NaNo2013: Speedster's Secret: Part 19

The nearest supermarket was part of a big shopping complex. While there, Juliet picked up new blankets, a battery powered radio, a camp cooking set, some paper plates, plastic cups and cutlery, a cool box and some food. She knew the situation wasn’t ideal, but at least she could make it a bit more workable until they could think of something else, and all of her purchases would help.

The treehouses weren’t double glazed, hell, they didn’t even have real windows, just bits of clear Perspex, their walls weren’t very thick but they were sturdy and didn’t have holes in, which was a help, but with the weather as cold as it had been, they would have to be careful to keep themselves wrapped up warm.

She would have gotten some of the stand alone heaters, but they all needed electricity, which she still had yet to install.

“Right,” She decided as she darted back, trying to balance her purchases as she sped down the road and weighed down by too many bags to manage more than a steady jog, “Find out where Michael vanished to, find somewhere warmer to crash.”

When she got back she checked in on Luna, burying her under three more blankets before settling some of the new stuff in the other treehouse. Once everything was set up, she wrapped one blanket around herself, hid under another three and fell asleep.

When she finally woke up, it was to find Luna was on the phone to someone as she tried to cook using the camping equipment.

“No, she’s still asleep. Yeah I know it’s been more than two days.” Luna sounded worried, “Yeah, I’ve been checking on her. Gave her one of my blankets too. No, I haven’t...” She sighed, “Michael, I’m not going to freeze. Not when I still have two and the duvet. Are you...? Good. I’m glad. Yeah, I know. When Speeds wakes up, I’ll talk to her about it but I’m not going to.” She paused, distaste crossing her features, “No, I’m not going to leave her here. Especially right now.” Luna looked over, concern etched on her features. Her features brightened when she saw Juliet looking back at her, “Gotta go Mikey, she’s come round.”

Luna put the phone down and darted over to her side. “Before you worry.” She said, bringing a glass of water over with her and handing it to Juliet, “It’s a pay as you go sim in a cheapio phone. I popped into town while you were sleeping and picked it up so I could get in contact with my brother.”

“Is Michael okay?” Juliet worried, sitting up and chugging the freezing cold water, the liquid soothing her parched throat.

“Yeah, Shade got him away clear. He’s staying with Spike right now. Apparently our parents are pitching a fit and kicking up as much fuss as possible about their kids being kidnapped.” Luna bit her lip for a moment before sighing, “Mum saw me get dragged into the van.”

“Have you phoned them?” Juliet couldn’t help but ask as she pulled the blanket around herself, cold despite the layers and wondering if Luna’s jacket was a lot warmer than it looked considering that she wasn’t wrapped up.

“Yeah.” Luna nodded, “They weren’t pleased that I couldn’t tell them where I was, but I promised the moment I...” She frowned slightly, trailing off and holding up a hand. Speedster frowned, wondering what Luna had heard that she hadn’t. Then she understood. There were footsteps on the wooden platform outside. A shadow passed by the steamed up window before there was, surprisingly a knock on the door before it opened.

Both girls let out a relieved breath as Juliet’s uncle stepped into the room.

“Mr Rhodes?” Luna looked relieved, “Sorry, she’s woken up now.”

“Lune?” Juliet blinked at her, confused.

“She called me this morning.” Mr Rhodes informed his niece as he sat down on the sofa next to her and checked her temperature with his hand, frowning slightly as he pulled his hand away, “You’ve been asleep for the last fifty three hours and you feel hot to the touch. Can you get some water please?” He looked at Luna, who nodded and shot off to get some. “I couldn’t get away from the house until an hour ago though. Someone from the Government came around to apologise for the other day.” He grimaced, “He did ask me to pass on a message to you and Luna, but I think it can wait.”

“I’m okay.” Juliet reassured him, becoming disconcerted when he checked her leg, having obviously been told about it, only to find the cut had almost completely closed over but looked red and sore. “Uncle?” She asked, worried when he pulled her to her feet, only for her leg to give out, pain spiking up it.

“Come on.” He smiled at her, trying to hide his concern as Luna came back with the water and she chugged that glass down too, “Let’s get you somewhere warmer. I have the guest house, you two can stay there. And if they try and take you away again, they’ll learn why engineers are terrifying.” He smirked evilly.

“You sure?” Juliet worried at him, “I mean...”

“Guest house. You’re using it.” He was determined, “You can live in the treehouse like when you were a kid once it warms up. For now let me worry about problems and just do what you’re told.”

“But...” Juliet trailed off at the look her uncle was giving her, “Can we have breakfast first?”

“I’m not sure it’s edible.” Luna admitted as she poked at the slowly cooking bacon, “Not yet anyway.”

“We’ll take the food with us.” Mr. Rhodes chuckled slightly, as Juliet managed to get weight on her leg, relaxing slightly as it didn’t give out again. “Now come on.”

It took them twenty minutes of trudging through the snow to reach the guest house, by which time Juliet had gotten dizzy, fallen and been scooped up by her uncle. He had already turned the heating on and Luna let out a relieved breath as she stepped from the frigid outside air into the warm interior of the house.

Mr. Rhodes didn’t stop at the door, instead he hurried into the downstairs bedroom and led his niece on the bed. She let out a pained groan as he shifted her leg to take a proper look at it.

“She’s got a healing factor,” Luna worried, hovering by the door, “It shouldn’t still be...”

“Did she stop when it happened?” Her uncle asked, “Or get it treated right away?” He paused when Luna couldn’t answer and shook Juliet lightly, the girl was flushed and slightly delirious, “Juliet, hon, what happened?”

“Cut myself escaping.” Juliet babbled, “Hurt lots, lotsa blood. Got it washed and wrapped. Had to keep using it. Get away. Protect my friends.” Her eyes widened, “Luna!”

“I’m here, Jules.” Luna stepped closer at a gesture from Mr. Rhodes, “I’m okay.”

Juliet’s uncle watched her relax slightly, and then asked, “Juliet, when did you change your bandages? Before Luna took them off to have a look?”

“Didn’t. Never stopped long enough.” Juliet shrugged, she paused and worry crossed her features, “Is it bad?”

“I think you’ve probably got an infection.” He replied, “Nothing serious, but you haven’t been sick since you shifted, have you?”

“You know about that?” Luna yelped.

“When your niece can slam into a tree at a hundred and seventy three miles an hour and the only thing damaged is the tree, you get answers.” Mr. Rhodes replied with a small, tight smile. “I’m going to go get Angela a sec.” Juliet groaned and pulled the nearest available cushion over her head at the sound of her soon-to-be Aunt’s name, “Now, now, no need for that. Angela’s a nurse, she’ll be able to tell what you’ve done.”

“She doesn’t like me.” Juliet complained plaintively.

“Yes she does, she just doesn’t know how to handle you.” Mr. Rhodes sighed, wishing the two women in his life could get along. “I’ll be right back.” He told Luna, who sat on the edge of the bed.

“You should have said something. I figured you’d already healed when you didn’t show any signs of injury at the tunnel.” Luna scolded her, obviously worried.

“Couldn’t stop.” Juliet informed her, her sentences coming in short bursts as fatigue started dragging her back down and her throat gained a tickly feeling, “No time to worry you. Forgot once we got here. Too tired.”

“It’s okay, just next time tell me if you’re hurt. I could have changed the bandages at my house or the moment we reached the treehouse.” Luna shuddered slightly, remembering the way the bandages had been almost glued to Juliet and she’d had to loosen them with water first. “Then you might not be sick.”

“Sorry...” Juliet apologised, tensing slightly when she heard the outside door open and Angela’s voice complaining from the hallway.

“I’m not sure what you expect me to be able to do for cuts and scrapes, love.” She was saying as she drew closer, “But I suppose I can...” She trailed off as she entered the room and took one look at Juliet. Luna swiftly got out of the way as the nurse shot over to her friend’s side. “Juliet?” She asked, a hand on her forehead and grimace crossing her features as she felt the clamminess of her patient’s skin, “I need you to talk to me while I check you over, okay?”

“Not leaving.” Juliet informed her stubbornly.

“No, no, I don’t want you to leave.” Angela reassured her, “But you’re not very well and I need to do some checks and make sure that no one else can catch what you’ve got okay?” With that she checked the leg in question, frowning slightly at the first stage signs of infection, but the almost fully healed scrape. “How long ago did you do this?” She asked.

“Yester...” Juliet trailed off, “Feels like yesterday. Was asleep two days though.”

“Two and half,” Luna corrected, “And was running around on it for a full day before that.”

“That’s not possible.” Angela frowned, “This shouldn’t be this healed. It looks like it should have had stitches.”

“I heal fast.” Juliet replied, chuckling slightly, before coughing, “I do everything fast.”

“Still...” Angela trailed off when her partner put a hand on her shoulder and looked at him, “She’s going to need antibiotics.”

“No penicillin.” Juliet yelped, panic crossing her features.

“No, I know.” Angela sighed, running a hand through her hair, “Jacob already gave me your history and allergies.” She frowned slightly as she realised Juliet was shivering, “Are you cold?” She asked.

“Yeah.” The reply nod was firm, even as Juliet sniffed and started coughing.

“Chills.” Angela diagnosed, gesturing for Luna to bring her a blanket which the other Fused individual did, “I think she’s got an infection in the injured leg, and I think she’s gotten a bad cold or the flu to boot. She should see a doctor. I can’t prescribe antibiotics outside of work.”