End of the Road

[geeky_agent]

Chris rested her head against the cool surface of the bath. Her breath still came in shuddering gasps but she had stopped crying for now.

She was scared and she was a little ashamed of this. She has some idea that she should be stronger, calmer about this. She realizes it's irrational, she wouldn't expect this of someone else - at least she hopes she wouldn't - but she does want it from herself.

She remembers earlier, when she thought her mom was here and now she wishes she were here. She wanted her right now more than anyone in the world and it wasn't fair that Saunders was here but her mom wasn't. I miss her so much. I wish she were here.

Chris closed her eyes, sighing.

Comments

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I am," she whispers.

"I feel cold. But my tempature is still around 103. I took it a couple hours ago."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He frowns worriedly, pulling his hand back. "Just a minute," he says, going to the bathroom and running a washcloth under cold water, then wringing it out. She's lying on her side, so he places the cloth on the side of her face, crouching next to the bed. "This might not feel very good if you have chills, but wrapping up isn't going to help your fever any."

"A few other people have been looking sick in the last few days. Do you remember anyone you were talking to that might have passed this on to you?"

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"It was Laini," she sighs.

"She's a... she's part human, part fox. She's from somewhere called Underhill. I talked to a woman named Lady Ako today. I think she's the same species as Laini. She recognized the disease I have."

Her throats dry and it's not just from the illness. "Apparently, it's pretty bad."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

The knot in his stomach tightens. "What do you mean, pretty bad?"

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

She purses her lips before answering. "She says it's fatal."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

For a moment Jack can't speak, can't even breathe as he struggles to make sense of she said. For a moment the only thought that can cross his mind is a simple, no.

"There's a treatment for it, though." It's not a question, though he doesn't know whether there is or not. He's just not willing to even consider the thought that there isn't one.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

Chris nods. "There is. But she doesn't have the ingredients yet. She mentioned needing people to go find them."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He lets a slightly shaky breath. There was still hope, then. Even if he's not entirely sure how he feels about her, he knows he cares about her a great deal--more than just friendship. And he's not ready to lose her just yet. Not now, and not like this. "Okay. I'll go talk to her later." Obviously there's not question in his mind about whether he's going or not.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"Laini is still sick and she's contagious. You should steer clear of her - she has a silver fox tail. Lady Ako has a red fox tail."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He nods. "I will. It won't help things if I get sick too. Do you think it would help if you saw a healer?"

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

At first, Chris is going to say they should ask Lady Ako first since that never came up but then she remembers her hands.

"Yeah. I think it would."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Okay, I'll go find someone in a minute." He looks at her for a moment, noticing that her hands are tucked under her pillow. "Your hands cold?"

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"Yes," she answers cautiously. It was the truth but it's not the entire truth.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He holds out his hand. "Here, give them to me. they'll warm up faster if you use body heat. Though maybe you should put them on your forehead instead, they might help your fever," he says, with a very slight smile.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

She looks down at the bed. "No, it's all right, Jack."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Her avoidance of his gaze instantly makes him a little suspicious. "What's wrong?" he asks, softly.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

Still looking at the bed she answers, "One of the symptoms of the disease is that you grow extra limbs."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

Well she appears to still have only two arms. "So you have extra...hands? Fingers?"

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"Fingers," she mutters. "Six on one hand. Seven on the other hand. At least last time I checked."

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"Can I see? You don't have to be embarrased about this in front of me," he says, his expression sympathetic.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"Fine." She frowns, she's still embarrased no matter what he says but dragging her feet wouldn't make this any easier.

She leans up in the bed, takes the socks off and then turns and sits up. Her hands are in her lap.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

He looks at them for a moment, before placing his hands on hers. It is kind fo creepy to see more than five fingers on each hand, but it's not repulsive. He's seen worse.

"Hey, it could be worse. It could be missing fingers." He says with a slight, sympathetic smile. "We'll fix it, though, okay?"

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

Chris nods but remains silent. She has the feeling he's pitying her but she's too tired to argue. Not to mention, it seems pointless.

[action-antihero.livejournal.com]

"And I'm not just humouring you," he says seriously, as she doesn't reply, "We are going to find a way to treat this." He won't let himself think about the alternative.

[geeky-agent.livejournal.com]

"I know," she says in a small voice.