Hello all, sorry for the delay - I've been ill and between that and trying to hold things together at work (with mixed results) I haven't got a lot of writing done. Hopefully this isn't too much of a filler chapter - the bits I've already written kick in after this so any delays will be in editing. Thanks for your reviews - they're always appreciated.
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Robin waited impatiently for Bertrand to return from his supply run to the kitchen - no doubt he was also double-checking that the sun had really set - and sighed miserably. He supposed he should consider himself lucky there was still some stuff left in that first aid kit that could be used for nappy changing. Still, it wasn't the most pleasant of jobs, and Bertrand should have been back by now, surely? He'd changed the poor child and watched her fall asleep again before Bertrand finally strolled in.
"Found a holdall with some stuff in it that must be hers, I think. Either way, it'll come in useful. Real cloth nappies, if we can find someone who knows how to use them. It'll make things easier on Vlad."
"We should call him, now. I mean, I know you didn't want to worry him earlier-"
"Have you changed her nappy again?" Bertrand had plucked the baby out of Robin's arms and was inspecting her carefully. "That's very neat, well done."
"Yeah. Well, sit with her for a moment, I'm going to call Vlad so he can get some kind of medical team in. Oh, god, it's probably going to be Jonno's lot. The Slayer's Guild medics are closest."
"Spencer? Oh, he drives me up the wall."
"Well, maybe they'll send Alice instead. But either way, we need their help. This baby needs their help."
"Yeah. Go on, then, and I'll see if I can tuck her into my coat more securely so we can fly safely."
Robin made his phone call - Vlad had plenty of questions about his request for someone who knew what to do with babies, but Robin left them unanswered - and then returned to Bertrand to find the baby haphazardly strapped to his chest, his arms folded protectively around her.
"Human-form flying, then?"
"I'm afraid so." Bertrand sounded grave; he knew Robin preferred to fly as a bat, so they didn't have to worry about being spotted.
"Has to be done."
"Unless you fly as a bat and I-"
"No, no. Together, or not at all. Come on."
It was a relief, all the same, to stumble onto the lawns of Vlad's mansion. Home was temptingly close, and if circumstances had been different they might have gone home and phoned in their report. It had been a bitterly disappointing end to their mission, after all, and Robin didn't relish the thought of relaying it all to Vlad. Bertrand, however, didn't even falter, striding straight towards the doors of the main house. A year ago, he would have been a wreck as he cut through the tree-lined avenue and emerged once more at the steps of the house, but he barely seemed to notice his surroundings now.
They made their way to the throne room without even pausing to greet the various guards who called out to them. Bertrand flung open the doors to the throne room and began barking orders, quite unlike his usual quiet, quiescent self.
"Where's the nurse, a doctor, whoever you've called, this child is severely malnourished and without a Blood Mirror. She's probably cold. She needs help!"
Spencer and Alice from the Slayer's Guild had whisked the child away to some predetermined location before even Robin's vampire-quick vision could anticipate the movement.
Bertrand slumped slightly and turned to Vlad.
"We're back, Grandness."
It was a long night, and subsequent day, for Bertrand. Once their report had been given, there was nothing to do but wait for news of the child. Vlad had dismissed them, but Bertrand hadn't been able to bear the thought of sleeping until he knew if they'd truly saved her. After a few hours, word came that she had stabilised and they'd know more about her prognosis in some hours, and Vlad insisted that they return to their cottage, but Bertrand slept only fitfully at Robin's side, waking up over and over only to realise that the telephone wasn't actually ringing.
Indeed, Robin had been awake for some time before the telephone actually rang with news. Bertrand left him to his breakfast and raced for the phone.
"Bertrand. Good news about the kid, you must have got to her just in time. She's fine. Can you and Robin come up to the house? I want to just run through a few details of your report with you, and I could use your help in determining what might happen next. Other clans may be at risk."
"Of course we'll come. You're sure she's alright?"
"Seems fine. She screamed the house down earlier, nothing wrong with her lungs - she was hungry, of course. I had to dig out some of the heirlooms."
"Good. I'm glad to hear it. Let me get some food into Robin-"
"As if he ever needs help with that."
"-and we'll be right with you."
It was a simple enough debriefing, really, and once they'd filled in a few blanks and confirmed the details of their mission for Vlad, he let them go. Robin turned towards the door right away, obviously still in need of sleep or perhaps hoping for a proper homecoming celebration, but Bertrand hesitated. There was still one thing he needed to know.
