dg_cain | Emeralds and Tin : Chapter 8

OOOOH kay. So this is a VERY long chapter. I had planned to end it about 500 words from where I ended this chapter, but y'all would have thrown stuff at me. So pleeeease don't get mad at where this ends. I had to end the chapter at some point. Please give feedback!

Oh and has anyone made or seen any icons of the pants? Preferably the butt shot. Just thought I'd ask.

Title: Emeralds and Tin : Chapter 8: Revelations
Author: golden_goddess
Characters, Pairing: DG/Cain
Rating: PG:13
Summary: With Cain on the opposite side of the palace DG must learn to accept her new protector.
Warning: none
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the story of the Wizard of Oz nor Tin-Man.
Notes: This is my first stab at Tin-Man fiction. Don't be afraid to be critical. I've been writing fan fiction of all sort for years, so I'm pretty used to it.

CHAPTER EIGHT:

DG ran as fast as she could but her pursuer was getting closer. She could feel the rush of wind from the coat and she knew it wouldn’t be long before the chaser would catch her. She tried screaming but nothing came out. The hallway seemed endless and the doors remained locked despite the knocking. Her hand were warn and bleeding from banging the heavy doors. She screamed again. She could feel a set of hands wrap around her neck and then everything went black.

DG gasped for air and quickly sat up in bed. Her body was dripping with sweat, her heart beating a thousand miles. She thought it would beat right out of her chest. She gasped for her breath, each gasp not fulfilling her need for air. She felt like hands were on her neck and despite rubbing her neck, they still felt close, cold as ice.

She looked over at the chair across from her bed. No Cain. It’d been a week since he was reassigned and he kept his distance. No late night visits, so early morning rises. She grabbed a blanket from the edge of the bed, the bitter chill from a nightmare seeping to her bones. She tiptoed to the door, quietly opening it. Unlike most doors in the old palace, hers did not squeak. Cain fixed that problem promptly. She peaked her head out and saw no one. Jeb did not stand guard, but slept only a few doors down. She came back in the room and shut the door.

“What’s happening to me,” she whispered. She walked over to her bed and sat up, pulling her quilts and blankets close. She dared not close her eyes again, afraid of the nightmares that ensued. They did not let up, but got increasingly worse. She was even dozing off in lessons, only to wake up screaming in the middle of Toto’s lectures. She sat there, wide awake, watching the sun rise. She was awake when Molly entered the next morning, with her daily cup of tea.

“I’m really not thirsty.” she told the old maid. DG had lost all appetite, partly due to heartache, partly due to the loss of sleep. Molly pushed the tea towards her.

“It will help you relax,” she whispered. DG took the cup and allowed for a tiny sip. Her mouth twisted. It tasted bitter than it usually did. Molly looked alarmed. “I must not have added enough sugar.” she said turning to leave. DG watched her leave and then rose to get dressed. Busy day of lessons. With the ball a week away, DG was to spend today memorizing names of high ranking officials and diplomats. This was to be followed by garden time and then more lessons about the history of the O.Z. DG couldn’t wait. Finishing her tea reluctantly, DG’s face turned up in disgust. Whatever was in that tea would remain a secret as DG did not want to know. She couldn’t turn it down either as she didn’t want to offend Molly. She grabbed her jeans and shirt and slipped them on in the dark. She threw her shoes on and sat over in the window seat, waiting for Jeb. Just as the sun began to fill the sky with a yellow glow, DG heard the door knob.

“Princess, wake u-“ Jeb stopped, startled to see her already up and awake, let alone dressed. She looked bothered, and very pale. “Another nightmare?” he asked, shutting the door behind him. She slowly nodded and kept her eyes out towards the daylight. He and DG slowly grew close after that day outside of Ahamo’s office. He hated the way he overreacted and the fact that he hurt her. Now, he allowed her to confide in him about her nightmares, allowing her some release.

“Well let’s talk about it on the way to your lessons. Toto is waiting.” DG nodded and got up off of the seat, walking to the door. She patted his shoulder on the way out.

DG rarely saw Cain. Her wonderful father had made it so that their schedules put them on opposite sides of the palace whenever possible. But that didn’t mean Cain still couldn’t keep a close eye on her. Hiding in the shadows, he watched from afar. Standing in a window, just barely out of sight, he watched the two of them walk around the garden that afternoon. The time that he used to share with her was now shared with his son. He wouldn’t say he was jealous, Tin Men didn’t get jealous and even though he’d sworn off being one, Cain felt like he was becoming one everyday. Now watching high above the garden, he could only imagine what was happening.

“DG, I really am sorry for everything that happened. Had I known-“ Jeb was quieted by DG’s hand.

“Don’t apologize, this is between me and my father. Not you and certainly not Cain.” She paused and thought longingly about Cain and she wondered what he was doing. Jeb could see the pain in her eyes but said nothing. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m miserable, Cain’s miserable, you’re miserable. It’s like one big misery fest.” she smiled. The first in a while.

“What do you mean when you say that I’m miserable?” asked Jeb.

“I was just saying that since you have to follow around a freakin princess all day, it must not be fun.” She shook her head. Jeb smiled, so he had heard her that day. He was starting to see what his father saw in her, even though he was sure he was missing out on the bigger parts, as part of DG seemed to be dying away.

“What was your father like when you were a boy. I mean, before the long coats came?” DG asked, looking over at Jeb. Jeb’s face pinched up and DG regretted asking. “I’m sorry if I’m asking too much.” Jeb only shook his head.

“No it’s fine. Considering your relationship, it’s good you know what he was once like. He was a good father, dedicated to everything in his life. His job, my mom, even me. I mean I never played ball out front with him, but I was proud to call him my father.” He smiled at the memories. “I remember the day the long coats came. Mother was in the kitchen drying dishes and we heard the horses. I was in my room getting ready for the day and my father was at the kitchen table listening to mother talk about what she had going on that day.”

“I didn’t know what was going on at first. There were screams and things shattered. Plates fells and windows broke. My father urged me to stay upstairs, safe in my room. But I ignored him. I wanted to be my father, to run into danger and fight off the bad guys.” He looked over at DG and smiled gravely. “I wanted to be a hero.”

“And then they put him in the tin suit and took you two away.” DG finished the rest, as she had seen the rest. Jeb nodded solemnly.

“I may not agree with everything he does,” he said eyeing her carefully. “But my father is a good man and to see him this way, the way he is around you, it’s something. It’s like you gave him his heart back and here I am trying to smash it to pieces. He should be happy, and he’s happy with you.” DG’s eyes filled with tears and she put a hand on the young man’s arm.

“Oh Jeb, I don’t know what to do anymore. I thought my problems were over, and it just seems like they are getting worse,”she linked her arm with his. Jeb patter her arm.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” Jeb asked again, this time very concerned. “You don’t look all that well. Maybe we should call it a day and let you rest.” DG shook her head.

“I’m fine. Nothing that a cup of tea a little quiet time won’t heal. Besides, there is too much to do to take a nap.” She didn’t want to tell him she was scared to rest, afraid she’d fall asleep and terrified of the nightmares.

Glitch hummed a song going down the hall and caught Cain peering out the window.

“You know, spying is a very nasty habit.” He walked up to the man. Cain took a step away from the window and looked at Glitch. His pale blue eyes, which were reamed in pain, looking for answers.

“What do you know?” he asked Glitch. Glitch took a second to think about what he’d found out throughout the week. Both he and Cain stayed up hours and hours at night trying to find a reason for DG’s nightmares.

“They are getting worse. According to Jeb, he walked into her room and she was all dressed and ready to go. She looked like she had been up all night. He could tell she’d been sweating and she hasn’t eaten much. She just drinks tea that Molly brings her.” He paused to attempt the think of more.

“What kind of tea?” Cain asked with concern.

“Oh just some cammy meal that DG has Henry, her robodad, bring her from Kansas. She says it calms the nerves.” Cain shook his head, no that wasn’t it. He sighed and patted Glitch on the back. Glitch took it as a sign of generosity and beamed. Cain was a man of few words recently so Glitch learned to read everything Cain did. He watched Cain walk away, not able to imagine what kind of pain he was going through.

Cain passed Raw on his way down the back stairs. Raw looked at Cain, placing a hand on his shoulder, Raw’s face saddened.

“Cain sad. Cain fears for DG. DG needs Cain,” he whispered. Cain kept his posture straight, his neck stiffened, his eyes looking out past his friend. “Do not avoid. You must help.”

“What do you think I’m doing?” Cain asked Raw as he passed him. “I’m doing everything I can.” Cain kept down the stairs and Raw sadly looked down at him.

“Must try harder.”

~*~

Later that night, after checking in on DG, Jeb made his way to Cain’s room on the other side of the palace. It was time to suck up all bad feelings and team up with Cain to find out what was wrong with DG. Cain had the brawn and experience, and Jeb was with DG all day long. He arrived at Cain’s room and paused before knocking. This could end badly, Jeb thought. He’d only seen his father a few times since their talk and that was only in passing. He sighed and knocked firmly on the door. Glitch fiddled with the knob and opened the door slowly.

“Why hello Jeb come right-“ Jeb pushed by Glitch. “in,” he finished. “Like father like son he thought as he closed the door behind him. Jeb walked in and sat in an empty chair beside Raw. His father was sitting at a desk pouring over notes, Jeb figured they were security notes.

“So how are the security plans going?” he asked. Cain didn’t answer him. Glitch leaned over and whispered in Jeb’s year.

“He finished those the day after he got them.” Jeb sat back in his chair. So he’d been spying on him all this time, no other use for his time. “Cain what do we know?” Glitch stood up. Cain looked over at them, his eyes worn and tired. Jeb looked at him, his glance softening.

“Her nightmares are getting worse. She’s not eating. She’s not sleeping. She can barely drink her tea.” Jeb rambled the facts. Cain looked up at him with a look in his eye. “You know the chammy meal tea that Molly practically pours down DG’s throat every morning, and sometimes at night. Apparently she’s making it strong because DG said it’s been tasting very different lately. Stronger.” Cain stood up from his hair, running a hand through his hair. “What?” Jeb asked.

“The tea. Something is wrong with the tea.” he began to pace the room. It was making sense to him all of a sudden. He remembered hearing about something like this before, but he thought it was a rumor. No one could be that cruel.

“Father, what is it?” Jeb asked, suddenly very alarmed.

“The tea. Someone’s been putting something in it. A poison. It’s something Azkadellia’s men created when she first took control. It was meant to trap men in their minds and lock them away, but it didn’t work like that.” He paced back and forth. Glitch suddenly remembered as well.

“I remember it right before they took my own brain. It creates living nightmares in your mind. You feel whatever you’re dreaming. If you’re drowning, you feel the water. If you’re being choked, you actually choke.” He slowly unraveled the riddle. Jeb shook his head.

“But what does this mean? What’s bad about it?” Cain looked to Glitch, afraid to even say it. “What?” Jeb asked. Glitch swallowed.

“After a while, the nightmares become so real that your heart beats to an uncontrollable pace and you can’t catch your breath. Ultimately you.” he paused looking over to Cain. Cain looked away and down to his feet. “You die.”

“We have to check on DG and hope its not too late.” Cain walked to the door and opened it quickly. He ran down the halls of the palace, the others trailing behind. Of course, he thought, why hadn’t he seen it. He stopped and turned to Jeb.

“You three go to DG’s room. I’ll be right behind you.” he said. Jeb stood frozen. “GO!” he yelled. The three took off down the hall. Cain turned and went down stairs to the kitchen. Looking around frantically, he scattered boxes and bottles around. Nothing. It had to be here, it had to be somewhere. As he turned to leave his foot hit a box and the contents jangled together. He leaned down and picked the small box up, setting it on the counter. A dozen small bottles, most empty, were scattered on the bottom of the box. Beside the bottles were boxes of tea. Cain picked up a bottle and read the label. He closed his eyes, it was just as he suspected, poison. He tightly grasped a bottle, shoving into his pocket. He’d have to kick ass later, but for now he needed to save DG.

When he arrived at DG’s room Cain saw the three he sent before him standing at the door. Jeb was trying to ram the door with is shoulder. DG’s screams echoing through the door.

“DG!” Cain yelled running up to the door. He turned to his son. “What’s wrong?” he asked. Jeb pointed to the door.

“It’s locked.” Cain put his hand on the door, deep in thought, each of DG’s screams getting louder. He punched the door in frustration. Taking a step back he turned to him friends and son. Pushing them aside he stood a few feet from the door, taking a step back he kicked the door down. The large door making a loud bang as it hit the floor. The men ran into the room to see DG screaming and tossing in her bed, trapped in her own nightmare. Cain ran over, picking her up in his arms. She screamed and punched and hit his chest. She was soaking wet from sweat and he could see tears falling down her cheeks.

“DG, sweetie, come on wake up.”

DG could hear Cain’s voice and screamed for his help. The hallway narrowed and she could feel him getting closer.

“DG WAKE UP!” Cain yelled shaking her. He looked helplessly at his son. Her heart was getting faster and faster, her breathing more rapid.

DG came to a dead end in the hall. He was right behind her. She spun around looking him dead in the eyes. His light blue eyes burned holes into her own, hatred and disgust spewing out. His hand reached forward, grasping her neck. She tried to hit him away, but his grasp was too hard. He lifted her up off of the ground, her feet kicking the dead air. With one last gasping breath she whispered,
“I’m sorry.” Everything then went black.