iamhismummy | (no subject)

"Right," Karolina says, glancing around nervously.

"Just let me know what I can do."

"Just stick with me", Nancy says, voice low. "Never know when I might need you."

She keeps walking through the ruined buildings.

Karolina nods, and stays close, occasionally rubbing her hands for something to do more than anything else.

She doesn't know what she'll do if they don't find him. She hates feeling useless.

They keep walking a little longer - but suddenly, almost mid-step, Nancy's head goes up like a dog on point.

"Did you hear something?"

Karolina brings herself up sharp, looking quickly to Nancy before unfocusing, trying to listen.

"...no?"

"I think I did. Just for a second. Over there." She starts to move, fast, towards a half-collapsed building.

Half collapsed.

Half collapsed.

Karolina dives forward, passing Nancy in a flash of rainbow light. Once she's inside she pulls her powers in instantly, and ventures,

"Tommy?"

There's a whimper from somewhere in the darkness, and Nancy's at Karolina's shoulder.

"...Tommy? Is that you?"

Silence. Then a small voice. "Nancy?"

Karolina glances around. "I'm going to... can we handle some light?"

"I think so. Just try and keep it low. And as far from the outside as you can."

The trouble is, that Karolina just hasn't managed the art of varying her light yet. She stands as close to the centre of the building as she can manage, and brings the glow up slowly, although she can't stop it from continuing to grow, filling the house up with natural daylight.

Nancy shoots Karolina an alarmed look but doesn't tell her to keep the glow down. She just hurries forward to the little form lying at the ragged edge of the standing walls, leg pinned under rubble.

"Tommy", she bursts out, voice full of angry relief, "what have I told you about coming into these places without telling someone which one?"

"Sorry," Karolina says with a wince, but only breifly. Because then she's running forward to help, cursing herself for not bringing Molly.

"Um, OK, I can probably shift this rubble, though. You'll have to shield your eyes."

Nancy just nods, closes her own eyes tight, and clamps her hand over Tommy's.

"Don't move", she tells him.

Karolina steps back a little, then grits her teeth and directs a stong blast of energy right towards the rubble above Tommy's leg, which shatters into smaller pieces.

"Pull him out!" she suggests.

Nancy does so instantly, murmuring to the boy the whole time.

"Sorry, Tommy, I'm sorry, I know it hurts, but we're going to get it seen to now, all right?"

Karolina turns the light show off quickly, keeping half an eye on the place to make sure it isn't going to fall anymore.

"Can I help get you both to a hospital?"

Nancy looks up at her with a quick nod.

"The Albion, it's not far from here... that doctor, Tommy, you remember him, the one that helped Jenny when she was ill that time and didn't take her away..."

Karolina nods, and offers a hand.

"I'd fly you both over, but we shouldn't risk the lightshow."

That gets a wry laugh.

"Yeah. All we need's to get shot down. Up you come, Tommy, mind that foot, we're gonna help you walk. This is Karolina."

"Hi, Tommy," Karolina says gently, offering a hand to him. "Pleased to meet you."

He looks between her and Nancy, who nods encouragingly, then reaches to take both the girls' hands.

"Nice t'meet you too", he mutters.

This would be so much easier if Karolina could fly.

But instead she offers to take as much of his weight as she can, and glacnesat Nancy.

"How easy is it to stand?"

"I think his other foot's fine", Nancy says, taking the boy's injured side and slipping her arm through his and around him with easy practicality. "Can you walk on it, Tommy?"

"...think so." He tests it, hopping a pace or so.

"All right. Karolina, if you could hang on to him, make sure he doesn't fall over...?"

She hasn't even noticed herself taking charge.

Karolina has though. It remindsher a bit like Nico, and makes her smile inwardly.

Then she smiles at Tommy and squeezing his hand fondly.

"We're good."