sixth ♢ public

[versusnurture]

[She doesn't hear from Arkin all day on Thursday; she doesn't see him, either. By evening, she's concerned. Maybe he's sick, like the new girl in the infirmary. She brings him soup.]

[When she finds him in his room, she drops nothing. Just places it on the nearest flat surface with a sigh and pinches the bridge of her nose.]

[The announcement comes after a slight delay, during which she's thinking hard.]

Arkin O'Brien has fallen into a coma in his room. I need help getting him to the infirmary.

[Anyone who tells her to let them take care of it and go away may get knifed.]

Comments

[versusnurture]

[She opens the door slowly, peering out to ensure it's who she's expecting. When she sees that it is, she backs up slightly to let Bruce in. She never takes her eyes off him, though, barely blinks, taking a place at the foot of Arkin's bed and awaiting instructions.]

[spam]

[lastincident]

[ Bruce watches her carefully, offering her a smile, small and deceptively meek; all of Bruce is a mask of patience over the rage, and it's so seamless that few could see it for what it is. ]

Can you grab his feet?

[spam]

[versusnurture]

Yes. That's why I'm here.

[To help, in this if in nothing else. She leans in and takes hold of Arkin's ankles, irritated on his behalf about his helplessness.]

Whenever you're ready.

Re: [spam]

[lastincident]

On three.

[ He gives the count, an then lifts, getting Arkin moved from bed to stretcher with easy, settling there and strapping him down so he doesn't roll off. ]

[spam]

[versusnurture]

[She lifts with him - stronger than she looks, well capable of carrying her portion of the weight. He's strapped in and trapped, now. She bites the pad of her thumb, the first clear sign of distress she's shown.]

I'm going to come with you.

[spam]

[lastincident]

[ Mildly: ]

Alright.

[ No argument here. He just gets at the head of the stretcher and asks, ]

Can you get the door?

[spam]

[versusnurture]

[She nods and holds it open without a word. From here on she will open every door without being asked, do everything helpful she can conceive of to get Arkin to the infirmary without incident.]

[spam]

[lastincident]

[ That's very help, and Bruce is okay with quiet assistance. He's not one for idle conversation, really. Once in the infirmary, he unstraps Arkin and it's time to put him in one of the clinic beds they save for coma'd folk. Just like like time; her at his feet, Bruce at his shoulders. ]

[spam]

[versusnurture]

[She moves with Bruce seamlessly, getting Arkin settled. And then she sits down at his side without any apparent intention to move, looking at Bruce as though to dare him to shoo her away.]

[She doesn't actually think he will at this point, but it's best to be prepared with a withering look ahead of time.]

[spam]

[lastincident]

[ Tony settles himself the doorway to the office, and Bruce doesn't mind the dog at all. He just gets Arkin settled. He doesn't shoo Abigail at all; rather, he gets her a glass of water, and then goes to his office with a small smile and a gently uttered 'thank you' offered and nothing more. ]