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Who: Kozak & Perry
What: Perry in a coma. Then he wakes up.
Where: Infirmary.
When: Backdated to start of the month.
Notes: Feels.

Kozak visited the infirmary every day, just to check on Perry. He brought freshly brewed tea in the morning, something strong and uplifting, and left it by Perry's bedside. Every day, at precisely nine and not a minute over, he'd come by with a new cup and return the old one to the kitchens. Usually in the evening he would wander by in the hallway just to peek in. He became a familiar sight outside the doors, just staring in like a lost puppy on a pet store's display. How much for that doggy in the window?

If ever questioned, he wouldn't deny he considered Perry a very close friend. His warden was the only person on this ship he felt he could trust. What he wouldn't admit to, no matter how evident it was on his face, was the overwhelming guilt he felt, however misplaced it was. Truly, it wasn't his fault the Admiral decided to drop them in Nightmare Town for a couple days. And yet... if his psyche hadn't been so screwed up, if he hadn't let his dog instincts take over... maybe Perry wouldn't be lying in the infirmary bed with injuries that had long since healed, even if the bruises still hadn't faded completely.

Another day, another steaming mug. This one was indigo with light pink floating hearts on one side. It was cloyingly cute and stupid, but Kozak liked its minimalistic design. He sat down by Perry's side, opened up to the next chapter in his book, "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" (which was surprisingly not Jonny Gossamer; he'd exhausted that collection weeks ago), and would read for the next hour. Waiting, always waiting, for that moment when the damned coma would end.

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It was a blessing in disguise in some ways, the coma having come when it did, if only for the simple fact that given the opportunity Perry would very likely have walked out of the infirmary the instant he was capable -- and even with all of the Barge's advanced medical technology, the bone-deep injuries he'd sustained at the hands of his inmate's psyche had taken far longer to heal than his patience would ever have allowed. In some ways it was reminiscent to waking up after surgery when he'd been shot, but without the lingering echo of pain as the sedation gradually wore off. Senses awakening before his consciousness, it was the heady smell of tea that drew him by degrees into awareness. The absence of pain, replaced by the unfamiliar weariness of having slept for too long, was the only indication that any significant time had passed.

Perry opened his eyes without moving, briefly surveying his surroundings in a vague and ultimately fruitless attempt to judge for himself how long he'd been under before the man seated at his bedside arrested his attention. "Shit," he greeted mildly, his voice sleep-rough, "you're still here?"

The change in breathing would've been his first clue, had he not been absorbed in the tense narrative of a jail break. When Kozak heard the voice, he looked up from the book with surprise. He smiled brightly, dropped his book, and hugged Perry. The touch was kept light at first, fearful of lingering injuries. It lasted only a couple seconds before he pulled Perry to him tightly and just held him for a moment.

"Of course I'm still here, idiot. You haven't finished doing your job." Kozak replied playfully, though warmly, as he released him. "Welcome back. It's been a month."

Perry tolerated the hug with all of the stoicism of a man who didn't really mind, though he only returned a brief pat on the back for his own part. His sense of time immediately after their return from Silent Hill had been a little hazy, but it didn't take much thought on the matter to come to the conclusion that he'd missed the bulk of the month of June. Sometimes it seemed as though the Admiral had a sense of humor, after all.

"A whole month? Here I thought a day or two without a babysitter and you'd have gotten yourself tossed off the boat." As perfectly deadpan as the sentiment was delivered, though, it was unmistakable for anything but the friendly jab it was. "Fill me in," he added as he gathered what things had been left in the infirmary for him, already impatient with the thought of spending any more time in 'recovery', even if to his own perception it had only been a few days.

"Yes, because of course I'd absolutely fall apart without you. Idiot." Kozak replied without missing a beat. It was just as sarcastic and just as playful as Perry's own "insult". The pup settled back into his chair, tail over one side, and stretched out his legs.

"Alright, a recap. We're still here, this place is still crazy, and the Admiral is still a bastard." That could sum up any week, really. He paused, became more serious, even somber. "Narvin left. It was shortly after Silent Hill. His inmate, don't ask me who it was as I've forgotten already, graduated. So it was a happy farewell. Rhade left around the same time, for the same reasons." His expression brightened with a small smile. "Our little bot went with him. Didn't think you'd mind."

Unsaid was the fact that it was all either of them had to really give their close friend. A souvenir as well as a gift. Who knows if the chip would "live" outside the ship's influence.

Kozak shrugged. "Aside from that, it's been about as dull as you'd expect. Some people arrived, some left, there was a flood... Really, you know how it goes."