Rob's POV:
Finishing my rounds, I headed back to my office. My plan was to grab my paperwork and head for Shell Cottage. Despite Oliver's report earlier, and the fact that I had received no messages from any of the Weasley's summoning me to Bill's home, I still wanted to check on Percy for myself. The healer in me had known that where Percy had belonged was a hospital but knowing my best friend's siblings as well as I did, I knew that would have been a fight in itself and the last thing Percy had needed yesterday was anything else to stress him out.
I had put the last of the scrolls I needed into my bag when a voice at the door drew my attention.
"Oh, good, I caught you before you left."
Looking up, I found my boss Healer Marc Benoit, my boss and director of The Paris Hospital for Witches and Wizards, standing in the doorway.
"I finished my rounds, have my paperwork with me, and Ayers said he would cover my patients for the rest of the shift," I said automatically thinking that my boss was here to criticize me for leaving early.
Healer Benoit waved a hand at me. "I don't care about you leaving early. You've always been willing to put in extra time when needed. Actually, I wanted to see you because I think its about time you used some of that vacation time you have stockpiled. I know you have personal things going on, and you're one of the last healers here to take extended leave since the end of the War."
"Is this a suggestion or a mandate?"
"A suggestion for now," Benoit told me. "However, I can see the stress of the last few months showing on you even if you don't recognize it. You keep pushing yourself and you likely will end up being one of our patients. I've asked around and I have your shifts covered for the next week. If you want more time, let me know and I'll work it out. I'm not only responsible for the well being of the patients here but also my workers. Don't make my job more difficult, please."
I nodded at my boss' veiled order. Truth be told, some days away from the hospital right about now would be welcomed. Between my duties here and keeping an eye on Percy, my time with Maria had been limited.
"Can we make it two weeks?"
Benoit waved his hand again. "Consider it done."
"Okay. I'll finish up my paperwork tonight at home and drop it off tomorrow morning and then you won't see me for the next two weeks," I told my boss.
"Great. Say hello to Maria for me then and I hope your friend's brother starts to improve."
I couldn't keep the surprise off of my face at my boss' words. The most I had ever said about the situation when I needed to miss work because of being at Shell Cottage was that it was a personal emergency. I had never mentioned the specifics to any of my co-workers, let alone my boss.
"I've got my ways of knowing what goes on in my hospital and with my employees," Benoit said in response to my surprised expression. "Now get out of here."
"Yes, sir," I replied, picking my bag up off of my desk, and heading for the door. My boss stepped out into the corridor as I reached him, and as I stepped through the doorway myself, I pulled the door shut behind me.
"Good evening then, sir," I told my boss as I headed down the corridor toward the elevator.
"You too, Wood," Benoit replied as he turned and headed the other direction toward his office.
As I stepped onto the elevator to head to the ground floor of the hospital, I realized that I felt lighter somehow. It was as if the prospect of a couple of weeks off work had lifted a weight from my shoulder. I only hoped that my time off of work didn't turn out to be more stressful than work itself.
Still, Oliver's report this morning had been positive. Imagining worst case scenarios before I returned to Shell Cottage would accomplish nothing. The best thing to do was to not worry about that situation until I arrived on the scene which wouldn't be all that long from now.
The trip to the ground floor was interrupted by stops at the other floors and punctuated with brief exchanges with co-workers. Eventually though, I was stepping out of the elevator with the other witches and wizards who had rode the elevator to the ground floor with me. Setting out across the lobby, I headed for the exit. Like Hogwarts and other public buildings, Apparating and Disapparting directly into and out of the hospital was restricted.
The entrance to The Paris Hospital for Witches and Wizards, an old abandoned factory to any Muggles who walked by it, led into a gloomy back alley. While not the most convenient or cheerful of entryways it did cut down on the chances of Muggles walking past what appeared to be an old emergency exit of the factory. There was a lookout, whose lone job was to keep any eye on the alley outside and make sure that the comings and goings of the hospital did not attract any unwanted attention. Approaching the main door of the hospital, I glanced up at the wizard currently occupying the watch station. A simple wave of the hand was my indication that the coast was clear.
Walking through what appeared to be a clear glass door, showing the alleyway outside, from this side, I stepped into the gloomy Paris alley. Even the sun shining in the sky above didn't do much to illuminate the narrow space between the old run down buildings of the area. From this side of the building, the door I had walked through would appear to be a boarded up entrance to the factory.
I glanced around the area to make sure that I was still alone. Satisfied that no Muggles would accidently see me disappear, I Apparated away from the hospital. Moments late I was standing on the path leading up to Shell Cottage many miles away from where I had been.
Setting out toward the lone small cottage that stood on the shoreline, I was soon standing on the doorstep of Shell Cottage. Reaching out, I knocked on the door which was soon opened by Fleur.
"Hi, Rob. I didn't think you'd be by quite this early," she said, even as she stepped aside to give me room to enter her home.
"Yeah, well I asked one of my co-workers to cover for me for the rest of the day at the hospital and took my paperwork home so I could leave early. Turns out, I'm also taking a vacation. Seems my boss thinks I might be stretching myself to thin with everything going on right now, and if I'm honest, he might be right," I told her as I stepped into the house.
"I guess us calling you out here so often isn't helping matters either," my friend's wife commented as she shut the door behind me.
"I don't mind being called here at all, although social visits are preferable to work related one. Still, Bill's family has been like extended family for me since I was in Hogwarts and I'd do anything for them."
"It's important to have good friends, especially now."
I reached out and gave Fleur's shoulder and gentle squeeze. "You are definitely right about that, my dear."
Letting my hand drop, I glanced in the direction of the steps leading to the second floor. "So how has the patient been today?"
"Being cooperative," Fleur replied. "Charlie showing up this morning has been a pleasant surprise and as much as Percy didn't want to ask him to come, I think he's finding Charlie's presence reassuring. I just came down from taking a late lunch up to him. This is the first time he's shown any interest in actual food since yesterday afternoon. Last night and this morning all we could get into him was some broth."
"I anticipated the lack of appetite," I assured her. "The potion I gave you to give to him will help maintain proper nutrition in the meanwhile as well as help restore his strength." Pausing, I glance around the cottage to make sure that the next person I was going to ask about wasn't nearby. "How does George seem today?"
"Overall, he seems to be doing okay. He isn't quite his normal cheerful, but I think that is to be expected. However, he hasn't been in to see Percy much at all today. Charlie said he stopped by briefly this morning but hasn't been back since. I think he feels responsible."
"You're probably right. Where is he now?"
"He went for a walk right after lunch. Said he wanted to get some fresh air. Ginny went with, for which I'm glad, because given how long he's been gone, I'd be worried about him otherwise."
"At least he isn't alone," I said, not knowing what I could do for George. Counseling wasn't my area of expertise and if he was feeling responsible for Percy's current condition, the only one who could probably convince him that it wasn't his fault any way was Percy himself. "I'm going to head on up and check on Percy."
"Okay. You know the way by now. I've got some laundry waiting for me."
As Fleur went back to her household tasks, I head for the steps. It had become a much too familiar walk for me in recent months. Reaching Percy's room, I knocked on the door as I walked in to announce my presence.
"So how's lunch?" I asked as both Percy and Charlie looked in my direction as I made my way across the room.
Percy, who was propped up with pillows, looked from me, down to the food, which looked like a pot pie to me from my vantage point, before answering. "It tastes okay," he replied as he looked back up. "I just feel like I can't eat a whole lot right now."
"Well, don't force it," I told him as I crossed the room and took a seat on the foot of the bed, noting as I did so that his complexion was still pale. "I'm sure with Fleur's good cooking your appetite will come back soon enough," I assured him.
"Are you done, then?" Charlie asked, with a nod at the plate of food sitting on a tray in front of Percy.
Percy just nodded in reply as he placed his fork down on the plate.
"Well, let me take this back downstairs then," Charlie said, getting to his feet and reaching down for the tray. "I'll be back in a little while," he added as he headed out of the room with the half-eaten lunch.
"So how are you feeling today?" I asked Percy as I moved from the bed to set in the chair that Charlie had just vacated.
"Exhausted," Percy replied. "It's like I haven't slept but I've done more of that than anything else since we got back."
"That's to be expected," I replied as I reached out and took a hold of Percy's wrist, feeling for his pulse. "You over exerted yourself yesterday when you brought you and George back here yesterday. Most people wouldn't have even been able to manage it," I added, noting that his pulse was strong and steady.
I continued my exam, feeling more relieved as I went. Percy was doing much better than I expected him to be. From the answers to my questions and my own finds it seemed that the only lingering affects from the day before was the tiredness and lack of appetite.
"So can I stop taking the potion?" Percy asked as I put the things I had taken out back into my bag. "It tastes awful."
"I've had people tell me that it doesn't taste quite as bad as Polyjuice Potion," I commented with a smile. I was use to my patients complaining about the taste of the remedies they were given.
"I guess that's something I need to avoid then."
I chuckled at the response before composing myself to answer the original question. "Well, unfortunately I want you to continue taking it for another couple of days. You're making much better progress than I thought you would when I examined you yesterday but let's not take any chances, okay?"
"Fine," Percy said, the reluctance clear in his voice.
"The good news is, I will let you get up and go downstairs tomorrow if you feel up to it," I told him, having a feeling that as well as he seemed to be doing it wasn't going to take long for him to feel cooped up in the room. "Just take it easy though and if you start to feel tired, rest, don't push yourself."
Percy nodded his ascent at my instructions.
"Is there anything I can do or get for you before I leave?" I asked him, expecting him to say no. Percy never had been one to ask much of anyone and when he did it was usually Oliver or one of his older brothers.
After a moment of hesitation though Percy spoke up. "If you see George, can you let him know I don't blame him," he said softly, much to my surprise. "I think that's why he hasn't been in much today, though Charlie said he stopped by this morning."
"I'll see what I can do," I promised him, knowing that Percy was probably correct in his assumption.
Picking up my bag, I got to my feet as Percy leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes. I left the room and headed downstairs. As I expected, I found both Fleur and Charlie in the kitchen clearly waiting for me. The two of them had been joined by George and Ginny, who had apparently returned from their walk.
"How is he?" Charlie asked.
Walking over to the table, I stood behind one of the empty chairs, placing my bag on the table in front of me.
"He's doing well. He seems to be getting his strength back quicker than I expected. I want him to continue taking the potion for the next couple of days though. I told him that he could get up and come downstairs tomorrow if he feels up to it, but don't push the issue. If he still feels like staying in bed, then let him. I have a feeling his going to tire easily for awhile," I told them. It wasn't hard to read the expressions of relief on the faces that were all turned in my direction. "The strength that kid has continues to amaze me," I added, almost to myself.
Pausing briefly, I let my gaze find George before speaking again. "You need to go up and talk to him," I told him. "He feels like you're avoiding him and wanted me to let you know that he doesn't blame you for what happened, which he shouldn't and you shouldn't be blaming yourself either," I added. "Yes, what happened was unfortunate but the important thing is you both got back here. Percy made the choice to bring you both back to Shell Cottage just like he made the choice to go with you in the first place. The best thing to do is to just accept what happens and move on from here. Don't let it drive a wedge between the two of you."
"But what if-"
I wasn't about to let George finish vocalizing that thought. "Don't bother with what ifs. You'll just drive yourself crazy. I know that from experience. Just deal with what's going on right now, and right now your brother is upset because he feels your avoiding him because you think he blames you. That isn't good for either one of you."
"Told you so," Ginny commented from her place across the table from George.
"Guess I'm the one being the git this time," George commented even as he got to his feet. "I guess I'll just head up there now and get things sorted out."
With that said, George walked past me and headed up the steps.
An awkward silence fell over the kitchen after George's departure. Figuring I was probably the biggest cause of it, I decided I should probably be the one to break it. "Well, I think I'm going to head home. I've got some paperwork to do this evening. I'll keep checking in, but if you should need me, I will most likely be home over the next couple of weeks as I'm taking a semi-forced vacation. Seems like I'm one the last of the healers at the hospital to have taken some time off since the end of the war."
"You definitely deserve the time off," Fleur said. "You and Maria need to come over one night for dinner."
"We would both enjoy that. Let me talk to her and then we'll get something arranged."
"Okay," Fleur said.
"And on that note, I should probably take my leave. Maria doesn't even know she's going to be stuck with me around the house for the next couple of weeks," I said, hoping to lighten the atmosphere in the room a little.
My comment got a few chuckles as I picked my bag up off the table. Fleur moved to walk with me to the door and as we left the room I heard Ginny and Charlie start talking though I didn't focus my attention on what was being said.
After a quick good-bye to Fleur, I left Shell Cottage and headed home to give Maria the news about the vacation and also to get a start on the paperwork.
George's POV:
I hadn't set out to upset Percy, but when I had stopped by his room earlier that morning the only thing I could think about was that he was in this situation because of me. The last thing I had wanted to cause was a setback in Percy's recovery but my impulsive nature had once again taken over. Once I had made up my mind to visit the joke shop I hadn't wanted to wait any longer than necessary.
If I had waited, things could have, in fact most likely would have, been different from they were right now. I figured I would be the last person Percy would want to see today.
Apparently I had been wrong, though that realization still didn't make going back to his room any easier. Still, if he wanted to see me then I was going to go. It was the right thing to do after what he had risked for me.
Standing outside of Percy's bedroom, I took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. I was stalling for time more than anything else, and the so-called relaxation technique didn't really accomplish anything.
Not wanting any of my family to come upstairs and find me still standing outside of the bedroom, I took another step so that I was actually in the doorway, and reached out to rap lightly on the door. Glancing toward the bed, I saw Percy turning his head to look in my direction.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" I asked, more for something to say than actually expecting that he had fallen asleep between the time Rob had come downstairs and now.
"No," Percy replied. "I'm glad to see you though," my brother continued, as I walked slowly across the room. "This isn't your fault you know. I'm the one who chose to Apparate despite Rob's warnings. I just reacted without really stopping to think."
"I should've realized what was happening and stopped for a moment to get grounded rather than just trying to Apparate again right away," I countered as I sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Seems like we both realize we could've done things differently looking back," Percy said, his voice taking on the formal, logical tone that I remembered well from our days at Hogwarts. As much as I had hated that tone back then, it was kind of a relief to hear it now, as it was an indication that things were in the process of regaining some kind of normalcy with my family. "So there's no point in fixing blame on something that just simply is."
I wanted to believe his words. Wanted to let myself off the hook as easily as my family seemed willing to do.
I shook my head as I responded. "I knew you were still recovering from being sick. Knew that you weren't supposed to be attempting anything strenuous."
"But it was my choice to go with you. I'm responsible for my choices, not you."
"I'm still sorry," I told him. "I didn't want to do something that would put you in danger."
"I know that," Percy replied.
Percy's next movement took me by surprise given his interaction with everyone since the Battle of Hogwarts. My older brother, who had been keeping a distance from us, held his arms out to me for a hug. Without hesitation, I moved to accept the gesture, thinking that perhaps something good had come out of recent events.