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Post by Jordanna on Jul 14, 2008 23:01:37 GMT -5
Alex gently laid Miriam in the bed and tucked her in. Then he pulled the chair closer and sat down, without speaking.
Sid glanced at Caddy with a gloomy shrug, then turned back to Alex. "You gonna be okay fer a while?"
"Yeah," Alex murmured faintly.
"Okay. I gotta see things set fer tonight at the Club--but then I'll be back." Sid squeezed Alex's shoulder. "Hang in there, buddy."
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Post by skybright on Jul 14, 2008 23:09:11 GMT -5
Caddy stepped to the bedside and took a moment to check that Miriam's pulse was still steady, glanced sympathetically at Alex, and then followed Sid out of the room, pulling the door shut slightly on the way.
He sighed and shook his head slightly. "I wish there was more I could do here, Sid." He murmured. "For you an' Alex's sake as much as for Miriam's."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 14, 2008 23:17:49 GMT -5
"I know." Sid clapped Caddy lightly on the shoulder. "I know you'll take good care of her... an' I know she's gonna be okay," he added firmly.
He cleared his throat. "Like I said--I better make a phone call."
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Post by skybright on Jul 14, 2008 23:22:20 GMT -5
Caddy nodded as the two men descended the stairs, and gestured at the wall-mounted telephone at the bottom of the stairs. "Help yourself, Sid."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 14, 2008 23:34:12 GMT -5
"Thanks." Sid picked up the phone and dialed the number for the Paragon Club. He talked first to Marty, giving him instruction while evading any explanation; then he asked for Grace, and informed her much more truthfully.
At last he hung up the phone and rubbed his jaw. "Well, that's all settled fer this evenin', anyway."
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Post by skybright on Jul 14, 2008 23:38:17 GMT -5
Caddy nodded and straightened from where he'd been leaning with one shoulder propped against the wall. "I guess Alex'll probably want to spend the night here." He said. "I've got to work the night shift in the ER at the Lef, but Hubert can take care of things while I'm away. What about you? We can make room, if you need it."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 15, 2008 22:44:19 GMT -5
Sid shook his head. "Nah. I gotta go home--gotta see my kids." He gave a feeble shrug. "I never told Tara 'bout any a' this, but... I think she kinda figures, times like these. Ya know?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 15, 2008 22:49:20 GMT -5
Caddy nodded. "Probably. Kids are a lot more intuitive than people give 'em credit for, especially at her age." He frowned pensively. "Have you . . . thought about how you're going to explain Alex and Miriam being gone?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 15, 2008 23:16:11 GMT -5
"Eh." Sid rubbed the back of his neck, looking rather lost. "I dunno, but I think they oughta know Miriam's--not so well right now. Guess I could tell 'em she's sick with somethin'... Ya know, just enough ta need a doctor fer a few days. Got any ideas?"
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Post by skybright on Jul 15, 2008 23:24:23 GMT -5
Caddy rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully. "You could tell 'em she's got a case of influenza -- we've had a few this year at the Lef already. We generally recommend that people under sixteen stay away from patients who have it, since they run a high risk of complications if they catch it -- that should give you an excuse for why they can't visit just yet."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 15, 2008 23:34:23 GMT -5
"Sounds okay." Sid grinned weakly. "Might settle Holly an' Caleb, anyway. I don't guess Tara'll really believe it when she sees this busted beak a' mine, but I got an idea she knows better'n ta ask questions."
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Post by skybright on Jul 15, 2008 23:40:29 GMT -5
Caddy nodded and clapped Sid gently on the shoulder. "Well, if you end up needing a better explanation for her, just let me know. I've got too much practice explaining medical jargon to kids her age -- comes with the whole mutation-manifestation-expert thing."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 15, 2008 23:51:08 GMT -5
"We'll be okay." Sid returned a pat on Caddy's shoulder. "You just take care a' Miriam an' Foxy--an' I know you'll do that."
He sighed and glanced around. "I gotta see where the Major got off to. Left my car at home yesterday, so I'm gonna need a ride from somebody."
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Post by skybright on Jul 15, 2008 23:56:39 GMT -5
"He said something about going out for a cigar, before we sent him in to have Cadeceus examine his ribs." Hubert broke in as he came into the hallway from the direction of the kitchen, coffee cup still in hand. "He may be on the back porch."
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 16, 2008 0:15:36 GMT -5
"Thanks." Sid frowned. "Somebody oughta find out what Proteus is gonna do, too. I wonder where he goes, now he doesn't have Spooktown anymore."
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Post by skybright on Jul 16, 2008 0:22:59 GMT -5
Caddy shrugged one shoulder. "Kind of hard to say with Proteus." He said. "But I'll ask him. I could use some coffee myself if I'm gonna work a graveyard shift -- if there's any left." He added, with a wry glance in Hubert's direction.
The smaller man smiled crookedly at his housemate. "Would I leave you an empty pot, Cadeceus?"
"Only if you thought you could get away with it." Caddy retorted. He nodded once more to Sid, then headed for the kitchen.
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 16, 2008 21:11:34 GMT -5
Proteus was still in the kitchen, content to remain there in contemplation. He looked up with a sad smile when Caddy came into the room.
"They all tried their best," he said quietly. "I don't fault them for what went wrong... and I'm sorry they were hurt."
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Post by skybright on Jul 16, 2008 22:09:50 GMT -5
Caddy sighed and nodded, letting just a little of his own weariness show through. "Yeah. Me too, Proteus. Me too."
He moved to the counter and poured himself a cup of coffee, adding cream and sugar; then he took a seat at the table, letting the spoon stir the coffee seemingly by itself. "What about you -- anything I need to take a look at?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jul 16, 2008 22:44:20 GMT -5
Proteus shook his head slightly, watching the spoon with a rather mesmerized gaze. "No, I came through alright. I'm sorry to say Vance's people invested a lot in shielding me."
He blinked suddenly and pried his eyes away from the spoon, glancing up. "After I rest a while, I think I might go to Nocturne's little kingdom--do some looking and listening. The fallout on his end from all this might be sort of interesting."
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Post by skybright on Jul 16, 2008 22:54:58 GMT -5
Caddy scowled blackly at his coffee. "I hope it gives him an ulcer." He said vehemently.
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