"One more time," Allan ordered.
Ed leaned back, and let Nikolai do his magic.
This time, it worked. Sofia's heart jolted to life, and she gasped, taking a breath. Her eyes snapped open, but even he could tell she wasn't actually conscious. Maybe it was the pack bond telling him that.
Her eyes fluttered shut again, but at least she was breathing.
He stared at Nikolai, willing him to give him good news. The mage simply looked exhausted.
He wilted. "I think it is best we let her rest. See if we can reach her as we did while she was imprisoned. Convince her it's safe to come out of hiding."
"We'll take turns," Ed suggested after a moment. He was emotionally exhausted, but not tired enough to sleep. "Allan and I can keep watch. You two get some rest and see if you can reach Sofia. I can smell how exhausted you are."
Nikolai collapsed into bed next to Sofia, and Doc squeezed in on the other side.
"Hey, mage, before you pass out…I need to pee."
Nikolai glanced at Star, rolled his eyes, and waved his hand. The ropes binding her to the chair vanished. He was asleep before his hand dropped back to his side. Doc was already out.
She got up from the chair, glaring at all of them, and headed to the bathroom.
Ed, not wanting to deal with anything else dramatic for a while, stopped her. "Phone."
"What?"
"Give me your phone."
She glared but handed it over. "Don't trust me?"
"Right now, no."
"Right. Feeling's mutual."
Allan sighed and pulled a chair over in front of the door so he could guard it and keep an eye on everyone in the room.
Ed sank down onto the other bed and prayed to whoever might be listening that Sofia wasn't lost to them.
∞ ∞ ∞
She still hadn't stirred a few hours later when Doc woke. He glanced at the clock. It was the middle of the night.
Nikolai was still out cold, and Ed's eyes drooped. Star had passed out in the other bed. Allan still kept watch at the door.
Doc gestured for Ed to take his place.
"Are you okay?" Ed asked quietly.
Doc nodded. "Heal fast."
Ed lay down next to Sofia and curled up around her. Allan squeezed in on the other side of Nikolai, and though the four of them didn't really fit, they made it work. The mage rolled over in his sleep and rested his head on Allan's chest, his back pressed firmly to Sofia.
He glanced at Allan, who looked surprised, but then shrugged and put his arms around Nikolai.
Ed winked at Allan. Allan blushed.
Sofia still breathed quietly, but otherwise, he really didn't feel like her body was doing anything but existing.
He tightened his arms around her and tried to sink into their pack bond. He'd become quite practiced at it over the last couple of months, but this time, he couldn't get through. It was as if some invisible barrier kept him out. Maybe that was a good thing? Maybe Sofia was protecting herself? Whatever was going on, he knew he needed to reach her.
He could sense Allan and tugged on their connection until he attracted his brother's attention. Allan joined him in whatever nebulous way that made sense in their pack bond.
They pressed up against the barrier and pushed their awareness against it, looking for Sofia.
Nothing.
I think we need everyone, Ed conveyed to Allan.
Allan's presence didn't so much fade as change when he pulled himself back to consciousness. Ed kept himself pressed against Sofia's mind. After a few moments, Nikolai, Allan, and then finally Doc, joined him. Doc's presence was a little more distant, as if he were still conscious but he was with them all the same.
They needed to draw her back like she had for him. If she was there at all.
He shied away from that thought.
Nikolai drew them all together, seeming to know what to do. If anyone would know, it was him.
Ed let himself be guided as Nikolai pressed them all against the barrier and then they took their love for her and used it to try and find their connection to Sofia.
Nothing.
Even semi-conscious like he was right now, Ed's chest constricted. His cheeks were wet. He needed Sofia. They all did. She couldn't leave them. Not like this. If she ever decided to walk away, that would be one thing. It wouldn't feel good, but it wouldn't kill him like this was. She was theirs. She wanted to be theirs. Damn the Andersons for taking her away from him.
They all tried again.
Ed didn't sense anything, but Nikolai perked up through their connection.
Sofia, come back to us, they sent.
Slowly, the barrier that kept them out of her mind softened. After a short time, it faded enough that they were able to slip in. Nikolai held them back for a moment, cautioned that they may not be able to get out if they couldn't actually reach Sofia, and then when all agreed it was worth the risk, pushed through the barrier.
Sofia?
Ed wasn't sure how long it took, but a small eternity later, they got the tiniest bit of a response. All of them followed that response to find Sofia's essence curled into a tight ball, buried in the shambles of her mental image of her magical grove. The trees were next to dead, the ground bare, and Sofia was nearly translucent.
Sofia! Ed raced to her side and put his hands on her shoulders. They sunk in. She wasn't even solid.
Allan joined him, and then the other two, and they poured energy into Sofia. They had to bring her back.
Slowly, she solidified.
Slowly now, Nikolai cautioned. Don't kill yourself in the process.
Silently, Ed thought it would be worth it, but he also didn't want Sofia to have to deal with that, either. Still, the energy they did give her was enough. Though she didn't wake, this time,
