Chapter 2

Ben, Conor, and Saoirse all sat around the table as Cu sat under Ben's feet. Conor and Saoirse happily ate their food, while Ben blankly stared and picked at his. Thunder crashed outside and rain began to pour.

"Whew, what a storm tonight, eh?" Conor exclaimed. He looked over to see Ben stirring his food around, but not eating. "What's the matter Ben, it's your favorite, fresh salmon. I fished it myself this 'mornin." Conor said proudly.

"I'm just not very hungry I guess..." Ben mumbled under his breath.

"Not hungry? What's wrong? Did you eat something funny down by the water again?" Conor chuckled trying to make light of the comment.

"I ate some Dúlamán... but it was only a little." Ben sighed. "I just have a headache, that's all"

Saoirse looked at Ben with worried eyes and Conor exchanged a glance with her to confirm that he should be worried too.

"What's the matter then?" Conor asked. "You 'feelin alright?" Conor began to reach a hand towards Ben's forehead...

"It's nothin... I'm just not hungry..." Ben pulled back, but the swift motion made him wince again in pain and grab his arm. His face began to turn pale and his vision started to blur. "What's... 'happenin..."

"Ben?" Conor stood up as Cu backed out from under the table and began to bark.

"I feel... dizzy..." Ben fainted out of his seat.

"BEN!" Conor caught him before he hit the ground.

"BEN!" Saoirse jumped up as well. Conor held Ben in his arms as he weakly coughed.

"I don't feel so good, dad..." Ben shivered and coughed again as he buried himself into his father's chest and lost consciousness.

"Ben!?" Conor turned his boy to face him. His hand went under Ben's bangs as he felt the heat radiate off his forehead. "He's burning up! We have to get him to a doctor." Conor rose to his feet. "Saoirse, grab a blanket, we'll take the boat over to the mainland."

Saoirse grabbed the blanket and handed it to her father. Cu barked with concern as they ran about the house. Conor swaddled Ben with the blanket in his arms. They all ran down the stairs and Conor burst open the front door only to see the storm had worsened. The boat was tipped over and was in no condition to go to the mainland.

"Shoot!" Conor yelled as they all ran back inside. He placed Ben on the couch in their living room and went for the phone. "I'll just have to phone Dan and see if he can take us across. I know it's late, but what choice do we have."

Saoirse and Cu went to Ben's side as he rolled over in his unconscious state. His cheeks were flushed with fever. Sweat ran down his face as Saoirse ran a hand across his forehead. She fetched a cold towel and dabbed her brother's forehead.

"Saoirse..." Ben moaned. Saoirse grabbed his hand and smiled.

He picked up the phone only to hear no dial tone. "Great, the storm cut off the line." Conor ran a hand across his face. "Now what do we do?" He sat down on the ground next to Saoirse and noticed the redness in his son's cheeks. "I guess we should get him into bed and try to get the fever down as much as we can for now..." Conor picked Ben up and walked up the stairs. Saoirse began to make a bowl of ice water and grabbed more towels. Cu sat by her feet and whimpered as Saoirse broke down the ice.

End of Chapter 2 (I don't know what it is I love about these stories, but it's pretty much all I write.)