Stephen Strange Holmes: A Journey of Magic and Faith

Chapter Twenty-four: Recovery

Stephen swiped through the tablet, thankful that Wong had pulled together what needed done electronically and not through old-fashioned parchments. Since Sorcerer Supreme Roisin was gone, the entire sorcerer society was looking to the three who succeeded in defeating Kaecilius: Wong, Mordo, and Stephen. Wong and Mordo in turn were turning the final decisions over to Stephen, much to his confusion and reluctance.

"You should be resting," Christine said, entering his room.

"Currently wide awake and needing to approve repairs so that the London Sanctum and Kamar-Taj can be restored," Stephen said. "Blood work?"

"Looking good," Christine answered. "You may be allowed out within the next two weeks."

"That would be amazing considering that I've already been here a month," Stephen said.

"I'm just thankful that you are here," Christine said, gently kissing his forehead. "Especially based on what Wong and Mordo have shared. That's not even taking into consideration what you went through when you made that bargain."

Stephen breathed deeply. The nightmares of that time fluctuated. Sometimes his sleep would be undisturbed. Other times . . . he wondered how he didn't wake the entire wing.

Christine settled into a chair beside his bed. "She told me. Not everything, of course. But enough for me to somewhat guess and understand what you may be facing."

"She told you about Dormammu and the Dark Dimension?" Stephen asked quietly.

Christine nodded. "Maybe not specifically or in so many words," she said. "But, she just needed a chance to unburden herself."

"When Mordo and I discovered the two of you were in the Mirror Dimension," Stephen recalled.

"Yes," Christine confirmed. "That was the first time. Whenever I would notice it was especially weighing on her after that, I would invite her to talk to me. We actually had a couple lunches together. It wasn't always about the Dark Dimension. Sometimes it would just be concerns for students, concerns about you, Mordo, or Wong."

"So, the journal was another invitation, another outlet for what she couldn't or wouldn't speak with you about," Stephen guessed.

She nodded. "But, she never told me that her time was growing short." She huffed a sad chuckle. "That would explain why she would consider that honey pot a good supply."

Stephen smiled sadly. "She used that honey every day after she accepted it. I suspect that there may still be some in it yet. Not quite a full month even." He dissolved into tears, clinging to Christine as she hugged him, her own tears wetting his shoulder.

He never would have thought . . . He'd barely known her. Not even a year and yet . . . Roisin had become so precious to him. He missed her.

"We'll make it," Christine whispered. "We'll make it."

"Stephen? Did you decide—Oh! Sorry!"

Stephen weakly chuckled as Mordo stood embarrassed half-in and half-out of a portal. "Grief moment," he said as Christine sat back. "Which decision is most pressing?"

"Restoring the portal room in the library," Mordo answered. "Wong and I have been debating the pros and cons of just using the Eye."

"I'd really rather not do that unless nothing else will work," Stephen said. "If there aren't any stone mason sorcerers, why don't you ask some earth-benders."

"What?" Mordo asked.

"Come on, you've been watching the Avatar show with me, you know what I mean," Stephen answered.