A Large House In New Jersey, Saturday

[witchoftheflesh]

Adrian dipped the towel into a basin full of cool water, heavily scented with herbs, wrung it just dry enough that it wouldn't drip, and placed it on her lower abdomen. There was a folded washcloth on her forehead, another tucked under her neck and behind her knees, and draped over her side, held in place by her arms. Normally, he'd wipe her body down with cooling infusions, but he was trying to disturb her body's lamia as little as possible, and so had to settle for placing cool towels against what his mother called 'hot spots' and hope that helped bring her fever down instead. The remains of a mug of nourishing broth rested on the nightstand; he was careful to not to feed her too much at a time, so she wouldn't choke. His own bowl rested beside it, still steaming, a small enchantments on the bowl itself to keep the contents warm while it waited for him to finish up with her.


"You know, Pam, any time you wanted to wake up would be okay by me," he said, voice low and calm and conversational. "I'm trying to give you time to work through this on your own, but if you're still comatose on Monday, I'm going to have to start using actual magic, and I'm not sure I'm ready to pull the scales off these women's eyes and have them declare my Grove should be the next holistic retreat." Dip. Wring. Place. "I know you can do this, Pam. You're one of the strongest people I know. And I know, I know. Everything in its own time. I'm trying to be patient, but you've got me worried." Dip. Wring. Place.

Eventually, he ran out of towels and retreated back to the chair, sinking into it with a soft groan. He reached for his soup by rote; he didn't feel hungry, but he knew he had to replenish the energy he was spending on her, and food was easier than sleep. He held the bowl for a few minutes, letting the warmth of it sink into his hands. "Come on, Pam," he murmured. "Don't make me start with threats. I've got some single-user plastic packaging right here and I'm not afraid to use it."

[For the unconscious one and SP! NFB for distance]

Comments

[joan_of_bark]

"Thanks," Pam said, a few moments later. She still clearly had trouble walking, dragging her leg behind her, but her arms were full of kitchen supplies and she didn't look like she was about to accept any arguments about it.

[witchoftheflesh]

Which was why Adrian was painstakingly keeping his mouth shut! Just going back to unpacking beakers and Bunsen burners and burettes (as well as other laboratory paraphernalia that started with letters besides the letter B) so it would be ready for her when she wanted it.

"What else do you need?" he asked crisply.

[joan_of_bark]

And Pam reached the box - and the table - and started setting up her equipment, beginning with the microscope. "Nothing. I think that's everything."

[witchoftheflesh]

"Okay then," he said. "Can I get you something to eat while you set up?"

It was called compromise, Pam.

"Something like soup, so you can drink it one-handed."

[joan_of_bark]

"Bring it down and we'll see," Pam said.

She'd be occupied for a while, but her hand might be free at some point. She was focused, not stupid.

[witchoftheflesh]

Time would tell.

Adrian went into the kitchen to ladle her out some soup, casting a small spell on the mug to keep it warm for a few hours, at least.

"So, where's Harley?" he asked when he returned, holding the cup out to her to take or to indicate where he should set it down.

[joan_of_bark]

Pam's hand was free, so she took it. Set it down beside the microscope. "Gotham," she said. "Janet talked me into this little detour before we got there."

[witchoftheflesh]

"How?" he asked. "It sounds like a hippy-crunchy back-to-nature retreat."

No shade on them! His coven could absolutely be called hippy-crunchy. There was a reason the genre of music Adrian was most familiar with was prog rock. But it definitely sounded like the kind of thing that would drive Pam mad.

[joan_of_bark]

"I may have ditched Janet when I came to Fandom," Pam said, as she started to unpack the syringes. "I thought I owed her a nice trip."

[witchoftheflesh]

"Lucky for all of them that you did," Adrian murmured softly. He debated asking more about this ditching and then decided that it was fully none of his business to ask anymore than either Pam or Janet was willing to spare. "A strain of yours got out?"

[joan_of_bark]

"How much do you know about taking blood?" Pam asked, securely lining up the syringes, the tubes, the vials. "And... yes."

[witchoftheflesh]

"Enough to be a competent - though not particularly gifted - phlebotomist," Adrian affirmed. "Rolling veins are still tricky, I'll admit."

[joan_of_bark]

"Good," Pam said, as she began to put items in the autoclave. "I'm going to need a lot of my blood, and it'll be quicker and easier if you draw it."

[witchoftheflesh]

Adrian immediately began to plan out meals good for boosting blood production and preventing anemia. "How much is a lot?" he asked. "There was rubbing alcohol and bandages in the bathroom. Should I grab those now?"

On the plus side, getting her blood drawn was an excellent time for Pam to eat! Since she would need to stay relatively still while he drew.

[joan_of_bark]

"I'll need at least six vials," Pam said, watching that math click around in his head with barely repressed irritation.

Her food intake was not the priority right now, you mother hen. "Bandages will be useful. Rubbing alcohol, not so much. My body should take care of any infections."

[witchoftheflesh]

Said the woman who had been unconscious for how many days, exactly?

"We're already going to be asking your body for a lot," Adrian pointed out. "What if we didn't have it fighting off infections for no reason while you're also trying to isolate the antibodies necessary to help our friends?"

Yes, he had already befriended them. Obviously.

[joan_of_bark]

They were a bunch of neo-hippie wellness twenty-somethings and moms. Pam was not even remotely surprised.

She eyed him for a moment.

"Fine," she said.

[witchoftheflesh]

They really did remind him of home. Except, you know, for the complete lack of witchcraft.

"Appreciated," Adrian said. "In exchange, I won't tell you all the gossip you missed while you were unconscious."

There had been four hookups, three breakups and a divorce. So yeah, just like home.

[joan_of_bark]

"Thanks." Pam had enough drama of her own. "Gossip is the last thing I want to think about right now."

Don't think she didn't see you peeking through the doorway, Janet.

[witchoftheflesh]

She was missing out. Meghan was a messy bitch, okay?

"Somehow I had guessed that would be your response," Adrian said dryly. "Witch senses. Anyway, I'll be right back. Do you want to get started on the blood draws now? Or do I have time to explain to the others some small part of what's happening so they don't bother you?"

Janet didn't count, obviously.

[joan_of_bark]

You know who else was a messy bitch? ... Look, shut up.

"Let's do the draws now," Pam said. "You'll have plenty of time afterwards."

Her eyes darted towards Janet.

[witchoftheflesh]

Oh, he knew all right. He knew.

He also glanced towards Janet. "Why don't I go get that now?" he offered.

Time would only tell if he was giving the two of them privacy, or abandoning Pam to her fate.

[joan_of_bark]

"Sure."

Ugh. Pam did not want to have this conversation.

She picked up the soup instead. There wasn't anything else for her to do, and at least she could use the mug as a shield.

[witchoftheflesh]

Oh look, it was that errand he needed to run. Bye, Pam!

[joan_of_bark]

Cruel and unusual, Adrian.

Pam sipped her soup.

"How are you doing?" Janet asked, tentatively.

"I'll be fine," Pam said. "Adrian's going to be mothering me constantly."

Janet bit her bottom lip. "You said he could help," she said. "I just thought--"

"No, it's fine," Pam said. Another sip. "He will help. Is helping. But I need to focus, okay? Because what's in my blood right now is the only thing that can save all of your lives."

"But if I--"

"He's just going to wait until you leave the room to come back," Pam pointed out. "And I need to get moving."

Janet sighed. "You always do," she said. "But-- thank you, I guess." And she began to drift back towards the door.