Chapter Text
Ronald.
***Sunday 17th April***
***10.03am***
“I’m really sorry, Carmen. I should’ve been here sooner.” I feel really bad. I’ve proper let her down.
“It’s okay, Mommy. You were busy taking good care of Daddy.”
I wish. I’ve been too much of a mess to do anything useful. “Yeah.”
“Is he any better?”
“He’s still sleepin’. His body’s workin’ really hard ta heal up.”
“Is he nearly healed?”
“No … not yet. It’s gonna take a bit more time.”
“Okay …. Can I see him?”
“Not yet, Kiddo. Let him ge’ a bit better first.”
“Okay ….”
“Hey, don’t be sad.” Please …. “Y’ll ge’ ta see him soon.” Think … be a useful parent for once and think of something to cheer …. “Hey, why don’t y’ make him somethin’ nice for his hospital room? Make it more colourful for him.”
“Make h im something ….” Her eyes light up. “Okay, Mommy, I will.” She’s thought of something good.
“Great. Do y’ need my help wi’ it?”
“No, I can do it. Oh, oh, do you want me to make you something too?”
“No, Kiddo, I’m alright. Thanks though.”
“There’s nothing I can do? I … I wanna help.”
“Hel -?”
“You … look so sad, Mommy.”
“Oh, no, Carmen, I’m okay. I jus’ want Daddy ta wake up. I – sh – sugar ….”
“What’s wrong ...?”
“Daddy’s pigeons. I, I kinda forgot ta feed them. I’ll be right back.”
“I can help.”
“No, it’s alright.”
“But I wanna. I know how to feed them.”
“Y’ do?”
“Yeah. I’ve helped Daddy before … when you were working Saturdays.”
“Oh, alright. Y’ can if y’ want but y’ don’t ‘ave ta.”
“I wanna help.”
-------------
“Carmen, be careful. Tha’ bag’s heavy.”
“No, I can do it.” She drags it – damn, kid’s sure determined.
“Alright …. After tha’ bowl, I think we’re done.”
“No, Mommy, the floor needs cleaning too.”
Huh? “Looks fine ta me.”
“No. It’s messy. Daddy would have cleaned it way before this.”
“Really?” This sucks. They make a mess so quickly – I don’t know how Will keeps on top of it. But I need to keep it nice for when he wakes up. “Alright ….”
-------------
***1.43pm***
“B-but do you really have to go?”
“Yeah, I need ta check on Daddy. I’ll be back before bedtime though.”
“Okay.”
“I won’t be long, I promise.” I bend down to give her a peck on the cheek. “And I’ll tell Daddy ‘bout how good y’ were helpin’ me wi’ tha pigeons.”
“But he’s asleep?”
“It doesn’t matter. I still think he’ll hear me.”
“But how?” She frowns at me.
“Well … if I call y’ name when y’re asleep, y’ still hear it, right? Or else y’ wouldn’t wake up.”
“S-so, if we shout really, really loud, will Daddy wake up?”
“Heh,” my stomach sinks. I … I wish it were that easy, “I don’t think that’ll work. He’s in too deep a sleep. But he’ll defo hear it.”
“Okay. Then tell him how much fun we had today.”
“I will. I’ll see y’ -.”
“Mommy?”
“Yeah?”
“Is … is it safe to go outside now?”
“Yeah ….” My heart sinks too. “Yeah, it is, Kiddo. D-Daddy helped make it safe again.”
-------------
Eric.
***11.14am***
“Al, are yer alright?” He’s about to help me with my eyedrops … but he keeps scratch – “Are yer itching?”
“I, I’m fine.”
“No, yer keep rubbing yerr arm.” I squint, trying to see through the blur. “Ar-are yer coming out in a rash?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Al -.”
“I said I’m fine.” He stands. “I, I forgot to get your painkillers.”
“But ….” He’s already heading for the door – a slam.
“Dammit ….” I fumble across the bedsheets – there it is. I pick the box up, struggling to make out – I knew it …. He’d already brought them in. What the – goddammit, Al, I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay.
-------------
***1.37pm***
I need to go check on him. It’s been a few hours now … and he still hasn’t been up to see me. I haven’t heard so much as a peep from downstairs since he stormed off ….
He could have gone out to see Ronnie … but I doubt it.
I pull myself out of bed, the room turning fuzzy before coming back into focus a wee bit. Good enough … I guess. I lift my hand up, focusing – aye … if I concentrate enough, I can make out the wrinkles on my knuckles. Couldn’t do that yesterday. Think today’s dose of eyedrop has made enough of a difference.
If Al has come out in a rash, I’m going to be able to see it.
But I’m not risking the stairs. I’ll port – can I port? Aye … aye. I haven’t taken my painkillers today, so I’m not woozy. No way I was taking them and falling asleep when Al could need me.
Right, here we go – “Ack!” What the – doorframe ….
I made it into the hallway then ….
“Al?”
No ….
“Al, petal, where are yer?”
I grab onto the frame, turning around it –
“Al … shite ….” I knew it. I knew something wasn’t right.
Scratch … he’s scratching all over. “Yer still itching?”
A flinch – he was in his own wee world. “Oh, no, I’m fine.”
“Al … come on, don’t lie tae me.”
“I’m -.”
“Ah know yer’ve come out in a rash.” I get closer. “It’s all over yerr face.” His … hands too. “Is it all over yer?”
Silence ….
“Is it getting worse?”
…..
“It’s getting worse, isn’t it?”
“N-no. It’s fine. Just irritating.”
“Are yer sure?” I sit down next to him, looking him over. “It looks bad, Al. Ah think yer need tae go tae the hospital.”
“No.”
“Al -.”
“I won’t let them experiment on me again.”
“They won’t -.”
“You don’t know that! I, I can’t go through that again – I won’t!”
“Ah do.”
“How?!”
“Because … it’s not like the Thorns. Yer’ve obviously just had a reaction tae demon venom. Probably from that cut on your chin. Is hasn’t healed yet, has it?” I reach out towards the dressing –
“Don’t touch it!” He flinches back.
There’s my answer …. “See, it’s obviously that. It should have healed by now.”
….
“Why don’t we go together? Just for a check-up. Ah’ll make sure they don’t admit yer, aye? They might be able tae give yer some cream or medicine tae help at least. What do yer say?”
…..
“Al?”
“I really don’t need to. I feel fine apart from the rash.”
“Are yer sure?” I wish my damn eyesight would hurry back. I think he’s gone pale, but I can’t be sure. All the colours are dim.
“I am.”
“Okay …. But if yer start tae feel worse in yerself, tell me.”
“Okay.”
“And if yer’re no better by morning, ah’m taking yer tae see someone.”
“M-maybe.”
“No, Al, ah’m taking yer. Okay? Ah promise ah won’t let them do anything tae yer.”
“O-okay. Okay ….”
“Aye, okay. Good. Do yer need anything?”
“N-no. I think I’m just going to sleep for a while.”
“Aye, well yer get as much sleep as yer need. Ah’ll ask Othello tae pick Emily up from the hospital this afternoon.”
“Do you think he’ll mind?”
“Ock, no, not at all. Yer know he loves seeing her.”
“Okay.” He stands up – seems okay on his legs, at least. “Thank you, Eric.”
“Not at all, babe. Get yerself tae bed.”
“I will.”
“And call me if yer need anything. Anything at all.”
“Okay.”
-------------
***3.23pm***
“What’s wrong with Mommy?”
“He’s just feeling a wee bit under the weather.”
“How?”
“Yer know that cut on his face?”
“Yeah?”
“We think he’s had an allergic reaction tae whatever was on the claws that scratched him.”
“Like … demon venom?”
“Aye, that’s right, lass. He’s all itchy.”
“Is … is that why his face was all blotchy this morning?”
“Aye. But he’ll be alright.” I don’t want to worry her. “He’s getting some sleep so he can feel better.”
“Okay.”
“How was work? Yer have another busy day?” I plonk down the food shopping Olly gave me onto the kitchen table.
“Yeah …. P-people are still coming in sick. Uncle Will is still asleep too. Why hasn’t he woke up yet?”
“He got hurt pretty badly, Lass. It’s going tae take time. But he’ll be alright.”
“I … I hope so. Auntie Ronnie looks so sad.”
“Aye … ah know, sweetheart. But he’ll wake up soon. Can yer be an angel and help me put the shopping away?”
“Okay Daddy.”
--------------
***5.12pm***
I poke my head around the bedroom door, whispering “Al, yer awake?” I don’t want to disturb him if he has managed to doze off.
“I am. Do you and Emily need dinner?”
“Nah, ah helped Emily make sandwiches. We’re alright. Do yer want anything?”
“No, I’m not really hungry.”
“Alright. Did yer get any sleep?”
“Mmm. I feel a little better.”
“That’s great news.” I walk into the room, trying to find the bedside table in the dark. “I asked Othello tae get yer these.”
“Hmm?”
“Allergy tablets. They might not do anything but it’s worth a try.” I place them down, along with a bottle of water.
“Oh … okay, I’ll try them.”
“Think Olly said yer just need tae take one.”
“I’ll double check.”
“Alright. Yer staying in here tonight?”
“Yeah. It’s cooler in here.”
“Aye, it is.” I’ve been meaning to get that drafty window fixed for years … but it’s come in handy now. “Shout me if yer need anything, alright?”
“I will. Thanks, Eric.”
“Aye, no bother, petal.”
-------------
***Monday 18th April***
***1.06am***
“Ack!” What the hell was that noise? Ock, it’s just one of the dogs barking. Almost gave me a heart attack.
“Daddy, Daddy!” Emily bursts into the room. I thought she was still sleep –“There’s something wrong with Mommy!”
“What?”
“He’s really poorly! Hurry!”
I’m up, rushing after her down the hallway –
Coughing, wretching –
“Al?!” Ock, no …. “Al ….”