|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 7:41 pm
TRIGGER WARNINGS: suicide attempt, seizure, drug overdose, hospitalization Durem Medical Center
WHO: Anita & Cruz (ex o ex Snoof) with Duncan and his family (Rookeries).
WHEN: Summer 2012
WHERE: Durem Medical; Urgent Care
WEATHER: Dusk to early night.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 5:55 pm
Duncan couldn't recall the time between getting to the Durem Medical Center and leaving his home, as if he'd been teleported there himself. The burst of adrenaline he felt was quickly compounded onto his anxiety and his nervousness as he stood waiting at the hospital lounge, staring blankly off into a familiar hall with that familiar elevator. He hadn't left his gardening clothes and was clutching a sun hat between his hands, and he could barely register the fact that Becky was talking in panic over the phone.
Jerri and Jillette sat obediently nearby Duncan and away from Becky, who was stammering away at the corner of the lounge, much to the anguish of the hospital clerks and other waiting patients that sat there, already full of anticipation, or boredom, or fear. It was only after Becky finally eased off of her cellphone that Duncan turned back to stare at her, silently, until she attempted to stand proudly before bursting back out the exit while sobbing. Jillette stared off at the direction her mom was going, only to scrunch up her face and rock her legs.
"Uncle Clarke, I wanna go home..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:22 pm
As soon as the hustle to the ambulance calmed down and they were taking pains to go, Anita and Cruz went back through the house and locked everything up as best they could while making their way back to the car. From there, they followed as closely as they legally could and arrived at Durem Medical Center just a minute or so shy of the rest of them. Anita held the frei's hand the whole way, her own knuckles white. Cruz held an expression of constant worry but it was restrained -- he knew things were bad, that someone was in trouble, but no one had explained to him what was going on and it seemed like no one they were with really knew what happened either.
Their wait was long and quiet, save for Becky's nervous phone call. Anita perched in one of the seats like a child might, heels resting on the edge of the seat while her legs were pulled up, arms wrapped around her knees. Cruz sat on her left while Jillette was on her right, as well as her brother. She and Cruz both kept quiet, as quiet and passive as Duncan though on their end it was more for lack of anything to say rather than having difficulty processing their thoughts and emotions. Aside from obvious concern, both had thus far done a decent job of keeping their expressions mostly impassive but when Becky started sobbing and the loud click of her heels echoed down the hall, Anita was given a start and she raised her head, staring wide eyed after the woman. Her mouth closed tighter upon hearing Jillette's request. She wondered how much either of them understood what was happening, even compared to Cruz. They shouldn't have to be here, but there was no time. By all rights, she and Cruz had no business being here either...
"Once things settle, if you don't mind," Anita's eyes flicked momentarily to Duncan but she couldn't tell if he registered it or not, "maybe I can drop you two and your mom back home." It would be better than them all sitting here listlessly, painful in how awkward and emotional this all was, and moreso for her and Cruz as they were both technically strangers. Still, it was the only thing she could think to offer in terms of assistance. What else could she do?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:08 am
Duncan was fully aware of what Anita was saying to both Jillette and Jerri, but he was in no mind or mood to respond back. He, by all means, fully supported the Petits, Anita, and Cruz leaving, but his mind was bent on staring at the looming hospital hall next to the register. His eyes were transfixed to the electronic clock just in front of the clerk: 5:00PM. A few hours had passed since they'd driven here-- he and Becky were the only ones that were able to see Mordekai before his emergency operation, and even then, they were ushered into the lobby to wait. It was secretly draining Duncan, though he remained more alert than he'd ever felt in quite a long time-- he had to be.
Jillette nodded a few times to Anita. "I think mom would like that," she responded, quietly, "Thank you, miss 'Nita an' Cruz."
"Mister Clarke?"
The clerk from behind the register glanced over at Duncan, who stared back mindlessly. A nurse emerged from behind the stand and in front of the hall, clipboard in tow, and grimaced toward the four.
"Y-yes," Duncan stood up cautiously and walked towards the register, "That's me."
"Mordekai is ready to see you," the clerk continued; she gestured towards the nurse, "You can just follow Linda, she'll take you down the hall to his patient room. Okay?"
Despite Becky remaining absent, he nodded quietly and turned to face Anita, Cruz, and the children.
"Would you four like to stay here?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 5:12 pm
Her eyes were locked on Duncan when he was unresponsive, just staring at the clock. Anita couldn't even tell if he'd heard her. With Jillette responding in the positive it didn't much matter and, while trying to smile at the young girl, she nodded back.
Beside her, Cruz was about as dazed as Duncan just from sheer confusion. The voice from the register snapped him and Duncan out of it at the same time, green eyes wide as they flicked to the elder guardian. Their exchange was short and it left both Cruz and Anita feeling a bit hollow. Nausea set into the young woman's stomach as soon as Duncan's name had been called, returning the nurse's grimace with a cringe of her own.
"Would you four like to stay here?"
All Anita could do for a second was stare dumbly. Her head twitched and she gave a quick blink as she brought herself back to attention, then glanced at the two children at her side and to Cruz on the other. Her hand reached out, taking one of the Croc's and offering it a light squeeze to call his eyes to hers.
"Can you stay with Jillette and Jerri until Miss Rebecca and we get back?" Her voice was soft, just between them. She didn't want Duncan to face this alone but if Mordekai was ready to be seen then that meant mostly good news. Hopefully.
Cruz's lips parted as he searched her eyes, fingers clinging to hers. He didn't quite understand the question and his brows furrowed after a second to illustrate his confusion. Only when he glanced to the two children did he seem to get it and he offered her a few nods. Lips closing tightly over his pointed teeth, he clutched Anita's hand while she stood and watched her every move. As soon as her seat was suitably free, the frei let his hand slip away from his guardian's and he crawled over to the warm spot where she was sitting. It was welcomed considering the cold sterility of their current environment and he settled his ribbon against it with a sigh.
Anita took a spot by Duncan, nodding with a somber expression. "If it's no trouble, I'll come too," she pointed toward Cruz and the kids just as the frei reached out and gave Jillette's hair a comforting stroke, "He's got them covered." Before she turned away fully, she caught sight of Cruz pulling himself from the chair and to the floor in front of both children, offering his arms out to give them both hugs if they desired them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:01 pm
Jillette watched mournfully as Anita left their side. She waved briefly to Duncan and Anita as they met up with the nurse, her small form shielded by her lounge chair. "Bye miss 'Nita, bye uncle Clarke."
As Anita and Duncan left, Jillette and Jerri turned their attention to Cruz. The two children were remarkably quiet since their entrance into the hospital, and Jerri had remained in somewhat of a shock after what he'd see in the gazebo. Before Cruz lifted himself off of his chair, Jerri had focused mostly on staring at the two stains on his person-- the faint red one on his shirt, and the light one on his pants.
Jillette stared curiously up at Cruz when she stroked his hair, and she offered him the brightest smile she could muster before clacking her feet together. Her expression was a mix of daze and confusion and loneliness-- the lounge was so awfully quiet. When Cruz extended his arms out to her, Jillette immediatley hopped off of her chair to hug the Frei. Jerri slowly glanced up and followed suit, and the two Petit children buried their faces in Cruz's sides. Small spots of moisture welled from Jerri's side, but he remained quiet.
Duncan waved back with a small smile and nodded to Anita. "Thank you... thank you so much," he said quietly. Though it was barely visible, Duncan felt himself shaking everywhere, and he resisted the urge to ask the clerk and nurse if Mordekai was truly alright. He had to be, of course, why else would a nurse be escorting him there? Would he be awake?
The nurse nodded toward the two, and the three quietly roamed the halls. Every door was locked, and the corridor was relatively empty, save for the few medical staff that carted around the medical supplies. The emergency room today seemed oddly at peace-- there were only a few that burst through the entrance since they came.
"Here we are," Linda announced. Duncan stared past the transparent glass door and could make out the contour of a bed, though Mordekai was mostly obstructed by the doctor's back. The nurse tucked her clipboard between one armpit and slowly swung the entrance open, and waited for Anita and Duncan to pass through.
Duncan stared at Anita before nodding his head and quickly going through the entrance. The doctor looked back and smiled-- she was a small, slight woman, with tanned skin and green eyes framed by glasses. Though she had the time to put her laboratory coat back on, she was still wearing her scrubs underneath.
"Mister Clarke?"
The door closed.
"Yes," Duncan said, quietly, "That's me. This is my-- friend, Anita," he gestured toward Anita and attempted a smile.
"I'm Dr. Mancinelli. It's good to meet you," she honored a handshake with Duncan, then offered one to Anita, "We were able to get Mr. Kantor back to a stable state, though he's catatonic at the moment. I'm sure you both would like to say hi."
To anyone, it looked as if Mordekai was simply half asleep, with a full-face NIV mask plastered over his nose and mouth. An IV pump blipped by the side like a metronome, and Duncan stared quietly at Mordekai from where he was in horror-- he was able to nod his head, but was unable to move any further.
"I," Duncan choked, his hands wiping his eyes, "I do..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:24 pm
Like Duncan, Anita returned the wave and smile as best she could before they were directed elsewhere. His quiet thanks made her chest feel tight and only worsened her slight nausea but she tried to smile. Considering the circumstances, it was no trouble at all -- she was just glad she wasn't intruding. The walk through the hall was quiet, though she wasn't sure she'd call it peaceful. She didn't have a fear of hospitals, far from it, but any building that one normally imagined to be highly populous and bustling being so calm always struck her as disconcerting.
Anita kept herself attentive once they were lead into the room, flinching subtly at the click of the door. Duncan's voice tugged at her heart. His hesitation was noticed but his choice in description pulled at one corner of her mouth as she stared at him. Just hours ago they were still mere acquaintances but... yes, she supposed, extraordinary and volatile situations -- especially ones as personal as these -- did give way to actual friendship, didn't they? It made her handshake with the doctor a bit stronger than it would have been otherwise and she gave a quick nod to the woman's introduction.
From there she weakened. She didn't know Mordekai well, she didn't know any of them well, but she had seen him before today, before he was like this, without tubes and breathing assistance. She'd seen him awake, alert. She'd heard him speak.
Her hand reached out to Duncan's sleeve as soon as she heard his voice waver. She gripped gently before sliding the hand up to his shoulder to rest. "It's alright," she guessed, not taking her eyes off Mordekai's, "He'll be okay," her voice was quiet and attempting to hold back its own sympathies but they still broke through. Anita swallowed stiffly, lips tightening to a thin line as her eyes misted over from the sound of Duncan's voice and his inability to approach. She wasn't sure if she should urge him to, if that would be healthy or appreciated. Hospital situations were so foreign to her, least of all serious life threatening cases. After a few moments she took a deep, trembling inhale and slid her hand back down to his sleeve as she took one, two, three steps forward then paused and finally glanced back to Duncan. It wasn't her place to approach before him, not at all, but maybe he needed someone else to do it before he could manage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 7:05 pm
Duncan stared defeatedly up at Anita. His frown tugged at both of his cheeks and he blinked once, twice, and tears welled from his eyes. The man nodded and registered Anita's hand on his shoulder. He briefly cupped her hand with his, as a small assurance that he was alright. He dropped his hands by his sides, wiped his face again, and slowly followed Anita's lead until he was by Mordekai's side. He sat on one of the guest chairs and Dr. Mancinelli backed away from the bed to the side of the door, waiting.
Duncan placed one hand over Mordekai's arm. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when I needed to be, son. I thought we were doing so much better. I thought you were okay, you seemed happier," his voice cracked, "I've never been so mistaken. I don't expect you to forgive me."
The man fell into a state of silence. He felt as if he was barely breathing, though every beat of his heart amplified the ache in his throat, his heart-- he was tired.
A muffled voice could be heard through the glass door: "This is it? He's in here?"
Dr. Mancinelli looked at the door as two new guests arrived unceremoniously at the room. A stocky man with dirty blonde hair and clean-cut attire was accompanied by Rebecca, whose face was still swollen from crying earlier. The nurse that had led Duncan and Anita to the room before was now staring cautiously from behind the stocky man, who stared briefly at Anita before marching up the bed, his shoulders stiffened.
He brushed a hand through his hair. "Johan..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 10:47 pm
Once Duncan was seated she gave him a little space, taking a few steps back. Her hands fidgeted, wringing her wrists and fingers idly before shoving them into her pockets. Anita chewed her lip, staring at the back of his head as he spoke. With her posture slumped, she didn't have to look at Mordekai's face but she didn't want to avert her gaze completely. His voice cracking brought her right back, a hand finding his shoulder as her lips quivered and her eyes were completely glossed over.
The new voice outside was hardly paid any mind until the door opened. Rebecca was an unexpected sight but as the unfamiliar man stared at Anita she did so right back. Her mouth opened to speak but nothing came out and he'd already moved to the bed by then, attention where it belonged.
Anita flinched, gasping through her teeth and gripping Duncan's shoulder reflexively as he punched the wall. Her gaze quickly drifted to Rebecca, one eye much clearer than the other as its tears spilled over but the other still refused, then down to Duncan. She wanted to say something, anything, but her voice was trapped. It wasn't her place. She didn't know these people. Nothing she said or comfort she offered would be enough, even if Mordekai pulled through fine. It was so misplaced. She was misplaced, but she wasn't going to leave them all stranded here, least of all Duncan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 11:54 pm
Johan stood facing the wall for the while. His fist remained clenched where he had punched it, and Rebecca awkwardly slid herself into the patient room, where she stared at Mordekai with a quickly diminishing sense of dignity. Still, she was able to maintain her composure somewhat and not cry, partially fuelled by the fact that Anita was present. The woman instead covered her mouth with one hand and watched Mordekai.
"Is he alright," Rebecca faced Anita and Duncan, "Is he asleep?"
"He's in catatonic shock right now," the doctor repeated, hesitantly closing the door again, "It might take him a couple of days to fully wake up."
Rebecca nodded in understanding. Johan glared daggers at the doctor, however, turned back around to stare at the bed-- he eyed the situation critically, then shook his head. Duncan was glad for the support Anita was giving him, and even the small touch on the shoulder was enough-- tears still rolled down his eyes, yes, but he was more collected than he would have been alone, especially if Johan had barged in like he did.
As the doctor walked forward towards Johan, the suited man looked back. "When's he going to recover?"
"After he recovers from the catatonia, it's difficult to say," the doctor glanced at Duncan and Anita-- though she knew Anita was a friend, she understood how unbefitting the situation was in a time like this. "He overdosed on-- an impressive mixture of antidepressants. The gastric lavage--"
"What's that?"
"--Stomach pump," she continued, "The stomach pump should take a day of full recovery, and he should get some bedrest for a week or so. Now-- what are your names? Are you Mr. Kantor's brother?"
"Yes."
"Even outside of bedrest, Mr. Kantor, I would highly recommend some psychiatric help after he's dismissed from the emergency room. There are several in Durem that I can send referrals too."
Johan stared at Dr. Mancinelli for a good few seconds in silence, and Duncan stared up at him worriedly.
"You're ******** kidding me," The man broke into a quiet laughter, rubbed his forehead, then stared square in the face at Anita, as he would a co-worker during break-- he shook his head. "She's gotta be kidding, right?"
"Mr. Kantor--"
Johan bolstered from where he was, then bolstered, "There is no way in hell I'm taking Mordekai to a <******** shrink!"
Rebecca walked nervously over to where Anita and Duncan were, then gingerly placed one hand on Johan's shoulder. "Johan, please, think about what Mordekai just tried to do. He needs the help!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 12:32 am
Even though the doctor was on point with Rebecca's question, Anita nodded but left it short. Her lips tightened and she tried to stand straighter, appear a little stronger if only for her own mind. She swallowed back the lump that had been forming and receding since they'd arrived while the doctor explained, nearly flinching again at Johan's interruption even if it was just a simple question. That wasn't so bad, she'd actually been confused on the jargon herself so it helped her get a full understanding too, but the tone of his voice was what got her every time he opened his mouth.
Antidepressants. Anita glanced warily over Duncan's head to Mordekai, brows knit. So he'd made himself a cocktail. This was on purpose. Suddenly the entire situation got a whole lot more complicated.
The doctor's suggestion of seeking psychiatric assistance was so normal that it blew right past Anita and she didn't look back at all until Johan's laughter. When their eyes locked, hers widened and her lips became a thin line. Her face was already flushed but it went beet red from the pointed and aggressive question. Her brows twisted with confusion at being put on the spot, only relaxing when the doctor called his attention back. She wasn't sure what his problem was until he shouted, causing her to take a reflexive step back but she kept her hand on Duncan's shoulder and her eyes trained on Johan.
Rebecca's approach was just as unpredicted as she tried to reason with him. Only then did she glance back to Duncan, silently pleading for him to intervene or at least say something. Her hand on him trembled nervously while her ears burned.
"There's not a lot of options," she squeaked in the short gap following Rebecca's assertion. Anita couldn't look at any of them when she said it, immediately clasping a hand over her mouth while she scrutinized the subtle lines in the smooth linoleum tile floor. Maybe they didn't hear her. God, please, hopefully they didn't hear her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 1:17 am
Johan roughly shoved Rebecca's hand away from his shoulder, then stepped back from the three in the corner-- he looked betrayed, mostly, and incredulous. He caught wind at what Anita had said, however, and shot her the most offended look of all. Duncan snapped into hyperawareness when Anita's hand tightened against his shoulder, and he stared vigilantly at Johan, though the man did not initially take notice.
"Hey," Johan began, pointing at Anita, "You, what's your name--"
"That's enough," Duncan retorted. His voice was still soft, but it reverberated with indignance and a surprising irritation that Duncan had so rarely felt. His cheeks and nose were still red from his tears, and at talking briefly with Mordekai. "You leave her and Rebecca alone, Johan. You can't just think about what would only be best for you. Dr. Mancinelli is doing us some kindness--"
"This is her ******** JOB," Johan snapped, his gaze now successfully diverted from Anita, "And she's done what she's needed to ALREADY. Don't ******** sit there and lecture me, okay, Duncan? You have no experience with shrinks, you have no experience with their shitty hospitals and their shitty people!"
Just as Duncan began to speak, Dr. Mancinelli pressed a firm hand over Johan's shoulder. "Mr. Kantor, you need to calm down. The reason why I'm recommending psychiatric help is to help Mordekai avoid another situation like this. Therapy isn't a death sentence-- depending on the psychiatrist's recommendations, he may not even be hospitalized."
Johan stood complacently by for a minute. He stared deeply at the bedpost, and Duncan felt his heart sink immediately. He slowly rose from his seat, taking care to give Anita a quiet warning by glancing over at her--
As Dr. Mancinelli noticed Duncan standing up, Johan kicked the bed roughly with his leather sole.
The bed resounded with a hollow pang, but the act in and of itself was enough to startle Rebecca and make her scream, briefly-- Duncan carefully placed one hand on Anita's shoulder and urged her to go towards the door. The doctor paced over to Johan, who was now circling towards Mordekai's side and reaching for him-- Dr. Mancinelli managed to pull at his arms just in time, and Duncan rushed over to help her do the same.
"I can't do this... You son of a b***h," he cried, "WAKE UP!"
"Mr. Kantor, please calm down, or I'll have to ask you to leave!"
While they were struggling awkwardly with Johan, Duncan looked over to Anita and Rebecca. Rebecca, by now, had managed to attach herself firmly to Anita's side-- he nodded over at the door towards them both.
"Why-- why don't you two go over to the children first," he said hurriedly, quietly, through Johan's warbled shouting with the doctor-- "We'll be right out. I promise."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 1:40 am
Even without looking she knew Johan's eyes had fallen on her again. Her entire body tensed, skin flushing but it felt sick and cold as it prickled all over. Winces, clenching her eyes when Duncan finally came to the defense. She shouldn't have said anything, she had absolutely no right to comment, and now she was feeling sick with anxiety, guilt, and embarrassment on top of the negativity Johan was practically pouring out.
She finally opened her eyes when the doctor interjected again, glancing around to everyone. Duncan's movement confused Anita, not understanding the warning even as he met her gaze. Again she flinched but Rebecca's scream just made it worse. If her hand hadn't been clamped over her mouth in a fruitless attempt to pretend she said nothing she still wouldn't have made a sound in reaction. She was obedient in following Duncan's urging, tensing again as Johan's outbursts seemed to get worse.
This was all falling apart so easily it was clear to her that whatever the underlying situation was it'd barely been held together in the first place.
She wasn't used to hospitals, to scares of death, but she was used to emotional family gatherings, outbursts and accusations of similar volume. It at least afforded her a clearer head when these things blew up.
Anita huffed unsteadily at Duncan's suggestion, stance shifting strangely with Rebecca practically clinging to her. Her eyes were still wild, worried, but she nodded quickly to Duncan before turning her attention to Rebecca and attempting to lead her out.
"It's fine. It'll be fine." Her words were a bit rushed, spoken as if it were a fact rather than an assurance toward her.
Once they were back in the hall she made sure to close the door quickly so the sound didn't follow them. Navigating back to the waiting area where Cruz, Jerri, and Jillette were seated was clumsy but Anita did her best to keep them both steady. Before they got close, just when the three were within her line of sight, she cleared her throat to call attention to Rebecca. They didn't need to see their mother panicked again, they didn't need to worry anymore than they already were when they wouldn't understand the situation in the first place.
Cruz had done precisely as he was asked. He stayed with them, having kept their hug up for a while, and he comforted them the best he could physically. All he could offer beyond that were small distractions, trying to remind them of nice things. Their favorite toys, games they played. If he kept them talking then they wouldn't have to stew and he could keep listening for precisely the same reason.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:17 am
Anita and Rebecca managed to slip out into the hall, where it was still dreadfully silent. Linda, the nurse, was nowhere to be found, and it was still evident through the glass door that Duncan and Dr. Mancinelli were struggling with containing Johan and his rage. The younger Kantor's voice was muffled but audible through the glass door, which spoke for his deeply red face and aggressive movements.
Rebecca stared at the glass door for a while longer than Anita. She only managed to break away from the scene when Duncan stared straight towards her-- he was clearly baffled as to why she wasn't gone already. By the time the doctor struggled with the nearby phone, Rebecca had turned around fully to squirrel behind Anita.
"You're right. You're right..."
The woman nodded haphazardly toward Anita again and her again, then closed her eyes in an attempt to recollect her composure. She was near tears by the time they had reached the triage, but Rebecca was able to successfully open her eyes and smile at her children by the time the lounge was in full view.
Jerri and Jillette remained by Cruz. They played along gradually more cheerfully to the crocodile's games, though they never quite reached the level of energy they had when they'd arrived at Duncan's home. Jillette, at least, was now fully capable of beaming at her mother with a smile, but Jerri could not. He was still ashamed from the stains on his clothes, at how he'd frozen so completely before they reached the emergency room-- he hopped off of his chair and hid demurely behind Cruz.
Though Rebecca received Jillette's smile well, she was devastated that Jerri had reacted in such a way. She frowned slightly and bent down towards the three, her red lips pulled into a wobbly kind of smile. "Thank you for taking care of Jerri and Jillette for me, Cruz. I owe you so much-- I'm sorry if they caused any trouble."
Jillette had mostly tuned out what Rebecca had said to Cruz, and instead swung her feet expectantly at Anita. Her radiance quieted slightly, though, when she noticed that Anita seemed more scared than she was before she'd left the lounge. Jillette blinked and played with the curls of her own hair, then offered one hand curiously to Anita.
"Miss 'Nita, are you scared?" she looked behind Anita, aware that Duncan was missing, "Do you want to go back home, miss 'Nita?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2013 2:38 am
It hadn't been easy for Cruz to regain his energy either, the croc settling somewhere between Jerri's apprehensive calm and Jillette's smile. He could not beam, though he began to smile when he first saw them approach. The look on Anita's face stopped that quick. The frei "stood" when Jerri did, staying by him as the child hid.
She wasn't even aware of the expression she wore. Her eyes didn't meet any of theirs once Rebecca separated from her. Anita softened a little when their mother appeared to have a better handle on herself while speaking to them.
Cruz offered her a tired smile, one without teeth. "They're good," he returned, not looking away from Rebecca as the palm of one hand gently cupped the back of Jerri's head. The frown had been noticed but he didn't know how to place it, merely assuming it had to do with whatever was causing Anita's wavering expression.
Jillette's hand startled her back from watching Cruz's brief exchange with the other two and, for a moment, she just stared blankly. A short laugh left her despite the weak smile taking a second to catch up. Her fingers gently took Jillette's as she shook her head, trying to perk up more.
"I'm fine," she laughed a bit awkwardly, following the girl's gaze to the empty hall behind her. "Um..." strange as it was, not really. At least, she didn't want to leave Duncan alone with Mordekai like this but she wanted to leave him with Johan even less if this was how it was going to be. "Yeah," her voice was clearly tentative as she turned back and nodded, "Yeah, we should head back. I'll take you guys home."
Cruz's chin lifted, eyes back on his guardian. "My car's just out front."
She wondered if she would have to make a return trip to fetch Duncan. At the very least, she wasn't going to put him into a position where he had to call a cab or catch a ride with Mordekai's brother. Things were awkward enough for their whole family. Once Rebecca and the kids were back at the house it wouldn't be so bad, Cruz could stay with them until she got back and she would just hang out in the waiting room. The kids were keeping the damn cookies, too. The entire plate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
