(no subject)

[fiery_ring]

The hospital looks fairly clean, but that's all that can be said for it.

"There's nothing we can do for her." The doctor says to Will as he watches over the unconscious Carlotta. "She will either recover or she won't."

Will watches him walk away, and notices him shake his head ever so slightly as he passes a nurse. His heart sinks, and when he's sure he's not watched, he kneels at the girl's bedside to pray for a miracle. When he's done, he brushes the curls of her hair off her face, and then as an afterthought, messes them up again. It wouldn't be Carlotta if she wasn't a little untidy-looking.

In a nearby corridor, a nurse drops a single sheet from Carlotta's notes, without noticing it. The sheet drifts down and wedges itself in an unseen portal, holding it open.

Comments

[wheatencrown]

"That slip lists the ward she's in, Nightingale and I saw a sign so this way. Now you walk in front and just be your daunting self and I'll follow. If anyone asks we are there to check on her and usually the doors will have posted the names of those inside. Just remember to look as if you belong and no one will question you."

Then Demeter steps purposefully out into the hallway and takes Teja's arm, holding herself with all the authority she has which is quite daunting.

[ostro_goth]

Teja sees the sign soon, and simply walks down corridors and up a flight of stairs, towards the place where Carlotta would be, utterly certain that none would stop him. People on the way that greet him, he gives a curt if polite nod, hurrying on, about his important business.

[fiery_ring]

Most people take no notice of Demeter or Teja. Those that do generally hold doors open for them.

When they get to Nightingale ward, which is a children's ward, they will find that Carlotta is in a side room, fortunately only a few metres from the entrance to the ward. She is alone apart from Will.

Being 1944, there is no code lock on the door. There is however a matron at the desk fifteen metres or so from the door.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter turns to the matron with a commanding look and says,

"My name is Sister Helen and I've come to provide support and prayers for Carlotta Brown and her family. Doctor Theodore has been kind enough to accompany me so far, he is an expert in dealing with head trauma."

[ostro_goth]

Teja just nods at the ward nurse briefly, and walks into the room where Carlotta is.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta is pale and still, clearly unconscious. Apart from her head being bandaged, she looks like she's in a very deep sleep.

Will stands when Teja enters. He is a tall, muscular lad, a few years older than Carlotta.

"She hasn't stirred sir."

[wheatencrown]

A few moments after Teja enters the room, Demeter follows and kneels beside Carlotta's bed, resting a hand on her head and whispering in Greek.

Her talent is with helping plants and fertility but she has a small skill in healing and gives Carlotta a small nudge towards being healthier.

[ostro_goth]

Teja looks at the sheets, trying to make sense of them, which is nigh impossible.

"What happened?" Teja asks the boy, suspecting he would know. "I need details of how she was injured!"

[fiery_ring]

"She stopped a runaway horse." Will says. "Manificently, to save my cousin Fern! But then my mother ran up and the horse startled, hitting her on the back of the head with his hooves. She keeled over and hasn't moved since. Who are you?"

[wheatencrown]

Demeter stops her prayers and looks at the boy,

"This is Doctor Theodore who knows much about head trauma and I'm Sister Helen. We were sent to see if we could do more than the doctors here."

[ostro_goth]

"Such head wounds often require trepanation," Teja says, looking at Carlotta, then pulling up her eyelid to look at her unseeing eye.

"Indeed. Is that not done here?"

[fiery_ring]

"The doctor here before said there was nothing they could do." Will says. "I saw him shake his head at the nurse."

He look at her. "He said either she would pull through, or not."

[wheatencrown]

"We might be able to help her but we'd have to work quickly and get her to surgery as soon as possible."

[ostro_goth]

"Yes, indeed," Teja says. "Trepanation will help ease the pressure of the blood on her brain."

Indeed, people knew and did that in his time; they knew and did that even among the ancient Egyptians. Teja has seen enough blunt trauma in battle to know, and be able to tell.

[fiery_ring]

"I'd better wait outside then." Will says. "Take good care of her, won't you? We're awfully fond of her."

[wheatencrown]

"She is strong and will make it through. I promise you that she is being watched over."

Demeter moves over to Will and squeezes his shoulder,

"Go eat, young man, make sure you're strong and here for her since she'll need you as she recovers."

[ostro_goth]

Teja stands, and looks darkly at Carlotta.

Once the boy is gone, they must -- what?

[wheatencrown]

"Gently pick her up and I'll find us a door."

There's a door to a small closet in the room and its going to work, Demeter is willing it to. She strides up to it and opens the door and the Bar is through there,

"We must hurry, I was able to help her slightly but she needs a doctor."

[ostro_goth]

Teja picks her up, cradling the dark curls against his shoulder.

She is so quiet and pale -- so unlike the Carlotta he knows! Why does fate have to strike at those he cares for most?

[fiery_ring]

She makes no response whatsoever, but she is at least breathing and warm.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter holds the door open and touches Carlotta's hair,

"She will be healed, she will."

[ostro_goth]

Teja nods grimly, sighs, and carries her through.