"The Gift": Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 7.2
Story by comidacomida on SoFurry
Welcome back to "The Gift" where Daniel's Chapter 7 continues with its second post.
Daniel has elected to join Bartholomew on his journey back to the park and during that trip they strike up a conversation. Daniel learns a little more about Bart, his human Emmett, spirits, and life in general. As they near Emmett Daniel confirms something he'd suspected, and is left with a number of choices as to how he takes that information. How will he respond? That, as usual, is up to readers. Here is what the readers chose:
1) -- wanted to say something, but I knew that it wasn't my place to interfere. I stayed where I was, feeling uncomfortable at the silence. Bart made it easy, offering just a nod of his head in farewell, and continued on alone.
The Gift
Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 7.2
copyright comidacomida 2018
Rather than responding, the Dog held out a paw. I realized right away that I was supposed to put my hand in it and I did so without hesitation-- not sure whether Herne would have been proud or insulted. I felt a shock the moment my fingers touched his paw pad, and a rush of energy flowed into me. Gazing down at me, almost completely see-through except for the glowing Blue light of his eyes, Bart asked "Better?"
Only then did I realize what I was witnessing: Bart-- a Spirit, was fading away. "You're dying!"
He didn't sound as concerned as I was. "Ah should be able t'get back t' Emmett... where he goes, I follow..." Gazing off down the alley and toward the park, he let out a tired, and emotion-filled sigh. "an' I wouldn't want it any other way."
Maybe if I knew then what I knew now I would have chosen a different path but, at that moment I reached out to take hold of his paw again, unwilling to take the Spirit Energy just yet. "I'm going to make sure you get to the park... come on."
He looked like he wanted to object but, at the same time it was obvious that he just didn't have the energy left to do it.
That changed though, when my hand actually connected to his paw and, when my fingers wrapped around his, the sensation of power filling me sapped through my arm in reverse and, for just a second, I felt incredibly tired... but that sensation went away the moment the Hound perked up. He seemed surprised, and suddenly a lot less fatigued... and a lot more solid. "You know how to Empower?"
I really didn't know what that meant but I shrugged in response. The park was several blocks away and I was committed to helping Bart get back to his Human. "I guess so... now let's go. You helped me, and it's my turn to return the favor."
My first step didn't go so well and I stumbled, kind of like when you stand up and find out that your leg had fallen asleep, but a wall was right next to me so I was able to catch myself. Bart stepped up beside me and helped me straighten up while I got my feet under myself. "Gotta be careful, kid... givin' that much energy'll take it outta ya."
Sure, it felt like I'd just run a few dozen blocks, but the usual ache of overexertion wasn't there and, by the time we'd made it through the alley I felt just fine. Although Bart seemed surprised at how quickly I'd recovered he didn't say anything, choosing instead to let go of my arm and stay quiet. He was a hard Spirit to read but, I guess, so were the rest of them before I'd had any real time to learn about who they were. Sure, I've never been the best at small talk, but having Spirit roommates helped me grow in a lot of ways, so I tried to strike up a conversation as we went. "So... uh... what's wrong with--"
I couldn't remember his Human's name, but he certainly could. "Emmett... and nothing's wrong with him."
It was a straight forward answer, and a lot more direct than I'd expected, especially since I was pretty sure that he'd said Emmett was dying. "But... didn't you say he was sick or something?"
Bart turned down the street that would lead us to the park, continuing his candid discussion. "No, he is not sick, kid... he is dyin'."
Although I got the impression that the Hound was just being frank, I couldn't help but compare the Q&A to Talapus or Kon being evasive. "Because he's sick?"
The Dog let out a long sigh. "No, Seer... he's dyin' 'cause he's old."
I really wasn't sure how I could respond to that; it's not really something you learn in school and I hadn't encountered a lot of death in my life. "Oh... well... maybe we could get him to a hospi--"
"No hospitals."
The response from Bart caught me by surprise, not just because of how quickly he'd interrupted me, but with the amount of conviction he'd made the statement it was impossible to ignore. It certainly made me pause. "Oh... uh... okay."
He stopped at the parking lot that separated the sidewalk from the park and turned to face me. "We made it."
There was something more in what he said than those three words and, I found myself standing there for several seconds before I could figure out what to say next, and I didn't do such a great job of that. "Do... should I-- do you... will the... I can--"
Bart was looking tired and he was starting to turn see-through again, but he still managed a smile. "You're a good kid, Seer. Ya did what you promised... it's prolly time ya get back to the Spirits waitin' fer ya back at home."
His suggestion broke me out of my stuttering. "If you want, I can call someone... I mean, for Emmett... family, or something?"
He shook his head. "Emmett's got me... nobody else t'call."
That surprised me. "Family... or anything?"
The Dog shrugged. "Brother, sister, and some nieces an' nephews, but they aren't really family... they all call him crazy. Authorities'll call em after."
Part of me wanted to as 'after what', but, considering the situation I was pretty sure I already figured I knew the answer. Something about the quiet moment made me ache a little inside. Bart was hurting, that much I knew, and the idea of walking away didn't feel quite right, especially since I was pretty sure I couldn't do much back at home to help my Spirits, but I felt like I could at least offer comfort in the park. "I... I can stay... if you want."
Bart chuckled, and turned away as he headed through the parking lot. "Not sure you need to be anywhere near here, kid... you know how Humans can be when it comes to death. You really wanna get stuck answering questions if you're found near a body?"
Something about the casual, open way the Dog addressed it seemed almost brutal. I started after him. "Well... I mean... if it'll help?"
He continued walking, but responded nonetheless. "Help how?"
I jogged to catch up. "Well... so you two won't be alone, I guess?"
Bart smiled weakly, but continued moving without slowing toward the lake where I knew he and Emmett would regularly visit. "If there's two of us then we won't be alone, will we? You don't have'ta come, kid."
The Dog had a point, but I still felt like I needed to help. "What happens when-- when Emmett... passes?"
Shrugging, the Spirit continued on. "No idea... I got no more answers about th' afterlife than anyone else. That's a question for a preacher, not a Spirit."
He obviously didn't get what I was asking. "No... I mean... for you. What happens for you when Emmett goes? Do-- I... uh... do you have some place to go? Is there someone you can--"
He came to a halt again and turned to face me with an expression that was impossible to read, and not just because of his jowls. With as much certainty and direct openness as any of his other answers, he simply said "I'll die too."
Some part of me deep inside had already figured that out, but it was something else entirely to hear it spoken. I--