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Post by skybright on Jan 9, 2007 23:27:05 GMT -5
Daws shrugged and dug into the heap of rice on her plate. "I called the Padre from Henry's and gave him the quick rundown on everything that's happened -- he's gonna send a couple parishioners over to claim the body. After that, I guess it's just a matter of wrangling some red tape. Henry said he'd call sometime this afternoon."
She glanced sideways at Sid. "Speaking of the Padre -- I imagine he'll probably be descending on the place at some point over the next few days. You know -- 'cause you don't have enough resistance members crammed in here as it is."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 9, 2007 23:40:34 GMT -5
Sid looked up from his plate, blinking. "Yeah? What'd he want to do here? See Vance?"
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Post by skybright on Jan 9, 2007 23:54:28 GMT -5
Daws nodded around a mouthful of rice, then swallowed. "Yeah. The Padre'd never let on, but he's fond of Vance." She shrugged one shoulder. "Sort of sees him as an auxilary parishioner, I think. I told 'im he'd be better off waiting until Vance gets more of a chance to rest up, though."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 10, 2007 0:15:46 GMT -5
Sid grinned and shrugged. "Well, that's fine with me. I'm pretty fond of the Padre, myself."
Miriam had sat thoughtfully for the last few minutes, staring at her fork. Now she glanced up at Daws.
"I was wondering, Daws, if you want me to go along later, when you... pick up the body." She put her hand over Alex's mouth as he started to protest. "If there was any real effort at an autopsy done, there will be signs on the body that will have to be disguised."
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Post by skybright on Jan 10, 2007 0:20:52 GMT -5
Daws frowned. "I dunno, Doc. This guy . . . he didn't die easy. Or quickly." She flinched slightly. "I don't know if it's worth what you'd have to put up with -- but it's your call, I guess."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 10, 2007 0:29:45 GMT -5
"I used to deal with it every day, Daws," Miriam replied quietly.
"That was before you... changed. Besides, you already had a dose of that last night." Alex gave her a surprisingly firm look. "I'm saying no this time--and I mean it."
Miriam looked for a moment as if she would argue, but then she sighed and shrugged. "I guess that answers that." She glanced at Caddy. "But I still think someone should make sure the body looks like it hasn't been tampered with by coroners. Caddy, I know it isn't pleasant, but... do you think...?"
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Post by skybright on Jan 10, 2007 0:37:25 GMT -5
"Sure thing." Caddy nodded. "Not a problem at all -- I know what to look for."
He shrugged one shoulder. "Don't really think it'll be too much of a worry. If it's the guy who got mobbed last night, then any M.E. worth the paper he's printed on would know to pronounce the COD as blunt-force trauma with accompanying . . ."
"Caddy." Daws interrupted firmly, gesturing around the table. "Eating, remember."
Caddy's mouth snapped shut and he glanced back at Miriam calmly. "Just leave it to me."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 10, 2007 23:03:02 GMT -5
"Good," Miriam said, looking relieved.
Looking for a new and hopefully more palatable subject, Sid shrugged. "So how's Hubert doin', Caddy?"
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Post by skybright on Jan 10, 2007 23:12:23 GMT -5
"Oh, he's doing okay." Caddy replied. "He's been down with that chest cold that's been going around, but he's mostly over it now. Other than that, he's still keeping busy with all that stuff you guys brought us from Tiernan's place."
The doctor glanced sideways at Daws. "Y'know, speaking of Hubert, he was . . . kind of wondering if your offer to track down his son was still open."
Daws smiled crookedly. "Of course it is. I did some snooping around for him a while ago, before we met up with Proteus, but I didn't have much luck. You can tell Hubert I'll keep trying, though -- just as soon as this whole mess is over with."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 10, 2007 23:24:16 GMT -5
"Maybe someday, when all this is over, you can do the same thing for Jerod and his boy," Handy mused thoughtfully, as he piled a second helping onto his plate.
Sid chortled. "That's a kick. I can just imagine Daws with a p'tential stepson who's only a few years younger'n her." He grinned wickedly at Caddy. "Ya haven't heard, have ya? She's gone an' admitted it."
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Post by skybright on Jan 10, 2007 23:38:21 GMT -5
Caddy's expression widened into what could only be termed a manic grin. "On the level? Daws, I never thought you had it in you!" He slapped her jubilantly on the shoulder. "So, is there a gift registry involved yet, or should I just go with my instinct here? Maybe matching pistols, engraved with somethin' romantic, or . . ."
"Jason Cadeceus Ollivard," Daws shot back, "I am perfectly capable of making sure you've got a use for that gauze in your med bag. Keep that in mind."
Caddy merely favored her with an insolent grin. "Congrats, Daws. I do mean it."
Daws grinned faintly and ducked her head. "Thanks, Caddy." She shot a pointed look at Sid. "And keep that sorta talk to yourself, willya? All the grief my stepmother put me through, I'm nowhere near ready to entertain the thought of being a stepmother. Not even a purely theoretical one."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 10, 2007 23:50:31 GMT -5
"Aww, you'd be great," Sid chuckled. "Vance's kid is a soldier, in't he? I bet ya could swap great stories when you're bondin' on the firing range."
Handy rested his chin on two hands, while a third was still busy with his fork. "I've never met Nate. Jerod talks a lot about him, though. He sounds like a great kid."
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Post by skybright on Jan 10, 2007 23:59:33 GMT -5
"If he's anything like his dad, he must be a great guy." Daws said. "Exasperating, half-crazy, and stubborn, yeah -- but great."
Caddy grinned wickedly. "Gosh, you are gettin' romantic in your old age, aren't you?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 11, 2007 20:54:45 GMT -5
Sid decided to give Daws some relief from their friends' teasing, and grinned at Handy. "Speakin' of romance, how're ya gettin' on with Gracie?"
Handy blushed. "Oh, well, I..."
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Post by skybright on Jan 11, 2007 22:37:57 GMT -5
Caddy grinned. "I take it that means you two are doing well." He shook her head. "There must be somethin' in the air."
"Yeah, maybe." Daws shrugged thoughtfully. "Or maybe there's just something about mortal danger that gets people thinkin' about what they want out of life."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 11, 2007 23:40:05 GMT -5
"I hear that," Sid murmured thoughtfully, and there was a moment of pensive silence around the table.
Finally, Miriam cleared her throat and spoke up. "Caddy, how long do you think Major Vance will be down for? A lot of people need him."
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Post by skybright on Jan 11, 2007 23:50:16 GMT -5
Caddy frowned thoughtfully and pushed the last few bites of rice around his plate. "We-ell . . . if you'd asked me last night I woulda said months, easily -- I mean, the state of his lungs alone was enough to make me think . . ."
He broke off and shook his head. "But seeing how much progress he made just overnight -- and assuming that Proteus keeps up what he's doing for another couple days -- I wouldn't even say a month, now. I think the real question is, once he gets some of his strength back, how long is Vance gonna stand for not being on his feet?"
Daws snorted. "Don't count on it being very long. Vance isn't exactly the lay-back-and-recuperate sort."
Caddy raised an eyebrow at her. "Like someone else I could name."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 12, 2007 0:01:01 GMT -5
"We'll tie him down if we have to," Sid murmured. "That reminds me, we'll havta ask him if he wants ta go to Henry's. Might be better for him there, with kids in the house here an' all."
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Post by skybright on Jan 12, 2007 0:08:07 GMT -5
"It'd be in the City proper, too." Daws noted. "Maybe he'd be more likely to stay down if he could settle for steering his bunch from Henry's place."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 12, 2007 0:18:43 GMT -5
"Yeah." Sid looked at Caddy. "Assumin' he wants ta go--an' I don't see why he wouldn't--when d'ya think he could be moved?"
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