[ She's still not sure what to say, but there isn't a lot of time. She can't leave Neil for long. ]
Neil has a fever from the dragon fire. It's happened before and he's been fine. He asked me to tell you not to worry.
I've taken him to Nova where I can control his temperature. Text any time if you're worried. I'll answer as soon as I'm free.
What is going on with him, exactly? I need to understand. Please, tell me.
[ For a fleeting moment, Charlie can almost feel her own panic reach out and she does her best to pull it back. She doesn’t want to hurt anyone or cause a fire just out of the intense fear she feels, so she heads to her room where fires won’t start. No matter how upset she gets. But not knowing what’s going on with her father isn’t helping her, either. ]
[ By the time Charlie's text comes in, Regina's head down in brewing potions, burning them when Neil cries out for her, levitating him to change sheets so that the sweat doesn't cool and deprive him of heat he desperately needs, holding spoons of juice to his lips when he can't raise his head enough for a glass.
She hears it and resents it, resents the time it will take to answer that is time she could be spending tending to Neil or slamming down half a cup of coffee and maybe having a second to pee. But she also doesn't resent Charlie because she knows how Charlie feels and she wants to help her, she does. It's just there's no time, and she's barely this side of frantic already.
Finally, she picks up the phone and steps into the living room and calls. She waits 'til Charlie picks up and says]
Don't talk. Just listen. [ She takes a breath and glances frantically toward the bedroom. She hates leaving him, but she can't let Charlie hear him moaning and whimpering. And she doesn't want to upset Charlie more or make her feel like a burden. ]
I'm sorry, love. I understand you need to know. [ And they'd both rather he gets it than she gets an explanation, Regina's sure of it. ] If I drop the phone or hang up, don't panic. He just needs constant care. I'll call back or text when I can.
[ Another breath, she closes her eyes, and forces herself to keep it simple and calm. ]
You know the dragon fire consumes heat, which is why we all work to keep him warm. When dragon fire slips his control, it moves faster, driving his temperature up. But he has to stay warm, or he'll get hypothermic.
Right now, his body is fighting to get the dragon fire back under control, and I'm helping, by keeping him warm, dry, and hydrated. [ Which made it sound simple, but the rasp in her voice and the hitch in her breath because she's thirsty and, out of Charlie's earshot, he's just started whimpering, is probably making it clear it's nothing of the sort. ]
I have to go, sweetheart. I promise, I'm taking the best possible care of him.
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timeasmymeasure
11/18 - late afternoon - [ TEXT ]
Date: 2018-11-20 03:06 am (UTC)Re: 11/18 - late afternoon - [ TEXT ]
Date: 2018-11-20 03:09 am (UTC)Re: 11/18 - late afternoon - [ TEXT ]
Date: 2018-11-20 03:23 am (UTC)Re: 11/18 - late afternoon - [ TEXT ]
Date: 2018-11-20 01:42 pm (UTC)[ For a fleeting moment, Charlie can almost feel her own panic reach out and she does her best to pull it back. She doesn’t want to hurt anyone or cause a fire just out of the intense fear she feels, so she heads to her room where fires won’t start. No matter how upset she gets. But not knowing what’s going on with her father isn’t helping her, either. ]
Re: 11/18 - late afternoon - [ TEXT ] --> [ VOICE ]
Date: 2018-11-21 11:50 pm (UTC)She hears it and resents it, resents the time it will take to answer that is time she could be spending tending to Neil or slamming down half a cup of coffee and maybe having a second to pee. But she also doesn't resent Charlie because she knows how Charlie feels and she wants to help her, she does. It's just there's no time, and she's barely this side of frantic already.
Finally, she picks up the phone and steps into the living room and calls. She waits 'til Charlie picks up and says]
Don't talk. Just listen. [ She takes a breath and glances frantically toward the bedroom. She hates leaving him, but she can't let Charlie hear him moaning and whimpering. And she doesn't want to upset Charlie more or make her feel like a burden. ]
I'm sorry, love. I understand you need to know. [ And they'd both rather he gets it than she gets an explanation, Regina's sure of it. ] If I drop the phone or hang up, don't panic. He just needs constant care. I'll call back or text when I can.
[ Another breath, she closes her eyes, and forces herself to keep it simple and calm. ]
You know the dragon fire consumes heat, which is why we all work to keep him warm. When dragon fire slips his control, it moves faster, driving his temperature up. But he has to stay warm, or he'll get hypothermic.
Right now, his body is fighting to get the dragon fire back under control, and I'm helping, by keeping him warm, dry, and hydrated. [ Which made it sound simple, but the rasp in her voice and the hitch in her breath because she's thirsty and, out of Charlie's earshot, he's just started whimpering, is probably making it clear it's nothing of the sort. ]
I have to go, sweetheart. I promise, I'm taking the best possible care of him.