~~+~~Time And Relative +-+T.A.R.D.I.S.+-+ Dimension In Space~~+~~ (18+)

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

There was a woman now? How many people did the Doctor know? He gave a soft smile when he took the tea and sipped it. It made him feel good that he was doing something good for the Doctor. He really wanted him to stop and lay down though... The Doctor looked like he could use at least one night of good rest. He looked down at the console and then back up at the Doctor.

 

"So there is a dig site... Wait what?" Time Lord remains? Wasn't that what the Doctor was? Didn't he offhandedly mention something about being one earlier? "Time Lord remains? That doesn't sound good... We should go.. Well..." He got soft...

 

Looking down he inhaled before looking back up at the Doctor...

 

"I should go meet with her... You should really rest... I don't know what I'd do if you collapsed or died from exhaustion... I'd be left with a machine I wouldn't know how to work. I need you to be well Doctor..." He pleaded to him.

[akiravadel]

The doctor smiled at him and waved his hand, "me? Naw I'm alright. I'm always alright. Besides how can I lay down when there are Time Lord remains! Who knows who it is or what we'll find!" He seemed like an overly excited child on Christmas. "Tell you what. We go down to the dig for a couple hours and I'll rest after that."

 

He raised one of those cheeky eyeballs at him trying to win over the boy. Of course he couldn't stop himself from seeing this now, he had to know. Also because it was an alien planet and a Time Lord was buried with them.

 

The brunette pulled on his coat and looked back to Jessie hoping he would let him go play, "River should have most of it figured out anyway. I just want to inspect the remains and perhaps bring them back here and try to figure out whose they are."

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

Jessie sighed as he looked up at the Doctor, looking for any signs of trying to get out of resting. He could see only genuine feeling... He reached out and took his hand in his own, shaking it firmly to confirm the deal. He smiled as he shook his hand and leaned over to hug him softly.

 

"I am glad you'll rest when we get back..." He said as he stepped back. It must be exciting, sad that there are only remains, but exciting to figure out who it must be. He went over to the door, holding his cup of tea as he waited for The Doctor to put his coat on.

 

"Is River the girl you were talking about that I'll figure out what's going on with you two? I admit I'm confused... But it's alright." He smiled as The Doctor readied himself and came up. Jessie opened the door and stepped out without thinking or hesitating.

 

"Wow..." He exclaimed softly. Wherever they were it looked interesting...

[akiravadel]

They were at the top of a hill at a dig sight. Down the hill were many levels that had been cleared. Some where really big sections others were smaller where they had found certain pottery or a wall. Around the area they cleared was covered in a lush forest filled with many colors and wasn't overly quiet. Obviously the life there had grown used to the people digging just a few feet away. There was some heavy equipment that looked a bit different since it was 51st century machines.

 

"River will be at the big site I'm sure. Those are probably her students," the Doctor stepped forward and headed down the path tucking his hands into his pockets. Nearly five steps out and he was outside the protective barrier of the Tardis and he was hit with this horrible wave of nausea and dizziness.

 

Stumbling forward a bit he fell to his knees and trembled as the waves washed over him, "w-what?" Reeling from the sensation it took him a moment to get his bearings and reached for Jessie for support, "there's something here... something disturbing time... now I have to see it." He forced a smile to Jessie even through his features grew more pale.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

He looked out and furrowed his brows. It was dark and there were large dig site lights blaring everywhere lighting up the landscape, or what was left of it. Everything was meticulously dug out to allow the diggers and what he assumed were would be archeologists in training to be able to comb through all of the dirt there. He looked up as the Doctor stepped ahead of him and fell into step behind him.

 

"River will be at the big site? You mean what we're walking over isn't the big site?" He asked surprised. He was never one for Archeology, but surely the site they were ate was quite large and being so, the 'Large' one must have been massive.

 

The dirt area was surrounded by brush, forestry, and the sound of animals. They weren't any animal sounds he had ever heard though, then again they probably were in the future and Animals must have evolved and mutated from the effects of humans and other life forms. Jessie looked up to say something but fell short when the doctor stumbled. His eyes widened and he dropped his cup of tea to catch the Doctor before he tumbled to the ground.

 

"Doctor! Something disturbing time...? That's odd... Is it affecting you? Are you going to be alright?" He asked sounding quite panicked.

[akiravadel]

Taking some shaky breaths he soon calmed himself down but it didn't stop the pale look in his features. He forced a smile past it and nodded his head, "Yeah I'm alright. Just something here is... disrupting the flow of time. I'll find out what it is soon I'm sure." Using Jessie for support he was able to get himself back up onto his feet.

 

Taking a couple of test steps he decided it would be easy to hang onto Jessie for a couple minutes, perhaps more, "just walk with me and we'll see whats going on down there. She said it was near the bottom of the hill and to the right of where we landed." Making his way down slowly he used Jessie as a sort of crutch but mostly just to help keep his balance.

 

Heading around a large patch of trees that was when they saw the mass grave before them. The feeling was getting worse as he got closer. The area was cleared for nearly an acre with people covering it as they tried to clear out and look at the bodies that had been buried there for a very long time.

 

There was a woman with wild hair clipped up standing near the front of the dig sight shouting out orders for everyone.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

"Doctor I don't think this is a good idea... Look at you! You can hardly stand!" He complained as he held the Doctor up. Whatever effect this place was having on him, his exhaustion wasn't helping it. He frowned as he tried to help hold the Doctor up as he stumbled along. This was not okay for Jessie... He didn't feel comfortable with the Doctor acting like this.

 

He didn't like what was going on, the way this place affected the Doctor... He was almost, a little overbearingly protective of the Doctor so suddenly in the small amount of time they had been in eachother's presence. He didn't like this, from the moment the Doctor got the call, he knew this was going to be a bad experience. Something wasn't right and he knew it... He could feel it...

 

He walked up with the Doctor to stand on top of a bare hilltop. He looked down and his eyes widened as he looked at several people milling about, digging and huge areas of dead remains being unearthed. What could have happened here...? There was a woman with crazy hair way at the end, hollering at everyone. He looked up at the Doctor and adjusted to be able to hold his weight better.

 

"Doctor... Is that River...?"

[akiravadel]

Nodding his head the brunette heard her demanding the poor students and felt a smile grace his lips, "yup... that's her alright." That was when he put on a brace face and pushed himself to stand straighter so he could walk over to her. Jessie already knew he was having a hard time but he didn't need River nagging him too.

 

"I got your message," trying to act casual the Time Lord tucked his hands into his pockets as he walked on wobbly legs.

 

River turned to them, "nearly a week late as usual and whose this? Wait... you don't happen to be Jessie are you? She smiled brightly at the boy and reached out to shake his hand. "Keep him in line. I know you will." She winked at him then turned back to the Doctor. "It's about the Time Lord remains I found here. Can you tell me anything about them?" She indicated to the table they had placed the remains on.

 

Walking over to it he scanned the remains with his eyes, "I can tell just by the chest it's Time Lord. Each chamber behind the ribs prepared for both hearts. There's a femur too. Looks like it had a horrible break in it. Ouch... whoever experienced that... I don't envy them. Time Lord's have a double nervous system, that would be terribly painful. Also puncture holes in the diaphragm, one on each side. That's probably what killed him. Or the break at the base of the skull." Unable to stop himself he reached out to touch it.

 

WHAM! It was almost like he convulsed from it. His head was reeling as he turned to the side and gagged a couple times before vomiting on the ground. River was by his side in an instant, panic clear on her features. Panting hard he staggered and slumped for a moment before he immediately came too again, "th-that's not just any Time Lord... it's me."

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

Jessie looked up and was admiring the way she wore her curly hair in the messy bun. It suited her well. She seemed to hold a rather bold personality that went with her rather loud voice. It suited her. He held the Doctor up as he helped him towards River. He wasn't keen on letting the Doctor out here in his condition... He was tempted to talk to River about it.

 

When the Doctor straightened himself out, Jessie knew he was putting on a show so River wouldn't comment. He had to have been. He shook his head as he stepped up behind the Doctor standing there looking at River with a smile before it faded.

 

"W-Wait... A week late? We just got it a few moments before landing... Oh... I have to get better at this time traveling thing..." He pinched the bridge of his nose rubbing the cartilage before pulling his hand away to smile at Rive again. "Yes I'm Jessie but... How did you know about me...?" He asked offhandedly while the Doctor took a look at the Corpse that had been unearthed.

 

"A Time Lord? I wonder who it could've bee-- DOCTOR!" He yelled and dropped over to the Doctor lifting him up and keeping him steady while River never missed a beat and matched him movement for movement.

 

"D-Doctor..." He whispered softly when the Doctor said it was his corpse. How could it have been him... "H-How... What...?" He placed a hand to his forehead gently and pulled back. "Damn it! you're Burning up! River we have to get him back to the Tardis, I don't think he has slept in several days... He promised he would after coming out here... He has and I think he needs to rest after this... Don't you?" He turned to River with worry in his eyes. "I mean... When he wakes up he can always come back out when he is feeling better..."

[akiravadel]

River felt his skin too and realized how dire the situation was becoming. She held the Time Lord up with Jessie's help and walked him back up the hill to the Tardis. The further away they got, he seemed to be able to support himself a little more, "Inside the Tardis temporal field it won't effect him. You won't be able to leave the Tardis Doc."

 

The Doctor didn't speak as they walked back inside and she helped him into the infirmary down the hall. The ship moved it closer so they wouldn't have to go so far. He slumped back on to the reclined bed and reached over pulling a pillow onto his stomach, "really I'm fine now just woozy. I caused a disturbance in my time line when I touched it..."

 

"If it is you then... Wait... That would have to be you from now for you to react to it. That means it's this regeneration," River raised a brow. "I've..." Turning to Jessie she sighed heavily. "Alright I'll explain myself to you. I know him from the future. I know the older version of him. His next regeneration knows me well but he's very young for me still." She winked at the Doctor who in turn rolled his eyes.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

Jessie struggled to hold the Doctor up as they walked him back up the hill to the Tardis. He wasn't quite as tall as River and apparently not as active or strong as she was either. He was panting and struggling by the time they got into the Tardis and laid the Doctor in the inclined bed.

 

He slumped back in a chair heaving as he tried to catch his breath, smiling at the Doctor who began to get better. Thankfully he was feeling better... Standing up he leaned back and stretched before going over to the Doctor and pulled the blankets up over him and fluffing the pillow. At least the Infirmary was cozy and nice like a bedroom, with a few medical devices around. He left River and the Doctor alone for a moment to go grab a glass of water and a cup of tea.

 

A few minutes later, he emerged through the doorway and placed both the cup and glass down, slipping a straw in each so the Doctor wouldn't have to strain. He looked up at River who began to explain their relationship so to speak. He furrowed his brows...

 

"But wait... You said... Regeneration... You know the "Older Him" But that skeleton was him as he is now... I'm trying to make sense of this but... If that skeleton is him now, meaning he died like he is now... And if you know the older him which is his "Regeneration" then... If he died like this... How is it possible you know the older him...?" Time travel and timelines were confusing...

 

He sat back down and shook his head gently.

 

"Either way... That thing made him feel bad... The Doctor isn't feeling well... He shouldn't go out until he has gotten sleep. River, I'd be happy to go out and help you with anything you need in the Doctor's place!"

[akiravadel]

"It's a paradox sweetheart," River chuckled softly. "As long as you don't break a 1303 ancient vase on a planet that no longer exists. Then pretend like you can fix it." She raised a brow and looked over at the Doctor who looked away from her sheepishly. Obviously someone broke something, wonder who.

 

"Jessie, I'm a Time Lord. We don't really die we can regenerate into... essentially another person and continue to live. Obviously she knows me later in life so this is a separate time stream we've stumbled on. Now by changing things we can keep this from happening. The Tardis... OH the Tardis!" his eyes shot to River then he reached out grabbing her wrist. "Bring it in here and then I can examine it. The Tardis will correct the paradox."

 

River sighed heavily knowing that talking him out of it wouldn't work. Looking over at Jessie she pulled her hand away from the Doctor, "do you mind bringing it up here for him? Make sure he pushes the fluids and had something nice to eat once his world stops spinning." She stood and headed back out to her dig. She had many students to worry about then to add on her child-like husband.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

"A Paradox... Okay... That helps me understand this a bit better..." Jessie laughed when River made a rather interesting comment about breaking a vase on a dead planet before smiling at the Doctor who looked sheepish. He laughed. Unable to control it he fell on the floor laughing. It sounded like the Doctor!

 

He wiped his eyes as he looked up at River and the Doctor as he stood up and stretched again. Regenerating.. That sounded interesting. So he might look like someone else but he's the same person... That made sense... Enough... He looked over at the Doctor who grabbed onto River's hand and demanded that the skeleton be brought inside... When she turned to him he sighed and nodded...

 

"Yes I'll bring it in for him... And I'll do more than make sure he eats... He needs to sleep... Don't worry Doctor! I'll take care of it!" He said cheerfully as River walked out. He did a few more things to prop up the Doctor to get him in a more comfortable position.

 

"Alright... I'll go down, get the corpse for you and bring it in... Get your rest and everything should be handled." He said before leaning over to press a soft kiss to the Doctor's head as if he were a child. Well, when you act like a child you'll get treated like one he thought as he turned away and headed out the door.

 

Jessie opened the Tardis door and stepped outside. Somehow without the Doctor next to him, he felt more vulnerable...

[akiravadel]

The Doctor pouted as they talked about him in such a way. Rolling his eyes he looked away from them as he pouted. Of course he was tired and not feeling great at the moment but he was slowly getting there. The kiss on his head surprised him a bit. His male companions usually didn't act overly affectionate towards him.

 

He didn't think anything of it. Instead he laid his head back on the bed and sighed heavily. Once it was in the Tardis he could run additional scans on it and figure out whats really going on with it. The break was concerning for him because that sort in a time lord would cause regeneration. He needed to know more before he started coming up with conclusions.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

He shivered as he stepped outside of the protective barrier. Wrapping his arms around himself, he rubbed to get himself warm again. He looked around at the dirt patches and the barren landscape that stretched to the edge of the forest. Digging sites were interesting if you found things... Other than that, it wasn't terribly visually appealing. The breeze clipped through him and he shivered as he trudged down the hill.

 

River wasn't at the head anymore, she probably got called away to look at something with her students. He went forward and made his way back up to the corpse. Inhaling gently he tried to discern the best way to move it. He figured by grabbing the blanket and just sliding it along the ground was the best idea. He leaned down and grabbed the edge before noticing the right hand was missing... Frowning he looked around and saw a creature that looked like an overgrown rat walking away with it in it's mouth.

 

"Ah! Hey! No! Stop!" He spoke quickly as he followed after it trying to catch the critter. No one told him that it was okay if they were missing a small piece so he thought he needed to go get it. He trailed after the large rat thing into the brush. "Come back here! Hey I need that! Stop! Uhg..." He stopped as he watched it go behind a tree. He stood up and sighed. "Here... Come here mousy mouse..." He said as he made soft noise trying to coax it out. When he moved behind the tree he saw it was going down what looked like to be an old overgrown foot trail. "Damn it!" He followed it for what seemed like a while going through brush and going around in circles until it dropped the hand and hid in it's burrow. He picked up the hand and looked around. The forest was extremely dark....

 

"Oh shit...."

[akiravadel]

This planet was a bit foreign and inhabited by animals now so there were strange things growing here. They were lucky it had enough oxygen and hydrogen to support their systems. In the forest was creatures he would never see. The thing was was creatures here faced different seasons than Jessie was used to so they sought out warmth wherever they could find it.

 

Feeling heat nearby a plant started reaching towards him. The tentacle vine reached up and wrapped around his ankle yanking him towards it's body. More tentacles came forward and wrapped around his limbs running it's slimy vines over his body and under his shirt. It was trying to touch every inch and suck the heat from his body.

 

Alarms went off in the Tardis making the Doctor sit up in the bed. Slowly he made his way into the counsel room and pulled the screen towards him. Something was wrong and the Tardis was trying to warn him.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

He heaved a sigh as he looked around, squinting to get as much light as he could in the dark there. He could see vague lights off in the distance and figured that must have been where the dig site was. He smiled slightly before shivering. The planet they were on was cold, almost like the winters on Earth. He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself as he took a step forward before tripping on something.

 

"AHGH!" He crashed to the ground dropping the hand a little ways away as he looked behind himself. It was too dark to see but he felt something snake it's way up his leg and he jerked.

 

"What is that! A Snake! Ah! D-Doctor!" He cried out as more lashed out and latched onto him, wrapping around his arms and his torso. It felt wet, slimy, and cold... The mucous that dripped off the tentacles was thick and felt like glue to him as it pinned him down. What the hell was this!? Jessie panicked as he struggled in the grasp of the tentacles feeling them tightening and binding him.

 

He had no idea that the creatures and plants were more advanced than Earth's plants... The Plants and creatures actively seeked out heat and they would do anything to get it... Even take a person to get it...

 

"AH! St-Stop!!" His heart thrummed with adrenaline even as the slick appendages wriggled against his skin sending strange sensations through his body.

[akiravadel]

Scooting back along the ground with it's free tentacles it pulled Jessie up until he was pressed against the side of the plant near it's hidden mouth. The tentacle wrapped around his chest and waist but then the others started to cover his arms and legs. Then moved into his clothing seeking the warmth there.

 

One slide under his shirt rubbing against his chest and brushing against his nipple. Another went up his pants and curled around his member seeking the extra warmth in the part. That was when another joing in trying to get to that heat causing the tentacles to slip around his member and rub against it.

 

The Doctor stumbled from the Tardis and was hit with a wave of nausea. He had to find Jessie and save him. Stumbling into the woods he trembled feeling the feeling getting stronger as he moved near his corpse. Where was he? Using the sonic he scanned the area around him.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

He tried to claw at the ground, attempting to slow the thing down but to no avail. He glided across the forest floor. Whatever had him in it's grasp it was quickly making use of his body, entwining around him almost like it was afraid to let him go. He struggled against it before he felt the wet slimy appendages slip across his sensitive parts.

 

"A-AH! AHnngh! Wh-Wha..." His body reacted favorably where his brain screamed alarms at him. His body flooded with warmth while his shaft twinged with life as the strange appendages wrapped themselves around him squeezing tightly. It was an odd sensation, being touched by something he couldn't even see with it's slime and coolness... His mouth watered and he drooled a little in reaction to the strange pleasure his body was derriving from it.

 

He was pulled up against something firm behind him. he tried to look around to see what it was... It felt dry and lifelike... But it didn't feel like an animal... His brain swam in confusion and the pleasure as his body began to slowly stop fighting. Panic swelled inside him as his body slowly eased almost refusing to struggle.

 

"What!? Nn! No! Damn it! Whaahhhngnhhh... Tss... G-Going on...? What is thiss... Nnnnghmmm... Thing... Ahhnnn..." His moans melted into mewls as he continued to make his body struggle and fight.

[akiravadel]

The plant teased it's new toy knowing if it rubbed against it the creature would warm up. It didn't understand or even have a nervous system to link it to a brain to know, all it has was a drive to do this. Warmth kept them alive. Slithering over Jessie's body more it moved back into the thick brush.

 

Other plants came over to investigate. There was a large group of them just outside a cave. The trees and bushes were thick in that area but they squished into a small section. Each one brought a tentacle over to rub again his body trying to seek the warmth. That was when one of them used a slimy appendage to explore another warm spot. Sliding under his pants the tentacle pressed against his entrance and rubbed as it tried to push it but just slid past. After a couple of strokes it was able to slide inside and wiggled around.

 

The Doctor smacked the sonic against his leg and scanned again before heading in that direction. Strange the feeling was getting worse even though he... in mid thought he slumped to the ground nearly blacking out. Reeling for a moment he turned onto his side and came face to face with his hand, "oh... that's... that's why..."

 

He was too close to it now, he could hardly move. Groaning softly his eyes started to roll back as he fought loosing consciousness. He really needed to get those pieces into the Tardis.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

"Ahnngh...." He moaned softly feeling the tentacles writhe up over his flesh. His body was heating up easily and sweetly, blood pulsated quickly through his body as his struggling efforts were broken down. He hung there dangling from the appendages as more lashed out and slapped against his flesh.

 

Jessie was vaguely aware of being moved. His brain was fogged while his body fell into the pool of pleasure he was feeling from the treatment. What were they trying to do...? His body began to tremble and quiver as he looked out into the darkness, unable to see any lights anymore. He twitched and wriggled again in his confines as he felt his pants getting loose and slipping down.

 

"Nnnno! NO! D-Don't Stop! D-Doctor! Hhelp... Help!! Please...." He whimpered as he felt a thick appendage slip down and begin to play at his entrance. He felt it wriggle before slipping up inside of him, moving against his inner walls. His shaft twitched, begging for more while he began to fight against it again.

 

"HNNMM! Ahhnn... SSss... Nnn... Nnnno... HAHGH! AHH! NO!! Let... NNnn GO!" He jerked his head as much as he could, his body was getting tired again, slowing his efforts to fend off his leafy attackers.

[akiravadel]

Hours passed as it grew dark and the plants took their turns toying with him. Sometimes they would just play inside his ass others would just touch random parts of him. Either way they all got their fill in of his warmth until night started to settle in and they became more docile and wrapped around their prize to hold him there.

 

When River realized they weren't in the Tardis or at the site she grew very worried and started to search for them. Sending out her students she also set out to try to find her boys.

 

"Jessie! Doctor!" River called out as they walked about. Soon she found the Doctor on the ground and instructed the students to take him back to the camp and set him outside the Tardis. She didn't trust them to go inside but inside the temporal field of the Tardis would block out the backlash of the paradox.

 

River started searching and pulled out her lazer gun, having a feeling he was in trouble. All the companions got in trouble, well except for her, she was trouble.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

Exhausted he hung there as the plants continued to maul him for his heat, making him writhe in pleasure until he could no longer move. With the tentacles slipping inside of his own body, he couldn't hold himself calm any longer. His shaft twitched while his muscles began to convulse as he reached his peak, displaying his white ribbon over the slime covered limbs.

 

The hours were long and torturous. His nerves were shot with sensitivity as they finally began to calm down. How many times had he come from the ministrations? He had lost count and even lost consciousness a few times... One of the plants had slipped a tentacle into his mouth when he stopped squirming, seeking the warmth down his esophagus. It allowed just enough to room to keep him breathing as they gathered around him, pinning him in the middle of their enclosed circle.

 

His arms were bound and he was covered in their slime. Finally... His eyes were half lidded as he rested in the cocoon of their slippery appendages that wrapped all around his body.

 

"Hnnnnn...."

[akiravadel]

Shots rang out as the first plant was taken out, then the second. The others backed away having been either grazed by a bullet or noticed the change in chemicals of it's friend next to it. They slipped from Jessie as they retreated into their cave.

 

Running over to him River pulled him close, "Jessie? Jessie can you hear me?" She worried for him and didn't honestly wait for an answer before she scooped him up and went to stand. It took her another try to get off the ground with him. She was strong but Jessie was a solid boy not like the gangling Time Lord leaning against the Tardis. She even struggled with him and he weight less than a human!

 

Pushing herself onto her feet she made it back and up the hill. The Doctor was waiting for her. He was pale but thanks to the Tardis it was merely a dull throb in the back of his mind at the moment. As he waited for River the team of kids who helped him out brought the remains to just outside the Tardis.

 

The Doctor scooped Jessie from River's arms and rushed him inside. He carried him with ease, being a Time Lord he was much stronger than a human. Setting him onto the infirmary table he started to examine him, "Jessie? Can you hear me?" He started doing tests on the slim and what happened to him to see if he needed any stitches, or medications.

[Shi.No.Tobiko]

He was vaguely aware of the sounds that echoed through his mind, hearing the gunshots. the tentacle that slipped down his throat, easily slipped out and away, leaving a trail of spittle and slime dangling out of the corner of his mouth. The plants moved and he felt more of their appendages slipping away from his body, he was getting cold.

 

Jessie's body shivered as he dropped to the ground, covered in the mucous as River bent down to look at him. His eyes remained shut, he was covered in the slime from head to toe. A soft moan escaped his lips as River picked him up. Most of the weight came from the slime that covered him.

 

He was exhausted, unable to move from the constant treatment he was subjected to earlier.

 

Finally being in the Doctor's arms he heard that sweet voice calling out to him as he laid him down on the table in the infirmary. The slime had been cleared away from his face, allowing him to open his eyes and look up with a soft smile.

 

"Doc... Tor... You found me... I'm sorry... This.... Rat thing... Took your corpse's hand... I chased... After it... Uhnn... I'm so exhausted..." His speech was muddled as he tried to be coherent.