Chapter 5
Soon enough he found himself slowly coming to, His face hurt from where he hit the ground. Which it seemed he was still laying on, Regulus couldn't tell how long he was out but when he could finally pry his eyes open despite the pain all he could see was blood.
Using his hands to push himself off of the ground he surveyed more of the area. The fight moved on to another location, He looked around for the fallen death eaters and his comrades who hopefully were not in the rubble. Regulus had a bad feeling about the whole thing. He could feel his heart pounding, his breath coming in short gasps. He felt like he was about to pass out. The sound of footsteps brought him out of his thoughts. He listened closely and it sounded like they were marching away.
Once he deemed it safe Regulus got up and slowly moved towards the fallen bodies, hoping he didn't find any of his allies. He was not ready for that. As soon as he got close enough for his still blurred vision to make out anything he saw several bodies, though blurry it was clear. He moved closer, hoping the light was tricking him somehow. He knelt down and tried to focus his gaze, hoping the blurriness would go away. It was a horrible mistake.
Regulus felt like his stomach was turning inside out. He was sick.
but he still went over to the closest one and checked a pulse, "come on Alice. Please. aren't you.. Aren't you gonna marry Frank when this is all over?" he asked, his voice breaking into what sounded like a thousand pieces.
He felt for another pulse. Nothing.
"Come on.. please..." he was begging now. He moved over to the next person and felt for a pulse.
Nothing.
"Come on!"
Nothing.
"Please! you can't take all of them!" he screamed as he let go of Chirstophers body letting it fall back to the ground no longer being held up. Regulus wasn't crying. the water wasn't streaming down his face and he wasn't barely holding it together.
He felt a hand on his back that moved it way up to his shoulder.
"Regulus" the voice called out.
"You need to let them go, there's nothing you can do," James said, trying to comfort his friend.
Regulus shook his head. "no.. I can't" he cried, his voice broken.
"You have to, they're gone"
"I know! but I have to try."
James shook his head, and pulled him into a hug. "You've tried enough, let them go."
Regulus nodded and let James lead him away.
They were the only ones who survived.
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Regulus ended up passing out halfway through the journey home, and James carried him the rest of the way back home. He brought the boy to the infirmary and analyzed the other's face. It still held the tired circle that he had when they had first met. James reached to a side table and grabbed a wet cloth and began wiping the blood from his face.
He truly looked so much like Sirius.
He had been so caught up in his head and the mission and the war, that he hadn't really been paying attention to anything else. But now, he could see it. Regulus was the spitting image of Sirius Black, They looked uncanny, and their magic and mannerisms. They were almost identical to. James had seen Sirius use that spell. and the way regulus was. it was so very similar, he wanted to kick himself for not seeing it sooner.
James sat there watching the boy sleep, wondering what was going to happen next.
It was clear that Regulus was here for Sirius , but how surprised would he be when he found out his brother's true fate. Would he believe him, or would he think it was some sort of trick. James didn't know. and the waiting was killing him. He was so close, and yet so far. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he knew he had to find a way.
He soon decided that Remus would be able to tend to him best and gave the werewolf instructions to alert him when the younger brother had woken up. James went to his office and sat there in silence. Thinking.
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When Regulus woke up, the first thing he noticed was the pain. It was everywhere. He was sore, and his body was aching. The second thing he noticed was the bright white walls. And the fact that he was in the infirmary. The last thing he remembered was the battle, the bodies, and James.
He sat up and looked around. The room was quiet, and empty. Regulus looked around the room, trying to figure out what had happened. He couldn't remember anything after the battle, everything was a blur. He didn't know how long he had been out, or where the others were.
Regulus got up from the bed, and walked around the room, trying to find the door. The infirmary was a mess, there were broken chairs and tables, and medical supplies everywhere. He could see the sun streaming in through the windows, and the shadows dancing across the floor. He could feel his heartbeat quickening, his blood rushing through his veins.
He couldn't help but think that he had failed.
Then the door opened silencing his thoughts "sit your bloody arse down." Remus said, closing the door behind him, "you should be resting. Doctors order Bed Rest. Now" Regulus didn't argue, and did as he was told.
Remus had the most powerful glare.
Remus came over and helped him get back into bed, and covered him with the blanket. "what happened?" Regulus asked.
"We were ambushed, we got hit hard, and you were knocked out."
"How long have I been out?"
"A few days later, You were hit with a strong spell and it took its toll. you had a concussion." Remus explained.
" Who are you?" Regulus asked, Staring at the tall man. He had chestnut brown hair and his face was covered in scars. He'd never seen him before in life. Regulus didn't know if he was a higher ranking officer or just some other soldier. A medic maybe?
"My name's Remus Lupin, I run the infirmary. I'm more medicine and wound care than surgery and medical school but I'm still the closest we'll get to a doctor on staff here."
Regulus nodded, He could feel the exhaustion starting to catch up to him. He was tired.
"Get some rest, and I'll come check on you later" Remus told him, he left the room, and the door closed. Regulus stared at the ceiling, and then his gaze fell on the clock on the wall. It was three in the afternoon. He had been out for a few days.
The time seemed to drag by, the sun was setting, and the room was getting dark. The air was heavy, and the smell of death and blood lingered. Regulus couldn't sleep, his mind was racing, his thoughts were jumbled.
He needed to know where James was. Make sure that he was okay.
Regulus got up and left the room. He walked through the hallways, his footsteps echoing off the walls. He could see the sun peeking in through the windows, and the shadows moving across the floor. He could feel his heart racing, his palms getting sweaty. He could see a few people walking around, and the sound of their voices, their laughter, and their chatter. Regulus could feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins, his heart pounding.
He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Regulus," James said, his voice calm, and reassuring. "It's okay, we're back at the base, we're safe."
Regulus turned to look at him. just now realizing the visible panic he must be in, it was pathetic. He's seen death countless times before, why was this time different?Why was this one worse.
"I'm sorry. I was just looking for you." Regulus said.
"I'm fine, a little banged up, but I'll be okay." James told him.
Regulus stared at him, "so it wasn't just a really bad dream was it?" he asked the older man. James sighed looking over regulus in the hospital gown, he had been through so much. He remembered sirius stories about how the back family household ran before the potters had taken him in. and how his brother was treated.
even though they were not children anymore that's still what they are. Traumatized kids thrown into a war they had no control in.
"I wish it was," James told him. "but I need to ask you something" He needed to know for sure.
"What is it?" Regulus asked him.
"Who are you?"
Regulus was stunned.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not an idiot, I know who you are. What are you doing here?"
Regulus froze, his heart skipped a beat. How could he know? How could James have figured it out?
"I don't know what youre talking about." Regulus told him, trying to play it off.
"You're Sirius's brother, aren't you?" James said.
"Sirius?" Regulus said. "How do you know him?"
"He's my best friend. I know him better than anyone."
Regulus felt his heart stop. This couldn't be happening.