?" asks some skinny gangster who's sitting by Jesse's bedside...("You know that guy we were talking about, Tuco?" Jesse had asked while Walt had been sweating and trying to keep Hank from connecting the dot about his missing lab stuff. "Turns out my boy Skinny Pete was in the same cellblock with him over at Los Lunas...") This must be him, the Skinny Pete Guy, Walt thinks.
"Yeah," he says hoarsely. "I'm the guy." The rest of the sentence is implied. _I'm the guy who got you into this mess, Jesse, I'm the guy who should be lying in this hospital bed, I'm the guy who cooks meth with him to help my family once I pass in a few years from now...I'm the guy who's so unbelievably sorry for this, Jesse._
Walt, out of reflex, reaches for Jesse, then pulls his hand back as if he's been burnt. "How is he?" Walt asks Skinny Pete, who responds immediately. Obviously this guy cares about Jesse, and that makes Walt feel a bit better. "Got some busted ribs and like that. Got messed up pretty good," Skinny Pete says, and Walt fights the urge to say no shit, Sherlock, because his partner looks like fucking death warmed over. Skinny Pete continues. "I was all like "Damn, Tuco, chill, ese." I don't know what got into him. Seriously," he adds quickly, like Walt had any doubt the first time around.
Walt leans closer to Jesse, thinking he sees a slight flicker of his eyelids, and, "Oh, he's out, man, way out," Skinny Pete explains almost sympathetically. "They got him doped up big-time." Walt thinks, on a subconscious level, that Jesse is "doped up big-time" probably more than half the day, but this time, he's not doped up on crack, pot or meth. He's doped up on life-saving medicine.
_Oh, the irony_, thinks Walt.
"So you're the cook, huh?" Skinny Pete asks casually, as if Jesse isn't lying on that hospital bed unconscious and he and Walt are just meeting up at the mall. Walt feels like he has to sit down, and he makes toward the chair at the other side of Jesse's bedside. "Yo, I didn't catch your name."
Walt considers giving this guy his name, after all his life's already completely insane, why the hell can't he give this druggie friend of Jesse's his name? _It's not important now_, he thinks logically, looking at the prone figure of his partner. His mind is already racing, working overtime to try and think of a solution, like this whole thing is just a hard problem on a chemistry quiz or something. But it really isn't. The only problem that he can see is Tuco: Tuco, the druggie kingpin, who had beaten Jesse to an inch of his life, is the problem.
"Tell me about this Tuco," Walt finally says to Skinny Pete, who looks back at him with wide eyes, like he's impressed Walt can speak. "Tell me everything about him."
And Skinny Pete starts to explain, the chemist in Walt begins to plan, and scheme, and formulate.
Whoever this Tuco was, he wouldn't get away with hurting his friend.
End file.
| fanfiction |
Bones 1. Angela On the Hue of Generosity
**Author's Introduction:** A series of moments exploring how Booth went from disliking Brennan to being her 'knight in standard-issue FBI armor' in the first year of their partnership, followed by his changing feelings about her as they continue to work together. I am marking this as incomplete because this is the first of a series of stand-alone chapters. Each chapter is complete in itself, but they all will build on each other. At the moment I have seven chapters complete; I'm working on a few more that I definitely plan to publish.
**A Note About the Title:** A _Catalyst_ in chemistry is a substance that accelerates a chemical reaction, without increasing the temperature and without being changed itself. In human terms, a person can be a catalyst if they cause a change or action between two people without being affected or changed themselves.
**Disclaimer:** I do not own or benefit from Bones in any way. I will be borrowing dialogue and incidents from select episodes and building upon them to draw out certain themes. In this first chapter, credit for episode dialogue goes to Hart Hanson.
* * *
_Catalyst in the Partnership_
**1.**
**_Angela – On the Hue of Generosity_**
_"You must know about her family. Both parents disappear when she was 15. Probably counts as the 'real world.'"_
Special Agent Seeley Booth couldn't believe his ears, or his eyes. The cadre of scientists, complete with one unconventional forensic artist, stood around a giant holographic projector straight out of Star Trek and showed him a nifty movie that was based on circumstances and conjecture. Young political intern Cleo Eller was stabbed, her fingertips removed, her skull smashed, and evidence planted to misdirect the search for a suspect. And there stood the arrogant Dr. Temperance Brennan, Forensic Anthropologist Extraordinaire, agreeing when one of her minions claimed the first place Booth ought to look was a senator's basement.
Astonished, he asked, "You expect me to declare war on a United States Senator based on your little holographic crystal ball?"
Brennan's arms were crossed, her eyes narrowing in irritation. They'd been through this argument before, and it hadn't ended well that time, either. He'd dragged her out of a room and she'd struck him with a vicious blow to the zygomatic. She felt the same tide of fury rising now, the same disbelief that Booth was once again dismissing the evidence just because he didn't understand how to interpret it. "It's not magic. It's a logical recreation of events based on evidence."
"No more valid than my gut," he countered meaningfully. No way in hell was he going up against Senator Bethlehem with her squint squad's version of an Agatha Christie dénouement. Glaring at each of them in turn, he cut his gaze back to Brennan and found himself admiring the sparks flying out of her hammered-steel eyes. It had been a year, and he'd forgotten how stormy she could get. Booth decided he quite liked getting her all riled up regardless of the danger she posed to his person. Even though his cheek and his ego had both ached for days after the last time they'd dueled, she'd been so intensely provocative that he'd been unable to forget her. Booth had gone to great lengths just to be in the same room with Brennan again but he wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of backing down.
_He's pissing her off on purpose,_ Dr. Jack Hodgins realized. The resident expert on soils, insects and plants watched the interplay between his boss and the FBI agent with interest. He'd known that Booth had somehow gotten off to a bad start with Brennan a year ago. She'd stormed into the lab like a hurricane, raging that he was arrogant, stupid, a bully and she most assuredly wasn't ever going to speak to Special Agent Seeley Booth of the FBI ever again. Never. Ever. The tempest had raged throughout the lab for two hours that day, ceasing only when Angela dragged Brennan out "to blow off some steam."
In all the time Hodgins had known the unflappable Dr. Brennan, that was the first time he'd seen her careening out of control. And it was the last, until right now where she seemed to be on the verge once again. For a man with anger management issues of his own, seeing the hyper-rational scientist explode into fury was exhilarating and just a tiny bit terrifying. She'd kept her temper so tightly leashed that no one even knew it was there, thus the heights her rage could reach once it escaped had shocked everyone the first time around. Hodgins glanced at Angela and saw her eyes widening in apprehension of a second performance as well.
Brennan's eyes were narrowed, her body stiff, the fury rolling off of her in waves like a gathering storm surge. Hurricane Temperance was about to make landfall and Seeley Booth was clearly goading her on purpose, blowing heat into the system and watching the thunderclouds churn. Hodgins shook his head as the FBI agent's legendary arrogance clashed with Brennan's equally impressive temper. The man might have a gun, but Hodgins was fairly certain Brennan would win if it came to physical blows, and boy did she look ready to blow.
When she was angry, Temperance was anything but temperate. She was beautiful and dangerous in the way of Siberian tigers, blue eyes flashing and coiled muscles rippling with restrained strength. Where tigers had sharp claws, Brennan had a razor sharp tongue—she could flay a man alive using words alone, then follow it up with a beating calculated to bring about maximum pain in minimal time. Clearly she was dangerous: last year she'd beaten up a judge and cold-cocked an FBI agent all in the same 24 hours. Only two days ago, Angela had watched in glee while Brennan dropped a Homeland Security agent over 6'6 and 300 pounds as if he were a ten year old. Apparently Booth was unafraid of her, but he was the only one not quavering.
The intern, Zack Addy, interrupted nervously when he saw the sparks shooting out of his mentor's eyes and the blatant disregard emanating from the FBI agent. Reading social situations wasn't his strong suit, but even he could see the confrontation brewing. Remembering the last time Booth had rigged Dr. Brennan for an explosion, he thought it might be prudent to cut the fuse. Perhaps a bit of logic might help. "A good hypothesis withstands testing. That's what _makes_ it a good hypothesis."
Then Zack paused to wonder if Agent Booth even knew what a scientific hypothesis was. Pose a question, then design an experiment to prove or disprove the question. All he had to do was find the cement floor to prove the hypothesis about the senator right or wrong. It was simple—why couldn't Booth see that?
"This is not a hypothesis," Booth sneered. "You have a dead girl and a _United States senator_." It was a simple, common-sense rule—why couldn't these clueless squints see that? One did not go up against powerful people without all their ducks lined up. He'd been over this before with Brennan, didn't she remember Judge Hasting? Evidently she still didn't know how it worked, the way of politics and power. It seemed working in this lab had sucked all common sense out of their heads.
Booth pinned his gaze coldly on Brennan, letting her know she was out of her element. "This is exactly why squints belong in the lab. You guys don't know anything about the real world."
If he hadn't been looking at her, Booth would have missed the arrow of pain that darted across her features before her entire body stiffened and she brought herself under control. It was only a moment, but a telling one. Just that fast, the fire in her drowned under a surge of ice water. Brennan's face hardened, the sparks in her eyes subsiding into the lifeless grey of a frozen lake. She flicked her gaze over the assembled scientists, taking them all in with a frosty sweep. "Come on. We're done here."
She turned and walked out, head erect, shoulders slung back proudly. At least she didn't hit him this time. Booth counted that as progress.
Wordlessly, the others filed out behind her, each one casting a hard, angry glance Booth's way. Their disapproval washed off each one of them in waves as they departed, leaving Booth to wonder why they were so sensitive.
"Wow." Irritated, he tossed a red poker die in his right hand, a relic from his gambling days and reminder of how recently he'd overcome that vice. Catching it, he turned his head and saw one squint still standing there. His glance oozed disdain. "Touchy," he groused.
Only Angela Montenegro remained, because it was her office. But the lovely Asian woman paused in her studied disregard of the not-so-special agent to offer an explanation for his unanimous dismissal. "You must know about her family. Both parents disappeared when she was 15. Probably counts as the 'real world.'"
Booth scoffed. "Yeah, I know the story. I read the file. The cops never found out anything."
Angela agreed quietly. "Yeah. Brennan figures, maybe, if someone like her had been there…."
"For someone who hates psychology, she sure has a lot of it." He shrugged dismissively, hands jammed into his pockets.
Angela stared at him. Glared at him. Waited for him to get a clue. Nothing.
She took a step closer, suddenly understanding what had pissed Brennan off so much a year ago. Her eyes flashed dangerously. In her own way, Angela was just as hazardous as Brennan. "You may be cute, but you are also a complete ass."
"What?" He stepped back, surprised at the rapid change of mood.
"Think about it, G-man. A kid with no extended family suddenly has no parents. What the hell do you think happened to her after that? Huh? Where do you suppose she ended up?"
"Not with relatives…." He guessed, since Angela had just indicated Brennan didn't have family.
"Foster care."
He winced.
"Do you know how rare it is for a foster kid to even make it into college? Let alone earning multiple PhDs. Do you have any idea how hard she's worked, how much she's had to overcome?"
Feeling chastised, Booth looked away. Shrugged. He wasn't sure he wanted to think about it, or to allow sympathy or admiration to soften the righteous irritation he'd been harboring for months. Brennan was the one who had gone nuts, why should he have to consider the possible causes underlying her evident insanity?
"Do you have any idea how many times Brennan has been kicked by life in general, but she gets up and keeps working?"
"So, what are you saying. You're her biggest fan?"
"We all are." Angela took another step into his space, radiating hostility and a protective instinct that was quite at odds with her usual 'flighty artist' demeanor.
"You want to keep working with Brennan? You need to look deeper. There's more to her than you think. I promise you, if you really pay attention and get to know her even a little, you will see what we see. You'll understand why they all follow her and why I'm just barely holding back from kicking your ass."
Booth barked a laugh. "You?"
"Me. Hodgins. Zack. Even Goodman. Don't you dare slight her, or we will all be lining up for a swing. You understand me?"
"Are you threatening me?" he asked incredulously.
"I don't make threats," she assured him. "I make promises."
A chill rolled across Booth's shoulders. Angela was serious, seriously threatening him. And all the other squints did seem poised to strike out on Brennan's behalf as well. Given how arrogant and irritating the forensic anthropologist was, he couldn't credit such loyalty. They should hate her, be willing to sabotage her; instead they were lining up in her defense. Something didn't add up.
His confusion must have been obvious because Angela's eyes suddenly turned a warmer shade. "Tell you what, I'll give you your first clue for free."
She walked over to her desk, picking up a skull that was crazed with fracture lines all over it, like a crackly old porcelain cup. "This is Cleo's skull. You remember how many pieces there were?"
He nodded, remembering slivers and shards by the hundreds that Brennan had cataloged at the pond, taking care to wrap each as if it were porcelain rather than bone. Disbelief etched his features as he regarded the reconstructed whole. Every piece had been carefully glued back into place, leaving the skull nearly complete again, aside from a triangle patch of clay centered in the forehead and a second clay patch bridging the arch of one cheek. Tiny pencil erasers had been glued over the facial bones, marking the estimated tissue depths that had guided Angela's reconstruction of the face.
Angela traced over the skull almost lovingly. "After traveling for 26 hours, winning a fight against a much larger Homeland Security agent, being arrested at the airport, dragged out to a crime scene and working all night to retrieve a skeleton from a pond, Brennan was still at work the next day. She prepared said skeleton for cleaning and examination, then proceeded to stay awake all night for a second night to glue over 1000 bits of bone back together into this skull. Two nights, no sleep."
She pinned him with a hard glare. "That's the kind of dedication Brennan gives to her work, to the nameless people who come into this lab. She gives up everything for them, including food, sleep and any inkling of a social life. I know it looks to you like she doesn't care; that just shows how little you know. Detachment is the only way she can survive all the death and destruction she sees. It gets to her. So, when people call her cold … it hurts her."
Setting down the skull, Angela gave her second warning shot. She looked directly into his eyes, her words making clear she knew he'd called Brennan cold during their previous case. "It hurts her a lot, Booth."
A flush of shame and guilt brushed his cheeks darker for a moment. "I had no idea she missed two nights of sleep."
"She's not going to tell you. She's never going to tell you any of this—that's not who she is. So it falls to us, the people who've bothered to know her. I'm telling you what you need to know. Listen carefully. Brennan is honest. Dedicated. Modest—no, don't you dare interrupt."
He'd drawn in a breath, about to sputter that Brennan threw around her PhDs like a fist, smashing him in the face with them repeatedly. And all those comments she made about her intelligence and his lack thereof. _"I'm the best in the world,"_ she'd said. That was modesty?!
But Angela steamrolled right over him, apparently reading his mind in the process. "Yes, she _is_ modest. When she tells you she has three PhDs or an IQ of 183, she's just stating a fact. But the other stuff, the amazing stuff, that's what she won't talk about. Things like skipping food and sleep to reconstruct a stranger's skull. You have no idea of her generosity, the things she's done for others. She just does them, never tells anyone. Did you know she started a scholarship in the name of Jemma Arrington? The singer in your first case together."
His expression must have indicated this was the first he'd heard of this. Angela nodded and continued. "She didn't tell me either, I read about it in the Post. That's the kind of modesty I'm talking about."
"Brennan started a scholarship?"
"She used the profits from her book: the whole check, including any future royalties. She didn't keep a penny."
Speechless, he could only gape at the artist with a look of utter astonishment. Amazement couldn't even begin to describe what this news made him feel. Right on the heels of amazed came a phalanx of embarrassment, then shame. The parade ended with a spike of nausea that he had to swallow down thickly as the depth of his misjudgment of Temperance Brennan was exposed.
Smirking, Angela reached out to gently push his jaw closed. "Now you're starting to see what we see. If you want to apologize, she's probably either in Limbo or at the shooting range. If she's in Limbo, she's close to forgiving you."
Still recovering from her shocking revelation, Booth sent her a blank look. "Limbo?"
The artist shrugged. "Brennan prefers 'modular bone storage,' but I think Limbo is more poetic. The Jeffersonian has thousands of unidentified bodies waiting for identification or authentication. Limbo is where they wait."
He stored that knowledge away with the other nuggets of trivia Angela was letting fall today. "So she goes there to calm down," he surmised.
Angela laughed. "She's always calm, except where you're concerned."
Off his startled expression, she continued. "If she's at the shooting range, it's probably you she's thinking of shooting. Better put on a bullet-proof vest before you approach."
Wearing a mischievous grin, she left him standing in her office with a riot of thoughts tumbling through his head. Foremost among them was the sinking realization that, in order to win back Temperance Brennan, he was going to have to become some kind of saint. But he wasn't ready to be a saint, not yet.
~Q~
Booth found her standing with legs stiff, arms braced, and a semi-automatic pistol bucking gently in her hands. Brennan sent five shots straight into the human-shaped target's center of mass, punching a neat little cluster of holes into the 'bulls-eye' at fifty yards. Booth watched silently until she was finished, impressed despite himself.
"Thought I might find you here," he finally announced when she lowered the smoking pistol. He didn't add that he'd known there was only one other place to look, and he'd checked Limbo first. That she was shooting meant she wasn't in a forgiving mood. Disappointed and apprehensive from Angela's warning, he'd decided to go on the offensive. She couldn't attack if he attacked first.
"You know, you being a good shot, an expert in three martial arts, it's just your way of dealing." Brennan removed her hearing protection as Booth sauntered closer, concluding sarcastically, "Who knows better than _you_, how fragile life can be."
She refused to face him, but her challenge drifted back over her shoulder. "Maybe an Army Ranger Sniper who became an FBI homicide detective."
Booth pursed his lips, suddenly feeling flattered. "Ah. You looked me up, huh?"
He stepped boldly into her cubicle, gesturing to the pistol she'd laid on the bench. "You mind?"
"Be my guest." She slid a different gun his way, a snub-nosed revolver.
"Thank you," Booth murmured. Lifting the small handgun, he sighted and shot. The bullet flew wide, strafing the target's forearm. He winced, feigning dissatisfaction.
Brennan smirked, knowing he'd missed because of her, intentional or otherwise. Either way, she counted it a victory. Laughing, she cooed, "Were you any good at being a sniper?"
Booth leaned closer to her, leaving her bait untouched. "A sniper gets to know a little something about killers. Senator Bethlehem? He's no killer."
Brennan turned toward him, chin tipped challengingly. "Oh, and Oliver Laurier is…."
"The way I read Laurier, he's unhinged." He tipped closer to Brennan, closing the distance until mere inches separated them. Whispering, he taunted, "that makes him dangerous."
"That'd be your _gut_ telling you that, correct?" Her eyes were flashing again like sunlit glass. A mocking smile tugged at her lips, dragging his gaze briefly to her mouth. Memories of those lips sliding against his darted through Booth's mind, the taste of Tequila and paradise still lingering on his tongue. With iron resolve, Booth forced his attention away from her tempting and oh-so-irritating mouth and back to putting her in her place: the lab. She didn't belong in his world and it was high time she got the message.
"You know, homicides, they're not solved by scientists. They're solved by guys like me, asking a thousand questions a thousand times, catching people telling lies every time."
He pushed in closer still, raising his arm to block her exit. He bored into her eyes, wide and glinting with intelligence. Her pupils expanded, her body flooding with adrenaline in preparation for the battle of wits and tongues they were engaging in. But she didn't flinch or look away, he noted.
With mock sympathy, Booth concluded, "You know, Bones, you're great at what you do, but you don't solve crimes. Cops do."
Most people retreated when someone stepped that deeply into their personal space. Brennan leaned back against the wall but didn't back down. Of course she wouldn't, he mused. 'Most people' weren't a former foster kid with three PhDs, a scientist who knew enough karate to break a judge's nose and bring down a Homeland Security agent. Booth was getting the feeling that Temperance Brennan didn't back down from anything. As much as she was pissing him off at the moment, he grudgingly had to admire her spunk.
"Cleo Eller died on a cement floor sprinkled with diatomaceous earth. Traces of her blood will still be in that cement."
The rasp of her alto voice skated over his skin, sending shivers everywhere. How was it possible the woman's voice turned him on that much?! Once again, his eyes fell to her lips, and he was sorely tempted to try his luck kissing her again. Only the presence of multiple handguns within her furious reach held his baser urges in check. Instinct told him she wouldn't hesitate to shoot if he dared to touch her just now.
"One of us is wrong," Brennan nearly whispered. "Maybe both of us."
She cocked her head to the side, the arrogant half-grin that still haunted his dreams ghosting across her lips. "But if Bethlehem wasn't a senator, you'd be right there in his basement looking for that killing floor. You're afraid of him."
Booth felt his desire melting back into fury. She was calling him a _coward_?
Brennan smirked, knowing she was getting to him. Her people skills might be lagging, but for some reason she found it ridiculously easy to find and push Seeley Booth's buttons. "Your hypothesis is that squints don't solve crimes and cops do."
Again that sexy, arrogant grin. "Prove it," she dared him.
Again, that raspy whisper that made him want to throw her on the ground and take her right there. "Be a cop," she taunted, and slipped away.
Booth watched her strut away, her hips swaying just a bit more than usual. Somehow she'd managed to grab her two handguns while he was busy getting lost in her voice and lips. He suspected she'd known that. Gritting his teeth, he drew his own service pistol and leveled two shots to the head of Brennan's abandoned target. For a half second, he'd almost imagined it was Brennan; she pissed him off that much.
Turning, he found her gathering up spare ammunition and replacing her firearms in their carrying case. Rather than looking triumphant, she looked … unsettled. _There's more to her than you think._ His talk with Angela tempered the simmering irritation just enough that he decided to try again. Thanks to Angela's intervention, Brennan was a puzzle that he was becoming determined to solve.
"I read an interesting newspaper article recently."
Brennan's attention remained on her task but by the stiffening of her shoulders, he knew she was listening.
"You started a scholarship in Jemma's name."
The movements of her hands slowed, stopped. She held very still for a long moment. When her face lifted to his, she looked as wary as a doe during hunting season.
"Why'd you do that, Bones."
"Don't call me Bones," she retorted, the response automatic.
He stepped closer again. "Why?"
Her gaze slid sideways, her lips compressing. "The idea for my book was a result of Jemma's death. It didn't seem right to profit from her family's tragedy." She shrugged, trying to deflect further discussion.
Slipping one finger under her chin, Booth lifted her face back up to his. He studied her, the tip of his thumb stroking her chin absently. "You surprise me," he mused.
As a soldier, as a sniper, as a gambler, as an investigator, Booth made his living reading people. He could look at a person and see right into the heart of them, read them like newsprint. Brennan was a heavy text filled with foreign, incomprehensible words. The fact that he couldn't figure her out lured him as nothing else could. He knew she wasn't doing it intentionally, which made her mystery all the sweeter. The only thing constant about Brennan was her unpredictability.
She jerked her face loose, surprising him again by retreating, where before she had stood her ground. "You don't know me."
"I know," he agreed. "That's why I find you so fascinating. I know people; but I don't know you. You ever gonna let me in?"
Her brow furrowed, confusion clouding her eyes. "I don't know what that means. Let you into what."
"You," he whispered.
Shock stole the color from her cheeks. Sputtering in outrage, she began telling him just what she thought of that notion. "You conceited, supercilious—"
Booth threw back his head in laughter. "Metaphorically, of course. Simmer down, Bones."
"Don't call me Bones!" She slammed the last pistol into the case, snapped it shut and stormed out of the shooting area.
Watching her leave, Booth laughed at himself. She ticked him off, turned him on, spun him around and left him dizzy. He could see he was having the same effect on her—Angela had all but confirmed it. _"She's always calm, except where you're concerned." _Whatever she did to him, knowing he was doing it to her also just made it so much better.
The chemistry he had with Brennan had him thoroughly enthralled. Her lips had brought him to the very gates of heaven, and 24 hours later her fist had slammed him down into pain and confusion. She was spitting fire one moment and dishing out breath-taking generosity the next. She was dangerously sexy and yet hopelessly naïve; so clever she could look at a hazy image of a bone and identify a person, yet so ignorant of reality that she thought her word alone was enough to issue a warrant. The woman was a walking maze of contradictions.
Most of all, though, she'd been right. She'd been right about Jemma Arrington's characteristics and cause of death. She'd been right about the judge's nose. She'd been right about the x-ray consult as well, giving him a weapon and a killer. Grudgingly, he had to admit she was probably right this time too, at least in her assertion that the killer had done everything to conceal Cleo's identity. But was it the senator?
Booth considered the gauntlet Brennan had all but stripped off and thrown in his face. _Prove it. Be a cop._ She wanted him to search a senator's house. Booth retrieved the target they'd pierced together, noting her tight group in the heart and his deadly twins in the head. Head and heart. Together, he and Brennan made a potent team at the shooting range. How would they fare in the field?
With a sigh, he pulled out his phone and dialed the number of a sympathetic judge he knew. What better way to prove himself—and Brennan wrong—than getting the damn warrant to search Bethlehem's house.
~Q~
* * *
**Author's Note:** While it looks like I may have taken liberties with Brennan's generosity, in actuality I am referencing a certain newspaper article that appeared quite briefly on-screen in season seven's _Crack in the Code_. The article mentions Dr. Temperance Brennan as having donated to a scholarship. The article is titled, "**Opera Scholarship Founded to Honor Slain Singer.**" The part about her donating _all_ the profits from her book comes from me. However, I wouldn't be surprised if she did something that generous, given she used profits from another of her books to rebuild a washed out bridge in a small town (which would cost millions!), and she also most likely donated generously to the scholarship fund that her intern Wendell Bray depended upon.
2. Hodgins On the Essence of Genius
**Author's Note:** I'm planning to update this story on Sundays and Thursdays until it's finished. At the moment I have five chapters planned.
**Disclaimer:** I do not have the right to use these characters, but I'm borrowing them anyway. Dialogue excerpts are courtesy of Steve Blackman and Greg Wall (A Boy in a Bush), and Elizabeth Benjamin (The Man in the Wall).
* * *
_Catalyst in the Partnership_
**2.**
**_Hodgins – On the Essence of Genius_**
_"You're rich. You single-handedly own the Cantilever Group. Don't deny it. I know." _
_"Don't tell Brennan."_
Angela's blunt statement describing who he was and how much influence he held caught Jack Hodgins off guard. He froze, withdrawing from his work and turning slowly, dreadfully, towards her. He didn't pause to wonder how she'd discovered it; really, it wasn't an easy secret to keep. His immense wealth was impossible to hide once anyone decided to look up his name on the Internet. If he had to guess, Hodgins suspected Zack had unwittingly given Angela the first clue that Hodgins was a name worth Googling.
He asked warily, "Who else knows?"
"Zack. Booth." Angela regarded him with a mixture of awe, anger, and sadness.
Turning away, he could only beg for one favor, the only one that mattered. "Don't tell Brennan."
"Why don't you want us to know that you're actually our boss?" She was stunned. This was not the reaction she'd expected. Why keep Brennan in the dark, Angela pondered.
Angrily, he snapped out the reason. "I don't want to be anybody's boss. I never did. Please respect that."
But there was more to it than that, so much more. Returning to his work, he felt Angela leave him. Hodgins resisted the urge to pluck the green rubber band encircling his wrist. It was still there, a reminder of who he'd been before Dr. Brennan had allowed him a place in her lab and given him purpose rather than paranoia. Brennan's pure respect for him meant everything. He couldn't bear the thought of his wealth tainting her opinion of him, of his abilities.
_I am more than my money,_ he thought determinedly. Suddenly, he reached down to his wrist and plucked the rubber band anyway—a reminder of what he'd gained since the day he'd claimed an evidence bag filled with modern clothing. Here in this lab, the only thing that mattered was his intelligence and his ability to tease meaning out of the rubbish obtained at crime scenes and archeological digs. What Brennan asked of Hodgins here was the measure of him as a man, not the impact of money and influence he'd had no part in amassing. The only thing she respected was his brain and his work ethic, the only parts of him that Hodgins wanted to matter.
Sensing his boss approaching, he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Brennan couldn't know about his wealth and the power he unwillingly held over her. He would just have to make sure she didn't find out. Fortunately, Brennan was too clueless in general and too worried about Angela in particular to notice Hodgins's agitation. She asked if Angela was upset about work, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he deflected Brennan's attention onto the forensic artist who had become her best friend over the past two years.
~Q~
"Angela! Booth!"
Hodgins found them walking along the side of the forensics platform and hurried to catch up. He was panting a little, winded from the search and the gravity of what he was about to ask. "Zack has been informed that if he tells anyone who I am, I will kick him out on the street like a stray dog. Sadly, there is nothing I can threaten you two with."
Angela sarcastically affirmed, "Yeah, that's a shame."
Hodgins continued as if she hadn't spoken. "What I want out of my life is to come in here and sift through slime and bugs. Unfortunately, my family is one of those who secretly runs the world."
Booth rolled his eyes. "Paranoia and delusions of grandeur, all in one package."
"You call it paranoia. I call it family business. Please, could you just _stop_!"
They'd begun walking away, but turned back at the almost desperate request.
Hodgins trotted to rejoin them. "The reason I don't want to go to that banquet, is because the other members of the ruling elite will make a big fuss about seeing me. My secret will be out and my life—_this life_, that I love—will be ruined. I'm asking you please, please just let me be Jack Hodgins who works in the lab."
They looked at each other, an understanding passing between the three. Booth nodded thoughtfully, a plan forming in his mind. The FBI labs were a little too busy lately. Perhaps they needed some outside help from a certain cranky scientist at the Jeffersonian….
~Q~
On the evening of the Jeffersonian's gala event, Booth watched Brennan turn and walk regally towards the limousine where Angela, Zack and Goodman were waiting. They were working together much more smoothly lately, fighting less viciously, but he was still madly attracted to her. Admiring the movement of her graceful legs, the narrow span of her waist and the fall of her rich, auburn hair, he allowed himself to enjoy the view until she exited the lab and disappeared. Once she'd slipped out the door, he turned to go with a grin. Sensing another grin directed his way, he lifted his eyes to meet those of Dr. Jack Hodgins laughing down at him from a work station on the lab's central platform.
Booth steeled himself for some well-earned mockery upon being caught admiring Brennan, but Hodgins let it go.
"Thank you again, for this." Hodgins lifted the kilo of what was likely cocaine. Gratitude held Hodgins's silence on the matter of a certain FBI agent ogling his boss from behind. The evidence could have been run at the FBI lab, but Booth had given Hodgins the excuse he needed to avoid the donor's banquet and all the fanfare his attendance—or refusal to attend—would have caused. The least Hodgins could do in return was refrain from calling Booth out on his blatant interest in Brennan's assets.
"It's no problem," Booth shrugged. "You can just pay me back later."
"Wait a minute!" Gesturing for Booth to wait a moment longer, Hodgins quickly locked the kilo up in a drawer and trotted down off the platform. "I need to ask you another favor."
One brow ticked up. "Another one."
"This one is easy. I just … please don't tell Brennan about me. I don't want her to know."
"That you're her boss?" Booth smirked. "Maybe it would do her some good, give her a little bit of humility to know that she has to answer to someone."
"No. She shouldn't answer to me. She shouldn't answer to anyone when it comes to the lab. Even Goodman defers to her."
"Goodman is her superior. He ordered her to go to Washington State with me."
Hodgins waved his hand dismissively. "That's administrative stuff. When it comes to the science, he lets her lead, as he should."
Booth found himself slipping into yet another wave of confusion where his understanding of Temperance Brennan was concerned. "How can she lead? She's terrible with people!"
"No, not in here." Hodgins gestured to the stairs, a subtle offer to continue the conversation in the more relaxed setting of the loft. They each poured a cup of stale coffee and took seats opposite each other.
"We're all scientists in here, even Angela to an extent. We all do our thing, run our tests and experiments, but it takes someone like Brennan to put it together. Goodman is an administrator, he can't do what she does. Neither can I. Nobody can."
Scoffing a little, Booth took a sip of the coffee and winced. It was too strong—and that was saying something considering the enamel-eroding acid the Army had claimed was coffee. Giving up on the cup immediately, he set it aside and considered what he'd just been told. He wasn't sure he understood what Hodgins meant. "What do you mean, she puts it together?"
"If you imagine that each one of us brings a piece of the puzzle, Brennan is the one who figures out where they go. Long before we have all the pieces, she already knows what it's going to be and what pieces we still have to find, and where we should look for them. She's the one who finishes the picture. We can't do it without her."
"I'm still not getting it," Booth admitted.
Hodgins leaned forward. "Okay, here are some examples for you. The Cleo Eller case? She put diatomaceous earth with something one of your suspects said and leaped to fish, the guy who kept fish. You remember that?"
Yes, Booth remembered. She'd run off half-drunk and half-cocked, and had shot the guy without warning. Granted, the suspect had threatened to kill her and she'd only pegged the guy in the calf. Still, the impulsive shooting had nearly netted her jail time and permanent banning from FBI casework. It was a miracle he'd managed to get the assault charges against Brennan dropped.
"And yesterday," Hodgins continued, "She takes one look at a broken pencil and figures out how little Charlie's ribs broke."
"Yeah, I was there," Booth pointed out.
"She does that sort of thing all the time," Hodgins explained. "People throw around the word genius all too easily, without knowing what it means. Zack has a ridiculously high IQ. I have a high IQ. But we can't do what Brennan does, we don't have that _genius_. You get what I'm saying?"
Booth was holding his head in his hand. "Not really, no."
"Well, you understand what IQ is, right?"
Still holding his head, he answered slowly. "A number that tells how smart a person is."
"It's a combination of numbers, actually: scores based on how accurately and quickly types of questions can be answered compared to other people, then adjusted for age. The typical IQ test measures computation speed, vocabulary and reading comprehension, logical reasoning, intuition, pattern recognition, visual and spatial awareness and rote memorization. Everyone has their unique strengths; people with higher IQ scores tend to be strong in all the areas being measured."
"So, a high IQ equals genius."
Hodgins shook his head. "Not exactly. High IQ just means really smart. Did well in just about every class, probably graduated college, able to learn fast and do well just about anywhere. There are many very smart people in this lab, including _you_, Booth."
"You're saying I'm a genius?" he laughed.
"No, because being a genius is more than being smart. It's more than remembering everything, or thinking fast. All of us here can do that. You can do that. A genius is something else entirely. What Brennan does is connect things that don't seem to have any connection. She sees a detailed pattern where the rest of us would just see random splotches of color. She pushes us to reveal the pattern hiding in the splotches, to bring out the truth."
"You're saying she uses her gut?" Booth attempted. He knew Brennan most certainly wouldn't agree with that terminology.
"No, not gut, not intuition the way you would define it. She uses evidence, definitely. It's just that she sees the whole of what the evidence is, collectively. It's like a puzzle where she can see the whole picture even when there are many pieces missing and the ones you have are scattered all over the table."
Booth's bewildered expression betrayed just how much he was not getting the point Hodgins was trying to make. The scientist sighed in frustration.
"You know, it's really hard to describe genius. Did you know it was once believed that Mozart wrote entire symphonies in a straight line down the paper? While composing, he supposedly heard every voice and instrument all at the same moment and wrote them all at once, instead of one single instrument after another, like the rest of us 'merely clever people' do. Imagine writing a letter or a story vertically, working down the side from left to right, completing multiple lines of text all at once instead of one sentence at a time. That myth about Mozart's process has been debunked, but it illuminates the aspect of genius that I'm trying to explain. That's sort of the way Brennan's mind works, like Mozart hearing the whole thing complete. She remembers random details and suddenly sees how they fit together, like seeing the whole page already written."
Shaking his head in confusion, Booth wasn't sure he could quite envision what Hodgins was trying to describe.
Maybe it was impossible to really describe in words what Brennan did—Booth would just have to keep watching and she would do it in front of him enough times that he'd finally get it. Hodgins shrugged, bringing his argument to a close. "I have money, but money does not make me a better scientist or a better visionary. Genius does, and that's what _she_ has. You keep working with her and you're going to see it, the way she just … _leaps_. It's phenomenal."
Forgetting he'd given up on the coffee, Booth reached for his cup again and regarded Hodgins curiously. "So, Brennan stays the boss then. Why does it matter if she knows you have money?"
"Because, I don't want her to think that I got this job using my wealth, or my connections. I respect her. I admire her—man, she is freaking _brilliant_. I want her to respect me because of what I can offer to this team; for what I _know_, not who I am. Surely you can understand that."
"You got a thing for her?" Booth teased. He aborted a sip of the coffee at the last second when a whiff of its acidic fumes reached his nose.
"For her brain, hell yeah. As a girlfriend, hell no." Hodgins laughed softly at the idea. "She is beautiful, I'll give you that. But, I think it would take a stronger man than me to hold her attention."
A stronger man? Wondering what that meant, Booth stood and dumped the coffee before he forgot again and poisoned himself with it. He quickly scrubbed out the cup, noting that Hodgins had gulped his own coffee down, straight and black.
"Need the caffeine hit," he grinned at Booth's shocked stare. Hodgins's cup followed Booth's into the drying rack.
Booth secretly disagreed that the always energetic 'bug and slime guy' needed any kind of additional stimulant.
"Maybe you're strong enough," Hodgins commented, catching Booth off guard as they descended back to the lab.
"Strong enough for what?" he asked warily.
"To be the man who's man enough for Katarina," Hodgins laughed. "You know, The Taming of the Shrew. It's not that 'the shrew' needed taming, it's that she needed a man who was strong enough to stand up to her, to meet her half way. I know that's not me, but you, G-man. You've got potential."
Booth found himself laughing. "If she heard you say that, she'd kick your ass."
"Yeah." His deep blue eyes sparkled with humor. "That's why she's never going to hear me say it."
~Q~
The conversation with Hodgins filled Booth's mind over the next couple of weeks. He still didn't understand what Hodgins had meant, other than the heartfelt request that Brennan never learn that Hodgins was the heir to one of the largest, most powerful fortunes in the world and, consequently, was one of the largest benefactors of the Jeffersonian. The opportunity to reach a full understanding of why Hodgins didn't want her to know came along during their next case, a mummified man discovered within the walls of a popular nightclub owned by one Randall Hall … followed by a woman discovered buried under the floor of a music studio built by that same Randall Hall.
In murder, there's no such thing as coincidence. So when Brennan and Zack had discovered two curious bone divots in two different places on the skeletons of two, unrelated victims found buried on Hall's two different properties, Booth didn't believe in that coincidence either. It all added up to one probability: Randall Hall had killed those two people.
Though they didn't have enough evidence to link Randall Hall to the murders and make an arrest, Booth's instincts were clamoring for affirmation. Persistence was called for if they were ever going to find the evidence that would pin down Hall. To that end, Booth and Brennan dropped by Hall's club one evening to rattle the doors and make idle threats of continuing harassment.
Inside the club Brennan was silent, her attention wandering in a way that might have suggested she wasn't fully aware of her surroundings, at least to those who didn't know better. In fact, her surroundings were precisely what she was diverting her considerable powers of observation towards. Booth knew she was running her eyes across every surface in the area, silently cataloging textures and protuberances. She did that a lot, he'd noticed. Wherever she was, Brennan was always observing, watching, and taking metaphorical notes. Somehow she would remember everything she saw and be able to recall and describe it flawlessly days or even weeks later.
Booth informed Randall Hall that his club was going to remain closed down as a crime scene, until evidence emerged that linked Hall to the bodies of DJ Mount and Eve Warren. Brennan's gaze wandered back to Hall and Booth and remained there. She'd sensed the increase of tension in the room and her alertness increased accordingly.
Furious at the loss of revenue from being closed down, Hall thumped Booth in the chest with the curved top of his cane. "I'm not someone you want to mess with."
Brennan's eyes narrowed. She looked at the cane thoughtfully.
Booth was almost amused. "Did you just poke me?"
He laughed at Hall's misplaced effort to intimidate him, then got up and directed his mockery of Hall towards Brennan in the form of a taunting question. "Did he just poke me, with his little stick?"
She didn't respond. Her watchful gaze remained fixed on the cane, on Hall. Her eyes flickered back and forth. Booth wondered what was going through her mind.
Hall growled, not bothering to hide his anger. "This is my place. I wanna _poke_ someone, I do it." He thrust the cane at Booth again.
Booth relieved Hall of the cane and threw him down. The bodyguard tried to step in with his gun, but Booth disarmed him all too easily and handed the weapon to Brennan, who had snapped out of her musings on the cane as soon as Booth moved toward Hall. To his growing surprise and respect, she'd instantly stepped into a covering stance as naturally as any trained agent. With the gun now trained on the bodyguard, Brennan had Booth's back protected.
"How easily do you think I scare?" Booth glared down at Hall, who was sprawled in a chair and glaring back. The cane still in hand, Booth lifted his knee and started to snap it in half. But he was stopped by Brennan's abrupt, loud cry.
"Hey, Booth! Don't break the cane. Arrest him and confiscate the cane as evidence."
Booth looked at her in bewilderment.
"I need the cane," she insisted.
Glancing from the cane to Hall, he couldn't figure out what she was thinking. "Arrest him for what? _He's_ the guy who pointed a gun at a federal agent." Booth nudged his chin towards the bodyguard, still held at bay by Brennan.
Brennan didn't know what charge to level against Hall, nor did she care. She shrugged her answer to Booth's impatient query. "Uttering threats or … smelling bad. Anything. It's the cane we want."
Booth looked down at the cane, then over at his determined partner. It wasn't making any sense to him, but something about her certainty made him decide to trust her. "Fine, here." He pushed the cane towards her and placed Randall Hall under arrest for assaulting a federal agent.
~Q~
"How did you know," he asked quietly.
Two hours later, they were alone on the platform, having returned to the lab after the arrest of Randall Hall. Brennan was bustling about while she prepared the micro-seal casts she'd just taken of the suspicious marks on the bones. By tomorrow she would use them for comparison with the impression she would be making from the walking stick once the FBI finished processing it into evidence. During the ride back from the FBI, she'd explained to Booth why she wanted the cane.
"How did I know what?" She sounded vaguely distracted, the vast bulk of her intellect focused on the task of comparing the bone dimples and documenting her findings. Once she'd taken the impression from the cane and compared all three marks, she would be sending the comparisons and her notes to the FBI with Booth, and she wanted to make sure everything was in order before releasing her findings.
Booth stepped to her side, feeling a jolt when he looked down at the elegant column of her neck as she bent over her work. He'd never imagined that he would find a woman's neck so alluring until he met Brennan, with her swan-like lines and graceful movements. When she wore her hair up like this, spilling out of a messy bun, he wanted nothing more than to trace his lips over the soft skin that usually hid under her hair. Maybe run his hands up her arms and pull her against him, nuzzle her ear and feel her shiver under his touch.
Shaking his head at the inappropriate direction his thoughts were taking—_I have a girlfriend!_—he forced himself to stop thinking about the impossible. There was Tessa now, and even if Tessa weren't an issue, Booth knew that kind of involvement with Brennan would be a huge mistake.
He drew a steadying breath and tried to clarify his question. "How did you know to grab that cane?"
Pausing to look up, her brow furrowed as she considered. She wasn't really sure of the 'how' of her process, now that he'd forced her to grapple with it. The silver-headed cane was curved and ended in a sculpted dog. The tip of the silver dog's nose was rounded, it's cropped ears forming twin prick-points. She'd seen it tapping against Booth's sternum and the way it hit, with the resulting indentation it could leave behind if it hit hard enough….
"It's the most likely source of the bone dimples," she finally shrugged. "I could see the mark it would leave."
He was still amazed. "But it didn't leave a mark. It barely touched me."
"What is it that you want to know," she inquired. "How I saw it?"
"Yes!"
Pursing her lips, Brennan straightened and locked her rainwater eyes on his. "How do you see it?"
He was lost. "What?"
Her eyes entranced him. That was happening with ever greater frequency these days. Brennan would look at him with those striking eyes, Athena's eyes, and he would find himself falling into them. Falling into her. He wasn't sure if something was happening between the both of them, or if it was only happening to him. The only inkling that it could be mutual was the way she would gaze back, seeming just as entranced, until something inevitably broke their gazes apart. At times he found himself wondering what would happen if they failed to be interrupted. (And then he would flush in guilty realization that in those moments, he'd once again completely forgotten the existence of Tessa.)
She was speaking, pulling his attention back from its wanderings and onto her query. "How do you know when people are lying, or when they're having affairs? Can you explain it to me?"
"Uh…" That was impossible to explain to anyone, much less to someone who was as blind to behavioral cues as Temperance Brennan. For all her brilliance, understanding people was her one weakness, the mediating trait that made her mercifully human. He tried anyway. "You know, the eyes. Fidgeting. Where someone looks." He trailed off, knowing that the answer wouldn't even begin to untangle it for her.
But she hadn't expected it to. Rather, she knew her own ignorance would content him with his. "So, you just know? It's too complicated to break down into a couple of steps that would enlighten someone like me."
"Yeah, I guess." He frowned, feeling vaguely guilty. Had he just insulted her? Himself?
"Right." She smiled, nodded to herself. "Exactly."
"Exactly." He stilled, suddenly confused. "Wait. What? What am I agreeing to?"
She sighed as if speaking to a dull-witted child. "That I can't explain to you how I knew Hall's cane left those marks. I have years of training and observation that inform what I perceive. I just … saw it. The same way you seem to see when people are lying."
"Oh, right." He shook his head. Hodgins' words floated just out of reach, illuminating what she was trying to explain. _"What Brennan does is connect things that don't seem to have any connection."_
"Now I get it," he suddenly realized. There was no easy way to explain genius and that was made it so beautiful. So extraordinary. Just like she was.
A swift grin lit up her face, lending a rare, mischievous cast to her expression. "I would very much like to know how you do it, how you read people; it's reassuring that you also want to know how _I_ do it, how I process evidence. Anthropologically speaking, the sharing of mutual curiosity into the skill set of the other makes us equals."
Her words ignited a flare of elation in him, his heart tripping into a gallop as her approval registered. She had basically stated they were equals, that in his own way, he was as smart as she was. Booth understood, in that moment, what Hodgins had meant when he'd admitted to having 'a thing' for Brennan's brain, and why Hodgins wanted Brennan's respect as an intellectual peer. If someone of such unparalleled intelligence as she thought him any kind of an equal, wasn't that the highest compliment he could hope for?
"Partners," he affirmed breathlessly. His eyes poured chocolate warmth into hers because just as suddenly, he'd realized something else: she wanted him to think highly of her, too. _She admires me._ The thought flooded his entire being with delight. His answering smile was the one that typically turned solid feminine bones into gelatin, and he knew even the ultra-rational Dr. Brennan wasn't immune to it. "We're partners, Bones."
She was smiling back and their eyes coupled with an almost palpable intensity.
Across the lab, unnoticed by the two standing toe-to-toe on the platform, the doors whispered open. Tessa spotted them immediately, taking in how close the partners stood and the way that they looked at each other. The electricity crackling between them made Tessa's salutary smile fade into a resigned sigh. Just partners. Right….
A few hours later, Booth received a disappointed phone call from his girlfriend. She couldn't go with him to Jamaica after all—a big case had come up at work.
~Q~
* * *
**Author's Note:** The idea that Mozart wrote whole symphonies straight down the page came from a letter published in 1815 by Friedrich Rochlitz. (That letter was later proven to have been forged.) In the letter, Mozart supposedly described hearing the entire piece complete in his head such that he could look at it 'as at a statue or fine picture' and then record it straight down the page.
In writing this, I reflected a great deal on what it means to be a 'genius,' vs. to have a genius IQ. Brennan is often described as being a genius; however, it is definitely stated that Zach has an IQ that is much higher than 163 (Woman in the Car) and that places him quite firmly in the high genius range. Furthermore, it's extremely likely that Hodgins is also at a genius IQ level going just by his education and skills—he has three PhD's in wildly different subjects—and by the fact that he makes great leaps of insight just as Brennan does. Cam and Angela may not be geniuses, but both are probably well above average (or as Hodgins described here, "very smart.")
Then there's Booth…. Just because he doesn't have a Ph.D and an IQ score to wave around, that doesn't mean he's not incredibly intelligent as well. The intuition he uses, the way he 'knows' things without quite knowing how he knows it, is actually one facet of intelligence that IQ tests attempt to measure. At the very least, Booth is "very smart" just like the others-what he lacks is an extensive education, not intelligence.
So, what does it mean to be a genius? Why is Brennan the only one so described? The only conclusion I could come to is that genius is hard to define, but we know it when we see it. Kind of like beauty, art, and, er, … pornography. (Hey, Booth said it first!)
3. Goodman On the Pursuit of Truth
**Disclaimer:** I do not have any rights to these characters, but I'm borrowing them without permission anyway. Credit for some of the plot and/or dialogue in this chapter goes to Hart Hanson (Man in the Fallout Shelter) and especially to Elizabeth Benjamin and Noah Hawley (Man in the Morgue).
**Author's Tease:** One of the topics that you read about in this chapter will come up again in the next chapter. Can you guess what it's going to be...?
* * *
_Catalyst in the Partnership_
**_3. _**
**_Goodman – On the Pursuit of Truth_**
_"You are the more rational, reasoned, empirical scientist. And you care."_
One of the only bright spots during this horrid Christmas quarantine had been the unexpected yet pleasantly sanctioned hallucinatory effects of the anti-fungal drug cocktail doled out by the CDC. If the government made you high, that made the 'trip' legitimate, right? No crime since it was on Uncle Sam's dime. The swirling lights and feelings of euphoria were finally slipping away, leaving Seeley Booth drowsy and contemplative. Faces brushed across his consciousness, the people who mattered most at Christmas and who he wouldn't get to see this year. Parker. Pops. Jared? Yeah, sure. He loved his little brother even if they were at odds on occasion. Rebecca. Hmm… Once she would have been on his list, but the way she dangled time with Parker as a threat left a sour feeling of regret where she was concerned.
His mother was gone, lost years ago. His dad. Booth frowned. He hadn't seen his father in more than a decade.
Brennan. Bones.
Thoughts of his partner surprised him. They barely knew each other in personal terms, although he was coming to appreciate her as more than just a colleague. He hadn't wanted to bring her along with him into the field—she'd certainly forced that—but in the intervening months he'd discovered she made a remarkable partner. She was clever, observant, seemed to know the reasons behind every natural occurrence and the cultural roots of every practice known to man. Talking to Brennan was like holding a conversation with an Encyclopedia (a snarky, sexy encyclopedia with a tendency to argue as well as inform). Further, she had a knack for distilling convoluted issues into their basic elements with the startling clarity of the innocent. How many times had Brennan floored him with her Emperor-has-no-clothes insights?
It was growing ever more complicated, what he thought about Brennan. The mad attraction he'd been feeling for her from the beginning had finally begun to go underground thanks to his constant vigilance. He refused to allow safe harbor for any untoward thoughts where she was concerned, and the result, mercifully, was that those jarring moments of pure physical awareness were disrupting him less and less often. Now that her other attributes were unfurling, the sides of her that he'd missed because he was too busy trying not to stare with his mouth open, he found she was rather fascinating.
There seemed to be nothing Brennan didn't know something about, except for pop culture and important things like hockey or baseball. Mention a celebrity or spring training and she would go perfectly blank. With most other topics she would start an impromptu debate, whether Booth was game for it or not. Half the time he suspected she took her controversial stances on purpose, just to irritate him. Then they would go rounds, half fighting and half laughing until one of them would finally pounce with an unassailable zinger that ended the session; then they'd meet for drinks after work to pick it up again with some other topic. And so it went, round after round, day after day.
They'd solved every case they'd worked together so far—a remarkable feat considering the amount of energy they expended on bickering. Booth was starting to wonder how he'd ever managed to close an investigation without her, but shuddered at the thought of ever letting Brennan know that. She was arrogant enough as it was.
She still drove him crazy, but he was starting to care about her. He liked her, prickly thorns and all. On those rare days when they didn't see each other, he found himself missing their friction and the sparks it generated. Missing those sparkling eyes and the genuine smile that Brennan saved just for him. Missing her sharp wit and even sharper tongue. He even missed the way she could puncture his ego like an over-filled balloon and leave him utterly deflated, with just one well-aimed remark. He would patch the hole and charge right back in for more.
And he was finally beginning to understand her quirks—he even would have bragged about that … right up until tonight. She'd eschewed any efforts at holiday celebrating and seemed particularly unpleasant when the very word was mentioned. He suspected her atheism made her hate Christmas, yet that didn't seem quite … rational.
Like it or not, he was spending Christmas with his partner. Since the lockdown, after hissing that she'd wanted to be in Niger, Brennan had begun snarling invectives about the falsity of Christmas and all its trappings. Scrooge and the Grinch had nothing on Temperance Brennan when it came to ruining Christmas for everyone else. Booth wasn't sure if he wanted to know what her problem was, or if it would be safer to let it go. If he was honest with himself, however, he knew he couldn't let it go. Her lashing out struck him as an indication of pain, similar to the way an animal in a trap would take swipes at anyone attempting to free it. So….
"Hey, Goodman. You awake?"
The older man grunted. "I'm trying not to be."
At least he has the couch, Booth groused silently. Out loud, he asked the question that was plaguing him. "Bones doesn't like Christmas?"
Goodman drew a breath as he considered his reply. Brennan's aversion to the holidays was legendary, but from what little he knew of her past, it was also understandable. He settled for a non-answer that was every bit as revealing for what it didn't say. "In the past, Dr. Brennan has undertaken philanthropic work recovering the victims of genocide during the holidays."
Booth stared up at the ceiling, mulling that over. "That's a horrible way to spend Christmas."
"I imagine being slaughtered for your ethnicity is far more unpleasant," Goodman observed dryly.
"So you're saying she leaves every year?"
"That is correct."
"Well, why does she go?"
The older man shifted uncomfortably on the sofa, hesitating for a moment. Finally he decided Agent Booth needed to know, since it was unlikely Brennan would tell him herself. "Dr. Brennan has no family. Being alone among strangers is easier than being alone among colleagues who have families they'll be spending time with over the holidays."
"Why doesn't she have family?" Booth gasped. Angela and even Brennan herself had said she'd been in the foster system. Surely she at least had a foster family…?
"I'm afraid that is delving into personal confidences, therefore you will understand my hesitance in sharing private information. If you wish to discuss it with Dr. Brennan, I'm sure she will enlighten you on her situation. If she desires you to know."
"But … digging up corpses on Christmas?" He couldn't wrap his mind around it.
"Agent Booth, Temperance doesn't see it that way, nor should you. The victims of genocide have had their lives, their very _existence_, stolen from them. What greater gift could be given than to restore the forgotten to memory, to return to them some measure of the justice they were denied?"
"Well, when you put it that way…." Booth shifted restlessly, hating the sleeping bag almost as much as his back hated the hard cement floor. He acknowledged what Goodman had told him. "She goes because it's the right thing to do."
And because she had nothing better to do. Nowhere to be. No one to be with. He was starting to see that now.
"As an anthropologist and a scientist, Temperance seeks the truth wherever it may hide. Not many are willing or able to do what she does. In a way, it would be more selfish of her to remain here simply because it's Christmas."
"Yeah, she does have a mania for the truth," Booth agreed. "At first, I hated that about her."
Goodman rolled to his side, shocked. "Really?"
Sheepishly, he nodded. "We sorta came to blows over it."
"You argued."
Booth laughed. "She called me a bully with a badge right before she hauled off and sucker-punched me. But … I think I kind of deserved it."
"And why is that?"
"Bones thought we didn't have enough evidence to charge a suspect; I thought the circumstantial evidence was plenty. She couldn't see how I could know something without the facts to back me up. But the reason she hit me was because we argued in front of a victim's family and I dragged her out of the room by her arm."
"Hmmm." Goodman's non-committal noise provided an eloquent agreement to Brennan's point of view that day.
"It's frustrating, though. Bones doesn't believe anything unless it's staring her right in the face. And even then she questions it."
Goodman stroked his chin thoughtfully. "It is the nature of a scientist to demand proof before drawing a conclusion. And also the justice system, as you're well aware. Having Dr. Brennan at your side pursuing the proof you need to obtain a conviction is a great boon, an advantage you should take delight in, rather than umbrage."
"Umbrage? What is that, some type of cheese?"
Goodman's chuckle throbbed quietly. "To take umbrage means to take offense."
"Why didn't you just say that?" Booth shook his head slowly. It wasn't just Brennan, it seemed none of these squints spoke plain English. "Anyway, once she gets an idea in her head, Bones just won't let it go. Like a dog with a bone. Ha."
"Hmmm. Yes, well, that tenacity that so disturbs you happens to be the very reason I hired Dr. Brennan over a dozen applicants who were ostensibly much better qualified."
That came as a mild surprise. Booth thought it over curiously, wondering just why Goodman would think Brennan's most annoying quality was worth more than experience.
Goodman almost seemed to hear the unspoken question. "You might have noticed I give her free reign in the lab—there's a reason for that. The combination of observational genius, unflinching honesty and passionate persistence is rare. She sees what no one else does and won't back down from a fight—academic or otherwise. All qualities which I find admirable despite the occasional headaches they engender."
"Headaches?" Booth barked a wry laugh. "She gives me migraines. She's impossible. Especially about Christmas."
"Agent Booth, Dr. Brennan is not trying to be difficult. Her problem with communicating with the average person stems from the very skill set that makes her such a tremendous asset. She is highly intelligent, rational, and honest. In any given social situation, Temperance does not respond in the typical way the so-called 'man on the street' would do. Where others might tell little white lies, Temperance tells the truth. Where others might act on hastily drawn conclusions, Temperance holds back and waits for evidence. Where less scrupulous individuals such as Michael Stires would swindle, cheat or abuse trust, Temperance is not even capable of imagining such behavior. It makes her truly unique, and uniquely vulnerable."
"Vulnerable how?"
"She is unable to detect or anticipate deceit in others. You saw that with Dr. Stires. She is painfully aware of this weakness on her part and compensates for it by being slow to trust. However, once someone does earn her trust, then they are in a position to abuse her because she can't foresee dishonesty. For want of a better word, she is an innocent."
Innocent. Not in the virginal sense, no. And certainly a woman who stood knee-deep in genocidal graves was well aware of the evil that men do. But … when it came to the people she trusted, Brennan was innocent. Naïve. She relaxed her guard once she trusted someone and that is when a betrayal struck her the hardest, because she had no way to see it coming. Booth had watched it unfold with Stires.
While Booth's initial hostility towards Stires had stemmed from what Brennan had derisively termed "alpha-male territoriality," the squints had all banded around her for another reason. Once Temperance Brennan let someone in, she was at their mercy. Being unable to read people, she missed the signals that might warn others of potential danger and consequently her trust was occasionally misplaced. They'd seen the risk that Brennan was blind to and so they'd closed ranks around her to push Stires back, just the same way they'd once closed around her and pushed Booth back.
He was starting to understand it now, the reasons he'd had to work so hard to gain her trust, and theirs.
~Q~
The moment that changed the course of their partnership happened later the next day. The CDC and the Jeffersonian had worked out an arrangement to bring family to the lab for a quarantined visit on Christmas Eve. Booth had enjoyed the all-too-brief minutes he'd been able to spend with Parker, and he'd spent some time talking to Pops on the phone. After ending a twenty minute conversation consisting mainly of listening to his elderly grandfather mutter about the difficulties of living alone these days, Booth had wandered into the lab.
Zack was standing at the doors, bringing his hand up to press lightly against the glass with each member of his enormous, loving family. More than ten people stood there, all glad to see the young grad student and clearly wishing he were able to return home with them. Then a movement at the edge of the platform drew Booth's attention. He saw Temperance Brennan standing in the shadows, watching Zack's reunion and silently dashing tears from her eyes. She stood in the shadows watching someone else be loved by their family, then walked away without ever taking her turn at the glass doors.
No one came to visit her.
Pain gripped Booth's innards, the visceral realization that she had no one in this world outside the Jeffersonian's medico-legal lab who cared about her. The tragic irony was, being locked up in the lab had given his partner her first 'Christmas' in fifteen years but it wasn't a comfort. The only thing it did for her was remind her of everything she'd lost that Christmas as a teen. Christmas showed her what she didn't have, what she thought she could never have.
So of course she hated it. Who wouldn't?
Was it any wonder she spent this painful time that reminded her of her own lost family by restoring the lost families of others? It made perfect sense that she ran away to far-flung hellholes and buried herself with the only other souls who knew the same kind of soul-splintering loss. She thought only the bones of the forgotten dead could understand her.
"Bones…."
Feeling tears springing to his eyes as he watched his partner cry in the shadows, Seeley Booth whispered a vow. As long as he was alive, Temperance Brennan would never be alone again. She would never be left vulnerable and unprotected. "I'll take care of you," he whispered. "Whether you want me to or not."
~Q~
And he did. Booth warned off a violent gang leader with lethal threats. He dropped everything to rush to the Nevada desert when she asked for help. He became her personal bodyguard and dragged himself out of a hospital bed to save her from the rogue FBI Agent, Jamie Kenton. There was nothing he wouldn't do to keep her safe.
~Q~
The call from the Jeffersonain reached Booth's cell phone just a little past eight in the morning. He recognized the area code and trunk line of the number—all 202-753 numbers originated at the Jeffersonian—but the extension was unfamiliar. He was surprised to find it was Goodman calling.
"Agent Booth, I'm sorry to disturb you."
"It's no problem, I'm just a bit surprised." The source of the call was unusual enough, but sensing the tension in the administrator's voice, Booth felt a jolt of concern. He set down his pen and pushed aside the expenses report he'd been putting off all week. "Is everything okay?"
"I just received a disturbing phone call from Dr. Brennan."
Concern grew into worry. "Is Bones all right?"
"She was supposed to catch her return flight from New Orleans right about now, but something has happened. She called me to let me know why she wouldn't be returning as scheduled. Temperance is en route to the hospital—"
Before he could finish, Booth's worry erupted into panic. "What happened? Where is she?"
"She's at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. It seems she's been assaulted and has suffered a few injuries. But that's not the main concern."
"What is it?" Booth was already standing, already gathering up the paperwork he'd been laboring over and shoving it haphazardly back into random folders. He was going to New Orleans on the next flight.
"She seems to have lost her memory of yesterday. And she woke up covered in blood."
Icy dread clenched at Booth. His partner was alone, bloody, with no memory?! Bloody hell! Hadn't he promised himself he would never let her be alone? _I shouldn't have let her talk me out of going down there with her_. The stubborn woman was a magnet for trouble. Cursing, Booth snatched up his jacket and started walking towards Cullen's office.
"Would it be possible for you to go down to New Orleans? This is a personal request."
Not telling Goodman that he was already halfway out the door, Booth felt curiosity nibbling at him. "Why do you want _me_ to go?"
"She's alone. Someone needs to be there for her. Shouldn't that someone be you?"
"What about Angela," Booth blurted. Angela was her best friend. If Bones was hurt, she might prefer feminine companionship.
"Angela is a dear and loyal friend, to be sure, but I suspect Temperance is going to need someone stronger. She needs you, Agent Booth. I think you know that."
The pitch of Goodman's voice implied a deeper connection existed between the partners, one that Goodman was fully aware of. It caught Booth by surprise, hearing his feelings about protecting Brennan acknowledged in Goodman's request. Goodman was unmistakably placing Brennan into Booth's care, formally asking the FBI agent to do what Booth himself had voluntarily vowed to do months ago.
He'd reached Cullen's floor and stood just outside the door to his office. "Yes, sir. I do know that. I'll get there as fast as I can."
Ending the call, Booth entered Cullen's office and began explaining the "family emergency" that had just come up. Bones was his family, had been since he'd made his vow at Christmas, so he didn't feel like it was fully a lie when he told Cullen his family was the reason he needed to take a few personal days.
By the time he was hauling himself and a hastily packed overnight bag into the overhead storage bin two hours later, Booth had managed to get Brennan to pick up her cell phone. She'd sounded calm, pained and just slightly fearful while insisting he didn't need to come.
"Bones!"
"Goodman called you," she complained, the dull rasp of her voice betraying she hadn't been offered any painkillers yet.
Booth couldn't help the worry that bled through his words. "He said you don't remember anything."
"That's not accurate. I remember everything except for yesterday, apparently."
Biting his tongue to keep from voicing irritation at the unnecessary precision, he asked. "What caused you to lose a day, do you know?"
"I have a head injury." Through the telephone connection he almost saw her wince just from the hitch in her voice that accompanied the rustling of movement. "And probably a broken wrist."
"Bones, take the medicine they give you," he scolded, suspecting she was resisting relief in her typically obstinate way.
"They don't give pain meds before evaluating for a head injury," she informed him tiredly. "I'm still in the queue for an MRI."
If she hadn't been hurting so much, Booth knew he'd have gotten an entire lecture complete with diagrams. Her lack of enthusiasm in arguing with him made his worry increase. "Where are you going to be in about three hours?"
Another exhausted and pain-filled sigh. "Probably still here in the emergency department. They're backed up and low on resources."
"Look, I'm about to get on the plane. I'll be there in three hours."
Her protest cracked in his ear. "Booth, no. You don't need to come."
"I'm already on my way, Bones, like it or not." He hung up the phone before she could argue him out of it.
~Q~
When he finally reached her, Brennan was finally on the verge of being discharged after nearly six hours in the emergency room. Following the trail of Brennan's lost memories had eventually led them back to Dr. Graham LeGiere's place, where Brennan vaguely recalled she'd been invited to dinner.
The front door was unlocked and once inside, something triggered a flashing memory in his partner. He saw it flicker in her darkening eyes. She had started upstairs, her face chalk-white under the vivid bruise decorating her forehead. Booth had noticed the smell even before they got all the way up. The cloying, unmistakable scent of incipient decay.
"Something bad happened here and, I got away."
That's what she'd said, eyes wide and the remnants of panic drifting across her frozen features when she glided knowingly down the corridor. As if Brennan knew what she would see once she stepped through the nearly closed bedroom door, she'd held back. Booth had gone in instead.
The scene in Graham LeGiere's bedroom was straight out of a Hollywood horror film.
Blood, pooled and splashed and dribbled. A man's body hoisted up two feet off the floor and staked to the wall with glittering, ceremonial knifes. A gory crucifixion, magnified by the skinning and flaying of flesh such that the man was unrecognizable because his face had been stripped away. Strange symbols smeared in blood around his body were equally obscure. _Ten years doing this job and I have __**never**__ seen anything like this,_ Booth had shuddered.
Calling the police had seemed the right thing to do, until Homicide Detective Rose Harding started asking unanswerable questions and leveling her suspicions at Brennan. Then had come the absolute worst moment, when Booth had spotted something on the floor near a hall table that sent his innards into a nosedive. The round metal disk matched the one Brennan had shown him while she lamented losing its mate just that morning.
Scooping the incriminating earring up nervously the moment Harding's back was turned, he'd hustled Brennan out of there and back to her hotel as fast as he possibly could. The moment he recognized her jewelry on the floor, Booth had realized they were going to find Brennan's blood at Graham's house since that's where her earring had been ripped out of her ear. They were possibly going to find Graham's blood on Brennan's clothes that she'd left at the hospital for testing. Harding would be here as soon as those blood tests yielded results.
Tense with guilt and apprehension, he now found himself pacing her lovely green hotel room like a caged tiger, knowing that at any moment a knock was going to sound on the door. Booth watched Brennan slowly walk over to her bed, her ordinary agility hampered by lingering pain and exhaustion. She'd received a brutal beating, her injuries clearly defensive rather than offensive. It was something, but probably not enough to placate Harding's suspicions.
Unable to shake the dread that was closing in, he could only hope she would remember something that could exonerate her. He needed her to remember fast, before the local police arrived to take her in. "So do you remember anything else that could help us out?"
Wincing, nervous herself, Brennan perched on the foot of her still-made bed and admitted, "It could have been _me_."
Mistaking her meaning, Booth thought Brennan was remembering being assaulted. That she meant _she_ might have been the one who ended up pinned to a wall and skinned alive. He paused and glanced over at her hopefully. "Do you remember that?" If she remembered who had attacked her they could send Detective Harding on her way to arrest the culprits and head back to DC.
But of course it wasn't going to be that easy. As usual, Brennan meant something else entirely.
"Look at it objectively," she explained wearily. "Graham LeGiere was killed between 11 pm Tuesday and 3 am Wednesday. Not only do I not have an alibi, I … I can't even explain to _myself_ where I was. It could have been me."
Brennan remembered just about everything she saw and rarely forgot anything she'd done. Thus, not remembering the events of an entire day had her spooked like nothing before. Sensing Booth's apprehension and grappling with the holes in her mind, Brennan had reasoned objectively that she had no defense. The vulnerability was frightening to both of them, and seeing how uneasy her partner had become in the last hour certainly wasn't helping. Brennan trusted Booth to be her barometer and every reading she took today signaled storms ahead.
Still, Brennan looked utterly surprised when Booth laughed at her suggestion that she could actually be guilty of the vicious murder and dismissed it immediately. There was no doubt in his mind. "No it couldn't."
Thoroughly confused by his certainty, she could hardly form the question. "Yes—No. How do you know?"
How did he know? He almost laughed again, the question was so absurd. Booth paced between the sofa and the French doors to the balcony, putting the evidence of her together in his mind. A woman who pursued the truth of murdered masses, would suddenly turn psychotic and slaughter a man who did the same work? A woman who had spent a full night bent over the shattered bones of a murdered woman, lovingly reconstructing her skull so she could be identified, would then strip the face away from a man and stake him to his bedroom wall? A woman who didn't believe in any god or religion would smear Voodoo symbols in blood? A world-renowned forensic anthropologist who specialized in investigating murders couldn't come up with a better way to dispose of a body than to leave it bizarrely displayed in full view?
Not possible.
She had been there, of that Booth had no doubt. But Brennan herself having killed LeGiere like that...? No way. "I just know, okay? I'd bet my professional career on it."
Thinking of the earring tucked into his pocket, he muttered under his breath, "I already did."
She heard him but didn't know what he meant. "What?"
"Nothing."
Uneasily, Brennan persisted. "What did you do?"
He pushed her back impatiently. "Bones? Stop! This is the last time and place that you want to be rational, okay? Let's just be 'wildly emotional' and assume that you didn't psychotically murder a coworker who invited you over for dinner."
There was such a thing as being too objective, Booth thought darkly. As time slipped by, Booth was growing increasingly agitated, even a little angry with her. He knew people, he knew _her_, and he knew with utter certainty that she did _not_ crucify a man and skin him in a voodoo ritual murder. Yet this was one situation where Booth was sure that her veneration of impartiality and the truth was going to get her into even deeper trouble. She had shown no discretion or sense of self-preservation when it came to Detective Harding and the New Orleans Police Department.
Recalling his conversation with Goodman months ago, Booth knew Brennan was heading the wrong way with Harding, because she'd worked with the detective and thus she expected Harding to proceed with absolute integrity. That was the reason she simply didn't grasp how much she was putting herself at risk. Brennan believed Harding was a good cop with good intentions, a woman who would pursue the truth with Brennan's own single-minded determination. If Brennan truly hadn't done it, she had nothing to fear. Right?
Wrong.
Because Harding was a cop—out to get a collar and a conviction, not necessarily a lofty 'truth' that might not stand up in a courtroom. Brennan fit the emerging picture and so, Brennan was going to hang. The noose was closing around her neck already. Booth could see it even if Brennan couldn't.
The mood suddenly changed from dread to bewilderment, however, when he spotted a blackened pouch on the bed behind her. It was laying on her pillow. "What's _that_?"
Caught off-kilter by the sudden shifting of topic, she looked at him blankly. "What?"
"That!"
She looked to where he was pointing and Brennan's expression changed to a puzzled curiosity. Getting up gingerly, Brennan walked to the side of her bed and picked it up. A surprisingly squeamish noise escaped her as she examined it. "Eww…"
"Another voodoo dumpling?" Someone was framing her. Booth cringed, realizing someone had been _in her room_. All manner of horrid assaults she might have fallen prey to entered his mind, making his hair stand on end. They had stalked her, injured her, framed her, robbed her very mind of its memories. And they were still out there, whoever the hell they were, watching and waiting. Booth moved toward her on pure instinct, putting himself between his vulnerable partner and the door.
In her single-minded pursuit of the truth, who had she frightened enough to cause all of this effort to destroy her memory, her credibility and her professional reputation? How was he going to keep her safe when he didn't even know who the most dangerous threat was, a hidden voodoo killer or a cynically determined homicide detective.
Oblivious to the tension consuming her companion, Brennan opened the black pouch carefully, pawing through it and conveying its inventory in the same detached, clinical voice that she used in the lab. "Some kind of flesh. And these are seashells. … Leather, I think."
She pulled out a small, white object with a pointed tip. It looked like a tooth.
Horrified, Booth gasped, "Is that a _human_ tooth?"
She held it towards the light, assessing it rapidly. "Yes. A canine."
At that very moment, with thoughts of violent threats against her still dancing in his mind, the door crashed open. Booth drew his service weapon and pivoted in the blink of an eye, placing himself automatically between Brennan and danger before the nature of the threat had even fully registered.
Detective Harding and two other uniformed officers tumbled in and reacted quite understandably with agitation when they found a gun leveled at them. Harding's pistol pointed unerringly at Booth's head and she spoke with the gritty calm of experience. "Put down your weapon, Agent Booth."
Too many things were going wrong all at once and he sorely needed time to catch up. "Put down _your_ weapon. There's no threat from us."
Brennan was briefly disoriented again as well, looking from Booth to Harding and processing what was happening. She swiftly concluded Harding must have come to arrest her for Graham's murder, and Booth was putting himself in danger defending her. He wouldn't stand down, which was going to force Harding to either arrest him too, or worse, to shoot him. The other officers had also drawn their weapons, making this fight three against one.
Harding sounded tense when she pointed out Booth's obvious misreading of the threat he posed. "You're holding a _gun_ on me."
"Yeah, well, my finger here is not on the trigger." He wiggled his index to demonstrate. "It's the best I can do under the circumstances."
Harding kept up the pretence of a hard glare while she assessed the situation. She realized he was not a criminal but a Federal law enforcement officer. He had the right and responsibility to carry his gun and plenty of training on how and when to use it properly. Furthermore, given she had just broken through the door and crashed into his partner's hotel room, there was reasonable grounds for him to have drawn his weapon in self defense and protection of the civilian standing behind him. At the moment, he hadn't broken any laws or stepped out of line. But that moment was passing.
Now that she had been identified, he should stand down. She suspected, however, that it wasn't going to be Special Agent Booth who showed trust first. Sensing this man would do anything to protect his 'partner' but that he otherwise wasn't a threat to her, Harding sighed and did the only thing that would get them all out of this stand-off bullet-free. She relaxed and capitulated. "Holster your weapons," she instructed the officers with her.
Booth's body seemed to melt just a little in relief as he put his own gun away.
"I'm here to arrest Dr. Brennan for the murder of Graham LeGiere."
That relaxation hadn't had much time to settle in. Stepping towards Harding, keeping her away from Brennan, Booth registered his complaint. "Whoa, that's not going to happen."
For her part, Harding played sarcastic and confident with practiced ease. "Oh, I'm pretty sure it is."
Brennan spoke up at last from behind, reminding Booth that all circumstances were aligned and arrowing towards her like runway lights. She sounded resigned. "I told you, Booth."
Yes, she'd been the first to vocalize it, but he wasn't letting her be carted off to jail just so she could win the debate. Now thoroughly annoyed but genuinely terrified for her underneath the harsh words, he hissed at her. "Bones, _please_. For just once in your life will you _be quiet_!"
She gazed back, mystified by his mood, but mercifully kept silent. His mind was racing, piecing together what little they knew with what Harding may have discovered on her own. The notion that Brennan had actually killed LeGiere never entered his mind, but Booth knew she'd been at LeGiere's home and Harding had threatened to arrest her if even a speck of dust put Brennan at the scene.
Harding smirked a bit at the exchange between the partners. Brennan had seemed cool and professional all throughout the previous two weeks, but since this morning she had turned vague and clueless. In charity, Harding might be tempted to blame the head injury that she clearly had sustained—no one could fake a bruise that livid. The amnesia story sounded made up, but Brennan's behavior _had_ changed: did that mean she really did have a seriously brain-altering injury, or was she an Oscar-contender for 2006?
_Not for me to decide_, Harding reminded herself. She would note it in the arrest report and let a jury sort it out. Meanwhile, she had an arrest to perform and there was a warning to give. "That's good advice, because everything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law."
Abruptly she broke off the Miranda warning when she saw Brennan was holding a black pouch in one hand and a tooth in the other. "What is _that_?!"
Far too helpfully, the genius doctor handed it right over. "Uh, I found it on my pillow."
Not nearly as naïve as his partner, Booth nearly choked on his sudden desire to arrest her himself and haul her off to Federal detention for her own good. "Bones!" It was already too late. He groaned in irritation as Harding took the voodoo pouch, wrinkling her nose in distaste. Like a lamb to the slaughter, Brennan was going to cooperate herself right into the electric chair.
"Thank you, Dr. Brennan," Harding purred.
Booth regrouped quickly, suddenly hoping he actually could find an excuse to intervene and arrest Brennan himself. At least that way he could keep Harding away from her while he found a way to prove her innocence. "What's the probable cause?"
The answer was pretty much what he expected. "Traces of Dr. Brennan's blood in LeGiere's home. LeGiere's blood on her clothing from the clinic."
Sounding skeptical, knowing there had to be more, he asked. "Is that it?"
Her sarcastic reply showed she'd heard his unstated hope loud and clear. Harding was onto him. "All I'm prepared to share with the _Federal Government_."
Her meaningful emphasis on Federal Government was intended to remind Booth that he was officially an FBI Agent from Washington DC who had no jurisdiction or other interest in her small-town murder case. She was extending him a professional courtesy by telling him her intentions, but would not tolerate any interference regardless of the personal relationship between the partners. "Now please, step away from my collar."
Booth shook his head, knowing he'd just jumped onto thin ice with both feet. "I'm afraid I can't let that happen."
Everyone in the room heard the ominous cracks as Booth jumped, including Brennan. His face had darkened, menace emerging as his body tensed and the fingers of his right hand twitched in preparation. Seeing Booth heading to jail right beside her for obstruction of justice or assaulting an officer, she abruptly stepped around Booth's right side and walked toward Harding with her hands extended, surrendering herself before Booth could cause himself any actual trouble.
"Bones, jeeze!" He was furious with her for once again acting on impulse.
But she was calm and oddly confident. "It's better if nobody else dies before we get to the bottom of this."
Booth actually smacked himself in the forehead, needing to discharge the aggression that had built up and had nowhere to go. He was beside himself, worrying about her and wanting to throttle her at the same time. "Well, you know what? I wasn't planning on dying."
Now that Booth's dark threat had retreated a bit, Harding allowed herself to relax. Watching the pair of them was amusing, she thought as she cuffed Dr. Brennan. It was even kind of sweet. She had a feeling Agent Booth wasn't going to rest until he either proved Brennan innocent or sprung her from jail and went on the run like Bonnie and Clyde. The latter scenario was looking increasingly likely, however, given the anthropologist was helping the wrong team … and driving the frazzled FBI Agent to distraction in the process. It wasn't clear if Brennan was brilliant or an idiot at this point, but Booth at least seemed to know what he was up against when dealing with her.
Wincing while the first restraint snapped around her arm, Brennan groaned involuntarily when Harding snapped the second cuff closed on her broken wrist and the pressure shot pain from her fingertips straight to her head. She looked over at Booth and indicated she grasped the situation better than either Booth or Harding had realized. "It's not _you_ I worry about."
_Okay, maybe he's a bigger threat than I thought,_ Harding mused. Agent Booth had looked coiled to strike just before Dr. Brennan had pushed him aside and left his protection. Could it be the doctor's hasty surrender had stopped him from risking everything to keep her out of Harding's custody? Appreciating the sacrifice Brennan had apparently just made to keep the members of NOPD safe, Harding started pushing Brennan gently to the door and even paused for her briefly when Brennan halted and called back to her partner. "You're welcome to the room. It's paid for!"
Harding glanced back at Agent Booth as she stepped out of the room, noting his forlorn expression, the droop of shoulders giving away just how worried he was. She pitied him a little even as she vowed to give him a wide berth.
After the police and Brennan had gone, and the room was silent, Booth pulled her missing earring out of his pocket and finally let the implication of what he'd done stretch itself and awaken his conscience. This earring definitely linked Bones to LeGiere's home and murder. Having concealed it, Booth held in his hand a small piece of metal that could ruin them both. He clutched it fiercely, feeling the warmth of the metal linking him to her. If Harding knew Booth had this, he would lose his career.
_I don't give a damn about the FBI right now,_ he realized. If concealing evidence was what it took to protect her, he'd do it again without hesitation. Brennan trusted Harding and the New Orleans PD to look for the truth the way she would, but that trust was probably misplaced just as it had been with Stires. Harding might betray her. His partner believed in the truth and had put her faith in the justice system, little realizing that the system was working against her. When the players were only interested in getting a fast closure, the truth took a back seat to expedience.
She'd just surrendered herself without the slightest clue to how much trouble she was in.
He was angry, even though he suspected she'd done it to keep him from doing something drastic that would end his career. Was she thinking of the warehouse, the way he'd dragged his broken body out of the hospital to save her from Kenton? Probably. What she'd said—that she wasn't worried about him dying; (rather, that he would be the one killing)—indicated how much she admired his abilities and his strength. Brennan knew he was perfectly able to maim or kill others in defense of her, but she didn't want him to do that. She didn't want him to wreck his life and career over her.
And so she'd stopped him by taking the option away. She'd stopped him because she believed he _would_ kill for her. She was protecting him, just as he was trying to protect her. Realizing that made the icy dread that had gripped his heart start to melt.
And as if that weren't amazing enough, there was more to it than just her saving him from himself, Booth suddenly understood with shock. Brennan had placed her unspoken trust in him. She was entrusting her entire future and life to him, that he would find the truth and get her out of this mess clean and clear.
Brennan's trust was so difficult to win that it staggered Booth to see how much faith she'd placed in him. She believed that Booth would defend her with everything he had, that he would give his very life to keep her safe. She knew he had done so once already and was counting on it now. The responsibility he felt was overwhelming, as if he were guarding the most precious treasure: Temperance Brennan's fragile faith in another human being.
_She believes in me. I can't let her down,_ he gulped. _She's depending on me…._
~Q~
* * *
**Author's Note:** Having her parents disappear, her brother leave her, having been abused in at least one foster home, the pariah of her peers, and then betrayed by her mentor/lover, Temperance Brennan really doesn't trust anyone. Imagine how Booth must have felt when he realized Brennan had consciously put her faith in him. Pretty amazing and a little bit frightening, too.
4. Cullen On the Merits of Respect
**Disclaimer:** I do not own Bones. I have loosely referenced the plots from Greg Ball & Laura Wolner (The Graft in the Girl), and from Stephen Nathan (The Soldier on the Grave).
**Author's Note:** While writing this series, I've come to appreciate the truly excellent writing that we enjoyed during the early years of Bones. The episodes were stand-alone, yet the events in one episode often pointed to what happened next. This chapter is my favorite because it's the first time Brennan really does something for Booth...
* * *
_Catalyst in the Partnership_
**_4. _**
**_Cullen – On the Merits of Respect_**
_"Well, the next time she shoots somebody, I certainly hope it's you!"_
"Booth."
The dejected agent slumped at his desk, head resting in his palm, but upon hearing his boss's voice he looked up sharply.
"I just got a call from your squint." Deputy Director Cullen took in Booth's tired demeanor and recalled Dr. Brennan's unusual hesitation during the phone call. Her unspoken concern for Booth had come through clearly enough to send Cullen down here as soon as he'd arranged for the order of exhumation Brennan had requested.
"She's worried about you," Cullen continued. He gave a short laugh. "You know, a few months ago I wouldn't have thought her capable of any emotion at all, let alone concern for a living human being."
That remark should have gotten a rise out of Booth—any disparagement towards Brennan did lately—but Booth didn't react beyond a sour tightening of the lips, as if he'd suddenly tasted vinegar.
With a resigned sigh, Cullen saw this was going to take a while and no wonder Brennan hadn't known what to do about it. She had a heart hiding underneath all that squinty logic, but she still lacked any skills in dealing with sensitive emotional situations. What Brennan couldn't manage with Agent Booth was going to fall to his boss. Shutting the office door to give them some privacy, Cullen helped himself to a seat and leaned toward his subordinate.
"Why did Dr. Brennan come to me for permission to exhume Kent's body? That permission should have come from you."
"I told her no," Booth confessed quietly, his fury still simmering. "I refused to desecrate a hero's grave just to satisfy her curiosity."
"You think that's what she's doing?" Cullen made no effort to hide the surprise in his voice. "You actually think she's just morbidly curious?"
Curious enough to dig up a grave for no reason? Booth shook his head, a flash of recognition forcing him to concede she had always been nothing but reverent towards the dead. She treated the bodies she encountered with more deference and respect than she gave most living people.
He reluctantly admitted, "She thinks the Army's autopsy wasn't conducted properly. She says it was sloppy and can't be trusted."
Cullen gave that a moment of thought, then asked carefully, "So, it's a matter of pride? She's showing the Army M.E. she can do better?"
In other words, would Temperance Brennan dig up a grave for no reason other than a desire to second-guess and out-perform the military medical examiner.
Booth shook his head again. "No, it's not like that."
Nodding, the older man spoke again. "Okay, so let me make certain I understand the situation. Your squint, an expert scientist who works closely with medical examiners and specializes in examining the dead for cause of death, suspects an autopsy was improperly performed. This autopsy was of a soldier upon whose grave another murdered soldier's body was left as a message. … And yet you feel her request to examine Kent's body, to either substantiate or dispute the autopsy report, is inappropriate? You are certain that Kent's death does not figure into Marshall's murder, despite the fact that they served in the same unit and Marshall was found on Kent's grave?"
When summarized so cogently, there was nothing he could do but agree that Brennan's request was both reasonable and required under the circumstances. Instead of feeling better about it, however, Booth experienced a greater jolt of wrath towards her. She was so damn rational, so damn _right_ all the time.
Wondering why his boss was there defending Brennan, he set his jaw, ground his teeth together, and glared at Cullen. "I thought you didn't like her, sir."
Cullen raised a brow. "What does my opinion of Dr. Brennan's personality matter? Professionally, she's an exceptional asset with an excellent performance record. The times we've questioned her judgment on her areas of expertise, we have always turned out to be wrong. I seem to recall a certain case involving x-rays and cause of death…."
The stark reminder of Booth's initial failure to put faith in Brennan's abilities rankled. He'd gone to Cullen to get permission-after-the-fact because he'd promised her full participation in his investigations just to secure her expertise. When Cullen objected to taking squints out of the lab, Booth had trotted out that blundered case as the case-in-point for allowing her to accompany him. Now Cullen was pulling that old mistake out and using it against him. Poetic justice.
"So," Booth ground out. "You gave her permission?"
"Of course I did," Cullen retorted. "The question is, why didn't you…?"
Booth dropped his eyes to his lap. "Because she just won't let it go, damn her. She won't stop pushing. She doesn't respect the military, she doesn't respect the sacrifice those soldiers gave. It's just a game to her."
Cullen gazed at Booth a long moment, considering his words carefully. "You recall a few weeks ago, when you were looking into that company, Biotec? I told you it wasn't an FBI matter and to stop looking, to stop pushing, but you didn't. Why didn't you?"
Biotec was a shell company that had illegally harvested and sold human organs and tissues. The bones harvested from a man who'd died of lung cancer had ended up fatally infecting several people, including Cullen's own teen-aged daughter, Amy.
"Bones wouldn't stop," Booth answered reluctantly. "She said there was almost certainly more victims out there who had received the infected bone grafts and needed to be warned."
Cullen nodded. "You found those people, gave them a chance to survive that cancer. You found evidence that Biotec's activities caused deaths in multiple states, bringing it under FBI jurisdiction. You brought the woman who caused all of this heartache to justice. You gave us answers, you and Dr. Brennan. Was that just a game to you?"
"No! Of course not." Booth looked horrified.
"Then why do you think it's just a game to her now? You trusted her judgment enough to defy me, your _boss_, but you won't trust her judgment in the matter of Kent's death. What is the difference, Booth? What has changed between then and now?"
"I …" He trailed off, sensing that he wasn't sure of the difference when it came to Brennan's judgment. She was acting the same way she always did: pushing for the truth, chasing justice. The difference, Booth realized, was in _him_, in the way he felt about her actions and the opinions that drove her.
"She doesn't respect the military, sir. She doesn't respect … me."
There. He'd said it. Booth exhaled and slumped backwards into his chair, suddenly feeling both relieved and drained now that it was out in the open.
Being in the military changed a person: it was the entire goal of boot camp to completely take apart a soldier's identity as a self-interested individual and rebuild him as a piece of a vastly larger whole, as someone willing to give his own life for the good of the whole. A soldier who graduated boot camp felt himself part of the military, and the military was part of him, the two inextricably meshed together. Every time Brennan disparaged the military, she was disparaging a core part of Booth's own identity. In essence, she was disparaging him.
"What did she say that made you think she doesn't respect you?"
She didn't respect chains of command, or the honor of a soldier. Brennan didn't acknowledge that Booth was a soldier, that respect had been pounded into him in boot camp, in ranger school, in every skirmish or battle he'd survived because someone gave the order and someone else carried it out. Respect and honor and duty … she didn't value any of that; instead, she openly disdained the deference Booth was compelled to show towards his superior officers and fellow soldiers. Worse, she questioned Booth's ability and judgment simply because he acted on his training and worked within the military structure he knew so well.
"She says I'm not being objective." Booth's outrage was palpable.
Cullen eyed him sharply. "And she's correct. Any other case, you would have agreed to exhume Kent without question."
When Booth didn't have a response to that, Cullen considered the few interactions he'd seen between Booth and Brennan. Cullen had found her to be cool and clinical, condescending at times, and occasionally reckless. Booth had spent a great deal of time defending her, explaining that she just wanted to find out what happened. Brennan always wanted to know the truth, whatever it was, and wouldn't rest until she found every last scrap. Watching Brennan work on Amy's behalf had shown Cullen that side of her that Booth had been defending all along.
"If she didn't respect you, Booth, Dr. Brennan wouldn't work with you. She tore through six agents in six months before you finally got her to work the Cleo Eller case. You are the only FBI agent who has ever managed to work more than a couple of cases with Brennan."
"Her accusing me of mindless kowtowing and lacking objectivity, is her respecting me?"
"I think you are misinterpreting her concern," Cullen corrected.
"Have you ever been in the military, sir?"
Booth's angry challenge bordered on insubordination, but Cullen let it pass. "Two tours of duty in Vietnam, one Bronze Star and one Purple Heart. What is your point, Agent Booth?"
"Then you know how it is. You know that respect for the chain of command, for duty and sacrifice, is everything. You understand that, right?"
Cullen shook his head. "You think only a person who's military can understand that? Because let me tell you, I was in the military, I understand what you're saying … and I agree with Brennan that you are not being objective about this case."
Shocked and wounded at Cullen's harsh judgment, at his siding with Brennan, Booth turned his head away and stared stonily out the window. He'd be damned if he let Cullen see how hurt he felt at the moment.
But Cullen wasn't finished. "You want to talk about chain of command and duty? You are not in the military now, you are an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. You answer to _me_, not to the Army. Your duty and your responsibility is to find out the truth of what happened to Devon Marshall. And if you're going to sacrifice something, then you sacrifice your pride and admit that your civilian squint is performing her duty as an investigator and a partner better than you are at the moment."
Stung, Booth whipped his head back towards Cullen, the question hanging suspended in his eyes.
"She's doing your job and hers, isn't she?" Cullen snapped. "She had to call me to get the order for exhumation—that's your job. She's covering your ass and pushing you to get past your hang-ups about the military. That's her job as your partner. Instead of moping in here, you should be thanking her for kicking your ass into gear. Then you need to go out and question every soldier in Marshall and Kent's unit. Find out what happened, Booth. Do your duty to the FBI."
With that, Cullen stood up. He was about to leave, but a final thought occurred to him. Glancing over his shoulder, he said quietly, "For what it's worth, I know Dr. Brennan was the force behind your investigation into Biotec, the force that brought what little justice we'll get for Amy. I know Brennan has been instrumental in every investigation you've done over the past year, when your case closure rate soared from the mid seventies to the high nineties. She's the force driving your investigation now and if you would just get out of her way and push _with_ her instead of against her, you will get it done that much faster. You are a better agent since you started working with her."
Cullen paused at the door to conclude, "I will always be grateful for what she did for Amy, and I think you should consider what she's done for you, too. I think we both know Dr. Brennan is more than just a squint."
~Q~
Is she more than just a squint? Cullen's observation hung silent in the back of Booth's mind during the following day, watching Brennan's composure falter as she stood over Kent's body. She'd begun spouting anthropological facts, then halted and apologized when she caught herself. "I'm sorry. It's how I deal…." The question floated silently in the back of his mind while four individual soldiers used the words 'pop, pop, pop' to describe a fire-fight. The question sank back quietly but not forgotten when Booth's investigative instincts roared back into life and propelled him to confide his new suspicions with his partner. The question had been suspended while they worked to bring it all out into the open, catching a killer and giving Devon Marshall the respect he also deserved. Now, when they arrived at Devon Marshall's funeral, Cullen's question was brought into sharp focus because the squint in question was standing right next to him.
He'd taken his orders and had plunged back into the case, reluctantly allowing his earnest partner to show him there was more to the mystery than met the casual eye. Murder … friendly fire … and the hastily concealed slaughter of an unarmed family. Yeah, okay, she was right. Again.
Instead of annoyance, this time he was relieved. There was someone else watching his back, he realized, and maybe he needed her after all because he was recognizing he'd have bungled this case if she hadn't pushed him so hard. Standing at the grave of Charlie Kent, all Booth had seen was desecration, a protestor who carried his sacrilege too far. She had refused to rush to judgment, as usual, while he had stumbled blindly into outrage and almost missed the truth completely. It wasn't a protest, it was a murder. It wasn't lack of respect, it was guilt over a conspiracy that never should have happened. Seeing how she'd saved him from himself, Booth recalled what his friend Hank had suggested a couple of days ago, what Cullen had said, and knew they were both right.
He needed someone and she was standing right beside him. His someone.
The other mourners were moving away, leaving him alone with Temperance Brennan. Almost without knowing how it happened, words spilled out of him—the beginning of his confession. "I've done some things."
"I know," she agreed softly, stating the obvious and giving him the chance to end his confessional before it began. It sounded very much like whatever he had done didn't need to be mentioned, that it didn't really matter and would never change her opinion of him.
Her confidence seemed out of place. He shook his head, almost laughing at the naivety he heard in her unknowing assurance. If she knew, she wouldn't be so certain."No, you don't."
Not to be dissuaded, she shrugged. "But it's okay."
"Not as a secret … it's not." Sinking back down into his chair, he sensed her sinking with him. In a less charged moment he might have been impressed that she'd unconsciously mirrored his action, putting him at ease without thought or plan.
"I need to be honest, about myself," he began again, feeling the same frightened certainty that had pushed him to step through the door of a Gamblers Anonymous meeting for the second, third and fourth times. 'Get honest.' That was one of the steps. Admit the wrong things you've done, say it out loud. Tell someone. Booth felt himself hesitating. Afraid. Could he say it? "I need to be able to tell someone."
He chanced a peek at her, saw her auburn hair drifting in the breeze, her silver eyes squinting in the bright afternoon sunlight. Squinting. He felt a sudden surge of affection towards her. His squint. His Bones. Moments like this kept happening such that he had to admit Cullen was right and she was so much more than just a coworker.
She was his partner, and she was trying to reassure him. "You will in time, Booth."
Helplessly, he glanced at her again. His mouth opened but words stalled. What would she think of him, if he told her the things he'd done? There had been an argument between them a few weeks ago, when she'd asked him what he'd done in the army and he'd snarled that she shouldn't ask unless she was ready to hear the awful truth. She had retreated and she wasn't asking now. Brennan was leaving him his privacy just as he'd demanded, yet he didn't want it any longer.
"You _will_."
She sounded so certain, and with that assurance he heard her faith in him, in his honesty. And her faith that nothing he had done was so terrible that it would shake her. After all, she'd been to Iraq, to Guatemala, to Rwanda. She'd seen and done things, too, and if there was anyone who could understand, Booth knew it was her. His partner.
He was going to do it now. He was going to tell _her_.
As he started, she'd looked startled; undoubtedly she wasn't expecting him to confide in her. As he'd explained about Radik and the ethnic cleansing campaign, she'd nodded. It was subtle, but with that small gesture she was showing that she knew about genocide, probably even more than he did. He continued, trying to convey his actions, his guilt, the sorrow that hung over his head. And for once, she didn't argue. She didn't make a sound.
Did she understand? Could she grasp that he'd killed a father? That, to Radik's little boy, nothing his father had done warranted his head exploding at a birthday party while the music obscenely played on? One shot saved lives but destroyed the life of an innocent child, a child like Parker. Could she understand that? Could she forgive it?
Pressure over his arm registered dimly. Shocked, he looked down and found Brennan's slender hand grasping his arm, connecting them. He reached for her and let his own hand rest over hers, his thumb sliding against her smooth skin in an innocent caress. Her gentle touch broke something in him, a wall he didn't know he'd been hiding behind. Tears stung his eyes as he finally let his grief go.
"We all die a little bit, Bones. With each shot."
Looking up, into her eyes, he found them weeping. Tears had fallen from her eyes and she hadn't wiped them away. And she didn't look away. Her eyes and hand held him steady, offered him the absolution he hadn't believed he would ever find. Booth found yet another reason to be grateful that Temperance Brennan was his partner.
Anyone else would have said something. Only Brennan knew from experience to give him her silence because there were no words that could make it better.
~Q~
"I'm glad you killed him," she said softly.
They had returned to her office in the lab so she could gather the files that needed final notes and signatures. The usual routine at the end of a case was an evening together over paperwork, often at Wong Fu's, but occasionally in her office. Booth liked Brennan's office better than his own because she had a sofa and music, almost like being at home.
She'd been unusually quiet since their conversation at the funeral, her eyes lost and her attention wandering somewhere far afield. Mired in his own worries and guilt, Booth hadn't realized how silent she'd been until she spoke. Until her abrupt statement, so quiet and so angry, caught him off guard.
"Killed who, Radik?" Booth felt his stomach twist at the mention of the man he'd killed.
"Yes."
"Bones…." He didn't want to talk about it now, although the fierce intensity with which she spoke unnerved him. _Please don't ruin what was an incredible moment for me,_ he found himself pleading silently. Whatever she had to say could tip him right back into anger towards her, and he just wasn't ready for that. He didn't want to lose the feeling of peace and acceptance she'd given him at the cemetery today.
"You did the right thing, Booth."
He winced, closing his eyes against her probing gaze. "I'm … not so sure about that." Because no matter what the justification, killing always felt wrong, sickening. It always turned him inside out.
Whatever she'd been preoccupied with drove Brennan to speak again. "I want to show you something."
She walked over to her file cabinet and pulled open a drawer. Ever organized, it took her only a few seconds to go straight to whatever she was looking for, a large file stuffed with reports and photographs. "I told you before that I've been to Kosovo. And to Rwanda, Guatemala, El Salvador, Darfur. You know what I do there."
"Mass graves." His voice sounded rusty, and suddenly he felt like running out of there, running away from what she was going to show him. He sensed pain radiating off of Brennan, recalled her tears earlier that day and her silence ever since. She'd been holding something in, keeping it back for hours until now when, Booth suspected, it was about to be unleashed.
She was walking toward him, holding out the file, holding death in her hands. "This is Kosovo. This is what Radik was doing."
He didn't want to look when she opened the folder but the grisly photographs screamed at him, begging not to be ignored. He saw senselessness in the shapes: the dark holes where eyes used to be, the curve of skulls, the straight lines of arm and leg bones tangled together in a heap that resembled dried spaghetti noodles. Shirts and pants wrapped tightly within the jumble of bodies and bones, with the occasional shoe peeping out—evidence that what he saw was all that remained of dozens of human beings. People. Dead and thrown away like garbage.
He'd used that metaphor this afternoon, to describe what Radik had done. _He threw them away like garbage._ It was an abstract word, a vague concept that he knew on an intellectual level but now was feeling at the visceral level. Bodies were flung haphazardly and decaying like rubbish in a midden and his gut heaved painfully at the sight. This was offensive on a scale that he couldn't even articulate. There was no respect.
Brennan sat beside him and said slowly, "You talked about these people being erased, but do you know what it means? Can you feel it?"
He had closed his eyes, refusing to see what she was showing him. "Bones." It was both an answer and a plea.
"I have stood over these holes in the ground, Booth. I have worked to restore faces onto the skulls of people who were murdered because of who they were, or where they were born. I know you think I'm cold, that I don't care."
He blinked his eyes open in shock. Nothing could be further from the truth—he knew by now just how warm and caring she could be, that the icy façade was a shield she needed in order to survive the pain she encountered. But somehow he'd never conveyed that recognition to her, an oversight on his part.
She drew a steadying breath, her voice beginning to tremble. "When I'm there I can't let it out. I have a job to do and I can't let my emotions get in the way. I can't feel it. I can't…" Another pause, another ragged breath. "If I let myself go…."
For a moment she couldn't continue, the horror sweeping over her and dragging a sob out of her tightly clenched jaw. Then another sob, and with it the words began pouring out of her, out of control, overpowering. Thoughts and feelings Brennan had contained so harshly and for so long suddenly burst free, spewing the pain out for him, to show him; for his sake she wouldn't hold it back any longer.
"Mothers holding their babies, fathers with their children, husbands and wives. They couldn't protect them, even though I know they tried. They all stood together and, and … can you imagine that? You and Parker, your brother, your parents, Rebecca—everyone you ever knew and ever loved, you're all there together and you know. _You know_. You're all going to die, to be erased like you never existed."
He gasped sharply at the mention of Parker's name, but she wasn't finished. Brennan plowed over his instinctive recoil, propelled by the grisly experience that cried out to be expressed in words and nightmare imagery.
"Your DNA, your lineage…. You are the culmination of millions of years and thousands of people, every single one of them as unique and special as you. There can never be another person like you, Booth, or like Parker. But everything that makes you unique, everything about you is obliterated and it's _gone_. There's no trace of you. There's no bringing you back. Your warm brown eyes, Booth, and that charm smile that I hate because I can't say no to it. It will never exist again. It will be lost forever. It won't carry through to the next generation because Parker is gone, and your brother, your father, your cousins.
"It's not just murdering one person. It's destroying _entire families_. It destroys villages, a culture, a language, a religion, a country…."
"Bones, stop." She'd struck him deeply, tearing into his soul with the haunting images of himself and Parker facing a shooting squad. The horror she described, the devastating loss she was trying to convey but couldn't find words to fully capture, all thundered through his heart and head. He felt torn between comforting her and wanting her to stop for the sake of his own comfort.
"No!" she cried. "No, I won't stop. You don't know what it's like to stand there and look at the destruction, to see all those bodies tangled up and spend weeks trying to give them back their names. That's all they're going to get: a footnote in a 1000 page report that bureaucrats shove in a drawer somewhere. And sometimes we can't even give them that—we never find out who they were. We have to talk to the survivors, and the stories I've heard…."
She shuddered, trying to hold the worst of it back, trying to describe it without letting it consume her. "The evil men who did this in Kosovo, they rounded them up and separated the men from the women and children. They raped the women, over and over. They terrorized them all and then just shot them and threw them away. They pushed them into holes and dropped them into karstic caves like garbage, like they weren't _people_. There was no respect, Booth, no regard for the fact that these are human beings."
Respect, there was that word again. He'd told himself she didn't understand it, didn't appreciate it, but here she was using that very concept to underscore the brutal atrocity of genocide. No quarter given to the living, and no respect given to the dead. As if someone had snapped a lens over his eyes, Booth abruptly saw respect from Brennan's point of view. It was something innate, a basic right due to all people, not a socially-constructed veneer that placed some people over others. Everyone was equal in her eyes: no one person was more deserving of deference than any other because of rank or uniform, ethnicity or religious affiliation, wealth or power. To Brennan, every human being was deserving of respect, no matter who they were.
Genocide and murder stole that respect away from the victims. She tried to restore it in death, by giving them back their names, and giving them a proper place to rest when her quest was complete. Brennan's entire world revolved around respect for humanity, and for life itself, on a level he was only just now beginning to appreciate. Science had imbued her with a reverence for life that was just as profound as any religious person's was.
She scrabbled through the photos until she found one that showed an adult with arms wrapped around a much smaller person, a child, their bodies together forming the apex of a revolting pyramid of slaughtered humanity. "They died knowing they were being erased, their entire families and villages. They died knowing their loved ones were being murdered, too. This is what you stopped! **_This_**!"
She stabbed at the image, her tears running freely. "This is what he was doing. This is what you prevented. You stopped it from happening. Do you understand? You stopped it."
While drowning in his own guilt, he hadn't considered the other side, hadn't tried to truly understand what Radik was preparing to do that night. But Brennan knew the result, she was the one who dug it all back up and brought it back into the light. Always so calm, so controlled, the toll it took on her was carefully hidden to the point of invisibility, until she had let it loose tonight. Now her carefully controlled grief had escaped out into the open, an injured beast ravaging the room, and he didn't know what to do to get it contained again. Brennan, who was normally so calm, was collapsing into an emotional mess.
He reached out to touch her shoulder, trying to soothe her. "Bones, it's okay."
"No, you need to understand. You stopped it, Booth." Her glassy eyes held his, pleading with him. "I know you feel bad about the little boy, Radik's boy. But you saved someone else's son that night; another father didn't have to watch his child be murdered in front of his eyes. Another little boy didn't look at his father just before the shooting started and ask, 'why is this happening to us?' And wives didn't lose their husbands, and daughters didn't watch while their mothers were rounded up to be systematically raped until they were impregnated. You probably saved hundreds of lives and unbearable torment with that one shot.
"I know what it cost you, I know that it hurt you. But you did it anyway." She lifted her hand to his heart and pressed gently. And then she said something that plunged into his chest and squeezed his heart to a pulp. With her glowing silver eyes boring into his, Brennan whispered fervently, "I think you're a hero."
Feeling a sob shudder in his chest, he wordlessly pulled her into a tight embrace, holding on so he could bury his face in her shoulder and feel her wrapping her arms around him. He'd feared what anyone else would think if they knew he'd shattered a little boy's life, had braced himself for the condemnation that would fall if he ever confessed. It hadn't occurred to him that Brennan would see it differently, though he ought to know that by now. But of course, she would see the other side, the nobler purpose he'd tried to cling to but had lost sight of in the blurred horror of a little boy's blood-spattered face framed in his rifle scope. Brennan had forcefully reminded Booth why he took that shot, and in that moment he'd never been more grateful towards another human being.
"Thank you," he whispered into her ear. "You have no idea what it means to me to hear you say that, and that you understand."
Wordlessly her arms tightened and they clung together for a boundless moment. Before the moment had completely passed, he sensed Brennan was already bringing herself back under control. Booth did the same, knowing they could only carry this so far before the balance between them shifted too far. As much as things had changed between them, as close as he felt to her, the time to cross boundaries hadn't yet arrived. He needed to set them both back in place.
So it felt completely natural when Booth pulled back and regarded her with curiosity. "You can't say no, eh?"
Brennan's arms slipped down, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Say no to what."
"My charming smiles," he explained, sending one her way at that very moment. His effort to distract them both paid off handsomely.
Her confusion gave way to an almost comical horror as she realized what she had inadvertently given away a few minutes previously. She flushed as brightly as a teenager.
Booth couldn't help grinning. "I knew that," he assured her.
"You did not."
"I did," he countered. "That's why I use them sparingly—I wouldn't want to take unfair advantage."
Her eyes had narrowed, her lips pursing as she stepped into battle with him. "I won't fall for it again."
"Yes you will," he chuckled. Seeing the dangerous gleam in her gaze, he added respectfully, "when you want to, you will."
"When I want to," she repeated thoughtfully, liking the way it sounded.
More seriously, he squeezed her hand briefly before standing up. "You never do anything you don't want to, Temperance. I've always known that, too."
"Then why do you use those charm smiles on me?"
He pulled her to her feet, his eyes laughing but his expression quite serious. "Because you want me to."
He left her speechless at that, to go call in an order of Thai take-out for them both.
Stepping outside her office and extracting his cell from a pocket, he glanced back out of the corner of his eye. She had recovered most of her composure and was busy stuffing the macabre file back into its home in her file cabinet. Booth watched her graceful movements, the way she brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. Something had shifted between them despite his attempts to hold them in balance.
Taking that final step, trusting her with his sins, had pushed them more fully together. Something had shifted and he knew they would never be the same, they were _more_. Recalling Hank's mistake—"Why don't you tell your girlfriend?"—Booth knew his denial had been correct. He had never trusted any girlfriend with the things he told Brennan today. Bones had become his touchstone. She was beautiful and brilliant. She was quirky and compassionate. She was aggravating and aggressive. She was honest and honorable. She was his partner, and his best friend. There was no one he trusted more.
And as of now, there was no one who knew him better.
~Q~
**Author's note:** One of the things that still fascinates me about this episode (Soldier on the Grave) was that Booth was furious with Brennan ... but we didn't quite know why. Then he suddenly confessed one of his darkest moments to her ... but we didn't quite know why.
What was going on? What changed?
Step Five in the Alcoholics Anonymous program is essentially what Booth did with Brennan in the graveyard. That step calls for the alcoholic—or gambler—to confess the wrong things he's done to another human being, especially the darkest, most shameful things. That is the nudge Hank Lutrell was giving Booth when he said Booth needed to tell someone about Kosovo. This suggests that Hank might be Booth's sponsor (but that's just a guess on my part). The fact that he chose Brennan is huge, a sure sign that she has become extremely important to him at this point.
This chapter contains some of the most personally moving scenes I've ever written. Because I tutor immigrants and refugees in English (ELL) at college, I've heard survivor's stories first hand. To honor the loss of life and the nightmares they've lived through, it was important to convey the horror of genocide in a way that is still 'PG-13' (because of the rating), but yet gets the point across. I've incorporated some of what Brennan has said in previous episodes, (especially her little 'Nobel Prize Speech' at the end of _The Man on Death Row_) to inform the way genocide impacts her. It's not just murder in Brennan's eyes, it's the destruction of something she feels is unique and precious—the marvelous diversity of life and her reverent attitude that every human being is immensely special, "because they all got here the same way I did." As an anthropologist, Brennan would mourn the loss of life, but also the loss of whole family lines of DNA, of language, art, religion, and culture.
Every one of us Bones fans who has watched from the beginning knows this episode (Soldier on the Grave), with that special moment in the graveyard, was huge. Booth trusted Brennan with one of his most painful secrets, with his grief, and she responded in just the right way-by listening and grieving with him.
So, dear readers, what do you think...?
5. David On the Implication of Intimacy
**Disclaimer:** I do not own anthing pertaining to Bones. I have borrowed and 'thought-out' one extended scene written by Hart Hanson (The Woman in Limbo).
**Author's Note:** Hello readers. I'm posting this a day early because I'm going out of town for a wedding and won't be able to update on my regularly-scheduled Thursday. I didn't want to make you wait too long... :)
Getting back to the story developing here, the change noted between the partners in Soldier on the Grave (and in my previous chapter) manifests itself quite quickly, doesn't it...?
* * *
_Catalyst in the Partnership_
**_5. _**
**_David – On the Implication of Intimacy_**
_"I'm sorry, did I miss something? Because I don't want to get in the way of anything between you two…" _
Court days could be a little bit stressful.
Booth had his case file stashed under one arm and walked briskly into the Jeffersonian in search of his partner. Brennan, always a bit scattered when multiple priorities were competing for her attention, tended to be especially distracted on court days. Partly that was because he needed to drag her out of the lab for several hours, and everyone always seemed to have a reason to pull her aside for a last-minute consultation that wouldn't have been urgent if she were merely going out to a crime scene or helping with an interview. Even road trips that were going to last days didn't upset the squints to nearly the degree that a single afternoon in front of a judge typically did. They heard 'court' and flocked to her in a panic.
Somehow, court days made her absence appear more pronounced. Perhaps because she turned her cell phone off on those days, he mused. The thought that she was so desperately needed brought him a sense of proud satisfaction because ultimately, she would be leaving them all to go with him.
He breezed into her office and found her still in her lab coat, frantically pawing through a mess of files on the surprisingly littered surface of her desk. Goodman hovered behind her, wringing his hands over something while she muttered, "The defense attorney told the jury I was winging it."
"Ready? Chop, chop!" Booth moved fast, tugging her lab coat off her shoulders while she was still searching for whatever-it-was and Goodman was continuing to make a nuisance of himself. Brennan didn't object to Booth's stripping of her: a fairly recent development. Not three weeks ago, she'd have knocked a foot-sized hole in his skull if he'd tried to pull any article of clothing off like this. (Six months ago, he'd have been hard-pressed to resist pulling off more than just the lab coat while dodging that lethal foot.)
Yet ever since a particular afternoon by a grave, Booth was feeling warmly connected to Bones. He suspected she was feeling the same, an odd and unquantifiable intimacy that had sprouted between them like fresh spring grass. Suddenly, removing her coat was no big deal and seeing her smooth skin revealed underneath wasn't quite the distraction it used to be. Not that he didn't notice her beauty; rather that it was familiar and available for him to look at whenever he wanted to see her. They had relaxed around each other and settled into an easy familiarity that felt like family. Sort of.
"I can't find my original notes," she complained.
"There's a photocopy in the file." Booth tugged her blue lab coat all the way off her busy hands, barely noticing the slender, bare arms he'd exposed because he'd already spun to grab her black blazer off the coat rack behind her desk.
"No, the last time, the defense lawyer told the jury…."
"It was a ploy. It failed." Booth slipped behind her, taking both of her arms from behind and turning her to the door. The smooth warmth of her skin skimming beneath his palms might have succeeded at last in distracting him if he wasn't already so distracted by the need to get her out of the Jeffersonian gauntlet. He steered her out, propelling her from behind. "Let's go."
Just steps outside her office, Brennan automatically put her arms behind her and Booth slid her blazer up over them with practiced fluency. It was as if they had done this a hundred times, not just once. First time today.
Hodgins found glass and pollen. Goodman wanted her to swing by Archaeology to share a piece of her mind.
While she took over the buttoning of her jacket, Booth's hands found protective locations on her elbow and shoulder, guiding her and warding the others off at the same time. No one seemed to think anything was odd about how closely he held her, least of all Brennan herself.
It was just another sign that something had changed between them over the last weeks.
"No. No swinging," Booth insisted.
That didn't deter Angela from pulling up alongside and asking about a spine, nor Zack from calling out to his mentor. Brennan quickly issued instructions to Angela before Booth pushed the artist back and cradled his partner closer still. He bent his head, whispering to her. "I don't think you should talk about other cases so much on court date. You might get confused."
Brennan shivered slightly, her eyes catching his in consternation at his suggestion that she might ever be confused over the facts. She reached for the file he was carrying but he pulled it back playfully. She grimaced in annoyance. They kept walking, still embraced.
Goodman hadn't given up yet. "One simple question: Assyrian, Hittite or Egyptian! It'll take five minutes!"
But it was Zack who finally won her attention away from Booth. "Dr. Brennan!"
Zack, unlike any of the others, had a skull on hand to draw her interest. In a flash she had darted away from Booth and dashed up the forensics platform. Exasperated, Booth tried to call her back. "Bones!"
"What's up," Brennan asked her student. She leaned over the smooth, white skull, drawing her auburn hair to one side and examining the small eraser tips poking out at various angles.
"Buttercup," Zack rejoined, then explained he needed her approval of the tissue depth markers.
"Why did you say buttercup?" Brennan's puzzled query made Booth smile despite his having to enter the platform in order to recapture her.
"_'What's up buttercup?'_ is an amusing, rhyming linguistic meme. _This_ is the latest Jane Doe from Limbo." Zack stood back, letting her be dazzled by both his work on the skull and his daring use of a colloquialism.
Booth was dazzled by neither. "How about this for an amusing, rhyming _linguini_. See you later, alligator." He took Brennan's elbow again with the intention of pulling her out. She was still looking at the skull, resisting Booth's magnetic presence. He should have guessed he could never win out over a nice, juicy bone….
Goodman took her resistance as a sign to keep trying, but not without a little side-trip into the semantics of 'Limbo' vs. 'Bone Storage' as the most appropriate moniker for the catacombs below the lab where human remains waited for identification. Booth's mission to escape the lab with his partner was momentarily diverted by the discussion.
Brennan took their distraction as a sign she could sneak in another quick peek at the skull. "No sign of foul play."
"If you have time for this, you have time for my Hittite," Goodman complained, suddenly realizing that Zack had gotten more than a minute out of her.
"Tissue depth along the jaw line and the cheekbone look a little deep to me but otherwise—"
Booth stole his partner once again, cutting her off. "Outta Limbo, back on earth, and on our way to court."
She went with him more willingly this time, leaving Goodman behind in a state of peevish dissatisfaction. As they finally slipped out the sliding doors of the lab Booth breathed a sigh of relief, rejoicing that he had her to himself for the next few hours.
By now, Booth had worked with her long enough to know that Dr. Temperance Brennan was in demand. The FBI wanted her, but so did the CIA, the NSA, DMORT, the UN, Doctors Without Borders, the ICC, and various other agencies concerned with identifying the long-term dead. That didn't include the various universities and other historic or archeological projects she consulted on; the various police agencies that called upon her expertise; or the publisher that had begun pressing her for a finished second novel.
He was lucky she allowed him even five minutes of her time, Booth knew, let alone the luxury of entire days by his side in a court room or at a crime scene. He was blessed to enjoy her lovely smiles, which were coming to him with increasing frequency, and the teasing light in her eyes when she argued with him. His good fortune included the soft brush of her body against his as they walked closely together. Lately he'd taken to touching her, guiding her, and she let him. She let him open doors and she let him slip his palm against the small of her back when they walked through a doorway. She let him take her to lunch and she helped herself to his fries when she thought he wasn't looking.
She had let him into her lab and into her life. In return, she had motivated him to straighten up the mess of his own life and burgeoning gambling problem. His gambling was under control; Rebecca was softening and letting him see Parker a lot more often in the last couple of months as a result. Working with Brennan had placed his career on the steep yet sure track that would get him to the top in a matter of years (rather than decades). He let her wander into his office on whatever whim she cooked up, and let her sit in on his interrogations more and more often.
And when he was really lucky, he got to spend whole days with her. Having a day with Bones to look forward to made the irritation of courtrooms, dour judges, smarmy defense attorneys and cranky prosecutors fade away into background noise. Things were looking up just because she was at his side and looking up at him.
And then they rounded the corner on their way to the parking facility and ran into David Simmons.
"Temperance!" he exclaimed brightly.
Surprised to see him, she blushed and allowed a shallow hug, exchanging chaste kisses on the cheek. "What are you doing here?"
One more obstacle, Booth grumbled internally. No problem. Drawing her back to his side, Booth inserted himself between Brennan and this latest rival for her attention. "She has to get to court, so…."
David's greeting sounded sweetly inauthentic. "Booth, nice to see you again, especially when I'm not in custody."
Booth's intention to keep on walking caused David to dart ahead of them and plant himself in Brennan's path. "Listen, I read your manuscript. I couldn't wait to tell you how great it is."
"Thank you." Brennan flushed in shy surprise. "Really?"
The dart of raw jealousy that dashed across Booth's face was completely missed by the two others. Despite the narrow escape, Booth couldn't restrain himself from plucking the heavy packet out of David's limp hands, his envy exposed anyway. "You read her _manuscript_? Really?"
Wordlessly, Brennan rescued it and stuffed it under her arm like a shield.
"Her second novel: Bone Free. It's kind of like 'Born Free' except, no lions." David grinned, impressed with his own literate cleverness.
Booth rolled his eyes. "Yuck on the title. Am I in it?"
"No," she declared immediately, her brow furrowed at Booth's unenthusiastic pronouncement.
David grinned wickedly. "Definitely."
Brennan's discomfort was growing. She shifted her weight anxiously. "Uh, we have to get to court." This time she was the one to start dragging Booth away.
Turning as if to follow when she started off down the hall, David offered a bit of jaunty advice. "I hope you have your original notes. 'Cause last time…."
She halted, pivoted, flustered. "Told you, Booth!"
Throwing up his hands in frustration, he groaned. "Bones! We don't have time!" But she had nearly rounded the corner on her way back to the lab. "All right. Three minutes. I'll … uh … wait for you in the car…."
Alone with David, he sighed. His hands plunged into his pockets, a forced smile and I'm-trying-not-to-kill-you laugh accompanying his inquiry. "So, are you two, uh…?"
"Yeah, sort of." David's answering smile was equally false. They circled each other, both blatant in their mutual dislike. "Is that a problem?"
The simulated smile stayed resolutely in place. "Yeah…."
Oh hell yeah, it was a problem. He wasn't even sure how to put into words just how much of a problem he had with David … dating? kissing? … Bones. Reading her book when she wouldn't let her partner even get a look at the cover. And making stupid jokes, making her waste time getting notes she didn't need and now they were going to be LATE to court. Yeah, there was a problem.
"You know, Bones is very literal. So in the future, no joking advice on court day." Booth turned away, tossing his poker chip and wishing he could toss David out on his ass just as easily.
A minute passed. Then two or three. Four….. Five…..
Even David had shrugged and said he'd catch up with her later.
_Good riddance._ Booth checked his watch again. _What the hell is keeping her?_
Wondering if Goodman had kidnapped her and absconded to Archaeology after all, Booth walked back into the lab in search of his missing partner. He found Goodman, Zack and Angela crowded around Angela's holographic projector in Angela's office, and noted that none of them were behaving normally. Angela looked worried, Goodman bewildered and even Zack was concerned instead of clueless.
"Has anyone seen Bones? Okay, we're due in court, like, hello—now!" He realized all at once the three baffled squints were too worried to reply. "What..."
A twisting sensation in his gut signaled the certain knowledge that something had happened. And it involved Bones because, didn't he know by now … she's always been a magnet for trouble.
All three squints were looking at him, but it was Angela who answered his impatient query by flipping on her holographic projector. "This … totally freaked her out." Angela's mystification was complete—she had never seen Brennan over-react to a facial reconstruction before.
But the moment the projector flickered into life, Booth knew instantly what had happened to his partner. The twisting in his gut snapped free and spun wildly, like a wound-up swing that flails in a circle as the chains uncoil. The woman's calm, ghostly face spun much more slowly than his roiling gut, slightly fuller cheeked than the face he could recollect from memory. Booth's eyes caught and held the woman while he pulled out his phone and immediately dialed a number.
Zack looked at the woman's face as well, and shrugged out his explanation. "My theory? Caffeine intolerance."
Someone picked up on the line. Booth spoke briskly, his eyes still glued to the woman's face in disbelief. "Yeah, you're going to want to take Dr. Brennan off the witness list today. … No. She can't make it into court. … Thanks."
Hearing this, the three squints gaped at each other in confusion as Booth disconnected the call.
"All right. What's going on," Angela demanded.
Didn't she know? Booth gazed in shock from one to the other, feeling another plunge into awareness that quite a few things between him and Brennan had changed tremendously over the last few months. He had recognized that face just about as quickly as Bones probably had. None of the others seemed to have the slightest clue. His gaze fell onto Angela, hardly able to believe that even _she_ didn't know who she had just identified. Yet clearly, she didn't.
So it felt to Brennan's partner, Special Agent Seeley Booth, to inform them. "That … is Christine Brennan."
Goodman gasped. "Good God!"
"You just found Bones's mother."
The forensic artist's eyes darted back to the face she'd just recreated. Booth knew she was berating herself mentally for failing to see the unmistakable resemblance. But he didn't have time to stick around for questions or the inevitable how-could-I-have-missed-that? discussion. Finding Bones was his biggest priority. He left to go check for her in her office, arms automatically folded defensively because he had no idea what to expect. Everything had changed from sunshine to darkness in the span of a few minutes.
He found her at her desk, eyes cast down onto a rusty belt buckle attached to a decaying leather belt. She didn't look up, but he heard the strain in her voice.
"I have to miss court."
Uneasy, he acknowledged that he knew what was happening, why she'd vanished on him. "I know." Those two small words conveyed a great deal of knowing, of sympathy and understanding.
She gently fingered the round, metal disk in her hands. "I remember this belt buckle. I borrowed it without asking, the first day of high school. My father had it specially made for my mother because she loved dolphins."
"Bones… I'm sorry." The heartfelt words throbbed between them, battering the flimsy control she'd been trying to maintain.
"I always knew that, for my parents to disappear like that, they … they had to be dead. I thought that when it was confirmed I'd feel _relief_. But …." Her voice broke. Her hands shook as she lowered the buckle.
Softly, fully empathetic, he acknowledged, "It's still bad news."
Zack entered cautiously, slipping into Brennan's office beside Booth.
She seemed to sense him, too, without even looking. "You have the file, Zack?"
"Jane Doe number 129, 0998," the intern supplied, reading the case number off the file he held.
Harshly, Brennan buried herself in the work. "Where was she found?"
"Bones…."
Even more harshly. "What does it _say_?"
Zack opened the folder and read in his usual, flat voice. "In September of 1998, a grave-digging crew at the Sunset Memory Cemetery in Salisbury, Pennsylvania uncovered human remains in a completely advanced stage of decomposition."
Booth interrupted, his arms still crossed. "Is it from a grave?"
"No," Zack replied. "It appears somebody just dug a hole on the edge of the cemetery and … plopped the body in there."
Annoyed at the lack of compassion or discretion, Booth hissed a warning. "Zack!"
"Sorry," he stumbled, contrite. Zack found his place in the file and continued reading. "The local coroner found no evidence of foul play, and sent the remains, soil samples and a few artifacts with the remains to the Jeffersonian, hoping we could identify her. Technically, your mother has been at the Jeffersonian as long as you have."
Booth couldn't believe he had to warn him again. "Zack…."
"Sorry. But they both got here in 1998."
Goodman's solemn arrival interrupted Zack again. "Dr. Brennan. Ms. Montenegro has graciously volunteered to drive you home."
Booth nodded, stepping closer to her, his arms still crossed as if he expected her to go on the offensive. "Temperance." Hearing her given name, she looked up, wordless but with tears escaping.
"Go home," Booth instructed gently.
Brennan turned her gaze blindly back to the long-missing belt buckle. Going home was the last thing she wanted to do, but she couldn't work her own mother's case. She couldn't work any case in this condition. The rational scientist in her recognized that, but the shocked and grieving daughter was held frozen in her seat.
"Come on, Bones." He gently took her elbow and pulled her to her feet. Compassion bled from every movement as he helped her gather the grave artifacts and carefully place them back in the evidence bag. Angela was hovering at the door, teary-eyed, but it was Booth who guided Brennan out of the Jeffersonian and into Angela's car.
"I'll stop by later, okay?"
Brennan nodded absently.
Pursing his lips, Booth asked reluctantly, "You want me to call David for you? Tell him what's going on?" He waited in dread for her to say yes.
But she shook her head. "No. I don't…. No."
"I'll stay with her for a while," Angela offered.
Booth nodded, grateful.
~Q~
"Hey, Booth, I'm glad I caught you."
Booth turned around, surprised at who was speaking to him. David Simmons was striding towards him from the corridor outside the lab, a concerned expression darkening his features.
"What's going on with Tempe?"
Glancing back into the lab he'd just departed while Russ and Temperance Brennan attempted to reconnect, Booth decided now was a bad time for David to pop in unexpectedly. The tension crackling between the Brennan siblings was enough to make anyone look for lightning. Wanting to give them space, he gestured to keep walking towards the gardens outside. They fell into mismatched steps, David being forced to trot in order to keep up with Booth's longer stride.
"Have you asked her?" Booth suggested.
"Of course," David replied. "All she said was it's a tough case and she didn't want to talk about it."
Slowing his pace, Booth glanced at the shorter man. "Really?"
"But something is going on, right? I mean, she's not returning my calls. I stopped by yesterday but she said she didn't have time to talk. She looked tired. I'm worried."
_I really hate this guy_, Booth muttered internally. _Just really hate him. He's all wrong for her. No spine._ Concealing those thoughts wasn't too difficult, however, because Booth's attention had snapped onto the ramifications of what David had just told him. Bones wasn't talking to David about her mother's case….
"What do you know about her family?" he probed.
The casual request seemed to come out of nowhere. David frowned, realizing at once he probably should know more than he did. "Not much. She said they disappeared."
"Did she tell you how old she was when it happened?"
A shrug. "Late teens."
"She was fifteen."
"Oh." David stopped walking as the significance registered. That young meant, what, foster care? He looked to Booth and saw there was a great deal that he didn't know, but Booth clearly did. "She told _you_ about it, then."
"She asked me to investigate," Booth shrugged, knowing suddenly that this was no shrugging matter. Bones had entrusted him with her past, something no one else knew besides Angela. Something she hadn't shared with David, just like Booth had never told any girlfriend about his past as a sniper. She'd actually told him _more_ than Angela, Booth acknowledged. Booth had recognized Christine Brennan's face; Angela hadn't.
"Meanwhile, she tells me nothing." David grimaced, wondering when she was planning to tell him the details Booth evidently knew, if ever.
Booth took pity on the guy. He was a spineless idiot, but David did seem to care about Bones. "She doesn't like to talk about it. She just asked me to check out the old investigation, to see if anything was missed. That's all."
Nodding succinctly, David met Booth's eyes. "Why are we talking about Tempe's family now?"
_Okay, maybe not quite an idiot_, Booth amended. "We just found her mother. She's been dead for—" Booth hesitated, wondering how much he should tell David. "…pretty much the entire time she's been missing."
"So, she's basically investigating her own mother's murder? Is that what you're telling me?"
Booth nodded, feeling a nudge of reluctant sympathy for the guy. "Look, David. Bones … she's kind of private about stuff. Take her book, for example. She won't let me read it, but you got to. Right?"
He shook his head slowly, as if realizing something. "You know why, Booth? It's because my opinion doesn't matter to her. Yours does."
"What?"
"You know it's true. The book is not about me, so she lets me read it. If I don't like something, she doesn't care. But the important stuff—stuff about her work, about her life—that, I don't get to hear about. You do. You're the man she's sharing her life with."
With that, David turned and headed for the street. He didn't look back and Booth had a feeling he would never see David again. Maybe Bones wouldn't, either. There was a finality in what David had declared. Absolute Truth.
Booth turned the other direction, his eye catching the fountain they'd walked past on that long ago afternoon. Brennan had bounced along just slightly behind him, her shoes in hand. _"I can be a duck!"_ But she wasn't one of the ducks he thought he needed despite having promised her full participation. Temperance Brennan had refused to let him break his word, so she'd blackmailed him a few minutes later. Instead of backing down, she'd daringly forged their partnership while standing barefoot in the grass, her glinting eyes knowing she had him trapped.
Nine months later, Booth couldn't quite believe how much they'd changed each other, as if that initial, tentative alliance had gestated into an unbreakable union. Was David right…? If Booth had never told any of his girlfriends or male buddies about that hit in Kosovo, the way it had splintered his conscience into shards of bloody glass, yet he'd told her, what did that mean? If she didn't tell her boyfriend about her parents, about her mother's confirmed death, what did that mean?
She had let him in, and he had let her in. They were so deeply entrenched in one another that it felt seamless and close and intimate on a scale he'd never imagined could be possible. They weren't just partners. They weren't lovers, not at all, yet he felt more deeply connected to Brennan than he ever had to Rebecca. They were closer than friends, somehow closer than family. Yet they were none of those things.
_What are we? _He wandered towards the fountain, needing the cool rush of water to soothe the turmoil brewing in his soul. Why didn't she share this pain with David? Why had he told her about Kosovo, and all the other secrets he'd begun to reveal to her. _Am I in love with her?_
Somehow, he knew that wasn't quite right. Not that kind of love. Yet even as he tried to deny he held romantic feelings for her, the inwardly honest part that he couldn't completely silence knew better. That part of him knew that if they ever did make love, it would be cataclysmic. It would be nuclear fusion, the complete loss of themselves as individuals. They would truly fuse into one, irrevocably.
The thought thrilled and terrified him in equal measures.
He wasn't ready for that. More importantly, he knew she wasn't ready either. If they tried too soon, without the utmost commitment, they would destroy this amazing thing they had begun building together.
~Q~
Comforting her over Chinese take-away and midnight confidences had felt perfectly natural. She didn't really believe he'd seen her lights from the street—he would have had to leave his car parked and walked a few steps up the alley for that—but she let his little white lie pass uncontested because he was there and the food smelled delicious. And being with him was vastly preferred to being alone.
And though she had bitterly asked if his parents hadn't gone out to secretly rob banks while he and Jared slept, he knew it was only the pain and shock speaking. The always-honest Temperance was having a hard time accepting the idea that Joy was a part of her, too. Everything she had worked to become was founded on a lie her parents told her. She wasn't who she thought she was; consequently, she didn't know who she was.
When the breakdown came, via softly gasped assertions uttered in the quiet of a dilapidated barn, he could hardly bear to watch her struggle. "I am Dr. Temperance Brennan," she'd insisted with no assurance at all. "I work at the Jeffersonian…." She worked with the unidentified dead, giving them their names, yet she didn't know her own name now. She fought crime, bringing criminals to justice, yet her own family lived outside the boundaries of the laws she tried to uphold. She brought justice to the victims, yet her parents might be the victimizers. "I'm Dr. Temperance Brennan…." Every statement choked out with decreasing levels of certainty wrung his heart, until the last, accompanied by tears and a sob.
He'd pulled her into his arms, reassuring her. "I know who you are. Hey, I know…."
She'd held onto him as the only solid thing left in the world. In those precious moments, he'd enjoyed nothing so much as the feeling of Temperance Brennan nestled in his embrace. He knew precisely who she was.
"You're Bones. Okay? You're my Bones..." Tenderly, he whispered to her everything he admired about her. All the truths of her that he had come to know.
And she believed him.
It was only with his steadying faith in her that Brennan pulled herself back together and found the proof that would put her mother's killer behind bars. The nervous former 'mechanic' had offered a deal: if she dropped her evidence he would tell her about her father. Her eyes steely with contempt, she'd declined the offer. "I found out what happened to my mother, I'll find out what happened to my father, too."
He knew that she would—he knew that about her, just as he'd known she would not make a deal with a criminal or compromise evidence for her own comfort. Because she was his Bones, the always honest woman whose name meant moderate and whose passion was justice and whose tenacity could border on painful at times.
That was why he let her drive.
And where she took them was all the way to North Carolina to drag one long-missing and only recently-restored brother back to Washington DC. Somewhere halfway there she decided she was Bones, because that was the woman Booth spoke so highly of. That was the woman she worked so hard to be. They returned to her apartment, deciding to start their renaissance by sharing a toast over bottles of imported lager.
"To us," Booth had offered.
"Whoever the hell we are," Russ added with a laugh. Because he was Russ and Kyle, and she was Temperance and Joy; and the only thing they knew for certain was that Keenan and Brennan were both Irish surnames. But Temperance Brennan knew who she was when she looked at her partner. She knew she would always be Bones because that's who she had become when Booth entered her life. That was who she wanted to be.
When she looked at him, her softly spoken hope had nestled directly into Booth's heart. "To what we are becoming."
Asking himself that question several times over the past 24 hours, the sense of wonder and awe had only grown during the last ten minutes when they'd entered her apartment together. Because here he was, with her and her brother, taking part in the long-overdue family reunion he'd played such a large part in arranging.
He heard David Simmons bitterly recognizing how anemic his connection with Brennan was. _"She told __**you**__ about it, then."_ David wasn't here, but Booth was.
Brennan went for the promised beers, leaving Booth alone with Russ for a moment. Russ chatted about his girlfriend, Amy, who had two daughters, but Booth's attention found something much more intriguing. He had immediately spotted her manuscript sitting on her kitchen counter. The title, the one he'd said 'yuck' about, was crossed out.
David liked it; Booth didn't. And so she was changing it.
_"My opinion doesn't matter to her. Yours does." _
Booth swallowed a lump that had knotted up his throat, seeing there before him the solid proof that David was right. Unable to resist while her back was turned, Booth lifted the top sheet and felt an answering wave of dizziness when her voice whispered to him from the dedication page. "To my partner and friend, Special Agent Seeley Booth."
There hadn't been many times in his life when the urge to cry fought with the urge to grin like a fool. Luckily, Brennan had chosen that moment to return, distracting the lump in Booth's throat from getting any tighter and his smile won the duel. He took the beer she'd handed him.
Their fingers brushed lightly together. His heart raced. She spoke about what they were becoming.
And he wondered again … what are we? They worked together: partners, crime solvers—rapidly becoming the sharpest, most efficient team in the Bureau—and friends. But... David liked the title and yet she changed it because Booth said, 'yuck.' He called her Bones and she let him. He was here and David wasn't. He'd comforted her all week and David hadn't even been invited….
_"You're the man she's sharing her life with."_
Oh how glad he was that she shared her life with him. That she trusted him and smiled for him and let him stand beside her, comfort her, touch her. He wanted all of that and more with her.
_Oh, God, Seeley, you've gone and fallen in love with your partner._
Her eyes met his, glowing softly with a guarded happiness and hope, brightly with her unending curiosity, warmly with an affection he knew David would probably never see.
And he shivered. There was no denying that she was feeling it, too.
~Q~
* * *
**Author's Note:** Do you readers think they were both in love with each other by the end of the first year? Neither? Only one (and if so, which one?) It's been fun to go back over that first year to try and mine their on-screen actions for clues to what they were feeling or to what sort of off-screen moments were taking place.
Next up: Season Two!
6. Cam On the Spirit of Competition
**Disclaimer:** Is this really necessary...?
**Author's Note:** It's Christmas break and I'm back! Thanks for waiting, all of you who waited patiently. This is the first of 5 or 6 more 'one-shot' chapters that will cover season 2. Things are changing between Booth and Brennan... And there's a new sheriff in town.
Part of what drove this particular chapter is one line that Booth said early in season 2 that has always intrigued me. Can you guess which line is? Hint: you'll find it near the end of this story.
* * *
_Catalyst in the Partnership_
**_6. _**
**_Cam – On the Spirit of Competition_**
_"How can I ensure she makes the right decision?" _
The last time he'd picked her up at the airport, she hadn't been particularly grateful despite the degree of inconvenience it had caused him. He'd had to fill out paperwork to get Homeland Security to seize her for questioning, then go through additional legal hoops to transfer custody. When he finally wandered into the interrogation room to 'rescue' her, Dr. Temperance Brennan had seen through the ruse immediately (because let's face it, it's pretty damn hard to outwit a genius). She stormed out ahead of him in a fit of pique, threatening to bellow 'kidnap!' to any interested passersby unless he let her go her own way. To this day he still wasn't quite sure how he'd managed to stop her from leaving him at the curb.
The contrast between then and now was remarkable because this time she was waiting for him. He saw her standing at the United Air arrivals aisle, looking lovely as ever in a functional brown jacket and jeans. Pulling up beside her, he leaped out of the FBI's standard issue SUV with a delighted grin and found she was smiling back. She might actually be glad to see him this time.
"Bones!"
"Booth, you didn't have to pick me up. I could have taken a taxi." Brennan shifted her weight tiredly, still carrying her standard messenger tool bag and one heavy canvas duffle bag.
"I was in the area," he tossed off carelessly. They both knew that wasn't true.
Humidity from the late summer DC downpour had curled her hair slightly, causing it to wave loosely around her face. Stepping towards her with the intention of simply getting closer, Booth hesitated suddenly because he realized his impulse was to embrace her. What he felt inclined to do was at odds with what he was allowed to do, and that fact was complicated by the way her coriander scent wrapped around him and her coral lips twitched in the sideways grin that he'd missed. As he got just a little closer, her silver eyes blinked at him like an owl's curious and knowing gaze.
Suddenly, touching her seemed like a dangerous idea, because where his hands went his lips were sure to follow. So instead of touching, he held her gaze while leaning in, wondering what she would do. Would she wrap her arms around him? Would she kiss him? He let his eyes wander dreamily over her face while one of his charm grins slipped out to play with her.
"What are you doing?" she asked, with more than a trace of amusement.
Flirting with Brennan had yielded its typical fizzle. A vague sigh of disappointment had him reaching for her duffle bag instead of her. "Putting your bag in the trunk."
When she relinquished it with a brushing of fingertips, he barely contained the shiver that danced up his arm. Duly noted: touching Temperance Brennan risked heart failure.
Stepping back as quickly as his legendary coolness allowed, he set his mind to other thoughts, distracting thoughts. For example, he couldn't help marveling that she packed very light for a female. Most women he'd known would have carried two or three suitcases on a three week vacation. Brennan had just the one moderately sized duffle. Then again, Darfur in the Sudan wasn't exactly a vacationer's paradise. It would have been broiling, grueling work, knee deep in dusty graves under the Sahara sun.
Some vacation.
Yet a few minutes into the drive, Brennan admitted she'd skipped Darfur in favor of spending time in South Carolina with Russ, Amy and the two young nieces-to-be. He'd glanced over at her in surprise, musing that Temperance Brennan choosing to spend her free time around living people had to be some kind of miracle. He grinned, counting himself a good influence on her.
They'd driven three more miles with the sirens blaring and him taking turns on two wheels before she finally asked why. Booth chuckled because he'd sort of forgotten this aspect of his partner's intense personality: the unceasing myopic cluelessness. It had only been three weeks, but he'd really missed her—all of her, even the really annoying, snarky parts of her.
Why he'd picked her up at the airport was partly to spare her the cab fare, and mostly because he'd been informed her presence was needed to identify the badly burned body of a suicide who'd derailed a train in his effort to off himself.
When they arrived at the site of the commuter train crash, hearing his first name called out with the familiarity of an old lover wasn't the worst part, nor was Cam's ironic assertion that she didn't know who Brennan was. (She did, she was the one who'd first suggested Booth utilize Brennan's skills nearly two years ago.) It wasn't even the part when he realized Brennan had no clue why Dr. Camille Saroyan was issuing her an order and it was going to fall to him to explain that Cam was now her boss.
No, the worst part was when Cam flashed him a provocative grin and told him he looked good, and always had. Flushing in horror, he gulped when Brennan's cluelessness chose that moment to fail him. She had turned her mesmerizing eyes on his with a withering observation. "One minute she's holding a severed arm, and the next minute she's hitting on you."
Laughing, he denied it. "No, she wasn't hitting on me."
_God, Cam just hit on me in front of Bones._ Brennan's disapproval for that kind of behavior at a crime scene was well known, but for some reason he was more worried that Brennan would think he had a thing going with Cam.
It only got worse after that.
Over the next few days, Brennan ran like a water tap, cool one moment and hot the next. Half the time she barely glanced at him, yet at the Diner the next evening she sat so close their elbows dueled and she nimbly dodged his irritated slaps to her hands while she blatantly stole fries off his plate. Keeping his mind on questioning Turko nearly didn't happen because his body was acutely aware of his partner's body and warmth right next to him.
She had no idea how much she affected his concentration.
Her complaints to him about Cam increased, especially when Cam told Brennan there could be no experiments without express authorization. A confrontation between the two was coming and he was caught in the middle. Brennan was his partner and he knew he was probably more than half in love with her; but Cam was a very old friend who would expect Booth to take her side. Worse, she had authority over Brennan and wasn't about to permit insubordination. Booth felt he'd better defend Cam's point of view before Brennan led Mutiny on the Bounty at the Jeffersonian and got everyone fired.
"Cam's goal is a successful prosecution in a court of law," he tried to explain.
Convinced she was after the same thing, Brennan dismissed that out of hand. "So am I."
"No, you're all about science and the _Truth_," he countered with a fond laugh. Booth reached out to touch her hand, stilling her resistance for a moment. "Cam knows that too much truth is just as bad as too little."
How he managed not to pull her fingers to his lips or shiver when their skin connected, was due only to the fact that her eyes had already ensnared him by that point.
Brennan studied him carefully. He knew that look, her crystalline gaze slicing through him while her ridiculously huge brain shuffled a gazillion facts and observations she kept stored in her cranial cap. Brennan was about to pull something out of that hat and it was going to shock him. She always came up with something unexpected, and he was always walking behind her with his palm stretched and ready to catch his own falling jaw.
His phone rang. Right on cue, Brennan leaned over, her beauty and earnestness still completely disarming him, and then she dropped the bomb in his proverbial lap.
"Angela says you and Cam had a previous sexual relationship. Does that affect your view of her?"
He nearly choked on his own astonishment, flummoxed mostly because she _knew_, which pretty much proved that her suggestion was also true. "Wildly out of line, just so you know that!"
What the hell brought that on? Before he could spend even a moment contemplating the question of Brennan possibly being jealous or merely blunt and curious, his concentration was shattered by the news on the phone call.
Four hours later, sitting next to her in the car while they staked out a petty heroin dealer named Eddie, Booth learned the meaning of Temptation. Her name was Temperance. "What do we do now," she asked with that wide-eyed innocence that made him yearn to pull her over the transmission and show her what cars were made for.
Controlling his teenaged impulses took every last drop of self control, which left precious few resources available for answering even the most basic questions. Booth nearly stuttered, "It's a stakeout. We converse." And somehow, through the fog of attraction that coiled around him, he managed to bicker with her just enough to resist kissing her until God at last in His Infinite Mercy ended the stakeout a few minutes later by sending a customer to Eddie. Just being that close to a woman he wanted that badly and not giving in to his baser urges would surely end up taking decades off his projected stay in purgatory.
Maybe that was why God had put her in his path, Booth mused, because resisting her was either going to strengthen his character or slowly drive him insane. But nothing could explain what Camille Saroyan was doing here, or why she was so intent on disruption. Unless, had the devil put his two cents in as well, in the form of his crafty former girlfriend…? Could it get any worse?
Oh, yes indeed it could get worse. Tension sizzled between him and Cam, who continued to flirt with him even while she insisted she'd taken the job because it had superior tools. Their old, flirtatious competition was in full swing, making him feel vaguely guilty. When he told Cam he needed Brennan for the afternoon (because of that dreadful phone call), she smirked. "Okay."
He felt the mockery, the implication behind Cam's knowing eyes. "It's about her mother's death. It's a legitimate case," he insisted, half realizing there was always some truth behind the truism of protesting too much. He had nothing to defend, nothing to feel guilty about.
Cam was a former street cop, and she knew him better than just about anyone. Her barb drew a little blood. "Plus, she dedicated her book to you."
He heard the jealousy cutting across like a knife edge. Shaking his head, needing to get away from the swampy turmoil of balancing Cam against Brennan, he nearly escaped. He'd just reached the door when Cam's suggestion that she was succeeding in her efforts to intimidate Brennan brought him back around with an outright laugh.
"Bones doesn't intimidate," he assured Cam proudly. He got up into Cam's space, turning the tables on his jealous former lover. "You've seen the way she stares at human remains before she makes a decision. You're human remains and, she hasn't made a decision yet."
It was Cam who ended up being intimidated, tag-teamed by Booth's molten intensity and Brennan's cool reserve. It didn't take Cam more than 30 seconds to realize she was going to sink without Booth's help, and Booth had just firmly thrown his lot in with Temperance Brennan. She swallowed her arrogance visibly. "How do I help her make the right decision?"
Success, Cam was asking the right question at last. He offered a sliver of friendly advice, glad that he'd actually paid attention to Brennan's complaints at lunch yesterday. "Go for the truth. Take care of her people."
They didn't quite resolve the issue with the phone call, other than to realize Brennan's father had somehow ordered the hit that killed her mother's killer. Her dismay at her father's apparently extensive criminal connections and ruthlessness made his heart ache and his head teem with questions.
When he finally dragged his partner back to her mother's grave the next day, exasperated that Brennan still did not get the point of talking to the dead, she resisted until he stepped away and made a show of turning his back. She sighed, spoke quietly to the headstone and as Brennan's heartfelt queries about what kind of man her father was reached him, he couldn't help sneaking a few glances her way.
As soon as she noticed that, Brennan turned sarcastic skeptic again. "I didn't get any answers," she insisted, throwing her arms wide as if daring the universe to contradict her.
But there was an answer there, in the form of a tiny silver dolphin resting at the edge of the stone. Her father had left it there. Booth retrieved it.
"You're tainting evidence," she stammered.
"It's not that kind of evidence," he told her gently. Handing over the tiny token, he watched her lifting it towards the sun.
"It's beautiful," she admitted.
Booth trained his gaze on her, the titian halo of her sunlit hair, the strong lines of her jaw and slender nose. Her eyes, so full of curiosity and intelligence, now narrowed in speculation and uncertainty as she tried to puzzle out what it meant.
"Yeah," he whispered. He wasn't talking about the dolphin. In that moment, no one else existed. Right then, it was official: Seeley Booth was hopelessly in love with his partner.
~Q~
"I really wish you would stop flirting with me around Brennan," Booth told Cam a few days later.
Cam's raised brows and pursed lips gave away her amusement. She couldn't resist jabbing him a little—either he would squirm like a worm on a hook, or he'd let slip what she really wanted to know. "Why, is your girlfriend getting jealous?"
"She's not my girlfriend," he said sharply.
"Oh, right. Just your '_partner and friend_.' Her feelings for you, inked and published for posterity." Brennan might not be his girlfriend, but he sure as hell kept looking at his 'partner' like he was going to jump her any moment. Cam pushed back from the cold storage unit with the tray of histology slides she'd prepared earlier.
"Sounds like you're the one who's jealous," he muttered.
Choosing one of the histology slides from the Richardson autopsy to check under the compound microscope, she shot him a dirty look. "I don't see why you're so hot to defend her. She's not your type."
He laughed. "I have a 'type' now?"
Her knowing smirk grated on him and she knew it. "Blonde, beautiful lawyer, stacked on the bottom, vacant on top. Ring any bells for you, Seeley?"
"You're not any of those, _Camille_."
"I knew you before you started going for shallow. I guess Dr. Brennan is dragging you back into the deep end then." Quirking a brow, she waited for the next canoe departing for the river called denial. She was pretty sure Seeley was going to be on it.
_You can say that again_, he thought tiredly. Brennan was driving him crazy today with her diatribes against monogamy, marriage, and motherhood. She'd become just as irritating and prickly these last two weeks as last year when they could barely stand each other. He was about ready to either strangle her or shove her up against a wall and keep her sharp tongue busy in more pleasant ways.
The other woman who was driving him crazy sat just two feet to his right, gazing intently into the microscope. He still couldn't believe Camille Saroyan had become a squint. What happened to the street smart smart-ass he'd practically grown up with?
"Where are you coming up with this fantasy? There's nothing going on between Bones and me." Except that he knew he was practically panting after her, the lust and longing no doubt painfully clear to everyone but Brennan herself.
Yep, there he went, floating away and sounding almost like he believed it. Cam lifted herself away from the microscope and darted him a classic Cheshire grin. "Good thing, because otherwise you'd be squirming with guilt."
"What?"
"The way you're flirting with me would lay you out if you really were seeing her." She almost laughed at the sight of his horrified and thoroughly bewildered expression.
"I'm not 'seeing her!' And I'm not flirting with you. You're flirting with me."
"You're letting me," she countered. Getting up, stepping right into his space, Cam leaned in to whisper. "You're enjoying this game of cat and mouse."
She watched his pupils expand, his cheeks darken. Seeley Booth jumped back so fast it might seem his tail had been stepped on. Or caught in a trap.
"Who's the cat," he retorted. And who was the mouse…. In a showdown between Brennan and Saroyan, his money would be split. Brennan was honest and naïve, but she never backed down and she was a hell of a lot smarter than anyone he'd ever met. Cam was self assured, clever and far more devious.
Cam fairly purred in satisfaction.
Booth groaned. This was turning into the biggest mess he'd ever wanted out of.
~Q~
Cam turned up the heat, and despite his better judgment he felt himself responding. She'd enter a room and flick her eyes over him. He'd be drawn towards Cam for reasons that he couldn't define. They'd end up talking to each other almost as if no one else was there.
On the day they flirted with each other blatantly in Brennan's office, he knew he'd gone too far but for the life of him couldn't figure out what was going on. Cam oozed interest while his partner was growing ever more distant. Brennan snarled and stalked out of her own office in fury, ostensibly ticked off about Cam's interpretation of existing facts of the case.
Yet when he was alone with Brennan, he felt her pull on him as well, and it was an entirely different kind of pull. With Cam he wanted to compete, to scratch and claw and feel her fight back, but the moment she was out of sight she also fell out of mind. With Brennan, the rivalry was intellectual and the sense of urgency in protecting her never went away, and he never stopped thinking about her except for the moments when Cam distracted him. He wanted to be close to Brennan, physically in her space, his hand on her somewhere, anywhere, as long as he was able to make some kind of contact. When he wasn't with her, the biggest priority was finding an excuse to see her again. Booth was starting to think he craved Temperance Brennan like an addiction.
Alone with Brennan she pulled him in, yet as soon as Cam entered the scene he felt pulled in two. The confrontation with Cam had turned inevitable and was drawing closer to a head. After smoothly slipping in some subtle advice that she might need to relinquish a bit of control, Booth tried to reassure Brennan that _their_ team dynamic, the way he and she worked together, wasn't going to change because of Cam. Brennan relaxed.
He thought it was going to be fine for about three hours.
~Q~
"You need to do something," she sputtered.
Booth looked up into the flashing eyes of Angela Montenegro, startled at the furious intensity she'd brought into his office. He wasn't even sure how she'd gotten into the Hoover, and here she stood in front of his desk, shooting flames from her mouth and eyes.
"What…?" Bewildered over what he'd done that called for him to rectify it by 'doing something,' he waited for her to inform him of his transgression.
"Your girlfriend just threatened to fire Brennan!"
_What girlfriend_, he started to say, but the denial died at the way Angela's expression dared him to pretend he didn't know exactly what female had the power to fire Brennan. When he didn't argue, she started pacing, her agitation tumbling out almost frantically.
"You know how Brennan operates! You've seen it. She always encouraged Hodgins and Zack to work together, to design experiments. You know, she just let us all be the experts in our own areas. Now Dr. Saroyan is saying no experiments. No collaboration without her express approval. But the worst thing is, she won't let Brennan follow the evidence. Brennan would kill both of us at what I'm about to suggest—that she follows her instincts when it comes to evidence—but you know that's what she does! That's why she's so damn brilliant. They finally came to blows because Brennan won't give in."
Angela paused, drew a breath deep enough to move the curtains. Cutting Booth with an eviscerating glare, she finished. "Your girlfriend has announced she's looking for Brennan's replacement. A different forensic anthropologist."
"She's not my girlfriend," Booth insisted, then almost cringed at the rude awakening that he'd refuted the identical accusation about Brennan just a few days ago. "And you need to stop telling Bones who you think I've slept with."
Angela's brows drew together in a finely arched M of anger. "I don't '_think_,' when it comes to things like this. I _know_."
Booth sighed. "I don't have any power over the Jeffersonian. Cam is the boss."
Leaning in, her warning came through loud and clear. "If Brennan leaves the Jeffersonian, the entire forensics unit will collapse. I will go with her. Zack is her grad student, he goes where she does. Hodgins won't stay. It will be just you and Cam, Agent Casanova. You'd better do something damn quick."
She was gone in a whirlwind, leaving Booth breathless.
~Q~
He found Cam in her autopsy suite and let her fill him in on the investigation. Cam was the one who brought it up.
"What would happen if Dr. Brennan left the Jeffersonian?"
Not for nothing had Seeley Booth been mostly successful as a gambler. Keeping his expression vaguely amused, he burst out a cynical laugh as a way to release tension and simultaneously let Cam know just how ridiculous the idea was. "The squints would flee this institution like the French Army."
Cam's poker face needed work. He could see that he'd just rattled her cage. "And you…?"
Angela's threats still in mind, he allowed an enigmatic smile. "I do as I'm ordered."
Cam nodded, looked even more cautious, clearly wondering who he was taking orders from. And then he knew. He just _knew_ that she'd been flirting with him openly in front of Brennan, gauging his reaction, as a test run. As he'd responded, she'd gotten bolder, edging the competition out. Cam was sure she knew which way the wind would blow.
He asked what was going on, wondering just how far she would go to test his loyalty. The game of Cat and Mouse was once more afoot, only this time he was the cat.
Having read the players, Booth wasn't at all surprised when Cam made her boldest play. "What if I fired her?"
He pushed off from his casual lounge against a file cabinet. Stalking toward Cam, not letting her gaze go, Booth pushed himself right into her space. He felt a sort of magnetic energy vibrating between them that nearly rivaled what he so often felt with Brennan. "I'm with Bones, all the way. Don't doubt it for a second."
Mission accomplished. He watched the fire die in her eyes when he declared his allegiance. Cam wilted just a bit. She folded, and Booth breathed a partial sigh of relief. If Cam had fired Brennan, not only would he have been forced to watch out for Angela's vengeance, but he knew his career would end up in the crapper. He'd reached the point where working without Brennan was unacceptable.
Seeing the slightly defeated cast to Cam's face, he sighed again. There was no reason to leave her feeling like she'd lost something. Knowing Brennan would be pretty upset if she knew what he was about to do, he decided he could pave the way toward a ceasefire between Cam and Brennan if he just shared one little, significant detail. "Maybe the reason you've gotten off on the wrong foot with Brennan with this case, is because she was a foster kid."
Cam's face rode a train of emotions starting with shocked, followed by annoyed, then sympathetic and finally ending at embarrassed. "Why didn't she tell me that?"
Booth shrugged. "She doesn't do that."
But he did. And it might have worked because after that, things finally started to calm down.
~Q~
This was why Booth knew he had to chose Temperance Brennan. She was his partner, his back-up, his brain, his heart, his conscience. He was those things for her as well. She was starting to be everything to him, and the night she saved his life drove home to him just how much he depended on her.
For the last several months he'd fooled himself into thinking he'd saved her, had healed her, but only now could he acknowledge that she was saving him as well. That cretin would have killed him. After breaking his arm and knocking his service weapon away, Booth was down and at the mercy of a determined killer. Larkin had stood over Booth, his arm raised to bash his brains in with a rusty pipe just like a suspect in that stupid Clue game, only it happened in the dark sorting area of an abandoned post office instead of in some fusty salon.
The thing is, Brennan shouldn't have been there. He'd left her with Helen Majors and told her not to move. But telling Temperance Brennan not to do something was pretty much giving her the invitation to do exactly what had just been prohibited. Call it instinct or call it rebellion, she'd gone after him and took that one lethal shot that had echoed his shot at Special Agent Jamie Kenton a year ago.
Roles reversed. Brennan saves Booth.
The shock in her beautiful eyes, the way she blinked and gasped and stood frozen told Booth she wasn't going to be all right even though the shooting was justified. "I had to do it," she whispered, stunned at the rush of horror sweeping over her. And though broken bones hurt a lot worse than you would think, he'd immediately ignored the fire in his arm and in his back where the pipe had gouged his flesh to tell her she'd done the right thing.
When he found her sitting dejectedly alone in the loft at the lab, nursing water on the rocks and reassuring herself that it hadn't been wrong to kill a killer, her sorrow severed something in him. There's more than one kind of love and what he felt for Temperance Brennan went far beyond sex.
A single tear fell from her eyes onto a photo of Epps's earliest victim. "Look at what I did," she mourned, speaking of more than marring a photo.
Booth felt a little jolt of pain. She didn't deserve this. She'd saved his life and the price was so steep. Leaning over to her, reassuring her with the offer of a stupid plastic pig named Jasper, he looked into his partner's eyes and knew he'd chosen the right woman. He couldn't lose her.
He could never do anything that would risk losing her.
~Q~
* * *
**Author's Note:** I love season 2 almost as much as season 1. Writing this chapter was a lot of fun because I got to introduce Cam and watch Booth squirm. What was Cam up to? Most importantly, there was one line Booth uttered that has ALWAYS intrigued me: what did he mean when he said, "I do as I'm ordered...?" What was that mysterious little smile when he said it? Who ordered him? What did they order him to do? Fascinating...
I have four more chapters planned and I am going to continue to work on this, but updates are going to be slow.
7. Rebecca On the Reach for Rapport
**Author's Note:** People always assume Brennan doesn't know what's going on when it comes to emotional matters. I disagree. She often knows what is happening, just not always the why behind it. She's not shy about asking, which can make for some very awkward conversations for a certain FBI guy.
* * *
_The Catalyst in the Partnership_
_**7.**_
_**Rebecca – On the Reach for Rapport**_
_"I think that we just feel what used to be there. And we miss it."
_
"Seeley, what are you doing here?"
On a quiet Saturday afternoon Rebecca posed awkwardly in the door, her cell phone pressed against her thigh in a very peculiar manner, as if she'd just been caught misusing it.
"I stopped in to give this back to Parker. He left it last Sunday." Booth held out a school library book and glanced into the living room beyond her. "Is he here?"
"No. He's over at Logan's house."
Booth stepped back a bit, finally noticing her odd behavior and wondering if he'd interrupted something. "So, you and Brent must be enjoying a little alone time, then?"
There it was again, the odd little flicker of something in her eyes. Rebecca sighed and suddenly lifted the phone away from her leg. "Steve, I'll call you later okay? Something just came up."
"Who's Steve?"
"No one."
Oh yeah, that's what it was. She was lying. "What happened to Brent? You just got done insisting that you loved him and I should back off."
She backed out of the doorway, letting him in so the argument didn't escalate into the hallway of her apartment building. "We're on a break. And what I do in the meantime is none of your business, Seeley."
"What kind of message do you think that sends to Parker, huh? Brent's a decent guy."
"You don't even like him!" she accused. "You and your damn background checks."
"I was just being careful. You never know these days."
Rebecca groaned and rolled her eyes. "You were just hoping it would end because you couldn't chase him off with your FBI intimidation tactics. I'm getting sick and tired of having to parade men past you for inspection and approval."
Booth stared at her in astonishment, confused that just a couple of weeks after swearing her undying love, she'd apparently dumped a man he had reluctantly begun to approve of. "Brent was okay. Parker really liked him and you swore you were in love with him. What the hell happened?"
"I just needed some time to think."
This was unbelievable, and yet really he shouldn't be surprised. It was Rebecca all over: irrational, incomprehensible decisions that she made in a snap and she never changed course afterwards no matter how ill-advised the original decision ended up being. He'd always wondered if it had something to do with pride. "Think?! About what? The fact that I liked him so there must be something wrong with him?"
"Get over yourself, Seeley. Not everything I do is about you."
Disgusted, he sneered, "So then who is Steve? Is this how you're '_thinking_,' by moving on to another conquest already?"
"Who the hell do you think you are," she hissed. "Love 'em and leave 'em Seeley Booth. How many girls have you charmed your way through, huh? Shall we take a body count?"
She had no right to bring up his previous girlfriends, but Rebecca somehow had a list at the ready. She started ticking them off on her fingers. "Tessa. That other lawyer, Amy? Huh? Me. Cam." And then, to his horror and disbelief, she rattled off several more names that included girls he'd known—in the Biblical way—in high school, college, and beyond.
This was keeping score with a Guinness Book of World Records level of fanaticism. Defensive and irritated that she had more ammunition than he'd like, he tried to stop the litany by getting into her space and pointing out the fact that most of them were irrelevant to his current complaint. "Most of those were before Parker was even born!"
Breathing hard, eyes locked, something inside of him raged to be let loose. Adrenaline streamed through his fingers, making them itch to tangle in her hair and shut her up in whatever way would work most effectively. Kill her, kick her shins, kiss her until she begged for mercy. The aching familiarity of this feeling was what brought him up short.
The eyes that flashed in his mind glinted steely grey with quicksilver changes of light, so unyielding and so freakishly intelligent that he wasn't quite sure she was human. The lips that parted were soft, faintly coral, a passage to bring forth words that illuminated the most brilliant mind he'd ever encountered. She could argue him into the ground, she never relented. She was a force of nature and the tool of God, sent to this earth to torment him with her cursedly beautiful curves. And that voice, so low it throbbed in his groin even as she drove him insane with non-stop arguing. There were times when he'd wanted to smother his partner with his tongue down her throat and his hands tangling in that soft chestnut hair while she moaned and he crushed his body into hers. Their arguments brought him to the brink of eruption, just like right now.
It had been that way with Rebecca, too. In the beginning.
Rebecca was still piling it on, her anger bubbling over like an agitated bottle of beer. "You've never had a stable relationship with a woman in your life and you have the audacity to stand there and criticize me?"
She was right, damn her. Every girl he'd ever taken to his bed had eventually ended up somewhere in his past. He had a terrible track record when it came to relations with the opposite sex. Making commitments, finding the right woman who would get to know him and stick around anyway? He was a complete failure in that department.
But she was also wrong. There was one relationship that stood out, one that _was_ stable and had saved his life, metaphorically and literally. One woman he adored and would do anything for. One woman Parker knew and liked. _When can I see Dr. Bones again?_ had become a recent refrain on his weekend visits. (Because Brennan was patient and kind. She would get down on her knees and look him in the eyes, as if he were important enough for her to give him all of her attention. She would answer his questions immediately, using the largest words in the English language, causing Parker to giggle and declare, "she talks funny, Daddy!" Then Brennan would wrinkle up her slender nose and look so confused that Parker would laugh again and thrill with the power of being able to confuse a genius with nothing more than his childish enthusiasm.)
Kids can often be excellent judges of character, which was the reason Booth had decided to accept Brent; and Parker's approval of Brennan was just one more reason he knew she was special. This was that one relationship with the one woman he would never risk, and he would never forgive himself if he allowed sex to screw it up, no matter how loudly his body screamed for release with her and only her.
His track record might not be great, but neither was Rebecca's. "At least I haven't cheated."
"Way to make an assumption," she snapped. "And what about poor Tessa. Didn't you dump her for that woman you're working with?"
It boiled over at that, her insinuation hitting so close to the target—he had begun pining after his partner and yes that fact had played a huge part in Tessa's bitter exit—that Booth's merely human body could no longer contain the desire for the one woman he knew he could never have. Rebbecca had to go and make it sound so sordid when she implied Brennan would have condoned such a thing that he had no choice but to react.
He growled a warning, "Leave Bones out of this!"
"Are you screwing her, Seeley? Or did she turn you down."
If he'd taken a moment to think, he might have understood that somehow the suggestion of sex with Brennan was what set him off. Their coming together was swift and sensational, and completely devoid of reason. The energy between them exploded in a feverish mauling, clothes flying, their bodies straining, and with every insane invasion into his ex-girlfriend's body, his partner's voice moaned in his head while her ecstatic face danced inside of his eyelids. When it reached its pinnacle, his body turned itself inside out while he heard _her_ expelling his name against his throat in an orgasmic gasp.
He opened his bleary eyes, still stunned by the force of it, and looked into Rebecca's cloudy blues. Not the shimmering grey he'd expected, not the woman he wanted to find sated and supine beneath him.
He'd used Rebecca. He knew he had and the self-loathing was almost more than he could stand. It was possibly the best sex of his life, so naturally he felt so disgusted with himself that he went straight to the confessional. He told himself it was a one-time lapse that would never happen again.
On the other hand, over the next few days he realized that the illicit interlude with Rebecca had given him enough of a release that he was able to work next to Brennan without imagining fifty different ways to seduce his partner. So, thinking he might have found the answer to his problem, he started another argument with Rebecca as soon as the effect wore off. She seemed just as happy to be using him and really, the sex was incredible, so they were even.
Each time they swore it was the last time even as they dropped the pretense of fighting.
It was all going pretty well, until Brennan caught them.
~Q~
They met at a construction site not more than an hour after the most awkward telephone conversation he'd ever had with his partner. As they were making their way into the half-built house, Brennan leaned in and offered quietly, "Sorry if I interrupted anything." She sounded mostly sincere, like a good partner would. But there was the faintest grin as well.
"What. Oh, no. No, you didn't." It was Rebecca who had answered his phone, still panting and breathless, but they had in fact just finished ... up ... when Brennan had called. So no, technically, she didn't interrupt them. Had she called two minutes earlier, however... He flushed at the thought.
"Good." She was still smiling. More than likely she meant it as a subtle tease. She had no idea, none at all. Case closed.
If he'd have left it there, she definitely would have dropped the subject. She might even have believed him, that nothing had happened between him and Rebecca, and certainly nothing that involved him thinking of Bones while it went on. But he couldn't let it go because the very idea of Brennan guessing what was really going on had Booth in a near panic. "If you must know, Rebecca, my ex, she dropped by my place to pick up a comic for Parker."
"Okay." Her tone had turned skeptical now, and seemed to convey a wish that he'd stop talking about it. Her smile had begun to fade, looking more than a bit strained.
"She just so happened to pick up the phone. That's it. You know? Nothing more, nothing less." _Good God, man, will you shut up!_ His higher faculties had finally sputtered back into gear and warned him too late that Shakespeare wasn't wrong about protesting too much. Every cop knew overly enthusiastic denials almost always signaled the presence of comparable levels of evasive guilt.
Flatly, and clearly annoyed now, Brennan shot an exasperated glare at him. "I'm sorry, did I _say_ I must know?"
Brennan pulled ahead and left him behind to stall and realize that indeed, she hadn't asked. It was his guilty conscience that had insisted on a defense that hadn't been necessary. Where before there was a simple tease, now there was definite knowledge. He'd protested too much and outed himself.
It went from bad to worse when Cam brought it up. Brennan may not have asked, but she apparently hadn't hesitated to mention his love life to her boss. Irritated, he stalked over to her and let his displeasure be known. "You gossiped about me and Rebecca to Cam?"
Brennan was wearing her second skin, the fitted lab coat, with her hair pulled up in the messy pony tail he always found so sweetly sexy. Why did his partner have to be so effortlessly beautiful? As she leaned over her microscope, showing him the smooth curve of her exposed nape, he grimaced and threw himself backwards into a chair a few feet away. It was safer not to get too close to that tempting throat when he wanted to either wrap his hands around it or start nuzzling her soft skin with his feverish lips.
The tension was killing him.
Blissfully unaware of his seething turmoil, she didn't even look up from the microscope. "I was not gossiping."
Booth gnashed his teeth furiously. "Oh, really. So then, what would you call it?"
"Merely sharing a point of interest." She replied, half distracted by whatever she was examining through the binocular lenses.
"Great." Booth stood up again, too agitated to stay still. She and Cam had shared a catty moment over _him_, their only common interest. "So what am I, the world's largest ball of string?"
"Not _you_, your behavior." Brennan turned away from her science at last to level him with her vaguely amused observation. "It's a textbook example of just how helpless we higher primates can be to our biological urges." Her eyes and face were steady and impassive, betraying nothing but casual interest in the philosophy of the sex drive in primates. It was nothing personal, or so she seemed to be saying: he fascinated her every bit as much as the bony whatever-it-was that she'd been looking at a moment previous, and concerned her half as much.
Even so, Booth scoffed, highly uncomfortable with how damn right she was. "I'm not helpless."
_Who are you kidding? One smile from Bones and you're as helpless as a horny teenager plunked down in front of a naked supermodel_, his hormone-driven brain taunted. He could barely keep his hands to himself and the only thing that had helped was, unfortunately, the impassioned and frantic lapses of control with Rebecca.
"Hmmm." She dismissed his protest like a disapproving librarian and returned to her microscope. "He's not elderly."
She'd changed the topic just that fast, but Booth was still a step behind, rebutting her evaluation of his biological urges. "I can control my, uh…" He gestured to the source of his libido but her back was turned. She was not paying attention, a fact that finally got Booth's attention when he realized she'd said something about not being elderly. "Who?"
"Our victim." Brennan stood back and pointed out what she'd just noticed on a monitor. "You see these marrow cells? The lack of collagen. It indicates Osteogenesis Imperfecta."
Sensing his lack of comprehension, she explained more concisely. "Brittle Bones Disease."
Booth told himself he had to walk over to her just to get a closer look at the osteographs or whatever. It wasn't because he wanted to be close enough to catch a whiff of her spicy coriander scent or to feel the electric pulse of her magnetism in his blood. It was only to get a better view, but of course that meant he was standing right next to her, falling under her spell again. He shrouded himself in impatience, knowing she was completely right about his 'biological urges' and, once he got over his initial fear that she was onto him, being reduced to a helpless bundle of hormones in her eyes actually ticked him off.
So it came out rather snide, the question he had. "And that's supposed to tell me that he's not … old?"
"Not necessarily." Brennan turned all the way towards him, her tempting body far too close as she tipped her head and settled in to gather further information. Her ability to multitask was phenomenal in itself, and she put it to solid use whenever an intriguing puzzle was at hand ... like him. He should have realized his contradictory behavior was begging to be explained because she knew him by now. She knew he didn't cheat and she knew Rebecca was supposed to be in love with a man named Brent. "And if you're not helpless, why did you sleep with her?"
His mouth dropped open. She had him dead to rights, but he tried to play it cool. Scowling, he pointed out, "Oh, I don't recall saying that I _did_."
And hoped that she would accept it unquestioned. And for the love of God and all that's Holy, that she would _please_ show some mercy and stop talking about it.
Brennan smirked then, knowing he was cornered. She was terrible at reading people, but even she could manage to decipher his flashing neon discomfort. She knew she had Booth pinned to the very wall and almost seemed to gloat over it. "Well, you didn't have to. I could hear it in your voice. I may as well have walked in on you having sex."
Again, he began sputtering out a desperate denial. How the hell was she able to tell? Where did that cluelessness go? Not wanting to talk to her about sex at all (not unless they were planning when and where and how often), he insisted on telling an obvious lie. "Well, you didn't. And we weren't."
And it was patently obvious that she didn't believe a word of it.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of, Booth. Humans act upon a hierarchy of needs and sex is very highly ranked. It's an anthropological inevitability."
That itching sensation had returned to his fingers, making them curl into frustrated fists as the level of irritation with her mounted. He had a sudden urge to throw her over an examination table and once she was down ... inevitability was right. Maybe she was correct that there were some biological urges he was helpless to resist, like the urge to either kiss her or remove himself from the source of temptation. "Thank you, Bones. I really appreciate you boiling me down to your anthropological inevitabilities."
"Sure," she agreed softly, her brow furrowed with puzzlement as she finally figured out he was annoyed with her. Sporadic cluelessness, just what the doctor ordered.
Fight or flight. That was another biological imperative.
He insisted they split up to track down patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, needing time away from her to regain his sanity. Brennan's feelings seemed a bit hurt, but he would rather apologize later than be forced to explain why he needed to make a stop at St. Patrick's for some quality knee time before his confessor.
~Q~
"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been four days since my last confession." Only four days. He'd certainly managed to pile up quite a list of transgressions in such a short time.
The hidden priest listened patiently while Booth tried to make sense of his indiscretions. "I've been having lustful thoughts. There's this woman that I work with. She's beautiful, intelligent, just ... amazing. I can't stop thinking about her."
"Is she aware of your feelings for her?"
"No," Booth insisted quickly, shaking his head. "She can't know. I can't..."
"Is she married?" the priest asked sharply.
"No, she's single. I mean, that's not the reason."
"Then what is it?"
"We work together, partners, and we've gotten really close. She makes me a better man; she's the reason I stopped gambling. She's so good and honest that I want to be good enough for her, but I'm not. I never will be."
The priest was thoughtful for a moment. "Then, my son, you need to be respectful of her as more than an object of sexual pleasure. Thinking lustful thoughts about her is disrespectful."
"I know. That's why I tried..." He groaned, dropping his ashamed head onto his clasped hands. "My ex-girlfriend and I got into an argument a couple of weeks ago and sort of fell into bed together. We ... you know. And while it was happening, I was thinking of _her_. The whole time. And we did that again last week, and again this morning. God, it's wrong, I _know_ it's wrong. I don't know what to do."
A rustling from the other side of the confessional preceded the compassionate lecture. "You know what you need to do. You must treat both of these women with the respect they deserve. Your ex-girlfriend is not a substitute for your co-worker. Of course God does not condone fornication and you must pay the penance for that. But my son, seriously consider the damage you are causing to this woman you're using. That's a sin too, just as much as the lustful thoughts and the fornication."
"I know."
Another pause, and the priest reminded him of the conditions for confession. "The sacrament of reconciliation requires the the earnest desire not to repeat the sin."
"I don't want to do it again, I really don't." He didn't quite know how he was going to navigate the Scylla and Charybdis of his desire for Temperance Brennan, but going back to Rebecca for another round of pretend was not an option.
"You must be honest with both of these women. If an honest and proper relationship with your coworker is not possible, then you must divert your energies into an _appropriate_ channel; for example, a suitable and chaste relationship with someone else."
As the penance was set, Booth felt relief. This was the reason he loved being Catholic. The guilt wasn't so crushing now, and he felt like he knew what he had to do. Two apologies and some explanations were called for. He would start with Brennan.
~Q~
While they were waiting in the observation room for their suspects to meet, Booth decided it was time to start explaining his convoluted relationship with Rebecca to Brennan. Briefly he related the highlights: They dated, she got pregnant, he proposed, she declined.
"You've told me this before," Brennan reminded him. "Not that you've ever said why."
Sometimes Temperance Brennan could be difficult for him to read because she did not think or operate like any other human being he'd ever met. Which 'why' was she looking for? The 'why' he gave her was the reason Rebecca had given him for turning him down. Rebecca's reasons included that she wanted to go to grad school and she didn't want to be boxed in with marriage. Brennan, always pragmatic, immediately pointed out that doing so as a single mother would be much harder. Booth countered that obviously Rebecca didn't act on logic.
"Do you still love her," Brennan asked, her voice slightly more gentle than it had been. He replied sincerely: no, not like he used to. With a cheeky little grin, Brennan inquired, "Then why can't it just be sex?"
He met her eyes intensely, deeply serious. "There's nothing 'just' about sex, Bones."
That way she had, the direct gaze, hit him with the force of frozen skies and endless expanses of ice that froze him solid. He couldn't move or even think when she trapped him like that, lost in her endlessly silver eyes. The low thrill of her cool, hazy voice made him shiver. "But all mammals need it. That release of serotonin, the rush of endorphins."
Her clinical words that only hinted at the pleasures of the flesh still managed to make his body react as strongly as if she'd touched him in all the right places. All the blood seemed to rush south and his heart exploded into a frenzy, his body going into a state of hyper awareness. He was halfway to ecstasy on just the sound of her voice alone. He was trembling with want, fixed in place while every cell in his body quivered for her and she just kept ... talking.
Those incredible eyes held him imprisoned in a cage of desire. "Naturally, you seek it with someone with whom you share a sexual rapport."
_Bloody hell, does she **know** what she's doing to me?!_
No, of course she didn't.
As her words sank slowly into the sexual haze, he grasped one of them and felt cast adrift by how wrong it all was. Rapport. It would have to include things like attraction, trust, familiarity and affection. It was everything he had with Brennan, everything he wanted: she was right about that. But, Brennan was trying to tell him he had rapport with Rebecca and thus the sex was understandable. And that was all wrong.
"Rapport. Right. _That's_ the word." He dismissed the word almost harshly, disgusted with himself. _I've been using Rebecca; there is **no** rapport there._
"I know when I'm in need of a release, there's a former partner or two I'm sure I could call."
The way she'd worded it wasn't completely lost on him. She had not said, 'I can call,' or 'I have called.' No, she'd said, 'I'm sure I _could_ call.' It was all hypothetical, which meant she hadn't actually ever done so. Temperance Brennan had offered her own squinty brand of absolution, describing what he was doing without articulating the why behind it. She had no idea he was so riled up over _her_ that he could barely think. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or to cry.
Booth tried to shake off his painful discomfort with this entire topic, needing desperately to get the situation with Rebecca resolved as quickly as possible. "Okay, Bones, thanks, so much. I feel _so much_ better now."
He wasn't angry with her. She'd tried in her awkward, science-laden way to make him feel better about what was going on. If it weren't for the fact that he knew he was mistreating his ex while harboring sinful thoughts towards his mercifully oblivious partner, he might have felt good about Brennan's effort. As it was, he felt worse, and knew it was all a mess of his own making. The one thing that was definitely missing with Rebecca, was rapport.
~Q~
They'd arrested Larry's boss for murder and found a loophole that let the members of his First (three) Wives club off easy. After all, they'd only faked a murder to cover up a suicide, which in turn had been intended to cover up the actual accidental manslaughter. While Brennan puttered around cleaning up files and organizing her desk, Booth sank down onto her sofa and watched her work.
She finally remarked, "So, you never said how it ended up with Rebecca."
"Well, it ended. The only time we'll be spending together is with Parker."
"You sure that's what you want?" Pausing with with a few slender files tucked against her like a shield, her question caught him off guard.
Yes, he was absolutely sure he did not want to continue things with Rebecca. He wasn't sure what she was asking, what it meant that she'd tilted her head a little and actually looked a bit surprised. As if, to her anthropological way of thinking, he was crazy to let a satisfying sexual fling with Rebecca go. Maybe he was.
But there were more things to consider here than his raging biological urges. Did she even know that? Lifting his head, he faced both the woman and her question. "You know what, Bones? It might all be anthropology to you, but there are certain people that you just can't sleep with."
_Like you,_ he silently added. Sex with Brennan would turn them inside-out, upside-down and all kinds of backwards. He held her eyes, noting she'd gone perfectly still and almost breathless while he spoke to her. He could almost swear she wanted him as badly as he wanted her: all the more reason to fear their fire that would burn fast and flame out like a meteor. "I mean, you can pretend that it's just sex. You can lie to yourself and say that it's all good, but there's too many strings, and too much at stake. You know? Too much to lose."
There's far, far too much to lose.
They both stood frozen, gazing at each other for a single, endless second.
"Yeah. I can see that," Brennan finally agreed softly, breaking the silence but not the spell.
"It's over." Booth shrugged. Rising to his feet, the gravity of her pulled him over to her, over to the nexus of her scent and her warmth. Somehow, he trusted himself enough to flash her one of his best, knee-weakening grins. Or maybe it was Brennan he trusted, knowing she was strong enough to resist him. "I'd appreciate your support in that."
"I will," she promised, her voice betraying none of the sensual turmoil that gripped him. "And if you should slip I will … keep my mouth shut about it." She grinned a little in return, probably promising both to refrain from gossiping, and to refrain from commenting as well. It was his business, was the silent message.
"Thank you. But, it's not like I'm going to—"
"No, I mean with anybody," she assured him. Another teasing little grin danced across her lips. "I mean, I'm sure Rebecca's not your only option for satisfying biological urges."
If only she was one of his options, he knew he would gladly make her his only option. Their eyes held as he imagined leaning slowly into her, taking her slowly, exquisitely under his control. His aching lips would graze over the shiny satin of hers. He would brush and lick, nuzzle and plunge. She would taste ... spicy, an exotic blend of ginger and bite as her own natural aggression would surely rise up to meet him in playful nips and gusting sighs. He would press his nose against the soft flesh behind her ear, breathing her into him, and his palms would skim down her slender back to bring her body fully into contact with his.
_Taste her_, a diabolical little voice teased. ._Just once more, what's the harm? You've tasted her once before..._
He was going to. Why not? She was watching him, her eyes wide and unblinking, and the curves of her body called out to him: _come, join us_. So he was going to...
The moment broke when they were interrupted by Angela & Hodgins. Distantly, through the fog of almost falling, Booth heard Angela question him about Rebecca by way of a comment from Cam, and salvation hit. He bolted for safety, leaving his off-limits partner safely in the company of chaperones.
~Q~
Still breathing hard from the mix of danger and unsatisfied longing, Booth shut the door to Cam's office and leaned against it. "You need to stop spreading gossip about me," he commanded.
Camille Saroyan had never been one to be easily intimidated, not even by the clearly aroused male who stood darkly in front of her only exit. "Okay," she agreed mildly.
Taking a long, deep breath knowing it would do nothing to quell the fires burning under his skin, he looked at her in a hard, assessing way. The priest definitely didn't have this in mind, but it just might work. "I have a proposition for you."
Raising one cynical brow, Cam let her gaze wander all over him, noting every detail of his agitation and then she waited.
"You've been flirting, laying it on thick, and I need..."
"An outlet," she suggested knowingly. "So you won't maul your partner?"
He lifted a pained expression towards her. "Is it that obvious?"
She shrugged. "To me, it is."
"Do you think she knows?" He thought back to their conversation in the observation room, what Brennan had suggested about needing a former partner for sexual release. He thought back to only moments ago, when he essentially had already decided to risk kissing her and ruining everything.
Cam shook her head with something like pity. "No, Seeley. Dr. Brennan thinks you are still in love with Rebecca."
That came as a very unexpected surprise. "What?"
"That's how it came up in conversation, she was worried that Rebecca would hurt you if she's still involved with Brent."
"So it wasn't gossip," he realized. And that's why she'd asked if he was sure he wanted to end things with Rebecca. He was always getting it wrong where Brennan was concerned. Booth sighed heavily then shook his head.
"So, an outlet," Cam repeated. "What are the terms?"
He met her honestly. The priest had suggested a more appropriate relationship, and being up front with Cam seemed his best option for now. It wasn't going to be chaste, but it would be honest. "Friends always. Fringe benefits as needed, from either side. But you need to understand that Brennan is always going to come first, okay? That is non-negotiable."
"I got it. I can live with that but, can she?"
"I don't know. But right now I _need_ this, Cam."
She smiled broadly, with just a hint of Tabby satisfaction. "What are friends for?"
~Q~
* * *
**Author's Note:** The main question that drove this piece was the question of why Booth went from Rebecca to Cam in basically one day. What was going on there...? What do you think, dear readers?
Though I've given one possible answer, this is just slightly AU. At the end of the episode Cam says they've been wicked, Booth says it's a mistake, and they both agree they won't do it again. Obviously, they do it again (and again) and... they stop calling it a mistake. By the next episode they actually seem to have become 'friends with benefits.' Cam admits bluntly that they've been sleeping together. What I've done is taken the liberty of having both be honest from the start about what they are to each other.
There's still more to come but as before, it's going to be another longish wait.
8. Hank Lutrell On the Quest for Honesty
**Author's Note:** My apologies for the long wait in between chapters here. This is one is extra long to hopefully make up for the wait. There are two more stories planned for this series (and maybe three), but it's probably going to be a month or two before I get the next one finished. Thank you to everyone for your patience. I hope it's worth the wait.
According to the first flashback in episode 100 (Parts in the Sum of the Whole), Booth wasn't a gambler, he was a pool shark...
* * *
_The Catalyst in the Partnership_
_**8.**_
**_Hank Lutrell – On the Quest for Honesty_
**
_"Why don't you tell your girlfriend?"_
That August morning in 2004 found Seeley Booth standing in a seedy pool hall tucked into Anacostia. He held a poor quality cue stick from the freebies stored along the back wall in an awkward stance, eyeing the table with nervous trepidation. Gnawing his lip, shifting his gaze from the cue ball to the striped 9 located at an impossible angle at the far end of the table, he considered the dare he'd just received. Finally, he admitted, "I don't know, man."
He clutched at the beer sitting a few feet away, lifted it and swigged back a gulp. Raising the glass to his companion, he explained. "Liquid courage."
"Yeah, like that's going to help."
Booth shrugged. "You're already into me $60 bucks. Now you want me to lay money on that shot. I don't wanna lose any more cash, you know? The girlfriend is gonna kill me as it is."
"Look, I'll tell you what. We'll go double or nothing."
"I don' have $60. All I got left ish a $20."
"Fine, $20."
Booth shook his head. "But you're gonna win 'cause that shot ish freaking improssible."
Sizing up Booth's increasingly slurred words, and slight wavering, the shark started the foundation of a sweet proposal. "You know, you're a sorry-ass mess. Look at you. Your old lady really that scary?"
"You don't know the half of it." Booth gulped another slog of beer and belched.
"Look, I'm giving you a chance. You're already screwed 'cause I got ya for $60. So you know, what's another $20 if you lose?"
"My ass on the street. This is rent money."
_What a loser,_ the shark thought. "Yeah but here's the thing. If you make that shot, I will double the whole deal. $160."
"No way." Booth wobbled and took in the table doubtfully. "No way you're paying me that much."
"Obviously you gotta make that shot, Tex."
Booth squinted at the distant 9. "So, let me get thish shtraight. I shink that ball, you're gonna pay me $160?"
"Yep. Isn't that what I just said?"
"But if I missh, all I gotta pay you ish $20?"
The sober man laughed, smelling the win off this drunken turkey. "You said it."
Booth looked the other direction, at the cue ball tucked behind the 8, snug up against the edge of the table. His eyes glittered. "Can't say no to that."
"Your girlfriend's going to chew you a new ass when you get home," the shark chortled.
Clutching the cue stick tightly, Booth shuffled into position at the right corner. He leaned over to examine the angles, losing his balance slightly and then correcting himself. Hesitantly, he lifted the stick and placed it over his left hand, fingers moving into position to notch and steady the stick.
The trembling stopped. His eye squinted into a wink, the stick sliding steadily back and forth for two momentum setting passes before he lifted the stick to a high pitch. Abruptly he struck a fast, sharp blow to the white ball. It leaped over the 8, spun off the opposite bank a moment later and hurtled down the table to smack the striped 9, which went careening into the far corner pocket.
Shark took it in with an open jaw. "What the ever-loving _hell_?"
Standing, Booth slid his cue stick to the floor and let a shit-eating grin briefly emerge while the shark was still floundering, as if he'd suddenly been yanked out of his comfortable tank and faced a hungry chef. But it had already been replaced with a befuddled disbelief when Shark turned back to growl a furious question.
"You screwing with me, Tex?"
"I made it?" Booth was nothing but amazed. "I made it!"
Shark's face darkened, furious but unable to deny Booth had made the impossible shot. Disgusted at the piss-blind dumb luck he'd just witnessed, he peeled off $160 cash and flipped it onto the table.
Booth pocketed the money with a delighted whoop, stumbling over to his O'Doul's non-alcoholic beer for a last swig. Watching the shark stomp off, Booth chuckled and dropped the drunk act. $160 was not a bad haul for two hours of working the table.
The problem with Shark over there was he'd never once caught on that he was actually the 'Mark.'
Deception was part of the hustle. Lie, cheat, manipulate, watch for tells, watch for weaknesses, move in and take the money (or the girl, or the confession). He read people like neon signs and that just made it so easy that Seeley Booth never imagined he might have a 'gambling problem.' He rarely lost anything worse than a few hours of sleep, so it wasn't much of a problem.
He might have gone on that way indefinitely, but his life was about to change. In a few days he would walk into a classroom at American University and his whole world would be knocked off its axis.
~Q~
"Excuse me. Where can I find Dr. Temperance Brennan's class?" Still wearing his suit from the morning win, Special Agent Booth had snagged the arm of a young man rushing past. Bearing a backpack loaded with books and a scruffy appearance, the kid looked like he belonged in a Geology class.
The young man paused. "Uh, Brennan? What class is that?"
"Forensic Anthropology," Booth supplied.
"Oh. Oh yeah, she's the hot prof." The kid grinned. "Room 217."
Booth scowled. "'Hot prof?' Don't they teach you kids any respect these days?"
The student was already moving on, but tossed back over his shoulder. "Just wait. You'll see." Then he was lost around a corner.
Booth took the stairs and strode through mostly empty hallways. The clock was ticking close to the hour, a few students were dashing through doors to escape class early. When he found room 217, he was glad to see it was a fairly large lecture hall. He could sit in the back and size up this Dr. Brennan.
At the front of the hall, a glass case contained what appeared to be skeletal human remains. There was a white board and a computer projector, a combination of old and new lecture tools. To one side a table was set with a single, large jar of something resembling coffee beans that seemed to writhe and oscillate in a hypnotic pattern.
A hush held over the room, all of the students sitting perfectly still as a woman spoke from the dais, next to the glass case. She was tall. She was young, surprisingly so, and Booth shook his head in disbelief as he realized this expert was well under age thirty. Her sexy yet professional appearance made it hard for him to imagine her kneeling over muddy pits filled with dead bodies. Yet it was the quiet in the classroom that puzzled him the most: having been to college himself, Booth could only recall students being this quiet and attentive when the professor was strict, or entertaining. Wondering which condition applied here, he started to listen to her.
"Next we are going to discuss two ways of macerating flesh without damaging evidence on the bones." When her voice registered, Booth felt his jaw drop open a little bit further, now thoroughly captivated by the beautiful young woman his friend had referred him to. The siren call of her voice seemed fitting to her stature—a breathy alto, authoritative, yet richly feminine and sexy as hell. He was beginning to suspect _that_ was why no one made a sound.
"For decades, boiling has been the preferred method," Dr. Brennan continued. "Boiling has the advantage of being both thorough and excellent for decontamination in cases where virulence may be of concern. However, the bone itself is cooked, transforming the marrow and making DNA retrieval and other tissue samplings impossible. Also, boiling leaves its own marks upon the bones. For the inexperienced, these marks can be confused with artifacts from the scene or events leading up to burial….."
A lack of scientific background left him with no idea what she was saying. Even if he could have followed the convoluted words, all the blood rushing out of his head into less intellectual territory left Booth at a disadvantage. Instead of trying to follow the lecture, his eyes followed her curvy figure as she wandered across the stage. Even from here, way in the back, he could see that she was going to be amazing up close.
Booth waited until the lecture had nearly finished before approaching her. The student's words out in the hallway came back to him, 'the hot prof.' Just as the young man had predicted, Booth now understood. Every student in the room was still riveted to her, the males especially.
Finally coming near enough to see her in complete detail, he saw that Dr. Temperance Brennan was more than beautiful—arresting was the only word that came to his mind. The sight of her brought him to a complete stop. Her square jaw and angled cheekbones were framed by silky chestnut hair loosely pushed back. She had a slender Byzantine nose and finely sculpted lips. But it was her eyes that would stop any man's heart. He had never seen eyes so alive with alert intelligence.
"Any questions," she finally asked her class, but her eyes were on the man walking towards her against the tide. The bell rang and the students finally shifted out of their trances, starting to gather up their belongings.
And that reminded Booth of the reason he was here. To test her, to harness her talent. He slipped into Hustler mode with practiced ease, playing dumb so she could have a chance to 'school' him. Let her be the smart one. "I have a question. If you remove the flesh, aren't you destroying the evidence?"
"On the contrary, I am revealing evidence."
Not only did his dumb question not impress her, it gave every sign of boring her.
_Okay, she doesn't go for the dumb jock type._ He quickly adjusted his approach, trying to demonstrate a higher level of competence with a more technically detailed question and waited for her to fall into his trap. But she didn't.
"All of the best evidence is written in the bones, if you know where to look." And, she informed him confidently, she did know because she was the best in the world.
"Oh." Booth waited a beat, but her smile never came. "Okay, you're serious."
Dr. Brennan straightened, finally noting the suit and nondescript necktie and realized he didn't quite belong in her classroom. "Are you a student here?"
He gave her his most charming smile and held out his credentials. "Special Agent Seeley Booth, from the FBI." Ordinarily, showing the badge increased feminine interest exponentially. Ordinarily, that slow grin with a warm slide of chocolate eyes made women's hearts flutter, but not this time. Not this woman. She didn't melt so much as stand firm and put up a 'keep off the grass' sign.
Grey eyes flecked with green and gold watched his approach with frank curiosity. They slid up and down, assessing him in some undefinable way that looked like abstract calculation. Finally deciding to extend her hand, she introduced herself with a mere trace of a smile as her lively gaze lifted and danced over his face. He wouldn't know until years later that she was cataloging his bones. "I'm Dr. Temperance Brennan, of the Jeffersonian Institution."
Her proffered hand barely registered, because her slightly crooked smile had already lodged itself somewhere deep in his chest and set _his_ pulse tripping. What would it take to make that smile bloom brighter? He took her hand, shook it, and watched for any flicker of interest in her. Another slow tease of a grin from him. "Hmmm. Do you believe in fate?"
"Absolutely not. Ludicrous."
Not once in his adult life had the charm smile failed to work. Not until now, when Dr. Temperance Brennan tossed her head and dismissed his charm and flirting as so much useless banter. She was impervious to both and he was astonished.
Finally, with a slight mental shake, he brought himself back to business. Another attempt at humor. "I'd like your help with a case I'm working on. I hear you're the best."
"Yes, I believe I just said that." Her furrowing brow told him he was losing her; she was starting to think he was an idiot.
What the hell was it going to take to get her interested? Usually he could size a mark up in less than a minute, could hone in on the vice that motivated them in a way that could almost be called psychic. Flirting failed, charm flopped. She wasn't vain despite her obvious confidence in her own abilities. This Dr. Brennan didn't present any obvious ways in, a fact that confounded Seeley the hustler and left just Booth the man to flounder helplessly on his own. He shifted his weight and shifted focus to work, the only legitimate thing remaining. "We found a girl, skeletonized, and we're unable to identify her. A colleague of mine suggested you might be able to help."
That was how he stumbled upon it, by accident: truth was what she looked for. Hearing this, she smiled back at him fully at last, her silvery eyes glinting with interest and curiosity. And she was absolutely stunning when she smiled. _Oh, w__hat will it take to make her mine...?_ While Temperance Brennan looked for mysteries, Seeley Booth looked for the chase. He was always up for a challenging mark and she was the most mysterious mark he'd ever met.
~Q~
Booth had asked her about fate, but a more appropriate question might have been to ask if she believed in magic. Within a day of meeting her, Brennan revealed the extent of her magical capabilities by revealing his victim's age, race, hobbies, car accident history (before 1998), region of birth and a move north (at age 8!), plus a sketch that looked almost as real as a photograph.
"I'm sorry, but we've been unable to learn her name." And Brennan truly did seem sorrowful.
Needing to manually shut his own gaping jaw, Booth sat up straight and started hunting for her magic wand. Because it wasn't just evidence that she worked her magic upon, it was him. She mangled idioms, failed to understand most of his jokes, but smiled when he complimented her. Her enthusiasm bordered on the childlike side of charming. It had been a long time since he'd enjoyed talking to someone this much, since anyone had seemed so refreshingly unique and unpredictable.
The arguments began one minute later. Booth showed her a photo of his prime suspect and she asked with complete sincerity, "then why isn't he in jail?"
"Because I don't have any proof."
Her nose crinkled, her smooth brow formed a series of puckers, and Booth thought he'd never seen anything cuter than Temperance Brennan confused. "Then how do you know he did it?"
"I just do." _Oh, God, those amazing eyes._
She cocked her head to the side, deciding solemnly, "It seems to me that someone like you could benefit hugely from an association with someone like me."
A short burst of laughter at her blunt assessment was followed a moment later by Booth trying to loosen her up. But what he had realized from their little exchange was that she didn't believe his gut could do anything other than digest food, and dismissed the idea of instinct or intuition as mere fantasy or beneficial coincidences. She didn't believe in _him_. It was that simple, and with a desperation that almost shocked him, he decided Brennan needed to be convinced of his gut prowess. So he invited her to watch an interview with the victim's boyfriend ("Can I watch you broil the suspect?") and the first genuine sense of victory came from the slow acceptance he won from her.
He'd never felt better, higher, more sure of himself, then he did the moment she leaned over and told him, "Anthropologically, men are programmed to be the protectors of their mates." Her squinty agreement that Jemma's boyfriend was innocent thrilled Booth more than any hustled win ever had. This was her skepticism overcome by honest admiration of his demonstrated abilities. He wanted to feel that pleasurable burst of confidence again. Immediately.
Next came the revelation.
In hope of recapturing that thrill of her approval, he took her with him to confront Judge Hasty. Brennan's remarkable ability to confound Booth extended to just about anyone she spoke with. Without intention, she unbalanced the slimy judge, knocking the man so far out of alignment that he slipped and revealed his true nature. Hasty snarled insults at Brennan, stepping into her space, even going so far as to grab her arm.
_See, baby, I'm right. I'm always right._ He'd read Hasty like a Broadway marquee the moment he'd met the man. Brennan's blunt statements had drawn out a side of the Judge that Booth had intuitively known was there all along and just as she'd insisted was necessary, here was the _proof_! Booth suspected it was because Brennan didn't pay heed to social cues and kept pushing where others would hold back, or possibly Judge Hasty was unhinged by her lack of deference. Whatever it was, Booth didn't have to do much more than watch her bludgeon the Judge with her unconventional communication. She was carrying it on her own, provoking madness and giving him the cash that would seal the deal. Operation Hustle the Judge into Jail was playing out perfectly and she wasn't even fully in collusion with him!
Imagine what they could do if she actually did work with him. Booth watched it all in fascination, visions of Brennan becoming his stalkinghorse dancing in his head. Instead of fronting the money she would front him the evidence. She was the perfect foil, his opposite, his straightwoman. She would shake the suspects and he would watch them, wait for the crack and then pounce! What a team they would make. They would be unstoppable.
But Hasty was grabbing her arm so he really ought to—_snap!_—Booth blinked, his jaw falling open again. Out of nowhere, Temperance Brennan had let fly a solid right jab at the judge's nose, knocking the man backwards. She stalked forward, eyes fierce and predatory and another blow knocked the man completely down. What the hell...? Booth gaped again, utterly gobsmacked by the unexpected.
"Is this very bad?" She sounded very young, yet another surprise.
Holy mother of mercy and man, _no one_ had seen that coming! Being that shocked was such a rarity that Booth laughed and regarded her with undisguised delight. "You are so _hot_!"
He wanted her. He wanted more, more magic, more unexpected curve balls, more curves in the road, more of her curves he could see hidden under her jacket, more flashing changeable eyes, more of her quirky idiom errors. Just … _more_.
~Q~
They met in his favorite pool bar down in Anacostia, and for the first time ever, Seeley Booth walked past the tables and sat at the bar next to Temperance Brennan.
"Hey, Seeley! You're not playing tonight?" Ed at the bar raised an impressed set of eyebrows when he spotted the reason Booth had foregone the pleasures of pool.
"Got other plans tonight," Booth answered. "Ed, this is Temperance Brennan."
"_Doctor_ Brennan," she corrected crisply.
Ed chuckled. Oh boy, she was a live one. Hot, haughty, high class. "You're out of your league with this one, Seeley."
"Shut up, Ed. We work together." But not for long... That pipedream had already come to an untimely end thanks to paranoid prosecutor Caroline Julian. Now Seeley was reevaluating his options because he still hadn't given up his primary objective. He still wanted Temperance Brennan in whatever capacity he could manage to acquire her.
"In any group," Brennan had said, "No matter how restrictive, the freethinkers—the mavericks, the rebels with leadership quality—find ways to declare their distinctiveness."
Booth had wondered what it would take to loosen her up, maybe even get her to pay a little more of her highly focused attention to him instead of searching for the source of a sliver of wood. He'd leered at her a little. "You know, I'm a freethinking, rogue rebel." And she didn't respond, just flicked her eyes coolly over his bland, black necktie.
By now he was starting to understand that words weren't going to be enough. Dr. Temperance Brennan demanded proof. Evidence. He found a kitschy (triple X, pinup girl) necktie someone had given him as a prank and wore it when he met her for drinks. "I am going rogue," he told her and waggled the tie. Her amazing eyes lit with approval and Booth almost glowed in the dark.
The FBI wouldn't let him date her while they were working together, but thanks to Brennan's impulsive assault on the Judge, that line was about to be unequivocally erased. (Had she done that on purpose? At this point he wouldn't put anything past her.) Now he had to fire her, and that was too bad but on the bright side there would be nothing stopping him from asking her out. So ... Tequila to soften the blow, then ... he'd reel her in.
They tipped back five shots apiece before he sighed dreamily and fired her.
Her dismay lasted all of five seconds before she leaned over and reeled _him_ in. "If we're not working together, we can have sex."
This curve ball hit him harder than a hardball at 90 miles per hour. His brain splattered, his body erupted, everything pounded and throbbed. He'd never been so turned on in his LIFE. "I'll call a cab."
It was raining, the world was spinning, she was tossing on her jacket and the cab was waiting. "Listen, I have something to confess."
_I think this is going somewhere._ That's what he had intended to say, a line to put her at ease, to ease her into the cab and into his bed. It wasn't a line now. He wanted more than a night. God. He wanted everything. She looked up, those eyes, that incredible intelligence, her oddball humor, the way she got so excited over ordinary things. What Ed had said in there slammed home. She was out of his league. She was out of his _universe_. She was smiling, asking him if it was the fact that he was a descendent of John Wilkes Booth? because she already knew that.
Totally thrown, he sputtered, "Wait a second! How do you know that?!"
"From your bone structure."
Right. Obvious. He marveled at her curves and turns: like being on a roller coaster, every moment with her was an unexpected thrill. "What I wanted to confess was, that I have a gambling problem..." And her eyes softened, as if she understood what this meant. Because she was a genius, and magic. "...But I'm dealing with it."
Right now. He wanted to, right now. For Temperance Brennan he would do _anything_ to be worthy of her approval.
"Why did you feel you had to tell me that?"
"I don't know. I just feel like, um, this is going somewhere." The line, but it wasn't a lie. _Oh yes, let's go somewhere. Baby, please take me with you. I like who I am when I'm with you._
"Why did you feel like this is going somewhere?" She stepped closer, eyes dancing, lips curving, so beautiful and lively and perfect.
"I just ... I feel like I'm going to kiss you," he sighed.
The shock of her lips on his was literal. An electric jolt zapped him, the current running through every nerve in his body. She slid her lips over his and withdrew, dancing, teasing, using friction and anticipation with complete mastery. She was as much a genius at kissing as she was at blindsiding him. It hit him everywhere at once: his head, his heart, his groin, his entire being falling under her spell. Magic. Fate. _More, more, give me more._ He reached for her, pulling her closer, felt her mouth opening, tasted her sweet teasing tongue, wanted it to never end.
Paradise, right there in his mouth, in his hands, burning his body, saving his soul, filling him with the scent of summer rain and the taste of Tequila and the sensual bite of Temperance Brennan. Then she was pulling away. Paradise Lost.
"Wow..."
She was laughing, dancing back out of reach, into the rain, her eyes sparkling like raindrops under the streetlights. "We are not spending the night together!"
"Of course we are... Why not?" It took him a second to catch up. From this point on, he would fall further and further behind because his world was being knocked off its axis. He just didn't know it yet.
"Tequila." She was already in the cab, she was leaving. She teased he'd never regret a night with her.
The cab left one dazed Seeley Booth standing in the rain, the Hustler in him wondering if this was what it felt like when he took money out of the hands of a mark. She'd set him up and stolen his heart and he wasn't sure if she'd marked him intentionally. He turned and went back into the pool hall.
"Shoulda taken that girl somewhere respectable," Ed advised. It was obvious to him that a classy dame like the beautiful doctor wasn't going to spend much time in a joint like this. "Why'd you bring her here?"
The man in him sighed, "I wanted her to know who I am."
Laughing sympathetically, the wiser man shook his head. "You want to be with a girl like her, you can't let a place like this be any part of you."
~Q~
The world stopped spinning. It wobbled and fell.
~Q~
The phone rang three times before Hank Lutrell picked it up. "Hello?"
A high pitched caterwauling in the background made Booth wince. "Hey, Hank, sorry to bother you. Wow, is that Ella?"
Hank chuckled. "Sorry, Ella and Emily are going rounds over the remote." The sounds faded, Hank's voice jittering a bit as he walked into another room so he could hear over the squabbling kids. "Sounds like some kind of chaos is going on where you are also...?"
The bells and rustle of the casino were pretty loud. Booth gripped his phone tightly. "I'm in Vegas."
A long pause. "I see. Well, um, I'm really glad you called."
"No, it's ... it's not that bad. Not yet. I'm here on a case."
"Seeley, you might want to take this call outside. You sound like you're losing it."
He was. Maybe. Turning, Booth looked for his partner at the 21 table where he'd left her. "I can't leave Bones. I can't lose her." He shook his head, wondering if that was a Freudian slip. Because if he lost sight of her, he'd lose himself in here. And if he lost himself in the gambling, he'd lose her forever.
"Why didn't you tell Bureau you can't work in Vegas? I mean, that's why you transferred out in the first place."
"A missing Federal Prosecutor turned up as a skeleton so, you know, they sent for Bones. Dr. Brennan. Only the best." He gave a short laugh. Where Bones went he would follow. "So we're here. The thing is, I don't know how I'm going get through this."
"Well, keep her with you. She's the reason you went into the program to begin with, right?"
That was fine for the day, Booth thought, but what the hell was he going to do at night? "I can't stay with her every minute."
Then Hank reminded him who they were talking about. "You told her, right? She knows. The first time you admitted you had a problem, it was to her."
Closing his eyes, he could see again the beautiful woman he'd wanted that night in the rain, could remember exactly how his words had tumbled out unplanned, and untrue. _"I have a gambling problem, but I'm working on it."_ Then she'd left and the cynical part of him recognized a sting operation. The stung part of him wondered if it was that confession that had changed her mind. And the desperate part of him found a Gambler's Anonymous meeting because he didn't think they had a program for liars.
By the time he finally managed to see her again, his untrue confession had become the truth. She'd made him honest. Just as he'd hoped in the opera house, Bones was the perfect foil, backing him, highlighting the best of him, making him shine.
"Yeah, she knows."
_"Booth, you can't be in here. You're a degenerate gambler!"_ That blunt honesty that never failed to knock him off balance had this time knocked the bells and lights out of his vision. Her crystalline, concerned eyes replaced the lure of winning cash, not judging but worried all the same and reminding him of what he stood to lose if he lost it in here. _Her_. And by extension, the best parts of himself. He found her again sitting a few tables away, needing the visual anchor of her stabilizing influence.
"So, just be honest with her. Tell her you need to share a room. "
Share a room, how the hell was he going to convince Bones of that? He glanced around the casino, considering all the players, all the options and the thought of simply asking her for help was the one thing he'd not considered. Just be honest. Just tell her and he could trust that she would save him from himself. Relief loosened the knots in his shoulders and arms; knowing she was keeping an eye on him would be enough. "Yeah, you might be right, Hank. Yeah, I think that will work."
"Hey, you stay in touch. Call if you need me, don't worry about the time."
Relieved, Booth agreed and hung up. He walked back towards Bones, watching her sense him and turn towards him. Her eyes danced like they did in the rain, like they always did when she was experiencing something new. In the twenty minutes he'd left her alone, his genius partner had mastered 21. Figures.
~Q~
Roxie walked out of their shared bathroom wearing a dress that sent her Tony right back to a steamy summer night in a pool hall. Her eyes flashed, her hips swayed; she wasn't the Temperance Brennan he knew at all, and yet ... she was the woman he could remember laughing over Tequila shots, kissing him in the rain, playfully leaving him with the promise of paradise once he sobered up.
"What got into you?" he'd exclaimed, thrilled to see what she was capable of, and she'd given credit to Clara Bow and a clandestine excursion to the craps tables last night. Now, hours later in their shared room, Booth sat in a chair and replayed her sultry walk, her laughter, her playful wit, the way she'd drawn men in with her eyes. Not just him, _all_ of them. He was thinking he might have asked the wrong question. What he should have asked was, 'what went out of you?' This Roxie side of her wasn't an imitation of a 1920s film star, it was _her_. The teasing Tempe he'd fallen so hard for was still there, deeply buried under disciplined logic and reason.
In a way, he'd finally gotten his wish: they were finally spending the night together, but he was too busy comparing nights to relax and enjoy the situation.
As if she sensed his regard Brennan stirred and shifted, coming awake to notice he was not in the bed beside her but at the window instead, watching her. She sat up slowly and met his solemn gaze with one of her own. "Why are you sitting over there?"
"Can't sleep."
Switching on a lamp she started to move, intending to get up and fetch him another ice pack. "Is your zygomatic bone aching still?"
Where Agent Sugarman's flying fist had taken him down? Booth chuckled. Nothing hurt there but his pride. "Nah. I was thinking."
Subsiding, tugging the blanket closer around her waist, Brennan remained where she was. A small, impish grin danced around her suggestion. "You could think in bed."
Next to her? Booth raised a brow, felt his pulse rising also, as well as certain other parts of his anatomy. "There are other activities I prefer to do in bed."
"Such as...?"
"Sleep." He forced himself to stop at the obvious, terrified of what might happen if he ventured any farther into what he would love to be doing with her in a bed.
"You're not sleeping," she pointed out agreeably. "Is something bothering you?"
Being so close and unable to touch her was bothering him. Hearing her breathe and sigh in her sleep was bothering him. Knowing that he wanted to be honest with her and yet he was hiding his 'friends with benefits' arrangement with Cam from her bothered him. "Bones..."
Another teasing dart as she corrected him. "Roxie."
"There's no one here but us. You can drop the act."
Brennan leaned forward and grinned, ridiculously frisky considering how early it was. "Who says I'm acting."
There it was again, the contradiction of Bones and Roxie. She was Bones, who still hadn't caught on to his dark mood, and this Roxie was also Tempe, the playful flirt who kissed him and ran, hoping he'd follow. This was the one woman he couldn't read well because she was so far outside of the ordinary and he'd guessed wrong, played it cool when she'd looked for warm. Everything went wrong because he wasn't honest with her. And as a result, everything else in his life was finally going right.
Conflict must have showed on his face because the imp slipped away, leaving his concerned partner to finally notice his preoccupation. "What are you worried about?"
Suddenly making a decision, he got up and sat next to her on the bed. "Being here, seeing you as Roxie today, it made me remember some things. It helped me remember some priorities. There's something..." and here he paused, searching for the right phrase to finish. _Something you don't know about me... Something I need to thank you for... Something I still have to do..._ All of the above.
So he backed up a step. "You know I went through the program, Gambler's Anonymous."
"Yes. You told me you were working on it when we met." Their eyes held with all the force of electromagnets, remembering kisses and confessions. There was no condemnation, only the acceptance of this aspect of him, just as much a part as height or eye color. Booth was a gambler, Brennan accepted it. She didn't fear it; she trusted him and that he had it under control (with a bit of help from her in this city of temptations). But it was a misplaced trust and that was what had kept him awake all night.
"Bones, part of the program is to become honest, to face ourselves and acknowledge who we are, the things we've done, the people we've hurt. It's one of the most difficult steps. The ugliest things we've ever done, we have to confess it to another human being. It's step five."
"Okay," she said, and waited with that watchful patience that was just as much a part of her as she thought gambling was part of him.
"I took that step with you."
Now he had surprised her. "You did?"
"In the graveyard."
Memory hit. He could see it, her eyes widening in the lamplight, tears starting, amazement and a touch of fear. "Oh..." And she didn't say anything more, just pulled herself over to embrace him. "Thank you," she finally whispered, "for trusting me."
Holding her, he felt the guilt squeezing him because he hadn't trusted her with everything and that meant her faith in him rested on a false understanding of who he was. So he drew a fortifying breath and added, "But I didn't finish it."
Their embrace held even though he could feel her waiting for more.
"I mean, it's an ongoing process because it's an ongoing disease. I need to tell you everything. I need to finish step five so I can get on to step nine." He could almost hear her thoughts stumble over the skipped numbers, he could feel her puzzled tension as she pulled back and sure enough, that confused little wrinkle was there.
"What about steps six through eight?"
Temperance Brennan was still adorable when she was confused. Laughing fondly, he brushed a wisp of hair aside and let her settle back. "I finished them. It's just five and nine that I still have to work on."
"Because they're the hardest?"
"Yeah." Because they were about her. Because it's hard to look someone in the eyes and admit you've wronged them. It's hard to ask for undeserved forgiveness. He looked into her eyes and revealed the darkest part of himself, the part she still didn't know. "I was a hustler."
Her confusion intensified, as well as a tiny squeak of amazement. "You posed nude for an erotic magazine?"
"What?! Why would you...?" Then his furious blush dissipated into another laugh and he shook his head. "No, not that kind of Hustler, Bones. I was a pool shark."
The innocent part of her clearly did not know what that was so he swallowed his shame and spelled it out for her. "Con artist. Swindler. Cheater. Liar." He stopped there, at the truth. "I was a liar."
Silence so thick there was nothing but breathing and her guarded gaze.
"I lied to you."
He watched her face going blank as her emotions went into hiding. "When?"
"That night when I told you I had a gambling problem. I lied to you when I said the problem was gambling, and that I was working on it."
Brennan had pulled all the way back until they no longer touched each other and leaned up against the headboard. "I see."
"I wanted it to be true, both being a gambler, and working on it." Because being a gambler meant it wasn't his fault, but being a liar was a character flaw. He'd hoped saying it would make it true. But wanting it wasn't enough, he had to reach for it. Fight himself for it. Fight for a chance with her.
"So, you're _not_ a gambler...?"
Oh, he had gambled, at first. Right out of the army in Vegas, again in New York and DC, but all those times he'd stopped the losing streaks by changing focus. Instead of betting on other people or on games of chance, he began to bet on himself because the odds were so much better. Forcing himself to look at her, to be honest, he explained it so she would understand. One thing hadn't changed: he still wanted her to know who he was.
"I've always been able to read people. I used that ability to manipulate people into placing bets against me at pool. I'd pretend I couldn't play well, then I would beat them and take their money. I wasn't gambling, Bones, I was swindling. In high school, I used my ability to win over girls. For the FBI, I use my ability to manipulate in the interrogation room. I've always lied for a living. I lied to suspects, to families, to girlfriends, to everyone. But it wasn't until I lied to you, that I realized ... I didn't want to do that anymore. "
She had been looking down into her lap, tears discreetly brushed aside, but at this she looked up and let him see the impact, let him see he was hurting her all over again. Always rational, she went straight for the disconnected logic of his confession. "If you lied to everyone, then why would it matter that you lied to me?"
"Because you are honest. You thought _I_ was honest, and I liked being the man you thought I was. I wanted to be with you but I thought there was no way someone as amazing as you would be with a guy like me, unless I changed. So I told you what I _wanted_ to be true. When it didn't work out between us, when you saw through me and left ... that's when I decided I had to make it true. I went to the first GA meeting two days after you hit me."
She blushed and averted her eyes again. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assaulted you."
A soft laugh forgave her. "I'm glad you did. You knocked some sense into me. Being here in Vegas has reminded me what it was like before I met you, what _I_ was like before I met you." Nodding slowly, she kept her gaze averted and picked an imaginary piece of lint off the surface of the bed. "Seeing Roxie reminded me what _you_ were like before... Bones, I always told myself you pulled the rug out from under me to prove a point."
"Pulled a rug...?"
"I told myself you knew what was going on and you tricked me. Conned me into wanting you and then you left me high and ... wet ... in the rain." His self-mocking smile softened the assessment because now he knew that wasn't what had happened, not at all. "Now I'm thinking there's a reason I've never seen that side of you again, until now. You let the fun side of yourself out to play with me and I hurt you, so you locked her back up again."
He knew he was right. With the firing, he'd gotten her hopes up only to dash them again when he hired her back the next day. He'd hurt that teasing, playful girl so much that she was too scared to come out and play with anyone. It was his fault Roxie was gone and he didn't know when he'd ever get to see her again.
"I'm sorry, Temperance." He'd never been more sorry in his life. Breaking her fragile heart was the worst thing he'd ever done. Step five was admitting it out loud. Step nine was to apologize knowing nothing he could say would ever repair what he'd broken.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it." Cool professional Bones, guarded and detached.
"I do worry about it," he insisted softly, feeling a rather unusual need to blink his burning eyes but that would mean taking them off of her for too long. He never wanted to take his eyes off her again. "I'm pretty sure you saved my job, my relationship with Parker, maybe my life. Hurting you is something I'm always going to regret, but I can't completely because it was the wake-up call that I needed."
"To stop lying to everyone?"
God, when she put it that way... He sighed, knowing he deserved far worse. "Because of you I realized I need to strive for honesty."
He could hear the doubt and hesitation in Brennan, his ability to correctly read her having vastly improved via the 18 months he'd worked so closely at her side. "Booth, are you always honest with me now?"
His heart stumbled, his fingers tingled like the hustler feeling the felt. He knew what she needed to hear. "Yeah. I always tell you the truth." (Except for the part about Cam, which wasn't exactly a lie since she'd never directly asked him, 'Are you having sex with my boss...?') Since that night he'd never deliberately told her something false but his conscience was kicking him in the back of the head, prodding him to admit, "But it's something I'm always going to struggle with."
"Thank you for being honest." So formal.
Booth leaned forward and took her hands in his, replacing felt with the soft skin of the person he admired most. "You're my partner, Bones, but more importantly, you know me."
His hopeful eyes clung to hers, guarded but not turning away. _You know me, all the ugly parts of me._ And she was still there, still his partner, still the woman he would do anything for. "Having your trust is the most precious gift I've ever been given. I never want to ruin that."
"I trust you, Booth."
And he could see that she still did, even now. All he could do was keep striving to be worthy of it.
~Q~
* * *
**Author's Note:** In _Parts of the Sum of the Whole_, Booth began his story by saying he was at an early morning Gambler's Anonymous meeting the day he met Brennan. Meanwhile, the flashback shows him winning $40 running the table. He was a pool shark, which means he deceived other people into betting against him and then he took their money. That's why his line to Sweets, "It wasn't a problem because I mostly won," is huge. He wasn't the one gambling, he lied about his abilities to get _others_ to gamble against him so he could fleece them. And I think maybe he viewed Brennan's behavior through that prism. He thought she'd set him up, which is why he was angry with her.
To be fair to Booth, I think by this point (Woman in the Sand) he'd changed so much (for the better) from the man he was in 2004 that he might be able to appreciate his own transformation. He might also realize that he'd wronged Brennan and part of the GA program is to admit harm and ask for forgiveness. I've always had the feeling from the way Booth and Brennan tell the story to Sweets, so in harmony with each other, that they must have resolved their initial fight at some point and forgiven each other.
Thank you for reading. :)
End file.
| fanfiction |
Candy Candy Tus labios saben a chocolate
_**Tus labios saben a chocolate.**_
Y ahí estaba yo, de pie, con los brazos rodeando el cuello del hombre de mis sueños, dejando que la música fluyera con su acompasado ritmo y permitiendo que mi cuerpo acompañara los sutiles movimientos del cuerpo de aquel que robaba cada uno de mis suspiros.
La velada había sido mucho más que maravillosa, con luz de luna iluminando nuestra aventura y las estrellas como testigos de nuestro encuentro… es curioso pensar en las tantas formas inesperadas en las que la vida puede sorprenderte.
Mi día no había sido precisamente memorable. Una jornada como cualquiera, con más contras que pros. Así que, buscando un escape del cruel mundo, me refugié, al salir del trabajo, bajo el cobijo de un imponente árbol, mirando el horizonte y escuchando el trino de las aves. La paz era tanta que el tiempo pasó sin que siquiera lo sintiera pasar, con esa su aletargada regularidad.
Estuve perdida en mi interior hasta que una afable voz me regresó a la realidad con un "_se siente bien estar así ¿no cree?"_. Giré el cuello hacia el lugar del que provenía aquella voz y entonces lo vi. Con esos sus ojos azules y hermosa faz, disfrutando del mundo a mi lado.
Pocas veces me permito charlar con extraños, pero él… bueno… por algún extraño motivo a él parecía conocerlo de toda la vida. Los minutos pasaron y pronto se convirtieron en horas. Los colores del atardecer dieron paso a la oscuridad de la noche. La luna tomó en el firmamento el brillante lugar en el que antes había estado el sol y miles de estrellas perforaron con su luz el firmamento.
_¿Quieres dar un paseo? _– preguntó sonriente "_por supuesto" _gritó mi corazón pero mi boca dijo
_Es un poco tarde, quizás sea momento de regresar a casa –_ su sonrisa se esfumó y entonces no pude negarme
Comenzamos a vagar por el pequeño entorno arbolado. Hablando de todo y de nada. No sé si caminamos mucho o poco, en realidad no importa, lo único que importaba en ese momento era la sensación de pertenencia y tranquilidad que lograba sentir en compañía de aquel extraño. La noche comenzó a refrescar y las horas sin alimento se manifestaron en un "_melodioso"_ lamento de mi estómago. Él sonrió ante mi rostro avergonzado, se quitó la sudadera que llevaba y la pasó por mis hombros para resguardarme del frío y de un bolsillo sacó un chocolate que partió en dos.
_Dos en uno _– dijo – _ayuda con el frío y el hambre _
Entonces sugirió una idea un poco absurda y descabellada, pero increíblemente disfrutable.
_¿Bailamos? – _dijo sonriente
_¿Sin música? _
_¿Pero no la escuchas? Cierra los ojos y presta atención la naturaleza te trajo serenata – _sonreí y coloqué mis brazos rodeando su espalda, el tomó con delicadeza mi cintura.
El mundo se detuvo, o al menos así lo sentí. Creía que nada podía mejorar el momento, pero entonces en un delicado y fluido movimiento si mejilla se posó al lado de la mía, su rostro comenzó a descender acariciando mi rostro. Sentí su aliento cada vez más próximo y finalmente sus labios se posaron sobre los míos con una caricia incluso más delicada y fluida.
Cuando su rostro se alejó del mío me sentía flotar y en mi aturdimiento lo único que pude decir fue:
_Tus labios saben a chocolate – _él se echó a reír y como toda respuesta dijo
_Ayudan con el frío…_ _y el hambre, y te lo puedo probar – _sonrió y de nuevo me besó… una y otra vez.
End file.
| fanfiction |
How to Run GAMESS and Avogadro on Command Line?
I always use **GAMESS** and **Avogadro** on my own laptop. Recently I installed them on our university supercomputer and started using them by remote logging-in.
On the laptop everything was super easy but unfortunately I can not find any documentation for using them from **Terminal Command Line** ( I mean sending a job and receiving the result all from Terminal Command Line ).
It would be great if someone knows a good documentation or tutorial for this subject.
**Contact the HPC helpdesk at your university or search for some instructions compiled by them.**
We cannot know whether your local cluster uses PBS (TORQUE/MAUI), SLURM or anything else to reserve cores, nodes, memory and cpu time to run jobs.
| stackexchange/chemistry |
the nonsyndromic orofacial cleft is the fourth most common birth defect , besides being the most observed craniofacial malformation.1
2 although its etiology still remains unclear , most likely both exogenous ( teratogenic ) and endogenous ( genetic ) factors contribute to this embryopathy in humans.3
4 in addition , it is a major oral health problem in the world and its treatment requires specialized multiprofessional and integrated actions.5
several studies of the epidemiologic patterns of cleft deformities show a marked variability in the frequency of this anomaly , ranging from 1 in 500 to 1 in 2,500 live births.5 in brazil , data about cleft lip and/or palate epidemiology are not accurate ; however , the incidence of this malformation is 0.36 in 1,000 live births . in northeastern brazil
, the incidence is 0.39 in 1,000 live births.6
7 in sergipe , approximately 22 new cases of cleft lip and/or palate occur each year.8 the seafese ( service specializing in cleft care of sergipe ) is a public interest civil social organization formed by a multidisciplinary team comprised of 13 professionals in the following specialties : plastic surgery , maxillofacial surgery , nurse , speech therapy , dentistry , orthodontics , psychology , social work , and anesthesiology .
all surgeries performed within seafese follow a protocol created by its professionals to obtain the best results for patients with cleft ( table 1 ) .
according to that , the most detailed information about these birth defects in populations is essential to recognize and prevent the problem , and , consequently , to plan assistance policies in general .
thus , the aim of this study was to characterize the cases of cleft lip and palate based on the medical records of patients treated at the seafese .
for the purpose of this study , a descriptive cross - sectional design was adopted , based on medical records of patients treated at the seafese .
it included all the medical records of patients attended at seafese from october 2003 to june 2007 .
all medical records were analyzed , regarding ( 1 ) demographic characteristics ( gender , race , age , origin ) ; ( 2 ) cleft diagnosis and classification ( cleft type , associated malformations and complications , prenatal accomplishment ) ; and ( 3 ) treatment applied .
the variable age was divided into 6 groups with an interval of 4 years for each group according to the classification made by the brazilian institute of geography and statistics , population census , 2000.9 patients were classified according to race as leukoderma ( white ) , pheoderma ( brown ) , xanthoderma ( yellow ) , and melanoderma ( black ) ; according to the origin , they were grouped based on where they live ( metropolis , countryside , and other states ) .
cleft classification was based on the work of spina et al,10 which defines four groups : preincisive foramen cleft ( uni- or bilateral , median ) ; transincisive foramen cleft ( uni- or bilateral ) ; postincisive foramen clefts ; and atypical ( rare ) facial clefts . for diagnosis analysis ,
it was noted if mothers received prenatal care and if they had ultrasonography done and if the cleft was viewed in it . regarding treatment , only surgeries to repair cleft lip and palate ( lip repair and palatoplasty , respectively )
were considered in this study ; additional surgeries performed in patients with cleft were included as other surgeries . the collected data were tabulated and calculated in excel for windows 2003 , and the data are presented in absolute frequencies and percentages .
this study was approved by the committee on ethics in research involving humans , from federal university of sergipe ( cep - ufs / caae no . :
the general analysis of the data allows tracing back the profile of participants , as shown in table 2 . in relation to gender ,
54.0% of patients who comprised the sample were male ; the distribution of patients by age focused predominantly between 0 and 14 years ( 77.4% ) , with a higher prevalence in the age group of 0 to 4 years .
regarding race , 165 patients ( 47.2% ) were pheoderma and 146 ( 41.7% ) leukoderma . finally , most of them were from the countryside ( 58.0% ) .
the most frequent type of cleft was the transincisive foramen , with 183 cases ( 52.3% ) , and this cleft was more frequent in males , with 102 cases ( 55.7% ) .
the second most frequent type of cleft was the preincisive foramen , with 89 cases ( 25.4 ) ; this cleft was also more frequent in males , with 59 cases ( 66.3% ) .
the third most frequent type of cleft was the postincisive foramen , with 77 cases ( 22.0% ) , and this cleft occurred more often in females with 50 cases ( 65.0% ) .
finally , the atypical ( rare ) facial cleft was less frequent , with only 1 case ( 0.3% ) , a male . among the 350 medical reports analyzed , only 41 ( 12.0% ) showed data regarding malformations and additional complications in the patients , without specifying .
prenatal care was reported by almost half the sample ( 168 ; 48.0% ) , and only 26 mothers ( 7.0% ) reported on prenatal care . in 156 records ( 45.0% ) , this information was missing . according to information provided by patients to fill the medical record , only in 7 cases ( 4.2% ) of 168 referred to prenatal care did the ultrasonography reveal the cleft ; in 107 cases ( 63.7% ) , nothing was detected , and in 54 ( 32.1% ) there was no information ( not defined ) .
associated malformations and complications occurred in 41 individuals , more frequently in men ( 26 subjects ; 63.4% ) .
when the service was available , 173 surgeries were performed in patients with cleft ( table 5 ) : 77 cheiloplasty , 79 palatoplasty , and 17 other surgeries ( fistuloplasty , rhinoplasty , otoplasty ) .
the highest rate was recorded in 2004 ( 69 surgeries ) and the lowest in 2007 ( 3 surgeries ) .
this decrease in the number of surgeries was due to a change in seafese head office .
table 6 shows the distribution of patients by age at initial assessment in seafese and treatment accomplished .
demand for service was greater in the first 4 years of life ; consequently , due to surgical protocol adopted by the institution , lip repair was the most performed surgery .
this study showed a demand for an early access to the service , especially during the first 4 years of life ( table 1 ) ; the literature is in consensus that the primary surgery for cleft lip and/or palate repair is usually performed in all children before 2 years of age.11 the high concentration of patients attending in this service within this age group suggests that people are getting more conscious about the services directed to cleft treatment .
moreover , the early access to specialist services allows the structuring of a safer and easier treatment plan with a more favorable prognosis , as well as consequent and significant aesthetic and functional gains that will resonate on the quality of life , reflecting on the family .
the demographic profile of the population studied is an individual male ( 54.0% ) , pheoderma ( 47.2% ) , between 0 and 14 years ( 77.4% ) , who lives in the countryside ( 58.0% ) .
in other studies similar results were observed , where the majority of subjects with oral clefts were males,12
13
14 lived in metropolitan areas , and were brown.15
the data showed the prevalence of transincisive foramen cleft .
these results are similar to a study conducted in recife , where a predominance of the transincisive foramen cleft ( 49% ) was observed , followed by postforamen ( 27% ) and preforamen ( 24% ) clefts.15 freitas et al observed in so paulo that the most common types of cleft lip and/or palate were trans- and postforamen ( 31.7% ) , followed by preforamen ( 28.4% ) and rare fissure ( 3.8%).16 in other countries a similar prevalence was observed . in germany , kramer et al found that the transforamen ( 42.4% ) cleft was most often observed , followed by preforamen ( 28.8% ) and postforamen ( 28.8% ) clefts.11 sagheri et al , also in germany , found that the transforamen ( 45.9% ) cleft was observed most often , followed by postforamen ( 41% ) and preforamen ( 9.8% ) clefts and pierre - robin syndrome ( 3.3%).17
the cleft lip and/or palate may be present as isolated deformities ( or nonsyndromic clefts ) or within the phenotype of a syndrome , called syndromic clefts.15 several studies suggest that 30 to 40% of cases occur as a pattern of multiple malformations and are classified as a known syndrome related to chromosomal alterations , mendelian disorder , or exposure to a known teratogen.18 in this research , associated malformations and complications occurred in 41 individuals , and the data found in this study agree with the findings of baptista,15 milerad et al,19 ellis,20 and nunes et al.21
data about prenatal care outlined in this study showed accompanying of almost half the analyzed sample and only 7.0% stated no kind of accompanying .
the prenatal diagnosis of cleft occurs in 62.8% of cases,22 in the united states the prevalence is 16%,23 and in england the prevalence is 30%.24 most parents who have a prenatal diagnosis felt that the diagnosis prepared them psychologically for the birth of the child with cleft.24
such data suggest that the primary health care policy adopted by the government , at least in terms of awareness , has been characterized by reforming the potential of primary care in favor of better health outcomes , which caused significant changes in health practice , even though 156 ( 45.0% ) medical records do not have report data about prenatal care .
although the increased demand for care in seafese is by children between 0 and 4 years , with a high rate of newborns who have not been subjected to any type of surgery , there was a high number of patients who reported at first visit having already had previous surgery to correct cleft lip and/or palate in another institution . besides , it was found that in the 0- to 4-year group , 44 surgeries had already occurred , followed by 40 surgeries in the 15- to 19-year group .
these data confirm that the demand for treatment of cleft patients is taking place at the right time , which is in the first months / years of life .
in conclusion , the few epidemiologic studies on cleft in brazil highlight the importance and need for studies that address determinants of developmental defects , such as oral cleft . in this study ,
male gender was the most affected , and the age group 0 to 4 years was the most frequent .
so , this study found that early treatment is a reality in seafese ; therefore the chances of successful integration of the child to society will be better . | pubmed |
Hednota cotylophora is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Turner in 1942. It has been recorded from Western Australia. It can also fly.
References
Category:Crambinae
Category:Moths described in 1942 | wikipedia |
1. Pain with a Thousand Teeth
**Pain with a Thousand Teeth**
There was an ambulance at the Moretti's house. The constant flickering of the red and blue lights woke Katara from her peaceful slumber. _What happened? _She ventured out into the hallway and heard soft voices speaking from downstairs. She slowly crept down each step careful not to wake her brother Sokka, her father looked up at her smiling half heartedly.
"Hello Katara" Her father Hakoda and our neighbors parents the Bei Fongs' were all sitting at around a circular wooden kitchen table. Mrs. Bei Fong was crying, and both her father and Mr. Bei Fong held stern faces but their eyes glinted with worry.
"What happened?" She asked her eyes begging for an answer, her father scooted his chair in and glanced down at the floor.
"We aren't sure." He responded flatly as Mrs. Bei Fong began to weep harder.
"What if it had been are little Toph in that ambulance something could have happened to her-" She broke off in tears, "I couldn't handle that, I wouldn't be able to take this and, and.." She laid her head down on the table and sobbed Mr. Bei Fong put his hand around his wife's back.
"Listen," He said grabbing her chin and directing her face towards his. "It's not our Toph, right now our Toph is sleeping in their living room now you need to stop this nonsense, you do realize that it is one of the Moretti's children in that ambulance? That they are the ones hurt not Toph?" She nodded silently and sniffled away her tears as Katara slowly drifted off into the parlor searching for Toph. She opened the French glass doors and found the girl laying on the sofa wide awake staring into space.
"Hey." She whispered not looking up. Toph seemed traumatized, but who would blame her. She and Katara both knew that whatever was going on at the Moretti's she could see. That is why Katara had assumed she had elevated her feet up, away from the site of the ordeal next door.
"Who is it?" She asked plain and simple. Like any other ordinary question but this one had a much bigger difference behind it this meant life or death for Katara. Toph looked up at her wide eyed, her mouth was slightly hanging open and her eyes were huge and unreadable.
"Don't worry Katara it's not Zuko again." She said dryly sitting up and staring off at the wall holding her knees up to her chest. The weight in Katara's chest seemed to vanish. _Zuko was okay! Nothing happened to him and he was fine!_ She let out a breath of relief that she didn't even know she was holding. But it didn't take long for realization to hit Katara and smile and upbringing glee change rapidly into a frown when she came to the conclusion of the tribulation next door.
"Does that mean…" Toph looked up at her and Katara saw tears coming to her eyes. She wanted to go comfort Toph, so they could cry together, but she couldn't move she just stood there with her mouth ajar and her hand held in front of her lips. She couldn't understand why this was affecting her so much. Maybe it was just the heat of the moment, or the fact that someone no matter who it was, was hurt right next door. But she did know for a fact that she never did and probably never will care for Azula Moretti yet here she was spilling tears over her. It was quite ironic. They had hated each other so much and yet here she was crying a muck over the girl she had so desperately wanted to get rid of yesterday.
Azula had always been a royal bitch to everyone and everything around her. But at the same time you couldn't help but feel that there was a deeper side to her. That she had some sort of compassion towards something at least anything. But you would never tell people you hoped that. Everyone hated Azula and yet everyone worshiped her. Maybe it was because they were jealous or that they thought if they were her friends they would become as undeniably and wonderfully perfect as she was. She did have some "true" friends though, well her biggest followers Mai and Ty Lee. The only difference with these two was that she actually talked to them. At one point in Katara's life, one point, she and Azula were somewhat friends. But it didn't last, now Azula ruled all social statuses and Katara was just the normal girl from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. But none of that mattered right now. What mattered was getting Toph going back into the kitchen and telling her family what happened and then going and finding Zuko.
"Toph," She said patting the girls shoulder lightly. "You need to tell me what happened so that we can go and tell our parents and so that they can-"
"So that they can what Katara?" Toph said jumping out of her seat. "So that they can tell the entire community about the Moretti's family problems! So that they can sit and gossip about all the things that Mr. Moretti could have done to prevent this! No Katara telling your parents is NEVER a good idea, and you would be stupid to consider it." She stood there shocked from her outburst telling herself that Toph was just emotional and didn't mean a thing. She had expected Toph to be gone by now to have stormed out of the room in rage but she didn't. She stood facing Katara waiting for the girls response.
"I was going to say help." She whimpered and Toph's glare softened a bit and she opened her mouth to speak.
"Fine, I'll tell you what I know and then our parents can_ help_." She said the last part with venom.
* * *
Random story i know. I really don't no where this came from it just kind of happened and yes it is a series i just hate making one-shots. As you have probably noticed by now all of my stories are, well very short but i am working on increasing them. I hope that you people enjoyed this story oh and i have a disclaimer to say. I do not at any point own any of the avatar characters or the city of Philadelphia for that matter. The characters belong to Byran and Mike and the city belongs to the people of the United States of America. Also that title up there i didn't make up that was written and or said by Sir William Watson, just to let you all know.
Love,
LifeTimesWorth
2. Belief In Recovery
**Belief in Recovery**
All the walls around Katara were white and it was making her nauseous. She looked over at her father his elbows rested on his knees while his hands were cupping his forehead and rubbing his temples. Lao and Poppy had taken Toph home before they left for the hospital because Mrs. Bei Fong thought she was going to be sick.
Sokka was leaning back in his chair biting his nails, Katara was aware that he was always fond of Azula but it was nothing more than a little crush and she had thought he would have gotten over her in 10th grade when she first started dating Jet Ricci. But enough about Azula's past right now Katara couldn't believe what was going on in Azula's present. Right now then entire Kaiser family was sitting in a cold emergency care waiting room at midnight for a neighbor that none of them were very fond of, well Sokka did but even he knew she was a bitch.
"Excuse me nurse?" Katara looked up to see her father flagging down a nurse pushing a food cart filled with dirty dishes.
"Can I help you sir?" she asked seeming rather annoyed with the fact that she had to stoop wheeling her stupid cart to answer her father's question.
"I was just wondering how she was doing in there? I mean do you know if it's possible for us to go in and see her?"Her father's eyes were hopeful but from his voice she could tell he doubted himself.
"Do I look like a doctor to you sir? I have been on food duty all day bring back dishes after dishes." The nurse must have been able to see the pain on Katara's father's features because her face became sympathetic. "Why are you the father?"
"No!" Hakoda yelled quickly. The nurse looked at him like he was a mental person escaped from an asylum.
"Alright I am sorry sir let me get a Doctor." She said wheeling her cart off to the front desks.
"Can you believe this?" Sokka shouted running his fingers up through his hair. "Who would do this to somebody let alone who would do this to their own-"
"Sokka do not shout in here, people are trying to sleep and I'm sure Azula would not appreciate you shouting what happened to her to the rest of the world." Sokka sunk back down into his chair trying to contain his rage as much as possible.
They became silent again listening to the sounds of the people in the hospital around them. They waited for what seemed like a while Sokka was getting extremely antsy, he was even twitching a little, Katara would even admit though this was agitating. Hokoda kept his patients though and soon enough they were repaid.
"Listen Doctor I don't care how much rest she needs she in my sister and I am staying in there with her!" Katara head shot up at the familiar voice, Sokka noticed Katara and adverted his attention in the direction Katara was looking.
"Zuko!" Katara shouted. Sokka was surprised to see him here, yes he was aware that he and Azula were related but, well they never were really on good terms or so he thought.
Zuko looked up at Katara's yell and his eyes softened at the sight of her but hardened when the Doctor began talking to him again.
"This is your family?" The Doctor question, "Stay out here with them, give girl rest." The Doctor had a thick accent, perhaps since he was foreign people really did think he was the best Doctor around.
Zuko looked like he wanted to kill someone as he watched the doctor walk away, but instead he turned and began to walk to the Kaiser family. Katara met him half way with a tight hug and a huge smile. He returned the hug but the same could not be said for the smile.
"Zuko." Hokoda said standing up holding out his hand. They shook hands which turned into a rough hug. Zuko and Sokka made eye contact and that was it.
"How is she?" Hokoda asked sitting back down in his seat, Zuko sat in the empty chair next to him.
"She's," Zuko paused closing his eyes. "My mother would be disappointed in me." He said as tears welled up in his eyes.
"Damn right she would! How could you let something happen like that! How could you just sit and wa-"
"Sokka!" Hokoda screamed silencing the boy. "Sokka just disappointed with the events of tonight."
"Disappointed?" Sokka said standing back up, "I'm infuriated! How did you let this happen to her?"
"It's wasn't a choice Sokka, I wasn't there to protect her." Zuko said blinking away tears of remorse.
"You should have been." Sokka stated resuming his position in his seat.
"We need to stop dwelling on the past, what's done is done. Zuko did not hurt his sister, there was nothing he could do. Now we must focus on helping Azula." No one said anything to Hokoda statement, Katara just looked at Zuko trying to tell him something without words. Sokka looked at the floor, Hokoda couldn't tell if he was looking at the floor in shame or in rage.
"Zuko." Hokoda said dragging Zuko's attention away from Katara.
"Yes." He said sighing along with it.
"Do you know of anyone else who is coming? I know that your Uncle in currently in Ba Sing Se, at his teashop where are you and Azula planning to stay.
"I was hoping we could stay at the hospital for a while, until Uncle got news and he drove up here to get us."
"Nonsense, you're staying with us do you understand me! I will not let you children go back with that man." Zuko looked up at him as if to say please don't.
"Thank you Hokoda but he is our father and you and I both know that he will do all in his power to have Azula and I returned to him." Zuko looked Hokoda right in the eyes daring him to lie to him saying that they wouldn't.
"Why?" Katara breathed feeling blistering rage build up in herself as well, "For that sake of Agni would you be forced to go back to that man when he bea-"
"Excuse me Zuko?" A nurse asked from the end of the hall. Zuko looked at Katara and then turned back to the nurse.
"Yes?"
"She's asking for you." She stated motioning for him to follow her back into the room. Zuko got up and walked into the room that they now assumed Azula was in. "Well are you coming?" The nurse asked looking back towards the Kaisers, and without a word they got up and followed Zuko into Azula's room.
* * *
**This was the fastest update of my life! But it's break and i am getting a lot of shit done so her ya go! Enjoy! Anyway if any of you people can tell me what happened to Azula (as if it isn't obvious enough) i'll give you a cookie! I do NOT own avatar Mike and Bryan do! **
**Love,**
**LifetimesWorth**
3. Time is what we want most
**Time is What We Want Most, But What we Use Worst**
Katara new that her father was not one to puke, there were some exceptions like when he was sick and when their mother died, but she would have never suspected him to vomit just at the sight of Azula. But even when Katara saw her she would admit her stomach went queasy.
Seeing Azula was like no sight she had seen before. Last week Katara promised herself that she would never sympathize for Azula, never help Azula, and never even bother with Azula. But this happened and it was almost too easy to break that promise. The only thing visible to them was Azula face but that was all needed to make her father puke and causing everyone else to take a double take.
She didn't even look like Azula anymore, her face was swollen like she was stung by a thousand bees. Her eyes were surrounded by black, and her hair was a frizzy mess. Her entire face looked like it was died black and blue with an occasional red of either dried blood or raw skin. She literally looked like wolverines clawed her face.
Katara had to look away she couldn't bare the sight. Sokka slumped down in his chair finally just allowing tears to spill over his eye lids. Katara body told her to run over to Zuko and comfort him, but her mind told her he needed space and to talk to his sister. Sadly her mind won.
"Azula," Zuko whispered calmly as he sat on the edge of her bed.
"Zuzu," She whispered back, Katara didn't even see her mouth open, let alone her eyes they seemed swollen shut together. "Everything hurts Zu, what are we going to do?"
"Don't worry about it Azula I'll take care of you we won't stay in the house, we could even go on a long term "vacation" with Uncle, we'd still be in his custody but were almost out of High school, everything will be fine."
"You just keep telling yourself that then, I guess I'll deal with our family issues again." Zuko face became stern, he knew she was right him and Azula had never had a golden brother sister relationship, right now he was doing the best he could.
"Azula lets just stay here for a while okay, you still need to be under a doctor's care I mean it hasn't even been an entire night yet." He sighed getting up from the side of her bed, "What did you even want to say to me?"
"I," She paused thinking debating on whether or not she should tell him the truth, "I need, I mean wanted to know if you were still, well here.. I thought that maybe you left me and I was…"
"Azula I will never leave you again." He leaned in and gave her a hug, Hakoda heard muffled cries from Azula as she sobbed into Zuko shoulder. The siblings had been through so much tonight, and for the first time I think that they are realizing that they were all each other had.
"We should probably leave, it's getting late and they need to be left alone," He said quietly to his children, the obliged walking to the door of Azula's hospital room.
"Wait," They heard a voice say from behind, Katara turned around in shock because the voice sounded so broken and full of despair and there was only one face in that room that matched to voice. Azula's eyes widened when she and Katara made eye contact. "What are they doing here?" Her voice seemed less broken and more like her normal voice, filled with venom, but behind that venom you could hear the despair, it wasn't until then that Katara realized it was already there.
"Well um," Zuko looked confused too, "Well I found them outside in the waiting room the ambulance must have woken them,"
"Oh do you know?"She asked it seemed as if the question was directed towards Katara, but Katara was to distract by Azula face to answer, she didn't want to be mean but she couldn't help but stare. All of Katara's life Azula had been beautiful, perfect, problem less she was everything, but now it was as if she was stripped of everything that made her great, and wonderful, normally Katara who have been overjoyed and laughed at the irony but she could only shudder in pity.
"Know what?" Her father answered for her.
"I was not asking you, I'm asking her, do you know what happened to me?" Azula asked Katara once again, Katara was in shock, Azula had never directly talked to her before, she wasn't sure how to answer.
"I umm, ahh." She was dumbfounded, "Well yes." Azula leaned back into her bed.
"The whole schools going to know, drama is my thing but this, this is just embarrassing. " She crossed her arms over her chest, she may be hurt, badly, but she's still the same old Azula.
"No, Katara won't say anything. Will you Katara?" I shook my head no.
"That's if she already hasn't." Azula said looking at me with hate and hope in her eyes. "Does anyone else from school know?"
"Azula don't worry about it, if they find out there not going to laugh at you." Zuko said butting into the conversation.
"No laughing I can handle, pity, sympathy, those things I cannot. But besides that what are you doing here?" For a girl who just had the shit beat out of her she sure was talkative.
"We were concerned, when we found out what happened we rushed over to make sure that you two," He emphasized on the two, "We okay."
"So you all know what happened, well care to share?" Everyone shifted in an uncomfortable position. "Well?" What was Azula doing? Was she testing them, or was she in denial of what really happened to herself? Katara looked around the room begging someone else to answer so she didn't have to, she looked at Sokka he was looking down at the floor squinting his eyes shut with his fist bawled. She didn't recall him talking at all throughout this conversation, Azula followed her gaze.
"Sokka would like to tell us of the fulfilling tail of what landed me in this hospital bed, I am very curious to hear what you have to say." Sokka looked up at her, baring his teeth. Katara wasn't sure if he was mad at Azula for making him repeat the awful things she went through that night, or if he was mad at the prosecutor.
Hakoda wanted to shout at the girl, she had no right to interrogate them. Why on earth was she doing it? Did she not know the whole story herself, or was she testing them to see if they truly knew. Azula had always been a strange girl, beautiful, but terrible, she was like a rose in that matter, only she had shaper thrones.
"Well," He said trying to calm himself down. "From what I heard," He alleged, using just as cruel of a tone as she had, "You were beaten, bad," He kept it short and to the point he didn't want to go in detail about the subject.
"How bad?" She questioned no emotion showed on her face, nothing shined through her cold mask. He cleared his throat.
"I don't know I wasn't there," Sokka said looking away from the shattered girl in front of him.
"Well you take a good look and tell me," He glanced up at her, not even bothering to hide his rage.
"He broke your bones, he must have punched you repeatedly over and over, in the face," Now it was Sokka being the cruel one, he seemed to be taking pleasure in the look of horror in Azula face. "He clawed at you, bashed your head in, he scared you." Sokka smiled so evilly he didn't even look like Katara's brother anymore.
"Sokka," she whispered shocked at him. Zuko's face was firm
"No it's fine, I asked him to share with us" Azula said she composed herself. "Who exactly is this he you are talking about?" She glared daggers at him daring him to say it.
"Ozai Moretti, Your father." Sokka looked at her waiting for a response, begging for a response. Azula smirked.
"So you do know, congratulations." She laughed, "I honestly didn't think you would have enough guts to say it to my face, might I say I am very impressed." Sokka smiled he may not be book smart, but I did not take him long to figure out Azula's mind games. The tension in the room seemed to almost vanish but no completely. Hakoda yawned as the night finally caught up to him.
"It's getting late," Zuko said standing up from his place on Azula's bedside. "I can show you to the door if you need help."
"Yes please!" Sokka said yawning also.
"Follow me." Zuko stated as the Kaiser family pursed after him. Sokka was the last to leave and he glanced back one last time looking at the abused girl, she smiled at him only slightly, it was hard to tell with her inflamed face but it was defiantly there. Sokka returned it, silently closing the door behind him, he didn't stop grinning for the rest of the night.
* * *
**Sorry about the long wait! ^^ And i am also sorry that Sokka is like sooo OOC (out of character) in this! I mean one minute he's fighting Azula in her mind games and then he's all happy and shit...Anyway about Azula and Zuko yeah, i'm making them have a stronger bond with each other in this story, i know they really do care about each other deep down and instead of just deep down i'm making it less deep...You caught my drift. Next the title was quoted by William Penn, I know that this really doesn't have anything to do with time but i really like the saying! Lastly i do NOT own Avatar the Last Airbender Mike and Bryan do! **
4. Suffering is Optional
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
* * *
I do not own any parts of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Those rights go to Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko
* * *
When mental illness is the norm, only extreme emotional disturbance and extreme enlightenment are considered mentally ill, you know you're at the Moretti house hold. But lately things were shaping out for the better. Today was the day that Azula was being released from the hospital after the brutal beating she took. Today was the day that he and Azula were going to be moving in to Katara's house. Today was shaping out to be a really good day, but then again, the day had only just begun.
"Turn right in one tenth of a mile." Zuko's GPS said in monotone, Zuko was on his way to the hospital to start a new life between himself and his sister. He was thrilled about this yet terrified, how would Azula react? Not well, his mind told him.
Making a swift right the hospital came into view and all of Zuko's thoughts were quickly diminished. He followed the signs cautiously, parking right at the front doors, careful to leave space for people in an emergency, who knows what could happen while he's signing Azula out? After hearing the successful click of his car he quickly shuffled in through the glass double doors, greeted to the sight of an agitated Azula, as the nurse checked for any last minute healing checkups. He waved at her doing his best to muster up a friendly smile, but she only scowled.
Approaching the front desk he gave the manager small smile his way, which he didn't care to return."I'm here for Azula Lombardi Moretti." She gave him a questioning eyebrow, "Please." He added a little too quickly, shifting his weight to his other foot.
He signed the papers she silently handed him, swishing them back at her. She nodded over in his sister direction as he wearily approached her. She looked well, her face was returned to its norm, the black and blues had quickly faded along with all swelling, the only thing that remained was a few scratches and a massive wound still wrapped on her back. Other than that she was back in her normal clothes, minus the heels of course, but she sported an oversized blue shirt that flowed over her curves but still held a baggy look, along with a regular pair of skinny jeans. She had asked him to bring her clothes a week ago, he did his best to raid her closet unknown by their _loving_ father, he frowned thinking of him.
"Hey." She started averting her eyes from his steady gaze, "Where are we headed too? Uncles?" She said doing her best to not be spiteful, he grinned at her, happy enough to see that she was okay.
"No, better." He beamed she eyed him timidly as his told her about the Kaisers.
"Why would they practically take us in, no offense but I never recall a steady relationship, if one at all with the Kaisers, why would they do this for us?" She question, raising a single eyebrow. He knew instantly that she didn't want this, she didn't want to live with them, but he was overjoyed about it and he would not permit her to kill his mood.
"Listen Azula, the Kaiser's are doing a nice thing for our family in a time of need, we should be grateful not judge mental." He frowned at her, she scowled in response.
"What family?" she mumbled as he continued to ignore her, wheeling her out of the hospital giving the nurses a friendly wave on his way out. She shifted off the wheel chair tired of being catered to and he handed her a pair of black Uggs® from last year, she didn't prefer the shoes but she wasn't about to complain.
The drive over remained in silence with the exception of Taio Cruz blasting out of Zuko's speakers. He mind drifted to Katara her silky chocolate brown skin, her big cerulean eyes, the sound of her laugh and how it ran chills down his spine. He almost didn't notice when Azula spoke to him, almost.
"Where here." She stated flatly motioning to the elegantly sized white house filled out with dark blue shutters. Zuko stopped the car in one swift motion as he and Azula pulled out the little lugged he managed to grab from the hatch.
"Please be civil." He begged as she threw her backpack over her shoulders.
"I'll do my best, dear Zuzu." She said, frowning at the petite amount of luggage. He sighed, she was hopeless. They walked up to the front door both eyeing their prior mansion next to the moderately sized house. He rang the door bell stepping back and looking at Azula.
"This is it, we're going to be safe now, _we_ can't screw this up, okay?" She knew that when he said we he was referring to her.
"Like I said before, I'll do my best but I'm only behaving if she does-" Azula was cut off by the swift opening of the wooden front door.
"Hello." Said a pleasant Hakoda grinning widely at the two, he stepped aside motioning for the two to come in slowly Azula followed Zuko into the small foyer. Looking around Azula found all usual types of things, a chair and table, mirrors and paintings filled in the white walls everything seemed ordinary nothing extravagant, just eye sores, he minded said but she quickly dismissed the thought looking at the man in front of her. He was still grinning as he looked her up and down, probably expecting her for bruises and such frivolous things of that matter. Following him came a boy looking to be slightly younger than Zuko stumbling down the thin staircase.
"As you two know, this is Sokka, and that." He motioned to the top of the stairs "Is Katara." Hakoda smiled goofily along with Sokka as Katara made her way down the staircase eyes locked with Zuko's.
"Welcome." She said making a silly gesture beaming at Zuko, who took her hand and laid a soft kiss upon it, Sokka's grin became a frown but lightened up a bit seeing the small figure behind Zuko.
The entire greeting was absolutely disgusting for Azula. They were so sweet and welcoming, it was abnormal, just from her first 2 minutes in her new "home" Azula could tell this would be the most unpleasant place she had ever been to. She sighed at the depressing thought she would probably be staying here for a long time, either until father -Ozai- decided to regain his full custody over them or until The Jasmine Dragon gave Uncle enough of a break to create a room for his niece and nephew.
It took Azula about 15 seconds of daydreaming to realize that everyone in the entire room was staring at her, this took things to a whole new level of awkwardness.
"Hi." She stated plain and simple, waving her hand in a strange way, she mentally slapped herself. There was silence for what seemed like an eternity before they too broke down in another round of welcoming. The beginning was going to be the hardest, and Azula knew that, but oh, how she wished it wasn't true.
* * *
**This was a very long update and i Apologize for that, I Don't own Ugg or Toai Cruz. And I don't own your reviews either but i really would appreciate them! :)**
5. First you Must Forgive Yourself
First you Must Forgive Yourself, Before Others Decide to Follow
* * *
I do not own any parts of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Those rights go to Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko
* * *
The weekend was a blur consisting of finding a newspaper articles holding the most unpleasant titles such as Father vs. Daughter, Ozai Reinvented Battle of Wits, Azula Moretti Maimed.
Azula wasn't to the least to say, disturbed, by the titles but more so by the jumbles of words written beneath them. She read the first two before becoming too sick to go on, Katara seemed a tad worried even Sokka laid off but Zuko decided that the more the read the easier it would be for her to coop with things and so she spent her Saturday and Sunday studying up on how she was almost beaten to death. _Fun_.
But now it was Monday morning and although she didn't show it Azula couldn't be happier. Today she was going back to school allowing her to escape the Kaisers for 6 hours, oh and she had after school soccer practice, terrific. Her mood was the best it's been in a long time while the others looked duller than Mai.
Azula sat at the table now sipping down a rather small cup of black coffee while Hakoda sat in the kitchen cooking the rest of the teen's breakfast. Today Azula was keeping things simple, she wore a navy blue floral tank top with a soft white T-shirt that was cut off early exposing the bottom of her tank top and draping over her one shoulder and dark blue skinny jeans which she rolled up enough to reveal dark leather flip flops tied off with a navy bow. She looked laid back today, but it would due.
"Are you excited to go back?" Hakoda asked glancing up from the eggs he was scrambling.
"I guess." She shrugged. He sighed trying to start another new conversation with the poor girl and again epically failing. Soon however the next person dragged themselves out of bed, Katara, apparently realizing the importance of appearance she made herself presentable enough with a simple blue T-shirt that flowed down into a kaki miniskirt. She then stumbled down the stairs followed by Zuko they both were welcomed by large grins from Hakoda as they began discussing breakfast.
Bored Azula glanced over at Zuko. Zuko looked _somewhat_ normal today, she concluded, he wore a black tunic of rapper named Lil'Wanye and dark blue jeans, but Azula couldn't help but wonder why in the hell Zuko would wear a graphic Tee but decided to forget about it. He scarfed down some toast as he and Katara chatted about things Azula was to unconcerned about to listen too. They were soon interrupted though by a noisy Sokka moping his way down the dirty staircase. He was still in his pajamas with fifteen minutes to go before they would be driving off to school.
"Good morning." He offered grinning at her before taking swig out of the milk cartoon which Hakoda slapped away from him."
"Gross Sokka." He whispered whipping off the top.
"Morning." Zuko said in monotone and Katara went on yelling at Sokka about how he was going to make them late but he ignored her sitting across from Azula at the wood table shoveling down mountains of food.
"So Zula." He said between bites as Hakoda gave him a warning frown.
"It's Azula A-zula." She repeated, he was really tampering her mood.
"How do you think the kids are gonna react to ya, you know since you haven't been here in a while and they all read what happened in the paper?" He asked liking down a milk mustache, he was quickly answered with a sharp slap to the back of his head from his loving sister.
"Azula will be fine Sokka." Katara said clearing her bowl into the sink. But Azula heart sank, she hadn't thought about that, she did her best to forget the fact that her father had pretty much deliberately tried to kill her, she shuddered remember his cold fist coming in contact with her soft cheek.
"I didn't think about that." She said honestly, biting her lip.
"Jesus Azula! Relax they worship you there you'll be fine." Zuko said giving Sokka an annoyed look, Katara frowned at his words.
"I agree with Zuko, Azula no one will say anything just have fun today okay?" Hakoda asked looking at her helpful trying to find out what she was really thinking.
"Yeah come on we really should get a move on." Katara urged running in the bathroom to put on some last minute lip gloss.
"Give my five minutes!" Sokka yelled taking on last bite before sprinting upstairs. Azula smirked with her trade mark red lips as she shifted into her formal black jacket.
* * *
The ride over was mostly silent, Katara and Zuko talked a little bit in the front seat but Azula was quite, really bummed out that she had to sit next to Sokka in the back. After fifteen more minutes they arrived at the school Azula would have normally sprinted out of the dingy car but she held back slowly opening her door and scanning her surrounding before making her presence known, it seemed that because of the fortunately nice weather everyone was standing outside today waiting for the bell to ring, _great_. Slowly she stood up and little by little the entire student body became hushed. She eyed them all taking in the skeptical gazes before giving them an awkward wave.
"AZULA!" She heard about twenty people scream watching as Mai and Ty Lee and some other unnamed cheerleaders and jocks came sprinting towards her. These were supposed to be some of her closes friends yet she felt a lump in her throat so tight that she couldn't even speak. That wasn't a problem however she was overwhelmed with millions of tight hugs everyone else seemed to be talking but her.
"Oh Azula we missed you so much!"
"How are you Azula?"
"Are you okay Azula?"
"It's great to have you back Azula!"
She just grinned looking at all there fake smiles, did they really miss her at all? But her thoughts were averted from a certain voice she was just itching to hear.
"Hey baby." A calm voice said from behind her, before she could turn around to speak to him she was lifted from behind as he spun her around "Jet!" She gasped mid spin, he set her down right in front of Sokka who was staring at the man holding her like he was the devil. Normally she would have thought something of his face but was too distracted at the moment.
She whirled around facing him, "I missed you! Why in the hell didn't you come visit me!" She yelled attracting lots of unwanted stairs.
He paused for a moment looking into her eyes. "I couldn't see you like that Zulie, if I did I would have had to of killed you father I swear-" but he was cut off with her arms around him he smirked wrapping his arms back around her small frame.
"Aw you two!" Shouted Star, one of the schools cheerleaders, Azula didn't know her too, too well but enough to know her name.
"We missed you Azula." Mai repeated actually smiling. The bell rung and all of the observing teens rushed inside. "Let's go we're going to be late." She said walking ahead as everyone followed her. Azula followed Mai too with Jets arm tightly wrapped around her shouldered, the hallways were dense with students slamming lockers and shuffling around.
"Well, look who it is." Said two jocks, Azula vaguely knew them, their names were Chan and Ruon-Jian. "It's daddy's favorite princess, looking hotter than ever." Azula tensed up at the mention of her father but continued walking with Jet, today wasn't going to be perfect but she was sure she could make it through, at least, she hoped.
* * *
Zuko smiled as Azula was overwhelmed with her frie-followers. He wrapped his arms around Katara as she eyed the girl perhaps a little jealous of her, _just a little_. Zuko hoped as he tore her away from the sight playfully dragging her into the building.
He still kept a close look on Azula throughout the day, occasionally someone would question her about Ozai, he could see it warring away at her nerves but she was well enough to just tell them to fuck off instead of bashing their head in worse than hers was. Jet was there for her sometimes too, when people would say things, he was for the most part a good boyfriend and although he was completely dormant when Azula was hurt, he was making up for it now, but apparently not everyone thought that.
"I hate Jet." Sokka spat as he sat down at the lunch table, Zuko glanced over at Jet and Azula as they playfully feed each other little pieces of food. The sight did make his stomach lurch but it didn't make him hate Jet.
"Why's that?" Zuko asked taking a long sip of the cruddy cafeteria milk.
"I just do okay, he's a bad guy I know it." Sokka said smashing around his chicken.
"Whatever Sokka." Zuko said sensing a soft spot. _Sokka couldn't possibly have feelings for his sister could he? No, he's probably just got some beef with Jet or something…Yeah._ Zuko though dismissing a rather disturbing image of Sokka and Azula making out, he shuddered turning his attention back to his lunch.
* * *
Meanwhile Sokka sat a lunch think between his hatred for Jet and of course his delectable food. _I wonder what Azula see's in him_? Sokka thought, _wait why do I care, I couldn't possibly have feelings for Zuko's sister could I? No, I probably just have some past beef with Jet that I totally forget about now….Yeah, I hope._ Sokka was snapped out of his wonderful thought of him and Azula making out from the lunch bell.
"Sokka, Sokka?" Zuko waved his hand in front of Sokka's face.
"Oh sorry yeah, I'm coming." Sokka said shaking himself back into reality but he couldn't help thinking about the youngest Moretti, _what was wrong with him?_
* * *
**Longer then normal which i probably why everyone's acting a bit OOC towards the end but keep in my that Azula is still kinda cooping with things** **and Sokka well hes dealing with strange new feelings i guess****, anyway i own no parts to Avatar Mike and Bryan do, hope you liked!**_
_
6. Love and Be Loved
Bleeding Lies 6
* * *
I do not own any parts of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Those rights go to Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko
* * *
Another week had finally passed, he Sokka Kaiser survived another week of homework, swimming practice, and watching Azula and Jet suck face. But thank the lord Easter, sorry _Spring_, break was finally here. Easter comes at the perfect time, the begging of spring, just after lent, and just in time to replenish your candy from Halloween.
And Sokka could not be more thankful for a break for everyday life, he thought reaching in the refrigerator for a water bottle, this was going to be a good break. He hoped up on marble counter top happily chugging down his water thinking about all the fun things planned for over break, he almost missed Azula walking in the door. Swimming practice and soccer practice usually let out at the same time but since this was the last practice until everyone gets back from break the intense soccer coach probably pushed them an extra hour.
"What's up?" He said nodding her way with a very playful smile. She just shushed him and pointed to the phone against her ear. _Oh_ he mouthed as she sat down on the kitchen chair setting her Juicy tote bag next to her.
"Yes I know," She said into the device her voice almost sounded flirty and happy, almost. "Well of course we will I mean…" Sokka bent in closer trying to hear the voice on the other side of the line.
"What are you doing?" She asked covering her phone with a delicate hand, he hadn't realized that he had walked up behind her listening in on her conversation.
"I uhhh.." He racked his brain for any excuse, "There was, ahh, a bug, yeah a bug, in your hair and I, uhh, I was um, getting it out, for you…" He lied rubbing the back of his neck.
"EW! EW! WHAT!" She said dropping her phone, "Get it out! GET IT OUT!" undoing her hair from its messy bun, and running her finger through it he panicked a little before pretending to yank a bug out of her hair and toss it across the room.
"You're welcome." He smiled as relief spread across her features there eyes locked, He couldn't help but smiling at her for some reason she looked undeniable beautiful right now. "Your hair," He said as she instantly tore her eyes from his and tried to tie it up again. "No, I mean it looks really good down."
"Whatever." She said rolling her eyes and tying it up in a ponytail. He gave her a weird look as if to say then why are you putting it up, but she only shrug in response. He hadn't realized that he was so close to her, I mean he was practically sitting in her chair, if there was any time to make a move it would be now.
"So Azula, I was wondering maybe…" He stopped short seeing a glint in her eyes, he wasn't sure what it meant but that didn't matter because she stopped him short saying…
"Sorry Sokka, I have to go call Jet back." Jet! He had totally forgotten about that fag! Why did she even like him, he was a total ass to everyone and he didn't even bother to visit or help her when she needed him most, but Sokka was there for her.
He opened his mouth to voice this too her, to explain everything he was feeling and how she should be with him and not jet but all that came out was a simple "Yeah." And then he watched he walk away.
/BREAK/
Dinner with the Kaisers was in short normal, they pretty much just talked about the latest school scandal or about their grades, they even had the occasional sex talk but that averaged to be about once a month at a minimum. Of course tonight it seemed anything but for Azula, something was off with her today. She had done perfectly fine in school, she knew for a fact she aced that Physics test and she scored three goals in the scrimmage they had at practices today but at the moment she had this swishing feeling in her stomach.
"Azula are you going to eat?" She looked up to see who was talking to her, the voice belonged to Hakoda, he looked honestly concerned and it sickened her so much that she couldn't even look him in the eye.
"Actually I'm not very hungry tonight." She mumbled tracing one of the many scars in her arm that her father forced upon her. Zuko groaned at her comment but she ignored him.
"Why is that?" Hakoda asked pushing on the subject.
"I just, I feel," How could she put this? I'm just not hungry." He gave her a skeptic look clearly not buying her lie but he chose to ignore it. She watched as they all ate in silence, clearly she had made this an awkward moment, something that she was not used to dealing with but they seemed to be happening so much lately.
"So how was your day today kids?" Hakoda continued on sensing everyone's discomfort.
"I got my Algebra test back, and I got an A on it." Katara said toying with the food on her plate probably contemplating if she would look like a pig eating when Azula was not.
"That's wonderful," Hakoda said he actually seemed happy about it and surprised too, much unlike her father he would have expected that, they probably wouldn't even be eating dinner with him. "and what about you Sokka?"
She turned her head to look at him, his eyes were linked to hers it made her whole mind go blank and she felt her knees going weak. "I had a good day today." He said tearing his eyes away from hers and setting his fork on his plate, Hakoda gave Sokka a strange look apparently he picked up on something but he didn't bother to say anything about it.
"Me too, I got to chill all of second period because we had a sub in geology so I just skipped out." Zuko said shaking Azula out of her daze, What was going on with her! This boy kept throwing her off track! How did he do it! WHY did she feel like this! In the back of her mind Azula already knew but there was no way she was going to admit that she had Jet, plus this was probably just aftermath of what her Ozai did to her, when that happen he probably left her disoriented that's all.
"How was your day Azula?" Her head snapped in the direction of Katara. The girl seemed to be trying to look through her but Azula was good at keeping everyone out.
"My day was fine. They almost didn't let me play soccer because," She closed her eyes "because they said I had injuries and they didn't want me to rip any stitches but I told the coach I'd be fine and looks like I was right." She bent her head down staring into her plate, Hakoda made a small sound in agreement and then went back to devouring his meal.
The rest of dinner was ate in silence the most awkward one yet, and all Azula could do was sit listen to the clanking of forks against glass plates and wonder what was making her feel this way.
* * *
**Haha this was a major FILLER CHAPTER! Sorry it took me soooo long to update and then i give you this crap but hey it Sokkla right? Haha i did this because i need a base to really kick off the pairing but i promise after this i will get back on track and continue to follow the plot i set up! Haha until then i don't own avatar and thanks for reading!**
7. I Need You, More Than You Will Ever Know
**I Need You, More Than You Will Ever Know**
* * *
**I do not own any parts of Avatar: The Last Airbender**
**Those rights go to Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko**
* * *
Azula scanned herself in the mirror, she was alone in the gym changing room and wasn't wearing anything but her matching set of pink lacy underwear she bought a while back from Victoria's secret. But that wasn't what Azula was looking at, no her eyes were jumping from bruise to bruise, cut to cut, everything seemed permanently stitched into her skin. She whirled around talking a long look at the gauge on her lower back. She remembers what happen so vividly it almost hurt, she can picture the moment, she was running from him and she didn't know where else to go so she sprinted into the kitchen, which was apparently not a good idea. Her father followed of course, and at the same moment he caught her hand and reached out for the only weapon available, a vegetable peeler. The rest she rather not recall. She sighed shuffling over to her locker and yanking out her gym bag, she had waited until everyone else had left to change, she never was one to feel uncomfortable about her body but that was when it wasn't covered in gashes. She shimmied into her shorts when she heard a locker door slam and she turned around to see her coach leaning on the wall next feet behind her staring at her back.
"That looks serious Azula." She stated watching the girl frantically yank a shirt over her head.
"It's nothing coach." She head as her head pop out from underneath her hoodie.
"That doesn't look like nothing to me Azula you sure you should be playing with these injuries?" Her coach inquired raising an eyebrow while Azula sighed.
"If it was anything serious coach it would show in my playing, and since I scored five goals today I don't think there's a problem." Azula responded grabbing her bag eager to leave her coaches discriminating glare.
"Wait," The coach said grabbing her arm as she stalked off, "I'm trying to watch out for you Azula, since it doesn't seem like you have other people too…I just want to make sure you don't push yourself to hard okay?" Azula immediately yanked her arm out of her coach's firm grip staring the women in the eye.
"Listen coach Sela, I have plenty of people to watch out for me thanks. And I'll be the judge of how hard I can 'push myself' okay?" Azula was out the door before the coach could answer.
The first thing to catch her eye when storming out of the gym was Zuko, he was sitting down on the hallway floor his back leaning against the wall and his hands draped over his knees.
"Hey-" He started but she just flew past him, she was already in a bad mood the last thing she needed right now was Zuko and him just being his annoying self. "Well I guess you're going to have to find a new ride home." He mocked as she scoffed at him rolling her eyes and telling him to hurry up.
"Whatever you say Az," he sighed sauntering off to the car and she sped up behind him, the car ride was silent at first and for the most part awkward, she was never very "close" to Zuko however she was sure he wasn't the type to just blossom out with a conversation.
"So.." He started as she eyed him. "How was, ah, how was school?" She sighed he could be such a dork sometimes.
"School was fine Zuko don't worry about it." She told him looking out the passenger side window.
"Well what took you so long in the locker room? I mean all the other girls left really fas-"
"Our coach wanted to talk to me about the game, like I said before don't worry about it." She said rolling her eyes at him, if she really wanted Zuko to know she would've told him.
"I'm not worrying about it Azula, I was just wondering you are my sister after all and we should probably just stick together.." He trailed off looking at the glint in her eyes "For a while at least, you know until this situation passes bye…" Now she was giving him to full off glare. He decide to shut up now and turn on the radio station, to at least create a small diversion from the death stare in her eyes.
Nicki Minaj's rapping voice bounced out from the speakers for the rest of the ride home, Super Bass would be stuck in his head all day. When they finally reached the Kaisers house he noticed how Azula almost seemed like she rather be back in the car then inside, he couldn't blame her though. She was never a fan of the Kaisers and they really didn't seem to be a fan of her.
"Come on," He said nodding his head to the front door. "I'm hungry."
She sighed again, she was really beginning to make him think of Mai, she moseyed into the small wooden door way rolling her eyes as the voices of the Kaisers filled her ears. Yes the wonderful screeching of Sokka, and whining of Katara and yelling of Hakoda but then there was another voice, a voice that made her heart stop, her blood run cold, and her body freeze.
"You were never a legal guardian to either of them, they are mine and forever will be." The stern voice called from the kitchen beckoning for it's children to come back. Zuko looked at Azula fear sketched in every spec of his face, but he held a touch of worry to him, he was worried for her.
"You can get them back with my dying breath." Hakoda fought back trying hard not to be intimidated by the large man standing above him. Zuko tore his eyes from her and slowly made his way into the kitchen, wanting so bad to destroy his father he motioned for Azula to follow, but Azula couldn't even move, she stood planted firmly onto the hardwoods of the foyer and was not leaving.
"I'll be back at the end of this week and if you don't have them packed and ready I'll be sure to take you away from your children." Ozai threatened as he began to storm out of the house, he ran into Zuko, staring the boy down and meekly pushing him aside. He reached Azula there's eyes passed for a moment and Azula would've sworn she died right then and there. But he stalked on, slamming the door on his way out.
Hakoda walked into the foyer after him, stopping when he caught sight of the two siblings, he had never seen kids more afraid and the looks on there faces made him sick to his stomach.
"Don't worry, I will not let this happen." He huffed giving them one last reassuring glance before heading back into the kitchen, while Katara and Sokka took his place.
By this point the fear had caught up to Azula and she collapsed to the floor slightly shaking as a cold hand touched her bare shoulder. She flung her head at the source, trying to swallow down the lump in her throat. It was Sokka, he was down on his knees next to her a concerned expression shown throughout his features. Zuko wasn't far behind him which meant that Katara was near too. Azula finally began breathing again the fear washing over her replaced by three faces. Three faces she did not have time for, three faces that she hated to know end, three faces that were only trying to help, three faces that she needed to get away from.
Before anyone could stop her Azula was out of the house, she had fled like a scared puppy and know one had a clue as to were she would go. They called Jet in hopes that she would seek out him but they had no luck, but why would they have luck? It was Azula's thing not theirs. Jet did however show up at the house, he looked honestly worried about her, or worried about who he could bang if they didn't find her, as Sokka had put it.
"Where else could we look, I mean there's gotta be somewhere else she would go!" Jet shouted shaking the table with his slamming fist, they were all seated in the kitchen tired from the days search yet still brainstorming about Zuko's little sister whereabouts.
"Jet, we checked everywhere, Ty Lee's, the school, her friends houses... There's no other places."Katara reinforced him, doing her best to calm him down, she casted a pleading glance at her father as if to ask for help but he just shrugged at her. They hadn't in fact checked all the places a lot of people they called but it was still to no avail.
"What about the local library down the corner, she always used to pass time reading books there?" Sokka questioned, casting glares Jet's way.
"No, the last place she'd want to be is somewhere public, somewhere he can find her." Zuko spat, his eyes never leaving the wooden table to which he's been staring at all night.
No one said anything to that, they all looked at the table now, millions of questions running through everyone's head.
"What about you Jet? Where do you think she might be? You know since you're her boyfriend and all." Sokka hissed, glaring daggers at the tall football player sitting before him.
"I know as much as you Sokka, Azula liked to keep to herself, I can't help the fact that she never told me anything." He mumbled the last part looking over his shoulder at the unlocked door waiting for Azula to return.
"Well maybe you should have paid more attention to her! I always knew Azula needed a better boyfriend, one that wasn't a snot ass pig bastard such as yourself." Sokka howled at him, jumping out of his chair and rocking the table. Which almost flipped when Jet jumped up ready to defend himself, physically and verbally.
"You know what Sokka I don't know what makes you so stupid but it really works!" Katara pipped up trying to keep peace between the to boys.
"Katara is right! And that goes to the both of you! The last thing we need right now is a fight! Azula is missing! For Christ sake!" Hakoda chimed in, throwing Sokka back in his seat as Jet settled down.
"He's right." Zuko said he looked up and his deep gold eyes poured into Sokka's smooth blue ones. "And I think I know where my sister is."
* * *
She got in the car, no Zuko's car, and speed away. Desperate to be rid of these people, desperate to be rid of this life, but most of all to be rid of this awful feeling engulfing her chest. She didn't know where else to go, but she needed to be alone, yet she needed help. In her right mind this would have been crazy and probably have hurt her more, but she had no one left to turn to but the dead.
Which is why she sat here, in front of her mothers grave, bawling her eyes out and begging for help, guidance, anything that the women who gave her nothing could possibly manage now.
At first she wasn't crying. She was talking, talking to a tombstone.
"Hey mom, yeah it's me, your daughter." She paused letting a family of four walk by, an image of her family crossed her mind, but that family was now broken beyond repair.
"I know I'm not really going to get any answer it's not like you can talk to me but, but i wish you could. I need you mom, I actually need some one, I wish you could help me, and Zuko. We need you! Mommy please! I don't know what to do, where to go!" An older lady walked by giving her a sad look but made no means to stop she just continued on her merry way.
"I'm hurt, we're hurt! He hurt us!" She paused again small tears forming in her big gold eyes. "But what would you do? What did you ever do? What can you do you're dead! You left us a long time ago! YOU LEFT US WITH HIM! Look what he did to me mom look!" She screeched, rolling up her sleeve and trusting her hand out towards the tombstone. Revealing countless scars and faded bruises.
She lost it for a moment, lost herself in hundreds of tears, representing every time he laid hands on her.
"Please, I never asked you for anything mom, just please help me, please." She begged, staring at the grave hoping for some kind of answer or response but there was nothing her pleading eyes saw, nothing her desperate ears heard. That's when she collapsed in the tears, it was like an endless river down her cheeks. She only sat in front of her mothers grave her face buried in her hands, for hours.
* * *
"Zuko it's so dark out are you sure you know which one it is! At this rate we'll never find her!" Katara yelled over the sounded of millions of raindrops thudding on the soft dirt of the cemetery.
"If she's even here." Sokka mumbled shielding himself from the icy bullets. Katara just glared at him looking ahead at Zuko.
"Father had her buried right under the plum tree, they were her favorite." He called racing ahead of them.
* * *
It seemed like hours he was sprinting through that long cemetery looking for her, when in reality it was mere minutes until the plum tree was insight. He used everyone ounce of strength to run atop the hill where it rested. He couldn't hear anything over the pounding of the rain over the rocks and the rustle of the leaves against the harsh wind. He couldn't even see when he had first gotten up there but...yes, there she was! It had to be her kneeling in front of the plum tree, her black hair undone and flowing in the wind. He finally reached her after what seemed like ages.
He placed a soft hand on her shoulder bending down next to her. He could hear her soft sobs now, she had cried out her tears hours ago and was now only wallowing in sadness and utter confusion. She didn't look at him probably figure that it was some one else, one of the cemetery workers asking her to leave because she was past hours or maybe it was Sokka.
He knelt down next to her giving her shoulder an extra tugged, he heard her sniffle commanding her tears to stop, weakness was something to pity. But it was to know avail she was lost now, completely shaken up and it would take so much to stop her tears, but it's okay he wasn't planning too.
He grabbed her arms and forced her hands away from her face, she'd been pitied enough. She finally gathered the means to look at him probably expecting Zuko which is why he wasn't surprised by her gasp.
She tried to escape but it was no use, he already had her by the hands there was no leaving now. He lifted her up and flung her over his shoulder, she was screaming but no one could hear her.
It didn't matter, he didn't care, he was Ozai, he didn't care about anything much less anyone.
* * *
**OMFG! Major plot twist there! hahah bet you thought that was Zuko! WELL YOU THOUGHT WRONG! Hahah i hope you guys enjoyed this i loved writing this chappy! So until next time I don't own avatar! And thanks for reading! Oh and btw I'm pretty sure the title is a song by Never Shout Never! ;)**
8. Every Super Hero Need Their Theme Music
**Bleeding Lies. **
******Ever Super Hero Needs their Theme Music.**
* * *
**I do not own any parts of Avatar: The Last Airbender**
**Those rights go to Michael Dante DiMartino, and Bryan Konietzko**
* * *
Have you ever watched yourself bleed? Watched as you stumble down a rancid alley way clutching an open wound? Have you ever watched the blood ooze between you tiny fingers staining anything the drops can get there little red hands on?
It's such a chilling thought for something as warm as blood. Running you're hands through the warm liquid will quickly remind you just how much blood is thicker than water.
By now you won't have much time left, you've been bleeding far too long now, you had once heard that it was healthy though. To bleed. Bleeding out things like sickness and disease, however in your case it be bleeding out all the pain and lies you were told. If you can bleed lies. But you're body can't bleed much of anything much longer. You've been spewing the hot liquid for far too long now, it's making your world turn black and white. With the exception of your blood, burning a dark rich red until that's all you can see.
/BREAK/
"And the last time you saw her was last night?"
Zuko nodded solemnly burying his scared head in his dirty palms.
"Alright listen you three. As chief of police I'm going to need to speak with you father for a few minutes, I want you to continue to think of any possible place she might be if she doesn't show up in an hour I'll send a search party." Long Feng order, staring at the three children in front of him.
"An hour? That's ridiculous she's been missing for twelve! If there's any time for a search party it would be now!"
"Sokka relax. I'm sure Mr. Feng knows what he's doing." Katara coaxed her brother giving his shoulder a tight squeeze.
"No Katara, Sokka's right. Mr. Long Feng _sir_, you don't happen to know my sister by chance, do you?" Zuko question giving the man a dangerously dark look.
"I don't believe I have _Mr_. Morretti." Long Feng lied smoothly taking a sip out of his mug.
"No I think you have. I believe she was the one who shoved you out of office last year from her compelling campaign for JooDee. She was assisting JooDee last year, I know for a fact since I was the one that had to drive her up every Tuesday and Thursday." Zuko condemned looking at the man through his long bangs.
"Are you inferring that I am prejudiced against my clients?" Long Feng raised an eyebrow setting down his mug.
"I think it be wise for you to warrant a search party now."
They eyed each other for several moments, Long Feng trying to read the mysterious boy in front of him and Zuko glaring through the mans blank eyes.
"You fight a thorough argument, you sister has taught you well. I shall send a search party after I finish speaking to Hakoda Kaiser."
"Damn right you will." Zuko muttered as he shuffled out the door.
They were greeted by Hakoda who jumped from the dingy waiting room chairs looking at them and begging for some sort of answer to an impossible question.
"He wants to talk to you dad." Sokka said taking his father's seat.
Hakoda nodded hopping in the room, desperate to find the abused girl. Katara watched as he smiled to her reassuringly before softly shutting the office door behind him.
"What was that about Zuko?" She said taking a seat next to Sokka as Zuko leaned against the wall across from them glaring at the faded carpet.
"Long Feng's a bastard." He sputtered, the secretary at the front desk stopped her typing to give him a skeptical look.
"Zuko.." Katara started but she was met with her brothers looming eyes telling her it was a subject not to press the scared boy on. "You should really sit down, it's been a long day."
Zuko flicked the hair out of his face a moseyed over to the seat next to Katara sighing as he sat on the stiff cushions.
"I can't believe Jet ditched." Sokka added diverting the conversation. "But I mean what can you expect from the self pleasing bitch that he was?"
"Alright Sokka." Katara snapped, nudging him in the shoulder playful.
"Yeah, yeah. You wait and see someday soon Azula will come to her sense about that boy, and date a real man."
"And you're a real man?"
"I never said it had to be me!" Sokka jumped waving his hands in the air trying to feign innocence. "Just that it should be someone worth spending her time on." He defended although his cheeks still held a faint blush.
"If Azula has any time to spend." Zuko added shielding himself into his gray hood.
"She'll be okay." Katara smiled grasping onto Zuko's pale hand. He didn't respond.
/BREAK/
Oh Agni how long had she been crawling, it felt like hours but she had only made it a block. She clutched her side harder in pure frustration.
"Ow!" She yelped, feeling more liquid seep through her fingers. Was he close behind now? Did he realize she had gotten away? Or had he let her go? Convinced that she would die and that he would forever be rid of his pitiful excuses for a daughter. She wouldn't blame him, it was her fault after all and she should have seen this coming she should have never started asking questions, it only landed her in a bad place…..
"_Dad do you ever think that maybe, maybe it was odd that Grandpa died the night of the fire? I mean it wasn't even in his house?"_
"_You shouldn't worry about these things Azula. It was eight years ago you were six, things from that night were haywire. It's best not to think about them."_
"_Well it's just awfully convenient don't you think? Along with moms car sinking into the lake."_
"_A freak accident Azula."_
"_But still, do you think that maybe someone murdered them or atleast-"_
_SLAP._
"_I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH. WE'RE DONE TALKING ABOUT THE SUBJECT." _
…..He should have known it wouldn't have been long until she figured it out, with his unstable reaction he should have at least noticed that it peaked her interest. She let out a long groan finally slumping onto the pavement. Crawling was no longer an option.
"Is someone there?" She heard a voice call from the opening of the alleyway. No..No..No..No..NO! She did not come this far to lose this easy! There was no way she was being put out of her misery, or worse to continue into even more depths of this pain. No matter who this person may be they were not getting near her.
"Hello?" She used to wall to stable herself, lucky for her it was dark. "Are you okay?" They seemed to be only looking to help, but that was not a chance she was willing to take, now she was onto her last resort. She looked down at her sputtering wound the gleam of silver caught her attention. 'This is going to her' She braced herself, 'but you are going to live' she wrapped her hand around the edges of the silver. On the count of three 1…..2….
"Do you need help?"…..3..She smashed her eyes shut biting her lip so hard it drew blood. But the dagger was out, and although her gash bleed like a river, she could fight.
"I suggest.." She started stepping closer to him and advertising the perfectly fined dagger. "That you continue on you merry way and worry less about mysterious people you think you hear in alleyways." She stepped into the light giving him a cold glare and unveiling the dagger to his fearful eyes.
"I'm not going to hurt you." He started, but she ignored him taking a step closer only to find that he was too. She paused for a moment studying the boy.
"My name is Aang Sawicki and I go to your school Azula Morretti, I'm a sophomore at Nations High." She only gulped gripping the dagger harder, as he took another step closer. "Azula I can smell the blood and I know you're hurt let me help you."
"How do you know it's help that I seek! Don't come any closer!" She warned taking her own step backwards.
"You're hurt, I don't want to hurt you more," He said coming closer. "Azula it's okay. I promise."
"Oh you promise? Well then I guess that just makes everything okay!"
"Azula put the knife down."
"I-I can't trust you….Aang."
"Yes you can."
/BREAK/
"Tell me what he asked one more time dad?" Sokka pleaded shoving his face infront of his fathers.
"Sokka I don't want to have to go through this again.."
"But dad.."
"Sir!" Long Fengs office door swung open and an officer stepped out with Long Feng right behind him. "We found her."
9. Just Pretending
"If you wanna be my lover. You gotta get with my friends. Making it to easy cause that's the way it is…"
Katara's phone roared "The Spice Girls" shocking everyone in the crummy waiting room. It seems like she just couldn't escape hospitals these days.
"Sorry." She started, apologizing to all the nervous Nelly's sitting in the emergency waiting room, before checking her text she quickly change her phone to vibrate.
"Katara this is not the time to be texting." Her father snapped at her, from across the room. She was going to shrug him off, just because she was in a hospital didn't mean her life had to be put on hold, but Sokka suddenly decided that he was going to make a reach for her phone. She smacked his hand away but, of course, her reflexives were way too slow, and he managed to grab her phone in the process.
"Aang Sawicki? Katara why do you always have to text such losers?" He snorted rummaging through her messages with one hand and blocking her with the other.
"Maybe because my brothers a loser." She yelled but it was muffled through his hand, as he attempted to block her from retiring the oh so precious cargo. Eventually, after some severe glares from her father, Katara just gave up.
"Ha-ha-ha how long did it take you to think of that one? Anyway why would you text him anyway? Potential love interest? OH! What will Zuko think!" Sokka smirked at his victory, jiggling her phone between his fingers. Hakoda pinched the bridge of his nose, why was it always his children that were just so immature? Could they never grasp the gravity of these types of situations?
"My God Sokka! I just wanted to see if he knew anything about Azula! Ya know! Since he was the one that found her stabbed in an alleyway!" Katara growled at him, slamming the her back against the uncomfortable plastic waiting room chairs and folding her arms into her lap. She glanced at her father and quickly realized that mistake. He was giving her the look, the 'I'm disappointed in' kind of look too. She immediately looked away.
Katara sighed, doing her best to ignore Sokka. However there were minimal distractions in the hospital waiting room and she soon found herself looking at the people. There was about five of them in the lobby, not including the Kaiser family. All were silent, with the exception of Sokka, however everyone seemed to preoccupied with themselves to even notice the obnoxious Kaiser boy. Katara rolled her eyes, glancing at the woman next to her, she seemed to be staring at Katara with a look of horror, and her mouth hung agape as if she were trying to put words together but didn't have the strength too.
"Azula Morretti?" The lady finally managed to make out. Katara turned her full attention away from Sokka and to the middle aged women. Her hair was a soft brown sprinkled with streaks of gray, her heart shape face was sprinkled with countless worry lines, but her two sharp golden eyes that very easily distracted from her wrinkles, her eyes were so filled with worry and emotion. She glanced at her dad, silently asking him if she should answer but he only seemed to be looking curiously at the women.
Katara took her father's silence as and okay and rotated in her seat to look the woman in the eye. "Yes, it's Azula Morretti. Um, why do you ask?" Katara stuttered the last part.
"….." The mysterious woman looked as if she was about to answer but something seemed to stop her, the woman merely looked down at her hands in almost, shame? Katara leaned back in her chair, she figured it was best not to bother the woman, perhaps she was once one of Azula's school teachers. Her eyes were soon focusing on Sokka rather than the lady's frail hands, he now seemed more interested in the woman rather than Katara's lame phone. She took his distraction as her opportunity and snatched her phone back.
"Ha!" She screeched as he moaned in defeat. Turning everyone concentration back on the two squabbling teens.
"Sir if you can't control your children I suggest you leave!" A crying man pleaded from two chairs down. It wasn't until than that Katara realized that all of these people were here worrying and panicking about something or more appropriately someone. And here she was agreeing with her brother of a stupid phone. If there was any adjective that could describe how Katara was feeling now disgrace would definitely have to be one of them. That sure as hell shut the bickering siblings up.
"I'm sorry to inconvenient you Sir, I hadn't realized that the waiting rooms were only a place to lament." Hakoda spat back at the man before resuming to pinching the bridge of his nose. Although he too found his children's behavior rude, he vowed to always stick up for them. Each sent a smile his way and he returned and gentle one before glancing at the ticking clock. How much longer would it be until that got some source of information?
"I'm calling Zuko." Katara whispered tapping away at her touch screen.
"What good will that do?" Sokka whispered back to her, "He's in no better of a situation then we are. I just don't understand why he gets the luxury of sitting outside to hospital room while we have to be, well. Here." Sokka said motioning to the cold plastic seats and the snot colored walls.
Just then the puzzling lady sitting next to Katara quickly stood up, dusting of the front of her sweat pants before heading off into the hospital. Hakoda watched her warily.
"I don't think you're allowed in there without a doctors consent Miss." He called after her and she froze in her tracks.
"Oh, I don't need anyone's consent Koda Kaiser." The women said swiftly before marching off into the hospital, leaving Hakoda staring dumbfound at her retreating figure while his two children glanced curiously at him.
"How does she know your name dad?" Katara asked snapping her head from the receding woman to her astonish father. He didn't seem to know how to answer her.
"What's wrong dad you look like you just saw a ghost?" Sokka asked, raising his eyebrows at his father's pale face.
"I think I just did."
/BREAK/
There were many things Zuko expected to see in a hospital. Sick people for one, that seemed to be obvious. And they were everyone, surrounding him with their petty coughs and obnoxious wails. Blood, that was another big one. However he never really had a good grasp of how much ran through the human body until her saw nearly half of it spilling out of his baby sister. Pain was the last, and that seemed to be the most prominent. Pain was everyone. In people's hearts, in people's minds. It was written in every nurses face and etched every doctors beady eyes. Pain wasn't just in hospitals either, pain seemed to be was in Zuko's everyday life.
Yes, those were the many things Zuko expected to see at a hospital, one thing he didn't expect to see however was a furious fuss of commotion coming from the south end of the hall. Of course it would have been one thing if it was over someone nurses were yanking up in a stretcher but this seemed to be secretary's yelling at some godforsaken old lady. Zuko sighed leaning back in his chair and squeezing his eyes shut, it was almost morning, dawn was just peaking out of the edges of the horizon, he hadn't gotten any sleep for twenty four hours. Fabulous.
"I will call security if I must Miss! I'm telling you right now you cannot go a step further." The secretary called after to the woman, clearly not wanting to distress the dying patients. Zuko rolled his eyes, they secretary didn't seem to be cutting the woman any sort of a break, if she could really just leave so he could get some peace, that be great… Or, you know, she could just continue to march up the hall way with the blabbing secretary at her heels.
"I don't take lightly to others telling me what I must do when it comes to my children, thank you." Zuko heart short up his throat, and he immediately jumped out of his seat. That voice! He knew that voice!
"Mom?" He voice came out more like a stunned sigh rather than the manly cry he intended. A pair of very familiar golden eyes met Zuko's.
"Oh! You look so much like you father."
End file.
| fanfiction |
, is the 26th series in Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater anime. The series is an adaptation of Canadian children's literature author Budge Wilson's prequel novel Before Green Gables, which was translated into Japanese as Konnichiwa Anne こんにちは アン by Akiko Usagawa. It chronicles the early years of main character Anne Shirley as she loses both her parents and is adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.
Production and development
Introduced in Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, the series marks the 100th anniversary of the original novel's release and the 30th anniversary of its highly popular anime adaptation, Akage no Anne, also produced by Nippon Animation and one of the first pioneering World Masterpiece Theater series. The series is narrated by Eiko Hisamura, who portrayed Anne in the original Akage no Anne.
While developing the series, Nippon Animation's staff undertook research by visiting a historical village in northeastern Canada which formed the inspiration for Avonlea in the novel, going to historical houses preserved from the era in which the novel is set and taking photographs, with core staff members and character designer and chief animation director Takayo Nishimura previously chief animation director and character designer for 5 Centimeters Per Second, basing the characters, props and settings on them and also from historical books that he bought there. Nippon Animation's staff have followed this format of contextual research while producing other World Masterpiece Theater series.
The series premiered on April 5, 2009, and aired every Sunday from 19:30 to 20:00 JST on Fuji Television's broadcasting satellite network BS-Fuji. From May 2009, it was also aired on SKY PerfecTV!'s network Animax. Online streaming on Biglobe was announced, but was eventually suspended.
Staff
Director: Katsuyoshi Yatabe
Series composition and screenplay: Michiru Shimada
Original character design: Yoshiharu Satō
Character designs and chief animation director: Takayo Nishimura
Music: Yasuharu Takanashi, Hiromi Mizutani, Kenji Fujisawa
Art director: Shigeru Morimoto
Colour design: Tomoko Komatsubara
Production: Nippon Animation
Characters
Anne Shirley
Joanna Harrigan Thomas
Anne's maternal aunt, wife to Bert and mother to Eliza, Horace, Edward, Harry and Noah. She is constantly trying the make ends meet, and as such is often in a bad mood.
Bert Thomas
Joanna's husband and father to her children, he is unable to hold down a job due to his laziness and alcoholism, usually spending whatever money he earns from the oddjobs he does on cheap liquor.
Eliza Thomas
First born daughter of Thomas family and primary income of the household. She cares for Anne like her own child, but later marries Roger Emerson and leaves Anne behind.
Horace Thomas
First son of the Thomas family
Edward Thomas
Second son of the Thomas family
Harry Thomas
Third son of the Thomas family
Noah Thomas
Fourth son of the Thomas family
Jessie MacIntyre Gleeson
An old widower with high standing
Lochinvar
Anne's companion cat. His name is taken from a line of the poem Marmion by Walter Scott.
Narration
References
External links
anime television series official website
Nippon Animation's official announcement
Before Green Gables to Debut in Canadian Embassy in Japan Anime News Network
Category:World Masterpiece Theater series
Category:Anne of Green Gables television series | wikipedia |
a 62-year - old right - handed male with a medical history significant for peripheral arterial disease , hypertension , and hypercholesterolemia presented approximately 24 hours after the sudden onset of isolated left upper extremity weakness while he was mowing his lawn .
he denied arthralgias or myalgias and could not recall trauma that could have precipitated his symptoms . on admission he was alert and oriented , and cooperative to examination .
visual inspection of the left upper extremity revealed no areas of erythema or swelling ; however , shoulder height on the left was one inch lower than the right .
manual muscle testing demonstrated normal 5/5 motor strength for the left fingers , hand , wrist , and elbow flexors and extensors , but 1/5 for shoulder abduction .
he found the most difficulty with initiating left shoulder abduction from his side ( action of the supraspinatus muscle , supplied by the subscapular nerve ) but could resume abduction once his shoulder was assisted to roughly 30 of abduction .
there was no weakness with shoulder adduction , internal or external rotation , or flexion .
additionally , he demonstrated weakness in the left trapezius muscle with shoulder shrug , but no concurrent weakness in the sternocleidomastoid muscle ( both controlled by cranial nerve xi ) .
brachioradialis , biceps , and triceps reflexes were intact and symmetrical bilaterally , and his neurological examination was otherwise grossly intact , with no sensory deficits or a positive babinski sign .
initial non - contrast computed tomography ( ct ) imaging did not reveal evidence of an acute intracranial hemorrhage , and an x - ray of the shoulder was negative for acute injury or dislocation .
subsequent neurological examinations throughout the first day of admission revealed gradual improvement in the patient 's motor strength .
non - contrast magnetic resonance imaging ( mri ) was ordered , revealing an acute infarction on diffusion weighted mri ( dwi ) , corresponding to the motor cortex in the precentral gyrus ( fig .
axial diffusion - weighted mri imaging demonstrating acute ischemic infarction of the primary motor cortex .
our patient received a ct - angiogram of the head and neck , which demonstrated severe ( > 90% ) stenosis of the right carotid artery ( fig .
the patient underwent right carotid endarterectomy with no complications and was discharged home the day after the procedure . immediately prior to discharge , he described having returned to his baseline level of functionality , although on examination he continued to demonstrate slightly diminished , 4+/5 strength in his shoulder on abduction of the left arm .
our patient demonstrated painless weakness in the left trapezius , deltoid , and supraspinatus muscles . descending signals controlling motor function
these neurons then traverse caudally through the internal capsule , the pyramids , the medullary decussations , and ultimately down the spinal cord where they synapse onto second - order neurons in the anterior horn gray matter . from this point , peripheral nerves containing these second - order neurons carry motor signals to the shoulder muscles through the brachial plexus and its nerve roots to the various shoulder muscles .
although initially considered , the deficit pattern seen in our patient could not be attributed to peripheral neuropathy .
one important finding was the lack of sensory loss , which is possible but very unlikely in peripheral nerve lesions .
the subscapular nerve supplies both the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles , and the skin overlying the deltoid . as the patient did not suffer from any concurrent sensory loss and in lieu of mri findings of cerebral infarction the most likely etiology for this motor weakness was deemed to be a true cerebrovascular accident rather than a peripheral nerve pathology .
the finding of isolated shoulder weakness as a result of stroke has been reported previously in six patients ( 611 ) , three of whom regained functionality soon after the event , in a similar fashion to our patient .
recovery of proximal muscle function following a stroke is generally more rapid and complete than for distal muscles .
several mechanisms have been proposed to account for this phenomenon , including contributions from ipsilateral or contralateral corticospinal projections or polysynaptic pathways from brain regions unaffected by the stroke , which may result in a reduction or even a recovery of motor deficit suffered by the patient ( 6 ) .
the acute lesion observed in our patient corresponding to increased signal intensity on dwi is found in the precentral gyrus ; the primary motor cortex .
generally , the projection of the shoulder in the motor cortex is small , lending explanation to the rarity of ischemic injury presenting with isolated shoulder palsy .
however , our patient had a large area of involvement on imaging , despite having no other discernible deficits .
this case emphasizes the complexity of these projections on the motor cortex , as even among the small number of cases previously reported , the area of infarct is not well - defined .
the clinical diagnosis of an isolated motor deficit such as shoulder weakness following a stroke is difficult and requires a high index of suspicion based on a thorough history so as to make a correct diagnosis .
significant individual differences likely exist in the somatotopic map in the motor cortex , which should be accounted for by correlating both clinical and mri findings . | pubmed |
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Five Reasons Australia Have The Edge Going Into The Ashes
Post author By Martin Green
The countdown is on to the most eagerly anticipated event of the cricketing calendar as the 2017/18 Ashes series begins in less than a month. Last time England visited Australia they were whitewashed and pessimism abounds among their fans right now. Australia are in a bullish mood going into the five-test series and will feel confident of regaining the Ashes as they will be spurred on by passionate home crowds. Here are five reasons why they can pull it off:
No Stokes, no Ashes
The tourists will be without talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has been suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board. He is on police bail on suspicion of assaulting a fellow reveller outside a nightclub and will not travel to Australia for the tour. It is a devastating blow for England as he has emerged as their best player in recent times. Steve Smith rates him as one of the world's greatest players and it is easy to see why he went for a world record fee in the last IPL auction.
England's batting order looks lightweight without him and his absence will put too much pressure on bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. Steve Waugh has already said that England cannot win without him and that seems to be the prevailing mood among pundits.
England fans think they will lose
The English have been lumping on their team to be whitewashed in the wake of the news that Stokes will not be heading Down Under. Oddschecker reported that more than 90% of series correct score bets from punters in England have gone on a 5-0 win to Australia. That is a pretty damning trend and it will not exactly fill Joe Root's team with confidence going into the series.
History is on Australia's side
The home team has won the Ashes on seven of the last eight occasions. The one exception was England's victory in Australia back in 2010/11, but the current crop is not at that level. Just four players remain from that famous tour, and the newcomers to the squad generally represent a downgrade on the former stars. England scraped a 3-2 win at home in 2015/16, when both teams were in poor form, and both go into this series with their own problems.
England blew hot and cold against South Africa this year and were unconvincing in their last series against the West Indies. Meanwhile, Australia have struggled against India and could only draw with Bangladesh in their last series, and they now find themselves two places below England in the ICC world rankings. There is not a great deal between them, so home advantage really could swing it in Australia's favour.
As such, they are the $1.45 favourites to win the series in the latest cricket odds at Oddschecker, while England are $5.00 outsiders. The bookmakers are a pretty sharp bunch and they all overwhelmingly favour Australia.
England are inexperienced and Australia smell blood
England's selection for the tour drew criticism across the board: veteran broadcaster Jim Maxwell called it one of their "worst ever batting line-ups" and said England would lose 5-0, Kevin Pietersen said it is horrendous and they may as well stay at home, and others accused Root of picking his mates. Some of those comments are a little harsh, but what is hard to overlook is the sheer inexperience of England's batting line-up. Mark Stoneman, Dawid Malan and James Vince have just 15 caps between them and Smith said his bowlers will try to exploit their lack of familiarity with the fast and bouncy tracks Down Under.
Vice-captain David Warner – who infamously punched Root a couple of years ago – has ramped up the mind games with more fighting talk, saying the Ashes will be like a "war" and promising to build up the "hatred" with England. If they can channel that aggression into keeping Root and Alastair Cook quiet, they should regain the Ashes with ease.
Hosts can blunt Anderson
Anderson is England's record wicket-taker and their most potent weapon, but he was kept largely quiet back in the whitewash of 2013/14. They had him bowling plenty of overs and he did not take many wickets as they scored a lot of runs, so they could well have his measure once again. Anderson is now 35, while Broad is 31, and they will struggle to play at their highest level for five tests. The absence of Stokes and the loss of Toby Roland-Jones to injury puts more impetus on them, but they cannot hope to do it all themselves and risk being burnt out – another trend Australia can exploit to their advantage.
Tags australia, australian cricket, england, english cricket, the ashes
By Martin Green
Martin Green is an experienced sports writer and has been covering international cricket for many years.
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Avengers Before the Day is Done
"You will make me a missile," the bald man said.
"No," was her answer, and the acted accordingly.
It was a long time coming, Tony should have known that.
_Life doesn't measure a great deal of "good" without having it's due sooner or later, as in "bad"_, she thought with her head underwater, consciousness slowly slipping away from her.
It was fine. She didn't want to be awake anyway. It only meant more pain and suffering, and she had enough of that for now.
But before she could loose herself to the darkness, her head was ripped out from the liquid with such a power that she was sure one-two handfuls of her hair will remain in her tormentor's hand by the end of the session.
The arc-reactor in her chest ached painfully as she glared into Raza's grinning face.
"Will you do it?" he asked with a thick accent.
She spat the water into his eyes coloured rosy from the blood.
"Fuck you."
Having found herself once again submerged, she figured that this might have not been the right answer.
They were unoriginal and repetitive, and they planned to continue on with it until she gave in. Except when they let her rest, alone thankfully, save for her monsters. Usually after they had beaten her into half oblivion.
At least Yinsen won't have to endure it any longer. The man was brave as well as foolish; and he was the one who paid the price for her stubbornness.
At least he had been reunited with his family. Or so he believed he will be. Tony didn't even have that solace.
She remembered her father's sneers all too well when reminded that instead of a son, he has her. And though Mother was there, she couldn't or wouldn't dare to do anything when the "five minutes" - as Aunt Peggy called it - was upon Howard.
At least she was good to her. Tony was always more than happy to go on a vacation with her, and cherished every moment of it.
And then there is the fact that she believed in the gods of an entirely different Parthenon. Gods she had proof of existing, unlike the God of Christians.
She coughed up water she accidentally swallowed, trying to ignore the sound of Raza tapping his fingers against his knee rhythmically.
"What about now?"
"Let me think about it," she said, playing at being thoughtful for a second, "No."
The feeling of her face breaking the surface of the water was slowly becoming familiar.
"One last chance," the man said, warning in his tone. She laughed; did he truly think that it'd intimidate her?
She was walking around with metal shrapnels in her chance, threatening to enter her heart were the magnet to be pulled out, threatening to end her at any moment.
"Or what? You'll kill me? And say good-bye to your missile in the same breath?"
Not like she'd ever their... Requiest. That's what happens when the woman first-hand experiences the terror and pain the weapons designed by her create.
Just how many children had her life's work orphaned or worse? How many innocents had to suffer more than she does now, because of war between two powers, and her supplying them with the weapons necessary?
Even if one was without her consent or knowledge.
A guard hit her across the jaw, hard, so hard that it seemed as if the whole ground had started shaking.
As soon as her ear finished ringing, she realised it was not entirely her imagination. The cave _did_ shake, dust falling from the top.
It didn't matter, one day or another, this whole ordeal will end before the day is done.
Raza shouted something she couldn't comprehend, and two men immediately exited the small torture chamber before running back inside as if the hounds of Hell were on their heels.
And actually, they were, as it turned out. The two overgrown wolf-looking beasts tore the door down, as if it hadn't been made from eight-inch thick steel, followed by their mistress a moment later, smoke, heat and the light of fire entering behind her through the whole. She stood a good head taller than the tallest man in the room, and the long leather jacket adorned with primitave, though beautiful, metal ornaments made her easily looking somehow the most dangerous as well.
Or perhaps it was the two furious beasts next to her.
Raza smiled and said something Tony did understand, for she had heard him say it before.
The cave was filled by the sound of the machine guns.
If there were dogs who could look bored and bemused, those were these two as the bullets slammed into an unseen force-field, then fell harmlessly onto the ground.
The black haired woman sighed, straightening to her full height.
"Are you quite finished?" she asked as she held out her hand, then lifted it higher, the bullets following her movement. Like a puppet does the puppeteer's. The men glared in shock, and satisfaction sparkled in the green eyes.
"Release her and I might find it in myself to let you live."
Someone behind Tony's back shouted something, which, judging from her expression turning from gleeful to cold, did not win her liking.
"Freya," she said in a sweet tone, stepping forward and laying a hand on the bigger creature's head, "Can you believe what he just said? What do you think, what should our response be?"
The dog bared her teeth in a snarl. The woman scratched her behind the ear.
"I like your plan. Do proceed with it."
Tony did not see the beast move, only the hig-pitched scream and growling. Then she was suddenly being pulled backwards, and she saw the silver gleam of a knife, sharp enough to cut her throat with ease.
After a flash of green, the grip of the hand which held her by the shoulder eased up and Raza slumped to the ground like a bag of potatoes.
The second-in-command immediately fell onto his knees, apparently begging.
"I don't want your money," the woman said, distasteful, "See, you hurt somebody rather dear to me. I've come to burn this rat's whole to the ground."
The ominous presence in the room grew, unsettling the dogs even more. She sighed.
"By the way, I lied," she said, turning back to the man before waving at the hounds, "Do as you please."
It didn't take three whole minutes, or so it seemed to the engineer. Tony gave a stupid laugh as she looked around in the blood-bathed room; so much destruction in so little time..
"What has been done can't be undone," the woman said to nobody in particular, "Learn that well. Although I guess there is no point now."
She turned and stood, dressed in black leather, green cape and crimson blood, watching her and waiting until finally the hysterical laughter finally died out."Are you all right?"
Because such was the goddess Loki. Goddess of Lies, Trickery and Chaos, sometimes a warrior, sometimes a friend, sometimes more than that.
And sometimes something like a mother. And Tony liked her for it.
"Do I look like I'm okay?" she asked, sniffing, because apparently she had started crying sometime ago. Stress, or whatever the doctors say can do that.
"No," Loki said simply, with a strange look in her eyes, patting the other hound's head, while probably questioning her mental sanity.
Tony knows _she _would if it had been the other way around.
"Where the Hell have you been?"
"I've been delayed. By a troll, an angry brother and a winged horse."
"A winged horse?" she asked with a small hiccup. Loki feigned not to notice.
"Yes. Frightening when angered. Even more so when it's a shieldmaiden turned by the backlash of a spell. Even if she brought it upon herself all alone." Tony showed away Freya's head from herself as she attempted to lick her.
"Sif?"
"Who else? And Heimdall wouldn't inform me about it until I didn't returned his dearest niece to her original form."
"That asshole."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Loki answered her alt voice slowly morphing into baritone.
"You know I don't like it when you're a man," Tony pouted, which was answered by a laugh in turn, as the hair receded from the deity's shoulder, as if it was being drawn into the skull, until it barely reached the lower part of her... His neck. It was never easy to tell which one was Loki.
"Dearest, I know, though I do not see why does gender matter to you so much. However as I was introduced to Mr. Potts as a mortal man, let's not shock him to death by my true appearance. He's stressed out enough as it is. Digesting the fact that I'm a stuff of myths and legends will be enough for him now as it is," he pulled her up gently, "Now, let's get you home, you damsel in distress."
"Home," she murmured, bearing with being called "damsel" for the time being. She'll get back at this god of her's later, "Is there such a thing?"
"You just have to look for it at the right place."
"Is there _such _a place?"
"You'll have to ask Mr. Potts and the Lady Rhodes about this," Loki said, his fingers caressing her tortured scalp, easing the pain with magic, possibly. She was too tired to care. "Now, sleep."
"Don't tell me what to do."
He chuckled.
"I wouldn't dream of it. Frey, Freya. Come."
It took Tony a few moment's to process that soft sounds wrapped themselves around them, coming from Loki.
It was a melody, foreign to her ears, but welcome nonetheless. Then she realised that the god was, in fact, singing; it was too long ago since she heard anybody sing, least of all a lullaby from another planet, which sounded a whole symphony in this cave of shadows and silence.
So she let sleep embrace her.
This time however, there were no nightmares.
* * *
><p><strong>Based on this gifset - post96477702023/genderbend-frostiron-au-while**
**Frey and Freya are not the actual gods. Loki just named the dogs after them, to mock them.**
**And this happens when I'm bored in school.**
End file.
| fanfiction |
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